Understanding health insurance and your options will get easier, thanks to a little-known part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Starting this year, health insurance companies and employers must provide information about your insurance policy in a way that is clear and easy to understand by anyone. (Click here for full release)

The Affordable Care Act 2012

Mary Patton

Huntsville health care reform, health insurance

A new study shows that children of childhood cancer survivors who were treated with radiation or chemicals do not have a significantly higher risk of birth defects.  (Click here for full release)

Childhood Cancer Treatment and the Reproductive System

Eric Hughes

Huntsville cancer, chemotherapy, survivors

Congress may say pizza is a vegetable, but that doesn’t mean your kids have to rely on it for healthy lunches.  (Click here for full release)

Food for Thought

Pamela Craft

Pamela Craft

Huntsville child obesity, policy, school lunches

Despite the many benefits of breastfeeding, most of the nation’s hospitals can do more to support breastfeeding in new mothers. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that fewer than 4% of hospitals were using all recommended policies to fully support breastfeeding.  (Click here for full release)

Is Your Hospital Baby-Friendly?

Jane Mitchell

Chantal Levitchi

Huntsville breastfeeding, nutrition, policy

When it comes to mobile apps, Angry Birds is easily the most popular.  But if you’re looking to keep track of your health, computer birds won’t help you much.  Just in time for Christmas, a new wave of health-related apps is emerging to help people in Huntsville and around the country do everything from managing their weight to helping prevent cancer.  (Click here for full release)

Gift Smart for the Holidays!

Angenette Hill

Kara Neloms

Huntsville cancer prevention, disease prevention, technology

Thanksgiving is traditionally a time for catching up and sharing family stories. It can also be a great time to learn about your family health history.

In a study published this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that one’s family history for cancer is most likely to change during early and middle adulthood. The study shows that self-reported history of breast and colon cancer increases the most between ages 30 and 50. An updated family history can better identify family members who could benefit from early screening.  (Click here for full release)

Spruce Up Your Family Tree

Nichole Dormus

Elaine Rice

Huntsville cancer prevention, family history, risk factors

Lung cancer is responsible for more deaths in the United States than any other form of cancer. It’s also considered the most preventable, and more people are getting the message.   (Click here for full release)

The Cost of Smoking

Cheryl Sullivan

Michael Vance

Huntsville cancer prevention, lung cancer, risk factors, tobacco

When you’re talking about tasty food, hot music, or a good place to raise a family, Alabama cities often rank high on the list.  But when it comes to getting off the couch, we don’t do so well in the ratings.  (Click here for full release)

Making physical activity a regular part of your day

Paul Gunn

Theodore Breach

Huntsville cancer prevention, exercise, obesity, risk factors

These days, governments at all levels are cutting spending. Even popular programs like breast cancer research are affected.

But in many states, including Alabama, people who want to help can do so as easily as checking a box on their tax returns or renewing their license plates.  (Click here for full release)

Drive for a Cure

Joy Watkins

Huntsville breast, cancer, cancer prevention

When it comes to health in Huntsville, every dollar counts.

The new study, published in the August issue of Health Affairs, found that communities that spent more on public health programs also had lower rates of death from disease. The greatest effects were seen in infant mortality and deaths from heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.  These four preventable health conditions are among the largest targets for public health agencies. (Click here for full release)

The Impact of Public Health Spending

Nancy Thomason

Huntsville cancer, diabetes, health spending, heart disease