Health

November to February is the prime window for transmission of the virus.

Bad diets, lack of physical activity and obesity together wield "incredible forces against this decline in mortality," said Otis Brawley of the American Cancer Society.

Halen Boykin-Rudolph, a Westminster University student, and J'Lissabeth Faughn, a former Columbia resident, are two individuals that overcame mental health issues and abuse, respectively, to become comfortable with who they are.

Spurred by a group of local activists, city staff are investigating if it's a good idea to remove fluoride from Columbia's drinking water supply.

After someone drinks a fructose beverage, the brain doesn't register the feeling of being full as it does when simple glucose is consumed, researchers found.

The president's health care overhaul will add coverage for millions of currently uninsured people, but the medical industry also is facing higher taxes and a potential reduction in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.

Through an online crowd-funding platform, 15-year-old Jodie Bappe was able to inspire people to donate more than $8,000 to help her family get through a tough financial situation.

The Boone County Commission plans to put out a call for applicants to the board that will make decisions about the quarter-cent sales tax for children's mental health, which passed with 57.2 percent voter approval on Nov. 7 and will take effect April 1.

Using attention-deficit drugs without a prescription is creating problems for students who take them casually for academic performance.

Debra Oliver, a professor at MU's School of Medicine, found herself caught in irony when her research on end of life and care giving became her own reality.

Research demonstrates that there are some health benefits to drinking coffee, but excessive caffeine consumption — especially when energy drinks are part of the mix — are causing sleep problems and anxiety for a significant percentage of college students, who aren't great at handling stress in the first place.

The term "Asperger's disorder" is being dropped and substituted with DMDD in the first major rewrite of the diagnostic guide in nearly 20 years.

Mayor Bob McDavid and the City of Columbia were awarded the medals from the National League of Cities for work to prevent childhood obesity.

Attendees advocated for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid at the meeting, which was intended as a discussion of negotiations about the approaching "fiscal cliff."

The series is sponsored by Mizzou Advantage, a program that has a mission to increase MU's visibility, stature and impact in higher education.

According to a new study by the MU School of Medicine, complying with the Affordable Care Act's expansion of Medicaid might create enough jobs and subsequent spending to pay for itself through taxes.

A new coalition of hospitals and the primary care association announced a campaign Wednesday to try to persuade state officials to expand Medicaid eligibility by highlighting the economic benefits.

Humans spend more time sitting now than ever before. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. A growing number of people are combating the problem by working at a standing desk.

Adults should have around 30 minutes of exercise a day, but people have become more sedentary over time, said John Thyfault, director of the Health Activity Center. What keeps you sitting?

Up to one-third of breast cancers, or 50,000 to 70,000 cases a year, don't need treatment, the study suggests. It adds fresh evidence that screening is not as helpful as many women believe.