FDA eases access to morning-after pill
Seventeen-year-olds will soon have access to emergency contraception without a prescription, U.S. health regulators said on Wednesday, complying with a court order to ease restrictions on over-the-counter sales of the so-called “morning-after” pill. Last month, a U.S. court ruled the Food and Drug Administration under the Bush administration had allowed politics to cloud its decision-making process regarding availability of the Plan B drug which had been restricted to those 18 and older. Read more
Recession linked to more abortions, vasectomies
The pregnancy was unexpected, and for one 32-year-old single mother in Syracuse, New York, the ailing economy became a factor in her decision to have an abortion. “More so now that we are in a recession … I felt I had to go through with the procedure because I cannot afford another child,” said the woman, a registered nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity. Read more
Tired of weights and treadmills? Dance to get fit!
Fitness doesn’t have to be about hauling weights and pounding treadmills. Instead of grunting and aching their bodies into shape, some happy souls strengthen the core by tripping the light fantastic. And many experts believe that the current craze for all things dance is fueled by television. Read more
Strong shoulders are a joint effort
Try to imagine how many movements and activities you make with your hands during a typical day. It would be impossible to count the times you lift, touch, push, pull, twist or gesture. Now consider the fact that for every one of these movements, your shoulder joint and shoulder girdle are called into action to position your arm and hand properly, and to generate force, or at least stabilize against the loads present. Needless to say, this is a part of the body that we don’t want to neglect. Read more