Health - latimes.com

Salt therapy: A cure for breathing and skin problems?

By Lois K. Solomon, Staff writer — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

At spas opening up in Florida and throughout the country, clients sit in special rooms infused with high concentrations of salt. They say it opens up their sinuses, drains mucus, reduces swelling of the bronchial tubes and boosts their immune systems.

Alzheimer's: Trouble sleeping could affect memory later on

By Amina Khan, Los Angeles Times / For the Booster Shots blog — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:31:00 PST

People who have trouble sleeping may be at higher risk of developing memory problems, new research shows. Also, those who woke frequently in the night had a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Why the long wait for Whitney Houston's toxicology reports?

By Jeannine Stein, Los Angeles Times / For the Booster Shots blog — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:11:00 PST

Whitney Houston's death is still being investigated, and it might take weeks to get toxicology reports back, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office said. That’s not an unusual time frame for such a case, but why does it take so long?

Walk while you work? Many employees join healthful trend

By Greg Dawson, Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:32:00 PST

Samantha O'Lenick keeps a pair of tennis shoes stowed under the desk in her office — for company meetings. A dozen times a week, O'Lenick kicks off her heels, laces up her tennies, gathers her staff and hits the streets.

Measles at Super Bowl festivities threatens public health

By Eryn Brown, Los Angeles Times / for the Booster Shots blog — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:16:00 PST

Less than a week after the game, the Indiana State Department of Health circulated a release that touched on a Super Bowl health hazard few had considered: measles vaccinations. State health officials reported two confirmed and two probable cases of the respiratory ailment.