More than 29 million Americans have diabetes, with another 86 million more are on the verge of the disease. People with diabetes are nearly two times more likely than people without diabetes to die from heart disease, and are also at greater risk for kidney, eye and nerve diseases, among other painful and costly complications.

Berkeley, California became the first city in the nation to pass a tax on sugary drinks – part of an effort to combat obesity in the U.S., particularly among children. A similar effort failed in San Francisco.

As temperatures drop and consumers begin cranking up their heating systems, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have launched a new online toolkit to help local fire departments educate the public about the associated risks of carbon monoxide (CO) in the months ahead.

As part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, the EPA last week released plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for climate change impacts such as flooding, sea level rise, severe weather and temperature extremes.

Eating Mediterranean-style diets, regularly engaging in physical activity and keeping your blood pressure under control can lower your risk of a first-time stroke, according to updated AHA/ASA guideline published in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke.

The numbers are sobering: While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3.2 million Americans are currently infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), the World Health Organization (WHO) further estimates that a staggering 130–150 million people globally have a chronic HCV infection and that 350 000 to 500 000 people die each year from HCV-related liver diseases.

Artificial turf fields are now everywhere in the United States, from high schools to multi-million-dollar athletic complexes, states a recent report by NBC News. The tiny black rubber crumbs of which the fields are made -- chunks of old tires -- get in players’ uniforms, their hair, and in their cleats.

The Ecology Center's healthystuff.org tested 106 Halloween-related products, including costumes, accessories, decorations and party favors and released a report documenting the toxic chemicals found in them. "We really want to give folks that information so they can make an educated decision on whether or not they want to bring these products into their home," said Rebecca Meuninck, one of the authors of the Halloween products study.