The evidence is piling up that the answer is—yes, stress is bad for your ticker.There are studies to show that stress is comparable to other risk factors that we traditionally think of as major, like hypertension, poor diet, and lack of exercise, says Kathi Heffner, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry at the Rochester Center for Mind-Body Research at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. Here are 12 steps you can take to fight stress and protect your heart.

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A bill that seeks to implement disclosure and use restrictions on pesticides and Genetically Modified Organisms in Maui County was introduced before the Council’s Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee today.

The bill, introduced by Council Member Elle Cochran of West Maui would establish mandatory disclosure requirements for commercial agricultural entities that purchase or use certain quantities of pesticides or possess genetically modified organisms. The bill would also establish provisions governing the use of pesticides by requiring the creation of pesticide buffer zones, and establish penalties to implement the measure.

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A new DNA study begins to explain why girls are less likely than boys to have an autism spectrum disorder.

It turns out that girls tend not to develop autism when only mild genetic abnormalities exist, the researchers said. But when they are diagnosed with the disorder, they are more likely to have more extreme genetic mutations than boys who show the same symptoms.

The World Health Organization is considering new sugar consumption guidelines and asking for the publics input. WHO will open up the public consultation process on its website and announce more details in a conference call with journalists on Wednesday. The organization currently says that sugar should account for less than 10 per cent of an individuals daily calorie intake. A regular-size chocolate bar or a can of Coke would be within that limit if you consume about 2,000 calories per day.

Promising new research has resulted in an engineered “glue” called a growth factor that makes injuries including broken bones and lacerations heal faster. If it works, doctors will have another tool to make some types of reconstruction easier.

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