Top 10 Health Stories of 2008

Ask Ms. Medicare: What If I Don’t Sign Up at 65?
Joining Medicare is voluntary.  But there may be consequences—in the form of a late penalty—if you don’t enroll at the “right” time, depending on your circumstances.

Set Yourself Up for Diet Success
April 2: If you want to lose weight — and lose it for good — follow the 10 percent rule. Try to lower your body weight by that percentage, then stop losing for a while. Fight to keep off that amount.

The Science of Good Eating
June 2: Research shows fruits, vegetables and other plant foods are packed with naturally occurring substances that help prevent disease and boost the immune system.

Fish: It's Good for You–Except for When It's Not
July 18: To some scientists and doctors, fish is a treasure trove of heart-healthy fatty acids and disease-fighting vitamins. To others, it’s the carrier of health-endangering toxins.

Study Links Middle-Age Belly Fat to Dementia
March 27: People who have big bellies in their 40s are much more likely to get Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia in their 70s, according to new research.

Finding Your Way: What's the Right Health Plan for You?
June 4: Whether we're making big or small decisions, American consumers like to have options. This preference also applies to making decisions about health plans.

Should You Get a Flu Shot? What You Need to Know
October 10: Since the flu is nothing to sneeze at, experts are making their annual plea for people 50-plus and other at-risk groups to get their shots.

Congress Overrides Bush Medicare Vote
July 15: Almost as quickly as President Bush vetoed a controversial Medicare reform bill, Congress overwhelmingly overrode it, preventing a 10.6 percent cut in payments to 600,000 doctors.

FDA Reports Progress in Tracing Salmonella
June 11: Federal health officials said they hoped to announce soon the source of a salmonella outbreak associated with raw tomatoes that has sickened at least 167 people in 17 states.

Unequal Benefits: Does Your Medicare Plan Offer Your Neighbor a Better Deal?
September 26: When insurance companies start advertising their 2009 Medicare-subsidized health plans, Bob Schulbaum will be looking for the small print.