Self-help for neck pain: Want to get rid of a persistent pain in your neck? You could visit a chiropractor a couple of times of week -- or you could learn to do a few exercises at home every day and get about the same relief, a new study suggests. Less effective: just taking painkillers.
HPV vaccine myth: Some teen girls getting the HPV vaccine have the mistaken belief that the vaccine prevents all sorts of sexually transmitted diseases and eliminates the need for safer sex, a new study shows. The vaccine only protects against certain strains of the humanpapilloma virus linked with cervical cancer and genital warts. Fit bodies, sharp kids: Does a gym class a day keep bad grades away? Kids who are more physically active do seem to excel in school, researchers say.
Bird flu update: A bird flu virus that killed a Chinese bus driver on Saturday cannot pass from person to person, Shenzhen health officials say. They are trying to calm fears provoked by the first bird flu death in China in 18 months and the discovery of infected birds in nearby Hong Kong.
Today's talker: Can -- and should -- parents be shamed into helping their obese children lose weight? Some health experts are criticizing stark new ads from a Georgia children's hospital that feature miserable-looking heavy children talking about their weight woes. One boy looks at the camera and says, "Mom, why am I fat?" Another ad features the slogan: "Being fat takes the fun out of being a kid." The people behind the ads say they are intended to reach parents who don't realize their overweight kids have serious problems.