The week in health: 5 things you need to know (BLOG)

Happy New Year. Here's the health news you may have missed while guzzling champagne or finding your way to the gym:

The Affordable Care Act is in full force.

Jan. 1 was the start date for many provisions at the heart of the law. So insurance companies can no longer turn away people with preexisting conditions, charge older people a lot more than younger people or charge women more than men.

Vending machines are about to get preachy – or educational, depending on your point of view.

One lesser-known provision of the health care law is a rule that will require calorie counts on 5 million vending machines nationwide, the Associated Press reports. The Food and Drug Administration says the information will help consumers make healthier choices, but vending machine companies are not happy about the costs.

Vitamin E might help some people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's.

But doctors and families will want to read the fine print in this new study: the possible effect was modest and the doses of vitamin E used were large – which is a concern because other studies suggest such high doses might be harmful. And nothing about this study suggests anyone should take vitamin E to try to prevent dementia.

There's a screening test for lung cancer and many current and former smokers should get it.

That's the recommendation from the influential U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The group is endorsing CT scans for high-risk people ages 55 to 80, NBC Newsreports.

Gym rats hate New Years newbies.

Don't let this discourage you, but if you are trying out the treadmills and weights at your local gym for the first time this week, the old pros may be grumbling about you – on Twitter. ABC News collected a few examples, including gym-goers complaining about people who hog the machines, fail to wipe down the equipment and consume candy bars and Sprite while working out. One guy tweeted: "GONNA GO TO THE GYM AND GRUNT REAL LOUD WHEN I DEADLIFT SO THE RESOLUTION KIDS DONT COME BACK TOMORROW." We hear you, grunting guy, but we're coming back anyway... right?

USA Today

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Posted by: Anonymous The week in health: 5 things you need to know (BLOG) Updated at : 6:00 AM

Saturday, January 4, 2014