Reading and Kids, Bird Flu, Bayer Drug, Aspirin, Adult Fitness | Health

Reading and Kids, Bird Flu, Bayer Drug, Aspirin, Adult Fitness

Maureen Fitzgerald,

May 15, 2008, 12:18 PM EDT

You know the saying, reading is fundamental.

New research shows that bedtime stories may do more than jump-start your child's imagination. Researchers in Boston say children who are read to aloud at home... do better in school.

They say kids not only develop better language skills, but also a love for reading.

Researchers also say connecting a story to a child's real-world experiences... can further help improve those areas.

New details this morning on the bird flu virus,

And a worldwide database to track the disease.

For the first time, Indonesia will reveal details on its cases.

It's been holding back on giving that info. to the world health organization for more than a year.

That info. will be added to cases from other countries... as part of an online data-base which launches today.

Health experts and scientists are trying to figure out if the virus is mutating into more serious strains. Meantime... Bayer wants to keep one of its medications... out of patient's hands.

the company is pulling the heart drug Trasylol off the market.

Until now, doctors had prescribed it after heart surgery to some patients.

But researchers found that patients who took the drug, after their operation,

Were more likely to die - than those who didn't take it.

Dozens of patients have sued Bayer.

You've probably heard of a daily aspirin regimen,

Or maybe you do it yourself.

Now, what time you take that aspirin, could make a big difference.

You really want to take the pill - at bedtime.

Spanish researchers found aspirin simply works best at night.

They're not sure why.

But they do say it does help fight pre-hypertension and lower blood pressure.

The federal government is jogging down memory lane to help Americans shape up. So if you are eighteen or older-- and are already in pretty good shape, you might want to test yourself.

The exercises include push-ups, half sit-ups, and a one-mile walk or one-and-half-mile run.