A type of "super X-ray" showed promise in its first big test as a potentially cheaper, faster and painless way to find out whether certain people with signs of heart disease actually have it and need treatment. The scans might

New government guidelines on disposal of leftover medications: —Don't flush unused drugs down the toilet, unless they're one of a handful that expressly advises that on the prescription label. —Crush or dissolve leftover medicine in a little water. Then mix

It's time to pooper-scoop your leftover medicine. Mixing cough syrup, Vicodin or Lipitor with kitty litter is the new advice on getting rid of unused medications. Preferably used kitty litter. It's a compromise, better for the environment than flushing —

A LOTHIANS GP today said patients face being turned away from surgeries because of Scotland's rising population.

The U.N. health chief urged countries on Monday to come up with new ways to make medicine for HIV/AIDS and other diseases more affordable in the world's poorest countries, without stifling innovation among pharmaceutical companies. The World Health Organization's 193

THE NHS Education Scotland annual review was due to take place in the Capital today.

LEADING surgeon Chris Oliver, who has had gastric band surgery, says he is "delighted" at being re-elected on to the council for the Royal College of Surgeons.

SCOTLAND has a new anti-smoking leader to help reduce the 13,500 tobacco deaths each year.

RESIDENTIAL mental health services in the city have been given an excellence award for helping people develop the skills and confidence to live on their own.

A VOLUNTEER who has helped brain injury survivors rebuild their lives has been nominated for a national award.

YOUNGSTERS in the most deprived areas of Edinburgh are to be encouraged to take up rugby in a bid to get them off the streets and improve their health.

To access website links for more information on this story, go to

WHY Laura is fighting to stay positive and refusing to let a deadly illness become a life sentence

Arthur" and "Barney" are OK for toddler TV-watching. But not "Rugrats" and certainly not "Power Rangers," reports a new study of early TV-watching and future attention problems. The research involved children younger than 3, so TV is mostly a no-no

Here's another reason to get the kids to bed early: More sleep may lower their risk of becoming obese. Researchers have found that every additional hour per night a third-grader spends sleeping reduces the child's chances of being obese in

Experts offer these ideas for promoting good sleep habits in elementary school children: WAKE TIME: The biological clock resets in the morning, so it's just as important to have a consistent wake-up time as a consistent bedtime. WEEKENDS: Avoid letting

DNA tests can now predict your future health - but do you want to know the answer? Chloe Rhodes reports.

BBC journalist and author Anna Parkinson was researching a book about her family background when her life was shattered by a shock diagnosis.

James Le Fanu on treatments abroad, tests at home, changing hair colour and time travel People who fear they drink more than is good for them can now check the state of their liver with a home blood-testing kit. This

SURVIVAL rates for lung cancer in the UK could be doubled in ten years with more action to tackle the disease, campaigners said yesterday.