Part one of three-part series

TUESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Are American consumers "health literate" enough to play a leading role in their health care and coverage decisions?

That question will be put to the test in 2014, when more than 30 million uninsured adults begin shopping for health plans through state insurance exchanges -- a...(click link above to read more)

TUESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Larger companies and those in more populated areas of the United States are more likely to offer dental insurance to workers, finds the first comprehensive study on the issue.

The analysis of state-by-state and nationwide dental insurance coverage offered by 6.4 million employers was conducted by researchers at the...(click link above to read more)

TUESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- The cost of medical malpractice in the United States is $55.6 billion a year, which is 2.4 percent of annual health-care spending, a new study shows.

The researchers said their estimate includes $45.6 billion in what's known as defensive medicine costs -- when doctors prescribe unnecessary tests or treatments to avoid...(click link above to read more)

TUESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- A higher level of education is associated with reduced risk of heart disease and stroke for people who live in rich countries, but not for those in low- and middle-income nations, finds a new study.

Highly educated men in high-income countries had the lowest level of cardiovascular disease, according to the researchers. The findings show that the...(click link above to read more)

TUESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Weak social connections, or social fragmentation, may be one of the main reasons why people raised in cities are more likely to develop schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders than those who live in rural areas, the results of a study suggest.

"There is a substantial worldwide variation in incidence of schizophrenia....(click link above to read more)

MONDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Infants and preschoolers who don't get enough sleep at night are at increased risk for later childhood obesity, a new study suggests.

The researchers also found that daytime naps are not an adequate substitute for lost nighttime sleep in terms of preventing obesity.

The study included 1,930 U.S. children, ages 1...(click link above to read more)

TUESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- The fillings and sealants that many dentists use can expose children to the controversial chemical bisphenol A (BPA), a new analysis indicates, but such exposure is short-lived and it remains unclear whether or not it poses a long-term health risk.

Although these products do not contain pure BPA, saliva can cause the fillings and sealants to leach....(click link above to read more)

TUESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- An estimated 17 percent of all patients who visit U.S. hospital emergency departments could be treated at urgent care centers or retail medical clinics instead, a move that would save $4.4 billion a year in health care costs, a new U.S. study suggests.

Fractures and lacerations, strains and minor infections are among the...(click link above to read more)

MONDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- A low-carbohydrate diet that derives fats and proteins from vegetable sources rather than meats is probably healthier, new research finds.

Comparing the two types of diets over two decades, researchers found that the low-carb, vegetable-based plan resulted in reduced rates of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer,...(click link above to read more)

MONDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- When given the choice to gaze at geometric patterns or children dancing and playing, toddlers with autism spent more time looking at the patterns while typically developing toddlers preferred to look at other kids, a new study finds.

The finding could be another clue to helping doctors and parents spot the disorder early,...(click link above to read more)