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DALLAS — Megan O’Laughlin works hard to maintain her weight loss and fitness level. She’s diligent about portion control. She runs regularly and takes aerobics and weight-training classes at her local gym.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am 82 years old and have never had chickenpox. My physician wants me to get the chickenpox vaccine and then the shingles shot.

WASHINGTON - The largest genetic study of mental illnesses to date finds five major disorders may not look much alike but they share some gene-based risks.

There's reassuring news for pregnant women miserable with morning sickness: A very large study in Denmark finds no evidence that using a popular anti-nausea drug will harm their babies.

TORONTO - Obesity rates are at an all-time high, especially in certain parts of the country, say researchers, who have "mapped" the changes to illustrate how 91Ô­´´s' waistlines have expanded over time.

Dear Dr. Roach: As a person with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), would I get any benefit from taking an 81-mg Aspirin on a daily basis? P.T. Aspirin is a serious medication that shouldn’t be taken on a regular basis lightly.

CHICAGO - Advanced breast cancer has increased slightly among young women, a 34-year analysis suggests. The disease is still uncommon among women younger than 40, and the small change has experts scratching their heads about possible reasons.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am writing because my son had a pilonidal cyst removed in March 2010, almost three years ago. For the first six months, I kept the area clean and free of hair. After six months passed, the surgeon referred him to the wound clinic.

WASHINGTON - Popping calcium and vitamin D pills in hopes of strong bones? Healthy older women should not bother with relatively low-dose dietary supplements, say new recommendations from a U.S. government advisory group.

TORONTO - Financially better-off individuals seeking a family doctor appear more likely to get an appointment than those who are poor, even though Canada's universal health system offers no monetary incentive for cherry-picking patients, a study sugg