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Roller coasters for better health (really), flu shots, and a new diabetes device

Published: Sep 30, 2016

By Lisa Greene

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It’s Florida, so even health news is just plain weird. This study found that riding roller coasters could actually help pass a small kidney stone. Michigan State researchers tested their theory on Walt Disney World’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. If you want to test this theory, try sitting in the back, reports CNN:  

Americans should get their annual flu shots as soon as possible, leaders from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. The CDC is especially concerned that flu vaccination rates have dropped, reported NPR. And to drive that point home, CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden rolled up his sleeve:

In a new Texas study, this straightforward intervention was surprisingly successful in helping teens feel less anxiety, reports the New York Times:

Late Wednesday, Congress approved $1.1 billion in funding to fight Zika. Most of the funds would be used to keep Zika from spreading in the U.S., reports Kaiser Health News.

The first artificial pancreas – a device that can automatically check blood sugar levels for people with diabetes and deliver insulin – was approved Wednesday by the Food and Drug Administration:

 

This Week in Health is our weekly roundup of Florida and national health headlines.