You could increase your coworkers' chances of catching the flu by as much as 40 percent if you decide to go to work when you're sick.

Researchers looked at data from employees in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Penn., and found that there were 66,444 additional cases of the flu spread at the workplace. Out of those, 47,768 were from workers who showed up knowing they were sick.

People were more likely to come to work sick if their company didn't offer paid time off. Paid sick days resulted in more than 3,800 fewer cases of the flu.

In order to lessen the number of cases, the study proposes offering a "one or two flu day" policy, where companies give employees one or two extra sick days to stay at home if they have the flu. The one extra day simulation resulted in 16,833 fewer infections, while the two day policy resulted in 26,059 fewer cases.


Supreme Court Unanimous Against Gene Patents 

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that human genes cannot be patented.

This is big news for gene testing for certain types of cancers, such as breast and ovarian cancer. Myriad Genetics has gene tests for these two types of cancers, which have been used by nearly 1 million women since the late 1990s.

But since Myriad essentially had a monopoly on the test because of its patent, they were able to charge thousands of dollars for the gene tests. Angelina Jolie noted how pricey the gene testing is for the BRCA gene that she tested positive for and that prompted her to get a preventive double mastectomy. 

The unanimous decision is in line with other rulings that forces of nature cannot be patented, but man-made things can be.


Volunteer Work Lowers Pressure

Volunteering could be making you better both mentally and physically. 

A new study in the journal Psychology and Aging found that volunteering could lower the risk of high blood pressure in older adults by as much as 40 percent. 

More than 1,000 adults over the age of 50 were tracked for four years. Those who volunteered at least 200 hours a year, in any capacity, decreased their hypertension risk. Researchers believe the benefit comes from interacting with others, which is good for your heart, especially as one gets older.

"As people get older, social transitions like retirement, bereavement and the departure of children from the home often leave older adults with fewer natural opportunities for social interaction," said study author Rodlescia Sneed, a PhD candidate in psychology at Carnegie Mellon University’s Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences in Pittsburgh, in a release. "Participating in volunteer activities may provide older adults with social connections that they might not have otherwise. There is strong evidence that having good social connections promotes healthy aging and reduces risk for a number of negative health outcomes."

Detailed MRI Helps MS Patients

New, more sensitive MRI machines could help doctors make better and faster multiple sclerosis diagnoses

Right now, doctors can see if there are brain lesions present, a result of the immune system attacking the protective coating on nerves. 

A new MRI program developed at the University of British Columbia in Canada can show exactly what brain tissue has been damaged and how badly. This allows doctors to make a diagnosis faster and start treatment sooner.
