PHILADELPHIA - New moms should get up and start walking as soon as possible to prevent the risk of a potentially fatal blood clot, doctors advise.

Here are profiles of the 2003-2004 Augusta Lynx players.

When it comes to stroke risk, those who tend to snooze may lose, a new study suggests. Researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo have found that sleeping for more than eight hours a night, daytime drowsiness and snoring are all associated with an increased risk of stroke. "We've found that these certain sleep characteristics influence the likelihood of having a stroke," said Dr. Adnan Qureshi, an assistant professor of neurosurgery and lead author of the study.

Female workers at nuclear-weapons plants - including Savannah River Site - have a lower risk of early death than the female population at large, a study has found.

Scientists at the State University of New York at Buffalo have confirmed what most women already know; they use more of their brain for processing language than do men. Using PET scans to watch the living brain at work, the researchers found that men process complex linguistic tasks primarily on the left side of their brain. Women process these tasks on both sides of the brain.

BOSTON -- In the minds of some parents, bottled water has become the equivalent of sunscreen or vitamins: extra protection in a sometimes dangerous world. The elixir -- which has gone from labeled luxury to supermarket staple in the past decade -- markets itself as a healthful alternative to tap water because it contains minimal amounts of lead, pesticides, coliform and foul-tasting chlorine. But bottled water also contains minimal amounts of fluoride, the mineral dentists say helps develop stronger teeth in children and helps prevent tooth decay in adults.

NEW YORK -- Scientists have identified a pecan-size area of the brain that appears to play a crucial role in tinnitus, the ringing in the ears that affects some 50 million Americans. One expert called the work a breakthrough toward finding the cause of the problem and perhaps better treatments.

Floss this morning? Not exactly? Anybody who's ever been to a dentist has heard it already: Flossing and brushing keep the gums healthy so your teeth don't fall out, etc., etc., etc. But don't stop reading. This story won't bore you with the standard lecture about why flossing is good. No, the news here is something the hygienist probably didn't say. It turns out more could be at stake than teeth. Maybe your heart, for instance.

Besides an array of cycling and stair-climbing machines, modern gyms also should be equipped with automated external defibrillators to use when members have cardiac arrest, two health organizations urge.

Did Britney Spears or Madonna drop by the operating room to help with your gallbladder surgery? Are Barenaked Ladies, the Beatles or Jimmy Buffet regulars on the surgical team? Maybe Luciano Pavarotti visits to sing "Rigoletto," "La Boheme" or "Tosca." Mention medical records in the OR these days and people may start talking about jazz, pop, rock, country and western, folk or classical. Conducting surgery to music has become a fixture in the OR, bringing harmony to doctors, nurses and the increasing numbers of patients who stay awake during operations.