By Kent Atkinson of NZPA

Wellington, Feb 25 NZPA - Changes proposed to a key diagnostic handbook mean New Zealanders with relatively mild disorders currently classified as asperger's syndrome will in future be defined as part of a wider grouping of autistic conditions.

A long-awaited comprehensive renal service and unit is to become a reality at North Shore Hospital following approval of a three-phase plan by the Waitemata DHB board.

Fluoridation causes more premature births, one of the top causes of infant death in the USA. It poses the greatest risk to poor non-white mothers and babies. This is the finding State University of New York researchers from data spanning 1993 to 2002.

The Stroke Foundation says it is shocked to find that nearly half of those who took advantage of recent free blood pressure checks had raised blood pressure, and is warning that far greater numbers of New Zealanders may have high blood pressure than previously thought.

Auckland, Sept 20 NZPA - A shocking number of people in New Zealand are neglecting the health of their eyes, according to a new survey.

The survey, released to coincide with Save our Sight month, revealed that approximately 68,000 New Zealanders over 40 have glaucoma.