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Meningitis outbreak sickens 26, beta blockers may not be best for many heart patients, a diet you can live with & more of this week’s top news stories:

4 Dead from Rare Fungal Meningitis
An outbreak of a rare fungal meningitis linked to contaminated spinal steroid injections has killed four people and sickened a further 23 in at least five states. Read more

Common Heart Drug Questioned
Beta blockers, one of the most commonly prescribed medications for heart disease, may not be beneficial for many patients, according to a recent study. Read more

Background TV Takes a Toll on Children
Children younger than 8 spend an average of nearly four hours every day exposed to television, with children 8 months to 2 years receiving nearly six hours of exposure per day. The distractions of television could interrupt play, which develops problem solving and communication skills, possibly inhibiting children’s development in those areas. Read more

Prolonged Sitting Linked to Kidney Disease
Kidney disease joins the list of health risks, including diabetes, heart attack, and certain cancers, that can be attributed to sitting for too long. According to new research, women who reported less than three hours a day of total sitting time were 30% less likely to develop chronic kidney disease than women who sat for up to eight hours. Men who sat for most of the day had an elevated risk as well, though it was less pronounced than in women and could be mitigated by regular physical activity. Read more

Mediterranean Diet Tops List of ‘Liveable’ Diets
Want to find a diet you can actually live with for more than a few weeks? The Mediterranean diet, with its focus on fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains, and healthy fats like olive oil, may be the one for you. A study found that people were more able to stick to this diet than to a low-fat, low-calorie or a low-carb eating plan over the long term. Read more