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Obesity, Heart Disease Risk Studied
Two new studies released this week provide a twist of irony on the subject of obesity: Some obese people do not seem to be at increased risk for heart disease, while some normal-weight people have a number of heart disease risk factors.
Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines Revised
Just-released prostate cancer screening guidelines are likely to cause comment and concern in the medical community in coming weeks and months.
Eating Fish Can Decrease Risk for Heart Disease
Near-daily consumption of fish over a lifetime is thought to be the reason that Japanese men are far less likely to have dangerous plaque build-up in their blood vessels than caucasian or Japanese-American men. This difference is seen even in light of high levels of smoking in the Japanese male population.
Easing Discomfort of Mammograms
It is a fact of life that mammograms are uncomfortable, but a new study suggests that applying a topical analgesic before the test could significantly ease the discomfort associated with the test.
Test May Detect Diabetes-Related Vision Problems Early
A just-released study shows that a new vision screening device, already shown to give an early warning of eye disease, could give physicians and patients a head start on treating diabetes and its vision complications.
Some Children May Need Cholesterol Medication
A leading group of pediatricians has released new guidelines that advise kids as young as 8 years old should be given cholesterol-lowering medications in hopes of preventing heart problems later in life.
Enjoy Fireworks on the Fourth - From Afar
Backyard fireworks can produce their own thrills, but mainly for young boys who love to blow stuff up. And therein lies the danger.
Brain Injury Another Result of Falls in Seniors
A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) due to falls caused nearly 8,000 deaths and 56,000 hospitalizations in 2005 among Americans age 65 and older.
Could Enhancing Food Flavors Promote Weight Loss?
A new study suggests that boosting the flavor of your food with calorie-free seasonings and sweeteners may help you feel fuller faster and decrease the amount you eat.
Salmonella Outbreak Likely Due to Raw Tomatoes
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has alerted consumers that the recent outbreak of salmonella contamination seems to be linked with certain types of raw red tomatoes and products containing these tomatoes.
Confidence Lacking in Performing CPR
While 89 percent of Americans say they are willing and able to help if they witness a medical emergency, only 21 percent are confident they could perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and only 15 percent believe they can use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Many Heart Disease Patients Unaware of Heart Attack Symptoms
A new study finds that almost half of patients with a history of heart disease are unfamiliar with the symptoms of a heart attack. In addition, these patients do not see themselves being at increased risk for one.
Teens May Not Be Best Blood Donors
US blood collection centers face a conundrum: At a time of decreasing blood donations, a new study shows that an important source of current and future donations, 16- and 17-year-olds, are more likely to bruise, faint or experience other complications when they donate.
Sunscreen May Not Be Enough Protection
Sunscreens are one of the most popular protections people use as the summer sun sizzles and threatens to burn their skin with harmful ultraviolet rays.
Medical Texts Lack Breastfeeding Information
Doctors coaching new nursing mothers will find little practical advice to share from some of the classic obstetrics textbooks, a new study suggests.
Many Toddlers Improperly Vaccinated
New statistics reveal that more than a quarter of American toddlers may be under-vaccinated.
Cancer Death Rates Cease Decline
Declining cancer death rates in the US appear to have halted, according to a new annual report from the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Is It A Case of Early Alzheimer's? Maybe Not.
New research suggests that the root cause of early-onset dementia is usually not Alzheimer's, but rather another neurodegenerative or autoimmune disorder.
Organ Donors in Increasing Demand
At this moment, more than 98,000 people in the US are clinging to life, and their only chance for survival is a dead person's generosity
Hands Only CPR: New Option to Save Lives
Chest compressions alone, or Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), can save lives and can be used to help an adult who suddenly collapses, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement.
War Injury Outcomes Improving
After five years of war in Iraq, there's some relatively good medical news about the casualties over there: more than 90 percent are now surviving injuries that would have been fatal in previous conflicts.
New Gene Discovery Brings Hope to Multiple Sclerosis Sufferers
Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be a devastating and unpredictable neurological disease. But, the recent discovery of a second gene linked to multiple sclerosis has been hailed as a major breakthrough - and is making researchers optimistic that they are honing in on useful treatments - and, ultimately, a cure.
New Screening Tests Ring in National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
A new guideline on colorectal cancer screening was released last week by an expert group representing a broad spectrum of health care organizations, including the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the American Cancer Society (ACS).
If You Don't Snooze, You Lose
Americans are working more and sleeping less, a harmful combination which can cause drowsiness or sleeping at the wheel, lower efficiency, and less interest in sex. And while most people recognize this as a problem, about two-thirds of them aren't doing anything about it, a new poll shows.
Sweet Hearts Not So Sweet
According to a statement released earlier this week by the American Heart Association, a national effort is needed to deal with the effects of high blood sugar in heart patients.
Women on Red Alert for Hypertension
According to the results of several studies published recently in the medical journal Hypertension, women with hypertension face unique challenges. For example, women struggle with controlling their blood pressure more than men.
Be a Wise Internet Health Consumer
February is Wise Health Consumer Month, a great time to look at how the consumer makes healthy lifestyle choices and ensures consumer information is accurate and appropriate.
Baby's Soft Skin Soaks Up Chemicals
A new study found that more than 80 percent of infants tested had been exposed to phthalates - a potentially harmful group of chemicals.
Seeing Red? Think Women's Heart Health
February 1st is the fifth anniversary of National Wear Red Day - a day when Americans all across the country wear red to demonstrate their support for women's heart disease awareness.
Caffeine Linked to Miscarriage
A new study reinforces the theory that high daily doses of caffeine consumed during pregnancy can be harmful. Study results showed that high caffeine intake may double the risk of miscarriage.
Stressed Out Moms More Likely to Have Kids with Asthma
Children whose mothers are chronically stressed during their early years have a higher asthma rate than their peers, regardless of their income, gender or other known asthma risk factors.
HPV Vaccine Prevents Cervical Cancer
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and there is good news on the cervical cancer front. For the first time, there is a vaccine that can actually prevent cervical cancer.
Good News In Diabetes Care - Count Carbs or Calories
For the first time, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is supporting lthe use of low-carbohydrate diets for people with diabetes who want to manage their weight.
Holiday Blues Busters
Eating a balanced diet and staying active are key to beating the blues this holiday season, say mental health experts.
Keep the "Merry" in Christmas for Kids
When shopping for Christmas toys, it is tempting to follow the latest fad and be the first in line for the new, hot toy. However, two recently published articles give parents tips about how to choose appropriate and safe toys.
EXCITing Stroke Rehabilitation Study Results
The EXCITE (extremity constraint-induced movement therapy evaluation) trial is showing that constraint-induced movement therapy improves strength and quality of life.
Honey: A Sweet Nighttime Cough Remedy
Put away the cough medicines - a simple home remedy may work better.
A new study by a Penn State College of Medicine research team found that honey may offer parents an effective and safe alternative to over-the- counter (OTC) children's cough medicines.
Scientific Evidence Shows Secondhand Smoke Damages Lungs
The first study to produce evidence linking secondhand smoke to lung damage has just been released. The news comes during Lung Cancer Awareness Month, which is observed each year during the month of November.
Heart Disease Deaths Increasing in Middle-Aged Adults
Does a day of football, pizza, and beer in front of the TV sound good? Before getting comfy on the sofa, young adult couch potatoes should consider new information about heart disease death rates.
New Asthma Guidelines Partner You With Your Physician
Asthma control and prevention of attacks are the focus of new national asthma guidelines released by the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP).
Diabetes Epidemic: An Uphill Battle That Can Be Won
News from the diabetes front seems to grow more discouraging by the day.
Screening for Autism Should Occur Twice Before Age Two
The American Academy of Pediatrics released a new report that recommends all children should be screened for autism at 18 and 24 months. Screening should be done whether parents or physicians suspect the disorder is present or not.
Make Your Halloween a Hoot, Not a Howl
Some simple safety measures can help ensure a happy Halloween for both children and adults, according to experts at Prevent Blindness America, a nonprofit organization based in Chicago.
Drop in Cancer Death Rates in US Continues
Death rates from cancer are dropping more quickly across the US, offering what one expert calls a "glimmer of hope" against a leading killer.
Common Antidepressant Use Doubles Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Many Americans currently take antidepressants known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders.
Fetal Cells Protect Mother Against Breast Cancer
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a well-known risk factor for breast cancer has just received validation.
Good News for Many Frequent Fliers
Despite recent media reports of airplane passengers developing serious blood clots in-flight, only about one in 5,000 people are at risk for these types of events, a new study finds.
Once A Year Drug Reduces Fractures In Elderly
One annual injection of the drug zoledronic acid (Reclast® ) not only reduces the number of new hip fractures for older users, it can also save their lives.
Weight Gain Linked to Heart Failure Admissions
Short-term weight gain can signal worsening outcomes for heart failure patients, a new study shows.
Warning: Work, Commute, and Autumn May Disrupt Your Sleep
Labor Day marks the end of the US summer holiday season. It is also when resumption of frenzied work and home routines can cost precious sleep time.
Smoking Link to Head and Neck Cancers Reveals Greater Risk in Women
Smoking significantly increases the risk for head and neck cancers for both men and women, regardless of the anatomic site.
Cranberries May Help with Ovarian Cancer Treatment
Improving the effect of chemotherapy against ovarian cancer may soon be as simple as drinking a glass of cranberry juice, suggests new research.
Some Asians Fare Better with Prostate Cancer in US
Your outlook for surviving prostate cancer may depend on your racial and ethnic background, a new study suggests.
ADHD Is "Real"
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an identifiable disease linked to changes in production of the brain chemical dopamine, two new reports suggests.
Light Shed on Mystery of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
A simple hearing test perfomed soon after birth may identify babies at risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), a new US study finds
Drinking Even Diet Soda May Be Harmful to Your Health
Drinking more than one soft drink daily - even if it is the sugar-free kind - may be associated with an increased incidence of metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of risk factors linked to the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, a study finds.
Pitching Can Work for You - and Against You
Repeated pitching affects movement in a young man's arm, according to research that shows that regularly throwing a baseball hampers one kind of motion, while boosting another.
Western Diet May Increase Breast Cancer Risk
A study of older Chinese women suggests that a move toward a Western-style diet - heavy on meat and sugary foods - boosts breast cancer risk.
Antidepressant Medications No Longer Linked to Suicide Attempts
Suicide attempts dropped among people with depression soon after they started treatment, either with antidepressant drugs or psychotherapy, a study of more than 109,000 patients shows.
Diabetes Meeting Yields Information from New Research
New information from the latest diabetes research has been presented by the American Diabetes Association.
Smokers' Infants Born With High Nicotine Exposure
When at least one parent in a household smokes, infants have levels of a toxin called cotinine that are over five times higher than those with non-smoking parents, a British study finds. Cotinine is created as the body tries to get rid of the nicotine in inhaled smoke.
Stress and Memory Decline Linked
If you want your mind to stay healthy into your golden years, don't worry, be happy, according to a recent article published in Neurology.
Fight Against Liver Cancer Gains New Ammunition
Researchers have announced the first drug to make major inroads against liver cancer, one of the more aggressive types of cancer.
Some International Jet Passengers Exposed to Highly Drug Resistant TB
US health officials are looking for airline passengers who may have been exposed by a fellow passenger to a highly drug-resistant and dangerous strain of tuberculosis.
Smoking, and Its Risks, Moves Outdoors
Bar and restaurant smoking bans are forcing more and more smokers to head for the exit, only to create noxious "smoke zones" on the sidewalk, new research shows.
Migraines Associated with Signs of Retinal Disease
Men and women who reach middle age with a history of migraines and other headaches are more likely to have damage to the retina of the eye than people without such a history, a new study says.
Woman's Age No Longer Issue for Down Syndrome Screening
A new recommendation from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) urges pregnant women to exercise the option to be screened for Down syndrome, regardless of their age.
Secondhand Smoke Linked to Alzheimer's
Breathing in secondhand smoke could raise your risk for dementia, a new study finds.
New Choice for Colonoscopy on Horizon
A cutting-edge technology called "virtual colonoscopy" promises fewer complications and better cost-effectiveness than traditional colonoscopy, researchers report in the journal Cancer.
Cut Inflammation, Cut Cancer Risk?
Two studies presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 2007 annual meeting suggest that reducing inflammation may help to prevent cancer.
Numbers of Severely Obese Rising Sharply
The proportion of severely obese Americans - those with a body mass index of 40 or more - increased by 50 percent from 2000 to 2005, twice as fast as the increase in moderate obesity, a new study finds.
New Screening Mammography Guidelines Affect Women in Their Forties
Not all women in their 40s should be routinely screened for breast cancer, says the American College of Physicians (ACP).
