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National Institutes of Health
Health news from HealthDay and Reuters Health Information, plus recent press announcements from major medical organizations.
Surfing Safely
Thursday, February 9
Thursday, February 9
Surfing Safely
(HealthDay)
(HealthDay)Related MedlinePlus Topic: Ergonomics
Wednesday, February 8
CDC Study Finds Levels of Trans-Fatty Acid in Blood of U.S. White Adults Has Decreased (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
New research challenges notion that bullying leads to mental health woes
Preliminary results suggest method might hold promise for dementia patients
Experts Warn of Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea (HealthDay)
Arsenal of drugs effective against the sexually transmitted disease running dry, researchers say
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Gonorrhea
Female Soccer Players May Face Health Problems (HealthDay)
Intense training, poor nutrition might lead to menstrual abnormalities, stress fractures in young players
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Sports Fitness, Women's Health
Flying in Comfort (HealthDay)
(HealthDay)Related MedlinePlus Topics: Deep Vein Thrombosis, Traveler's Health
But meds remain a significant burden for those with low incomes, chronic illnesses, study finds
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Medicines, Over-the-Counter Medicines
Health Tip: Before You Start an Exercise Program (HealthDay)
Review with a doctor your medical history
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Exercise and Physical Fitness
Here's what you can do
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Health Problems in Pregnancy, Migraine
Male-only Y chromosome can raise risk by 50%, study finds
More Evidence Big Football Players Face Heart Risks (Reuters Health)
Pro football players may generally enjoy a longer-than-average lifespan -- but the biggest players may be more likely than others to die of heart disease, a U.S. study suggests.
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Heart Diseases, Sports Fitness
More Success with Gene Therapy for Blindness (HealthDay)
Repeat treatment improves vision for three adults with rare eye disease
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Genes and Gene Therapy, Vision Impairment and Blindness
NIH Study Links High Levels of Cadmium, Lead in Blood to Pregnancy Delay (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)Obesity Linked to Worse Fibromyalgia Symptoms (HealthDay)
As weight increases, so do patient reports of greater pain, poor quality of life, researchers say
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Fibromyalgia, Obesity
Playing Sports May Help Keep Kids from Smoking (HealthDay)
But the risk of taking up the habit rises if teammates smoke, study finds
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Exercise for Children, Smoking and Youth
Prescription Shampoo Approved to Treat Head Lice (HealthDay)
Sklice is sanctioned for children as young as six months
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Head Lice
Mothers whose kids attended good day care were more involved in their children's schools later on
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Child Care, Parenting
Study finds intervening early in pregnancy had no effect on children's mental function later
But with or without pauses, more benefit achieved in low-oxygen setting, study finds
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Diabetes Type 2, Exercise and Physical Fitness
Tai Chi May Help Parkinson's Patients (HealthDay)
Study found twice-weekly training boosted balance, reduced falls
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Balance Problems, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Parkinson's Disease
Teen Pregnancy, Abortion Rates at Record Low, Study Says (Reuters Health)
Birth and abortion rates among U.S. teens fell to record lows in 2008 as increased use of contraceptives sent the overall teen pregnancy rate to its lowest level since at least 1972, a study showed on Wednesday.
Study found power of suggestion worked, even when smaller meal was not discounted
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Weight Control
Tuesday, February 7
Amateur Tattoos Carry Hepatitis C Risk: CDC (Reuters Health)
If you're planning on getting a tattoo, make sure it's from a professional and not your friend, says a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Hepatitis C, Piercing and Tattoos
Experts say DVTs can strike any immobilized passenger, not just those in economy class
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Deep Vein Thrombosis, Traveler's Health
Back Pain and Weight (HealthDay)
(HealthDay)Bread a Culprit in Americans Eating Too Much Salt (Reuters Health)
Nine out of 10 American adults consume too much salt and the leading culprit is not potato chips or popcorn but slices of bread and dinner rolls, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday.
Breast Cancer Drug May Weaken Bones, Study Finds (HealthDay)
Researchers say postmenopausal women taking Aromasin need to be monitored
Breast Cancer Kills Older Women More Often (Reuters Health)
Breast cancer is often considered more deadly among younger women, but a new study shows older women are actually more likely to die of the disease.
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Breast Cancer, Seniors' Health
Study finds changes in physical fitness affect disease risk at any weight
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Exercise and Physical Fitness, Heart Diseases--Prevention
Key mutation in certain DNA is tied to a minority of cases of the illness, study says
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Genes and Gene Therapy, Parkinson's Disease
Health Tip: Help Prevent Ice Skating Accidents (HealthDay)
Follow these safety guidelines
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Sports Safety
Health Tip: When You Can't Hear (HealthDay)
How family and friends can help
Heart Failure, Osteoporosis Go 'Hand-In-Hand' (HealthDay)
Cardiac condition raises the risks of falls and may contribute to bone-density loss
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Heart Failure, Osteoporosis
Kids' Diarrhea Vaccine Appears Safe After All (HealthDay)
Risk of intestinal side effect didn't rise; children should be vaccinated, experts say
Babies who are spoon-fed purees more likely to prefer sweets, become overweight, study says
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Child Nutrition, Toddler Nutrition
Frequently uprooted kids were more likely to drink heavily, smoke as adults, study says
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Child Mental Health
New Meningitis Vaccine Works in Infants (HealthDay)
If licensed, it would protect babies from a strain of bacterium that can cause serious disease
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Childhood Immunization, Meningitis
Smokers four times more likely to develop oral conditions, such as mouth cancers, gum disease, study finds
Soft Drinks May Raise Odds for Respiratory Ills (HealthDay)
Asthma, COPD more likely for those who regularly consume soda, flavored mineral water, researchers say
Surgery Effective for Tough-to-Treat Epilepsy (HealthDay)
In 26-year study, procedure cut seizures and boosted quality of life long-term
Monday, February 6
Certain Cancer Drugs May Have Fatal Side Effects (HealthDay)
Risk is very small, but doctors, patients should be made aware, investigators say
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Cancer Chemotherapy, Drug Safety
Constipation May Help Explain Some Bedwetting (HealthDay)
Study found it could pressure bladder, lower capacity to hold urine
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Bedwetting, Constipation
Fewer Teens Exposed to Tobacco Smoke in Cars (HealthDay)
But researchers add that too many are still breathing in secondhand smoke while in vehicles
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Secondhand Smoke
Fitness and "Fatness" Both Matter to the Heart (Reuters Health)
Losing fitness or packing on fat with age each can be bad for the heart -- but avoiding either one of those fates may protect the ticker, a study published Monday suggests.
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Exercise and Physical Fitness, Heart Diseases--Prevention, Weight Control
They're just a step backward in the learning process, experts say
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Toilet Training
Health Tip: How to Protect Seniors from Injury (HealthDay)
Devise a home safety checklist
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Injuries, Seniors' Health
Male Smokers Lose Brain Function Faster as They Age (Reuters Health)
Men who smoke suffer a more rapid decline in brain function as they age than their non-smoking counterparts, with their cognitive decline as rapid as someone 10 years older but who shuns tobacco, scientists said on Monday.
Regulation needed to reduce students' access to junk food, researchers say
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Child Nutrition, School Health
Men, Women and Statins (HealthDay)
(HealthDay)But, American College of Physicians states diet and exercise changes should start before medication
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Diabetes Medicines, Diabetes Type 2
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Study reveals quick way to identify those who will respond well to clot-buster alteplase
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Stroke
Ovarian Cancer Screening Popular Despite Guidelines (Reuters Health)
Despite expert guidelines and scientific evidence to the contrary, a third of U.S. primary care physicians believe ovarian cancer screening is effective and many would offer it to patients, according to a new survey.
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Health Screening, Ovarian Cancer
High-fructose corn syrup is ubiquitous in Western diet, and study suggests it could play unique role
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Carbohydrates, Diabetes Type 2
Restricting Calories Early on Does Not Help Acute Lung Injury Patients on Ventilators (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)Spanking Produces Troubled Kids, Study Contends (HealthDay)
Punishment linked to more aggression in children, two decades of research shows
Thousands of U.S. Kids Hospitalized for Abuse (HealthDay)
Infants, poor children most vulnerable, study suggests
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Child Abuse, Health Statistics
Vulnerability to Anthrax Varies Widely (HealthDay)
It suggests that genes might make some people safer in bioterrorism attack
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Anthrax
Sunday, February 5
Safe Social Networking Tips for Teens (HealthDay)
Parents can support a positive experience for their kids, experts say
Friday, February 3
Anxiety Therapy Doesn't Work As Well in Elderly (Reuters Health)
A form of talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy appears to help older adults battle anxiety disorders slightly better than other approaches, but not as well as in younger adults, according to a new study.
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Anxiety, Seniors' Health
Red meat, smoking and skipping veggies also associated with a raised cancer risk, research finds
Breastfeeding Tied to Stronger Lungs, Less Asthma (Reuters Health)
Kids who were breastfed as babies may have better lung function, and a lower risk of asthma, than those who were formula-fed, two new reports suggest.
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Asthma in Children, Breast Feeding
Clopidogrel with Aspirin Doesn't Prevent More Small Strokes, May Increase Risk of Bleeding, Death (American Heart Association)
Could a Blood Test Help Spot Depression? (HealthDay)
Small study suggests 'biomarker' levels might help support a diagnosis, but more research needed
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Depression, Laboratory Tests
Diabetes Takes Toll on Women's Hearing (HealthDay)
Especially in women over 60, hearing is much worse for those with poorly controlled disease
Study found as mother's temperature rose, problems were more likely at birth
Green Tea Drinkers Show Less Disability with Age (Reuters Health)
Elderly adults who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile and independent than their peers over time, a large study of Japanese adults suggests.
Those who continue to 'dabble' into their 50s tend to be at greater risk for bad outcomes in general
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Drug Abuse, Health Statistics
Health Tip: Prepare For Breast-Feeding (HealthDay)
Suggestions for getting ready
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Breast Feeding
Health Tip: Teach Your Toddler Good Behavior (HealthDay)
Suggestions for disciplining your little one
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Toddler Development
Study estimates 1.2 million die each year, nearly double previous estimates
Related MedlinePlus Topics: International Health, Malaria
Researchers found response times haven't improved since 2005
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Emergency Medical Services, Stroke
Nerve Disorder Does Not Recur After Later Vaccines (Reuters Health)
Despite concerns by some that vaccines might cause a crippling nerve disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome, a new study finds that people who receive vaccines after previously having been diagnosed with the condition do not experience any flare-ups.
Gastrointestinal bug causes vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea
Preventing Common Pregnancy Problem (HealthDay)
(HealthDay)Related MedlinePlus Topic: Diabetes and Pregnancy
Questionnaire Could Help Predict Alzheimer's (HealthDay)
21 simple questions may help docs determine which patients need more testing, researchers say
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Alzheimer's Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment
Rare Mutations May Help Explain Aneurysm in High-Risk Families (American Heart Association)
People eat until full regardless of the dinnerware, researcher says
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Weight Control
Traffic-Related Asthma Costs Two Cities Big Money (Reuters Health)
Traffic pollution may cost two California cities millions each year in managing children's asthma, a new study suggests.
Warfarin and Aspirin Are Similar in Heart Failure Treatment (American Heart Association)
Thursday, February 2
Anemia May More Than Triple Your Risk of Dying After a Stroke (American Heart Association)
Only associated with multiple surgeries; not a reason to delay needed procedures, experts say
Being Fit Before Stroke May Aid Recovery (HealthDay)
Patients with higher physical activity levels have better treatment response, study finds
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Exercise and Physical Fitness, Stroke
Bossy Mom at Snack Time Tied to Kid's Weight (Reuters Health)
Mothers who push their toddlers to eat more at snack time may end up with slightly chubbier children by the age of three, according to a U.S. study.
Erratic Heart Rhythm May Account for Some Unexplained Strokes (American Heart Association)
Gene Regulator in Brain's Executive Hub Tracked across Lifespan (National Institute of Mental Health)
(National Institute of Mental Health)Health Tip: Help Prevent a Stress Fracture (HealthDay)
Take it slow when starting an exercise program
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Exercise and Physical Fitness, Injuries
Help keep them safe behind the wheel
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Motor Vehicle Safety, Teen Health
If Your Dining Partner Overeats, So May You (HealthDay)
In study, women mimicked eating behavior of new acquaintances, matching them bite for bite
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Weight Control
Safety information, side-effect warnings are often lacking, British study finds
Lack of Sunlight May Raise Stroke Risk (HealthDay)
Study found those who got less exposure were more likely to suffer an attack
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Stroke, Sun Exposure
Study found it shrank fibroids, reduced excessive bleeding
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Birth Control, Uterine Fibroids
If validated, finding might open doors to new therapies, even a vaccine, experts say
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Alzheimer's Disease
NIH Study Uncovers Probable Mechanism Underlying Resveratrol Activity (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)Older Parents More Likely to Have an Autistic Child (Reuters Health)
Children born to a parent over age 35 are at greater risk for developing an autism spectrum disorder -- but the risk is the same whether just one or both parents are older, according to a new study of Danish families.
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Autism
'People Pleasers' More Prone to Overeating (HealthDay)
They often yield to pressure to indulge more in social situations, researchers say
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Diets
Pet Turtles Carry Salmonella Dangers, CDC Warns (HealthDay)
Tougher laws needed to protect children from infection, report says
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Pet Health, Salmonella Infections
Sensation is especially intense in ankles, researchers say
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Itching
Rivaroxaban Has Less Risk of Brain Bleeding in Patients at High Risk of Stroke (American Heart Association)
Same Genes Key to Early & Late-Onset Alzheimer's (HealthDay)
Individual risk factors may influence when the brain disorder develops, researchers say
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Alzheimer's Disease, Genes and Gene Therapy
Shady Stroke News (HealthDay)
(HealthDay)Related MedlinePlus Topics: Stroke, Sun Exposure
Siblings' Brain Scans May Hold Key to Addictions (Reuters Health)
Drug addicts and their non-addicted siblings share certain features in the brain, suggesting a susceptibility to addiction is inherited but is also a flaw that can be overcome, scientists said on Thursday.
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Drug Abuse, Family History
Sickle Cell Anemia Stroke Prevention Efforts May Have Decreased Racial Disparities in Childhood Stroke Deaths (American Heart Association)
Smoking Tied to Higher Psoriasis Risk (Reuters Health)
Adding to the list of possible health consequences from smoking, a large study suggests that smokers have an increased risk of developing the chronic skin condition psoriasis.
Think You Can't Get Pregnant? Try Again, Study Says (Reuters Health)
Almost half of women who said they'd been struggling to get pregnant for at least a year ended up having a baby despite not getting fertility treatment, in a new study from Australia.
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Female Infertility
Though three vaccines showed increases in coverage rates, coverage remains low for essential ones
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Health Statistics, Immunization
Ulcer-Causing Bug Tied to Higher Diabetes Risk (Reuters Health)
People who have been infected with the ulcer-causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori are more than twice as likely to develop diabetes later on as people who do not have signs of the infection, according to a new study of Latino adults in California.
Related MedlinePlus Topics: Diabetes, Peptic Ulcer
"Yo-Yo Dieting" Not Tied to Early Death (Reuters Health)
Despite earlier concerns, dieters who repeatedly lose weight and then gain it back aren't at higher risk of early death than people who don't "yo-yo diet," according to a new report.
Related MedlinePlus Topic: Weight Control