Health News

Health News for 01/28/10

January 28, 2010

CT Scans Reduce Unneeded Appendectomies in Women

Using computed tomography (CT) scans to assess younger women with suspected acute appendicitis may help reduce unnecessary surgeries, a new study shows.

Some Childhood Cancer Survivors Face More Challenges at School

Survivors of childhood brain cancer or other central nervous system cancers, or leukemia, are less successful in school than their peers, a new study has found.

Symptoms Alone Don't Spot Ovarian Cancer Early

Relying on symptoms alone to identify women who have ovarian cancer isn't very effective at catching the disease early, a new study indicates.

Personal History Linked to Feelings of Betrayal

Betrayal may be in the eye of the beholder, a new study suggests.

Injections May Boost Knee Surgery Success

For people with arthritis, injections of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory fluid can improve recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery to repair damaged cartilage, researchers say.

Your Body Moves Through Time With Your Mind

When people think back to the past or look toward the future, their body language reflects their sense of time travel, a new study suggests.

Omega-3 Supplements Don't Reduce Risk of Preterm Birth

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements are believed to have many health benefits, but the one thing they can't do is help women with a history of delivering their babies early carry their next child to full term, new research finds.

Clinical Trials Update: Jan. 28, 2010

Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com :

Health Highlights: Jan. 28, 2010

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay :

Too Little Vitamin D May Worsen Asthma

People with asthma who have low levels of vitamin D fare worse than those with high levels of the "sunshine" vitamin, a new study finds.

Virtual Colonoscopy a Good Bet for Elderly

Virtual colonoscopy is a safe and effective way to screen older patients for colorectal cancer, a new study indicates.

Kids' Screenings in Place, But Referrals Lacking

Although U.S. pediatricians are doing a good job of screening children for developmental delays, many fail to refer these patients to testing or treatment, researchers say.

Stress Hormone Could Be Key to Alcoholism

Researchers are linking a stress hormone to alcoholism in animals, and they report that blocking it could become a strategy to help stop the addiction in people.

Haitian Children Need Specific Relief Efforts

Children are likely to account for about 44 percent of the estimated number of Haitians injured in the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake -- information that could be used to guide rescuers, say U.S. researchers.

Over 70 and Overweight May Add Years to Life

Despite the warnings that being overweight will kill you, a new Australian study finds that overweight adults over the age of 70 are less likely to die over a 10-year period than their normal-weight peers.

Kids' Use of Alternative Therapies Often Mimics Parents'

Almost 12 percent of children and adolescents in the United States use complementary or alternative medicines, known as CAM, according to Harvard Medical School researchers.

Health Tip: Spot the Signs of TMJ

TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders, affecting the jaw, are commonly triggered by grinding or clenching the teeth.

Health Tip: Learn the Symptoms of Graves' Disease

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease that causes hyperthyroidism, the medical term for an overactive thyroid gland.