Health News

Health News for 06/03/10

June 03, 2010

Donor-Assisted Conception Sparks Disclosure Dilemmas

Explaining where babies come from prompts anxiety in many a parent. But having to incorporate information on test tubes or sperm donors into the story can make an already sensitive subject even more complicated.

Health Tip: Protect Your Child From a Sports Injury

You and your athletic child should keep some safety rules in mind before the game starts.

Health Tip: Signs That You May Have an Ulcer

An ulcer is a sore that occurs in the tissue that lines the digestive tract. Most ulcers are believed caused by a bacterial infection.

Neighborhood Planning Could Help More Kids Avoid Obesity

Children have a better chance of avoiding the obesity epidemic if they live in neighborhoods where they can safely walk, bike and have access to parks and sports fields, researchers say.

1 in 4 Patients Undergoes Revolving-Door Hospitalizations

About one-quarter of all U.S. hospital patients are readmitted over a two-year period for the same conditions that led to their original hospitalization, a new study finds.

Jews Around the World Linked by Common Genetic Ancestry

A new and complex genetic analysis has revealed that Jews all over the world are related by virtue of uniquely shared genetic traits dating back several millennia.

Breathing Exercises May Boost Athletes' Performance

Doing daily breathing exercises to strengthen inhalation muscles and reduce their need for oxygen helps boost performance during endurance sports such as cycling and swimming, a new study shows.

Burgers May Feed Kids' Asthma Risk

Children who eat three or more hamburgers a week may raise their odds for asthma and wheeze, a new study suggests.

Lead Poisoning Unlikely Cause of Beethoven's Death

Among the many health complications that have long been considered as possible contributors to the demise of world-renowned composer Ludwig van Beethoven in 1827, scientists believe they can now rule out lead poisoning.

More Than Quarter of Stroke Patients Reach ER Within 'Golden Hour'

Researchers report that only about a quarter of people who have strokes caused by blocked arteries arrive at a hospital within one hour of the attack -- the "golden hour" where treatment with a powerful clot-dissolving drug is expected to work best.

Drug Combo Staves Off Type 2 Diabetes

In people with pre-diabetes, a low-dose combination of two diabetes drugs -- metformin and Avandia (rosiglitazone) -- appeared to reduce the progression to type 2 diabetes, new research shows.

Romance May Steer Young Adults Away From Booze, Pot

Young adults who are in a romantic relationship in the two years following high school are less likely to engage in heavy drinking or smoke marijuana, new research reveals.

Poker Players May Use Drugs to Stay Sharp at the Table

Four out of five poker players use any one of a number of legal and illicit drugs to improve their game, a new study suggests.

Low IQ Among Males Raises Suicide Risk

Low intelligence in young males has been linked to a much higher risk that they'll commit suicide, at least compared to their most intelligent counterparts, researchers say.

Health Highlights: June 3, 2010

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

Gulf Oil Spill Workers Report Health Problems

With the giant oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico now in its sixth week, reports of clean-up workers falling ill are on the rise.

Drug Errors Peak in July When New Docs Start

Fatal medication errors in U.S. hospitals peak in July, possibly because of the inexperience of new medical residents, a new study finds.

Clinical Trials Update: June. 3, 2010

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

20% of U.S. High Schoolers Abuse Prescription Drugs

One in five high school students in the United States has taken a prescription medication that was not prescribed for them, a new survey shows.