Health News

Health News for 06/15/10

June 15, 2010

Study Probes Causes of Anger in Returning U.S. Soldiers

Sleep problems, irritability, concentration problems, jumpiness and feeling constantly "on guard" are among the hyperarousal symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with anger and hostility in U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, researchers say.

Docs Should Assess Lung Clot Risk Before Ordering Scan

CT angiography might not be necessary in many patients suspected of having a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism), and a risk analysis can identify those most likely to require the procedure, a new study suggests.

Health Tip: Things That Can Aggravate Arthritis Pain

Your physical and emotional health can play a big part in the severity of your arthritis pain.

Health Tip: Buy a Bike That Suits Your Child

As with any exercise equipment or sporting gear, a bicycle should fit a rider properly, especially if the user is a child.

Brain Circuitry May Develop Through Adulthood

The brain's wiring isn't fixed in early life, and circuits in the adult brain are continually modified by experience, suggests a new study involving mice.

Key Blood Sugar Test Seems to Differ By Race

The hemoglobin A1C test is supposed to give doctors a sense of diabetics' long-term blood sugar levels, but new research suggests the test may have different results depending on race, even if daily blood sugar levels are the same.

Common Birth Defect Likely Inherited

A severe and potentially deadly digestive tract disorder in infants may have a genetic component, finds a new study from Denmark.

Drug-Resistant Staph Threatens Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Cystic fibrosis patients with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in their respiratory tract have worse survival rates than those without the drug-resistant bacteria, researchers have found.

Gene-Based Detection Method Might Spot HIV Earlier

In a effort to improve the methods for early detection of HIV, researchers sought to determine if a program using "nucleic acid testing" (NAT) would increase the number of cases that could be detected early, and found that it did so by 23 percent.

Drug That Stops Bleeding Could Save Lives

A drug commonly used to prevent excess bleeding in surgeries could keep thousands of people from bleeding to death after trauma, a new study suggests.

Calcium, Vitamin D Supplements OK for Arteries

Moderate doses of calcium and vitamin D supplements don't raise women's coronary artery calcium (CAC) levels, a new study finds.

Mediterranean Diet Linked to Better Cardiac Function

Eating a Mediterranean-style diet might improve an important measure of heart function, a new study of twins shows.

Mastectomy Rates Down Overall, New Study Finds

While some recent research has documented an upswing in mastectomy rates among women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, a new study comes to a different conclusion.

Females May Be Naturally More Prone to Stress: Animal Study

When it comes to stress, women are twice as likely as men to develop stress-induced disease, such as depression and/or post-traumatic stress, and now a new study in rats could help researchers understand why.

IV Steroids May Be Overkill in COPD Patients

Low-dose steroid pills seem to work as well as high doses of injected steroids for patients hospitalized with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), researchers report.

Vitamin B6 Tied to Lowered Lung Cancer Risk

A new study shows that people with high levels of a B vitamin are half as likely as others to develop lung cancer. But while the reduction in risk is significant, this doesn't mean that smokers should hit the vitamin aisle instead of quitting.

Health Highlights: June 15, 2010

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

Obesity Can Take Toll on Sex Life

Obesity is tied to reduced sexual activity and poorer sexual health, according to new research from France.