Health News

Health News for 06/28/10

June 28, 2010

Kids With Coordination Disorder More Likely to Be Overweight

Children with a condition known as developmental coordination disorder are at greater risk of being overweight or obese than other youngsters, a new study finds.

Health Tip: Keeping Fire Extinguishers at Home

Smoke detectors aren't the only devices that should be kept throughout the home in the event of a fire.

Health Tip: Dealing With Picky Eaters

Getting children who are picky eaters to eat healthy foods may be a challenge.

More Than 1.5 Million Cancer Survivors Have Kids Under 18

More than 1.5 million adult cancer survivors in the United States are parents who live with one or more children younger than 18 years old, finds a new study.

Exercise OK for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Review

Aerobic cardio exercise is safe for patients coping with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a new French review of prior research suggests.

When Parents Smoke, Kids' Weight, Behavior May Suffer

Two new studies suggest there's a connection between parents who smoke and kids who are heavier or misbehave more than other children.

Combo Vaccine Raises Risk of Fever-Related Seizures in Kids

Toddlers who receive the combination MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella) vaccine are at higher risk of having a febrile seizure a week to 10 days after receiving the shot than children who get the MMR and varicella (chicken pox) vaccines separately at the same visit, a new study confirms.

End-of-Life Care Has 'Room for Improvement'

U.S. hospitals need to do more to improve care for dying patients, researchers say.

Most U.S. Physicians Practicing 'Defensive Medicine'

Most American doctors believe their colleagues order more patient tests and procedures than needed, to protect themselves against lawsuits, a new national survey shows.

Gender-Specific Formula for Women's Peak Heart Rate 'More Accurate'

A new gender-specific formula for a woman's peak heart rate better predicts the risk of heart-related death, a new study finds.

Organ-Rejection Drug Linked to Higher Cancer Risk After Liver Transplant

Cyclosporine, a drug commonly used to prevent organ rejection following a transplant, has been linked to a significantly increased risk of developing cancer after liver transplant, new Dutch research reveals.

More Genes Implicated in Type 2 Diabetes

Scientists have located 12 new genes that seem to be linked with a predisposition for type 2 diabetes, bringing the total number of genetic locations implicated in the condition to 38.

A Little Biking May Help Premenopausal Women Stay Slim

Riding a bike is as effective as walking briskly at helping premenopausal women keep from gaining more weight, a new study reveals.

School-Based Efforts May Help Curb Obesity in High-Risk Kids

School-based efforts at better nutrition, more exercise and improved education about healthy living can help kids who are most at risk for obesity keep the weight off, compared to children in schools without such programs, a new study suggests.

Diabetes Drug Avandia Ups Heart Risk, Reviews Conclude

According to data pooled from several large clinical trials, the diabetes drug Avandia does raise the odds of having a heart attack, bolstering the argument that the drug's risks might outweigh its benefits in people with type 2 diabetes.

Artificial Pancreas Continues to Show Promise

New research suggests that artificial pancreas technology can help diabetics gain greater blood sugar control overnight, even when they have eaten a big meal or had wine for dinner.

Statins May Lower Rates of Prostate Cancer Recurrence

A new study suggests that men who take the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins are a third less likely to suffer from recurrences of prostate cancer.

Blood Test May One Day Predict Menopause, Researchers Say

A simple blood test may one day help predict the age at which a woman will begin menopause, say the scientists who developed the test.

Health Highlights: June 28, 2010

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

Statins May Not Be as Helpful for Those Without Heart Disease

Despite being used widely to lower cholesterol levels, statins don't appear to reduce the chances of death in people at risk of developing cardiovascular disease, British scientists have found.

Clinical Trials Update: June 28, 2010

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

FDA Urges Limiting Antibiotics in Meat

The continued use of antimicrobial drugs to promote growth in chickens, cattle and other livestock is tied to antibiotic resistance and should be phased out for that purpose, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Monday.