Health News

Health News for 07/01/10

July 01, 2010

Eating Disorders, Addictions Tough to Treat in Teens

When it comes to treating eating disorders and addictions, the path to recovery may be even harder -- and less straightforward -- for children and teens than it is for adults, experts say.

Health Tip: Signs That You May Have Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a nervous system disorder characterized by sudden daytime sleep attacks, and being excessively sleepy. The disorder tends to affect more than one family member.

Health Tip: When It's Difficult to Swallow

Dysphagia is the medical term for having difficulty swallowing.

Eye Condition May Alter Corneal Transplant Results

Corneal transplant rejection is more likely to occur in people who have abnormal vessel growth in their eyes before undergoing the surgery, a team of German and British researchers reports.

Three-Legged Dogs Aid in Robot Design

The movement of three-legged dogs is being studied to help scientists design robots that can adapt in the event of an "injury."

Antibiotic May Up Risk of Dangerous Potassium Levels in Seniors

A new study warns that seniors who take a common antibiotic combination for urinary tract infections are at increased risk of developing potentially life-threatening high potassium levels.

Researchers Pinpoint Genetic Tie to Brain Development

A gene that regulates human brain development has been identified by U.S. researchers.

Money Can't Buy You Joy

More money may improve people's satisfaction with life, but it won't necessarily help them enjoy it, suggests a new study.

Gene Mutation May Make People More Prone to Asthma

People with asthma appear to have subtle differences in a gene that encodes a protein responsible for deciding whether particular immune cells live or die, new research reveals.

Older Folks Watch More TV, Get Less Out of It

Too much Wheel of Fortune and CSI may not be good for seniors' mental state, new research suggests.

Black Cancer Patients Twice as Likely to Die From Disease

Black cancer patients in the United States are up to two times more likely to die prematurely from their disease than patients of other races -- a disparity linked to factors that include patients, doctors and hospitals, a new review from the University of Michigan shows.

PSA Test Does Cut Prostate Cancer Deaths, Study Finds

Adding to the ongoing debate on the usefulness of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test for prostate cancer, new research from Sweden finds the screen cuts lives lost to the disease by almost half.

Tibetans' Adaptation to High Altitudes Took Only 3,000 Years: Study

It took only a few thousand years for Tibetans to develop gene mutations that help them cope with low oxygen levels at high altitudes, a new study found.

Scientists Spot Gene Variants That Predict Longevity

Scientists have grouped together a series of genetic variants that can predict with 77 percent accuracy whether or not a person will live to 100 years of age.

Drug May Shrink Fibroids, Preserve Fertility

Preliminary research suggests that a new drug treatment shrinks uterine fibroids and helps women with the non-cancerous tumors retain their fertility.

Health Highlights: July 1, 2010

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

Hospital Visits for Underage Drinking Soar on July 4 Weekend

The number of hospital emergency department visits associated with underage drinking nearly double over the Fourth of July weekend, a new U.S. government study says.

Clinical Trials Update: July 1, 2010

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

Complications Shorten Stroke Patients' Lives

Complications from stroke, such as pneumonia or a secondary stroke, can shorten the lives of patients by an average of two years, researchers report.

Hepatitis A Vaccine Pays Off for Kids: Study

The number of children ages 12 months to 23 months immunized against hepatitis A increased in the United States, and rates of hepatitis A reached a record low after new vaccination recommendations were issued a few years ago, a new federal report says.

Sex With Recent Smallpox Vaccine Recipient Can Lead to Illness

After having sex with a soldier recently vaccinated against smallpox, a young woman in Washington state developed an illness caused by the vaccinia virus used in the shot, U.S. health officials report.