Health News

Health News for 08/04/10

August 04, 2010

Health Tip: Where to Clean Your Newborn

Newborns don't need a full bath every day, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. But there are certain body areas that are prone to needing frequent cleaning.

Health Tip: What May Cause Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are bouts of severe, recurring pain on one side of the head. They may strike in clusters, occurring daily or several times a day for weeks at a time. The exact cause of cluster headaches isn't understood.

New Drug Studied for Hard-to-Treat Vascular Condition

A drug called icatibant is effective in treating acute attacks of a condition that causes potentially life-threatening swelling in the throat and other parts of the body, new research shows.

Students With Humanities Background Do Equally Well in Med School

Medical school students with a humanities background are as successful as those with the traditional science-based pre-med requirements, according to U.S. researchers.

Device May Help Spot Hidden Graves Without Digging

A new technology that's said to detect decomposing bodies in the ground could help police find murder victims in concealed graves, even under concrete, its developers say.

Spread of Whooping Cough Raises Concern

Amidst the largest outbreak of whooping cough in decades, public health officials in California are urging residents, particularly pregnant women and those who come into contact with infants, to make sure they're immunized for the highly contagious disease.

Poorest People at Highest Heart Disease Risk: U.S. Data

Socioeconomic status plays a more important role than race or ethnicity in cardiovascular disease risk disparities in the United States, a new study has found.

Vitamin B May Not Guard Against Second Stroke, Heart Attack

Stroke patients who take vitamin B supplements to lower their homocysteine levels may not be protected from second strokes or heart attacks, a new study finds.

Substance Abuse Rates Low in Hispanic Americans: U.S. Report

Hispanic-American adults have lower rates of alcohol and illicit drug use than the national averages, a federal government study has found.

More Weight Gain in Pregnancy May Mean Heavier Baby: Study

The more weight women pack on during pregnancy, the heavier their babies are likely to be, new research confirms.

Epilepsy Drugs Don't Raise Suicide Risk, Study Shows

In 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration required epilepsy medications to bear a warning label about an increased risk of suicidal behaviors. The move came after an agency review of 199 studies that found patients taking the drugs showed about twice the risk of suicidal behavior.

Health Highlights: Aug. 4, 2010

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

Genome Studies Point to Cholesterol-Regulating Genes

Researchers have identified almost 100 genes in the human genome that may regulate cholesterol levels and the risk of coronary artery disease, according to a new study.

Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 4, 2010

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

Poll Shows Rise in 'Cyberchondriacs'

The debate about health care reform may be one reason why the number of "cyberchondriacs" in the United States increased from 154 million last year to 175 million this year, a new survey suggests.

Recession Causing Cancer Patients to Quit Life-Extending Drugs

In 2009 and 2010, as the economic collapse shuddered across the globe, oncologists in California noticed a troubling trend: Three patients who had had serious tumors under control for as long as eight years reappeared in the clinic with massive cancer regrowth which, in one case, required emergency surgery.