Health News

Health News for 08/18/10

August 18, 2010

FDA Mulling Ban on Menthol Cigarettes

With their enticing cool and minty flavor, menthol cigarettes have emerged as one of the most controversial products made by the tobacco industry.

Health Tip: Who Is at Greater Risk for Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease that causes bones to become thin, brittle and fragile. People who have it are at greater risk of fracturing their wrists, hips, spine and other bones.

Health Tip: Warning Signs That You Have Strep Throat

Strep throat is a nasty infection, dubbed "strep" because it's caused by streptococcus bacteria.

Novel Ovarian Cancer Test Shows Promise

A new method for screening for ovarian cancer appears to be 100 percent effective in early testing, researchers say.

Long-Term Type 1 Diabetes 'Survivors' Give Clues to the Disease

Although it's long been thought that people with type 1 diabetes cease to produce any insulin after they've had the disease for a while, new research suggests that the insulin-producing beta cells destroyed by type 1 diabetes may actually be in a constant state of turnover, even in people who've had diabetes for decades.

Stressful Social Situations May Be Physically Harmful in Some

Stress caused by social situations, such as giving a speech or going to a job interview, can affect some people's immune system in ways that harm their health, researchers have found.

Osteoarthritis Risk May Be Higher If Knees Point Outward

People whose knees face outward may be at increased risk for osteoarthritis, new findings suggest.

Reminders Spur Hospital Staff to Remove Patient Catheters

Systems that remind hospital staff when to remove catheters from patients can reduce the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections by 52 percent, a new study has found.

Many With Chronic Pain Get Inadequate Relief, Study Finds

Many black patients and women with chronic pain receive inadequate treatment for their pain while being treated by a primary care doctor, a U.S. study has found.

Bad Habits Tied to Recurrent Headaches in Teens

Quitting smoking, getting more exercise and losing weight could help many headache-prone teens ease their suffering, new research suggests.

Tai Chi May Help Ease Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia sufferers may find relief from the chronic pain condition by doing tai chi, new research finds.

Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 18, 2010

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

Trial Therapy Improves Melanoma Survival

An experimental drug for metastatic melanoma prolonged median survival from 6.4 months to 10 months, which, although seemingly small, represents a significant extension of life for this normally intractable disease, a new study found.

Health Highlights: Aug. 18, 2010

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

Heart Failure Hospitalizations Lowest in Mountain States

The Mountain states region of the United States had the lowest average rate of potentially avoidable hospitalization for heart failure in 2006, according to a U.S. government report released Wednesday.

Nationwide Egg Recall Underway

A nationwide outbreak of salmonella in eggs has sickened more than 250 people and led to a recall of more than 228 million eggs, according to news reports.

Palliative Care May Boost Mood, Survival

Palliative care is often thought of as a medical measure of "last resort."