Health News

Health News for 08/30/10

August 30, 2010

Study Reveals New Clue to Sign Language

Although people move their mouths when they communicate in sign language, scientists have debated whether the lip movements were part of signing or whether they're connected directly to spoken language.

Pediatric Group Issues New Flu Shot Guidelines

All children and adolescents 6 months of age and older should receive the annual trivalent influenza vaccine this flu season, according to updated recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dog Gene Offers Clues to Rare Human Brain Disease

Scientists who discovered a gene mutation that causes a fatal neurodegenerative disease in American Staffordshire (Pit Bull) terriers say the same gene may also be linked to a similar, rare fatal brain disease in humans.

Health Tip: Snug Shoes Can Damage Feet

You may sacrifice comfort for fashionable shoes, but you could be damaging your feet.

Health Tip: Keep Baby Safe Around Stairs

As babies crawl and toddlers toddle around the house, the stairs become a dangerous hazard.

Friends Don't Let Friends Have Risky Sex After Drinking

College students use a number of strategies to prevent their female friends from engaging in risky sexual behavior after a night of heavy drinking, new research suggests.

Potential Cause of Asthma-Like Symptoms Spotted in Mice

A possible genetic basis for severe asthma has been identified by researchers, and although the findings are based on a study in mice, the discovery may someday help people.

Genetic Studies Find Clues to 'Lou Gehrig's Disease' Risk

Genetic variations on a specific chromosome appear to play a role in a fatal motor neuron condition known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, two teams of scientists have found.

Low-Dose Omega-3 Fatty Acids Don't Protect Heart Patients

Most heart patients who take low-dose omega-3 fatty acid supplements don't appear to gain any additional protection against further cardiac trouble, new Dutch research cautions.

Concussion Rates Soar Among Younger Kids

High school-age athletes are more likely than younger kids to have sports-related concussions, but the rate of such injuries in both groups is on the rise, a new U.S. study suggests.

Stent Implantation Linked to Blood Clot Risk in Black Patients

Black patients are at increased risk of developing life-threatening blood clots after receiving a drug-coated stent to prop open narrowed arteries, U.S. researchers have found.

Multiple Sclerosis Changes With the Seasons

Multiple sclerosis may be more active in the spring and summer months, new research shows.

Clues to Heart Attack, Stroke Risk From Fat-Filled Artery

A number of factors put patients with abnormal fatty deposits in an artery at high risk for heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death, a new study shows.

Smoked Marijuana May Ease Chronic Nerve Pain

Smoking cannabis, also known as marijuana, reduced pain in patients with nerve pain stemming from injuries or surgical complications, new research shows.

New Migraine Gene Discovered

Having a particular variation of a gene on chromosome 8 may raise the risk of getting migraines, new research shows.

Health Highlights: Aug. 30, 2010

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

Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 30, 2010

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

Moderate Drinking May Boost Risk of Breast Cancer's Return

Drinking even moderate amounts of alcohol may raise the risk for breast cancer recurrence in some women, new research indicates.

Almost 1 in 3 First-Time Deliveries Now Via C-Section

The rate of cesarean delivery in the United States continues to rise and steps are needed to reverse the trend, a new study finds.

FDA Finds Rodents, Manure Piles at Farms in Egg Recall

U.S. health investigators on Monday detailed a slew of violations that included the presence of manure pits, rodents and dead flies at two Iowa farms implicated in the recent egg recall due to salmonella infection.