Health News

Health News for 09/02/10

September 02, 2010

Health Tip: Get Ready for Baby's Bath

A bit of preparation can make bath time less stressful for parents and safer for baby.

Health Tip: If You Have Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is the medical term used to describe the slow deterioration of the liver as a result of chronic injury to the organ.

Smoking Seems to Backfire on Teens Hoping for a Lift

Smoking increases depressive symptoms in teens, especially among those who say they smoke to improve their mood, researchers have found.

Response Team Reduces Rate of Cardiac Arrests: Hospital

Having a rapid response team manage hospital patients whose condition is rapidly deteriorating sharply reduced the rate of cardiac arrests at a U.S. hospital, a new study found.

Many Americans Don't Even Know They're Fat

Many Americans have skewed perceptions when it comes to their weight, often believing they are thinner than they really are, even when the scales are shouting otherwise, a new poll finds.

Study Identifies Risks for Painkiller Addiction

The mystery of why some people are more likely to become addicted to opioid painkillers has been partially unraveled by the Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania.

Vets With Stress Disorder More Likely to Develop Dementia

Military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, are more likely to develop dementia than those without the disorder, according to researchers at a Veterans Affairs medical center in Texas.

Prescription Drug Use Rising in U.S., CDC Reports

Over the last 10 years, the percentage of Americans who took at least one prescription drug in the past month increased from 44 percent to 48 percent, says a federal government study released Thursday.

Most Study Volunteers Seem Willing to Share Genetic Data

Most Americans are willing to have their genetic information shared in a national database, but they first want to be asked, researchers report.

Proximity Affects Influence of Online 'Health Buddies'

When it comes to online social networking, people are more likely to change habits that might affect their health when encouraged to do so by cyber conversations with friends they already know well and with whom they are in close contact, new research suggests.

Health Care Reform Helps Small Businesses Offer Coverage: Report

As the provisions of the Affordable Care Act begin to be implemented, many small businesses in the United States will be able to take advantage of new tax credits, a new report shows.

Seniors Get Boost From Bad News About the Young

Older people prefer to read negative news stories about the young, possibly because it makes them feel better about themselves, a new study suggests.

East Coast Residents Should Prepare for Hurricane Earl: FEMA

As Hurricane Earl, packing 145 mph winds, crept closer to the U.S. east coast Thursday, federal officials urged residents to take steps to protect themselves and their property.

Health Highlights: Sept. 2, 2010

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

Clinical Trials Update: Sept. 2, 2010

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

Long-Term Use of Bone Drugs May Be Linked to Esophageal Cancer

People with osteoporosis who take drugs such as Boniva (ibandronate), Fosamax (alendronate) or Actonel (risedronate) to strengthen their bones may be at an increased risk of esophageal cancer, British researchers report.

Experimental TB Test Called Fast and Accurate

An experimental test that can diagnose tuberculosis in less than two hours, making only one doctor visit necessary before treatment starts, is being hailed as a potentially significant advance against a disease that kills nearly 2 million people annually, most of them in developing countries.