Health News

Health News for 10/18/10

October 18, 2010

Health Tip: Some Shouldn't Take Antidiarrheal Drugs

Loperamide and bismuth subsalicylate are over-the-counter drugs designed to help people with diarrhea feel better.

Health Tip: Preventing Falls Among the Elderly

Of all fall-related deaths, more than 60 percent involve people who are 75 years old or older. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, falls are a leading cause of traumatic brain injury among the elderly.

Kids' Medicaid-Covered Flu Shots Put Docs at a Loss: Study

Flu vaccination rates among poor children would rise if Medicaid increased what it pays doctors for giving flu shots, a new report suggests.

New Guidelines Issued for Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's

A group of more than 50 experts on the treatment known as deep brain stimulation (DBS) have agreed on new guidelines as to which Parkinson's disease patients should receive DBS and how it should be applied.

Hurricanes Linked to Raised 'Fetal Distress' Risk

Exposure to hurricanes while still in the womb may increase risk of fetal distress, which can cause long-range health problems after birth, new research reveals.

Hospital Collaboration May Boost Surgical Patient Safety

The rate of surgical complications decreased nearly 10 percent at 16 Michigan hospitals after they began to share information about what methods they use to keep patients safe, a new study has found.

Young Kids Easily Trust What They're Told: Study

Very young children are extraordinarily trusting of what adults tell them, even if there is repeated evidence to the contrary, finds a new study.

Study Suggests Osteoporosis Drug Might Treat Loss of Bone in Jaw

People suffering from a disfiguring loss of bone in the jaw may find help in the form of a long-used osteoporosis drug, two new studies suggest.

Quick Action Can Restore Hearing After Meningitis-Induced Deafness

Health-care providers should move quickly to try to restore hearing in children who become deaf after developing pneumococcal meningitis, a small new study finds.

Soy May Reduce Breast Cancer Recurrence: Study

For women past menopause who have had breast cancer, a higher intake of soy may help reduce the risk of the disease's recurrence, a new study of Chinese women suggests.

H1N1 Unlikely to Cause Flu Pandemic in 2010-11: Analysis

Canadian researchers say they do not expect the H1N1 virus -- the so-called swine flu -- to be very severe this year, although they are recommending that everyone over the age of 50, especially those with chronic health conditions, get immunized this fall.

Invasive Dentistry May Raise Short-Term Heart, Stroke Risk

Invasive dental procedures designed to treat gum inflammation may raise the risk for heart attack and stroke, researchers say.

Fewer Bone Screens May Be OK for Some Older Women

Older women may be able to safely avoid getting bone density tests for 10 years if their previous screening scores didn't show signs of problems, a new study suggests.

Even Well-Controlled Diabetes May Present Post-Surgery Risk

People with diabetes who had normal blood sugar levels before non-heart surgery had a higher risk of death in the year following surgery compared to people without diabetes, researchers have found.

Health Highlights: Oct. 18, 2010

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

Vigilance Against Skin Cancer May Lead to Lack of Vitamin D

People with a genetic predisposition to basal cell carcinoma -- the most common form of skin cancer -- may trade one health risk for another, a new study suggests.

Botox Approved for Chronic Migraines

Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) injection has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent chronic migraines among people who get the painful headaches more than 14 days per month.

Can Vitamin B12 Reduce Alzheimer's Risk?

People who eat a diet rich in vitamin B12 may be protecting themselves from Alzheimer's disease, a small, preliminary study suggests.

Surgery on Wrong Patients, Surgical Sites Persists, Study Finds

Patients undergoing surgery still risk falling victim to stunning medical mistakes, ranging from an operation on the wrong surgical site to undergoing surgery intended for another patient, a new study finds.

Baraclude Sanctioned for Severe Liver Disease

Bristol-Myers Squibb said Monday its liver drug Baraclude (entecavir) has received expanded approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic hepatitis B in adults with decompensated liver disease, a form of severe liver damage.