Health News

Health News for 11/17/10

November 17, 2010

Health Tip: Latex Is Everywhere

If you have a latex allergy, you may find it a daunting task to avoid all products that could trigger a reaction.

Health Tip: What's Behind My Watery Eyes?

What's making your eyes puffy, red and watery?

Cell Phone 'Telemonitoring' May Help Control Blood Pressure

Diabetics may soon find that assistance in controlling their blood pressure is just a cell phone screen away.

Resistance Exercise May Offer Different Cardio Benefits

Resistance exercise such as weight training affects blood vessels differently than aerobic exercise and offers other cardiovascular benefits, finds a new study.

Energy Drinks May Fuel College Kids' Alcohol Use

College students who routinely consume highly caffeinated energy drinks are at significantly higher risk for becoming alcohol-dependent, new research suggests.

Gestational Period Depends on Structure of Placenta: Research

The structure of the placenta influences the relatively long nine-month pregnancy in humans, researchers say.

FDA Advisers Endorse New Lupus Drug

U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisers voted 13-2 Tuesday to recommend approval of the first new drug in more than 50 years to treat the autoimmune disease lupus.

Despite FDA Warning, Avandia Use Varies Across U.S.

Using the controversial diabetes drug Avandia as an example, new research finds that doctors' prescribing patterns vary across the country in response to warnings about medications from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Experimental Drug Raises Good Cholesterol Levels in Early Trial

An experimental drug that raises HDL, or "good," cholesterol seems to have passed an initial hurdle by proving safe in preliminary trials.

Still Too Many Preterm Births in U.S., Report Finds

Forty states and the District of Columbia made progress in reducing their rate of premature births, but the improvements were too small to raise the overall U.S. score from a near-failing 'D' grade, a new report shows.

Health Highlights: Nov. 17, 2010

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

Medicare Panel Endorses Vaccine for Prostate Cancer Patients

A newly approved therapeutic prostate cancer vaccine won the support Wednesday of a Medicare advisory committee, increasing the chances that Medicare will pay for the drug.

Smokers Urged to Join Thursday's Great American Smokeout

Get ready, get set, quit! Thursday marks the annual Great American Smokeout, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, which urges all smokers to lay off the habit for at least 24 hours.

Clinical Trials Update: Nov. 17, 2010

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

FDA Cracks Down on Caffeinated Alcohol Drinks

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday told makers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages that the caffeine in their products has been deemed an "unsafe food additive," and the drinks can no longer be sold in their current form.

Nerve Zap to Kidneys Might Ease Stubborn Hypertension

A novel approach to blast away kidney nerves has a striking effect on lowering blood pressure in heart patients whose blood pressure wasn't budging despite trying multiple drugs, Australian researchers report.

Veterans With PTSD May Be at Higher Risk for Heart Disease

Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, appear to be at higher risk for heart disease.

Drug Targets Faulty Process That Drives Cystic Fibrosis

A new drug focused on the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis is showing promise in Phase II clinical trials, new research shows.

CDC Report Finds Adult Vaccination Rates Still Lagging

Although there have been slight increases in some adult vaccination rates, U.S. health officials reported Wednesday that those rates are still not what they should be.