Health News

Health News for 12/07/10

December 07, 2010

Co-Opting Technology for the Sake of Weight Loss

Might technologies and gadgets so popular with today's young adults be corralled to help them lose weight?

Health Tip: Make Dressing Baby Easier

Dressing a fussy baby can be stressful, but choosing clothes that are quick and easy to put on can help.

Health Tip: Choose Heart-Healthy Foods

A heart-healthy diet can help keep blood vessels clear of plaque, and help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Parents' Acceptance May Help Protect Gay Teens

Positive family attitudes and behaviors towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) teens reduce their risk of depression, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts when they become young adults, a new study finds.

Teens in Smoking Homes May Get More Ear Infections

Teens are almost two times more likely to get ear infections if there's a smoker in their household, Harvard researchers report.

Teens' Poor Health Linked to Fewer Friends

Teens who have health problems have fewer friends than other teens and often believe their friendships are stronger than they actually are, new research shows.

Depressed Smokers Less Likely to Quit Successfully

Smokers trying kick the addiction are less likely to be successful if they're depressed, says a new study.

Antidepressant Use Rising as Psychotherapy Rates Fall

Even as fewer Americans have sought psychotherapy for their depression, antidepressant prescription rates have continued to climb in recent years, a new survey reveals.

Contaminated Butter Points to Need for Better Surveillance, Study Says

U.S. researchers who recently found high levels of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants in butter say it is the worst documented case of food contamination with PBDE in the country.

New Test Links Blood Protein to Heart Disease, Diabetes Risk

The presence of a certain biomarker in the blood is associated with structural heart disease and increased risk of death from all causes, a new study suggests.

Friends May Be Key to Churchgoers' Happiness

Regular churchgoers may lead more satisfying lives than stay-at-home folks because they create a network of close friends who provide important support, a new study suggests.

E-Cigarettes Should Be Banned Until Made Safe: Study

Electronic cigarettes should be banned until safety concerns have been addressed, University of California researchers say.

Could Cell Phones Raise Odds for Behavioral Woes in Kids?

Children exposed to cell phones in the womb and after birth had a higher risk of behavior problems by their seventh birthday, possibly related to the electromagnetic fields emitted by the devices, a new study of nearly 29,000 children suggests.

Watching R-rated Movies Ups Odds of Teens Smoking

Teens who are allowed to watch R-rated movies are more likely to take up smoking than teens whose parents bar them from viewing mature movie content, according to new research.

Daily Aspirin Linked to Steep Drop in Cancer Risk

Long-term use of a daily low-dose aspirin dramatically cuts the risk of dying from a wide array of cancers, a new investigation reveals.

Youth Sports Injuries Reaching Epidemic Levels, Experts Report

Youth sports injuries have become rampant in the United States, with emergency departments treating more than 8,000 children a day for sports-related injuries, safety experts reported Tuesday.

Health Highlights: Dec. 7, 2010

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

Flu Viruses Gaining Resistance, Study Confirms

Certain influenza virus strains are developing increasing drug resistance and greater ability to spread, a new study warns.

Clinical Trials Update: Dec. 7, 2010

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

Treating PTSD and Smoking Together Best Way to Help Vets Kick Cigarettes

Combining post-traumatic stress disorder treatment with smoking cessation is the best way to help such veterans stop smoking, a new study reports.

Radiation After Surgery Lowers Chances of Breast Cancer's Return

Women with localized breast cancer are less likely to develop invasive cancer if they receive radiation after surgery, a new study finds.

New Diet Pill Wins FDA Panel's Backing

An expert advisory panel recommended on Tuesday that Contrave, a new weight-loss pill that combines an antidepressant with an anti-addiction medication, be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.