Health News

Health News for 01/10/11

January 10, 2011

Health Tip: Infections May Strike Bones

Osteomyelitis is a bone infection usually caused by bacteria or, less often, a fungus.

Health Tip: Help Prevent a Concussion

A concussion is a brain injury that usually occurs from a violent blow to the head. People who participate in contact sports are particularly prone to this type of injury.

Geography May Influence Colon Cancer Screening Rates

Race and ethnicity play major roles in whether people get screened for colon cancer in the United States, with minorities much less likely to undergo colonoscopies than white people. Now, a new study says another factor is at play: where people live.

Treating Latent TB After 65 Raises Serious Side-Effect Risk

People over age 65 are at increased risk for serious side effects while undergoing latent tuberculosis therapy, a new study finds.

Age-Related Eye Disease Declining in U.S.

The rate of age-related macular degeneration, a major cause of vision loss in the United States, has decreased in the last 15 years, a new study finds.

Immune Disorders May Raise Blood Clot Risk in Hospitalized Patients

People with immune-related disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus may be at increased risk for developing potentially deadly blood clots during hospital stays, a new study has found.

Prozac May Speed Physical Rehabilitation After Stroke

Stroke patients given the antidepressant fluoxetine (best known by the brand name of Prozac) appear to regain more muscle function than other recovering stroke sufferers, French researchers have found.

Sugary Drinks, Foods Might Put Teens at Risk for Heart Disease

Teens whose diets include lots of sugary drinks and foods show physical signs that they are at increased risk for heart disease as adults, researchers from Emory University report.

Parents Say They Want to Teach Sex Ed to Their Kids

American parents say they should be the ones to teach their children about sex but many believe that role is being filled by kids' friends and the media, a new study finds.

Closely Spaced Pregnancies Might Up Autism Risk: Study

Having babies close together may triple the risk of autism in the second child, new research suggests.

U.S. Nursing Home Closings Hit Poor Neighborhoods Hardest: Study

Widespread nursing home closures over the past decade have resulted in a 5 percent drop in available nursing home beds across the United States, with poor, urban neighborhoods hardest hit, new research reveals.

Secondhand Smoke Tied to High Blood Pressure in Kids

Young kids who live with a parent who smokes face an increased risk for developing high blood pressure while still children, a new study has found.

Health Highlights: Jan. 10, 2011

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

People Who Recovered From H1N1 Offer Clues to Better Vaccine

The H1N1 swine flu pandemic last winter offers clues about how to create a vaccine that can protect people against multiple strains of influenza, U.S. researchers say.

Too Much TV May Be Linked to Heart Attack, Death Risk

Too much time spent watching TV or sitting in front of a computer may increase your risk for heart disease and even shorten your life, a new British study found.

Clinical Trials Update: Jan. 10, 2011

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

For the Very Obese, H1N1 Was More Apt to Be Fatal

Extremely obese people had a significantly greater chance of dying than did others infected with the H1N1 swine flu virus that became a pandemic last winter, a new study reports.

While Doctors Are Optimistic, Prognosis for Wounded Congresswoman Is Unclear

The bullet that scored a path through Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' brain on Saturday will likely cause some permanent damage, but experts aren't sure at this point how extensive that damage might be.

Working With Plasticizers, Pesticides May Reduce Fertility

Women exposed to plasticizers and pesticides at work are more likely to suffer fertility problems and to have lower birth-weight babies, according to a new study.

Abstral Approved for Adults With Cancer Pain

Fentanyl (Abstral) tablets have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help opioid-tolerant adults with cancer manage so-called "breakthrough" pain that occurs suddenly and requires a short-term higher dose of a patient's round-the-clock opioid regimen.

Statins May Be Harmful After Stroke

Patients given cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins after suffering a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain may be at an increased risk of having another such stroke, a new study suggests.