Health News

Health News for 01/11/11

January 11, 2011

Health Tip: Using Your Blood Glucose Meter

A blood glucose meter is key to helping a diabetic person keep blood sugar under control.

Health Tip: Brush Baby's Gums

It's never too early to start caring for baby's teeth and gums.

Optimism Could Help Kids Keep Depression at Bay

Here's a reason to try to change your kid's attitude: The most optimistic adolescents may be somewhat less likely to be depressed than their peers.

Private Rooms Cut Infection Risk in the ICU: Study

Intensive care unit (ICU) patients in single, private rooms have lower infection rates than patients in shared rooms, a new study finds.

Epilepsy Drugs May Raise Fracture Risk in Older Adults

Epilepsy drugs increase older adults' risk for bone fractures, a new study shows.

Arm Artery No Better Than Leg Vein for Heart Bypass, Study Finds

Use of an artery from the arm rather than a vein from the leg doesn't lead to better outcomes for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients, according to a new study.

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.

For College Students, Praise May Trump Sex and Money

After a lifetime of being told that they're "winners" who are "special," today's young people crave these boosts to their self-esteem more than sex, drinking, money or food, new research suggests.

Cost of Obesity Approaching $300 Billion a Year

The total economic cost of overweight and obesity in the United States is $270 billion per year while the cost in Canada is about $30 billion a year, a new study shows.

Most Guidelines for Infectious Diseases Don't Come From Clinical Trial Findings

Most recommendations on how to treat common infectious diseases are grounded in expert opinions or case reports, and not evidence from clinical trials, new research indicates.

Wounded Congresswoman Breathing on Her Own: Report

Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was breathing on her own Tuesday, her doctors said, three days after she was struck in the brain by an assassin's bullet.

Health Highlights: Jan. 11, 2011

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

Decline in U.S. Abortion Rate Stalls, Report Finds

The steady, long-term decline in the U.S. abortion rate stalled in 2008, and there has been an alarming increase in the number of abortion providers reporting harassment, a new study shows.

Clinical Trials Update: Jan. 11, 2011

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

Shingles Vaccine Looks Like a Safe Bet for Seniors: Study

Jane Adrian, 61, a landscape architect in Glendale, Calif., saw her parents and two co-workers suffer from the painful, blistering condition known as shingles, so when the vaccine became available, she got it.

Not All Heart Failure Drugs Boost Survival Equally

Over the course of five years, heart failure patients taking the blood pressure drug candesartan stood a higher chance of survival than those taking losartan did, Swedish researchers report.

Therapy May Help Cut Incontinence After Prostate Surgery

Nearly two-thirds of men who have prostate cancer surgery experience urinary incontinence afterward, but new research suggests that behavioral therapy can help lessen bladder control problems for a significant number of them.

Certain Painkillers Appear to Boost Odds for Heart Attack

Common painkillers taken to treat inflammation, such as Celebrex and Advil, can raise the risk of heart attack, stroke or death, a review of existing research suggests.

Report Alleges Money Motivated Doctor Behind Autism-Vaccine Scare

The disgraced doctor who published a study more than 10 years ago claiming that a common childhood vaccine -- the measles-mumps-rubella inoculation -- causes autism may have been motivated more by money than conviction, investigators say.