Health News

Health News for 01/25/11

January 25, 2011

Health Tip: Warts Are a Menace

Warts are small bumps on the skin that are caused by a virus. While the menacing growths can pop up most anywhere on the body, they usually aren't harmful.

Health Tip: Baby Spitting Up?

Babies often spit up after a meal, but it's usually nothing dangerous, experts say.

Rise in Some Head and Neck Cancers Tied to Oral Sex: Study

There's a worrisome uptick in the incidence of certain head and neck cancers among middle-aged and even younger Americans, and some experts link the trend to a rise in the popularity of oral sex over the past few decades.

Breast-Feeding May Counter Some Effects of Childhood Cancer

Breast-feeding may help reduce some long-term negative side effects of cancer treatment in women who survived childhood cancer, according to a new study.

Electronic Record-Keeping Alone May Not Boost Health Care

Electronic health records have so far done little to improve the quality of health care in the United States, a new study states.

Elderly With Dementia, Delirium Confused by ER Visits: Study

Elderly patients with dementia and delirium who are taken to a hospital emergency department often do not comprehend why they are there and do not understand discharge instructions from doctors or nurses, a new study finds.

Meditation Appears to Cause Changes in Brain's Gray Matter

A mindfulness meditation training program can trigger measurable changes in brain areas associated with awareness, empathy and sense of self within eight weeks, a new study has found.

Chopin's Hallucinations Likely Caused by Epilepsy

Epilepsy was the likely cause of hallucinations experienced by 19th century Polish composer Frederic Chopin, according to a new study.

Stress-Reduction Therapy May Help Heart Disease Patients

A stress management program based on cognitive behavioral therapy may reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and death in patients with heart disease, Swedish researchers report.

Changing Parental Behavior May Help Obese Kids Lose Weight

It's hard to help overweight children lose weight, and keeping it off over the long-term is even tougher. But obese children whose parents took classes on the importance of healthy eating and exercise lost weight and kept it off for the next two years, according to a new Australian study.

Warm Homes in Winter May Contribute to Obesity Epidemic

Higher indoor temperatures during the winter may be contributing to rising rates of obesity in the United States and other developed countries, according to a new British study.

Some Older Drivers' Vision Problems Different Than Thought

The reason that many older drivers have difficulty seeing other cars, cyclists or pedestrians moving around them isn't necessarily the result of a reduced ability to perceive moving objects, but rather a heightened awareness of background movement, a new study from the University of Rochester suggests.

Cancer Doctors Urge Earlier End-of-Life Care Talks

People with advanced cancer should be told what end-of-life care choices are available earlier in the course of their disease, a new policy statement from the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends.

Health Highlights: Jan. 25, 2011

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

Smoking, Obesity Slowing U.S. Life Expectancy Gains: Report

Longevity isn't increasing as fast in the United States as it is in other developed countries, says a new report that points a finger at high rates of smoking and obesity.

FDA Panel Recommends Tougher Standards for External Defibrillators

Following a series of recalls of external defibrillators, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel of experts recommended Tuesday that the devices be held to stricter standards.

Clinical Trials Update: Jan. 25, 2011

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

'Stroke Centers' Providing Better Care, Study Finds

Designated stroke centers seem to be saving lives, new research finds.

Loud Road Noise Linked to Stroke in Older Adults

Prolonged exposure to loud traffic noise is strongly associated with stroke in people aged 65 and older, a new Danish study finds.

Allegra Approved for Over-the-Counter Sale

Sanofi-Aventis' prescription non-drowsy antihistamine, Allegra (fexofenadine), has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for over-the-counter sale, the company said Tuesday.