Health News

Health News for 02/10/11

February 10, 2011

Health Tip: When Muscle Cramps Become Worrisome

While a muscle in spasm can be extremely painful, it usually doesn't indicate a serious condition.

Health Tip: Don't Ignore Ingrown Toenail

If you have a toenail that's expanded beneath the skin, no doubt it's become sore and painful and needs attention.

Nearly 25% of Women With Early Ovarian Cancer Not Given Recommended Biopsies

More than one-quarter of women with apparent early-stage ovarian cancer don't receive recommended lymph node biopsies to check for cancer spread, which nearly doubles these patients' risk of death, say U.S. researchers.

Dermatitis May Be More Cause Than Effect of Food Allergies

One of the most common forms of eczema, the chronic inflammatory skin disease, may actually precede the onset of food allergies, rather than be the product of existing allergies, new research suggests.

Garden Encounters Often Lead to Rashes, Hives, Itching

For some people, a simple day of gardening is not without its perils.

Fossil Suggests Humans Walked Upright 3 Million Years Ago

Researchers say they have found a fossilized foot bone that proves human ancestors were walking on two feet 3.2 million years ago.

Obesity Tied to Education, Income, but Not Suburbia: Study

Low levels of education and income, but not suburban sprawl, are associated with higher rates of obesity, researchers report.

Bad Times May Seem Worse If You Expect to Repeat Them

People are more likely to recall an unpleasant experience as being less painful or annoying if they believe it is over than if they expect it to occur again, say researchers.

To Dump Bad Investments, First Focus On Your Goals

People who focus on their hopes and aspirations may be less likely to cling to bad investments, a new study suggests.

Wireless Device Can Cut Heart Failure-Related Hospitalizations

Researchers report that a wireless implanted device monitors fluid build-up in the lungs of heart failure patients and alerts doctors when intervention is needed.

Folate May Not Protect Against Premature Birth

In a study that included data on nearly 73,000 Norwegian women, researchers found that taking folate during pregnancy didn't appear to reduce the rate of premature births.

When Given Control, Women Use Less Epidural Anesthesia During Delivery

If women are given control of the amount of epidural anesthesia they get during labor and delivery, they use about 30 percent less medication than when given a standard dose from a doctor, a new study shows.

Few Stroke Patients Given Clot-Buster Quickly Enough: Study

THURSDAY, Feb. 10 (HealthDay News) Few eligible stroke patients get an injectable clot-busting drug within the recommended 60-minute window after their hospital arrival, new research finds.

Stars Strut on the Runway for Women's Heart Health

Actress Denise Richards wowed the crowd in scarlet, while Today show host Ann Curry hit the catwalk in fire-engine red. Oprah Winfrey's best-friend-forever, talk show host Gayle King, sashayed in a cherry Donna Karan number, while hip-hop star Eve rocked out in crimson.

Health Highlights: Feb. 10, 2011

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

Recession Strengthens Some Marriages: Survey

While money problems sometimes strain a marriage, the opposite may also hold true: More than one-quarter of married Americans polled in a recent survey said the current recession has strengthened their union.

Minnesota's Anti-Tobacco Policies Reap Benefits: CDC

Sustained tobacco-control efforts in Minnesota have led to a 27.1 percent decrease in adult smoking rates, from 22.1 percent in 1999 to 16.1 percent in 2010, says a new study.

New Drug May Help Patients With Irregular Heartbeat Avoid Stroke

A new anti-clotting drug works better than aspirin for stroke prevention in some patients with the common, sometimes lethal, heart rhythm problem known as atrial fibrillation, according to research presented Thursday.