Health News

Health News for 02/11/11

February 11, 2011

Marrow Donation From Teenage Stranger Saves Man's Life

A year before Jim Munroe was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia, a 19-year-old girl from Milwaukee had her cheek swabbed at a summer rock concert.

Health Tip: Losing Your Sense of Taste

A food's flavor is produced by a combination of your senses of taste and smell. If you begin to lose the ability to distinguish foods that are sweet, salty, sour or bitter, a number of factors could be at fault.

Health Tip: Prepare for a Mammogram

Before you leave your home for a mammogram, the womenshealth.gov Web site suggests how you should prepare for the procedure:

Skin Infections Can Spread Easily Among Athletes

In addition to the collegiality and competitive spirit that typifies team sports, one dermatologist cautions that players may be sharing something far less desirable: contagious skin infections.

Facial Surgery May Offer Long-Term Migraine Relief for Some

Facial surgery to "deactivate" painful migraines may offer some patients long-lasting relief, a new study suggests.

Early Birth Risky, Even With Fully Developed Lungs: Study

Even if their lungs are mature, babies delivered at 36 to 38 weeks are at significantly increased risk for respiratory and other health problems, new research indicates.

Gift-Giving, for Many Men, Means Avoiding Rejection

Men looking for Valentine's Day gifts are most concerned with finding something that is least likely to be rejected, and that often means jewelry, according to a shopping behavior expert.

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.

Greater Caution Urged for X-Rays in Pregnancy, Infants

There's a small increased risk of cancer for children who had X-rays before they were 3 months old and those whose mothers had X-rays while pregnant, researchers say.

Helmet Use Encouraged for Downhill Skiers, Snowboarders

There is convincing evidence that helmets help protect downhill skiers and snowboarders from head injuries, but more needs to be done to encourage helmet use, experts say.

No Benefit to Lowering Blood Pressure in Acute Stroke: Study

Giving medication to lower blood pressure in hypertensive stroke patients appears to have no benefit and might even be harmful, says a new study that seems to confirm current treatment guidelines.

The Better People Feel About Their Country, the Better They Feel Overall

The more people are satisfied with their country, the better they feel about their lives, a new study shows.

Clues May Reveal When a Person Is Faking Remorse

When someone is trying to fake remorse, they display a greater range of emotional expressions, switching from one emotion to another very quickly, and speak with more hesitation, researchers have found.

Overweight Kids Who Exercise Improve Thinking, Math Skills: Study

When overweight, sedentary kids start to exercise regularly, their ability to think, to plan and even to do math improves, a new study suggests.

Weight Guidelines May Be High for Severely Obese Moms-to-Be

Current U.S. guidelines may overestimate the amount of weight that severely obese women need to gain during pregnancy, according to a new study.

Health Highlights: Feb. 11, 2011

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

Therapy Can Help Stroke Patients Walk, Even After 6 Months

Stroke patients who do intense physical therapy at home achieve the same amount of improvement in their walking ability as those enrolled in a high-tech training program that uses a body-weight supported treadmill device, the results of a new study show.

Clinical Trials Update: Feb. 11, 2011

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

First 3-D Mammography Test Cleared

The first three-dimensional mammography system has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Test Approved to Monitor Levels of Kidney Rejection Drug

A new test to monitor blood levels of a drug used to prevent rejection in kidney transplant patients has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

FDA Approves First 3D Mammogram Device

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved on Friday the first X-ray mammography device that provides three-dimensional images of the breast for cancer screening and diagnosis.