Health News

Health News for 02/28/11

February 28, 2011

Health Tip: Diabetes May Contribute to Hearing Loss

Diabetics are twice as likely as non-diabetics to have hearing loss, according to the American Diabetes Association. It's thought that diabetes damages the small blood vessels and nerves in the inner-ear, the ADA says.

Health Tip: Watch Your Diet if You Have an Ulcer

Watching your diet can help manage a peptic ulcer, simply by avoiding irritants and eating the foods that can help promote healing.

With a 'Third Arm,' It's the Thought That Counts

It's apparently possible to make people believe they have three arms, a finding that Swedish researchers say could lead to new ways to help people recovering from a stroke.

Stress May Help Spur Weight Gain in New Moms, Study Finds

The stress of parenthood can lead new moms to forego physical activity and gain weight, researchers report.

Heart Patients With Depression Often Find ER Delays

A new study finds that heart attack patients with a history of depression are less likely than other heart attack patients to receive priority care at emergency departments.

Fish Oil Seems to Help Cancer Patients Preserve Muscle

Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy may be able to avoid the accompanying muscle loss and malnutrition by taking fish oil supplements that contain omega-3 fatty acids, new research suggests.

Kids' Fevers May Not Always Need Treatment

Few things send a parent's fears soaring as quickly as a child's rapidly rising temperature.

Pediatricians' Group Backs Ban on Tanning Booth Use by Minors

In a new policy statement issued Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said it supports legislation that would bar children from using tanning beds or other artificial tanning devices.

Sugary Drinks Might Raise Hypertension Risk: Study

Drinking sugar-sweetened sodas and fruit drinks appears to be associated with a greater risk for high blood pressure among adults, a new study suggests.

Rectal Gel Could Help Ward Off HIV: Study

Preliminary research suggests that an HIV-fighting gel has the potential to become another weapon in the fight against AIDS when applied to the rectum before anal intercourse.

Many HIV Patients Carry Strain With Drug-Resistant Mutation

A new study estimates that between 10 percent and 15 percent of HIV patients in Europe and the United States are infected with a form of HIV that already has at least one drug-resistant mutation.

Optimism Is Good for Your Heart

Heart patients are more likely to survive if they have a positive outlook, researchers are reporting.

Clinical Trials Update: Feb. 28, 2011

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

Edarbi Approved for High Blood Pressure

Edarbi (azilsartan medoxomil) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults with high blood pressure (hypertension).

Alzheimer's Risk Looks Higher if Mom Had the Disease

A new study adds more weight to research showing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is greater if your mother, rather than your father, had the disorder.

Medical Surrogates May Pay Emotional Price for Crisis Decisions

The stress of making treatment decisions for a seriously ill loved one inflicts damaging emotional effects on at least one-third of these medical surrogates, a new study suggests.

Confusion Over Drug Dosing Common for Seniors

Instructions for taking medications are often so vague that older patients, sometimes taking an average of seven pills a day, may take their drugs incorrectly, a new study finds.

Doctors Can Influence Patients to Lose Weight: Studies

The battle of the bulge is not lost, and health-care providers could be major players in the fight to reduce waistlines, two new studies report.

Drop in Breast Cancer Among White Women May Have Stalled

Many American women abandoned hormone replacement therapy after a 2002 study found the treatment was tied to higher breast cancer risk. A sharp drop in breast cancer incidence among whites was observed soon after.

For Severe Sinusitis, Oral Steroids an Option, Study Says

An estimated 32 million Americans suffer from chronic rhinosinusitis, in which inflammation of the lining of the nose and sinuses leads to congestion, pain and loss of smell. In the most severe cases, patients develop nasal polyps that can make the symptoms even worse.