Health News

Health News for 03/15/11

March 15, 2011

Kids Can Rebound Quickly After Mom's Depression Lifts: Study

Successful treatment of major depression in mothers also leads to improved mental health for their children, according to a new study.

Health Tip: Get Creative in the Kitchen

Healthy cooking doesn't have to be bland and boring. The American Heart Association offers these healthy cooking techniques to help you prepare delicious, heart-healthy meals:

Health Tip: What's Causing My Shoulder Pain?

Pain in the shoulder can impact most moves you make, so it's important to identify the source and treat it.

Doctors Need to Improve Guidance on Arthritis: Study

Doctors today are more likely to advise obese arthritis patients to lose weight than 10 years ago, but they still fall short on counseling patients to exercise or learn about pain-management techniques, a new study finds.

Hospital Referral Program May Not Improve Surgery Outcome

Efforts to refer surgical patients to hospitals that handle a large number of such procedures did not improve patient outcomes, according to the results of a study in Washington state.

Updates Urged for Kids' Heart, Breathing Rate Guidelines

Guidelines for children's heart and breathing rate reference ranges need to be updated, say researchers who reviewed 69 studies that included a total of about 143,000 children.

Bad Job May Be Worse for Mental Health Than No Job at All

Having a bad, short-term or poorly paid job can harm your mental health as much as having no job, according to a new study.

Haiti Cholera Epidemic Could Sicken 779,000 This Year

The cholera epidemic in Haiti this year will be far worse than the 400,000 cases predicted by the United Nations, new study findings indicate.

Seniors Not Getting Important Preventive Health Services

Many Americans aged 65 and older are not receiving potentially lifesaving preventive health services, says a new report by several U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies.

Whether Chronic Diseases Are Diagnosed May Depend on Where You Live

The likelihood of Medicare patients being diagnosed with a chronic disease may depend on where they live, a disparity that makes it more difficult to assess the quality of care patients receive, a new study finds.

Explosions Continue to Rock Japanese Nuclear Complex

The crisis at Japan's stricken complex of four nuclear reactors deteriorated dramatically Tuesday as explosions continued to rock the site and reports emerged that water in a pool used to cool spent fuel rods may be boiling.

U.S. Unprepared for Major Radiation Emergency: Survey

Most U.S. states are poorly prepared to deal with a major nuclear plant crisis such as the one now unfolding in Japan, suggests a survey of state health departments.

Health Highlights: March 15, 2011

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

Heavy Smoking Declines in U.S.

The number of people who smoke a pack or more a day has dropped significantly in the United States, and perhaps nowhere more than in California, a new study finds.

Fido May Help Keep You Fit

Owning a dog may do your heart good, literally.

Clinical Trials Update: March 15, 2011

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

Japan's Nuke Disaster Unlikely to Threaten U.S., Experts Say

Although remnants of the tsunami that devastated the nuclear complex in Japan did manage to reach America's shores, it's highly unlikely that any radiation from the unfolding disaster across the Pacific Ocean will make it to North America, experts say.

Gadavist Approved to Enhance Nervous System Imaging

Gadavist (gadobutrol) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a contrast agent for people having magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the central nervous system.

Study Questions Tests Used to Spot Heart Risks in Kidney Patients

People with chronic kidney disease routinely undergo tests to measure blood levels of phosphorous, calcium and parathyroid hormone, to assess their risk of heart disease.