Health News

Health News for 04/20/11

April 20, 2011

Health Tip: Prevent Bathroom Slipping and Sliding

It's easy to suffer an injury in a slippery bathroom, but taking some precautions can get rid of potential hazards.

Health Tip: Don't Fear the Dentist

Though clean and healthy teeth can brighten any grin, going to the dentist may not bring a smile to your face.

Kids' Eczema, Hay Fever Linked to Allergic Asthma Later

New research finds that adults who suffered from eczema as children -- especially if they also had hay fever -- are nine times more likely to have allergic asthma when they're in their 40s.

Inhaled Meds May Save COPD/Pneumonia Patients' Lives

Inhaled corticosteroids can actually reduce the risk of death in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, who are hospitalized with pneumonia, a new study has found.

Mexican-American Children Have High Levels of Flame-Retardants in Blood

Levels of flame-retardant chemicals are seven times higher in Mexican-American children living in California than in children in Mexico, a new study reports.

Children With HIV at Higher Risk of Drug Resistance

About 1 in 8 children infected with HIV experiences triple-class virological failure -- meaning the virus becomes resistant to multiple drugs -- within five years of starting antiretroviral treatment, a European study shows.

Focusing on One Thing May Blind People to the Obvious

A new study offers insight into "inattention blindness," a phenomenon that causes people to lose sight of seemingly obvious things while they focus intensely on something else.

Many With Autism Also Have Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy: Study

Many people with autism also have epilepsy that doesn't respond to treatment, a new study suggests.

High-Deductible Health Plans Bring Equal Savings to All: Study

Poor people and those with chronic health problems are no more likely than others to cut back on health care when they're enrolled in high-deductible health plans, according to a new study.

Men and Women May Truly See Things Differently

Men are more likely to see issues in black-and-white, whereas women tend to see things in shades of grey, a new study contends.

Women Taking Calcium Supplements May Risk Heart Health, Researchers Say

More evidence is emerging that women who take calcium supplements to prevent bone deterioration may, in fact, be risking their heart health.

Babies' Persistent Fussiness Could Mean Behavioral Woes Ahead

Excessive sleeping, feeding or crying troubles during infancy are associated with a greatly increased risk for behavioral problems later in childhood, research suggests.

Poverty Can Hinder a Child's Cognitive Development, Study Says

Persistent poverty harms the cognitive development of children, but family instability has no effect, a new study suggests.

Experimental Test May Warn of Premature Births

Researchers have developed a blood test that they say could help physicians predict whether pregnant women will deliver their babies prematurely.

Couch-Potato Kids: It Shows in Their Eyes, Researchers Say

Young children who spend too much time watching TV or playing computer games have narrower eye arteries than kids who are more physically active, new Australian research reports.

Health Highlights: April 20, 2011

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

Gene Variant May Be Linked to Deadly Lung Fibrosis

Researchers have identified a genetic variant that's found in at least 59 percent of those who have pulmonary fibrosis, a deadly lung disease that typically kills within a few years of diagnosis.

Newer Versions of the Pill Pose No Added Risk to Gallbladder

The risk of gallbladder disease is similar for women taking either newer or older types of birth control pills, a new study finds.