Health News

Health News for 04/28/11

April 28, 2011

Health Tip: Are You at Risk for Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the thick tissue that connects the heel to the toes becomes irritated, inflamed and painful.

Health Tip: Ease Baby's Stuffy Nose

Easing a sniffly baby's stuffy nose can make both baby and parents feel better.

Flu Vaccine Appears Safe After Kidney Transplant

Flu vaccination is safe for kidney transplant patients and lowers their risk of organ loss and death, a new study says.

Quick Screening May Help Spot Autism in Babies

A brief checklist that parents can fill out while waiting to see their child's pediatrician may aid in diagnosing autism earlier, new research suggests.

'Urgent Need' for Research on Cancer Among Minorities: U.S. Report

The United States urgently needs to expand research and improve understanding of cancer among minority populations, according to a special report issued Thursday by the President's Cancer Panel.

Report Ranks Top Sources of Illness Related to Foods

Poultry contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria is the food-pathogen combination that causes the most foodborne illness in the United States, sickening more than 600,000 people a year at a cost of $1.3 billion, according to a new report.

Shared Social Status Boosts Brain Activity, Research Shows

Your social status affects how your brain reacts to other people, researchers have found.

Monkey See, Monkey Remember

Memory in monkeys and humans is more similar than previously believed, a new study says.

Women's Kidneys May Be at Higher Risk After Heart Test

Women are much more likely than men to sustain kidney damage after undergoing a common heart imaging test called coronary angiography, a new study has found.

Study Highlights Arthritis' Toll on Quality of Life

A new study helps confirm what many Americans with arthritis may already know: the illness can greatly diminish quality of life.

Morning Heart Attacks Cause More Damage, Study Finds

If you suffer a heart attack in the morning, it is likely to be more severe than having one at any other time of day, a Spanish research team reports.

Bringing Partner Into Anorexia Treatment May Aid Recovery

Margie Hodgin of Turnersville, N.C., was in her early forties when she developed anorexia nervosa, and she knows how isolating the condition can be.

Thyroid Drugs May Raise Fracture Risk in Elderly

Many seniors may be at increased risk for fractures because they take "excessive" doses of drugs used to treat thyroid problems, a new study says.

After Treatment for Precancerous Cervical Lesions, Risk Drops to Normal for Some

Women who have been treated for precancerous cervical lesions should see their cancer risk drop to normal after three "all clear" screening test results, Dutch researchers say.

Tall, Obese Men More Prone to Leg Clots: Study

Men who are both obese and tall face a much higher risk for developing potentially fatal blood clots, though overall the risk remains quite small, according to a new study.

Health Highlights: April 28, 2011

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

Payment Rates May Affect Breast Cancer Treatment

Use of a costly breast cancer therapy called intensity-modulated radiation therapy is strongly influenced by what Medicare will pay for the treatment and where radiation oncologists practice, according to a new study.

Bone Drug Plus Statin Better at Fighting Plaque in Aorta: Study

Taking both Lipitor and the bone-strengthening drug Didronel reduces plaque buildup in the aorta better than Lipitor alone, a small Canadian study suggests.

New Hepatitis C Drugs Close to Gaining FDA Approval

Two new drugs that could change the way hepatitis C is treated have been unanimously recommended for approval by a panel of U.S. health experts.

Rising Obesity Rates Add to Arthritis Woes in U.S.

Rising rates of obesity among the 50 million Americans with arthritis are cause for concern because excess weight is associated with increased problems for arthritis patients, a new study says.

Injuries Among Older Workers on the Rise: CDC

More and more Americans over age 55 are working later in life, and this means work-related injuries in this group continue to climb, up from 12 percent in 2003 to 17 percent in the latest tally, federal health officials report.

Powerful Women as Likely to Cheat as Men, Study Finds

Women in powerful positions are just as likely as men to cheat on their spouses, according to new research.