Health News

Health News for 05/11/11

May 11, 2011

Health Tip: Get a Natural Gas Detector

Natural gas, used in many homes for cooking and heating, has no odor. So utilities add a sulfur-based compound to produce the familiar "rotten-eggs" smell that most people can pick up easily.

Health Tip: Can't Kick the Common Cold?

There's no cure for the common cold, but there are things you can do to help feel better while your immune system fights the virus.

Moms Who Have Twins May Live Longer: Study

Naturally conceiving and giving birth to twins may be a sign of good health, new research suggests.

Parents' Fighting Can Even Affect Infants: Study

Infants' sleep patterns can be disrupted if their parents have severe relationship problems and are constantly arguing, a new study finds.

Number of Eggs Retrieved Helps Predict IVF Success: Study

Retrieving about 15 eggs from a woman's ovaries in a single in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle offers the best chance of achieving a live birth while avoiding complications from fertility medications, according to a new study.

Bedbugs May Transmit Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Bedbugs carrying two types of drug-resistant bacteria have been found by Canadian researchers, an alarming discovery in light of the resurgence of bedbugs in North America and Western Europe over the past 10 years.

Shed Skin in Dust May Reduce Indoor Air Pollution

The flakes of human skin in household dust may help reduce indoor air pollution, according to new research.

Are Coffee Drinkers Less Prone to Aggressive Breast Cancer?

Women who drink a substantial amount of coffee each day may lower their risk for developing a particular type of breast cancer, Swedish researchers say.

Chemo Combo May Help Stave Off Pancreatic Cancer Death

A four-drug chemotherapy regimen for deadly pancreatic cancer nearly doubled patients' survival time compared to standard chemotherapy, a new study suggests.

Fewer Medicare Patients Hospitalized for Heart Trouble

Over the last decade, the number of Medicare patients hospitalized for cardiac issues dropped, accounting for a smaller slice of the 10-year hospitalization rate than non-heart related issues, new research indicates.

Most Teachers Favor Inclusion for Autistic Students

The majority of general education teachers support the notion of including autistic children in a regular classroom environment, a small new survey suggests.

Teen Boys With Autism at Risk of Being Bullied: Study

Among teen boys with an autism spectrum disorder, those who are considered high-functioning are confronted with a greater degree of bullying behavior than their "typically developing" peers, new research indicates.

Health Highlights: May 11, 2011

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

Can Crotch Length Predict Infertility in Men?

It may be possible to assess a man's fertility by checking his "anogenital distance," the gap between his scrotum and anus, a new study suggests.

Scientists Find MRSA Germ in Supermarket Meats

MRSA, a bacteria resistant to common antibiotics, has been discovered in supermarket meats, and the germ is apparently being introduced by human food handlers, a new study reports.

Autism Takes an Economic Toll on Mom's Job, Income: Study

Autism takes a grim economic toll on families, resulting in substantial underemployment and lost income among mothers, University of Pennsylvania researchers find.

Discovery of Lung Stem Cells May Herald New Treatments

Contrary to current scientific thinking, human lungs do harbor stem cells capable of forming different parts of the lung, including blood vessels, a new study says.

Vaginal Mesh Surgery Effective for Bladder Prolapse Repair: Report

In women, a vaginal mesh support is more effective for repairing a common type of pelvic organ prolapse -- which occurs when pelvic organs fall out of place -- than simply stitching the connective tissue in the vaginal wall muscle back together, finds new research.

ADHD Drug Shortage Has Patients, Parents Scrambling

Due to an ongoing shortage, some American adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or the parents of children with ADHD, are having to call multiple pharmacies before finding one that carries the prescription they need to manage the condition.

Fever During Pregnancy, Diabetes and Obesity May Raise Autism Risk

Having the flu during pregnancy isn't associated with a heightened risk of autism or developmental delay in children, although having a fever during pregnancy might be.