Health News

Health News for 05/16/11

May 16, 2011

Health Tip: Pregnant Women Must Protect Against Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that, if acquired by a pregnant woman, can threaten the fetus.

Health Tip: Painkillers May Cause Stomach Problems

Certain painkillers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may cause stomach problems, especially if you need to take them consistently over long periods.

Hospice Care More Common in Wealthier Areas, Study Finds

The availability of hospice care for dying patients in the United States is strongly associated with a local area's average household income, a new study says.

Some More Sensitive to Effects of Alcohol, Study Finds

People who are more sensitive to the rewarding effects of alcohol may be at increased risk for greater consumption of alcohol and for alcoholism, researchers report.

Agent Orange Linked to Kidney Cancer: Study

There appears to be a link between Agent Orange and kidney cancer in U.S. veterans exposed to the herbicide in Vietnam, a new study suggests.

Prostate Cancer Survival May Be Especially Tough on Gay Men

Gay men have a lower health-related quality of life than other men after prostate cancer treatment, a new study finds.

Heavy Smoking Tied to Advanced Kidney Cancer

Smoking increases the risk of advanced kidney cancer, researchers report.

Smoking Might Raise Odds for Prostate Cancer's Return

In men who've had their prostate surgically removed due to prostate cancer, smoking seems linked to a rise in blood levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) -- a measure of the risk of cancer recurrence.

Cardiac Rehab Can Boost Survival After Angioplasty, Study Finds

Patients who undergo angioplasty to unblock a clogged artery have better odds of survival if they participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program afterwards, researchers report.

Research Shows Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease Sometimes Missed

More than half of those who develop Alzheimer's disease before the age of 60 are initially misdiagnosed when the first signs of the disease are symptoms other than memory problems, a small study suggests.

Selenium Supplements Might Give Modest Benefit Against Cholesterol

A daily dose of the antioxidant selenium doesn't appear to elevate "bad" cholesterol levels, and may in fact prompt a very modest boost in "good" cholesterol, a new British study reveals.

Poor Sleep Tied to Incontinence, Impotence

Sleep problems are associated with erectile dysfunction and urologic conditions such as incontinence, according to the results of two new studies.

Chemical in Smoke May Pose Health Risk

A chemical in smoke from cigarettes, forest fires and cooking/heating fires may pose a health risk, a new study indicates.

Don't Delay Emergency Care When Asthma Flare-Ups Strike

Asthma patients who delay seeking emergency medical care when the condition flares can suffer worse outcomes, including hospitalization.

ICU Patients May Benefit From 'Telemedicine'

Telemedicine -- the care of patients by health care professionals located remotely -- may benefit intensive care unit patients, new U.S. research shows.

Kids Taking ADHD Drugs at Low Risk for Heart Problems: Study

Children taking drugs to control attention deficit hyperactivity disorder appear to be at no greater risk for heart problems than kids not taking ADHD medications, a new study finds.

Binge Drinking Tied to Memory Loss in College Students: Study

A new Spanish study links binge drinking in college students to a lowered ability to remember lists of words, although the research doesn't prove alcohol is at fault and the drinkers did fine on a separate memory test.

For Some, Bugs Crawling on Skin Is a Delusion

Dermatologists sometimes see patients who insist their skin is infested by parasites despite clinical evidence to the contrary.

Health Highlights: May 16, 2011

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

PSA Test Could Be Improved to Spot Prostate Cancer

Amid the controversy swirling around the value of PSA testing as a screen for prostate cancer, new evidence emerges that there may be ways to fine-tune the screening so it benefits more men, while avoiding unnecessary biopsies and treatment.

New Drug Extends Life a Bit in Advanced Prostate Cancer

For men with advanced hormone-resistant prostate cancer who have also failed chemotherapy, the new drug Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) along with the steroid prednisone appears to increase survival modestly, a new study reports.

GPs Lack Accuracy in Spotting Skin Cancers: Study

When general doctors refer patients to a specialist to investigate a suspicious skin lesion, it's more often another lesion that turns out to be cancerous, a new study finds.

Tonsil Removal Might Cure Bedwetting in Some Kids With Sleep Apnea

Half of children with sleep apnea who also wet the bed might stop their bedwetting if their tonsils or adenoids are removed, new research suggests.

Victrelis Approved for Chronic Hepatitis C

Victrelis (boceprevir) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic hepatitis C, in tandem with the two additional drugs, pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin.