Health News

Health News for 06/01/11

June 01, 2011

Health Tip: Protect Your Feet From Corns

Corns are calluses on the toes that develop when the toes rub against the inside of shoes.

Health Tip: Floss for Healthier Teeth and Gums

Daily flossing can minimize plaque and help keep teeth and gums healthy.

Experts Recommend Cardiac Screening for College Athletes

Screening college athletes for heart conditions before they participate in sports could help prevent incidents of sudden cardiac death, according to a new study.

Long Commutes Tough on Couples' Relationships

In a tough economy, many people find themselves taking a job that requires a long commute, but new research suggests that there may be a high personal price to pay for that decision.

How Brain Sees the 'Big Picture' May Affect Self-Image

Body dysmorphic disorder, an illness that causes people to see themselves as disfigured or ugly, is linked to an abnormality in how visual information is processed, and the image distortion extends to the world around them, according to a new study.

Plastic Surgery Risks May Depend on More Than Age

Age alone should not be the sole determining factor when deciding whether an older person should have plastic surgery, a new study suggests.

ERs Frequented by Kids With Behavioral Problems: Report

Regular outpatient care has not kept children and teenagers with mental health issues and behavioral problems from making repeat visits to the emergency room (ER), according to a new study.

Widely Used Heart Drugs Linked to Better Breast Cancer Outcomes

Beta blockers -- safe, inexpensive drugs that have been used for decades by millions of people -- may eventually have a role in fighting breast cancer, according to two new studies.

Corticosteroids May Speed Pneumonia Recovery in Some

Patients with an inflammatory lung condition known as community-acquired pneumonia appear to recover faster when treated with corticosteroids in addition to the standard regimen of antibiotics, Dutch researchers say.

Can Removing Tonsils, Appendix Boost Early Heart Attack Risk?

Although the tonsils and appendix are not considered vital to the body, Swedish researchers have found that people who had them taken out before the age of 20 may be at a slightly greater risk of an early heart attack.

Earpieces Can Minimize Possible Risks From Cellphones, Experts Say

Can using a cellphone increase the risk of cancer?

Hospital Visitors' Cellphones May Carry 'Worrisome' Germs

Compared with cellphones belonging to hospital staff, cellphones brought into the facilities by patients and the people who visit them are twice as likely to carry dangerous pathogens, a new Turkish study has found.

Children With ADHD More Prone to Substance Abuse: Study

Boys and girls diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face a significantly higher risk of developing a substance abuse problem -- including cigarettes, alcohol and drugs, new research reveals.

Health Highlights: June 1, 2011

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

Even Ancient Men Seemed to Like Their Man Caves

The concept of the "man cave" has been entrenched in the human lineage for far longer than thought, according to new research that analyzed teeth from early humans to determine their geographic movement.

Melanoma Vaccine Shows Promise in Trial

For patients with advanced melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, a vaccine combined with an immune-boosting drug is showing promise in a large clinical trial.

High-Risk Surgeries Getting Safer: Study

Undergoing an operation can be scary, but University of Michigan researchers offer some reassuring news: Deaths among those having high-risk surgery have fallen substantially in recent years.

Fear of Dying During Heart Attack May Make Matters Worse

People who become very afraid of dying in the moments during and days after a heart attack also seem to have more inflammation, an indicator that they may, in the long run, do worse than patients who are less fearful, a small British study suggests.

Hi-Tech Scan Detects Soldiers' Head Injuries

Using a sophisticated new imaging technique, researchers were able to find previously undetected changes in the brains of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who had been diagnosed with mild brain injuries sustained from blast explosions.