Health News

Health News for 07/13/11

July 13, 2011

Sometimes Sleeping on the Job May Be a Good Thing

Top U.S. officials who have taken a hard line against air traffic controllers napping on the job are missing an opportunity to improve air safety, sleep experts say.

Flip-Flops, Baseball Caps May Raise Risk of Skin Cancer

Wearing flip-flops and baseball caps can increase your risk of skin cancer, an expert warns.

Health Tip: Living With Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension occurs when the arteries inside the lungs narrow, restricting blood flow and increasing blood pressure in those arteries.

Health Tip: Binge Eating May Lead to Weight Gain

Binge eating disorder means eating abnormally large amounts of food, eating extremely quickly and eating beyond the point of fullness.

Generic, Brand-Name Heart Drugs Seem to Have Same Effect on Thyroid

For patients taking the heart rhythm drug amiodarone (Cordarone), generic versions of the drug do not cause more incidents of thyroid dysfunction than the brand-name medication, researchers report.

Mobile Sensors Track Health of Elderly in Pilot Test

A small pilot study of wireless mobile sensors used by a group of retirees suggests the technology may be useful in detecting meaningful changes in seniors' health, researchers at Dartmouth College report.

Ultrasound May Determine Heart Attack Risk in HIV Patients

People with HIV are at increased risk for blood vessel blockages, and new research shows heart ultrasounds can help determine if these patients are more likely to suffer a serious or fatal heart attack.

'Virtual Reality' May Help in Parkinson's Therapy

People with Parkinson's disease are unable to make quick movements, but virtual reality- and physical reality-based therapies may provide the stimulus needed to help them move faster, new research suggests.

Rural Workers Often Lack Access to Sick Leave

Rural workers are often forced to choose between their health or the health of a loved one and their jobs, researchers report.

'Swine Flu' Shot May Be Cleared of Guillain-Barre Charges

A new European study finds that the supercharged vaccines used to fight the H1N1 epidemic in 2009 may not have boosted the risk for a disease known as Guillain-Barre syndrome after all.

Low 'Empathy' Response in Brain Might Point to Autism Gene

People with autism and their siblings share a similar pattern of reduced activity in an area of the brain associated with empathy, researchers say.

Delving Into the Mystery of Placebos

A new study finds that the power of the placebo effect left asthma patients thinking that real and fake drugs were doing the same level of good, even though the real medication actually had a much greater physical effect on their lungs.

Health Highlights: July 13, 2011

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

Millions of Americans Lack Access to Dental Care: Report

More than 33 million Americans live in areas with too few dentists to meet their needs, and millions of children and retirees lack access to good oral health care because they can't afford it, a new report finds.

Drugs May Prevent HIV Spread Among Heterosexuals

Giving antiretroviral drugs to heterosexuals at high risk of HIV infection can significantly reduce the chance they will develop the AIDS-causing virus, two new studies suggest.

For Some Prostate Cancer Patients, Combo Treatment Improves Survival

For men who have prostate cancer that's considered "intermediate risk," radiation plus four months of hormone therapy appears to improve survival, a new study finds.

Pelvic Mesh for Incontinence May Carry Added Risk for Women: FDA

A mesh device used to support the pelvic organs and help ease incontinence in women appears to carry more risks than previously thought, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday.