Health News

Health News for 07/28/11

July 28, 2011

Health Tip: Get a Better Night's Sleep

Instead of turning to a pot of coffee to keep you awake during the day, experts say you should focus on getting better sleep at night.

Health Tip: Smokeless Tobacco Isn't a Safe Alternative

Some people may think smokeless tobacco is a safer alternative to cigarettes, but experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention want to nip that idea in the bud.

Dentists May Be Able to Spot Undiagnosed Diabetes

Dentists may be able to help spot undiagnosed diabetes or identify people with pre-diabetes, a new study suggests.

Vaccine to Prevent Heroin High Works in Animals

Researchers say they're seeing promising results in animals from a vaccine designed to prevent a heroin high.

Predicting Who Will -- and Won't -- Survive a Heart Attack

It may be possible to predict who will survive or die as the result of a first heart attack, researchers have found.

Hepatitis Rates Soar Among IV Drug Users, Study Finds

About 10 million injection drug users worldwide have hepatitis C, and 1.3 million have hepatitis B, a new study reports.

Speed Cameras Save Lives, Money: Study

Speed cameras installed on major highways are a cost-effective method of preventing traffic accidents and motor vehicle deaths, researchers say.

Growing Up Near Livestock Tied to Blood Cancers

Children raised on livestock farms are at significantly greater risk of developing blood cancers -- such as leukemia, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma -- later in life, a new study contends.

Painful Gout Afflicting More Americans: Study

Over the past two decades, the number of American adults with the painful joint disease gout has soared to 8.3 million, a new study finds.

U.S. to Pay Bigger Share of Rising Cost of Health Care

The rate of growth in U.S. health care spending is expected to pick up speed so that the nation will shell out $4.6 trillion for services by 2020, a new report finds.

Coaches Can Play Big Role in How Kids Feel About Sports

"Oh, put me in, coach! I'm ready to play today," plead the lyrics of a classic song about baseball.

Building Muscle May Reduce Diabetes Risk, Study Says

Increasing your muscle mass can help lower your risk for type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests.

Health Highlights: July 28, 2011

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

Tamoxifen Wards Off Breast Cancer's Return for More Than a Decade

Women who took the cancer-suppressing drug tamoxifen for five years after a breast cancer diagnosis were nearly 40 percent less likely to have the cancer return, and that protection lasted for more than a decade after they stopped taking the drug, a new study finds.

Brain Injury Appears to Boost Stroke Risk

In the three months after a traumatic brain injury, the risk of stroke may increase 10-fold, Taiwanese researchers report.

Report Could Tighten FDA's Oversight of Medical Devices

The U.S. Institute of Medicine plans to release a report Friday that could change the way medical devices are regulated.

Heat-Linked Illnesses Strike Thousands Each Year: Report

Summer is a time to be out and about, but it's also a time when high temperatures can take a big toll on health.