Health News

Health News for 07/29/11

July 29, 2011

Shootings Spark Interest in Spotting the Violence-Prone

Any time there's a violent tragedy -- the killing of at least 86 people at a youth camp in Norway, the shootings of a congresswoman and others in Tucson, the Virginia Tech massacre -- one question seems to ring clearer than others: Why didn't someone notice beforehand that the suspect might be disturbed and capable of committing deadly violence?

Health Tip: When a Person With Alzheimer's Eats

Mealtime with an Alzheimer's patient can be stressful and challenging, to make sure the patient gets sufficient nutrition.

Health Tip: When Sleep Apnea Affects Children

Obstructive sleep apnea commonly occurs when swollen tonsils or adenoids obstruct the airways during sleep.

Long-Term Opioid Therapy Often Leads to Addiction

Addiction to prescription drugs is common among patients with chronic pain, with 35 percent of patients receiving long-term treatment with opioids now meeting the criteria for addiction, a new study has found.

Even Living Together Is Too Much Commitment for Today's Couples

A growing number of young American adults are engaging in what's called "stayover relationships," in which they spend three or more nights together each week while still having the option of going to their own homes, a new study shows.

Blood Pressure Drop During Dialysis May Raise Clot Risk

Low blood pressure while undergoing dialysis puts patients at increased risk for clots where their blood vessels are connected to the dialysis machine, a new study says.

Study Finds Kids Want More Info About Their Hospital Care

Excluding children from discussions about their hospital care can make them feel scared and angry, a new study finds.

New Dog Gene May Shed Light on Childhood Epilepsy

An epilepsy gene, called LGI2, has been found in Lagotto Romagnolos -- a specific breed of dog known for truffle hunting, according to a new study.

Some Ethnic Groups More Vulnerable to Dangerous Fat

Some ethnic groups are more likely than others to store dangerous fat around their internal organs as they gain weight, according to a new study.

Concussion Project Finds Disease in Two Autopsied Brains

The brains of two of four former Canadian Football League players showed signs of a brain disease associated with concussions, say researchers with the Canadian Sports Concussion Project.

Sexual Assault Doesn't Cause Binge Drinking in Girls: Study

Teenage girls who develop post-traumatic stress disorder after being sexually assaulted aren't at increased risk for binge drinking, new research shows.

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.

Drop in Breast Cancer Death Rates May Not Be Linked to Screening Rates

Developed countries have seen a drop in breast cancer death rates in recent years, but a new international study suggests this trend is less about rising screening rates and more about the availability of increasingly effective treatments and improving health-care systems.

Health Highlights: July 29, 2011

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

Report Urges New Review System for Medical Devices

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should scrap the system it uses to approve and regulate "moderate-risk" medical devices such as artificial joints and heart pacemakers, according to a highly anticipated federal report released Friday.