Health News

Health News for 08/08/11

August 08, 2011

Health Tip: Osteoporosis Can Affect Men, Too

Although osteoporosis is more common in postmenopausal women, men are also vulnerable to thinning bones as they age.

Health Tip: Treating an Earache

Ear infections can cause big pain in little ears. But you and your child's doctor can take steps to help ease the pain and discomfort.

Bullying Takes Toll on High School Test Scores

Students attending high schools dominated by bullies are more likely to have lower standardized test scores, a new study shows.

Toe Deformities Should Be Treated Early: Experts

Hammer toes, curly toes, crossover toes and bunions are not only painful, they can be a red flag for other health problems, a new report warns.

Kids Can Safely Play Sports in Hot Weather: Experts

Youth sports programs need to have guidelines to protect young athletes against heat illness, says an updated policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Study of Bone Cancer in Dogs May Improve Treatment in Kids

The discovery of a gene pattern that distinguishes highly aggressive bone cancer in dogs from a less aggressive form may help improve treatment of bone cancer in children, according to researchers.

Early Morning Smoking Riskier For Cancer

Smokers who light up right after they wake up in the morning may be at greater risk for lung, head and neck cancers than those who wait longer before having their first cigarette of the day, a new study finds.

Trying Out New Identities Key to Video Games' Appeal: Study

One reason why people worldwide spend 3 billion hours per week playing video games may be because the games allow them to "try on" characteristics they might like to have, a new study suggests.

Are Kids Brown-Bagging Bacteria?

Despite parents' best intentions, many school lunches packed at home may reach unsafe temperatures by the time a child eats, and that's true even when lunches are packed in an insulated container with ice packs.

As Heart Failure Worsens, Word Recall May Suffer Too

Older patients with more severe heart failure are at increased risk for verbal memory impairment, a new study finds.

Frequent Tests Help Track Progression of Glaucoma, Study Finds

Frequent visual field testing may help doctors detect progression of the eye disease glaucoma at an earlier stage, a new study says.

Life-Threatening Leg Clots Run in Families, Study Shows

People who have two or more siblings who have suffered blood clots in deep veins such as those in the legs and pelvis -- a disease known as venous thromboembolism (VTE) -- have a relative risk 50 times higher for developing such clots themselves, Swedish researchers report.

Health Highlights: Aug. 8, 2011

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

Hospitals Vary Widely in Rate of Heart Procedures: Study

At some U.S. hospitals, nearly everyone who has cardiac catheterization to diagnose heart disease is found to have major blockages requiring some kind of action.

CPAP Therapy Most Effective for Sleep Apnea, Experts Say

The most effective treatment for the nighttime breathing disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea is the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, according to a new report.

Deep Brain Stimulation Improves Parkinson's Symptoms Long-Term

The benefit of deep brain stimulation in controlling tremors and improving motor function for those with Parkinson's disease appears to last at least 10 years, according to a small new study by Canadian researchers.

Many Heart Patients Anemic After Too Many Blood Tests in Hospital

One in five patients who are hospitalized for heart attacks develop anemia because so much of their blood is drawn for routine diagnostic tests, researchers have found.

Soy Supplements Don't Ease Bone Loss, Menopausal Symptoms: Study

Soy supplements, sometimes promoted as a healthier alternative to estrogen for maintaining bone and relieving menopausal symptoms, don't appear to do so, according to a new study.

Elderly Lung Cancer Patients Can Gain From Two-Drug Chemo: Study

Countering conventional wisdom, researchers in France say that elderly lung cancer patients can gain significant benefit from an aggressive, double-barreled chemotherapy that's often used in younger patients.