Health News

Health News for 08/18/11

August 18, 2011

Health Tip: Using a Nasal Spray for Allergies

A nasal spray can help many allergy sufferers find relief from symptoms, but it's important that the spray be used correctly.

Graphic Images on Cigarette Packs a Turn-Off for Smokers

Smokers are less likely to buy cigarettes if they are in plain, unbranded packages with warning labels featuring graphic images of cancer, a new study finds.

Surgeons Need Help Learning How to Deliver Bad News

Training can help surgical residents learn how to be more supportive and compassionate when talking with patients facing cancer, a new study finds.

Thin Children Have More Energy-Burning 'Brown Fat'

Brown fat, also known as "good fat," burns more energy in active, thinner children and may help fight against obesity and diabetes, according to a new study.

Black Scientists Less Likely to Receive NIH Research Grants

Black researchers are 10 percentage points less likely than their white counterparts to receive research grants from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, according to a new study.

Annual Pap Tests Often Ordered But Unneeded: Study

Many doctors continue to recommend annual screening for cervical cancer, even though current guidelines say some women can wait much longer between tests.

Kids Benefit From Flu Vaccine via Shot or Spray, Study Finds

Children younger than 3 years old receive roughly the same amount of protection from the flu vaccine regardless of which method (injection, nasal spray, or one of each) is used to give the two recommended doses to them, according to a new federal study.

Sniffer Dogs Spot Early Stage Lung Cancer: Study

Trained sniffer dogs are able to detect lung cancer in its early stages, researchers have found.

Gene Variants That Boost Lung Cancer Risk Identified

Two gene variations that increase smokers' risk of lung cancer have been identified by researchers.

Overweight Women Believe Loved Ones Judge Them More Harshly Than They Do

Overweight women may still feel stigmatized about their weight even if their family and friends don't judge them negatively, according to a new study.

Nearly 1 in 10 U.S. Kids Diagnosed With ADHD

Over the last decade, an increasing number of American children have been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a new government survey reveals.

Test for Calcium Buildup May Spot Heart Attack, Stroke Risk

A calcium test performed with the assistance of a CT scanner seems to provide insight into the likelihood that certain patients at moderate risk of heart problems will have a heart attack or stroke, researchers say.

Health Highlights: Aug.18, 2011

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

Flu Shot Rates Low for Health Workers, Moms-to-Be: CDC

Flu vaccination levels among U.S. health care workers have risen in recent years but are still below the 2020 national health objectives, a new study says.

Healthy Behaviors Will Help You Live Longer: CDC

A healthy lifestyle helps you live longer, a new U.S. study confirms.

New Drug May Put the Squeeze on Heart Failure

An experimental heart failure drug may change the way doctors treat this vexing condition, researchers say.

Don't Skip This Year's Flu Shot: CDC

The 2011-12 flu vaccine protects against seasonal flu and H1N1, just like last year's, but that doesn't mean it's OK to skip your yearly flu shot, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn.

Cases of Legionnaire's Disease Tripled in 10 Years

Cases of Legionnaire's disease in the United States have tripled in the past decade, a new federal government report shows.