Health News

Health News for 08/24/11

August 24, 2011

Health Tip: Make Kids' Lunch Interesting

Kids may turn thumbs down at many healthy lunch choices, but if parents get creative, they can prepare healthy lunches that their children like.

Health Tip: Fleas May Flock to People

Fleas may prefer to latch onto dogs and cats, but the blood-sucking insects can jump to people, especially after pets have left the home permanently.

College Students Missing Out on Fruits, Veggies: Survey

American college students aren't eating anywhere near the recommended five daily servings of fruits and vegetables, a new study finds.

Specialized Adult Stem Cells Re-Grow Fingertips

Specialized adult stem cells are make it possible for mammals to re-grow the tips of injured fingers or toes, rather than a "jack of all trades" cell type formed in response to serious injury, a new study shows.

Teen Drinking, Smoking Higher Among Facebook Users: Survey

U.S. teens who use social networking sites and watch "suggestive" TV shows are more likely to use drugs and alcohol than teens with little exposure to such media, a new survey found.

Obesity Costing States Billion in Yearly Medical Expenses

Obesity is costing states up to $15 billion each year, a new study suggests.

Tight Communities Can Lower Violence Linked to Liquor Stores

Stability and social unity can reduce levels of violence in communities with a high number of stores that sell alcohol, a new study suggests.

Cooling Soldiers With Combat Injuries May Improve Survival

Cooling the bodies of bleeding soldiers with high body temperatures could improve their chances of survival, according to a new study.

Breast-Feeding Won't Prevent Kids' Eczema, Researchers Say

Exclusive breast-feeding of infants for four months or longer does not protect them against developing the itchy skin disorder known as eczema in childhood, new research shows.

Three-Quarters of U.S. Jobless Can't Afford Health Care: Report

Nearly three-quarters of jobless Americans say they can't afford needed health care or prescription drugs, and about half say they're struggling with medical bills or medical debt, a new report reveals.

Cancer Drug Shortages Getting Worse, FDA Says

Since 2010, the number of drugs either in short supply or not available at all has risen dramatically, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

'Bubble Boy' Kids Living Normally After Gene Therapy: Study

More than a dozen children with so-called "bubble boy" disease are alive and well, with functioning immune systems, nine years after undergoing gene therapy to correct their disorder, researchers report.

Long-Term Antibiotic Use May Lessen COPD Flare-Ups

Taking a daily dose of the antibiotic azithromycin may help prevent life-threatening complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), researchers say.

Health Highlights: Aug.24, 2011

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

East Coast Urged to Prepare for Hurricane Irene

Federal officials on Wednesday urged residents of the U.S. East Coast to begin making emergency preparations for Hurricane Irene, a "category 3" storm with winds up to 115 miles per hour that has already battered several Caribbean islands and the Bahamas.

Antidepressant Tied to Dangerous Heart Rhythm: FDA

High doses of the popular antidepressant Celexa can cause potentially fatal abnormal heart rhythms and should no longer be prescribed to patients, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.

2 Salmonella Outbreaks Traced to Baby Chicks, Ducklings

Chicks and ducklings from a mail-order hatchery in Ohio are linked to two salmonella outbreaks in the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.

Unintended Pregnancies Rising Among Poorer U.S. Women: Study

The overall rate of unintended pregnancies in the United States is holding steady but has risen dramatically among poor women -- even as it declines among their more affluent peers, a new study finds.

Sophisticated Scan May Spot Seeds of Alzheimer's Risk

Using an advanced MRI scan, researchers believe they have found changes in the chemistry of the brains of people with no cognitive problems that signal who is at future risk for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Only 1 in 7 Ob/Gyns Now Perform Abortions, Survey Finds

The percentage of obstetrician-gynecologists performing abortions in the United States dropped to 14 percent from 22 percent in 2008, a new survey shows.

Botox Approved to Treat Urinary Incontinence

Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat urinary incontinence in people with neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis.