Health News

Health News for 08/30/11

August 30, 2011

U.S. Offers Health-Care Pamphlets in Spanish

A language barrier may not prevent Spanish-speaking patients from making informed health care decisions.

Health Tip: Feel More Rested During Pregnancy

Fatigue is a common complaint among pregnant women, but there are things you can do to get better sleep and boost your energy.

Health Tip: Reduce Your Risk of Overuse Injury

Overuse injuries may occur when you ramp up your exercise routine too quickly or too vigorously.

Mother's Love Can Help Babies With Difficult Temperaments

Having a secure attachment with their mother helps irritable babies respond well to unfamiliar people and situations, a new study finds.

Temporary ER Staff Linked to More Medication Errors

The use of temporary emergency department doctors and nurses poses an increased safety risk to patients, according to a new study.

What You Eat Affects Viruses Living in the Gut: Study

Changes in diet affect the populations of viruses that live in your gut, researchers say.

Heart Attack Damage Not Reduced by Adding Balloon Pump to Angioplasty

The extent of heart muscle damage in heart attack patients isn't reduced by inserting a balloon pump into the aorta -- the body's main artery from the heart -- before performing a surgery to clear clogged blood vessels known as angioplasty, a new study finds.

Women Married Before Age 18 at Higher Risk of Mental Woes: Study

Nearly one in 10 women in the United States were married before the age of 18, a new study finds, and they could face a slightly higher risk of mental illness than other married women.

Family Heart Disease Risk Linked to Genes, Not Lifestyle

Genes affect hereditary coronary heart disease risk but family lifestyle does not, according to a new study.

More Evidence Links Genes to Parkinson's

A genetic variation that reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease by nearly 20 percent in many populations has been found by an international team of scientists.

For Gamers, Intense Competition May Fuel Aggression

Intense competition, not violence, may be the main factor in video games that fuels aggression, according to a small new study.

Blood Protein Might Signal Death Risk in Elderly

Swedish scientists have identified a protein circulating in the blood which seems to be a harbinger of an increased risk of death among elderly people.

FDA Focuses on Silicone Breast Implant Safety Studies

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel began a two-day meeting Tuesday on silicone breast implants to consider ways to improve the effectiveness of post-approval safety studies.

Bacterial Strain Behind 'Black Death' Plague Is Likely Extinct: Study

Using bones retrieved from London's medieval graveyards, scientists have isolated the strain of bacteria thought to be responsible for the Black Death, and determined that it is most likely now extinct.

Effects of Combat Stress May Not Last as Long as Thought

The intense combat stress experienced by soldiers deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or other war-torn countries may prime their brains for the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but new research suggests these changes don't last as long as previously thought.

Health Highlights: Aug. 30, 2011

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

Flame Retardants Tied to Lower Birth Weights

A flame retardant that was phased out of use but is still present in older furnishings is linked to lower birth weights in newborns of women exposed to it during pregnancy, a new study suggests.