Health News

Health News for 09/27/11

September 27, 2011

Health Tip: Managing With Chronic Pain

Chronic pain can be physically and emotionally difficult to manage, but taking an active role in your care can help.

Health Tip: Inspect Your Child's Playground

Before you turn your child loose at the playground, inspect it to make sure it's safe.

Extra Pounds Linked to Weaker Legs in Older Women

Older, overweight women have about the same power and strength in their legs as normal-weight women. But when their leg strength and power was assessed relative to their weight, older overweight women performed much worse than those of normal weight, a new study has found.

With Rude Workers, Customers Walk but Don't Talk

Rude employee behavior is a major problem that drives customers away from many businesses, a new U.S. study finds.

Spinal Surgery Riskier for Certain Patients, Study Finds

Several factors that increase the risk for different types of complications and death shortly after spine surgery are outlined in a new study.

Fatalism Keeps Many From Colon Cancer Screening

A fatalistic attitude contributes to low colorectal cancer screening rates among poorer people, even when the screening and cancer care are free, according to U.K. researchers.

Fiber Beats Other Remedies for Constipated Kids, Study Says

Many children in western countries suffer from chronic constipation, and when the going gets slow, fiber seems to beat all other non-drug remedies, new research from the Netherlands suggests.

Mixed Results Seen With 'Off-Label' Use of Antipsychotics

Even though off-label use of atypical antipsychotic drugs is common, a new review finds that such use is only effective in a few conditions and can be harmful in others.

U.S. Scientists Map Genome of Advanced Prostate Cancer

A number of recurrent genetic errors common to advanced lethal prostate cancers have been identified by scientists who conducted the first complete genome mapping of these types of cancers.

Childless Men May Face Higher Heart Disease Risk

Men who do not have children appear to face a higher risk of dying from heart disease than those who become fathers, a new study suggests.

Sleepy Teens Prone to Bad Behaviors, Study Finds

Most teens don't get enough sleep, putting them at greater risk for a slew of unhealthy behaviors, from physical inactivity to fighting, according to a new U.S. study.

Mental Health Disabilities in U.S. on the Rise: Study

The number of Americans who say they suffer from mental health disabilities has jumped significantly over the past decade, a new study shows.

Surgeon Experience Matters in Neck Artery Procedure: Study

New research suggests that older patients who undergo surgery to open up clogged arteries in the neck are more likely to die within a month if their surgeon is inexperienced, although the risk is still small.

Health Highlights: Sept. 27, 2011

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

Saw Palmetto Doesn't Help Enlarged Prostate: Study

For men suffering from urinary problems related to an enlarged prostate, saw palmetto extract doesn't seem to relieve symptoms any better than a placebo, even when taken at high doses, a new study finds.

Super-Tight Blood Sugar Control May Not Ease Mental Decline in Diabetics

For people with type 2 diabetes, intense treatment doesn't slow decline in thinking skills, a new study found. Super-strict blood sugar control actually appeared to increase study participants' risk of death, the researchers found.

Cost of U.S. Workers' Health Premiums Surged in 2011

Average annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage shot up 9 percent in the past year, to more than $15,000, according to new research from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust.

Do Men Need Colon Cancer Screening Earlier Than Women Do?

Men may need to begin colon cancer screening earlier than women, new research suggests.