Health News

Health News for 09/29/11

September 29, 2011

Health Tip: Living With Osteoarthritis

Exercise can help improve many symptoms of osteoarthritis, a joint disease that causes pain and stiffness.

Health Tip: Gestational Diabetes May Endanger Mother and Baby

Gestational diabetes occurs when blood sugar levels become abnormally high during pregnancy.

Campus Smoking Bans May Help College Students Quit

Campus-wide smoking bans appear to help university students cut back on their nicotine habit, new research suggests.

Does Your Picky Eater Have a 'Feeding Disorder'?

Picky eating is normal in children, but a pediatric feeding disorder is a much more serious problem that can affect a child's physical and mental development, an expert says.

Bellowing Koalas Signal Size to Potential Mates

The bellowing of male koalas during mating season is a boast about their size, researchers report.

New Genes Revealed for Type 1 Diabetes

New genes associated with type 1 diabetes have been uncovered in a large-scale analysis of genetic data related to the disease.

Brain Continues to Develop Beyond Adolescence

Brain development doesn't stop in adolescence, but continues until people are well into their 20s, a new study says.

Singing May Help Some Stroke Victims Regain Speech

Singing helps some stroke patients suffering from non-fluent aphasia -- severe difficulties with speech -- re-learn how to speak, according to a new study.

Abnormal Protein May Explain Loss of Smell With Alzheimer's

A loss of a sense of smell can be one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease.

Otherwise Healthy Older Men Undertreated for Prostate Cancer: Study

Men over 75 with prostate cancer who are otherwise healthy are being undertreated for their condition, according to a new study.

Modern Shift Work Patterns May Be Less Harmful to Health

Working rotating shifts is not as potentially unhealthy as it used to be, according to new Canadian research that suggests modern shift patterns may not carry the same risks for cancer as older, more extreme shift schedules.

Twitter Reflects World's Changing Moods

Using Twitter to track people's moods from every corner of the globe, new research suggests that folks seem to awaken in good cheer and get grumpier as the workday progresses, regardless of where they live.

FDA Warns LASIK Providers: Stop Making False Claims

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is once again cracking down on eye care professionals who make false safety claims and promises about the popular LASIK eye surgery.

'Magic Mushroom' Compound Triggered Positive Personality Change in Study

In new research that will almost certainly create controversy, scientists working with the hallucinogen psilocybin -- the active ingredient found in "magic mushrooms" -- have found that a single dose of the drug prompted an enduring but positive personality change in almost 60 percent of patients.

1 in 4 U.S. Adults Treated for High Blood Pressure: Report

One-quarter of American adults received treatment for high blood pressure in 2008, according to new research from the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Health Highlights: Sept. 29, 2011

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

1 in 5 American Workers Still Smokes: CDC

Almost 20 percent of American workers are smokers, particularly the least educated, poorest, youngest and uninsured, a new government report finds.

No One Treatment for Acid Reflux Clearly Better Than Another: Study

Medications are effective for most patients with acid reflux disease, but some surgical options may be just as effective, according to a review of studies on current treatments for this common condition.