Health News

Health News for 10/11/11

October 11, 2011

Children of Older Dads Fare as Well in School as Other Kids

Men who become parents later in life are not putting their children at risk for academic problems, a new study suggests.

Health Tip: When Exercise Causes Hives

When some people exercise, they may break out in raised, itchy bumps and have other allergy symptoms during or just after activity. "Exercise-induced urticaria" is the medical term for this outbreak of hives.

Health Tip: Understanding Breast Cancer in Men

While breast cancer may be most common in women, it can also affect men.

Women Say Mammograms Give Them Sense of Control: Survey

Nearly 90 percent of U.S. women believe mammograms are vital to their health and well-being, according to a new national poll of 1,000 voters.

Direct-to-Consumer Gene Tests Cause Little Anxiety: Study

With private companies marketing genetic tests -- which measure people's risk for certain diseases -- directly to patients, concerns have risen about people's ability to handle that information on their own.

Environmental Toxins Linked to Hardening of Arteries

Environmental pollutants such as dioxins, PCBs and pesticides are associated with hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), according to a new study.

Men With Disabilities More Vulnerable to Sexual Assault

Men with disabilities are four times more likely to be sexually assaulted then nondisabled men, a new study says.

Lasers Safe for Removal of Pacemaker Wires in Elderly: Study

Using a laser to remove wires that connect implanted pacemakers and defibrillators to the heart is as safe in patients aged 80 and older as in younger patients, researchers report.

Healthy Diet May Counteract Heart Disease Gene

A healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables can significantly weaken the effect of a gene associated with an increased risk of heart disease, a new study suggests.

Study Suggests Origins of Pregnancy-Linked High Blood Pressure

Preeclampsia, a potentially dangerous spike in blood pressure during pregnancy, may be due to a microscopic battle going on within the placenta between cells directed by the father's genes and those directed by the mother, a new study suggests.

Where Folks Live Plays Role in Health Disparities: Study

White and black Americans who live in poor neighborhoods struggle with many of the same health disparities, which suggests that where a person lives plays a larger role in health disparities than previously believed, according to a new study.

Mutant Gene That Ups Risk for Ovarian Cancer May Aid Survival

Women who have the BRCA2 gene mutation that raises the risk for both breast and ovarian cancer are more likely to survive ovarian cancer than other women, a new study indicates.

Ginger Supplements Might Ease Inflammation Linked to Colon Cancer

A small, preliminary study finds that ginger root supplements seem to reduce inflammation in the intestines -- a potential sign that the pills might reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Health Highlights: Oct. 11, 2011

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

Extra Vitamin E May Be Associated With Prostate Cancer

Men taking supplemental vitamin E may be increasing their risk for prostate cancer by up to 17 percent, a new study suggests. But the reason for the association is unclear, the researchers say.

Many on Medical Guideline Panels Have Conflicts of Interest: Study

More than half of panel members who gather to write clinical practice guidelines on diabetes and high cholesterol have conflicts of interest, new research suggests.

Folic Acid in Pregnancy May Prevent Kids' Language Delays

Taking folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy was linked to a decreased risk of a having a child with a severe language delay at age 3, according to new research.

Evidence Lacking That Cognitive Rehab Therapy Helps Brain-Injured Vets

Studies on the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation therapy for traumatic brain injury are plagued by design problems, a new report issued by the U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM) finds.