Health News

Health News for 10/19/11

October 19, 2011

Health Tip: Feeling the Effects of Air Pollution

Pollutants in the air from vehicles, factories and machines can harm your health, especially if you're more sensitive to them.

Health Tip: Why Am I on Bed Rest?

Doctors frequently order bed rest during pregnancy to protect the mother's health and that of the developing baby.

Obese, Asthmatic Kids Need Special Care Under Anesthesia

Obese children need special attention when they undergo anesthesia, two new studies suggest.

New Guidelines Issued for Common Tremor Disorder

An antiseizure drug called primidone (Mysoline) and a high blood pressure drug called propranolol (Inderal) are the most effective medicines to treat shaking in people with essential tremor, according to an updated treatment guideline from the American Academy of Neurology.

Sperm Moves Best for Moderate Exercisers: Study

Men who get moderate amounts of exercise have better sperm motility than men who are less or more physically active, a new study finds.

Gene Mapping Reveals Clues to Bedbugs' Pesticide Resistance

Some of the genetic traits that give bedbugs resistance to insecticides have been pinpointed by U.S. researchers.

U.S. Cancer Groups Release Their Own Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines

Three leading U.S. cancer groups have proposed new guidelines for cervical cancer testing for women, including when to start screening for sexually active young women, extending intervals between screenings and in some cases, supplementing the traditional Pap test with human papilloma virus (HPV) testing.

Antidepressant Use Skyrocketed in Past 20 Years: CDC

The rate of antidepressant use among Americans of all ages increased nearly 400 percent over the last two decades, and 11 percent of Americans aged 12 and older now take antidepressant drugs, according to a federal government report released Wednesday.

More Facebook Friends, More Gray Matter in Brain?

People with lots of Facebook friends tend to have areas of the brain that are larger than those of online social network users with fewer friends, British researchers say.

Hypertension, Not Blood Pressure Drugs, Linked to Birth Defects

Although pregnant women who have high blood pressure face a higher risk that their baby will be born with birth defects, new research indicates that the medications typically used to treat the condition will not raise that risk any further.

Care for Mentally Ill Vets at VA Centers May Differ Across U.S.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs rivals other health care systems in the quality of care it provides to mentally ill veterans, but there are huge discrepancies in the level of care offered in various facilities across the country, according to a new study.

U.S. Man Diagnosed With HIV Develops Leprosy

Ohio doctors report they got a diagnostic surprise when an HIV patient tested positive for the bacterium that causes leprosy.

Start HIV Drug Treatment Early in Patients With TB: Studies

Three new studies provide insight into the best time to begin AIDS drug treatments in HIV-positive patients who are also infected with tuberculosis, a double whammy common in Africa. Starting the drugs earlier, even by a few weeks, could make a big difference for patients who are very sick, the research suggests.

FDA: Dirty Conditions Likely to Blame for Listeria Outbreak at Cantaloupe Farm

The listeria outbreak traced to cantaloupes produced at a Colorado farm that has been blamed for 25 deaths so far seems to have been caused by unsanitary conditions at the farm, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Health Highlights: Oct. 19, 2011

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

Health Care-Related Infections Declined in 2010: CDC

Rates of four common health care-related infections declined in the United States in 2010, but more work is needed to eliminate all such types of infections, a federal government report says.

Teens' IQ May Fluctuate Over Time: Study

Parents, you may be onto something: A small new study suggests that teens' intelligence, as measured by the IQ test, may fluctuate throughout adolescence.

Long-Term Unemployment Can Tax Mental Health

Americans who were jobless for longer than 25 weeks in the past year were three times more likely than those who were continuously employed to suffer mental health issues for the first time, a new study finds.

Breast Radiation After Lumpectomy Saves Lives: Study

Women with breast cancer who undergo radiation after a lumpectomy have significantly fewer recurrences and, consequently, greater odds of survival than women who forgo radiation, new research says.

Steroids Given to Preemies May Harm Brain Growth: Study

Giving premature babies even low doses of steroids after birth interferes with development of the brain's cerebellum, which is important to motor skills, learning and behavior, new research finds.

Neighborhood Can Affect Obesity, Diabetes Risk

Women living in poor neighborhoods are more likely to be obese and have type 2 diabetes than those who move into more advantaged areas, new research suggests.