Health News

Health News for 10/26/11

October 26, 2011

Health Tip: Gaining Weight During Pregnancy

It's healthy and normal to gain weight during pregnancy -- up to a point.

For Those With Mystery Illnesses, a 'Clinic of Last Resort'

A sibling pair with a puzzling condition that made even walking a short distance an agony; a 20-year-old man with a rare respiratory ailment forcing him to live on a ventilator; a woman with a potentially fatal buildup of a protein in her muscles -- all rare cases that were difficult to diagnose, let alone treat.

Tapping to Music May Help You 'Hear' It

Moving to the beat of music actually helps you hear the music better, according to a new study.

Bond With Teacher Can Help Curb Aggression in Kids

Having a good relationship with their teacher may help reduce aggressive behavior among first-graders and also protect them from other students' aggression, researchers have found.

Larger Food Portions May Be Seen as Status Symbols

People who feel powerless may choose larger food portions in an attempt to boost their social status, a new study suggests.

Newer 'Pill' May Raise Blood Clot Risk

Birth control pills with newer types of progestogen hormones (drospirenone, desogestrel or gestodene) are more likely than others to cause serious blood clots, a new study confirms.

Ghost Writing Persists in Major Medical Journals

Honorary and ghost authors were involved in 21 percent of articles published in six leading medical journals in 2008, which shows that this type of inappropriate authorship remains a problem, a new study says.

Flu Vaccine Isn't Foolproof

The most widely used flu vaccine in the United States is only about 60 percent effective in healthy adults, new research indicates.

National Drug Take-Back Day Scheduled for Saturday

In an ongoing effort to fight prescription-drug abuse by adults and teenagers in the United States, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled Saturday, Oct. 29 as another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

Death Toll From Listeria Outbreak Hits 28

The death toll in the listeria outbreak traced to cantaloupes produced at a Colorado farm has reached 28, with another 133 people sickened in 26 states, U.S. officials said late Tuesday.

Links to Mental Illness Seen in Fetal Brains: Study

The genes suspected of causing autism, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses are activated in the developing brain before birth, according to a major genetic analysis.

X-Ray Screening Doesn't Prevent Lung Cancer Deaths: Study

Using chest X-rays to screen for lung cancer doesn't prevent deaths from the disease, a new study finds.

Experimental Psoriasis Drug Bests Older Treatment

An experimental psoriasis treatment performed significantly better than the commonly prescribed medication methotrexate in a new clinical trial.

Health Highlights: Oct. 26, 2011

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

HPV Vaccine Might Help Prevent Anal Cancers: Study

A vaccine to prevent anal cancer is safe and effective for young gay and bisexual males, according to a study funded in part by the vaccine's maker.

'Hunger Hormones' May Drive Post-Dieting Weight Gain

Overweight people who diet and successfully shed pounds only to gain the weight back again within a year can blame their hunger hormones, new research suggests.