Health News

Health News for 11/23/11

November 23, 2011

Health Tip: Don't Take Too Many NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been around for years and are frequently the medication of choice to relieve pain and inflammation.

Health Tip: The Food-Mood Connection

What you eat can affect more than your waistline. It can also influence your mood and behavior, experts say.

Some Holiday Traditions Have Health Consequences: Expert

Huge meals and unhealthy foods, heavy drinking and stress can increase the risk of heart problems and stroke over the holidays, an expert warns.

Many Kindergarteners Already on Road to Obesity, Study Finds

Today's kindergarteners are heavier than kids brought up in the 1970s and 1980s and appear to be on the road to becoming overweight and obese in the years to come, a new study finds.

Scientists Reveal Monarch Butterfly Genome

Scientists have sequenced the genome of the monarch butterfly, which flies up to 2,000 miles from North America to central Mexico every fall.

Too Much Acetaminophen Over Time May Damage Liver

Taking slightly too much of the pain reliever acetaminophen (best known by the brand name Tylenol) over time can lead to an overdose that can cause liver failure and death, according to a new study.

Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Safe for Long-Term Use, Study Finds

British researchers have good news for anyone taking the cholesterol-lowering medications known as statins: These drugs are effective and safe, even when used for long periods of time, they say.

Little Social Life for Autistic Teens, Researchers Say

Teens with autism are far less likely than other teens to have a social life outside of school, a new study reports.

Chronic Bowel Disease Drugs Linked to Skin Cancer Risk

Some patients with inflammatory bowel disease may be at increased risk for skin cancer due to their use of immunosuppressant drugs to treat the intestinal disorder, according to the results of two new studies.

Doctor, Take a Cue From Shakespeare

Doctors might gain a better understanding of the mind-body connection by reading the plays and poems of William Shakespeare because he regularly used physical symptoms to illustrate his characters' deep emotions, a researcher suggests.

Gene Shortage Might Lead to Shorter Height, Study Says

Tall or short, it's long been known that genes account for much of a person's height. Now, scientists have found that short people actually might be missing copies of certain genes, which can leave them significantly smaller than average.

Merck to Pay $950M to Settle Probe of Vioxx Marketing

The U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday that the drug company Merck will pay $950 million to resolve investigations into its marketing of the blockbuster painkiller Vioxx, which was pulled from the market in 2004 after studies revealed the drug increased users' risks of heart attack and stroke.

1st Artificial Windpipe Made With Stem Cells Seems Successful

A 36-year-old husband and father of two children with an inoperable tumor in his trachea (windpipe) has received the world's first artificial trachea made with stem cells.

Intermittent Steroid Use Called OK for Wheezing Preschoolers

Preschoolers who have recurrent wheezing episodes but not an asthma diagnosis are often prescribed inhaled steroid medication, and new research suggests it's OK to take those medications on an as-needed basis instead of every day.

Health Highlights: Nov. 23, 2011

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

Newer Blood Thinner May Pose Danger to Trauma Patients

A new blood thinner touted for its convenience and enhanced quality of life may have hidden problems that could threaten the lives of certain patients, a new report suggests.

U.S. Teens Don't Eat Enough Fruits and Veggies: CDC

U.S. high school students still aren't eating enough fruits and vegetables, according to a new study by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers.

Four Common Meds Send Thousands of Seniors to Hospital: CDC

An estimated 100,000 older Americans are hospitalized for adverse drug reactions yearly, and most of those emergencies stem from four common medications, a new study finds.