Health News

Health News for 12/12/11

December 12, 2011

Health Tip: Keep the Sport in Kids' Sports

Sports should be fun for kids, but a competitive atmosphere can ruin the enjoyment.

Health Tip: How to Ease Leg Cramps During Pregnancy

Many women develop leg cramps while they're pregnant.

Acupuncture Might Ease Chemotherapy Pain

Acupuncture may help relieve nerve pain caused by some cancer drugs, according to a new study.

After Mastectomy, Breast Reconstruction Is Safe for Older Women

Breast reconstruction is safe for older breast cancer patients who've had a mastectomy, according to a new study.

Low-Dose Aspirin After Lung Clot Could Prevent Recurrence

Giving low-dose aspirin to patients after they've received stronger blood thinners for dangerous clots in the lungs could cut their odds of redeveloping the clots, a new study finds.

Radiation May Also Lead to 'Chemo Brain'

Breast cancer survivors can experience memory and concentration problems several years after treatment with radiation and/or chemotherapy, a new study says.

Cancer Outpatients at Greater Risk for Blood Clots

Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy most often develop blood clots after they are discharged from the hospital, according to a large new study.

FDA Panel Cites Clot Risk From Contraceptive Patch

An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday said that the Ortho Evra birth control patch carries a higher risk of blood clots for women compared to older methods, but should not be taken off drug store shelves.

Gene Therapy a Boon for 6 Hemophilia Patients

A single treatment of gene therapy dramatically improved symptoms and quality of life in a small group of men with hemophilia B, an uncommon form of the bleeding disorder, a new study suggests.

Too Much Alcohol Linked to Unsafe Sex, Study Confirms

Drinking too much alcohol can lead to unsafe sex, a new study confirms.

World's Tiniest 'Preemies' Growing Up Healthy: Report

When she was born prematurely in 1989, weighing less than two-thirds of a pound, Madeline Mann was the world's smallest surviving baby.

Adult Sickle Cell Drug May Benefit Kids, Too

A drug called hydroxyurea that's approved for use in adults with severe sickle cell anemia can also help young children with the disease, new research suggests.

Drug for Acute Respiratory Distress May Do More Harm Than Good: Study

A study assessing intravenous infusion of the drug salbutamol in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome was halted because the treatment did not improve patient outcomes and was associated with an increased risk of death, researchers say.

Brain Changes May Be Tied to Parkinson's Dementia

Researchers say they've spotted brain abnormalities that may be linked to dementia in people with Parkinson's disease.

ADHD Drugs Don't Raise Risk of Heart Problems: Study

Young and middle-aged adults taking drugs for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not seem to face an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, a new study finds.

Blink Patterns May Be a Window Into Autistic Mind

Toddlers with autism show different blink patterns than other children, a finding that researchers say may provide a clue to the way people with autism process what they see.

Health Highlights: Dec. 12, 2011

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

Side Effects Cause Many Older Women to Drop Breast Cancer Drugs

Severe side effects may be key to why so many older breast cancer patients stop taking drugs that can help prevent a tumor's return, a new study finds.

Snakes Make Your Skin Crawl? Study Suggests Why

The poet Emily Dickinson greatly feared the "narrow fellow in the grass," writing that she "never met this fellow/Attended or alone/Without a tighter breathing/And zero at the bone."

Birth Defects Seem Rare in Kids of Childhood Cancer Survivors

Children of parents who survived childhood cancer are unlikely to suffer from birth defects, finds a new study that should allay some concerns about long-term effects of treatment.

Are Too Many Older People Screened for Cancer?

Many older Americans get screened for colon, breast, prostate and cervical cancer even though guidelines recommend against routinely screening the elderly, a new study finds.