Health News

Health News for 01/06/12

January 06, 2012

Health Tip: Make Eating a Family Affair

It's easier to eat healthy when everybody in the family is practicing the same nutritional habits.

Health Tip: House Cleaning With Arthritis

Arthritis pain and stiffness can make it difficult to take care of household chores and cleaning.

Resolve to Take Colon Cancer Test, Experts Say

If you're 50 or older, consider making it a new year goal to get screened for colorectal cancer, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy suggests.

Mice Exposed to Smoke Helped by Blood Pressure Drug: Study

The blood pressure medicine losartan [Cozaar] helped prevent lung damage in mice that were exposed to cigarette smoke for two months, researchers say.

Diabetes Care Thwarted by Unstable Health Insurance: Study

Diabetes patients require continuous health coverage to ensure they receive recommended care, a new study concludes.

Global Study Finds Drug Abuse Highest in Richer Nations

About 200 million people worldwide use illicit drugs each year, and use is highest in wealthier nations, a new study shows.

Researchers Identify Liver Cancer Risk Factors

Two new studies from the Mayo Clinic find that hepatitis C infection and obesity could be to blame for a surge in liver cancer cases, which have tripled over the last 30 years.

ADHD Drug Shortage Pushes Parents to Seek Substitutes

If the current shortage of some drugs used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has left you searching for something else for your child to take, experts suggest you choose a substitute carefully because the effects of these medications can vary widely.

Weight Loss Surgery May Help Diabetes

Weight loss surgery isn't likely to cure type 2 diabetes, but it can improve blood sugar control, a new study suggests.

As Nations Develop, So May Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is becoming more common around the world, according to a new study.

Mental Decline Can Start at 45, Study Finds

Sorry, Boomers, but a new study suggests that memory, reasoning and comprehension can start to slip as early as age 45.

Paranoid or Placid? Scans Show Pot's Effect on Brain

Smoking marijuana can mean different things to different people -- for some, anxiety and paranoia can set in, while others mellow out.

Study Offers Clues to Why Some Don't Benefit From Asthma Drugs

Almost half of patients with mild or moderate asthma may have a different type of disease than those with more severe symptoms, perhaps explaining why common treatments don't work well for them, new research suggests.

Health Highlights: Jan. 6, 2012

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

PSA Test for Prostate Cancer Doesn't Save Lives: Study

Annual screening for prostate cancer doesn't save lives, finds a new study that is unlikely to quell the controversy surrounding routine prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening.

Smog Tied to Raised Risk of Chronic Illness in Black Women

Air pollution may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure in black American women, a new study suggests.