Health News

Health News for 01/16/12

January 16, 2012

Teens of Lesbian Parents Appear Well-Adjusted

Teenagers with lesbian mothers are as well adjusted as their peers being raised by heterosexual parents, according to a new study from the University of Amsterdam.

Health Tip: What Affects Blood Glucose?

People with diabetes should monitor the amount of glucose (sugar) in their blood. Insulin and certain drugs often are key, but so is understanding what causes blood sugar levels to fluctuate.

Health Tip: Avoid the Flu During Travel

Plane or bus travel is a prime way to pick up or spread the flu. But there are steps you can take to help avoid getting others sick or getting sick yourself.

Brain Structure Adapts to Arm Injury, Study Says

People fitted with slings or casts after suffering an arm injury experience changes in the brain as it adapts to shifts in physical movement, a new study finds.

Pediatricians Split on Heart Tests Before Kids' ADHD Meds

Some pediatricians continue to do electrocardiograms (EKGs) on children before starting them on medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, new research suggests, even though many experts say the latest evidence shows it isn't really necessary.

Children Born by C-Section at Slightly Higher Asthma Risk

Children delivered by Cesarean section appear to be at a slight increased risk of developing asthma by age 3, a new study says.

Is Continued Lip-Reading an Early Sign of Autism?

Lip reading is one of the ways that infants learn to talk, a new study reports.

'Bath-Salts' Injection Leads to Flesh-Eating Disease

The use of street drugs known as "bath salts" can lead to flesh-eating disease, a new study warns.

Your Taste for Fat May Reside in Your Genes

Variations in a certain gene can make people more or less sensitive to the taste of fat and affect their risk for obesity, researchers report.

Many Head and Neck Cancer Survivors Face Eating Problems

Persistent pain, eating problems and depression are the most common problems experienced by long-term survivors of head and neck cancer, a new study finds.

Children's Drowning Injuries, Deaths Decline: Study

More than 1,000 children die from drowning in the United States each year and another 5,000 are injured, but these casualties have declined dramatically since the early 1990s, a new study shows.

Overweight Teen Girls May Have Higher Acne Risk

Teenage girls who are overweight or obese are significantly more likely to develop acne than their normal-weight peers, a new Norwegian survey suggests.

'Nose Job' May Make You Look a Bit Younger, Too: Study

Getting a "nose job" might do more than improve someone's looks. A new study suggests the procedure may make patients appear 1.5 years younger on average.

Health Highlights: Jan. 16, 2012

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

Drop in Melanoma Deaths Limited to Educated Whites: Study

Recent declines in death rates due to the skin cancer melanoma among white Americans appear to be limited to those with higher levels of education, researchers have found.

More, Faster Weight Loss Seen With Gastric Bypass Than Banding

Gastric bypass surgery results in faster and longer-lasting weight loss than does gastric banding, according to a new study by Swiss investigators.

Injuries to Pedestrians Wearing Headphones Tripled Since 2004

Folks who walk to work or school while listening to music via headphones may want to unplug, with a new U.S. study finding injuries to this group of people tripling since 2004.

Endovascular Graft Approved for Tears of Aorta

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded approval of an endovascular graft to include ruptures of the aorta, the body's largest artery.