Health News

Health News for 01/27/12

January 27, 2012

Acupuncture May Boost Pregnancy Success Rates

When a couple is trying to have a baby and can't, it can be emotionally and financially draining. But help may be available in an unexpected form: acupuncture.

Health Tip: Preparing for a Stress Test

A cardiac stress test gives doctors an idea of how your heart functions at rest and when it's under "stress" from activities such as treadmill exercise.

Health Tip: Manage Pain During Childbirth

Pain is a virtual certainty during childbirth, but there are ways to ease the discomfort without medication.

Discrimination Seems to Harm Health Regardless of Race

Discrimination can be a threat to health, according to a new study that included both blacks and whites.

IV Acetaminophen Linked to More Child Overdoses

Following the U.S. Food Drug Administration's approval last year of an intravenous formulation of acetaminophen for fever and pain in a hospital setting, researchers warn that use of the preparation could lead to serious overdoses, particularly among the youngest patients.

Students Report Playing Dangerous 'Choking Game'

The "choking game" has been played by nearly one in seven students who were surveyed at a Texas university, a new study finds.

Positive Reinforcement May Help Patients Take Their Meds

Positive reinforcement, such as receiving small, unexpected gifts and introducing upbeat thoughts into daily routines, seems to help patients with high blood pressure take their medication as directed, according to a new study of black Americans.

Native Americans May Have Trekked From Siberia

The earliest Native Americans may have originated in a tiny mountainous region in southern Siberia called the Altai, according to anthropologists.

Common Gastro Disease Occurs Even With High-Fiber Diet

Eating a high-fiber diet does not lower a person's risk of diverticulosis, but a low-fiber diet might, according to a new study that contradicts what doctors have believed for decades.

Too Much Fructose Sweetener Tied to Heart Risks in Teens

Teens who consume large amounts of the food and beverage sweetener fructose show evidence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk in their blood, a new study finds.

Off-Campus Party Hosts Drank Most in College Survey

College students who host off-campus parties drink more than their guests, according to a study, which also found that hosts tend to be males, members of a fraternity, in their sophomore year or higher and have more money to spend than other students.

Tropical Trip OK for Most With Crohn's, Colitis

Among people with inflammatory bowel disease -- a chronic intestinal disorder that commonly takes the form of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis -- those who travel to developing nations or tropical locales do not have a greater risk of intestinal infections than other travelers, according to a new study.

Test Might Predict Risk of Lung Cancer's Return

A new industry-funded study suggests that a molecular test can provide insight into whether patients are at high risk of a relapse after surgical treatment for a form of lung cancer.

Statins May Stave Off Liver Cancer in People With Hepatitis B

Popular cholesterol-lowering statins may also lower risk for liver cancer among people with hepatitis B, a new study shows. Hepatitis B, an inflammation of the liver due to the hepatitis B virus, is one of the main causes of liver cancer.

People May Lie More When Texting: Study

Folks might fib more frequently when text messaging, a new study suggests.

Experts Offer Tips on Avoiding iPad-Linked Shoulder, Neck Strain

If working with your iPad or other tablet computer gives you shoulder or neck pain, there are ways around it, a new study suggests.

Health Highlights: Jan. 27, 2012

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

Drug Approved for Advanced Kidney Cancer

Inlyta (axitinib) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma in people who haven't responded to another drug.

Bydureon Approved for Type 2 Diabetes

Bydureon (exenatide extended release), Amylin Pharmaceuticals' long-acting version of the diabetes drug Byetta, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.