Health News

Health News for 02/07/12

February 07, 2012

Health Tip: Help Prevent Ice Skating Accidents

Ice skating is a winter ritual for many children in colder climates, but unless precautions are taken it can be fraught with the possibility of injury.

Health Tip: When You Can't Hear

One third of people aged 60 or older have at least some hearing loss, making it one of the most common medical problems in older adults, the Cleveland Clinic says.

Heart Failure, Osteoporosis Go 'Hand-in-Hand': Researchers

Heart failure is linked to thinning of the bones and an increased risk of fractures, a new study indicates.

Surgery Effective for Tough-to-Treat Epilepsy

Surgery can significantly improve seizure control and quality of life among people with epilepsy, according to a study stretching over 26 years.

Letting Baby Eat Finger Foods May Spur Healthier Weight

Allowing babies who are being weaned to feed themselves with finger foods rather than spoon-feeding the baby with pureed foods may reduce their risk for obesity later on, according to new research.

Moving Homes Often in Childhood Might Affect Long-Term Health

Children who move frequently may be at greater risk for worse health and psychological distress later on in life, according to a new study.

Even for the Overweight, Exercise Helps the Heart

Getting and staying physically fit might help fend off heart disease even if you've put on a few pounds, new research suggests.

Facebook Might Be Tough on Users With Low Self-Esteem

Using Facebook can be bad for people with low self-esteem, a new study suggests.

New Meningitis Vaccine Works in Infants: Study

Routinely giving infants a new vaccine that guards against meningitis appears to be effective, a new study indicates.

Gene Research Offers Clues to Parkinson's Disease

In certain people with Parkinson's disease, mutations in the parkin gene disrupt the proper function of dopamine, the brain chemical that controls body movement.

Breast Cancer Drug May Weaken Bones, Study Finds

A drug used to prevent breast cancer in women at high risk for the disease appears to cause bone loss in some postmenopausal women, a new study finds.

Avoid Window Seats to Cut Risk for In-Flight Blood Clots: Study

Potentially dangerous blood clots in the legs known as deep venous thromboses (DVTs) got the nickname "economy class syndrome" from widely publicized incidents involving passengers on long-haul flights.

Quitting Smoking May Halve Risk of Oral Health Problems

Adult smokers are twice as likely to develop oral health problems as those who have kicked the habit, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found.

Health Highlights: Feb. 7, 2012

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

Everyday Foods Add Up to Major Salt Problems: CDC

Americans still eat way too much salt, and much of it comes from dietary staples such as bread, poultry, cheese and pasta, U.S. health officials reported Tuesday.

Kids' Diarrhea Vaccine Appears Safe After All: Study

Despite earlier research that suggested the rotavirus vaccine increased the risk of intussusception -- when a portion of the intestine slides forward into itself -- a large new study finds this is not the case.

Soft Drinks May Raise Odds for Respiratory Ills: Study

Drinking a lot of soft drinks may increase the risk for asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new study suggests.

Risk of Death From Certain Breast Cancers May Rise With Age

The risk of dying from a hormone receptor-positive breast cancer increases with age, according to new research. And one reason might be that older women with breast cancer are undertreated compared to their younger peers.

New Antibiotic for Bladder Infection Disappoints in Trial

New antibiotics are needed to help treat bladder infections, but the drug cefpodoxime, once thought promising, doesn't appear to be up to the task, a new study indicates.