Health News

Health News for 02/16/12

February 16, 2012

Health Tip: Is Your Baby Breast-Feeding Enough?

Nursing moms may be worried that their newborn isn't getting enough to eat, and it can be difficult to tell when you can't see how much baby is eating.

Health Tip: Offer Healthy Breakfast Choices

Doughnuts and pastries may be delicious breakfast treats, but they're probably loaded with fat and sugar.

Weight Training May Help Parkinson's Patients Retain Function

When it comes to helping Parkinson's disease patients retain vital motor function, weight training may be more effective than stretching or balance exercises, a new study concludes.

Teens Victimized by Dating Violence Often Have Difficult Pasts

Teens victims of dating violence are likely to have suffered other forms of violence, such as sexual violence and child abuse, according to a new study.

Genome Map Might Help Save Tasmanian Devil From Extinction

Researchers have sequenced the genomes of the animal known as the Tasmanian devil and the transmissible facial cancer that threatens the species with extinction.

Online Medieval Fantasy Games -- Threat to Marital Bliss?

Marital harmony may be in short supply in households where one partner is immersed in online games such as World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings and Guild Wars, new research suggests.

Findings on HIV-Resistant Sex Workers May Help Vaccine Efforts

In studying how HIV is transmitted, researchers have discovered that some African sex workers are naturally resistant to the virus, a finding that could influence prevention efforts.

Nerve-Sparing Prostate Surgery Helps Men Retain Sexual Function

Most men who have surgery for prostate cancer can still achieve orgasm if the nerves that surround their prostate gland are not removed, according to a new study.

Post-Stroke Speech Problems Inflate Cost of Treatment

Average medical costs for a stroke patient with language impairment (aphasia) are more than $1,700 higher in the first year after stroke than for a patient without aphasia, a new study finds.

Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis Linked to Fertility Woes, Miscarriage

Women with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus often have fewer children than they'd hoped for, according to a new study.

Health Insurance 'Mandate' Deemed Best Value for Money

Doing away with the U.S. health care reform act's requirement that all Americans must have health insurance would not dramatically increase the cost of buying policies through new insurance exchanges, but would significantly reduce the number of people who get insurance, according to researchers.

Implanted Microchip Might Be Future of Drug Delivery

Remote controls may not be for just appliances anymore. In a new small study, women with severe osteoporosis were implanted with a microchip that releases bone-building drugs at the push of a button, a delivery method that could someday become common for various health conditions.

1 in 10 U.S. Kids Lives With Parent Who Has Abused Alcohol: Report

About 7.5 million American children under the age of 18 live with a parent who's struggled with alcohol abuse over the past year, a new government report finds.

Arsenic Might Be Found in Some Organic Foods: Study

A sweetener used in many organic foods may be a hidden source of arsenic, a new study suggests.

Treatment Advances Improve the Odds for Heart Failure Patients

Although a growing number of Americans now struggle with heart failure, experts say new treatments have dramatically improved both quality of life and life expectancy for these patients.

Health Highlights: Feb. 16, 2012

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

U.S. Teen Driving Deaths Up: Report

The number of American teens who lost their lives in car accidents jumped 11 percent in the first half of 2011, the first increase in eight years, a new report finds.

Illicit Drug Use May Be Driving Rise in Ectopic Pregnancies in Florida

An alarming increase in ectopic pregnancy-related deaths among Florida women is likely caused by illicit drug use and delays in seeking medical care, a U.S. report released Thursday says.

Is Grief an Illness? The Debate Heats Up

The loss of a loved one can trigger deep emotional turmoil, but is the grief that follows a normal part of being human or is it a form of mental illness in need of diagnosis and treatment?