Health News

Health News for 02/21/12

February 21, 2012

Hispanic Americans Born Outside Country Have Fewer Strokes

Hispanic Americans who were born in another country are less likely to have a stroke than white Americans, a new study finds.

Health Tip: Take a Deep Breath

Deep breathing may be an effective way of reducing stress and calming down.

Health Tip: Set Exercise Goals

When you set goals for your exercise program, they can help you stay on track. But it's important to set goals that are realistic.

Pig-to-Human 'Superbug' May Be Due to Animal Antibiotics

Researchers who traced the evolution of a potentially deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria strain that can jump from livestock to humans say their findings highlight the dangers of widespread antibiotic use in animal food production.

Flu Shots for Pregnant Moms May Protect Babies

Giving flu shots to pregnant women seems to reduce their risk of having a baby that is small for its gestational age, a new study has found.

Type 1 Diabetes May Develop More Slowly Than Thought

Insulin production may continue for decades after the onset of type 1 diabetes, according to a new study.

Booze in Movies May Fuel Teenage Drinking

Watching a lot of movies that feature alcohol doubles the likelihood that young teens will start drinking, and these teens are more likely to progress to binge drinking, according to a new study.

Is Avoiding Gluten in Foods Always Necessary?

Gluten-free diets have become a popular way to manage gluten sensitivity, but a new analysis suggests that many people who stop eating gluten may not need to do so.

More Doubt on Link Between a Blood Chemical and Heart Disease

Having high levels of the amino acid homocysteine won't raise your risk of developing heart disease, a new analysis indicates.

FDA Weighs Fate of Qnexa for Weight Loss, Again

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to take a second look at the weight loss pill Qnexa on Wednesday, after initially rejecting it because of concerns about heart problems and possible birth defects.

Study: No Significant Rise in Seizure Risk From Common Kids' Vaccine

Children who receive a combination vaccine known as DTaP-IPV-Hib have no significant increased risk of febrile seizure, a convulsion triggered by a fever, during the week after vaccination, researchers in Denmark report.

Health Highlights: Feb. 21, 2012

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

Aspirin as Good as Plavix for Poor Leg Circulation: Study

Aspirin works as well as Plavix in patients with blocked leg arteries, a new European study finds.

FDA Moves to Head Off Shortages of 2 Cancer Drugs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday what it called a series of steps to ensure the continued availability of vital cancer drugs that have been in dangerously short supply.

Exercise in Pregnancy Safe for Baby, Study Finds

Exercising at moderate or -- for very active women -- even high intensity during pregnancy won't hurt your baby's health, a new study finds.

Raw Milk Causes Most Illness From Dairy Products: CDC

Raw, or unpasteurized, milk causes 150 times more dairy product-related disease outbreaks than pasteurized milk. And states where the sale of raw milk is legal have twice as many outbreaks as states where it is illegal, according to a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.

Kidney Damage Greatly Raises Diabetics' Risk for Death

People with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of death than people without the disease, but a new study suggests that if they also have kidney damage their risk of dying is even greater.

Medtronic Stent Approved to Treat Coronary Artery Disease

Medtronic's Resolute Integrity Drug-Eluting Stent has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for people with coronary artery disease (CAD), the Minneapolis-based company said in a news release.

Many Women Having a Heart Attack Don't Have Chest Pain

Two out of five women having a heart attack do not experience chest pain, according to a new study.