Health News

Health News for 02/29/12

February 29, 2012

Health Tip: Help Prevent Eye Problems

Your vision may weaken as you get older, but the Cleveland Clinic says there are things you can do to maintain the health of your eyes:

Health Tip: Protect Your Kids' Teeth From Cavities

Monitoring your child's diet and limiting sugar intake can help protect the child from cavities.

Sports Concussion: Myths and Facts

Sports-related concussions are common in the United States, but there are many misconceptions about this type of head injury, according to an expert.

Job Loss Fears Sow Unhappiness in Work, Family Life

People worried about losing their jobs become dissatisfied with many aspects of their life and their work performance, and their commitment suffers, a new study indicates.

Preschool Kids Best Prepared for Kindergarten: Study

All children can benefit from going to preschool, especially those who come from minority or poor families or from homes where parents don't provide much mental stimulation, a new study says.

Dad's Depression May Rub Off on Child's Behavior

Children with a depressed father are more likely to have emotional or behavioral problems, new research finds.

Strict Underage Drinking Laws May Deter Delinquency in Teens

Strict enforcement of underage drinking laws reduces the odds that teenagers will commit alcohol-related crimes as adults, a new study suggests.

Combining Heart Valve Repair With Bypass May Be Worthwhile

It might be a good idea to use heart bypass operations as an opportunity to fix mild to moderate cases of leaky mitral valves, a new study shows.

Obesity Linked to Asthma in Children

Children and teens who are overweight or obese are more likely to have asthma than their healthy-weight peers, a new study finds.

Older Prostate Cancer Patients Might Be Overtreated: Study

Seniors may not benefit from prostate cancer treatment, according to a new study that found aggressive therapy has become more common among men with short life expectancies and less aggressive forms of the disease.

U.S. Kids Still Eat Too Much Added Sugar: CDC

Added sugar in drinks and foods makes up almost 16 percent of the calories U.S. children and teens consume, federal health officials report.

Nicotine Patches May Not Help During Pregnancy

Nicotine patches don't seem to be of much use in helping pregnant women quit smoking, a new study finds.

Selenium Supplements May Help -- or Harm

While getting the right amount of selenium in your diet can boost your immune function and lower your risk of death, you can get too much of a good thing. Higher-than-normal levels of selenium may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, hair loss and certain cancers, a new review of evidence finds.

Could a Statin Lower Your Risk for Depression?

Patients who have heart disease and take cholesterol-lowering medicines known as statins are less likely to develop depression than those not on such drugs, a new study suggests.

Efforts to Improve Research on Kids' Drugs Paying Off: Report

Federal laws requiring medical companies to conduct pediatric drug studies have helped provide guidance on whether it's safe or effective for children to use certain medications, a new U.S. report finds.

Alzheimer's-Like Memory Loss Reversed in Mice

New research in mice suggests that Alzheimer's disease triggers a protein that contributes to the breakdown of the brain's memory.

Health Highlights: Feb. 29, 2012

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

New Drug May Help Fight Rare Bone Marrow Disorder

Two new studies confirm that the new drug ruxolitinib can help people with the rare bone marrow disorder called myelofibrosis.

Drug Seems to Speed Recovery After Traumatic Brain Injury

A drug that's typically used to treat the flu and Parkinson's disease appears to speed recovery in traumatic brain injury patients, a new study indicates.

Judge Blocks Plan for Graphic Cigarette Warnings

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked implementation of an FDA mandate that would have forced tobacco companies to place graphic anti-smoking images on packages of cigarettes.