Health News

Health News for 03/07/12

March 07, 2012

Health Tip: Coping With Diabetes

You've just been diagnosed with diabetes. Accepting the diagnosis is difficult for many people, but it's an important first step.

Health Tip: Skip TV and Get Active

It's easy to veg out in front of the TV when you're bored or looking to relax. But there are healthier ways to wind down.

Genes Play a Role in Drug Abuse Risk Among Adopted Kids: Study

Adopted kids are at greater risk for drug abuse if their biological parents or siblings had a history of drug abuse, a new study finds.

Kids' Penicillin Allergy May Not Signal Other Drug Reactions

Children who are allergic to penicillin are not more likely than other kids to develop additional drug allergies, new research suggests.

Self-Centered Kids May Just Have Immature Brains

Selfish behavior in young children is linked to incomplete development of a brain region involved in self-control, according to a new study.

Hope and Optimism May Cloud Judgment in ICUs

Even when told that death is likely, families of intensive care patients tend to be overly optimistic about the possibility of recovery, a new study finds.

Experimental Drug Shows Promise Against Cushing's Disease

An experimental drug called pasireotide reduced levels of the "stress hormone" cortisol and improved symptoms in patients with Cushing's disease, a new study found.

Woman's Recovery From Advanced Melanoma Could Help Guide Research

Combining the immune-based drug ipilimumab with targeted radiation therapy improved one advanced melanoma patient's ability to fight the deadly skin cancer, a new study says.

Pregnancy May Protect Against MS, Study Says

New research suggests that pregnancy may decrease women's risk of developing multiple sclerosis.

Fetal Cocaine Exposure May Not Affect Kids' Academics: Study

Exposure to cocaine, tobacco or marijuana before birth does not cause children to score lower on academic tests, according to a new study.

Many U.S. Families Struggle to Pay Medical Bills

One-third of Americans are in families that are having trouble paying for health care, a government report released Wednesday shows.

Estrogen-Only Therapy May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

Some women who take estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy to stave off hot flashes, night sweats and other symptoms of menopause may be at lower risk for developing breast cancer down the road, a news study says.

Is Cancer Outwitting 'Personalized Medicine'?

The genetic makeup of cancer cells differs significantly from region to region within a single tumor, according to new research that raises questions about the true potential of personalized cancer medicine.

Experimental Drug Offers Hope for Rare Bone Disease: Study

A new therapy may be the first to offer hope for children born with a rare disease that affects bone development, sometimes so severely that babies die because they're missing a rib cage to protect their lungs.

Transplant Procedure Creates 'Hybrid' Immune System to Combat Rejection

Researchers report that they were able to create a kind of hybrid immune system in patients who received kidney transplants, a process that appeared to allow the recipients' bodies to accept a foreign organ instead of trying to reject it.

Study Produces Mixed Results on Alzheimer's Drugs

A new study offers up mixed results about two medications used to treat the symptoms of the memory-robbing disease known as Alzheimer's.

Health Highlights: March 7, 2012

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

Drug Reduces Complications in Surgical Abortions: Study

The drug misoprostol reduced major complications from early surgical abortion by nearly one-third, according to a new study.

Drug Approved to Prevent Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Sufaxin (lucinacant) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent respiratory distress syndrome, a serious lung condition that affects infants born prematurely.

U.S. Army Suicides Rising Sharply, Study Finds

Suicides among U.S. soldiers rose 80 percent from 2004 to 2008, an Army study found.