Health News

Health News for 03/19/12

March 19, 2012

Kids Willing to Fail May Perform Better Academically

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again, goes the truism.

Health Tip: Encourage Your Kids to Choose Healthy Snacks

Kids may crave chips and sweet treats, but parents should encourage their children to choose healthier options.

Health Tip: Dealing With Insomnia

If you can't sleep, you've got more options than lying in bed and counting sheep.

Medicaid Patients Go to ERs More Often: Study

Medicaid patients have more difficulty getting primary care and visit hospital emergency departments more often than those with private insurance, a new study finds.

Excessive Drinking Costs U.S. Colleges Millions Annually

The emergency room costs of treating college students with injuries associated with alcohol-induced blackouts can be more than half a million dollars a year at a university with 40,000 or more students, a new study found.

Secondhand Smoke in Childhood Linked to Lung Disease Years Later

Children exposed to secondhand smoke have nearly twice the risk of developing a lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease when they're adults, a new study has found.

Mothers of Kids With Autism Earn Less, Study Shows

Mothers of children with autism and autism spectrum disorders earn significantly less than what mothers of children who have no health limitations earn, a new study has found.

ICU May Not Be Needed After Sleep Apnea Surgery

After undergoing surgery for obstructive sleep apnea, patients require close monitoring but may not need to be in an intensive care unit, according to a new study.

Kids Using Synthetic Pot a Growing Public Health Concern

The recent advent of so-called "synthetic pot" is a rising public health concern, researchers warn, sending kids to the emergency room and prompting parental calls to poison control centers.

Kids of Meth-Using Moms at Risk of Behavioral Woes

Children exposed to methamphetamine while in the womb face a higher risk of developing behavior problems, a new study suggests.

Lightheadedness Upon Standing Could Signal Heart Risk

If your blood pressure drops suddenly when you stand up, leaving you feeling lightheaded or woozy, you may be at greater risk for developing heart failure, a new study suggests.

Could Statins Help Prevent Pneumonia?

Statin drugs, which are used to lower cholesterol, might reduce a bit the risk of developing pneumonia, a new study suggests.

New Type 2 Diabetes Drug Helps Lower Blood Sugar: Study

A new type of medication for type 2 diabetes helps to lower blood sugar levels when used in concert with insulin and other diabetes drugs, new research suggests.

Health Highlights: March 19, 2012

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

Study Explains How Shock Therapy Might Ease Severe Depression

A small new study gives insight into how electroshock therapy, an effective yet poorly understood treatment for severe depression, affects the brains of depressed people.

Antioxidants May Not Help Alzheimer's Patients

Researchers have suggested that antioxidants might help thwart Alzheimer's disease, but a new study finds that a "cocktail" of vitamins E, vitamin C and alpha-lipoic acid has no effect on certain indicators of the brain disorder.

Exercise May Trigger Orgasm in Some Women

Sex may not always be essential for orgasm: A new survey finds that some women can also experience the sensation while exercising.

Appeals Court Backs FDA Move for Graphic Images on Cigarette Packs

In the latest salvo in the battle over U.S. government plans to put graphic anti-smoking images on cigarette packs, a federal appeals court has upheld the proposed changes.

Less Invasive Hernia Procedure Easier on Patients: Study

New research finds that a minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat hernias results in less chronic pain and a faster recovery when compared to a traditional approach.

Generic Boniva Approved for Osteoporosis

The first generic versions of the once-monthly osteoporosis drug Boniva (ibandronate) have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.