Health News

Health News for 04/16/12

April 16, 2012

Health Tip: Seniors, Boost Your Balance

A routine that includes a variety of exercises is important to help seniors stay strong. But balance exercises can help reduce the risk of falling and dangerous fractures.

Tattoos, Piercings Tied to Heavier Drinking in French Study

Tattoos and body piercings are increasingly seen as nothing more than a fashion trend in western societies, but a new study in France found that those with body art tended to drink more alcohol than their peers.

12-Step Meetings May Help Teens Beat Alcohol, Drug Abuse

Teens undergoing treatment for alcohol or drug abuse can benefit from the 12-step program used by groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), researchers say.

Certain Genetic Regions May Be Tied to Osteoporosis

A large international group of researchers has identified 32 new genetic regions linked to fractures and osteoporosis.

Fast Food Is Saltier in U.S. Than Overseas

Large differences exist in the levels of salt in foods sold at major fast-food restaurants in the United States and other developed countries, a new study says.

Chin Implant Surgeries On the Rise in U.S.

The number of American women and men having cosmetic chin surgery increased drastically in 2011, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Researchers ID Genes That May Determine Mental Illness

Genes that increase or reduce the risk of certain mental illnesses and Alzheimer's disease have been identified by an international team of scientists.

Media Multitasking Might Have Mental Upside

Media multitasking -- the use of more than one type of media or technology at the same time -- may have some positive effects, a new study suggests.

HIV Raises Anal Cancer Risk in Women, Study Says

Women with HIV are at increased risk for anal cancer, a new study finds.

Young Risk-Takers Drawn to Dangerous 'Choking Game'

In a new study, about 6 percent of eighth graders admitted they had participated in the "choking game," in which blood and oxygen to the brain are cut off with a rope or belt to produce a euphoric "high."

'Off-Label' Drug Use Appears Common

Off-label prescribing of medications is common, but the practice varies according to drug, and patient and doctor characteristics, a Canadian study finds.

Surgery Rates Rising for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer: Study

Surgery for non-melanoma skin cancer in the United States increased substantially from 2001 to 2006, mainly due to the increased use of a specific surgical procedure, a new study suggests.

Troubled Homes May Fuel Obesity in Girls

Little girls from troubled homes are more likely to be obese at age 5 than girls from happier ones, new research shows.

Fish Oil Supplements Won't Help in Multiple Sclerosis: Study

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements don't appear to have any benefit on multiple sclerosis (MS), according a study by Norwegian researchers.

Experimental Pill for Multiple Sclerosis Shows Promise

An experimental pill reduced the number of lesions in the brains of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers report.

Weight-Loss Surgery Beat Drugs for Cutting Diabetes in Very Obese

A bariatric surgical procedure is more likely than medicine to improve or even reverse type 2 diabetes in very obese patients, a new small study indicates.

Steroids May Help Some With Sciatica

New research suggests that epidural steroids provided better relief for some patients with sciatica, a searing pain that shoots from the lower back straight down the leg, than Enbrel, a newer type of anti-inflammatory drug.

Health Highlights: April 16, 2012

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

Death From Accidental Injuries Among Kids Drops 30%: CDC

Accidental deaths among children and adolescents have dropped 30 percent since 2000 but still remain the number-one killer of children and teens, according to new statistics released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday.

Dissolvable Heart Artery Stents Appear Safe in Study

New long-term research now suggests that fully biodegradable stents are safe to use in heart arteries.