Health News

Health News for 04/17/12

April 17, 2012

Health Tip: Is That Bump a Bunion?

When you walk, the joint at the base of the big toe supports a lot of the body's weight. So when bunion forms at that joint and forces the big toe to curve toward the others, it can be quite painful.

Health Tip: Avoid Asthma Triggers

If you're trying to prevent an asthma flare, avoiding things that trigger your breathing problems is a good start.

Depressed Moms May Hinder Babies' Sleep

Mothers with depression may behave in ways that disturb their infants' sleep, according to a new study.

Overweight Pregnant Women at Higher Risk for Complications

Pregnant women who are overweight and have slightly elevated blood-sugar levels are at increased risk for pregnancy complications, a new study shows.

HIV Prevention Pill Cost-Effective for High-Risk Men: Study

A once-a-day pill to prevent HIV infection could significantly reduce the spread of the AIDS-causing virus, but would only be cost-effective if limited to men at very high risk for HIV infection, according to a new study.

Brain Changes May Hamper Decision-Making in Old Age

The ability to make decisions in new situations declines with age, apparently because of changes in the brain's white matter, a new imaging study says.

Social Factors May Affect Lifespan More Than Race, Location

A group of socioeconomic factors such as education, income and work are better indicators of your chances of living to age 70 than race or geography, a new study shows.

Helicopter Beats Ground Transport for Trauma Victims: Study

Adults with serious injuries are more likely to survive if they're transported to hospital by helicopter instead of ambulance, researchers report.

Avastin No Benefit to Older Lung Cancer Patients: Study

Medicare patients who have advanced non-small cell lung cancer appear to get no survival benefit from adding the drug Avastin to standard chemotherapy, researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute report.

Role of Screening, Monitoring in Early Kidney Disease Unclear

At least one in 10 U.S. adults is estimated to have chronic kidney disease, but whether screening and monitoring people in the earlier stages of the disease provides a benefit just isn't clear, a new review of the available clinical trials revealed.

Study Casts Doubt on Value of Pricey Prostate Cancer Therapy

A new study raises questions about the value of proton therapy, an expensive new kind of radiation treatment, in patients with prostate cancer.

Brain Surgery Might Ease Tough-to-Treat OCD

Most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder manage their symptoms through talk therapy and medication. But for some, severe OCD can take over their lives. A few eventually turn to brain surgery, and a new study shows how they fared.

Brain Tumor Vaccine Shows Promise in Early Trial

A vaccine made from brain cancer patients' own tumor cells led to a nearly 50 percent improvement in survival times for those stricken with glioblastoma multiforme, the same malignancy that claimed the life of U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, a new study suggests.

Researchers Develop Blood Test for Depression

Researchers have developed a blood test that could one day help diagnose teens with depression.

Testosterone Supplements Might Help Patients With Heart Failure

Patients struggling with moderate to severe heart failure might benefit from testosterone supplementation to boost their ability to exercise, new Canadian research suggests.

Seniors Stop Taking Heart Drugs In Medicare 'Donut Hole'

When Medicare stops paying for seniors' medications after they enter the Part D "donut hole," the seniors often go without the drugs, even if the medications are essential for heart health, new research shows.

New Method to Reveal Alzheimer's Marker Shows Promise

New research adds to the growing pile of scientific strategies aimed at revealing beta-amyloid (protein) plaques, the brain-clogging fragments that have been associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Health Highlights: April 17, 2012

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

Kidney Cancer Patients Fare Better With Tumor Removal Only

Kidney cancer patients who have only the tumor removed, not the entire kidney, have higher survival rates, a new study finds.

White House Drug Policy Shifts Strategy

The Obama Administration has chosen the middle ground with its new drug control policy, advocating treatment over tough sentencing.