Health News

Health News for 04/30/12

April 30, 2012

Health Tip: Installing a Playground at Home

Installing a home playset for the kids? Make sure it's set up properly to help ensure years of enjoyment for the young ones.

Health Tip: Caring for a Blister

Blisters form when something presses and rubs on the skin. While you should monitor the area for signs of infection, such as pain or redness, experts say the best way to care for a blister is to leave it alone.

Exercise Twice a Day Vital for Your Dog's Health, Expert Says

Just like people, dogs need to get daily exercise to stay healthy, a veterinarian says.

Hot Weather's Return Brings Ozone Warnings

Health risks from ground-level ozone pollution spike between March and October, lung specialists at Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston have found.

TV Ads May Play Role in Underage Drinking, Obesity

Kids who recognize fast-food advertisements on TV are more likely to be overweight, and those familiar with TV ads for alcoholic beverages are more likely to drink, according to two new studies from Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

Low-Income Mothers May Overfeed Their Infants

Poor mothers who are single or who have depression are more likely to overfeed their infants by adding cereal to baby bottles, a practice that can lead to excess weight gain in infants, a new study reveals.

Parents' Poor Math Skills May = Medication Errors

Parents with poor math skills are more likely than others to give incorrect doses of medicine to their children, a new study finds.

Black Kids Less Apt to Get Meds for Stomach Pain in ER: Study

Even when they report severe pain, black children and teens are less likely than white youngsters to receive medication for abdominal pain when they're treated in U.S. emergency departments, a new study finds.

Children Usually Excluded From Clinical Drug Trials: Study

Children are more likely than adults to suffer from a number of diseases, but few clinical trials are conducted to test new drugs in children with these conditions, researchers have found.

Mothers' Stress Could Cause Iron Deficiency in Newborns

Stress experienced by a mother during the first trimester of pregnancy can lead to iron deficiency in her newborn, putting the infant at risk for physical and mental development delays, a new study says.

Being Bullied Tied to Anxiety, Depression in Special-Needs Kids

Special-needs youth with chronic medical conditions or developmental disabilities are at risk for anxiety and depression if they're excluded, ignored or bullied by other young people, a new small study says.

Teen Impulsiveness Has Different Sources in ADHD, Substance Use

Teens with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and teens who start using cigarettes, drugs or alcohol tend to share at least one personality trait: impulsiveness, experts say.

Anxiety, Depression Often Go Hand-in-Hand With Arthritis

Depression or anxiety affect one-third of Americans with arthritis who are aged 45 or older, a new study shows.

More Evidence Bilingualism Aids Thinking Skills

People who speak two languages have enhanced hearing processing, which improves their attention and memory skills, a new, small study says.

Secondhand Smoke Permeates Many Apartment Buildings: Study

A new survey of American apartment dwellers reveals that upwards of a third of nonsmoking residents sniff the stench of secondhand smoke in their building's public spaces, while almost half smell it within their own homes.

Having Kids Doesn't Inspire Adults to Eat Healthier: Study

Starting a family does not lead young adults to eat healthier in order to set a good example for their children, a new study says.

Pacifiers Don't Discourage Breast-Feeding, Study Says

Widely held wisdom that pacifier use among newborns interferes with breast-feeding is wrong, a new small study suggests.

Two-Drug Therapy Helped Kids With Type 2 Diabetes

Children with type 2 diabetes may achieve better blood sugar control with a combination of two drugs, metformin and Avandia, than with metformin alone, a new study suggests.

Cellphones, Texting Put Teen Drivers in Danger, Studies Show

A pair of new studies offers insight into young people who use cellphones while driving: One finds that there's no safe position for texting at the wheel, while the other suggests that the most compulsive cellphone users have had more car accidents.

Routine Kidney Disease Screening Not Worthwhile, Experts Say

As many as one in 10 Americans have chronic kidney disease, but most don't know it and for most it is not a problem, experts say.

Heart Attack Survival Varies Widely Among Hospitals, Study Finds

The odds you'll survive a heart attack vary widely depending on where you're treated in the United States, according to a new study by Yale University researchers.

Insecticide Linked to Brain Abnormalities in Kids

A new, small study links maternal exposure to a commonly used insecticide to unusual changes in the brain structures of young children, although the research doesn't definitely prove that the pesticide is at fault.

Health Highlights: April 30, 2012

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

Less-Invasive Surgery for Esophageal Cancer Might Be Safer

Besides being easier on the patient, minimally invasive surgery to remove the esophagus of patients with esophageal cancer can also greatly reduce the risk of lung infection compared to traditional open surgery, a new study finds.

U.S. Sees Tripling of Babies Born Addicted to Painkillers

About one baby an hour is born addicted to powerful painkillers called opiates in the United States, a new study shows.