Health News

Health News for 05/09/12

May 09, 2012

Health Tip: Help Prevent Chronic Ear Infections

Chronic ear infections are common in young children. But there are steps parents can take to help keep these painful infections from coming back, says the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders:

Wheelchair Breakdowns on the Rise, Study Finds

An increasing number of wheelchair breakdowns are causing people with spinal cord injuries to be left stranded, hurt or unable to keep their medical appointments, according to a new study.

Health Tip: Make Sure Your Child's Bike is the Right Size

When shopping for your child's next bicycle, like a pair of shoes, it's important to buy a bike that fits properly.

Evolution May Explain 'Runner's High,' Study Says

The pleasurable feeling known as "runner's high" that's triggered by aerobic exercise may have played a role in the evolution of humans' ability to run long distances, a new study suggests.

Pot Belly Boosts Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death: Study

A "spare tire" around the midsection raises the odds of sudden cardiac death in obese people, a new study finds.

Statins May Help Prevent Irregular Heartbeat in Elderly

The widely used class of cholesterol-lowering medications known as statins may help elderly patients with high blood pressure avoid developing atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm abnormality tied to stroke.

Infection Causes 1 in 6 Cancers Worldwide: Study

One in six cancers worldwide is caused by preventable or treatable infections, a new study finds.

Colon Cancer Gaps for Blacks, Whites Largely Due to Screening

Differences in screening account for much of the disparity in both colorectal (colon) cancer incidence and death rates between white and black Americans, a new study says.

Angioplasty May Be Risky for Those With Poor Leg Circulation

People with peripheral artery disease have an increased short- and long-term risk of death after undergoing a procedure to open clogged heart arteries, a new study finds.

Study: Kids Who Sleep in Parents' Bed Less Likely to Be Overweight

Children who wake up at night and are allowed to fall back asleep in their parents' bed are less likely to be overweight than kids put back into their own bed, a new study says.

Norovirus Outbreak Traced to Reusable Grocery Bag

A case study showing how a grocery bag and its contents caused an outbreak of the stomach bug norovirus highlights the role that inanimate objects can play in such outbreaks, researchers say.

Rate of Hospitalizations for Stroke Has Declined in U.S.

The rate at which Americans are hospitalized for stroke has fallen, according to new government statistics released Wednesday.

Can Testosterone Therapy Help Obese Men Lose Weight?

Older obese men with low levels of testosterone can lose weight when levels of the male hormone are restored to normal, a new study suggests.

IUDs Work as Emergency Contraceptive: Review

Many women who need emergency contraception after unprotected sex are aware of the "morning-after" pill as an effective way to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

New Drug Shows Promise for Myeloma Patients

Three new studies confirm that the drug lenalidomide can significantly lengthen the time that people with multiple myeloma experience no worsening of their disease, either after having a stem cell transplant or getting chemotherapy.

Response to First Treatment May Predict Epilepsy's Course

The way someone responds to the first anti-seizure medication given after a diagnosis of epilepsy often predicts how well- controlled their seizures will be over time.

FDA Seems to Back Pill to Help Prevent HIV

U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisers will meet Thursday to decide whether to endorse the use of the drug Truvada as a means to help prevent HIV infection in people at high risk.

Health Highlights: May 9, 2012

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

Scientists Map Melanoma's Genome

Researchers have completed the first genome sequencing of melanoma, an aggressive and frequently fatal form of skin cancer.

FDA Seeks Less Radiation for Kids Getting X-Rays, CT Scans

In an effort to make sure children are not exposed to any more radiation than necessary when they get X-rays or CT scans, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked the makers of these devices to factor in the safety of pediatric patients when using existing machines and designing new ones.