Health News

Health News for 05/11/12

May 11, 2012

Health Tip: Having an Allergy to Medication

If you're allergic to a medication, you can take steps to reduce your risk of a reaction, which could be life-threatening.

Health Tip: Help Prevent Gas in Babies

Babies often swallow too much air while eating or drinking, leading to uncomfortable gas.

Older People With Dementia Cared for Mostly at Home

Many elderly people with dementia live and die at home rather than in nursing homes, a new study has found.

Weight-Loss Surgery May Also Help Menstruation, Skin, Hair

Obese women often stop getting their periods, but new research suggests weight-loss surgery can help regulate their monthly cycles, while also stemming excessive hair growth and skin problems that often accompany significant weight gain.

Is Combining Hysterectomy and a Tummy Tuck Safe?

New research suggests that combining two very different surgeries -- a hysterectomy and a tummy tuck -- is relatively safe, with no major complications seen in 65 women who had both procedures at the same time.

Oxygen Therapy Slows Type 1 Diabetes in Mice, Study Says

Treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy helped prevent or slow the progression of type 1 diabetes in mice, according to new research.

Availability of Beds, Poverty Drive Costly Hospital Readmissions

Regions of the United States with lots of hospital beds and a large population of lower-income patients tend to have higher hospital readmission rates than regions with fewer beds and a more affluent, healthier population, new research finds.

New Weight-Loss Drug Shows Promise in Trial

A new weight-loss drug that is awaiting approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration showed promising results in a recent international trial, researchers report.

Induced Labor Late in Pregnancy Has Pros, Cons

Inducing labor after a woman has been pregnant for more than 37 weeks can reduce an infant's risk of death before, during or shortly after birth without increasing the need for cesarean delivery, a new study says.

'Email Vacations' Boost Job Productivity, Lower Stress: Study

Email vacations while on the job could benefit people's health, reducing stress levels and contributing to better focus, a new study suggests.

Sooner Is Better for Controlling Obese Kids' Weight: Study

A type of therapy that helps people change their behavior seems to benefit severely obese children but not severely obese teens, new research suggests.

Only Half of Meds Taken by Kids Have 'Adequate' Safety Info: Study

About half of medications used in children have little or no label information about drug effectiveness, safety or dosing in children, new research finds.

Sex After Heart Attack? Doc's OK May Be Key

Heart attack survivors are more likely to resume their sex lives if doctors reassure them it's safe, a new study shows.

Women Exposed to Violence Might Have More Risky Sex

Women who've witnessed or been the victims of violence may be more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, according to new research.

First, Second Kidney Transplants Have Similar Success: Study

One failed kidney transplant doesn't mean a second transplant is likely to fail, according to a new study that found similar kidney survival, rejection and infection rates in people who undergo repeat transplants compared to patients who have had just one.

Lifesaving Defibrillators Often Not Nearby When Needed

Potentially lifesaving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are not close at hand in most cases of cardiac arrest that occur in public places, according to a new study.

Blacks Less Likely to Get Help on Scene After Cardiac Arrest: Study

Black Americans who suffer cardiac arrest in public places are less likely than whites to receive CPR and treatment with automated external defibrillators, a new study has found.

Blood Clot Risk Linked to Some Non-Pill Contraceptives

Some women using hormonal contraceptives other than birth control pills may have an increased risk for serious blood clots, Danish researchers report.

FDA Panel Gives Blessing to New Weight-Loss Drug

An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday recommended approval of the weight-loss medication lorcaserin, even though concerns remain about cardiovascular side effects.

FDA Advisers Back Pill to Help Prevent HIV Infection

U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisers on Thursday endorsed the use of the drug Truvada as a means to help prevent HIV infection in healthy people at high risk of contracting the AIDS-causing virus.

Health Highlights: May 11, 2012

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