Health News

Health News for 09/28/12

September 28, 2012

9282012

New Treatments May Help Restore Speech Lost to Aphasia

Most people know the frustration of having a word on the "tip of your tongue" that they simply can't remember. But that passing nuisance can be an everyday occurrence for someone with aphasia, a communication disorder caused by a stroke or other brain damage that impairs the ability to process language.

For New Mom With Aphasia, 'Giving Up Was Not an Option'

At 25, Rachel Eagly had a one-week-old son and a vicious headache. But she never would have guessed that the headache signaled a major stroke that would temporarily seize her ability to speak and also change her future for the better.

Health Tip: Treat a Toddler to a Picnic

If your child balks at sitting at the table, why not take it on the road? Treating your toddler to a picnic can encourage healthier eating and outdoor activity.

Health Tip: Wearing Flip Flops

Flip flops may be comfy footwear, but they also make your feet more susceptible to injury.

Common Pesticide Linked to Birth Defect, Study Suggests

A common herbicide called atrazine may be associated with a rare birth defect of the nasal cavity, a new study suggests.

Quick Survey May Pick Up Ovarian Cancer Warnings: Study

A simple three-question survey might identify women who have symptoms that may indicate ovarian cancer, according to a new study.

Breast Cancer Drug Linked to Sexual Problems in Older Women

Postmenopausal women treated for breast cancer with drugs known as aromatase inhibitors have high rates of sexual problems, which is an important and underestimated issue, according to a new study from Sweden.

Simple Test Might Predict Whether Some Pregnancies Succeed

Measuring progesterone levels in women with pain or bleeding during early pregnancy may help determine whether or not the pregnancy is viable, a new study says.

Exercise Programs for Kids Seem to Have Little Impact: Study

Formal physical exercise programs for children have only a small impact on overall activity and thus on weight loss, British researchers report.

Improved HIV Care Boosts Life Expectancy at Clinic, Study Found

Treatment advances, a multifaceted treatment approach and federal funding helped improve care and outcomes for all HIV patients at an inner-city clinic in Baltimore, including those often hit hardest by the disease, researchers report.

Prenatal Test Presents Dilemmas to Expectant Mothers

A sophisticated genetic test sometimes used during pregnancy can't always predict if chromosomal abnormalities will cause problems in children, leading some mothers to label the information "toxic knowledge" they wish they hadn't received, a small new study shows.

Melatonin May Improve Sleep for People on Blood-Pressure Meds

People with high blood pressure who lose sleep as the result of medications known as beta blockers may benefit from a nightly dose of melatonin.

FDA Campaign Aims to Make Online Drug Purchases Safer

Understanding and minimizing the risks of buying prescription drugs online are the goals of a new public education campaign by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Health Highlights: Sept. 28, 2012

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