Drugs.com - Daily MedNews

Health Tip: Help Prevent Lawn Mowing Accidents

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:00:13 GMT

-- The next time you cut the grass, think about your safety before you drag out the lawnmower, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons advises. Here's the academy's list of mowing safety suggestions: Make sure mower blades are always sharp,...

Increase in Thyroid Cancer Puzzles Experts

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:00:06 GMT

TUESDAY, July 14 -- Intensified screening doesn't entirely explain the jump in thyroid cancers noted in the United States since 1980, and scientists now believe that other as-yet-unknown factors are to blame. A new study finds that thyroid tumors of...

Bottle-Feeding Moms Ignored

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:00:06 GMT

TUESDAY, July 14 -- The lack of information and support for mothers who bottle-feed could put the health of their infants at risk, say British researchers who reviewed 23 studies that included more than 13,000 participants. Most infants will receive...

Health Tip: Burping Baby

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:00:03 GMT

-- Brand new parents may be uneasy about the best way to burp their newborn. The Nemours Foundations suggests that you may have to stop feeding fussy infants every two or three ounces. The foundation offers this list of popular positions for burping...

Get the Most Out of Your Run

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:00:02 GMT

TUESDAY, July 14 -- Jogging can be great for your heart, your weight and your mental health. But running can be tough on the body. All that pounding leaves runners prone to shin splints, stress fractures, pulled muscles, ankle sprains, plantar...

Combination Therapy Best for Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:00:29 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- Men with aggressive prostate cancer who have brachytherapy alone are more likely to die than those who receive a combination of treatments, new findings show. In brachytherapy, radioactive "seeds" are implanted in the...

Dementia Increasing Among the 'Oldest Old'

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:00:48 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- Scientists tend to think that dementia and Alzheimer's disease taper off in the oldest, but a new study finds that people over 90 have the highest rates. According to previous epidemiological research, the rate of dementia begins...

Condoms May Reduce Herpes Risk

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:00:39 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- People who use condoms regularly can reduce their risk of getting genital herpes by 30 percent, a new study finds. The herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) causes genital herpes, which is a chronic, lifelong viral infection. Although...

Obama Taps Alabama Doctor to Be Surgeon General

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:00:29 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- President Barack Obama announced Monday that he has nominated a rural Alabama family physician to be the United States' next surgeon general. Dr. Regina Benjamin -- the first black woman and youngest doctor ever elected to the...

Coronary Calcium Scans Can Raise Cancer Risks

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:00:10 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- When weighing whether a coronary calcium scan is worth the risk, a new study suggests that arriving at an answer won't be clear-cut or easy. A team of researchers from the U.S. National Cancer Institute and Columbia University...

Swine Flu Vaccine Taking Longer Than Expected

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:00:09 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- A fully tested swine flu vaccine may not be available until the end of the year, a vaccine expert at the World Health Organization said Monday. But countries could use emergency measures to get the vaccines out faster if they...

Smoking May Speed Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:00:06 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- In addition to the well-known hazards of smoking, research now suggests that the dangerous habit causes a more rapid progression of multiple sclerosis. The new findings are from a study that included 1,465 multiple sclerosis (MS)...

FDA OKs Single-Dose Plan B Emergency Contraceptive

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:00:35 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- A single-pill version of the Plan B emergency contraceptive has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The drug previously was available in a two-pill dose. The new Plan B One-Step will be available at pharmacies...

Immune Response May Speed AIDS Progression in Women

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:00:17 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- Differences in immune response may explain why HIV infection progresses faster to AIDS in women than in men with similar viral loads, U.S. researchers say. Their study found that a receptor molecule involved in the recognition of...

Moderate Drinking Might Guard Against Alzheimer's

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:00:12 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- Older adults with no history of dementia could cut their odds of Alzheimer's and other cognitive decline by regular moderate drinking, new research suggests. Defining "moderate" as having one to two drinks a day, the study...

Cats Purrfect at Getting Needs Met, Study Shows

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:00:02 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- It's 6 a.m. Your cat has jumped up on the bed and, as he does every morning, lets out a mix of low purr and plaintive cry. The message is irresistible: Get up now and feed me. A new British study -- involving participants with...

Clinical Trials Update: July 13, 2009

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:59:42 GMT

-- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of CenterWatch and ClinicalConnection.com: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease If you are at least 40, have a smoking history of more than 10 years, and currently have trouble breathing, you may...

A Curse or Two Might Quell the Pain

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:00:39 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- Ever blurt out a swear word after stubbing a toe or experiencing some other painful incident? Your outburst might actually help lessen the pain, new research shows. In a study that suggests bad words aren't all bad, college...

Doctors' Attitudes Play Part in Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:00:19 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 - A physician's positive attitude towards Alzheimer's is an important factor in early diagnosis of the disease, Australian researchers report. Because there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, some doctors don't put much value on...

Heavy Drinking Linked to Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:00:10 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- Heavy drinking, especially when it's beer, increases the risk for highly aggressive prostate cancer, a new study finds. The researchers did not set out to determine the effect of alcohol consumption on prostate cancer risk but...

Health Highlights: July 13, 2009

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:14:47 GMT

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay: Congress Won't Finish Health-Care Reform by Summer Recess The massive overhaul of the U.S. health-care system will be put on hold when members of...

Bathtub Accidents Injure 43,000 U.S. Kids Each Year

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:00:57 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- More than 43,000 children are injured in slips and falls in bathtubs each year in the United States, researchers report. Earlier studies of bathtub injuries concentrated on burns from hot water and drowning and near-drowning. This...

Strep B Seems to Trick Immune System

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:00:46 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- A bacterial pathogen that causes sepsis and meningitis in newborns shuts down immune cell function to ensure its survival, a new study shows. The findings about Group B Streptococcus (GBS) may help lead to new drugs for...

Schizophrenia Drug Got Bad Rap

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:00:37 GMT

MONDAY, July 13 -- Thousands of schizophrenia patients worldwide may have died because of safety restrictions on the use of the second-generation antipsychotic drug clozapine, a new study suggests. Finnish researchers concluded that clozapine is...

Health Tip: Who Gets Osteoporosis?

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:00:12 GMT

-- Osteoporosis affects many women and men as they age, reducing bone density and increasing the risk of bone fractures. The National Osteoporosis Foundation offers this list of risk factors for osteoporosis: Being older or female. Having...

Health Tip: Keep Baby's Nails Trimmed

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:00:06 GMT

-- The thought of clipping your young baby's fingernails and toenails may be intimidating, but it's important to keep the nails trim to prevent scratches while sleeping or playing. The Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions for trimming baby's...

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Falls Short in Alzheimer's Trials

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:00:57 GMT

SUNDAY, July 12 -- Two trials that looked at whether the omega-3 fatty acid DHA might treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease have produced mixed results. The studies were done because of "a long history of epidemiological studies that related fish...

Gene May Help Predict Timing of Alzheimer's Onset

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:00:20 GMT

SUNDAY, July 12 -- A gene that may offer a highly accurate prediction of the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and the age at which people will begin to show symptoms has been identified by U.S. researchers. The TOMM40 gene may be the most...

Simple Steps Deliver Relief for Tennis Elbow

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:01:00 GMT

SATURDAY, July 11 -- A simple exercise to strengthen the wrist may ease the pain of tennis elbow, a new study suggests. Using an inexpensive rubber bar to perform isolated eccentric wrist extensor strengthening exercises resulted in significantly...

How to De-Stress a Recession-Riddled Life

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:00:35 GMT

SATURDAY, July 11 -- Recessions are bad for the stress level, as many in the midst of the current economic situation know and surveys prove. Perhaps not surprisingly, nearly half of the 1,791 adults polled for the American Psychological...

Type of Knee Surgery Makes Difference in Football Career

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:00:34 GMT

SATURDAY, July 11 -- Complex anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction of a knee doesn't appear to shorten the career of a professional football player, but a simpler meniscus repair might, new research has found. However, having both...

Job Stress, Economy Weighing on Americans

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:00:52 GMT

FRIDAY, July 10 -- Stress can keep you up at night, make you snap at your spouse and children, and make your job seem overwhelming. If that's not bad enough, stress can also make you gain weight -- especially if you're overweight to begin with, new...

Carpal Tunnel Relief in a Cup

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:00:43 GMT

FRIDAY, July 10 -- An external suction technique called cupping helps relieve pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, according to a German study. Cupping, a healing method used in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and parts of Africa, appears to help...

Effient Sanctioned for Angioplasty Patients

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:39:43 GMT

FRIDAY, July 10 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Eli Lilly blood-thinner Effient (prasugrel) to prevent clots in people who have an artery-clearing procedure called angioplasty. Angioplasty involves inserting a balloon-like...

Blood Rush to the Brain When Angry Is a Good Sign

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:00:23 GMT

FRIDAY, July 10 -- Anger and other forms of mental stress cause dilation of the neck's carotid arteries and a rush of blood to the brain in healthy people, but this doesn't occur in those with high blood pressure. That's the finding of U.S....

Stillbirth Not an Issue for Next-Born

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:00:44 GMT

FRIDAY, July 10 -- Children born after their mother has a stillbirth aren't at increased risk for psychological problems, according to a British study. Stillbirth can cause serious mental stress for parents, and some research had suggested that a...

Drug Might Restore Sense of Smell

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:00:37 GMT

FRIDAY, July 10 -- A drug once used to treat asthma and other respiratory conditions shows promise in restoring a sense of smell to those who have lost that precious ability. "More work needs to be done but, for patients for whom other treatments...

Soccer Injuries Differ by Gender

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:00:23 GMT

FRIDAY, July 10 -- Male and female soccer players have different patterns of injuries, and now U.S. researchers think they know why. They used video motion analysis to examine the kicking motion in male and female soccer players, and identified...

Savoring Happy Moments Helps Build Emotional Strength

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:00:14 GMT

FRIDAY, July 10 -- Taking time to appreciate the positive things that happen in your daily life can help boost your overall satisfaction and build resilience to cope with tough times, study findings show. In a recent study, 86 volunteers provided...

Health Highlights: July 10, 2009

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:30:24 GMT

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay: Cookie Dough E. Coli Doesn't Match Outbreak Strain: FDA The strain of E. coli that sickened at least 69 people in 30 states doesn't match the strain...