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Text Messages Might Increase Sunscreen Usage

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:50 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 -- Sunscreen can help reduce the risk of skin cancer, but people forget to apply it. Now, researchers say, daily text-message reminders could increase usage. Researchers from the University of California-Davis Health System, in...

Many Women Miscalculate Time to Full-Term Birth

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:00:31 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 -- Recent reports show that the rate of preterm deliveries continues to climb in the United States. Now, a new study suggests one reason why: Many women are confused about what constitutes a full-term birth in the first place. About...

Athletes Seeking Doping Agents Can Still Find Them Online

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:00:55 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 -- Unapproved non-steroidal and tissue-selective anabolic drugs called selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are being sold on the Internet as sports doping agents, according to a new report. Though SARMs offer promise for...

Three-Month Supply Lowers Drug Costs

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:00:36 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 -- Buying a three-month supply of prescription drugs is up to one-third cheaper than buying a one-month supply, according to a new study. U.S. researchers analyzed 26,852 prescriptions filled for 395 drugs between 2000 and 2005, and...

Formaldehyde May Endanger Funeral Workers

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:00:34 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 -- Long-term exposure to formaldehyde used for embalming increases funeral industry workers' risk of death from myeloid leukemia, according to a new U.S. government study. Researchers in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and...

Swine Flu Declining in Some Parts of U.S.

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:00:34 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 -- Some areas of the United States are seeing declines in H1N1 swine flu activity, a federal health official said Friday, and while the disease remains widespread in 43 states, that's down from the 46 states reported last week. "We...

Swine Flu May Hit Kids With Asthma Harder

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:00:33 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 -- Canadian researchers are reporting that children with asthma are more likely to develop severe cases of H1N1 flu than seasonal flu. "Asthma has been identified as a significant risk factor for admission with pandemic H1N1...

'Hobbits' Were a Distinct Species, Study Concludes

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:01:00 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 --The ancient dwarfs known as "hobbits" weren't humans shrunk down by disease, scientists now say, but instead, they were a distinct human species. The researchers came to their conclusion by statistically analyzing a female...

Discovery Boosts Boys' Prospects for Post-Cancer Fertility

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:00:58 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 -- New research suggests it may become possible for pre-pubescent boys stricken by cancer to prepare for the future when they may be infertile but still want to become natural fathers. Scientists in the Netherlands found that...

Blood Test Could Boost Clarity of Breast MRI Results for Some

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:00:58 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 -- Using a blood test to pinpoint the optimal timing of breast MRI scans in women with irregular menstrual cycles could reduce the need for repeat scans, U.S. researchers say. Previous studies have found that performing breast MRI...

Even Smokers Support Bans at Work

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:00:50 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 -- Most smokers around the world support workplace smoking bans, according to a new study. Researchers surveyed more than 3,500 employees who smoke and more than 1,400 employers (smokers and nonsmokers) in the United States and 13...

Unraveling the 'Mad Cow' Mystery

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:00:19 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 -- Researchers may be moving closer to better treatments for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, better known as mad cow disease, and the related condition called Creutzfeldt Jakob disease. A protein called Glypican-1 is crucial to the...

Health Highlights: Nov. 20, 2009

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:22:29 GMT

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay: University of Nebraska May Restrict Stem Cell Research The University of Nebraska may become the first such state institution in the United States to...

Clinical Trials Update: Nov. 20, 2009

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:05:35 GMT

(HealthDayNews) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com: H1N1 Flu Vaccine This study seeks volunteers 18 and older to evaluate an experimental H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine. The research site is in Mesa, Ariz. More...

Health Tip: Managing Gestational Diabetes

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:58 GMT

-- Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy, resulting in high blood sugar levels that can pose dangers for mom and baby. The National Diabetes Clearinghouse offers suggestions about possible treatments for gestational diabetes: Get regular...

Using Cell Phones, Internet to Battle Eating Disorders

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:45 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 -- People with an eating disorder may not want to attend a support group or meet with therapists, but a new report raises the prospect that "remote therapies" via e-mail, text messaging or through Web sites could help them...

New Pap Test Guidelines: Start Later, Have Fewer

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:31 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 -- For the second time in a week, medical experts are revising the advice given women on cancer screenings. Now women are being told that they should get their first screening for cervical cancer -- including a Pap test -- at age 21....

No Immediate Changes Expected in Mammogram Coverage

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:14 GMT

FRIDAY, Nov. 20 -- Women can rest assured, at least for now, that their health plan will continue to pay for an annual mammogram beginning at age 40. A firestorm set off this week by a federal task force recommendation against "routine screening" of...

Health Tip: Determining Migraines in Children

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:12 GMT

-- Migraines are common in kids, affecting up to 5 percent of grade-school children, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. So how do you know if your little one has another type of headache, or is suffering from a...

New 'Skin' From Stem Cells

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:38 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- Embryonic stem cells, which can turn into a variety of cells in the body, can produce temporary skin that could help burn victims while they're waiting for skin grafts, new research from France suggests. The findings, reported...

Asthma Combo Seems Less Influenced by Genes

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:05 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- People's genetic makeup has been shown to affect how they respond to asthma medications, but a new study finds that many people respond well to a particular combination treatment regardless of their genes. However, the study...

Kidney Transplant, Sleep Disorder May Add Up to Trouble

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:00:59 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- Kidney transplant patients with sleep apnea are at increased risk for high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, Hungarian researchers say. The study of 100 kidney transplant recipients found that 25 percent had moderate to...

Errors in Surgical Procedures Persist

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:00:21 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- The U.S. Veterans Administration has taken the lead in improving patient safety, but its efforts are still a work in progress as surgical errors in and out of the operating room persist, a new study shows. Each day in the...

Appalachia, Southeast Hit Hardest by Obesity and Diabetes

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:00:58 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- While rates of obesity are climbing across America, they are especially high in sections of Appalachia and the Southeast, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports in its first county-by-county survey. Obesity...

For Kids With Down Syndrome, a 'Ray of Hope'

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:00:52 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- New research may provide the foundation for future medical treatment of memory deficits associated with Down syndrome. The research was conducted in mice that were genetically engineered to have a condition similar to Down...

For Chest Pain in the ER, CT Angiography May Be Best

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:00:20 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- Compared to standard emergency room triage, CT angiography is quicker, more accurate and much less expensive for screening patients with chest pain who have low to moderate enzyme and EKG scores, according to a new study. The...

Too Few Older Adults Get Recommended Screenings

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:00:41 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- Screening for cancer and other preventive health measures can prolong lives, but only 25 percent of adults aged 50 to 64 in the United States are getting these recommended screenings, a new report shows. Prepared by the U.S....

Moderate Drinking Guards the Heart

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:00:37 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- A Spanish study has found that long-term moderate drinking decreased the risk of heart disease by up to one-third in men and to a lesser degree in women. The type of alcohol -- beer, wine or spirits -- made no difference, the...

Sounds May Help Solidify Memories While Asleep

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:00:27 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- Sounds can penetrate deep sleep and enhance associated memories upon waking, new research finds. In a study linking sounds to what is called spatial memory, researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago showed 50 objects on...

Spray May Delay Ejaculation

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:01:00 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- A spray touted as the first potential treatment for premature ejaculation has proved effective in a second study, according to the company that developed it. PSD502 -- which combines the drugs lidocaine and prilocaine -- is...

Task Force Member Defends Mammography Guidelines

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:00:01 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- Responding to the uproar over revised mammogram recommendations unveiled earlier this week, a member of the independent task force that crafted the recommendations defended them Thursday, saying they were based on the most...

Health Highlights: Nov. 19, 2009

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:40:31 GMT

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay: Senate Introduces Health Reform Bill The 10-year, $849-billion Senate health reform bill unveiled Wednesday night would require most Americans to...

Health Tip: When Infants Get Diarrhea

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:49 GMT

-- Diarrhea in infants is common, often a quick bout caused by a virus. But in some cases among young children, diarrhea can quickly become dangerous, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine. If you have a newborn younger than 3 months, call...

Health Tip: Recovering From C-Section

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:45 GMT

-- Cesarean section is a surgical alternative to vaginal birth. After this surgery, the new mom needs time to recover. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers this list of what moms who have delivered by cesarean can...

Great American Smokeout '09: Time to Quit

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:45 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- The less you smoke, the more birthdays you'll have, says the American Cancer Society as it encourages smokers to quit on Thursday, the day of the 34th Great American Smokeout. Research shows that smokers who quit at age 35 gain...

Diet, Cognitive Ability May Play Role in Heart Disease

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:44 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- Seniors who eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and who have good cognitive function are much less likely to die from heart disease than those who have poorer cognitive function and eat fewer fruits and vegetables, a new study...

Parental Monitoring Can Curb Teen Marijuana Use

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:09 GMT

THURSDAY, Nov. 19 -- Parents who take the time to know what their teenage children are up to and have strong anti-drug views can be effective in reducing their children's marijuana use, a new study says. Among all the illicit drugs, marijuana is...

Toddlers, Obese Kids Suffer Most From Smoke

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:00:08 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18 -- Secondhand smoke harms the cardiovascular health of children, especially toddlers and obese youngsters, U.S. researchers say. Their study of 52 toddlers (aged 2 to 5) and 107 adolescents (aged 9 to 18) found an association...

Genital Herpes May Never Go Dormant

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:00:52 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18 -- Herpes, the sexually transmitted disease that causes genital lesions, never truly goes into a dormant state, new research suggests. As a matter of fact, even when it's not causing an outbreak, the virus is shedding tiny bits...

Lifelong Exercise Keeps Seniors Young at Heart

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:00:50 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18 -- Lifelong exercise helps seniors keep their hearts healthy, new research shows. The study included healthy people over age 65 -- without chronic diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure -- who were recruited from...