Drugs.com - Daily MedNews

Chemo During Pregnancy Doesn't Seem to Harm Baby

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:02:47 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- A new study finds that the babies of women who had chemotherapy while pregnant aren't at higher risk for a variety of medical disorders, a sign that the treatment should be safe for the fetus in most instances. There's a caveat:...

Recent Pot Use Could Double Risk of Car Crash, Research Shows

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:02:30 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- Getting behind the wheel within three hours after using marijuana nearly doubles a driver's risk of having an accident, a large new research review finds. The risk is especially high for fatal crashes, and the risk is only a...

Fear of Lawsuits Influences Care From Most Orthopedic Surgeons: Survey

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:02:13 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- A shocking new national survey suggests that nearly all orthopedic surgeons may order unnecessary tests, referrals or hospitalizations to avoid being sued, to the tune of $2 billion a year. The report is the first of its kind to...

C-Sections Might Put Preemies at Risk for Breathing Problems

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:02:02 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- Small, premature infants born by cesarean section are at 30 percent higher risk for serious breathing problems than those delivered vaginally, a new study finds. Respiratory distress syndrome, which mostly affects premature...

In Mice, Cancer Drug Shows Effect on Alzheimer's Symptoms

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:02:35 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- The cancer drug bexarotene quickly eliminates Alzheimer's disease-associated amyloid beta from the brain and reverses memory problems in mice, a new study finds. The results suggest that bexarotene could possibly help the...

Stopping Bone Drug Cuts Risk of Second Thigh Fracture: Study

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:02:20 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- People who suffer a rare type of fracture of the thigh bone while taking bone-building drugs known as bisphosphonates can cut the risk of a second fracture by discontinuing the medication, a new study says. Bisphosphonates such...

More Patients Seek Plastic Surgery Advice From Facebook, Twitter

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:02:12 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- A growing number of Americans are getting advice and information about facial plastic surgery from social networking sites rather than friends, a new survey indicates. About 42 percent of patients in 2011 got information from...

Heart Disease May Be Risk Factor for Prostate Cancer

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:02:11 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- Heart disease may be a risk factor for prostate cancer, a new study suggests. If this link is confirmed in future research, it means that lifestyle changes that reduce heart disease risk -- such as weight loss, exercise and a...

Illicit Drugs Bought Off Internet May Be Poisons, Experts Warn

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:02:56 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- A case study of two men who were poisoned and turned blue after ingesting what they thought was a recreational drug that they had bought on the Internet highlights the dangers of such purchases, a new report claims. The case...

More U.S. Doctors Are Urging Patients to Exercise: CDC

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:02:51 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- The number of American adults who received advice from their doctor to engage in regular exercise has increased steadily over the past decade, according to new research from U.S. health officials. The U.S. Centers for Disease...

Strutting the Catwalk in Red, Stars Promote 'The Heart Truth'

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:02:29 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- The star power gathered on the runway was impressive and so were the red-hot designer frocks, all on display at the 10th annual "The Heart Truth" Red Dress Collection fashion show, held in New York City on Wednesday night. The...

4 New Genes Linked to Type 2 Diabetes

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:02:27 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- Four new genes associated with type 2 diabetes have been identified by researchers, who also pinpointed six independent diabetes-associated gene variants at previously known locations on chromosomes. These findings, from an...

Health Highlights: Feb. 9, 2012

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:02:34 GMT

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay: Americans Need to Reduce Salt Intake: CDC Americans eat too much salt and it's a serious public health issue, according to the U.S. Centers for...

Risk of Preterm Birth Rises for Hispanic Women the Longer They're in U.S.

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:02:30 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- The longer Hispanic women live in the United States, the more likely they are to have a preterm birth, a new study says. Researchers analyzed data from 2,141 Hispanic women with a prior live birth who took part in the U.S....

More People Need Training in Lifesaving Epinephrine Use, Advocates Say

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:02:04 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- When Jane Able's 4-year-old daughter, Ellie, was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy, the New Albany, Ohio, mother got trained in using an epinephrine pen and never leaves home without it. The device contains an injectable...

Bug Bites May Have Caused Zebras' Stripes

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:00:25 GMT

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- Zebras evolved from all black to striped in order to repel insects that distract them from feeding, a new study contends. Researchers from Hungary and Sweden said that zebras' black and white stripes are the least-attractive hide...

Health Tip: Healthier Ways to Prepare Potatoes

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:02:38 GMT

-- Potatoes are a great source potassium, fiber and vitamin C, but many popular recipes also load on the calories. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests how to enjoy the nutritional benefits of potatoes without piling on the...

Health Tip: Troubled by a Toothache?

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:02:00 GMT

-- A toothache can be a real pain, but you can take steps to care for tooth discomfort. The American Dental Association offers these suggestions: Rinse your mouth with warm water. Very gently clean between teeth with floss. Don't apply any...

Many Doctors May Be Less Than Honest With Their Patients

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:02:56 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Many doctors may be less than honest with their patients, a new survey finds. Despite the fact that there are widely accepted standards in the medical profession that state physicians should be straightforward with their...

New Therapy Might Help Relieve Painful Foot Condition

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:02:52 GMT

WEDNESDAY Feb. 8 -- For people struggling with plantar fasciitis --- a painful and sometimes disabling foot condition -- a small, preliminary study suggests that a new type of therapy is more effective than standard cortisone injections in restoring...

Heart Disease Risk Gene May Pass From Dads to Sons

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:02:20 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- An increased risk for coronary artery disease can be passed genetically from father to son on the male Y chromosome, a new study says. The Y chromosome, a part of DNA present only in men, appears to play a role in the...

Screening Moms-to-Be for Thyroid Trouble May Not Help Offspring

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:02:44 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Screening and treating expectant moms for thyroid problems at the end of the first trimester doesn't improve children's IQs at age 3, a new study finds. Thyroid hormones are crucial for the development of a baby's brain and...

Tai Chi May Help Parkinson's Patients

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:02:42 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Practicing the ancient art of Tai Chi twice a week helped Parkinson's patients improve their balance and walking ability, a new study shows. "Tai Chi has been suggested for a while [for those with Parkinson's], but it's not...

Experts Warn of Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:02:19 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea is an increasingly worrisome reality, and steps need to be taken to limit the risk that an untreatable strain of the sexually transmitted disease will spread, U.S. researchers warn. "We're trying...

Electrical Brain Stimulation May Strengthen Memory, Study Says

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:02:12 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Deep brain stimulation, a technique used to treat Parkinson's disease and certain psychiatric disorders, appears to provide some memory-enhancing benefits, researchers report. Using electrical impulses to stimulate a part of...

Generic Drugs Easing Out-of-Pocket Medical Costs in U.S.

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:02:51 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- More Americans are buying the generic forms of medications, and this practice has made their prescriptions more affordable, according to a new report. But even though some out-of-pocket drug costs may have declined, paying for...

More Success With Gene Therapy for Blindness

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:02:37 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- As a child, Tami Morehouse had vision problems. She struggled to read the blackboard at school, and homework took hours. Yet, she made it through high school and college, and became a social worker. Although she was never able...

Obesity Linked to Worse Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:02:21 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Obese people are not only at greater risk for fibromyalgia, they are likely to experience more severe symptoms of the condition, such as chronic pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance and mood disorders, according to a new study. The...

When Prodded, Restaurant Diners Often Opt for Smaller Portions

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:02:02 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Ballooning portion sizes have shouldered some of the blame for America's obesity epidemic. However, a new study suggests that, when asked, many restaurant patrons will readily "downsize" their meal. When offered the choice,...

Fasting Plus Chemo May Help in Cancer Fight: Study

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:02:44 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Fasting, especially when combined with chemotherapy, appears to slow the growth of cancerous tumors in mice, new research suggests. Experts note that the results of animal studies often don't hold up when tried in...

Depressed Kids May Be Targets for Bullying, Study Suggests

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:02:08 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Children with depression are at increased risk for bullying, the results of a new study suggest. The finding challenges the widely held belief that bullying leads to psychological problems such as depression, according to the...

Prescription Shampoo Approved to Treat Head Lice

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:02:38 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Sklice Lotion, a prescription-strength shampoo to treat head lice, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for people six months and older, the French product maker Sanofi said. The shampoo contains...

Big Drop in Americans' Blood Level of Trans Fats, CDC Says

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:02:36 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Trans fat levels in the blood of white adults in the United States fell by 58 percent between 2000 and 2009, which should help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in the nation, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and...

Short Breaks During Exercise OK for Diabetes Control: Study

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:02:26 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Taking short breaks while exercising, or "intermittent" exercise, is an effective way to improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes, according to a new British study. The researchers also...

Female Soccer Players May Face Health Problems: Study

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:02:07 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Intense training combined with insufficient nutrition may threaten the health of young female soccer players, suggests a new study that finds menstrual irregularities and stress fractures are common among these athletes. Nearly...

Health Highlights: Feb. 8, 2012

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:02:51 GMT

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay: Walmart Introduces New Healthy Food Standards, Labels Walmart said Tuesday it will introduce new standards to identify and label healthy foods...

Playing Sports May Help Keep Kids From Smoking

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:02:52 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Middle-school kids who participate in lots of sports are less likely to start smoking than other kids, new research finds. Yet, students with teammates who smoke are more likely to smoke, too. This apparent influence of peers...

One 'Silver Lining' to Recession: Fewer Broken Bones?

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:02:43 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Researchers in Florida may have uncovered a rare positive outcome from the downturn in the local economy: fewer injuries to workers. The new study finds that traumatic orthopedic injuries dropped by 16 percent in the city of...

Quality Day Care Predicts Later Parental Involvement in School

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:02:13 GMT

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Mothers whose kids went to high-quality day care were more involved in their children's schools later on than the moms of kids in poorer quality day care or no day care, new research finds. In conducting the study, appearing...

Health Tip: Before You Start an Exercise Program

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:02:19 GMT

-- Although exercise should help improve your health, a medical checkup before you start an exercise program can help ensure a safe beginning. The womenshealth.gov website offers this list of potential risk factors that should be evaluated by a...