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November 2012

Friday November 30, 2012

• Health Highlights: Nov. 30, 2012

• Even Women Who Exercise Sit Too Much - Study finds that people sit more hours a day than they sleep, raising the risk of chronic health conditions

• Surprise HIV Diagnosis Becomes Life-Changing Moment - After denial, N.Y. woman finds way to keep the condition from controlling her life

• Among Black Americans, HIV Takes a Greater Toll - With climbing infection and death rates, experts stress need to stem the growing disparity

• Make Sure Toys You Buy Are Safe for Tots - Keep kids' ages in mind when shopping, doctors urge

• Study: Cystic Fibrosis Patients Struggle to Exercise - But it is poor blood vessel function, not weakened lungs, that causes fatigue, researchers report

• To Get More Fit, Find a Stronger Workout Partner - Study shows even a virtual one can spur you to exercise longer

• Obesity Complicates Lung Cancer Surgery: Study - Greater body-mass index meant more time in operating room

• Could Baby's Crying Give Clues to Autism? - Small study found subtle differences in sounds made by at-risk infants through computer analysis

• When to Worry About Your Child's Fever - A temperature is 'often a friend,' doctor says

• Most Seniors Get a Good Night's Sleep, Study Says - Common beliefs about older adults' problems with insomnia and daytime drowsiness put to rest

• Possible Affordable Care Act Glitch: Too Few Doctors - Study suggests 'safety-net' practices may not absorb everyone covered under new system

• Aspirin May Reduce Risk of Liver Cancer, Death From Liver Disease - Large, decade-long study also found some benefit from other NSAIDs

• Rats May Also Feel 'Placebo Effect,' Study Suggests - Animals that expected pain relief got it from an injection of salt water, researchers say

• Mental Illness Affects 1 in 5 U.S. Adults, Survey Finds - The rate is twice as high among people aged 18 to 25 than among those over 50, report indicates

• What Do Eye Movement Differences in Men and Women Mean? - Study compared reactions to images of faces, bodies by gender

• Health Tip: Is Caffeine Giving You the Jitters? - Typical symptoms of this common stimulant

• Health Tip: Limit Swelling While Wearing a Cast - Keep the limb elevated

Thursday November 29, 2012

• Health Highlights: Nov. 29, 2012

• New DNA-Based Blood Test May Spot Signs of Cancer - Early finding suggests it might become a routine screen in the future

• Teen Behavior Problems, Not Depression, Tied to Lower Grades - Study also linked delinquency, substance use to lesser education degrees

• Boys With Undescended Testicles at Higher Risk for Testicular Cancer: Study - If testes don't descend, these males may need to be monitored for later malignancy

• Brain Scans Show Differences in Adults With Autism - Two new studies hint that immune system may play some role in condition

• Climbers With Altitude Sickness Show Signs of Brain Bleeds Years Later - Mountaineers who've had the illness should gradually prepare for rising elevations, researchers say

• Despite More 'Healthy' Options, Little Change in Fast-Food Calorie Counts - Watch out for side orders, salad dressings, sauces and desserts, study says

• Nerve Stimulation May Restore Hand Function After Spinal Injury - But success was temporary in small, early study

• Simple Formula May Predict Obesity Risk at Birth - Baby's weight, parents' weight, mom's work all included in calculating the odds, researchers say

• Why Aging Eyes Struggle to Discern Fine Print - How you read changes as you grow older, study says

• Cholesterol Drug Boosts Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice: Study - But more research is needed before topical Zocor is approved for human cuts

• New HIV Infections Highest Among Urban Gay, Bisexual Men: CDC - Prevention efforts vital in high-risk areas, researchers say

• Former President George H.W. Bush Hospitalized With Bronchitis - 88-year-old's condition doesn't appear life-threatening, staffer says

• Violence in a Soldier's Past May Up PTSD Risk - Study found those abused as kids, attacked by spouses were more likely to develop the condition

• Kidney Disease More Severe in Blacks Than Others: Study - Screening would help improve their care, researchers say

• Sleep Trumps All-Night Cramming for College Exams - Also avoid studying during early-afternoon slump hours, expert says

• Health Tip: Reduce Your Risk of Hot Water Burns - Test the water first

• Health Tip: If Dementia Causes Sleep Problems - Establish consistent sleep and wake times

• Cometriq Approved for Rare Thyroid Cancer - Drug designed to inhibit tumor growth

Wednesday November 28, 2012

• Health Highlights: Nov. 28, 2012

• Overactive Thyroid May Raise Risk for Common Irregular Heartbeat - Even early stage thyroid trouble could help spur atrial fibrillation, study suggests

• Statins Plus Exercise Best at Lowering Cholesterol, Study Finds - Moderate exercise reduced death risk even without drugs, but not as much

• High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Tied to Later Heart Trouble - Effect is strongest in women who have only one child, study finds

• Most Women Who Choose Double Mastectomy Don't Need To, Study Shows - Worry about recurrence drives decision, experts say, but majority have low risk of cancer in the healthy breast

• Overactive Thyroid May Raise Risk for Common Irregular Heartbeat - Even early stage thyroid trouble could help spur atrial fibrillation, study suggests

• Statins Plus Exercise Best at Lowering Cholesterol, Study Finds - Moderate exercise reduced death risk even without drugs, but not as much

• High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Tied to Later Heart Trouble - Effect is strongest in women who have only one child, study finds

• Most Women Who Choose Double Mastectomy Don't Need To, Study Shows - Worry about recurrence drives decision, experts say, but majority have low risk of cancer in the healthy breast

• Deep Belly Fat Could Weaken Men's Bones, Study Suggests - Level of 'visceral fat' seemed to have an effect regardless of man's overall weight

• Long-Term Use of Some Antipsychotics Not Warranted in Older Adults: Study - It found the drugs had serious side effects, didn't help patients after several months

• Certain Arthritis Patients Fare Worse After Joint Replacement: Study - Compared to osteoarthritis, those with rheumatoid disease had higher risk of infection, dislocation

• Toxic Chemicals in Many Couches Sold in U.S.: Report - Flame-retardants Tris and pentaBDE have been tied to cancer, hormone problems

• Depression a Key Factor in Health of Parkinson's Patients: Study - Researchers add that it is difficult to diagnose because movement disorder masks symptoms

• Supplements of Red Wine Antioxidant Don't Help Obese Men - Study should put claims of health benefits to rest, experts say

• Heart Drug Digoxin Tied to Higher Death Risk for Some Patients - Study found increased mortality for people with atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat

• New DNA-Based Blood Test May Spot Signs of Cancer - Early finding suggests it might become a routine screen in the future

• New Treatment Aids Weight Loss, Improves Diabetes in Monkeys - But how it might work in humans remains to be seen

• Latest West Nile Tally: 5,245 Cases, 236 Deaths - Texas still the hardest hit state with 1,714 cases, 76 deaths, CDC says

• Aspirin May Reduce Risk of Liver Cancer, Death From Liver Disease - Large, decade-long study also found some benefit from other NSAIDs

• Experimental Insomnia Drug Shows Promise - In lab study, it improved sleep with fewer side effects than other medications