Health headlines
May 2012
Wednesday May 16, 2012
- National Women's Health Week by the Numbers: 20.4 Million - Whitehouse.gov Blog
- 'Blast Wind' Linked to Chronic Brain Injuries in Military – Force created by an explosion causes similar effects as repeated concussions in athletes, study finds.
- CDC Lowers Lead-Poisoning Threshold for Kids – Cutting the safe blood level of the metal in children is long overdue, advocates say.
- Could Nasal Spray of 'Love Hormone' Treat Autism? – Preliminary study of 7 children saw more activity in 'social' areas of the brain.
- Developmental Woes Common in Siblings of Children With Autism – Some show subtle developmental delays, study finds.
- Education Is Key to Health: Report – Along with poverty, less schooling linked to more chronic disease, disability and shorter life.
- FDA Panel Backs At-Home HIV Test – Recommendation could usher in a new era of testing.
- Genetic Test May Spot Raised Autism Risk – Geared toward siblings of kids with the disorder, but experts question precision of the exam.
- Health Highlights: May 16, 2012
- Health Tip: When Physical Therapy Ends – Don't neglect exercise.
- Health Tip: When Should I Wash My Hands? – When preparing food and at other times.
- Many Parents of Kids With Autism Don't Put Faith in Pediatricians – Researchers say pediatricians also don't feel knowledgeable enough to guide families on treatments.
- Palpitations May Signal Future Heart Rhythm Problem – Study found greater odds of developing atrial fibrillation.
- Paralyzed Patients Use Mind to Move Robotic Arm – But there's a long way to go to make this approach practical, experts say.
- Urban Hospitals May Act as Breeding Ground for MRSA – 'Superbug' then spreads to regional facilities, Scottish study suggests.
Tuesday May 15, 2012
- Obama administration presents national plan to fight Alzheimer's disease
- Are Post-Angioplasty Stress Tests Unnecessary? – Study finds no benefits in terms of outcomes from these expensive tests.
- Doctors Restore Some Hand Function to Quadriplegic Patient – Location of spinal cord damage allowed surgeons to bypass damaged nerve in arm
- Fitness Fights High Blood Pressure, Even With Family History – Staying in shape lowered odds of developing hypertension by up to 42 percent in study.
- Health Highlights: May 15, 2012
- Health Tip: Exercising in the Heat – Drink lots of water.
- Health Tip: Put the Brakes on Drowsy Driving – If your eyelids are heavy, it's time to pull over.
- Inhaled Steroids Lead to Big Drop in Asthma Deaths at Texas Hospital: Study – They reduce inflammation in the lungs, improving control of asthma symptoms.
- Plavix's New Generic Status Could Be Boon for Patients – Price of widely used blood thinner should drop once patent ends Thursday.
- Steroid Nasal Sprays Show Small Benefit for Sinusitis: Study – They eased symptoms only after three weeks, taken at high doses.
- Two-Drug Combo Helps Teens With Migraines – Many doctors already prescribe Treximet off-label to this age group, expert says.
- U.S. Task Force Issues Blood Pressure Guidelines – Patients do better when they receive care from a team of health professionals.
Monday May 14, 2012
- NIH statement on HIV Vaccine Awareness Day - May 18, 2012
- Presidential Proclamation -- National Women's Health Week - May 13-19, 2012
- 'Button' Batteries Sending More Kids to ER: Study – ER visits for accidental swallowing have doubled.
- Baby Bottles, Pacifiers, Sippy Cups Can Injure – Nationwide survey of ER visits revealed rates of cuts and bruises for infants, toddlers.
- Back Pain Therapy Often Yields Early Benefits: Study – Improvements seen at 6 weeks, but then taper off over year, researchers find.
- Common Blood Pressure Drugs May Not Cut Colon Cancer Risk – Despite some hope from prior research, study finds no benefit from beta blocker medications.
- Employment Prospects Dim for Young Adults With Autism – Study found fewer worked after high school, compared to others with disabilities.
- Health Tip: How to Wash Your Hands Properly – Be sure to scrub between your fingers and under your nails.
- Health Tip: Tame Your Food Cravings – Wait 20 minutes, since cravings usually are short-lived.
- In Rat Study, Eye Device Shows Promise for Restoring Sight – System uses combination of implanted cells and technology to send images to the brain.
Friday May 11, 2012
- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on National Women's Health Week
- Rolling Back Protections for Domestic Violence Victims - Whitehouse.gov Blog
- Statement from HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Mental Health Month
- 'Email Vacations' Boost Job Productivity, Lower Stress: Study – Workplace break made difference in heart rate, ability to focus attention.
- Availability of Beds, Poverty Drive Costly Hospital Readmissions – Factors related to supply and demand seem to matter more than quality of care or illness severity, research finds.
- Blood Clot Risk Linked to Some Non-Pill Contraceptives – Women using hormone-releasing skin patches, implants, vaginal rings were more likely to develop clots, study finds.
- FDA Advisers Back Pill to Help Prevent HIV Infection – Truvada intended for at-risk individuals, including gay and bisexual men and heterosexual couples with one HIV-infected person.
- FDA Panel Gives Blessing to New Weight-Loss Drug – If agency follows suit, lorcaserin could be first such medication approved in a decade.
- Health Tip: Having an Allergy to Medication – Suggestions to help avoid a reaction.
- Health Tip: Help Prevent Gas in Babies – Feed the infant slowly.
- Induced Labor Late in Pregnancy Has Pros, Cons – Study found strategy could cut infant deaths, but raise number of babies requiring intensive care.
- Is Combining Hysterectomy and a Tummy Tuck Safe? – Yes, small study concludes, but some other experts disagree.
- New Weight-Loss Drug Shows Promise in Trial – Those who took Qnexa lost more weight, even if they had other health conditions.
- Only Half of Meds Taken by Kids Have 'Adequate' Safety Info: Study – Medications used in newborns especially under-studied, doctor says.
Thursday May 10, 2012
- FDA issues alert on potential dangers of unproven treatment for multiple sclerosis
- High-risk behaviors for skin cancer common among young adults
- Black Africans Less Apt to Develop Heart Rhythm Disorder Than Whites – This held true even though blacks had more risk factors for the condition than whites, study finds.
- FDA Issues Warning on Controversial MS Treatment – No reliable evidence supports use of 'liberation therapy,' agency says.
- Gut Bugs Might Influence Child's Odds for Obesity – Heavy kids had higher levels of certain microbes, as did kids who ate little protein, study finds.
- Health Highlights: May 10, 2012
- Health Tip: Do I Need the Meningococcal Vaccine? – Yes, if you're about to live in a college dorm..
- Health Tip: When Your Knee is Unstable – Here are potential warning signs.
- Many Women Still Smoke During Pregnancy – New study finds white moms-to-be are more likely to light up than blacks, Hispanics.
- Many Young Adults at Risk of Skin Cancer: CDC – Sunbathing, indoor tanning all too common, study finds.
- Pot Belly Boosts Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death: Study – Carrying weight in your midsection adds to obesity's dangers.
- Scleroderma Complications Worse in Blacks Than Whites: Study – The autoimmune disease, which affects tissue throughout the body, can lead to scarred lungs.
- Statins May Help Prevent Irregular Heartbeat in Elderly – Cholesterol-lowering drugs cut risk of atrial fibrillation in people with high blood pressure, early study found.
- Strides Made in Diagnosing, Treating Lupus – New therapies are being developed for people with the autoimmune illness, experts say.
Wednesday May 9, 2012
- FDA Panel Seems to Back Pill to Help Prevent HIV – Truvada's been shown to stop infection with AIDS virus, but critics see drawbacks.
- FDA Seeks Less Radiation for Kids Getting X-Rays, CT Scans – Manufacturers asked to take their safety into account with use of machines, design of new scanners.
- Health Highlights: May 9, 2012
- Health Tip: Help Prevent Chronic Ear Infections – Children should avoid secondhand smoke.
- Health Tip: Make Sure Your Child's Bike is the Right Size – Don't purposely buy one that the child will 'grow into'.
- Infection Causes 1 in 6 Cancers Worldwide: Study – Stomach, liver and cervical malignancies top the list.
- IUDs Work as Emergency Contraceptive: Review – The devices, used this way for 35 years, are safe, more effective than 'morning-after' pill.
- Norovirus Outbreak Traced to Reusable Grocery Bag – Infection spread after one girl became sick during soccer team travels.
- Rate of Hospitalizations for Stroke Has Declined in U.S. – The death rate for these patients also fell from 9% in 1989 to 5% in 2009, study shows.
- Study: Kids Who Sleep in Parents' Bed Less Likely to Be Overweight – Children allowed to snuggle up with mom, dad may feel more secure and eat less, researchers say.
- Wheelchair Breakdowns on the Rise, Study Finds – More than half of spinal cord injury patients surveyed had equipment problems within 6 months.
Tuesday May 8, 2012
- Cancer Cells in Bloodstream Show Great Diversity: Study – Some help disease spread more easily, while others may predict response to treatments.
- Could Eating Fast Increase Diabetes Risk? – Preliminary study found people with type 2 disease reported eating more quickly.
- Half of U.S. Counties Have No Ob-Gyn: Study – But expert notes this may not always mean there is no access to care.
- Health Highlights: May 8, 2012
- Health Tip: What's Causing My Muscle Cramps? – Possibly, a lack of conditioning.
- Health Tip: When Gardening Triggers Back Pain – Try warming up first.
- Home Birth Poses Danger for Higher-Risk Pregnancies: Study – Researchers looked at infant death rates in Oregon.
- Screening Women for Domestic Violence Could Help Prevent Abuse – Review shows benefits of routine checks at clinics, in doctors' offices.
- Sperm Collide Along Liquid Maze on Way to Fertilize Egg – The journey is more like a bumper car ride than a smooth swim upstream, researchers say.
- That Long Commute May Be Harming Your Health – Study found that as drives got longer, waistlines expanded and fitness levels dropped.
- U.S. Report Outlines Strategies to Prevent Obesity – Promoting daily physical activity, making healthful food readily available are key components.
Monday May 7, 2012
- 42% of Americans Could Be Obese by 2030: CDC – Stemming obesity rate might save an estimated $550 billion over two decades.
- Birth Defect Rates Vary Depending on Fertility Treatment: Study – Researchers not sure if technology or biology is the cause.
- Health Highlights: May 7, 2012
- Health Tip: When Baby Has a Fever – If it's above 100.4F, call the doctor at once.
- Health Tip: Work on Good Posture – Your feet should rest flat on the floor.
- Research May Point to New Obesity Treatments – Making energy-storing white fat act more like energy-burning brown fat might spur weight loss, researchers say.
- Study: More Pre-Teens Get Vaccines When Middle Schools Require Them – Vaccinations protect against serious, and sometimes deadly, diseases, experts say.
- U.S. Obesity Rate Set to Soar, Costing Billions: CDC – But researchers add the rise might be somewhat less than previously estimated.
- Using Earplugs Eases ICU Patients' Confusion: Study – Hustle and bustle at hospital can lead to delirium and lack of sleep.
- Zinc Pills May Shorten Colds, Analysis Suggests – But, benefits are slight and side effects are reported, researchers say.
Friday May 4, 2012
- Secretary Sebelius Statement in Honor of National Nurses Week 2012
- A Heart Disease Veteran at Just Age 12 – Survivor stresses importance of asking questions and pushing for answers.
- Health Highlights: May 4, 2012
- Health Tip: Make TV Time Exercise Time – Walk around during commercials.
- Health Tip: Managing a Hammertoe – Wear loose-fitting shoes.
- High Blood Pressure Risk Factors That May Surprise You – Keep blood pressure in the normal range to prevent strokes, experts say.
- Joggers Live Longer, Study Says – Slow pace best for longevity, researchers report.
- Older Lung Cancer Patients Less Likely to Be Treated – Researchers say doctors shouldn't be so quick to write off older people.
- Positive Thinking, Persistence Pay Off in Job Search: Study – Staying focused on finding employment is most important factor, researchers say.
- Prenatal Smoking Linked to High-Functioning Autism in Kids – But study only found slight association, not a cause-and-effect relationship.
- Screening for Other Health Problems May Aid COPD Survival – Cancers, heart conditions, diabetes among the diseases that were linked to study patient deaths.
- Today's Kids May Be Destined for Adult Heart Disease – Solution lies in instilling healthy habits, not adding medication, experts say.
Thursday May 3, 2012
- Bladder tests before urinary incontinence surgery in women may be unnecessary
- CDC Statement on Helmets and Tornadoes
- Antipsychotics Do Help Many With Schizophrenia, Study Finds – More than 50 years of data shows the drugs cut relapse rates, although side effects common.
- Health Highlights: May 3, 2012
- Health Tip: Be Alert for Signs of Preeclampsia – A potentially dangerous pregnancy complication.
- Health Tip: Recognize Early Signs of Autism – Including no babbling or pointing by age 1.
- Hot Flashes More Likely for Certain Smokers, Study Says – Women's genetic backgrounds may increase susceptibility.
- Many Breast Cancer Patients in Their 40s Aren't 'High-Risk': Study – Researchers favor annual mammograms even with no family history.
- New Guidelines Issued for Severe Lupus – More can be done to prevent permanent kidney damage, says American College of Rheumatology.
- Overly Long Pregnancies Linked to Behavioral Problems in Toddlers – Post-term pregnancies are those that last 42 weeks.
- Researchers Rejuvenate Blood-Forming Stem Cells in Mice – Scientists hope to apply findings to human aging in future.
- U.S. Health Care Spending High, But Quality Lags: Report – However, breast cancer survival rates were best among 13 industrialized nations.
Wednesday May 2, 2012
- Anti-HIV drug use during pregnancy does not affect infant size, birth weight
- HHS Secretary Sebelius statement on National High Blood Pressure Education Month
- Statement by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- Statement by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Asthma Awareness Month
- Clues to 'Slacker' Behavior Found in Brain, Study Says – Levels of the chemical dopamine in key regions of the brain may influence motivation.
- Energy and Sports Drinks Eat Away at Teeth, Study Finds – But beverage industry disputes the claim, saying many factors contribute to enamel erosion.
- Health Highlights: May 2, 2012
- Health Tip: Help Prevent Back Pain – Exercise to strengthen lower back muscles.
- Health Tip: Watch for Symptoms of Seizure – They can vary, depending on affected part of brain.
- Once-Banned Bird Flu Study Suggests Pandemic Threat Is Real – Researchers found the virus could potentially mutate and spread widely among humans, but that hasn't happened so far.
- Scientists Spot How Cox-2 Painkillers Raise Heart Risks – The drugs suppress an enzyme that relaxes blood vessels and guards against clotting, research finds.
- Study Finds Direct Link Between Obesity, Heart Disease – Data from more than 75,000 people showed that having a higher BMI, in itself, is harmful.
- Study Redefines What a Healthy Vagina Is – Scientists found 'bacterial community' differs among women and even changes in same woman.
- Study: Gene Therapy for HIV Safe, But Effectiveness Still Unclear – Patients doing well a decade later but virus itself not eradicated.
- U.S. Ranks 131st in World for Premature Birth Rate – Report finds America on par with Somalia, Thailand and Turkey.
Tuesday May 1, 2012
- Statement from Secretary Sebelius on National Foster Care Month
- Statement from Secretary Sebelius on Older Americans Month
- Analysis Finds Clinical Trials Often Small, of Poor Quality – Database offers big picture of medical research in United States.
- Arthritis in Children Linked to Infections – Limiting steroids when possible may help to lower infection risk, researchers say.
- Better Ways Needed to Track Drug Safety: Report – Medicines should be monitored throughout their 'life cycles,' from approval onward.
- Can Blood Test Predict Breast Cancer Risk? – Preliminary study found women who showed alterations in a specific gene were more likely to develop disease later.
- Fish Oil Doesn't Cut Failure Rate of Hemodialysis Grafts – However, kidney patients taking fish-oil supplements had fewer problems with clots, study says.
- For Breast Cancer Care, Radiation of Whole Breast May Be Best – Study finds poorer outcomes with localized, partial-breast approach.
- Health Care Disparities Might Affect Black Kids' Cancer Survival – Access to clinical trials and more costly treatments may improve outcomes, study suggests.
- Health Highlights: May 1, 2012
- Health Tip: Don't Forget Aerobic Exercise – Walk instead of driving.
- Health Tip: Taking the Kids for a Shopping Cart Ride – First, they must be buckled in.
- Healthy Weight Loss May Also Cut Your Cancer Risk – New study found decrease in inflammation warning signals.
- How That Glass of Red Wine Might Help You Live Longer – Mouse study suggests synthetic form of compound found in grapes deserves a look.
- Less-Invasive Surgery for Esophageal Cancer Might Be Safer – Study comparing it to standard open surgeries found fewer infections, shorter hospital stays.
- Many Asthmatic Kids Harmed by Secondhand Smoke: Study – Exposure leads to more doctor visits, disturbed sleep, exercise limitations.
- Seniors Undertreated for Asthma, and Many Skip Inhalers: Study – Using meds as prescribed can improve health, quality of life, researcher says.
- Study Downplays Risk of CT Scans – Death from disease is much more likely, preliminary research finds.
- Tasers Can Trigger Fatal Heart Trouble, Study Says – Study looked at eight healthy men who became unconscious after receiving shock.
- Women More Likely to Survive Melanoma Than Men: Study – Analysis found female patients had a 30% survival advantage.
Content last updated May 16, 2012.
womenshealth.gov
A federal government website managed by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
200 Independence Avenue, S.W. • Washington, DC 20201


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