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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.

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Content last updated May 16, 2012.

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