Health News

Health News for 02/24/10

February 24, 2010

Think You're Lactose Intolerant? Maybe Not

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 24 (HealthDay News) - Many people who think they're lactose intolerant may not be.

New Bone Drug May Prevent Fractures But Raise Clot Risk

A new drug to fight osteoporosis, the bone condition associated with aging and debilitating fractures, reduces the risk of fractures and the risk of some breast cancers, heart disease and stroke, according to a new study.

Trouble Recognizing Faces Could Be Genetic

People who have trouble recognizing faces may be relieved to know that the problem may not be related to poor memory or eyesight, but could be in their genes, new research suggests.

Study Reports Progress Against Fatal Brain Cancer

A new method to prevent recurrence of deadly glioblastoma brain cancer shows promise, say U.S. scientists.

Successor to Combination Pneumococcal Vaccine Approved

The Prevnar 13 vaccine, a combination shot that protects children aged 6 weeks through 5 years from a host of illnesses, including pneumonia and ear infections, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Black Women at Higher Risk of Birth-Related Heart Problem

Black women are much more likely than whites to develop a potentially deadly weakening of the heart muscle around the time they give birth, a new study suggests.

Strokes Up Among the Young, Down Among the Old

The incidence of stroke seems to be falling among the old. That's the good news.

Shortage of Black Doctors Rooted in Social, Economic Ills

A lack of black doctors in the United States can be traced to social and economic problems that predate the college years, new research suggests.

Happy Marriage Cuts Men's Risk for Stroke

Single or unhappily married men seem to run a greater risk of dying from a stroke than those with good marriages, a new Israeli study indicates.

Naptime Helps Babies Remember New Things

Naps play an important role in infant learning by helping children's developing brains retain information, a new study has found.

Extended-Release Mirapex Approved for Parkinson's Disease

Mirapex ER (pramipexole dihydrochloride extended-release) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a once-daily option to treat early Parkinson's disease, drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim said in a news release.

Clinical Trials Update: Feb. 24, 2010

Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com :

Health Highlights: Feb. 24, 2010

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay :

Two Babies Born a Year Apart After Ovary Transplant

Doctors are reporting a medical first: A Danish woman has given birth separately to two children after undergoing a transplant of ovarian tissue that was taken out of her body, frozen and then implanted after she underwent successful bone cancer treatment.

Third of Young U.S. Adults Lack Health Insurance

Almost one-third of young adults in their 20s lacked health insurance in the United States in 2008, new statistics show.

Fitness Boosts Brain Power in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Exercise appears to protect the brains of people with multiple sclerosis, new study findings suggest.

Existing Health Programs Could Help More Kids With Asthma

The United States could lower the number of uninsured children with asthma by 75 percent by enrolling all those who are eligible for federally funded insurance programs and expanding eligibility, a new report suggests.

Parents' Divorce Doesn't Harm College-Age Kids

University students whose parents have recently divorced are unscathed by the experience, an English study finds.

Health Tip: Warning Signs of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless toxic gas. It's released by the burning of any fuel, and exposure can lead to hospitalization or even death.

Health Tip: When Diaper Rash Needs a Doctor

Diaper rash is usually managed and treated at home without a doctor's supervision. There are cases, however, when it's best to call a pediatrician.

Heart Stem Cells Move Closer to Human Treatments

Researchers are moving ahead -- although sometimes ploddingly -- toward the goal of using stem cell therapies to rescue people with cardiovascular disease, the leading killer of men and women in the United States.