Health News

Health News for 09/30/11

September 30, 2011

Health Tip: When Your Child Has a Headache

Children are thought to be no less prone than adults to dull or throbbing pains of the head.

Cancer Patients at Risk for Serious Blood Clots: Study

Blood clots affect as many as one in five U.S. cancer patients and sharply increase the cost of their care, a new study has found.

Health Tip: Focus on Emotional Health

Being emotionally healthy can make it easier to build lasting relationships, help you feel good about yourself and deal with the problems of everyday life.

Yawning May Help the Brain Chill Out

Yawning may be a natural way of regulating brain temperature, a new study suggests.

Down Syndrome Brings Joy, Not Regrets, for Many Families

Louise Borke learned that her infant son had Down Syndrome when he was just a few days old.

Black Women Tend to Suffer Disabilities Earlier, Study Finds

Black women are likely to develop physical limitations earlier in life than others their age, according to a new study.

Doctors Consider Nonverbal Cues in Medical Decisions

Unspoken clues -- like behavior and appearance -- influence the doctor-patient relationship, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Michigan found subtle, nonverbal signs not only have an impact on how patients view their relationship with their doctor, they also affect doctors' medical decisions.

Obesity More Likely in 'Night-Owl' Kids

Going to bed early and waking up early may help teens stay thinner and more physically active than their night-owl peers, and this was the case even when both groups got the same amount of sleep, researchers say.

FDA Warns LASIK Providers: Stop Making False Claims

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is once again cracking down on eye care professionals who make false safety claims and promises about the popular LASIK eye surgery.

Small Study Links Surgery and Anesthesia With Alzheimer's

New research adds to the growing evidence that anesthesia and surgery may be associated with the progression of chronic brain diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease.

Anthrax Attack Plans Need to Be Handled Locally, Report Says

Since the 9/11 tragedy and the anthrax scare that followed in its wake, Americans have lived with the potential threat of another, possibly more serious, anthrax attack.

Oral Steroids Linked to Vitamin D Deficiency

People taking oral steroids double their risk for severe vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to bone disease or muscle weakness, a new study indicates.

Study Says Big Tobacco Covered Up Info on Cancer Risk

A new study claims that tobacco companies knew for years that cigarette smoke contained dangerous and potentially deadly radioactivity but purposefully didn't let the public know.

Cocaine Increases Risk for Glaucoma: Study

People who use cocaine are 45 percent more likely to develop open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the eye disease, according to a new study.

Health Highlights: Sept. 30, 2011

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

Listeria Worries Prompt Recall of Romaine Lettuce

As health officials wrestle with a listeria outbreak traced to cantaloupes from Colorado, Alaska regulators say chopped romaine lettuce shipped from California has been recalled because of concerns the salad greens may carry the potentially fatal bacteria.

Drug Shortages Even Worse This Year: FDA

Prescription drug shortages in the United States, which reached a record high last year, are getting worse, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

Laughter Might Be Good Medicine for Alzheimer's Patients

Exposing Alzheimer's patients to "humor therapy" appears as effective as psychiatric drugs in reducing the agitation that often plagues those struggling with dementia, new Australian research suggests.