Monthly News Archives



		Teens with Inattention Problems at Risk of Smoking Teens with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) appear to be much more likely to take up the smoking habit, study findings suggest. Babies Use Their Names as Key to Learning Language New evidence shows that babies may use familiar words such as their names to break sentences into smaller parts and understand language. Your Blood Is Needed, Badly A coalition of major health organizations is issuing an urgent appeal for blood donations. Don't yawn. Night-Light May Prevent Diabetic Eye Damage New research supports the theory that hours of complete darkness increases retinal damage from diabetes--and that sleeping with some lights on could help counter the effect. Exercise Keeps Older People's Brains in Shape Active octogenarians appear to be more focused and less easily distracted than their sedentary peers, study findings suggest. Many Diabetics Need More Exercise, Healthier Diet Many US adults with type 2 diabetes are not exercising regularly or eating the recommended five daily servings of fruits and vegetables, study findings show. UN Wants More Study on Fried Food-Cancer Link International food safety experts, meeting in emergency session Thursday at the World Health Organization, said fatty foods could be causing cancer, but more research was needed. Super-Clean Kids Get Asthma, Eczema, More Often Kids who are overly hygienic appear to be at increased risk of developing wheezing--a symptom of asthma--and the allergy-related skin condition eczema, according to new study findings. West's Response to AIDS in Africa Abysmal The world's richest nations must commit billions more each year to fight AIDS in Africa or risk condemning millions on the continent to a perpetual cycle of disease, poverty and death, the United Nations special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa said on Wednesday. Swedish Clinic Unveils Anorexia Treatment Success A Swedish clinic says it has developed a highly effective treatment for anorexia and bulimia, eating disorders affecting many thousands of people, especially teenaged girls. The Pill Not Linked to Breast Cancer Risk Although birth control pills have been weakly linked to breast cancer in some studies, a new study conducted by researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that past use of such pills does not increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. Study Supports Stereotype of Male Commitment Fears There's now scientific evidence that men really are afraid of commitment. Brains of Obese May Be Wired to Enjoy Food More Obese people may eat more because the parts of their brain associated with sensations in the mouth, tongue and lips may react more strongly than those in lean people, according to the results of a preliminary study. Injury Points to Danger of Kids Imitating TV A case report of a 5-year-old child who severely injured his 22-month-old cousin while imitating a violent wrestling move suggests that children may indeed be affected by the violence they see on television. Spanking May Make Kids Violent Spanking may get a child's attention right away, but it can also cause children to become aggressive and possibly even abusive adults, researchers reported on Tuesday. Anti-Vaccine Web Sites Use Emotion to Convey Info Many Web sites that oppose childhood vaccinations appeal to readers' emotions when trying to convey their message, and include claims about vaccination that are not supported by studies from peer-reviewed medical journals, according to researchers. A Better Mood May Be a Short Walk Away Adding more evidence of the benefits of walking, a new study shows that even a quick 15-minute walk can help healthy older adults gain energy and feel better. US Clears Skin Test for Cholesterol US regulators said on Monday they had approved the first skin test for cholesterol to help doctors identify patients with severe coronary artery disease. Protein May Promote Cancer Spread A protein that has long been known to play a key role in normal immune system function may also have a dark side--encouraging cancer spread, according to a preliminary report. More Clues on How Exercise Protects the Heart Women who are more physically fit may have lower levels of inflammation in their bodies--and, therefore, a lower risk of heart attack--than those who exercise less, according to researchers. Menstrual Cycle Influences Migraine Pain, Severity Where a woman is at in her menstrual cycle may affect whether or not she suffers a migraine, as well as how painful and disabling the headache is, according to a study presented here Monday at the 44th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society. Even Newborns Know How to Make Eye Contact Even when they're as young as two days old, infants can tell whether someone is trying to make eye contact, a new study shows. Mild Sleep Deprivation Alters Hormonal Activity Just a few hours of sleep deprivation could impair daily functioning and affect hormonal levels in the body, researchers reported here Saturday at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society. Adding Nuts to Diet Could Help Lower Heart Risks Eating even a small amount of nuts per week could help the heart, researchers say. Their findings suggest that the fats contained in nuts could somehow lower the risk of sudden death from heart-related causes. Alcohol Unlikely to Cut Diabetes Risk Although several recent studies have suggested that light to moderate drinking might protect against diabetes, a new study has found that alcohol does not appear to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. More Men Than Women Take Steps to Avoid AIDS Most men living in developing nations around the world have changed their behavior to reduce their risk of getting AIDS, but far fewer women have done so, according to a new UN report released on Saturday. Anti-Drug Programs Need Younger Focus Children who take up smoking cigarettes, using marijuana or start drinking alcohol in elementary school are considerably more likely than other children to use such substances in middle school, researchers say. Estrogen for Women's Bones Also Lessens Tooth Loss The same estrogen hormone elderly women take to fend off symptoms of menopause such as brittle bones likely helps them keep their teeth as well, researchers reported Sunday. Antidepressants: Hype or Help? There's no doubt the newer generation of antidepressants, which include Prozac and Zoloft, have revolutionized the way depression is treated. Infant Walkers Delay Movement Milestones A new study adds to growing evidence that babywalkers can slow infants' motor skill development, delaying such milestones as crawling, standing alone and walking. WHO Declares Europe and Central Asia Polio-Free The World Health Organization (WHO) Friday declared Europe and Central Asia free of polio, a highly infectious disease that once paralyzed thousands of children every year. Earth's Endless Summer Causing More Disease Perpetual summer is coming to Earth, and it's not going to be an endless procession of beach parties and sea breezes. As the world gets warmer, it's also likely to get sicker -- literally. Estrogen Dampens Inflammation, Boosting Heart Health Scientists have long suspected estrogen is one of the reasons young women have a lower incidence of heart disease, though they didn't know why the hormone appeared to have a protective effect. Study Finds Many Young Adults Lack Vitamin D Many young adults are not getting enough vitamin D, particularly during the winter months, a team of Massachusetts researchers reports. Weight Training Trims More Tummy Fat in Women Elderly women tend to lose more fat from their abdomens than men as a result of resistance training using weights, according to researchers. Doctor's Group Takes on Bullies and Boxing Seven to 15% of school-aged children are bullies and 1 in 10 school children is targeted by a bully, according to a report by the American Medical Association's Council on Scientific Affairs. Bush Kicks Off Fitness Drive on White House Lawn Rise and shine, Americans--President Bush wants you to get out and exercise. Secondhand Smoke Causes Lung Cancer Billions of people around the world who are exposed to secondhand smoke may have an increased risk of developing lung cancer because passive smoking causes the disease, health experts said on Wednesday. Obesity Sets in Between 20 and 35 for Many There's been much focus on disturbing increases in child obesity in the United States in recent years. But new research shows that many Americans make the hefty jump from mildly overweight to clinically obese in their early 20s or mid-30s. Cancer Death Rate Higher in Poor Men Versus Rich While wealthier US men were more likely to die of cancer than poorer ones during the 1950s and 1960s, this trend was reversed in the 1970s and 1980s, a new analysis of census data shows. 'Value Meals' Bad Deal for Health: Report Value meals," "Combos" and "Super-Sized" at America's fast-food counters may seem like a good deal for your wallet, but they're no bargain when it comes to health, according to a report released by a coalition of nutrition groups. Stress Boosts Calming Effects of Alcohol Stress appears to enhance alcohol's sedative effects while at the same time dampening its stimulative properties, a new study suggests. This could mean that stress takes the edge off alcohol, rather than the other way around. Brain Scans Document Fibromyalgia Pain Brain scans of people with fibromyalgia offer the first hard evidence of what patients already know: Their pain is real and their threshold for tolerating it is substantially lower than that of most individuals. More Than 25% U.S. Adults Obese in Their 30s A new study provides weighty evidence that Americans are fatter than ever and suggests that the pounds are accumulating at even younger ages. Government Delays Action Against Ephedra In a victory for the food supplement industry, the US government said on Friday it would delay limiting the use of the popular weight-loss supplement ephedra until more studies on its safety were in. Inflammation May Predict Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Evidence is accumulating that mild, chronic inflammation is somehow associated with the development of type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, researchers reported here Saturday at the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting. Foot Scan May Ward Off Diabetic Foot Complications A portable device that measures temperature changes in the feet may help diabetics avoid foot ulcers, researchers reported Saturday at the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting here. Sex-Ed Programs Not Cutting Risky Behavior Sex education--from traditional school programs to new-and-improved versions to abstinence-only tactics--doesn't seem to be changing teens' behavior, according to two new reports. Stress Not Linked to Breast Cancer Recurrence Stressful events such as divorce or the death or illness of a loved one do not lead to a recurrence of breast cancer, British psychologists said on Friday. TV Plus Meals Means Even More TV for Kids Children who eat their meals in front of a television set tend to sit there long after dinner is over, which in turn could cause them to gain dangerous amounts of weight, researchers said on Friday. Sleep-Deprived Women Face Greater Heart Risk Women who regularly don't get enough sleep are more likely to suffer from heart disease, according to the results of a study. Brain Area May Determine How Smooth Our Moves Are The difference between being light on one's feet or having two left ones might rest in a part of the brain called the cerebellum, new research suggests. Eye Drops May Help Prevent Glaucoma Drops used to treat high pressure in the eye can delay and may even prevent glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness, US researchers said. Hey! Don't Be So Down, Pessimism Can Harm Health Pessimistic people report more knee pain and worse functioning than those with similar knee problems who don't have such a negative outlook, according to researchers. Immune System 'Shock' Fights Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis that fails to respond to conventional therapies have been helped by being given a "short, sharp shock" to their body's immune system, scientists reported on Thursday. Health Info on Web Should Be Regulated Internet users in four different countries said health information on the Web was trustworthy, easy to understand and of good quality, but that the government should regulate online content, according to a recent poll by Harris Interactive. Teens Face Higher Pregnancy Complication Rate Complications during pregnancy--such as preterm delivery, low birth weight and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure--occur more often in teens than in older women, according to new research. Maximizing Your Aerobic Workout A good workout does not depend on bells and whistles from the gym, but an easy recipe for obtaining the training results we all strive to achieve. Cigarette Campaigns Hook Youth with Lifestyle Ads When it comes to creating anti-smoking campaigns, public health officials should take a page from cigarette advertisers' book, researchers suggest. Making Sandwich Meats Safer to Eat Purdue University researchers say they've developed a way you can pasteurize your bologna, ham and salami at home, killing off harmful bacteria in the process. Men and Women See Workplace 'Advances' Differently When your boss compliments your outfit, what does that mean? Your perception of the sexual nature of the comment may depend on your boss's gender, new study findings show. Many Americans Don't Know They're Fat Around one fifth of overweight Americans may not realize they need to lose weight--and neither do many of their physicians, according to new research. Men: Breaking Up Is Bad Only if Women Do It First When rating previous breakups, women view the process of ending of the relationship no differently if they are the dumper or the dumpee--but the same is not true with men, new research shows. Nicotine Lozenges May Help Some Smokers Quit Nicotine lozenges may join the ranks of patches, nasal spray and gum in helping smokers to kick their habit, researchers say. Reflux Disease Ups Kids' Risk of Tooth Erosion Children who frequently vomit after eating and suffer heartburn symptoms may be at risk of tooth erosion, according to a recent report. Study Confirms That Longevity Runs in Families For the secret of a long, healthy life, look no further than your family tree, new research suggests. Fat-Free Foods Can Undermine Weight-Loss Efforts The introduction of more than 5,000 low-fat and non-fat foods over the past decade has contributed to an epidemic of obesity in America, the American Heart Association (AHA) said on Monday. My Sweater's Not Brown-It's 'Mocha Almond Fudge'! New research shows that people may prefer a color called avocado to one dubbed light green--even if the two shades are identical. High Computer Use Means Bad Social Life for Kids Children as young as 4-1/2 years of age who spend a lot of time in front of a computer are less likely than others to be accepted by their peers, according to new research. Cancer Gene That Picks on Skin Found Two-thirds of the most serious form of skin cancer have mutations in a gene that also crops up, though less frequently, in many other types of tumors. Using Yoga to Stretch the Bonds of Rheumatoid Arthritis If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it's not a stretch to say you might be interested in a new online yoga guide designed specifically for you. Exercise Should Be a Family Affair Hey, Moms and Dads! Looking for a way to spend more quality time with the kids, teach them fitness goals that can last a lifetime, and maybe improve your own conditioning in the process? Breast-Feeding May Lower Odds of Childhood Obesity A large study from Scotland is adding new evidence that breast-fed infants are less likely than their formula-fed peers to become obese as children. Study Shows Sweet Tooth May Be Inherited When it comes to resisting the siren call of sweets and other goodies, genes may make all the difference, researchers say. Computers Help Gauge Women's Breast Cancer Risk When it comes to figuring out who is most at risk of developing breast cancer, computers may do as good a job as experienced human genetic counselors, new study findings suggest. Men Avoid Preventive Health Care in Sickness and in Health Maybe it's just a guy thing. Men duck doctors when sick and avoid checkups when well. What They Don't Know Can Hurt Them The more medications the elderly ingest, the less knowledge they have about what they're taking. And that lack of awareness can ha\ve potentially disastrous consequences. Eyes May Hold Preview of Brain Problems The poetic idea that the eyes are a window into the heart has long been taken seriously by cardiologists. They know that abnormalities of the tiny blood vessels of the retina can indicate similar problems with blood vessels inside the body, problems that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Rich Nations Have Higher Cancer Prevalence Rich nations such as Sweden, Switzerland and Germany have the highest prevalence of cancer in Europe while Poland, Estonia and Slovakia have the lowest, according to a survey published on Thursday. Proper Hand Washing Helps Keep Kids in School Teach students about the importance of washing their hands after going to the bathroom, and you could cut absenteeism by half, study findings suggest. Heart Can Draw Cells From Body to Self-Repair The evidence is piling up that the heart may be able to regenerate itself at least somewhat by recruiting cells from elsewhere in the body, according to a study in which researchers analyzed cells in men given transplanted hearts from female donors. Pounds Added Over Years Raise Breast Cancer Risk Women who gain the most weight over their lifetime are most likely to develop breast cancer after menopause, new study findings from Canada suggest. Health Maladies Cost Billions in Lost Productivity Employees who miss work due to illness or whose performance on the job isn't up to snuff because of chronic or episodic health conditions are costing employers hundreds of billions of dollars a year, a new study finds. Infant Vomiting Tied to Childhood Reflux Symptoms Babies who spit up frequently in their first 2 years of life sometimes continue to have similar problems in childhood, a new study shows. Tampons, Sex Found Protective Against Endometriosis In what researchers call surprise findings, a new study suggests that women who use tampons or have sex during their menstrual periods could be less likely to develop endometriosis. Scientists Find Gene Linked to Testicular Cancer An overactive gene that has been linked to testicular cancer could one day be monitored in men who are at risk and reprogrammed so it is kept under control, researchers said on Wednesday. New Guidelines on Who Should Get Laser Eye Surgery Laser eye surgery can help clear up blurry vision, but new guidelines on the procedure emphasize that not every spectacled person is a candidate. Net Health Seekers Not Fessing Up, May Conceal Harm Health-information seekers too ashamed to admit to their physicians that they were harmed in some way by following bad health advice gleaned from the Internet may account, at least in part, for the lack of published accounts of such harm, according to a Canadian researcher. Few Gender Differences in Brain's Response to Food Men and women may approach food differently, but there do not seem to be any major differences between the sexes in how the brain responds to hunger and fullness, results of a new study suggest. Carbohydrates Key to Keeping Weight Off New research says such diets aren't the solution to maintaining a healthy body weight and practicing good nutrition. Web Contains Wealth of Info on Illicit Drugs The Internet is rife with information about recreational drugs, which may be influencing teens' drug-taking patterns, according to a US researcher. Missed Periods in Young Women an Osteoporosis Risk Young women who repeatedly miss their periods, and are not pregnant, may be developing premature ovarian failure and should see their doctors sooner rather than later, study findings suggest. Removing Bedroom TV May Cut Obesity Risk in Kids As America's kids continue to pack on the pounds, a team of doctors recommends a simple step that parents can take to lower their preschooler's risk of obesity: removing the TV from the child's bedroom. Access Laws Do Not Lower Rates of Teen Smoking Laws that prohibit merchants from selling cigarettes to minors have not helped to reduce rates of teenage smoking in the US and should therefore be abandoned, researchers conclude. US Teens Risking Skin Cancer for Tan Despite publicized warnings about the risks of skin cancer from too much sun exposure, most US teenagers do not use sun block and will endure sunburns to obtain a desired tan, researchers said on Monday. Program Aims to Detect Hearing Loss in All Newborns A new University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) program aims to ensure early detection and treatment for all children with hearing loss. The first part of the program tries to identify children born with hearing loss, and those at risk of developing it later. Using Soccer to Teach the Message of Safe Sex In the hardscrabble slums of Nairobi, Kenya, soccer-mad kids are learning more than how to kick a ball or score a goal. Educators are using the comraderie of the sports field to spread the message that safe sex will prevent HIV and AIDS.