Health Library

Many Parents Too Quick to Switch Child Car Seats, Study Finds FRIDAY, Jan. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly three-quarters of American parents place their children in forward-facing car seats before it's safe to do so, a new study reveals. Guidelines issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that a rear-facing car seat be used until a child is at least 2 years old or has outgrown the weight/height limit of the seat. For the study, University of Michigan researchers compared finding...

Many U.S. Girls Aren't Getting HPV Vaccine, Study Finds FRIDAY, Jan. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Only about half of American girls begin receiving the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine at the recommended age, a new study finds. HPV is believed to cause nearly all cases of cervical cancer, and also other types of cancers and genital warts. The HPV vaccine protects against 70 percent of cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts cases, according to the researchers. Girls should begin getting the t...

Many Women of Childbearing Age Take Narcotic Painkillers: CDC THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Too many women of childbearing age take narcotic painkillers, putting any unborn babies at risk, U.S. health officials said Thursday. Thirty-nine percent of females aged 15 to 44 who were enrolled in Medicaid filled a prescription for a narcotic painkiller each year from 2008 to 2012, says a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Among privately insured women, tha...

Most Americans Have Access to 'Exercise Opportunities,' Study Finds THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- More than three-quarters of Americans live close to at least one park or recreational facility, giving many people opportunity to exercise, a new study finds. But access to exercise sites varies regionally, the nationwide study found. "Not everyone had equal access to opportunities for exercise," said study researcher Anne Roubal, a project assistant at the University of Wisconsin Population H...

More Extreme Preemies Are Surviving, Study Finds WEDNESDAY, Jan. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- More extremely premature U.S. infants -- those born after only 22 to 28 weeks of gestation -- are surviving, a new study finds. From 2000 to 2011, deaths among these infants from breathing complications, underdevelopment, infections and nervous system problems all declined. However, deaths from necrotizing enterocolitis, which is the deterioration of intestinal tissue, increased. And despite the progress that's...

Music Resonates Across Cultures, Study Suggests FRIDAY, Jan. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Certain aspects of music have the same effect on people even when they live in very different societies, a new study reveals. Researchers asked 40 Mbenzele Pygmies in the Congolese rainforest to listen to short clips of music. They were asked to listen to their own music and to unfamiliar Western music. Mbenzele Pygmies do not have access to radio, television or electricity. The same 19 selections of music were als...

Many Americans Who Drink Also Take Prescription Medications: Study FRIDAY, Jan. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- A substantial number of Americans who drink also take medications that should not be mixed with alcohol, new government research suggests. The study, of nearly 27,000 U.S. adults, found that among current drinkers, about 43 percent were on prescription medications that interact with alcohol. Depending on the medication, that mix can cause side effects ranging from drowsiness and dehydration to de...

Many With Hepatitis C Missing Out on Treatment, Study Finds SUNDAY, Jan. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Many hepatitis C patients get "lost" in the U.S. health care system, a new study suggests. Researchers looked at data from about 13,600 people in Philadelphia who tested positive for hepatitis C virus between January 2010 and December 2013. During that time, just 27 percent of the patients were in care and 15 percent had been treated or were receiving treatment, the study authors found. The study was re...

Many Teens Think 'Light Smoking' Is Safe, Study Finds MONDAY, Jan. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- While the vast majority of American teens say heavy daily smoking is a major health hazard, many others mistakenly believe that "light" -- or occasional -- smoking isn't harmful. "All smoking counts," said study lead author Stephen Amrock, a medical student in pediatrics at New York University School of Medicine in New York City. "Social smoking has a price and even the occasional cigarette truly is bad for y...

More Than 1 in 10 Use Daily Aspirin Inappropriately MONDAY, Jan. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Many Americans are likely using daily low-dose aspirin inappropriately in the hopes of preventing a first-time heart attack or stroke, a new study suggests. Researchers found that of nearly 69,000 U.S. adults prescribed aspirin long-term, about 12 percent probably should not have been. That's because their odds of suffering a heart attack or stroke were not high enough to outweigh the risks of daily aspirin use...

Middle-Aged Worse at Texting-While-Driving, Study Shows TUESDAY, Dec. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The risky mix of texting and driving may be more problematic for middle-aged drivers than it is for younger drivers, according to new research. However, that doesn't mean texting and driving is OK for any age group, the study authors stressed. "First and foremost we don't want to misrepresent this in any way that promotes texting and driving among young drivers," said study co-author Randall Commissaris, a...

Many Consumers Misled About Bogus Weight-Loss Supplements, Survey Says TUESDAY, Dec. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Think a pill you saw advertised on the Internet can miraculously help you shed unwanted pounds? You're not alone: A new Consumer Reports survey finds many Americans are misinformed about the quality and effectiveness of these supplements. "The barrage of advertising leads us to think there's a magic way to melt away 10 pounds -- even when we have no evidence that supplements work," Dr. Piete...

Methamphetamine Use Linked to Parkinson's Risk FRIDAY, Dec. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People who use methamphetamine have a greatly increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease, a new study warns. Researchers analyzed the medical records of more than 40,000 people in Utah. About 5,000 of that group were methamphetamine -- or "meth" -- users. Around 1,800 were cocaine users, and about 34,000 didn't use drugs, according to the researchers. The study found that methamphetamine users were three times...

Make Your Home 'Kid Safe' During the Holidays THURSDAY, Dec. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, poisonings involving children increase, experts say. The Nebraska Poison Center offers the following advice for a safe holiday season. More than 50 percent of calls to the poison center involve medications, according to a center news release. Relatives and friends often bring medications when they come to stay over the holidays. Never leave medications on a nightstand o...

Mother's Depression Tied to Later Delinquency in Kids MONDAY, Dec. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Teens are more likely to smoke, drink and use marijuana -- and to do so at an earlier age -- if their mothers were depressed when the kids were in grade school, a new study says. These same teens are also more likely to engage in violence and other delinquent behaviors, according to the study, published online Dec. 22 in Pediatrics . The researchers expected that teens of mothers who were currently depressed ...

Most States Not Ready to Handle Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Report THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Ebola's entrance into the United States -- along with Angelina Jolie's chickenpox and the National Hockey League's mumps outbreak -- have highlighted cracks in the nation's public health defense against infectious disease, according to a new health policy report released Thursday. Half of U.S. states are poorly prepared to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. That was ...

Many Flu Infections Aren't Good Match for Vaccine: CDC THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The flu is starting to tighten its grip on much of the United States, particularly in the South and Midwest, U.S. health officials reported Thursday. And more than half of the flu infections examined so far have been caused by the strain known as influenza A H3N2, which appears to have mutated from the H3N2 strain included in this year's flu vaccine. That mutated strain has federal officials concerned beca...

Many People Misuse Devices for Asthma, Allergic Reaction THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Few people know how to properly use the medical devices that contain lifesaving medications for severe allergic reactions and asthma attacks, a new study shows. Just 16 percent knew the correct way to use an epinephrine injector for someone with a life-threatening allergy. And only 7 percent knew how to use an asthma inhaler as directed. "This isn't a new concern. We always worry about our patients, espe...

Migraine May Raise Risk for Bell's Palsy, Study Suggests WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People who experience migraine headaches may be at heightened risk for the form of facial paralysis known as Bell's palsy, a new study finds. According to background information in the study, between 11 and 40 people per 100,000 develop Bell's palsy each year. Most of them recover completely. Reporting in the Dec. 17 online edition of Neurology , Taiwanese researchers followed two groups of almost 137,0...

Music Classes Boost Language Skills, Study Says TUESDAY, Dec. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Greater participation in music classes may benefit children's language development, a new study finds. Researchers followed kids in the nonprofit Harmony Project, which provides music education and instruments to poor children in Los Angeles. Over two years, children who actively participated in the classes showed larger improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading, compared to those with lower level...

Male Ebola Survivors Should Use Condoms for at Least 3 Months, Experts Say TUESDAY, Dec. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Men who survive Ebola should wear condoms during sex for at least three months after recovering from the deadly disease, a new study shows. The finding supports the current recommendations to that effect, according to the authors of the study, which was published Dec. 16 in the journal Reproductive Sciences . However, they noted there is a lack of research on sex and male survivors of Eb...

Medication Linked to Fewer Injuries in Kids With ADHD MONDAY, Dec. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) --Taking medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might reduce the risk of young patients accidentally injuring themselves, new research suggests. When several thousand children and teens were taking methylphenidate, which is marketed as Ritalin or Concerta in the United States, they were a little less likely to end up in the emergency room than when they weren't taking the drug, the study ...

Mom, Put Down That Smartphone at Dinner FRIDAY, Dec. 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Harried mothers who want to stay close with their kids should put aside their smartphones and tablets at the dinner table, a new study suggests. Researchers found that mothers who are regularly distracted by mobile devices at mealtimes fare worse at connecting with their children. The reason? Mealtime exchanges between parent and child decreased because, "the mother's gaze and/or attention was directed at a device," study ...

Memory Lapses May Signal Stroke Risk: Study THURSDAY, Dec. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Memory lapses in people with higher levels of education may be associated with increased stroke risk, researchers report. The research included more than 9,100 people in the Netherlands, aged 55 and older, taking part in a long-term study. During the study, more than 1,100 of the participants suffered a stroke. Overall, memory problems were independently associated with a higher risk of stroke. The researchers also f...

More Young Adults Getting Preventive Care After Obamacare, Study Finds THURSDAY, Dec. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More young adults are using certain types of preventive care since the Affordable Care Act, sometimes called "Obamacare," went into effect in the United States, according to a new study. Significant increases were seen in the numbers of 19- to 25-year-olds getting preventive care, including routine checkups, blood pressure measurement and dental care between 2009 and 2011-12, the study foun...

Millions of U.S. Kids Still Can Buy 'Harmful' E-Cigarettes: CDC THURSDAY, Dec. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More than 16 million children in the United States can buy electronic cigarettes legally, even though the devices are not safe for them, a new government report says. The report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also found that hundreds of millions of Americans are not protected from indoor exposure to secondhand e-cigarette aerosol. This "aerosol is not harmless water...

Many Americans Still Haven't Gotten a Flu Shot THURSDAY, Dec. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Fewer than half of Americans have gotten a flu shot so far this flu season, which might be a bad sign for a season that could be potentially severe, infectious-disease experts said Thursday. Worse, some people are thinking about skipping this year's flu shot, based on reports that the vaccine could provide only partial protection against what has been the predominant influenza strain this season, doctors said. "Th...

Many Breast Cancer Patients Get Too Much Radiation Therapy, Research Suggests WEDNESDAY, Dec. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many studies have affirmed that a newer, shorter course of radiation therapy for early-stage breast cancer works just as well as a longer course. However, new research suggests that many U.S. patients still get radiation therapy for much longer than they need to. The analysis of data, involving millions of women, found that two-thirds of breast cancer patients who've had breast-cons...

Male Breast Cancer Is Different TUESDAY, Dec. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Men's breast cancer differs in some ways from women's, new research finds. One important difference is in the rates of survival. The study found that while survival for men with breast cancer has improved, it hasn't kept pace with the strides made in treating breast cancer in women. "Although we saw a significant improvement in overall survival for male breast cancer patients over time, the prognosis for men with breast cancer has...

Many Women Don't Lose Those Pregnancy Pounds, Study Finds TUESDAY, Dec. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women's fears that pregnancy pounds will linger are validated by new research that suggests three-quarters of new mothers are heavier a year after giving birth than they were before becoming pregnant. Analyzing data from nearly 800 low-income women, researchers also found that one-third of those of normal weight before pregnancy became overweight or obese one year after childbirth. Nearly one-quarter of a...

Most Would Act if They Had Genetic Risk for Illness: Survey MONDAY, Dec. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many Americans would take some type of action if they learned they had a genetic risk for a disease, even if they weren't actually ill, a new study finds. Adults in a nationwide survey were asked to imagine they had a genetic risk for either heart disease, colon cancer or Alzheimer's disease. Each participant was given a level of risk between 20 percent and 80 percent. The higher the level of risk, the m...

Most Americans Agree With Right-to-Die Movement FRIDAY, Dec. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Already-strong public support for right-to-die legislation has grown even stronger in the days since the planned death of 29-year-old brain cancer patient Brittany Maynard, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll has found. An overwhelming 74 percent of American adults now believe that terminally ill patients who are in great pain should have the right to end their lives, the poll found. Only 14 percent were opposed. Broad majo...

Mom's Obesity May Affect Newborn Survival WEDNESDAY, Dec. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Obesity during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of newborn death, according to a new study, although the researchers found the risk of an infant dying remains very low. "Even if the risk, relatively speaking, is increased for obese mothers, the actual probability is small," said study lead author Dr. Stefan Johansson, a neonatologist at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. For example, he explai...

Many Kids Exposed to Unneeded X-Rays, Study Finds WEDNESDAY, Dec. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many American children receive unnecessary chest X-rays, a new study indicates. "Chest X-rays can be a valuable exam when ordered for the correct indications. However, there are several indications where pediatric chest X-rays offer no benefit and likely should not be performed to decrease radiation dose and cost," said study author Dr. Ann Packard, a radiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Researche...

Mammograms for 40-Somethings Supported by New Study TUESDAY, Dec. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women diagnosed with breast cancer in their 40s commonly lack well-known risk factors for the disease, according to new research that could fuel debate about preventive screening for this age group. The study of 136 women diagnosed with breast cancer after a mammogram found few had dense breast tissue and a family history of the disease. Both traits are linked to higher odds for breast cancer and often help det...

Many Ignore Cancer's Warning Signs, Survey Finds TUESDAY, Dec. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many people ignore potential warning signs of cancer, a new British survey found. The study involved 1,700 people aged 50 and older in the United Kingdom who completed a health questionnaire listing 17 symptoms, including 10 widely publicized possible cancer symptoms. The symptoms included unexplained cough, bleeding, or significant changes in bowel or bladder activity. While 53 percent of the participants said th...

Midlife Diabetes Linked to Memory Problems Later MONDAY, Dec. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A midlife diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes may raise the risk of memory and thinking problems over the next 20 years, new research suggests. Having diabetes in midlife was linked with a 19 percent greater decline in memory and thinking (cognitive) skills over 20 years, according to the new study. "What we saw was, people with prediabetes, diabetes and poorly controlled diabetes had the higher risks of cognitive...

Most Americans With HIV Don't Have Virus Under Control, CDC Says TUESDAY, Nov. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Fewer than one-third of Americans living with HIV had the virus under control in 2011, with many either not receiving regular medical care or unaware they carry the virus, a new U.S. study finds. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study estimates that 70 percent of the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV in 2011 did not have their virus under control, even though combination dru...

MRI Can Be Painful, Disruptive for People With Cochlear Implants THURSDAY, Nov. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Some people with cochlear implants experience pain, discomfort and problems with the implant's internal magnet when they undergo an MRI scan, a new study finds. According to background information supplied by the researchers, about 300,000 people worldwide have cochlear implants, devices which provide a sense of sound to people who are deaf or have severe hearing loss. There have been prior repor...

Many People Who Drink a Lot Aren't Alcoholics: CDC THURSDAY, Nov. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most people who drink to excess or binge drink are not alcoholics, a new U.S. government report says. In fact, 90 percent of those who drink too much aren't dependent on alcohol. But one in three adults drinks to excess, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "A lot of people mistakenly assume that people who drink too much are alcoholics," said study co-author Dr. Robert Brewer, the...

Mastectomy Rates Rising Among Women Eligible for Lumpectomy WEDNESDAY, Nov. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- When confronted with early stage breast cancer, surgical removal of the tumor alone (lumpectomy) -- which conserves the breast -- can be a less drastic option than total mastectomy. However, a new study shows that a rising number of early stage breast cancer patients who are eligible for lumpectomy are nonetheless undergoing mastectomy. Researchers led by Dr. Kristy Kummerow, of Vanderbilt University...

More Americans Controlling Their High Blood Pressure SUNDAY, Nov. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A growing number of Americans with high blood pressure are keeping their condition under control, a new U.S. government study reports. Researchers examined national data on more than 9,200 people with high blood pressure -- a reading of at least 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) -- who were surveyed between 2003 and 2012. The results showed that the number of people who achieved optimal blood pressure (les...

Many Teens Suffer 'Cyber' Dating Abuse, Study Suggests MONDAY, Nov. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many teens are abused online by the people they're dating, a new study suggests. This abuse can include being monitored, stalked, threatened and harassed through hurtful comments, the researchers said. The findings were based on surveys of teens who visited northern California school health clinics, and don't hint at how common this kind of abuse among teens is overall. But the study does suggest that female...

Most in U.S. Aren't Suitable Kidney Donors, Study Says FRIDAY, Nov. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Even if they were willing, most people in the United States aren't qualified to be kidney donors because of health or financial reasons, a new study has found. More than 75 percent of the population could not donate, said Dr. Anthony Bleyer, a nephrologist at Wake Forest School of Medicine, who led the study. It is to be presented Friday at the American Society of Nephrology meeting in Philadelphia. While th...

Mom's Weight Might Influence Baby's Earliest Development FRIDAY, Nov. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A mother's weight before pregnancy may affect her embryo's early development and possibly the long-term health of the child, a new study suggests. "Previous studies have indicated that a mother's weight at conception is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in the children later in life," Dr. Roger Sturmey, from the Center for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research at the U...

Medical Products Used With Preemies in Hospitals May Harm Them, Study Suggests THURSDAY, Nov. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Plastic medical products used to care for premature babies in hospitals may expose the infants to high levels of a chemical that could harm their health, a new study indicates. Researchers found that premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may be exposed to levels of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) that are 4,000 to 160,000 times higher than what is considered s...

More Than One-Fifth of High School Students Smoke: CDC THURSDAY, Nov. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More than a fifth of American teens smoke or use tobacco in some way, which means that millions of them are putting themselves at risk for early death, a federal government study warns. Nearly 23 percent of high school students use tobacco products, and more than 90 percent of those teens smoke cigarettes, cigars, hookahs or pipes, according to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preve...

Many Dialysis Patients Ill-Prepared for Emergencies, Study Says THURSDAY, Nov. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Although their health depends on working technology, many kidney-failure patients on dialysis are not prepared for natural disasters or other emergencies, new research finds. But the study from Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York City found that giving dialysis patients detailed information about their medical history and treatment schedule could help improve their emergency preparedness....

Medical Bills Pricey for Americans, Even With Private Insurance THURSDAY, Nov. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many Americans may believe that private insurance can keep major medical bills at bay. But a new survey finds that one-fifth of people with private plans still spend at least 5 percent of their income on out-of-pocket health care costs. The findings, from the research group The Commonwealth Fund, found that 21 percent of adults with health coverage spent 5 percent or more of their income on out-of...

Many U.S. Doctors Wary of Genetic Testing: Survey WEDNESDAY, Nov. 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many American doctors may not support genetic testing in patients without a major family history of certain illnesses, suggests a new survey of physicians. When presented with the hypothetical case of a middle-aged man with a family history of cancer in an aunt and uncle, more than a third of 180 U.S. doctors surveyed said they wouldn't recommend any genetic testing. Almost half would only recommend testing fo...

Mouse Study Suggests Brain Is Damaged Early in Lou Gehrig's Disease TUESDAY, Nov. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Muscle-controlling nerve cells in the brain may be damaged earlier in Lou Gehrig's disease than previously thought, a new mouse study suggests. The findings may lead researchers to shift their focus on the origins of the neurological disease -- also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) -- from the spinal cord to the brain's motor cortex, according to the researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medi...

Many Smokers Quick to Accept Plainly Packaged Cigarettes, Study Finds MONDAY, Nov. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In an attempt to make smoking less attractive, Australia recently mandated that cigarette packs there be sold in plain wrappers with large, graphic health warnings. Some anti-smoking advocates have pushed for similar packaging changes in the United States. Now, a new study published online recently in the journal Tobacco Control finds that many Australian smokers have quickly accepted and supp...

Medicare to Cover Lung Cancer Screening for Long-Time Smokers MONDAY, Nov. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Annual lung cancer screenings for long-term smokers may soon be covered by Medicare, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Monday. The reimbursement proposal would cover annual CT scans for people aged 55 to 74 with a smoking history of 30 pack-years who still smoke or who quit within the last 15 years. Pack years are determined by multiplying the number of packs smoked d...

Minority Kids May Be Missed in Autism Diagnoses: Study MONDAY, Nov. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Black and Hispanic students are less likely to be identified as having autism than white students, a new study reveals. Researchers analyzed autism identification rates at schools across the United States between 2000 and 2007. These rates reflect how many students have been identified by schools -- not necessarily a doctor -- as having autism. Rates among black, Hispanic and white students increased in all ...

Many Docs Fail to Counsel Young Adults With High Blood Pressure MONDAY, Nov. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Only one in two young American adults with high blood pressure gets advice from a doctor on lifestyle changes, a new study finds. Lifestyle changes are critical to helping young adults control their blood pressure, and they cover areas such as exercise, weight loss and healthy eating, the researchers said. Among Americans aged 18 to 39, an estimated 9 percent of men and 7 percent of women have high ...

Many Docs Mistaken About Allergies: Study FRIDAY, Nov. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many primary care doctors may not be up to speed on the causes and best treatments for allergies, a new study suggests. In a survey of over 400 internists and pediatricians, researchers found that misconceptions about allergies were fairly common -- particularly when it came to food allergies. For example, one-third of all doctors, and half of internists, did not know the go-to treatment for a person who develops hives an...

Mosquito-Borne Chikungunya Virus Still a Concern for American Travelers: CDC THURSDAY, Nov. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Americans traveling to the Caribbean and Central and South America this winter need to be aware that an outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease chikungunya continues to spread in those areas, U.S. federal health officials said Thursday. There is no vaccine or treatment for the infection, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chikungunya causes symptoms such a...

Medical Errors Drop When Docs Communicate Better at Shift Changes WEDNESDAY, Nov. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Changing how doctors communicate during shift changes in hospitals reduced the risk of adverse events in patients by 30 percent, a new study found. In the study of nearly 11,000 patients, researchers also found that a better method of communication could reduce the rate of medical errors by almost 25 percent. "We were trying to improve the way doctors were passing on patient information," said l...

Most Minor Cosmetic Procedures Safe, Study Concludes WEDNESDAY, Nov. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Minimally invasive cosmetic procedures are nearly risk-free, a new study says. Researchers examined the results of more than 20,000 of these procedures -- such as fillers, neurotoxins and the use of laser and energy devices -- performed by 23 dermatologists at eight centers across the United States. Minor complications, such as bruising, swelling, redness, bumpiness or skin darkening, occurred in less than 1...

Men Less Likely Than Women to Get Bone Test After Fracture WEDNESDAY, Nov. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Older men are much less likely than women to receive osteoporosis screening and treatment after suffering a wrist fracture, a new study reveals. While osteoporosis is widely regarded as a disease that affects older women, as many as one in four men older than 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis, according to the researchers. And, more than 2 million American men have osteoporosis, they added. "Tre...