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Obamacare's Payments to Doctors Widens Access for Medicaid Patients: Study THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Sweetening Medicaid payments to primary-care providers does make appointments for first-time patients more widely available, a new study suggests. The finding offers what the researchers say is the first evidence that one of the aims of Obamacare is working -- that increasing Medicaid reimbursements for primary care to more generous Medicare levels increases patient access to health car...
Overactive Bladder a Common Problem, FDA Says MONDAY, Jan. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- More than 33 million Americans suffer from overactive bladder, including 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. There are numerous approved treatments for the condition, but many people don't seek help because they're embarrassed or don't know about therapy options, according to an agency news release. In people with overactive bladder, the bladder muscle squeezes too o...
Opdivo Approved for Advanced Melanoma MONDAY, Dec. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Opdivo (nivolumab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat advanced melanoma skin cancer that has either spread or can't be treated with surgery, the agency said Monday. Melanoma, the fifth most common skin cancer in the United States, will strike more than 76,000 Americans this year and more than 9,700 will die from it, the U.S. National Cancer Institute projects. Opdivo inhibits a protein that p...
Older Cars a Bad Choice for Younger Drivers FRIDAY, Dec. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New research warns parents that buying an older car for their teens may put their young lives at risk. Nearly half of teen drivers killed in the United States between 2008 and 2012 were driving cars that were at least 11 years old and often lacked important safety features that are available on newer cars, the study found. Eighty-two percent of teen drivers killed in crashes were in cars at least six years old, 34 perc...
Only 4 in 10 Americans Eat Heart-Healthy Nuts Each Day, CDC Says WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Nutrition experts advocate including nuts in a heart-healthy diet, but a new study finds that about 60 percent of Americans don't consume these foods on a daily basis. The study, released Dec. 17 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the NCHS Data Brief , found that about 38 percent of American adults ate nuts each day, usually in the form of the nuts themselves or in the for...
Outreach Program May Help Poorer Smokers Quit MONDAY, Dec. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new type of outreach program was effective in helping poorer Americans quit smoking, researchers say. People with low incomes in the United States have higher rates of smoking, according to the authors of the study. They also have more smoking-related diseases, and seem to have greater difficulty quitting, the researchers noted. Despite these factors, little research has focused on ways to help poorer Americans to ...
Obese Kids' Brains Show Stronger Response to Sugar: Study MONDAY, Dec. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The brains of obese children have a stronger response to sugar than those of kids with a healthy weight, a new study says. The findings support the theory that obese children have a heightened reward response to food, and that their brains could be wired in a way that makes them crave higher amounts of sugar, the researchers said. "The take-home message is that obese children, compared to healthy-weight c...
Obesity Can Cause 'Silent' Damage to Heart FRIDAY, Dec. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Heart damage can occur in obese people without causing symptoms, and take place without other heart risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, a new study says. The researchers said their findings about this silent heart damage challenge the common belief that the risk of heart disease in obese people is mainly due to diabetes and high blood pressure, which are common in obese people. "Obesi...
Obesity-Related Ills May Shave Up to 8 Years Off Your Life: Study THURSDAY, Dec. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The heart disease and diabetes that often accompany obesity may rob people of almost a decade of life and close to two decades of a healthy life, Canadian researchers report. "Not only is excess body weight associated with a significant reduction in life expectancy, but with an even greater reduction in healthy life years," said lead researcher Dr. Steven Grover, a professor of medicine at McGill...
Officials Designate 35 Ebola Treatment Centers TUESDAY, Dec. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Thirty-five hospitals across the United States have been designated as Ebola treatment centers, and more will be designated in the coming weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. These centers have the staff, equipment, training and resources to provide the complex treatment required to care for Ebola patients, while minimizing risk to health care workers, the agency said. "We continue our...
Obesity Tied to Half a Million Cancers Worldwide, Report Shows WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Obesity is associated with close to 500,000 new cancer cases worldwide each year, and nearly two-thirds of obesity-related cancers occur in North America and Europe, a new report shows. The analysis of data from 184 countries showed that excess weight was associated with 345,000 (5.4 percent) of new cancers in women in 2012, and 136,000 (1.9 percent) of new cancers in men in 2012. Among women, pos...
Oxygen May Not Help Heart Attack Victims WEDNESDAY, Nov. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Strapping an oxygen mask to someone suffering a heart attack might make their heart attack worse, new research suggests. Heart attack victims treated with oxygen endured 25 to 30 percent more heart damage than patients not given oxygen, said lead investigator Dr. Dion Stub, an interventional cardiologist at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. "This study backs up previous research that shows oxygen should be trea...
Osteoporosis Screening Guidelines May Miss Younger Women at Risk FRIDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Current osteoporosis screening guidelines and tools fail to identify many younger postmenopausal women at risk for osteoporosis-related fractures, a new study says. "If we want to prevent fractures, we need tools that help us accurately predict who will suffer these osteoporotic injuries so that we can target these at-risk people for preventive measures," study author Dr. Carolyn Crandall, professo...
Obama Urges Calm in Ebola Scare, Opposes Travel Ban SATURDAY, Oct. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- President Barack Obama on Saturday asked Americans not to give way to panic over Ebola, and he repeated his opposition to a travel ban for flights from affected countries in West Africa. In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama said that Ebola, "is a serious disease, but we can't give in to hysteria or fear - because that only makes it harder to get people the accurate information they need. We have to...
Obama Appoints 'Ebola Czar' FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- President Barack Obama on Friday appointed Ron Klain, a former chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden and a trusted White House adviser, as Ebola "czar." His role: to oversee the federal government's response to the small but anxiety-producing presence of the often lethal virus in the United States. Klain has been out of public service since leaving Biden's office during Obama's first term. The White House said Klain would report ...
Older Antibiotic Still Works Against Staph Infections, Study Finds FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An older antibiotic called vancomycin is still effective in treating dangerous Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections, a new study finds. The findings show that doctors should keep using vancomycin to treat Staphylococcus aureus infections even though there are several newer antibiotics available to do the job, University of Nebraska researchers said. They analyzed the outcomes of nearly 8,...
Obesity and Depression Often Twin Ills, Study Finds THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Depression and obesity tend to go hand in hand, U.S. health officials reported Thursday. The combination was so common that 43 percent of depressed adults were also obese, according to the report. That association was even more prevalent among those taking antidepressants: 55 percent of those patients were also obese. Report author Laura Pratt, an epidemiologist at the U.S. National Center for Health Statisti...
Obesity May Speed Aging of the Liver, Study Suggests MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Extra pounds cause the liver to age faster, potentially explaining why obesity is linked to diseases like liver cancer and insulin resistance, new research suggests. It's not clear if this aging directly translates to higher risks of certain diseases. Still, it's possible that "people whose liver is much older than expected need to be screened more carefully for various diseases even if they managed to lose a ...
Obese Kids May Show Early Signs of Heart Trouble WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Obese young people may already be showing the warning signs of heart disease, German researchers report. The scientists found negative changes in the shape and function of the hearts of these children, compared to their normal-weight peers. It's unclear whether weight loss can reverse these changes, they researchers added. The study, published online Oct. 8 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology , ...
Officials Report First Confirmed Child Death Due to Enterovirus D68 MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. outbreak of Enterovirus D68 has claimed its first confirmed victim, a 4-year-old boy in New Jersey. According to CBS News , preschooler Eli Waller, of Hamilton Township, N.J., stayed home from school with pinkeye, went to sleep that night and never woke up. His death occurred Sept. 25 but the cause of death was only released on Friday. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control an...
Obama Considers Tighter Ebola Screening for Travelers From West Africa MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- President Barack Obama said Monday that his administration is preparing additional screening measures to prevent the Ebola epidemic ravaging West Africa from gaining a foothold in the United States. Obama, after meeting with his top security and health advisers, did not specify what those measures might be. But senior federal health officials said the steps could include "entry screening," whi...
Ovarian Cancer DNA Detected in Vaginal Fluid, Researchers Report TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have found it's possible to detect ovarian cancer gene mutations in vaginal fluid samples -- a finding they hope is a step toward an effective screening test for the disease. In a pilot study, researchers were able to detect tumor DNA in tampons from several women with advanced ovarian cancer. It's a "proof of principle" that genetic evidence of the cancer can be uncovered in vaginal sa...
Oncologists' Group Calls for Measures to Curb Obesity-Related Cancers WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Immediate steps need to be taken to slow the rise of obesity-related cancers in the United States, a group of cancer specialists says. These include increased awareness and education about the links between obesity and cancer, development of new tools and resources for doctors, intensified and coordinated research, and greater access to obesity screening, diagnosis and treatment. "With nearl...
Obese in Adolescence, Colon Cancer in Later Life? MONDAY, Sept. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Obesity and inflammation in late adolescence are associated with increased risk for colon and rectal cancer in adulthood, a new study of Swedish males suggests. The 35-year study found that 16- to 20-year-olds who were obese had more than twice the risk of developing colon or rectal cancer compared to normal-weight teens. And teens with high levels of inflammation had a 63 percent increased risk of developing co...
OTC Pain Medications and Their Risks Drugstore shelves have so many choices of over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication that it can seem difficult to find one that you like. But OTC pain relievers can be divided into just 2 main types: acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Acetaminophen is available as a generic medicine and by the brand name Tylenol. You'll find a few different NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, and ketoprofen. Some medicines, such as Excedrin Extra ...
Oximetry (Oxygen Saturation, Oximetry, Ear Oximetry, Pulse Ox, Sp0 2 ) Procedure overview What is pulse oximetry? Pulse oximetry is a procedure used to measure the oxygen level (or oxygen saturation) in the blood. It is considered to be a noninvasive, painless, general indicator of oxygen delivery to the peripheral tissues (such as the finger, earlobe, or nose). How does pulse oximetry work? Oxygen in the air is breathed into the lungs. The oxygen then passes into the blood where the majority of the oxy...
Overactive Let-Down Although most babies with breastfeeding difficulties have problems related to getting enough milk, a few have the opposite problem--handling too much milk. Some mothers have such a strong let-down that the baby cannot handle the volume of milk. If your baby chokes, gags, or pushes off of the breast a minute or two after beginning to feed, an overactive let-down may be the cause. Most babies do learn to handle let-down as they mature, but until then you might take the baby off the bre...
Overuse Injuries An increasing number of boys and girls are playing recreational and organized sports. As a result, there is a rise in the number of overuse injuries seen among children and adolescents. The majority of sports and overuse injuries are due to minor trauma involving soft tissue injuries — injuries that affect the bone, muscles, ligaments, and/or tendons. What are the most common types of overuse injuries? Type of overuse injury Symptoms Possible cause Jumper's knee (patellar tendonitis) Te...
Online Resources - Neurological Disorders This Web page was compiled from a variety of sources including the online resources listed below, but is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your health care provider. The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your child's health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your child'...
Online Resources - Craniofacial Anomalies This Web was compiled from a variety of sources including the online resources listed below, but is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your child's health care provider. The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your child's health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your chi...
Overview of Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) in Children What is an implanted pacemaker? An implanted pacemaker is a small device implanted under the skin that sends electrical signals to control an irregular or slow heartbeat. An implanted pacemaker may be used to stimulate the heartbeat if the heart's natural pacemaker (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) is not working properly, has developed an abnormally slow rate, or if the electrical pathways are blocked. Rhythm problems may...
Oral Health Many different oral and dental conditions affect adolescents and require the clinical care of a physician or other health care professional. Listed in the directory below are some, for which we have provided a brief overview. Orthodontics and Braces Wisdom Teeth Extraction Periodontal Disease
Obesity in Adolescents What is obesity? Overweight and obesity together represent the second leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease that can inflict substantial harm to a person's health. Overweight and obesity are not the same; rather, they are different points on a continuum of weight ranging from being underweight to being morbidly obese. The percentage of people who fit into these two categories, overweight and obese, is determined by body mass...
Overview of Kidney Disorders How do the kidneys work? Click Image to Enlarge The body takes nutrients from food and converts them to energy. After the body has used all the food components that it needs, waste products are left behind in the bowel and in the blood. The kidneys and urinary system help to excrete the waste products and also keep chemicals, such as potassium and sodium, and water in balance by removing a type of waste, called urea, from the blood. Urea is produced when foods containing pro...
Ovarian Cancer as Part of Lynch Syndrome A woman is at increased risk for ovarian cancer if she has Lynch syndrome, also called hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC). Having this syndrome increases a woman's risk of having ovarian and uterine cancer at a much younger age than usual. A clinical diagnosis of Lynch syndrome is made when the following characteristics are present in a family: Three or more relatives with HNPCC-related cancer (colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, small bowel, stomach, liv...
Osteoporosis Index Many factors involving osteoporosis require clinical care by a physician or other health care professional. Listed in the directory below are some of the factors, for which we have provided a brief overview. About Osteoporosis Bone Density Test
Overview of Sleep Problems Why is sleep important? Sleep is not just resting or taking a break from busy routines. It is essential to physical and emotional health. Adequate sleep may also play a role in helping the body recover from illness and injury. Inadequate sleep over a period of time is associated with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. The emotional and mental benefits of sleep are also significant. Even occasional sleep problems can make daily life feel more stressful and less p...
Otitis Media What is otitis media? Otitis media is inflammation or infection located in the middle ear. Otitis media can occur as a result of a cold, sore throat, or respiratory infection. Facts about otitis media About 3 out of 4 children have at least one episode of otitis media by the time they are 3 years of age. Otitis media can also affect adults, although it is primarily a condition that occurs in children. Who is at risk for getting ear infections? While any child may develop an ear infection, t...
Orthopedic Conditions Orthopedics is the branch of medicine concerned with diseases, injuries, and other conditions of the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system consists of the body's bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Many conditions can affect a child's musculoskeletal system and require clinical care by a physician or other health care professional. Listed in the directory below are some, for which we have provided a brief overview. Fractures Sports Injuries Overuse Injuries...
Osteoporosis What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease in which there is a loss of bone mass and destruction of bone tissue. This process causes weakening of the bones and makes them more likely to break. The bones most often affected are the hips, spine, and wrists. Who is affected by osteoporosis? Osteoporosis affects over 10 million Americans over the age of 50, with women four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. Another 34 million Americans over the age of 50 h...
Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancers What are oral and oropharyngeal cancers? Oral cancer is cancer found in the oral cavity (the mouth area). Oropharyngeal cancer is cancer found in the oropharynx (the throat area at the back of the mouth). Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers will be diagnosed in 36,000 U.S. adults in 2013, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Anatomy of the Mouth (Click to Enlarge) The oral cavity includes: The lips, teeth, and gums The front two-thirds of the tongue The lining...
Ovarian Cancer Click Image to Enlarge What are the ovaries? The ovaries are female reproductive organs located in the pelvis. There are 2 of them — 1 on each side of the uterus. The ovaries produce eggs and the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen and progesterone control the development of female body characteristics (for example, breasts, body shape and body hair) and regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. What is ovarian cancer? Ovarian cancer is a disease in which cancer starts i...
Other Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders Many conditions of the ear, nose, and throat require clinical care by a physician or other health care professional. Listed in the directory below are some of the conditions, for which we have provided a brief overview. Bell's Palsy Deviated Septum Sinusitis Snoring Tonsillitis Ear Infections Otitis Media Otitis Externa (Swimmer's Ear) Ears and Airplane Travel, Ear Wax, and Ear Cleaning
Online Resources - Cardiovascular Diseases This Web was compiled from a variety of sources including the online resources listed below, but is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your health care provider. The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. This pa...
Older Adults Sharpest in the Morning, Study Finds FRIDAY, Aug. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Older adults' minds may be sharpest in the morning, a new small study finds. Canadian researchers used functional MRI to monitor the brain activity of 16 younger adults (aged 19 to 30) and 16 older adults (aged 60 to 82) as they did a series of memory tests while subjected to distractions. When the tests were conducted between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., older adults were 10 percent more likely to be distracted than younge...
Orbactiv Approved for Drug-Resistant Skin Infections THURSDAY, Aug. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The antibacterial drug Orbactiv (oritavancin) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat drug-resistant skin infections in adults, the agency said in a news release. The drug is sanctioned to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other acute bacterial skin infections. It's the third such drug approved in 2014, following May approval of Dalvance (dalbavancin) and...
Obese More Likely to Survive Serious Bloodstream Infection TUESDAY, Aug. 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Obese seniors are more likely to survive a life-threatening bloodstream infection called sepsis than those who are at a normal weight, according to a new study. The results are surprising because obesity often leads to worse, not better, health outcomes. The study also raises new questions about how obesity affects the body's response to infection, the University of Michigan researchers said. "Physician...
One in 10 Cancer Survivors Still Smoke Years Later, Study Finds WEDNESDAY, Aug. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Almost 10 percent of people who survive cancer are still smoking a decade later, a new study from the American Cancer Society shows. Experts said the findings, reported online Aug. 6 in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention , show that some cancer survivors need ongoing help with kicking the smoking habit. The study also underscores how tough it can be to quit tobacco, said Dr...
Once-Daily Inhaler Approved for COPD THURSDAY, July 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Striverdi Respimat (olodaterol) inhalation spray has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the agency said Thursday in a news release. COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and chronic emphysema, is a progressive disease that makes breathing difficult by obstructing airflow through the lungs. Most commonly caused by smoking, it's the third-leading cau...
Obstetric Complication Rates Vary Widely Between Hospitals in U.S. MONDAY, Aug. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An American woman's odds of encountering a complication during childbirth may depend on where she delivers, a new study suggests. The study finds that about 13 percent of U.S. deliveries involve a complication, and obstetric complication rates vary widely among hospitals. The researchers believe there's a key lesson to be learned from the research -- by taking cues from hospitals with the fewest c...
Obesity Might Slow You Down at Work FRIDAY, Aug. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People who are obese and work in manufacturing jobs may have significantly less endurance than those who weigh less, a new research suggests. In a study of 32 people -- half were obese, half were of normal weight -- people who were not obese had endurance times that were about 60 percent longer. Obesity also was associated with less strength, increased discomfort and declines in task performance. Being older -- 50 to 65 years o...
Older Women With Asthma Face Worse Health Outcomes FRIDAY, Aug. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Although older women with asthma often have worse health outcomes, they may not make asthma care a priority, according to a new study. "There is no doubt that women over 65 suffer from asthma much more than men over 65," concluded Dr. James Sublett, an allergist and president-elect of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), in an organization news release. In fact, the asthma death rate am...
Obesity During Pregnancy Linked to Raised Asthma Risk in Kids TUESDAY, July 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women who are obese during pregnancy may be more likely to have children with asthma than normal-weight mothers, a new review suggests. "We found that, compared with children born from mothers of normal weight, those whose mothers were overweight or obese during pregnancy had up to 20 to 30 percent higher odds of asthma," said lead researcher Dr. Erick Forno, an assistant professor of pediatrics at C...
Obamacare Dealt Setback by Federal Appeals Court TUESDAY, July 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In a bombshell ruling that could potentially play havoc with Obamacare, a federal appeals court said Tuesday that the financial subsidies provided to millions of Americans who bought health insurance though the federal HealthCare.gov website exchange are illegal. In a 2-1 ruling, the federal appeals court for the District of Columbia said that as the law is written, the subsidies may only be provided to people wh...
Organic Foods May Be Healthier, Review Finds TUESDAY, July 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Organic produce and grains contain more protective antioxidants, less pesticide residue and lower levels of the toxic metal cadmium than food raised in traditional ways, a new review finds. It's not clear what this means for your health. And several agriculture experts claim the analysis missed some important points. But a study co-author said the research offers a clear message. "Organic plant-based foods offer some...
Omega-3s in Diet May Help Ward Off Lou Gehrig's Disease TUESDAY, July 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help cut your risk for the fatal neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a new study suggests. These fatty acids -- found most commonly in certain fish -- are known to help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress on cells. Both of those processes can damage nerve tissue, according to the study authors. Inflam...
Obesity Epidemic Hitting Hispanics Hard, Study Finds WEDNESDAY, July 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Obesity is a growing problem among Hispanic Americans, especially among young adults, a new study shows. After analyzing data from more than 16,300 Hispanics in Chicago, Miami, New York City and San Diego, the researchers found that 18 percent of women and 12 percent of men had a body mass index (BMI) over 35. BMI is a measurement based on height and weight. People with a BMI over 30 are considered obese. A ...
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