Health Library

Stroke Survivors Who Live Alone Face Higher Risk of Early Death: Study FRIDAY, Jan. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Stroke survivors -- especially men -- who live alone are at increased risk for premature death, a new study suggests. Researchers followed nearly 1,100 ischemic stroke survivors in Sweden for 12 years. An ischemic stroke occurs when the brain's blood flow is blocked. During the follow-up period, 36 percent of survivors who lived alone died, compared to 17 percent of those with partners. Among...

School Sports Costs Leave Some Students on Sidelines THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Many American children can't afford to participate in school sports, a new survey finds. Only 30 percent of students in families with annual household incomes of less than $60,000 played school sports, compared with 51 percent of students in families that earned $60,000 or more a year. The difference may stem from a common practice -- charging middle and high schools students a "pay-to-play" fee to take part...

Study Hints That 'Video Feedback' Therapy May Help Curb Autism THURSDAY, Jan. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- A therapy involving "video feedback" -- where parents watch videos of their interactions with their baby -- might help prevent infants at risk for autism from developing the disorder, a new study suggests. The research involved 54 families of babies who were at increased risk for autism because they had an older sibling with the condition. Some of the families were assigned to a therapy program in ...

Study Rates Migraine Medications TUESDAY, Jan. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- The best medications to use if you suffer migraine headaches are listed in a new study. Researchers reviewed recent scientific literature and concluded that a number of classes of drugs were effective for treating acute migraine. These include triptans, dihydroergotamine (DHE) and many NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen). Also on the list: butorphanol nasal spray, and the co...

Sleep Position Linked to Death Risk for Those With Epilepsy WEDNESDAY, Jan. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Sleeping on your stomach may boost your risk of sudden death if you have epilepsy, new research suggests. Sudden, unexpected death in epilepsy occurs when an otherwise healthy person dies and "the autopsy shows no clear structural or toxicological cause of death," said Dr. Daniel Friedman, assistant professor of neurology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. This is a rare occurrence, and ...

Surgery Not Better for Spine Narrowing, Study Finds MONDAY, Jan. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Surgery and more conservative treatments provide similar long-term outcomes for people with spinal stenosis, a new study suggests. Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal that leads to back and leg pain and other symptoms. The study included more than 650 spinal stenosis patients who had surgery or received nonsurgical treatment such as physical therapy or medications. For the first several years, pati...

Smoking, Obesity: Weighing the Financial Toll FRIDAY, Jan. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking and obesity are both harmful to your health, but they also do considerable damage to your wallet, researchers report. Annual health-care expenses are substantially higher for smokers and the obese, compared with nonsmokers and people of healthy weight, according to a recent report in the journal Public Health . In fact, obesity is actually more expensive to treat than smoking on an annual basis, the study con...

Stimulation Device Approved to Treat Obesity WEDNESDAY, Jan. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- A new electrical stimulation device designed to control obesity by targeting the nerve pathways between the brain and stomach that regulate hunger and fullness has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Maestro Rechargeable System is the first FDA-approved obesity device since 2007, the agency said Wednesday in a news release. The system is sanctioned for adults with a body-mass index (BMI) of ...

Scientists Spot Mutation Behind Genetic Form of Heart Failure WEDNESDAY, Jan. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have uncovered a major genetic risk for heart failure -- a mutation affecting a key muscle protein that makes the heart less elastic. The mutation increases a person's risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a form of heart failure in which the walls of the heart muscle are stretched out and become thinner, enlarging the heart and impairing its ability to pump blood efficiently, a new i...

Spending on Medical Research Falls in U.S. While Growing Globally TUESDAY, Jan. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Spending on medical research is waning in the United States, and this trend could have dire consequences for patients, physicians and the health care industry as a whole, a new analysis reveals. America is losing ground to Asia, the research shows. And if left unaddressed, this decline in spending could rob the world of cures and treatments for Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, depression and other ...

Straight Men More Prone to Jealousy Over Sexual Infidelity: Study TUESDAY, Jan. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- A woman may have the reputation of turning into a green-eyed monster when her man sleeps with someone else, but new research suggests a man gets even more jealous in the same scenario. In a poll of nearly 64,000 Americans, sexual infidelity was most upsetting to men in heterosexual relationships, said study author David Frederick, an assistant professor of psychology at Chapman University in Oran...

Skipping Surgery May Work for Some Rectal Cancer Patients: Study MONDAY, Jan. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- For many rectal cancer patients, the prospect of surgery is a worrisome reality, given that the operation can significantly impair both bowel and sexual function. However, a new study reveals that some cancer patients may fare just as well by forgoing surgery in favor of chemotherapy/radiation and "watchful waiting." The finding is based on a review of data from 145 rectal cancer patients, all of w...

Some 'Safety Net' Health Clinics See Drop in Uninsured Visits Under Obamacare MONDAY, Jan. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- The expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act is reducing the number of uninsured patient visits to community health centers, new research suggests. Community health centers provide primary-care services to low-income populations. Under federal funding rules, they cannot deny services based on a person's ability to pay and are viewed as "safety net" clinics. In the January/Fe...

Study Suggests Link Between E-Cigarettes, Respiratory Infections THURSDAY, Jan. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Vapor from electronic cigarettes may increase young people's risk of respiratory infections, whether or not it contains nicotine, a new laboratory study has found. Lung tissue samples from deceased children appeared to suffer damage when exposed to e-cigarette vapor in the laboratory, researchers reported in a recent issue of the journal PLOS One . The vapor triggered a strong immune response in e...

Sleeping on Back in Pregnancy Tied to Stillbirth Risk in Study THURSDAY, Jan. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Women who sleep on their backs in the later months of pregnancy may have a relatively higher risk of stillbirth if they already have other risk factors, a new study suggests. Experts stressed that the findings do not prove that sleep position itself affects stillbirth risk. "We should be cautious in interpreting the results," said Dr. George Saade, director of maternal-fetal medicine at the Universi...

Synthetic Oil May Help Patients With Huntington's Disease THURSDAY, Jan. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Consuming a synthetic oil may help normalize brain metabolism of people with the incurable, inherited brain disorder known as Huntington's disease, a small new study suggests. Daily doses of a triglyceride oil called triheptanoin -- which 10 Huntington's patients took with meals -- appeared to boost the brain's ability to use energy, researchers said. The scientists also noted improvements in movement an...

Study Reinforces Link Between Low Birth Weight, Diabetes Risk THURSDAY, Jan. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- A new study that confirms that underweight babies are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes later in life also identifies factors associated with that increased risk. The findings may help pinpoint which physical processes are disrupted by a low birth weight, eventually resulting in diabetes, the Brown University researchers said. The study authors looked at more than 1,200 women with type 2 diabetes...

Stem Cell Therapy Fixes Post-Surgical Airway Abnormality WEDNESDAY, Dec. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Using stem cells derived from a patient's own bone marrow, researchers have repaired a fistula -- a potentially fatal tissue abnormality -- in the man's lower airway. "This is another interesting new therapeutic approach for stem cells," said lead researcher Dr. Francesco Petrella, deputy director of thoracic surgery at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, Italy. The patient, a 42-year-old firef...

Stem Cell Therapy for MS Shows Promise MONDAY, Dec. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental therapy that kills off and then "resets" the immune system has given three years of remission to a small group of multiple sclerosis patients, researchers say. About eight in 10 patients given this treatment had no new adverse events after three years. And nine in 10 experienced no progression or relapse in their MS, said lead author Dr. Richard Nash of the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute at Presbyterian/St....

Stay Sober or Be Pulled Over This Holiday Season MONDAY, Dec. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- As the holiday season kicks into full gear, state highway officials from across the nation are warning drivers to stay off the roads if they've been drinking. On average, more than 800 people in the United States die in drunk driving crashes each December. The annual national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization, staged from Dec. 10 to New Year's Eve, aims to lower that number and contribute to safer roadwa...

Saxenda Approved for Weight Loss WEDNESDAY, Dec. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Saxenda (liraglutide) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic obesity. The injected drug is approved for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, or for those with a BMI of 27 or greater who have at least one other weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol. BMI is a standard measure of weight-vs-height, with statistical "obesity" ...

Scientists Get Closer to Producing Egg, Sperm From Stem Cells WEDNESDAY, Dec. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers say they have used human embryonic stem cells to create cells that develop into eggs and sperm. While this had already been done using rodent stem cells, this is the first time that these types of cells -- called primordial germ cells -- have been produced efficiently using human stem cells, according to the team at the University of Cambridge in England. "The creation of primordial ger...

Scans May Spot People Who'll Benefit From Surgery for OCD TUESDAY, Dec. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Though most patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be successfully treated with medication and therapy, between 10 percent to 20 percent have a form of the illness that doesn't respond to standard care, experts say. However, patients with this so-called "refractory OCD" do have hope in the form of a type of brain surgery that disables certain brain networks believed to contribute to OCD. T...

Seniors' Aging Brains Find Ways to Stay Financially Sharp TUESDAY, Dec. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that decades of financial experience help seniors stay smart about money matters, despite the mental declines that come with age. It all has to do with the various ways the brain handles financial issues, explained study lead author Ye Li, an assistant professor of management and marketing at the University of California, Riverside. "Two different types of intelligence provide separ...

Smartphones May Charge Up Your Thumbs TUESDAY, Dec. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Regular use of touch screens on smartphones changes the way your fingers and brain work together, a new study reveals. People who used touch-screen phones showed greater brain activity when their fingers and thumbs were touched than those who used older-style cellphones, the researchers said. The findings suggest that repetitive movements over the smooth touch-screen surface reshape sensory processing from the hand, the stu...

System Approved to Remove Germs From Blood Platelets FRIDAY, Dec. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new system designed to remove viruses, bacteria and other germs from donated blood platelets was approved Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Earlier in the week, the agency approved a similar system to remove germs from donated blood plasma. Platelets are disc-shaped components of blood that assist in clotting. The Intercept System can filter platelets of AIDS-causing HIV, hepatitis B and C, an...

Study Supports Benefit of Widely Used Glaucoma Drug THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Prostaglandin analogue eye drops -- a common form of glaucoma drug -- significantly reduce the risk of vision loss in patients with the eye disease, a new study finds. British researchers led by David Garway-Heath, of the Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology in London, tracked outcomes for more than 500 people newly diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma -- the most common form of the diseas...

Some Blood Types Might Raise Type 2 Diabetes Risk: Study THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In what scientists say is a first, a new analysis suggests that some blood types place women at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes. How much higher? According to a team of French researchers, women with blood type B positive appear to face a 35 percent greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes than women with blood type O negative. However, experts questioned the value of the findings when so...

Scratch From Pet Rat Kills Child; CDC Warns of Risk THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The tragic death from "rat-bite fever" of a 10-year-old San Diego boy highlights the risk carried by the pet rodents, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Rat-bite fever is a rare but potentially fatal illness that should be considered in persons with rash, fever and joint pain, and when a history of rodent exposure is reported," said a team led by Dr. Jessica Adam ...

Severe Hot Flashes During Menopause May Raise Hip Fracture Risk Later: Study THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new study suggests a possible link between certain menopause symptoms -- moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats -- and higher rates of hip fractures and weaker bones. Hot flashes are common during menopause, affecting about 60 percent of women. The hormonal changes during menopause also affect women after menopause, since they then face a higher risk of weakened bones and o...

Sensitive Parenting May Boost Kids' Social Skills, School Performance THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The type of parenting children receive at an early age may have a long-term effect on their social skills and school success, a new study indicates. The study included 243 people from poor families in Minnesota who were followed from birth until age 32. Those who received more sensitive parenting early in life had better social skills -- including romantic and peer relationships -- and highe...

Smog Exposure During Pregnancy Linked to Autism Risk THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Children born to moms who were exposed to high levels of air pollution late in pregnancy may have an increased risk of developing autism, a U.S. study suggests. Researchers found that of nearly 1,800 U.S. women who gave birth between 1990 and 2002, those exposed to the most air pollution during pregnancy were twice as likely to have a baby who later developed autism. And exposure during the third trimester, ...

Seniors Still Given Potentially Dangerous Sedatives: Study WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors continue to prescribe sedatives such as Xanax or Valium for seniors despite the significant risks they pose, a new study contends. The drugs in question are a class of medications called benzodiazepines. This class includes drugs such as Xanax, Valium and Ativan. As people get older, these drugs are known to put seniors at risk for confusion and falls. Yet, the researchers found that older fol...

Stent Treatment May Lower Stroke Disability WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Using a stent to capture and remove a stroke-causing blood clot is safe and improves recovery, Dutch researchers report. About one-third of patients who had the procedure -- called intraarterial treatment -- recovered from their stroke with only slight disability and were able to care for themselves, compared with just 19 percent of patients given regular care, the researchers found. "We knew already that we can ope...

Screening Test Finds Drugs That Show Promise Against Ebola WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A screening test has identified more than 50 drugs that could be helpful in treating people with Ebola, researchers report. The drugs, which are already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, all showed promise in preventing the Ebola virus from entering human cells, where it can cause life-threatening infections. "These drugs are all approved, so they could be deployed quickly if follow-u...

Syphilis on the Rise Among Gay, Bisexual Men: CDC TUESDAY, Dec. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of cases of syphilis in the United States jumped 10 percent from 2012 to 2013, with gay and bisexual men accounting for 75 percent of the increase, U.S health officials reported Tuesday. Rates of another sexually transmitted disease -- chlamydia -- fell for the first time in 30 years, with more than 1.4 million reported cases in 2013. This represented a 1.5 percent decrease from 2012, according to the...

Study Shows Why Expert Pilots Are Experts SUNDAY, Dec. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Expert pilots process visual information more efficiently than less experienced pilots, which explains why they make better decisions during landings, a new study shows. Landing is one of the most difficult techniques for pilots to master, and 36 percent of all airplane crashes and 25 percent of fatal crashes occur during final approach and landing. Researchers monitored the brain activity of eight expert pilots and 12 m...

Smoking May Make It Tougher to Quit Problem Drinking: Study FRIDAY, Dec. 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking might hamper treatment for alcohol abuse, a new study indicates. "The data suggest that smoking is associated with difficulties in alcohol treatment. Tobacco smokers had shorter treatment durations and were less likely to have achieved their alcohol-related goals at discharge relative to their nonsmoking counterparts," study leader Kimberly Walitzer, deputy director and senior research scientist...

Screening Test Approved for Viruses That Cause Blood Cancer THURSDAY, Dec. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new screening test to detect Human T-Cell Lymphotropic viruses that cause a rare blood cancer has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The viruses, abbreviated HTLV-I/II, cause diseases such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (blood cancer) and myelopathy (inflammation of spinal cord nerves) , the FDA said in a news release. HTLV can be transmitted via breastfeeding, unprotected se...

Scientists Find Gene They Say Affects Flu Shot Response THURSDAY, Dec. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers say they've pinpointed a gene that affects how much protection the flu vaccine gives a person. They analyzed blood samples from more than 200 people who'd had organ transplants. The researchers found that versions of a gene called IL-28B influenced the strength of the immune response trigged by the flu vaccine. Each person has two copies of this gene. The T version of the gene is more common, ...

Sleep Apnea May Raise Risk for Dementia WEDNESDAY, Dec. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Older men who have breathing difficulties or spend less time in deep sleep may be at greater risk of brain changes that can precede dementia, a new study suggests. Experts said the findings don't prove that breathing disorders, including sleep apnea, lead to dementia. But they add to evidence that poor sleep may play a role in some older adults' mental decline. Past studies have suggested that people with certain sleep ...

Some NFL Players Use Unproven Stem Cell Therapies: Report MONDAY, Dec. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Some professional football players are seeking unproven stem cell therapies to speed their recovery from injuries. But experts are concerned that they may be unaware of the potential risks, a new report shows. Stem cell therapy has attracted the attention of elite athletes. A number of National Football League (NFL) players have highlighted their use of those therapies and their successful recoveries. Twel...

Summer Jobs Help Keep Kids Out of Trouble, Study Suggests FRIDAY, Dec. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Teens who get a summer job are much less likely to commit violent crime, a new study has found. What's more, the teens are also more apt to stay out of trouble many months after the work season has ended, according to the researchers. Researchers found that 25 hours of minimum-wage employment each week during summer break decreased violence among Chicago teens by 43 percent over the course of 16 months, ac...

Study Casts Doubt on Low-Dose Aspirin for Women Under 65 THURSDAY, Dec. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Although low-dose aspirin may curb the risks of heart disease and colon cancer, the downsides appear to outweigh the benefits for many women, a new large study suggests. For women younger than 65, researchers found taking low-dose aspirin for years lowered the risks of heart attack, stroke and colon cancer by a small amount. But they also found that the benefit was countered by an increase in the risk of ...

Smoking Might Cost Men Their 'Y' Chromosome, Study Finds THURSDAY, Dec. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Men who smoke may see more of their Y chromosomes disappear as they age, a new study suggests. Scientists have long known that as men grow older, the Y chromosome can start to disappear from some of their body cells. And that was initially thought to be a normal part of aging. But recent research has suggested that "loss of Y" might not be so benign. In a study reported earlier this year, researchers link...

Study Finds Need for Improved Schizophrenia Care THURSDAY, Dec. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Improper drug treatment is given to nearly 40 percent of people who suffer their first episode of schizophrenia, according to a new study. Because schizophrenia is typically a chronic illness, early treatment can have an effect on a patient's long-term outcome, the researchers noted. Inappropriate drug treatment can lead to problems that cause patients to stop taking their medication. The study included 404 peopl...

Scientists May Have Spotted Genetic Cause of 'Gigantism' WEDNESDAY, Dec. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers say they've honed in on the possible genetic cause of a rare condition called gigantism that causes excessive growth in children. "Gigantism is a disease in childhood that characterized by excessive growth, resulting from an excess of growth hormone production" by the pituitary gland, explained Dr. Patricia Vuguin, a pediatric endocrinologist at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Par...

Study Links Running to Lower Alzheimer's Death Risk WEDNESDAY, Dec. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Running more than 15 miles a week may reduce the risk of dying from Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests. Walking can help, too, if the amount of energy expended is equivalent to running more than 15 miles weekly, the study found. "Exercise seems to prevent the shrinkage [in the brain] that occurs with age," said study researcher Paul Williams, a staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in Berkel...

Sleep Apnea May Lower Your Aerobic Fitness WEDNESDAY, Dec. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People with sleep apnea may have lower levels of aerobic fitness, a new study suggests. Sleep apnea causes the upper airway to become blocked by soft tissue in the back of the throat during sleep. This causes pauses in breathing and other symptoms, such as gasping and snoring. The research included 15 adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and a comparison group of 19 adults with mild or no apnea. They...

Stand-Up Advice for Preventing Back Pain SUNDAY, Nov. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Age-related wear and tear of the spine is a common cause of back pain, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk of back injury and discomfort, an expert says. "Many people with lower backaches say symptoms disrupt their daily routines; however, everyday habits may be the factors causing the pain," said Dr. Michael Gleiber, an orthopedic spine surgeon and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons spokesman. "It's...

Statins Won't Help Protect Bones, Study Finds MONDAY, Dec. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins have been touted by some as capable of reducing the risk for broken bones. But, it appears that's not the case, a new study finds. In the study, almost 18,000 older adults were selected to take either the statin Crestor (rosuvastatin) or an inactive placebo. Of the 431 fractures during the study, 221 were among those taking Crestor and 210 were among people taking the pl...

Study Questions Safety of Adrenaline Shots for Cardiac Arrest MONDAY, Dec. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A shot of adrenaline can jumpstart a heart that's stopped beating and save a life -- think of Uma Thurman in "Pulp Fiction," near death from overdose and rescued by a hypodermic needle to the chest. But adrenaline might also harm those it helps, says a new study from France. Four out of five people who receive adrenaline to restart their heart end up suffering significant damage to brain function, the ...

Scooters Leading Cause of Toy-Linked Injuries in Kids MONDAY, Dec. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Here's a sobering statistic to ponder before buying holiday gifts for your kids: A new study shows that a child with a toy-related injury is treated in a U.S. emergency department every 3 minutes. Much of that increase was due to one type of toy: foot-powered scooters. The researchers found that about 3.3 million children with toy-related injuries were treated in ERs between 1990 and 2011, and the toy-related ...

Some People May Be Pre-Wired to Be Bilingual WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Some people's brains seem pre-wired to acquire a second language, new research suggests. But anyone who tries to move beyond their mother tongue will likely gain a brain boost, the small study finds. The brain "becomes more connected and integrated after learning," said study co-author Ping Li, co-director of the Center for Brain, Behavior and Cognition at Pennsylvania State University. But it's even more interesti...

Steer Clear of Cold Meds for Babies, FDA Advises WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most babies and young children don't need medicines if they have a cold, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. Over-the-counter (OTC) cold and cough medicine should not be given to children younger than 2 because they could cause serious and potentially deadly side effects, the agency warned. American adults average about three colds a year, but children get them more often. When children get a cold, pare...

Spotting Hearing Problems in Infancy May Boost Reading Skills in Deaf Teens WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Deaf teens have stronger language and reading skills if their hearing problems were detected at an early age, a new study suggests. Researchers looked at a group of deaf children in England who were diagnosed with permanent hearing loss through an infant screening program conducted in the 1990s. A follow-up of the children at age 8 found that those who were screened by the time they w...

Study Uncovers Vultures' Gastronomical Secrets TUESDAY, Nov. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Vultures have developed highly specialized ways of dealing with the toxic bacteria they ingest when eating dead animals, researchers report. The new research investigated the different types of bacteria found on the faces and in the guts of 50 turkey vultures and black vultures in the United States. On average, the faces of the vultures had more than 500 different types of microorganisms, compared with 76 in their ...

Sickle Cell Anemia Treatment So Successful in Kids That Trial Is Halted FRIDAY, Nov. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A clinical trial of hydroxyurea therapy for children with sickle cell anemia has been halted a year early because the results show it is a safe and effective way to manage the disease and reduce the risk of stroke. The announcement about the research, which was conducted at 25 medical centers in the United States and Canada, was made this week by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Inst...

Special Ambulance Delivers Vital Stroke Care More Quickly FRIDAY, Nov. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Stroke outcomes are better when patients are treated in an ambulance by a neurologist equipped with a CT scanner and clot-busting drugs, German researchers report. The sooner patients get the clot dissolver -- tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) -- the better the outcome after a stroke, the researchers noted. For the best outcome, the drug needs to be given within the first hour after stroke symptoms start...

Senior-to-Senior Aggression Common in U.S. Nursing Homes FRIDAY, Nov. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly adults who live in nursing homes may commonly deal with aggressive or inappropriate behavior from fellow residents, a new study suggests. The study of 10 centers in New York state found that, in the space of just one month, nearly 20 percent of residents were involved in some type of incident with a fellow resident. Most often, it was a verbal clash, with someone yelling or cursing at another resid...