WXIX - Health

Sibling bullying can lead to depression, anxiety in victims

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

Being picked on by your brother or sister may seem like a normal part of growing up, but for some kids the bullying may be a source of depression and anxiety, a new study suggests.

Dads who bond with kids help keep marriage strong

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EDT

For dads aiming at marital bliss, a new study suggests just two factors are especially important: being engaged with the kids, for sure -- but also doing a fair share of the household chores.

Volunteering may be good for the heart in more ways than one

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

Anyone who has ever been a volunteer knows that it feels good to help others, but researchers have found a less obvious benefit: volunteering can help reduce older adults' risk of high blood pressure.

Tobacco ads spark teen smoking

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

The more tobacco advertising teenagers see, the more likely they are to start smoking, according to a new study.

Otzi the 'iceman' may have had brain damage

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:22:00 EDT

New research seems to support the theory that Otzi the Iceman was attacked and suffered some form of brain damage in the final moments of his life.

Even 'hands-free' devices unsafe while driving

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:05:00 EDT

Drivers who think hands-free devices for talking or texting are safer than handheld cellphones are mistaken, a new report suggests.

Soda size limits could aid fight against obesity

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

Restricting the sale of large sodas and other sugar-sweetened beverages in restaurants and other food-service outlets would affect 7.5 percent of Americans each day and have the greatest impact on overweight people.

US ends effort to limit access to 'morning-after' pill

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:05:00 EDT

The U.S. government has dropped its effort to block a court order that would make the morning-after contraceptive pill available over-the-counter to all women and girls.

Designated drivers often drink themselves

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

Having a designated driver sounds like a great idea, but a new study found that more than one-third of those who were supposed to drive their pals home safely had been boozing it up themselves.

For Alzheimer's caregivers, a much-needed break

Sat, 8 Jun 2013 09:02:00 EDT

Day care centers for people with Alzheimer's disease can give their spouses and other family caregivers a much needed source of stress relief, a new study suggests.

Football concussion risk highest during games, not practice

Thu, 6 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

Youth football players are much more likely to suffer concussions in games than during practice, and older players have a much higher risk of concussion than younger players, a new study finds.

Recession forced cutbacks in care for special needs kids

Wed, 5 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

The belt tightening triggered by the recent recession appears to have forced families to make tough choices about care for children with chronic physical or emotion problems, a new study suggests.

Fewer families struggling to pay medical bills

Tue, 4 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

The proportion of families in the United States that can't keep up with their medical bills declined between 2011 and 2012, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More kids being poisoned by prescription drugs

Mon, 3 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

As the number of adults taking prescription drugs has grown, so has the number of children being accidentally poisoned by them, a new study finds.

Smartphone apps can make workouts more fun

Fri, 31 May 2013 15:02:00 EDT

You're jogging at a steady pace, enjoying your favorite music through your headphones. Your breath is short and your heart is pumping. Your legs feel like they couldn't carry you any faster.

Sunless tanners still a tough sell

Thu, 30 May 2013 15:05:00 EDT

In their pursuit of a golden glow, young American women say that beauty concerns, not health worries, will determine how willing they are to use so-called sunless tanning products, a new survey finds.

And America's fittest city is . . .

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:02:00 EDT

New report highlights healthiest metropolitan areas.

'Nano' medicine might someday free diabetics from daily needles

Tue, 28 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

Researchers have developed a network of so-called "nanoparticles" that theoretically could be injected into the body and release insulin to counteract rising blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

U.S. teen birth rate plummets

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

Teen birth rates in the United States are dropping sharply, especially among Hispanic teens, according to a new government report.

Americans still making unhealthy choices

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:42:00 EDT

The overall health of Americans isn't improving much, with about six in 10 people either overweight or obese and large numbers engaging in unhealthy behaviors like smoking, heavy drinking or not exercising.

Student suicide may spur similar thoughts in teens

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:29:00 EDT

When a classmate commits suicide, teens are more likely to consider or attempt suicide themselves, according to a new study.

Genes may boost woman's risk of postpartum depression

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

Pregnant women with specific alterations in two genes may be at increased risk of suffering depression after giving birth, a small new study suggests.

Managing seasonal allergies

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:35:00 EDT

Although spring arrived late this year in parts of the United States, the summer allergy season will still be strong, according to a sinus expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Cellphone use may reveal your dominant brain

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:03:00 EDT

New research suggests the dominant side of your brain may make the call on which ear you choose to use while talking on your cellphone.

Angelina Jolie will have ovaries removed to lower chances of cancer

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:05:00 EDT

Film star Angelina Jolie will have her ovaries removed to help lower her odds for ovarian cancer, People magazine reported Wednesday.

Gene variations may explain weight gain among men, women

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

Weight gain in men and women is predicted by two different genetic variations -- so-called polymorphisms, according to a new study from the Netherlands.

Rich 'cougar,' 'sugar daddy' stereotypes might not mirror reality

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:33:00 EDT

The notion of wealthy "sugar daddies" with young, pretty wives and well-heeled "cougar" women with handsome, young husbands may be more fiction than fact, new research suggests.

Nearly half of high schoolers text while driving

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:03:00 EDT

Close to half of U.S high school students text while driving, a habit that dramatically increases their risk of getting into a potentially fatal car crash, a new study shows.

Obesity crisis may be fueling big jump in sleep apnea cases

Fri, 10 May 2013 14:59:00 EDT

The widening American waistline may be feeding an epidemic of sleep apnea, potentially robbing millions of people of a good night's rest, a new study suggests.

Fast food hasn't gotten much healthier

Thu, 9 May 2013 09:52:00 EDT

Next time you have a craving for fast food, don't kid yourself that choices today are much healthier, a new study says.

Money motivates weight loss -- one step at a time

Wed, 8 May 2013 14:59:00 EDT

When a health insurer told obese people they could either pay 20 percent more for coverage or start exercising, most of them decided to get active, according to a new study.

More kids diagnosed with mental health disabilities

Tue, 7 May 2013 10:19:00 EDT

Significantly more U.S. children have a neurodevelopmental or mental health disability than did a decade ago, according to new research.

Many parents texting, phoning while driving their kids

Mon, 6 May 2013 15:02:00 EDT

The vast majority of parents admit to being distracted in some way while driving their young child around, a new survey reveals.

Only 1 in 5 Americans gets enough exercise

Fri, 3 May 2013 10:02:00 EDT

Most Americans are falling short when it comes to exercise, a new government report shows.

White House to challenge ruling on unlimited access to 'morning-after' pill

Thu, 2 May 2013 14:59:00 EDT

The Obama administration announced late Wednesday that it would appeal a federal judge's order to eliminate any age restrictions on who can buy morning-after birth control pills without a prescription.

FDA approves 'morning-after' pill without a prescription

Wed, 1 May 2013 14:59:00 EDT

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the over-the-counter sale of Plan B One-Step for use as emergency contraception by girls and women aged 15 and older.

Many stroke patients don't call 911

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:59:00 EDT

More than one-third of people having a stroke don't call 911, even though that's the fastest route to potentially lifesaving treatment, a new study reports.

HIV 'cure' looks 'promising,' Danish scientists contend

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:21:00 EDT

Danish scientists testing a novel HIV treatment in human trials contend that they're confident their strategy will result in a cure for the AIDS-causing virus, according to news reports.

Pediatrician group issues home birth policy statement

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:59:00 EDT

The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a policy statement on home births that includes a recommendation that there be a caregiver who's present solely to take care of the newborn.

Don't blame parents for sins of the child

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EDT

When the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings were identified as two brothers -- one of them a teenager -- many parents wondered, "Who raised these boys?"

Most Americans oppose soda, candy taxes

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EDT

Most U.S. adults aren't sweet on the idea of soda and candy taxes, and many doubt the bigger price tags would trim the national waistline.

Many Americans breathing cleaner air

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EDT

Although many Americans are now breathing cleaner air, others are living in cities that are more polluted than they were a decade ago, a new report shows.

Prescription drug abuse up among US teens

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EDT

The United States appears to be in the throes of a prescription drug abuse crisis among teens, with a new survey showing that 24 percent of high school students -- more than 5 million kids -- have abused these medications.

Docs to teens: Cinnamon challenge prank dangerous

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EDT

As if parents didn't have enough to worry about, it seems a growing number of kids are taking the "Cinnamon Challenge" -- a stunt that has landed some in the ER.

People happier when they get more sex than their friends

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:25:00 EDT

A hefty chunk of your happiness may depend on whether you believe you're having as much sex as your peers are, new research suggests.

Man arrested in tainted letter case

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EDT

A Mississippi man has been arrested in connection with the sending of letters suspected of being tainted with the deadly toxin ricin to President Obama and a Republican senator, federal agents said Wednesday night.

Drunk driving not the only way alcohol leads to teen deaths

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EDT

Less than one-third of the 4,700 annual underage drinking-related deaths in the United States result from road crashes, according to a new study.

Boston bombing injuries like a 'war zone'

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:20:00 EDT

Authorities were searching Tuesday for suspects and motives behind the twin bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday afternoon that killed three people and injured more than 140 others.

Do teens who sleep in stay slimmer?

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:46:00 EDT

The more sleep teens get, the less likely they are to be overweight, a new study finds.

Unemployment's toll can be heartbreaking

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EDT

As anyone who's lost a job can attest, stress and worry often quickly follow. But the health of your heart after unemployment can also take a tumble.

Do drug company reps tell your doc everything about side effects?

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EDT

Drug company salespeople provide family doctors with little or no information about the harmful effects of medicines they are promoting, a new study says.

Many Americans skipping meds to save money

Tue, 9 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EDT

Cash-strapped Americans often skip doses of pricey prescription drugs or take less than was prescribed by their doctor, new research shows.

Compound in red meat, energy drinks may have heart disease link

Mon, 8 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EDT

A compound found in red meat and added as a supplement to popular energy drinks promotes hardening and clogging of the arteries, otherwise known as atherosclerosis, a new study suggests.

Less salt, more potassium equals millions of lives saved

Sat, 6 Apr 2013 09:57:00 EDT

Reducing dietary salt intake and boosting levels of potassium would prevent millions of deaths from heart disease and stroke worldwide each year, according to three new studies.

Video gamers may have better visual recall

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:50:00 EDT

In a new finding sure to be shared with some skeptical parents, it seems that the brains of video game enthusiasts make better and faster use of visual input.

Are there 2 types of Gulf War illness?

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:47:00 EDT

U.S. veterans with Gulf War illness complain of different types of symptoms, and researchers now think they know why: There may be two distinct forms of the illness, depending on which areas of the brain have atrophied.

Your summer cold may actually be an allergic reaction

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:43:00 EDT

Sneezing, watery eyes, scratchy throat? What you think is a summer cold may actually be allergies, an expert says.

Pets battling cancer can join clinical trials too

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:30:00 EDT

If you hear that a friend's beloved family member has joined a clinical trial for cancer treatment, don't assume the patient is human.

TV commercials may spur junk food habit in kids

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:36:00 EDT

The types of TV shows that families watch influences the amount of junk food that preschool children eat, a new study suggests.

Only 5 percent of restroom patrons wash hands properly

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:32:00 EDT

A recent study of hand-washing habits found only 5 percent of people who used the restroom scrubbed long enough to kill germs that can cause infections.

College kids trend toward Twitter, adults favor Facebook

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:51:00 EDT

All those "status updates" and "tweets" that people post as they clamor to be part of the online social network may reflect a troubling trend toward self-absorbed behavior in the United States, a new study suggests.

Annual dental cleaning may be enough for some

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:55:00 EDT

For many people, once-a-year dental cleaning may be enough to prevent gum disease that leads to tooth loss, according to a new study.

Summer camp health tips for parents

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:17:00 EDT

Regular hand washing and proper hygiene are essential to avoiding common summer-camp health issues such as lice, pinworm and bathing-suit dermatitis, according to a former summer camp physician.

Depression common in those with PTSD

Fri, 7 Jun 2013 10:07:00 EDT

More than half of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also suffer from depression, according to a new study.

Vision, dyslexia not linked

Fri, 7 Jun 2013 09:52:00 EDT

A new brain imaging study appears to rule out one potential cause of dyslexia, finding that vision problems don't lead to the common reading disorder.

Mind control moves model helicopter in study

Thu, 6 Jun 2013 17:42:00 EDT

Scientists say five people wearing special electrodes were able to control a model helicopter by their thoughts alone.

Tumor in bone shows neanderthals got cancer too

Thu, 6 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

Cancer is often lamented as a modern-day scourge, but researchers have discovered a type of bone cancer in a 120,000-year-old Neanderthal rib.

Alzheimer's drugs may benefit heart, study finds

Wed, 5 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

Drugs used to treat early-stage Alzheimer's disease may also reduce patients' risk of heart attack and death, according to a new study.

Summer deadliest time of year for teen drivers

Wed, 5 Jun 2013 10:47:00 EDT

Summer is the most dangerous time of the year for teen drivers and distracted driving is often the reason why, experts say.

Young parents don't stress over kids' media use

Tue, 4 Jun 2013 15:05:00 EDT

Having grown up with gadgets galore, young parents aren't as worried about the potentially corrosive effects of too much screen time on their offspring, a new study suggests.

U.S. cancer patients suffering from drug shortages

Mon, 3 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

Four out of five U.S. cancer doctors encountered shortages of essential drugs between March and September of 2012, which affected the quality of care they provided and increased treatment costs, new research shows.

For kids with autism, a day at the races with NASCAR

Sat, 1 Jun 2013 09:02:00 EDT

In one key way, Brandon Brooking is like millions of other 16-year-old American boys: He loves NASCAR.

In dating game, narcissists get the girl

Fri, 31 May 2013 17:27:00 EDT

Men with high levels of narcissism -- an unrealistically positive self-image coupled with feelings of entitlement -- have an easier time than others attracting a potential mate, new German research says.

Scientists spot genes tied to success at school, college

Fri, 31 May 2013 10:29:00 EDT

Could the secret to educational achievement lie in a person's DNA? A major new study suggests that genes do play some role in how well an individual does at school.

Health news reports may spur 'symptoms' in some people

Wed, 29 May 2013 12:43:00 EDT

The news media and the mind may have a powerful role in people's experience of so-called "Wi-Fi syndrome," if a new study is correct.

Kids poisoned by medical marijuana

Tue, 28 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

Legalizing marijuana may have unintended consequences. Since medical marijuana was legalized in Colorado, more than a dozen young children have been unintentionally poisoned with the drug, researchers report.

Gender report of Shah Rukh Khan baby investigated

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:49:00 EDT

Health officials in Mumbai are investigating reports that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and his wife know the sex of a baby they are having through a surrogate mother.

Report: US adult smoking rate dips to 18 percent

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:49:00 EDT

Fewer U.S. adults are smoking, a new government report says.

To ease shortage of organs, grow them in a lab?

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:08:00 EDT

By the time 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan finally got a lung transplant last week, she'd been waiting for months, and her parents had sued to give her a better shot at surgery.

Boston hospital to offer hand transplants for kids

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:58:00 EDT

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE AP Chief Medical Writer A Boston hospital is starting the world's first hand transplant program for children, and doctors say it won't be long until face transplants and other...

Court hearing on hold over lung transplant rules

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:26:00 EDT

A court hearing over organ donor matches involving children is on hold after the 10-year-old Pennsylvania girl at the center of the lawsuit received a lung transplant.

Arizona Gov. Brewer secures Medicaid expansion

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 05:45:00 EDT

Ending a six-month legislative session, Arizona lawmakers endorsed a key element of President Barack Obama's health care law in a huge political victory for Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, after a lengthy fight over Medicaid...

Lilly stops mid-stage Alzheimer's drug study

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:15:00 EDT

Eli Lilly and Co. said Thursday that it stopped a mid-stage clinical trial of an experimental Alzheimer's disease drug because of potential side effects on patients' livers.

New lungs buy time but don't cure cystic fibrosis

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:45:00 EDT

The 10-year-old Pennsylvania girl who fought for a lung transplant has a difficult journey ahead. The transplant isn't a cure for her cystic fibrosis, and new lungs don't tend to last as long as other transplanted...

Expert: Dying woman should have got Irish abortion

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:45:00 EDT

A miscarrying woman who died in an Irish hospital should have had her blood poisoning detected much sooner and been offered an abortion to improve her odds of survival, an experts' report concluded Thursday in a case...

Court ruling may open up breast cancer gene tests

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:15:00 EDT

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE AP Chief Medical Writer A ruling by the Supreme Court that human genes can't be patented is expected to increase access and drop the cost for tests for gene mutations that greatly...

Primary care doctors still in short supply in U.S.

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:29:00 EDT

Fewer than 25 percent of new doctors in the United States go into primary care, and only about 5 percent open offices in rural areas, according to a new study.

Steroid injections for back pain linked to spinal fracture risk

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

Older adults who get steroid injections to ease lower back and leg pain may have increased odds of suffering a spine fracture, a new study suggests.

Pregnancy stay-fit secrets

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 14:00:00 EDT

Exercise may help you deal with pregnancy aches and pains, give you more energy and help you sleep better.

Deep brain stimulation studied as last-ditch obesity treatment

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

Researchers have shown that implanting electrodes in the brain's "feeding center" can be safely done -- in a bid to develop a new treatment option for severely obese people who fail to shed pounds even after weight-loss surgery.

Short strolls after meals may lower diabetes risk

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:02:00 EDT

Older adults at risk for getting diabetes who took a 15-minute walk after every meal improved their blood sugar levels, a new study shows.

Prevent listeria infection this summer

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:21:00 EDT

With the arrival of summer, many folks think they can keep their picnic food safe from bacteria by storing it in the refrigerator.

Heart device 'shock' anxiety may hamper sex life

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:25:00 EDT

Anxiety-related sexual problems occur among young adults with congenital heart disease who have implanted heart defibrillators, a new study finds.

Women may have natural defense against common STD

Thu, 30 May 2013 15:02:00 EDT

Women appear to have a natural defense against the world's most common sexually transmitted infection, a new study says.

Yoga may help ease high blood pressure

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:23:00 EDT

People who follow the ancient practice of yoga may be getting an added health boost, with a new study suggesting it can fight high blood pressure -- also known as hypertension.

Public funding spurs couples to seek fertility treatment

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:00:00 EDT

Public funding of assisted reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, broadens the range of couples who seek treatment for infertility by attracting a more diverse population.