Archive for May, 2007
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Gene Findings Boost Breast Cancer Research
(HealthDay News) — Four new studies released Thursday are shedding new light on the genetics of breast cancer, especially for one of the best-known breast cancer genes, BRCA1.
“The more we can understand the underlying mechanism for BRCA1, the better shot we have at developing chemoprevention” for women who carry the DNA mutation, said one expert, […]
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Health Tip: What Causes Seizures?
(HealthDay News) — A seizure occurs when electrical activity in the brain is abnormally high. Seizures often are characterized by shaking or twitching of the body, and possible loss of consciousness.
The University of Maryland Medical Center offers this list of potential causes:
Epilepsy.
A head injury or other trauma to the brain.
An infection that affects […]
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Inhaled Corticosteroids Won’t Prevent Kids’ Asthma
(HealthDay News) — While inhaled corticosteroid medications are a mainstay of effective asthma treatment, they can’t prevent the disease from occurring or recurring in high-risk children, new research found.
Two presentations Wednesday at the American Thoracic Society 2007 International Conference in San Francisco included an additional year of information from previous research. The studies confirmed that […]
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Health Tip: Signs of Hyperthyroidism
(HealthDay News) — Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid overproduces hormones that control the body’s metabolism.
The American Academy of Family Physicians lists these common warning signs of hyperthyroidism:
Sudden, unexplained weight loss.Weakened muscles and fatigue.Feelings of nervousness and anxiousness.Excessive sweating.Rapid heartbeat.Tremors.Eyes that are red, wide, or swollen.The academy says other diseases and conditions can mimic these symptoms, […]
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Autism’s Rise May Reflect Broader Definition, Better Diagnosis
(HealthDay News) — How widespread is Autism? And is the condition, which centers on characteristics such as the inability to form personal relationships, being properly diagnosed?
New York City-based YAI-National Institute for People With Disabilities (YAI-NIPD) is a not-for-profit organization that not only assists families who have members with a variety of developmental disabilities, but also […]
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Man’s Best Friend Joins the Fight Against Cancer
(HealthDay News) — Alex doesn’t know it, but the 12-year-old golden retriever is actually a hero of cancer research.
“When she was about 10, we noticed that she started to limp,” said her owner, Kevin Darling, an IT professional living near Columbus, Ohio. “She had the beginning stages of osteosarcoma — bone cancer.”
Because the tumor was […]
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Breast Cancer Genetics Takes Big Leap Forward
(HealthDay News) — Researchers say they’ve moved much closer to untangling the genetic threads that raise a woman’s chance for breast cancer.
A set of studies published Sunday in the journals Nature and Nature Genetics identified four new breast cancer susceptibility genes, as well as several genetic markers, that are associated with the risk for the […]
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Type 2 Diabetes Takes Toll on Teens
(HealthDay News) — With the incidence of type 2 diabetes and its complications among young people on the increase worldwide, aggressive measures are needed to treat and prevent the disease, two diabetes experts say.
Their article appears in the May 26 issue of The Lancet.
“The complications associated with adolescents’ type 2 diabetes seems to behave differently […]
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Health Tip: Turn Down the Music
(HealthDay News) — The next time you’re tempted to crank up the stereo, you’d be wise to note the link between sound volume and hearing loss.
Scientists measure the levels of different sounds with a unit called the A-weighted decibel (dBA), according to Health Canada.
Here’s how different volumes can affect hearing:Sounds with levels below 70 dBA […]
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Large Jolts of Java Can Keep Gout at Bay
(HealthDay News) — Four or more cups of coffee a day may help keep the gout away, suggests a study in the June issue of the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Gout, the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in adult males, is caused by too much uric acid in the joints.
In this study, American and Canadian […]