Health News

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Paradoxically, obesity may offer some protection against heart-related "events," like heart attack, in people who have a stent placed to prop open a clogged coronary artery, research shows.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Morbidly obese adults who undergo a particular type of stomach bypass surgery called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) appear to be at increased risk of developing kidney stones earlier than previously thought. The increase in stone risk was evident just three months after the surgery.

MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- Reducing the high rate of obesity in the United States requires a comprehensive, population-based strategy, says a new American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement.

THURSDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- Frequent sexual intercourse may cut down on a man's chances of developing erectile dysfunction, Finnish researchers report.

LUBBOCK, Texas - A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra — but don't necessarily expect it to keep the fireworks going all night long.

PARIS (AFP) - HIV infections among heterosexual Africans could be slashed by more than a third if safe-sex counselling was directed at married or cohabiting couples, a new study says.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who take part in clinical trials often do so out of a desire to advance scientific knowledge and to help others, a new international study demonstrates.

THURSDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- Taking prescription medications can help reduce violent behavior in some schizophrenia patients, Duke researchers report.

THURSDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- Flaws in the design and implementation of barcode systems designed to match hospital patients with the right dose of the right medication can increase the risk of certain medication errors, according to a study that looked at the use of the system in five U.S. hospitals.

(HealthDay News) -- Trying to get pregnant again after a miscarriage can be fraught with a host of emotional and physical concerns.

FRIDAY, July 4 (HealthDay News) -- Babies born to women with low levels of vitamin D during pregnancy may be at increased risk for tooth enamel defects and early childhood tooth decay, a Canadian study finds.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children born "small for gestational age" - that is, significantly smaller than most babies born after the same number of weeks of pregnancy -- are prone to developing "visceral" adiposity (fatness) of the abdomen, even without being overweight, research hints.

BERLIN (AFP) - The German upper house passed a motion on Friday calling for laws on assisted suicide to be tightened after a former politician caused outrage by helping an elderly woman to die.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government proposed a 3 percent inflation increase in 2009 Medicare rates for outpatient services at about 4,000 U.S. hospitals, which will also impact medical imaging, diagnostic and other health care services.

(HealthDay News) -- As a caregiver of someone with Alzheimer's, administering their medication -- and preventing missed pills or the wrong dosages -- can be a daunting responsibility.

FRIDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- The new vaccine vitespen didn't increase recurrence-free survival among kidney cancer patients who'd had surgery, say U.S. researchers.

PARIS (AFP) - A new kidney cancer vaccine failed in last-phase clinical trials to improve the odds of avoiding remission after tumour-removing surgery, according to a study released Friday.

THURSDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- Taking prescription medications can help reduce violent behavior in some schizophrenia patients, Duke researchers report.

A new study shows the beverage can protect the heart arteries by keeping them flexible and relaxed

LUBBOCK, Texas - A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra — but don't necessarily expect it to keep the fireworks going all night long.

WASHINGTON - Scientists have new evidence that the brain chemical best known for regulating mood also plays a role in the mystifying killer of seemingly healthy babies — sudden infant death syndrome.