The poorer tumor detection rate offered by mammography for women in their 40s is due more to the technology itself than characteristics of a younger woman’s cancer, according to a new study. For years, experts have known that mammography’s performance is poorer for women in their 40s versus older women, and they’ve placed much of the blame on the notion that tumors typically grow faster in younger women.  Read More →

New research may shed some light on the ongoing public health debate regarding how to minimize the death rate from the most serious kinds of heart attacks, while also limiting health care costs. One option under consideration is increasing the number of hospitals that are equipped to perform life-saving coronary angioplasty procedures, known as percutaneous coronary interventions (or PCI) — a technique that offers these heart attack patients... 

Family and friends may do more than provide companionship: They also may boost your longevity, making as much of a difference as not smoking, a new analysis of studies suggests. Researchers combined the results of 148 studies and estimated that people with strong personal relationships are 50 percent more likely than others to survive over a specific period of time.  Read More →

Worried about whether the weight you just lost will stay lost? Seeking out the right Web site might help, a new study suggests. People who shed pounds and then consistently logged on to a specially designed Internet site for weight maintenance were better able to maintain a significant portion of their weight loss than people who logged on less often, new research finds.  Read More →

Title: Stroke Prevention Treatment Varies Widely Across U.S. Category: Health News Created: 7/26/2010 4:10:00 PM Last Editorial Review: 7/27/2010  Read More →

Title: Childhood Cancer May Be Linked to Later Heart Problems Category: Health News Created: 7/26/2010 4:10:00 PM Last Editorial Review: 7/27/2010  Read More →

Title: Link Between Depression, Cholesterol May Differ by Gender Category: Health News Created: 7/26/2010 2:10:00 PM Last Editorial Review: 7/27/2010  Read More →

Title: Pleurisy (Pleuritis) Category: Diseases and Conditions Created: 2/20/2002 11:32:00 AM Last Editorial Review: 7/27/2010  Read More →

When I tell patients how I advise a wheat-free, cornstarch-free, sugar-free diet on the background of a low-carbohydrate diet, some people ask: “But can I live on a no-carb diet?” Well, there’s no such thing as a “no-carb” diet. Low -carb, yes. No -carb, no. Here are the carbohydrate contents of various “low-carb” foods: Gouda cheese–3 oz contains 1.65 grams carbohydrates Mozzarella cheese–1... 

Extending the time window to treat stroke patients with the clot-dissolving drug tPA from 3 hours to up to 4.5 hours after the onset of stroke doesn’t result in any significant delays in treatment and appears to be a safe option for saving lives, new research suggests.  Read More →

Obesity and chronic pain are both linked with family history and mood disorders, a new study suggests. Previous research has shown that overweight people are at greater risk for chronic pain, mainly due to excessive weight placed on the joints. The most common pain disorders related to overweight and obesity are low back pain and osteoarthritis.  Read More →

Title: As Weight Goes Up, So Do Heart Risks Category: Health News Created: 7/23/2010 12:10:00 PM Last Editorial Review: 7/26/2010  Read More →

Extreme summer heat can place older people at increased risk for developing the dangerous high body temperature condition known as hyperthermia, experts at the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA) warn. As a result of the body’s inability to regulate body temperature following exposure to very hot weather, the elderly may face a number of related health problems, including heat fatigue and exhaustion, sudden dizziness (known as “heat... 

Playgrounds are great places for children to get exercise and have fun, but parents need to take steps to protect youngsters from potential dangers, says the American College of Emergency Physicians. “In many cases, a playground injury may include a minor cut or scrape. But parents need to be aware that playground injuries can be much more serious, even fatal. Every year, emergency physicians see more than 200,000 children coming from a playground... 

Falls, bicycle crashes, burns, motorized vehicle accidents and near-drownings are the leading causes of hospitalization for American children during the summer, experts say. These types of incidents are both predictable and preventable, according to Dr. Kathy Nuss, associate medical director of trauma services at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and colleagues.  Read More →