News Center Newsletters

Library

Multimedia

Healthy Living

Health Centers

Your Family

Interactive Tools

Back to News Center

Breast Health
- Do Parabens Affect Breast Cancer Risk?
  Some personal hygiene products contain preservatives called parabens, which have estrogen-like properties. Do these chemicals raise the risk for breast cancer? Experts say more research is needed to know for sure.
- Women Quit Breast Cancer Drugs Over Side Effects
  Drugs that help prevent the recurrence of breast cancer can cause such unpleasant side effects that many women stop taking them.
- Drinking Raises Risk for Breast Conditions
  Young women with a family history of breast cancer are at higher risk of developing other types of breast conditions if they also drink alcohol, a new study says.
- Lumpectomy Plus Radiation Equals Longer Survival
  A new study confirms that using radiation therapy after a lumpectomy dramatically reduces the chances that breast cancer will recur, and substantially cuts the death rate.
- Earlier Breast Cancer Diagnosis for Some Women
  Better screening may be one reason that women with BRCA mutations are being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier today than in previous generations. Another reason is that the mutation may trigger the cancer at an earlier age.
- Drop in HRT Use Tied to Fewer Mammograms
  Because of the health risks associated with hormone therapy, many women abandoned hormone drugs five to 10 years ago. Those same women now appear to be skipping their annual mammogram, according to a report in the journal Cancer.
- Women in Their 40s Need Annual Mammogram
  The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has released new guidelines for mammography that call for annual mammograms for all women, beginning at age 40.
- Breast Implants Have Limited Lifespan
  Women who get silicone-gel breast implants shouldn't be surprised if they need to have them removed a decade down the road, the FDA says.
- Coffee May Protect Against Aggressive Breast Cancer
  Go brew yourself another cup of coffee - you may be lowering your risk for an aggressive form of breast cancer.
- Some Breast Cancer Survivors Face Post-Treatment Fatigue
  Women who have completed therapy for breast cancer often suffer from fatigue - a result of stress caused by a continuous shifting between "fight-or-flight" and "resting" patterns during treatment.
- Aggressive Breast Cancer May Be Triggered by Obesity
  Obesity in menopause boosts a woman's risk for a type of breast cancer tied to the hormone estrogen. Those excess pounds may also increase the risk for an aggressive breast cancer that's not influenced by hormones.
- Needle Biopsies for Breast Lesions Recommended over Surgical
  For a woman with an abnormal mammogram, the next step is usually a biopsy to look for cancer cells. But in many cases, doctors are choosing a more invasive surgical biopsy over the preferred procedure - a needle biopsy.
Diabetes Health
- The Link Between Diabetes and Depression
  Depression is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for depression. Patients with both conditions fare better when both conditions are treated at the same time.
- Rotating Shift Work Raises Diabetes Risk
  Rotating shift work is becoming more common, but new research says that it may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. And the longer you work a rotating shift, the greater your risk.
- Kidneys Benefit from Tight Control of Blood Sugar
  People with type 1 diabetes who maintain good control of their blood sugar levels may be able to halve their risk for kidney complications.
- Diabetes Education Is ‘Fundamental’
  Three new studies show that teaching people about their diabetes and giving them strategies to manage it can help them lower their blood sugar levels.
- Electronic Medical Records Boost Diabetes Care
  Electronic medical records (EMRs) may improve care for people with diabetes by ensuring better communication between doctors and patients. Clinical offices with EMRs are more likely to meet all four benchmarks for diabetes care.
- Processed, Red Meat Tied to Diabetes Risk
  Maybe it's time to break out the veggie hot dogs - or at least cut back on the amount of red meat you eat - if you want to prevent type 2 diabetes.
- Monitoring Glucose by iPhone?
  People with diabetes may one day be able to pass up the finger prick to check their blood glucose - and measure it instead by using their iPhone.
- Increase in Diabetes Risk Linked to High-Dose Statins
  The drugs you take to help protect against a heart attack may raise your risk for type 2 diabetes, researchers say.
- To Lower Blood Sugar, Concrete Plan Is Better Than Advice
  People with type 2 diabetes are more successful at controlling their blood sugar when their doctors give them a structured exercise plan instead of simply telling them to get more physical activity.
- Not All People with Type 1 Diabetes Develop Complications
  People with type 1 diabetes are often told they are likely to face blindness, kidney problems, and amputations as they get older. But a recent study shows that many of those people are able to live healthy, normal lives with few, or even no medical complications, and scientists want to know why.
- Is Tight Blood Sugar Control Risky?
  Blood sugar control - that's the mantra of a person with diabetes. Keeping blood sugar under control helps prevent complications ranging from kidney failure to blindness. But for people with diabetes and heart disease, slightly less control may be better.
- Networking Sites for Diabetes Vary in Quality
  Social networking sites are a popular way for people to connect in cyberspace. But for people with health conditions like diabetes, the quality and accuracy of some sites is lacking.
For Your Child
- Study Confirms Safety of Rotavirus Vaccines
  Updated versions of the vaccines against rotavirus don't seem to increase the risk for a potentially deadly side effect, a new study says.
- Preemie's Nervous System May Raise Risk for SIDS
  Premature infants are at higher risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than full-term babies. The reason may be that a preemie's nervous system is underdeveloped.
- Diagnosis of Autism Varies Widely Across U.S.
  Researchers have found that health care providers at different autism centers are inconsistent in determining whether a child should be diagnosed with autistic disorder or a subtype, such as Asperger syndrome.
- Playtime Better Than Tube Time for Youngsters
  In a new policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that unstructured play best nurtures brain development in infants and toddlers. The AAP discourages TV and even educational videos for this age group.
- Pertussis Vaccine’s Effectiveness May Be Short Lived
  Young children who are immunized against whooping cough (pertussis) are well protected against this illness, but a new study finds that the vaccine's effectiveness declines sharply after just three years.
- Open Windows Fatal to Many Kids
  More than 5,000 children each year fall from an open window and are seriously injured or killed. And it's not just urban kids who are at risk.
- Obesity Trend in Teens Now 15 Years Old
  Researchers have pinpointed when U.S. children and teens began tipping the scales toward obesity. The epidemic began in the late 1990s, but experts still don't know the exact cause.
- Scars of Bullying Can Be Long-Lasting
  Bullying is not a normal part of childhood, and children who experience bullying may continue to feel its effects into adulthood.
- Better Students Excel for Mom and Dad
  Kids in their early teens typically rebel against their parents, choosing friends over family. Those who don't pull away and want to please their parents usually do better at school.
- Inexperience and Distraction to Blame in Teen Auto Crashes
  Teens behind the wheel are more likely to be involved in a crash because they lack proficiency in three important driving skills, a new study says.
- Youngsters Taking Longer to Outgrow Milk Allergy
  If your child is allergic to milk, he or she will likely outgrow that allergy - but it may take longer than you think.
- Teen Drinking Often Starts at Home
  Underage drinkers don't have to work too hard to get access to booze, says a new report.
Heart Care
- ‘Silent,’ Irregular Heartbeat Raises Stroke Risk
  Even when a person has no obvious symptoms of atrial fibrillation (AF) - palpitations or a racing heart - AF may still make a stroke more likely. This is especially true if the person has other stroke risk factors, such as high blood pressure.
- Drugs for Adult ADHD Safe for the Heart
  Young and middle-aged adults taking drugs for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) don't seem to have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.
- Healthy Habits May Help Heart and Block Cancer
  Want to prevent both heart disease and cancer? Here's how: Don't smoke, maintain a healthy weight, and control blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Heart Disease Rates Dropping in America
  Americans may be getting fatter, but their hearts are getting healthier, according to a new report from the CDC.
- ‘Million Hearts’ Program Launched
  U.S. health officials have set an ambitious goal: prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. The goal is both easy and hard; easy, because officials know the steps needed to improve heart health, and hard, because the program focuses on prevention.
- Is Marriage Good Medicine for Bypass Patients?
  An intriguing new study finds that married people are more than twice as likely as single people to be alive 15 years after coronary bypass surgery.
- Stopping Daily Aspirin Increases Risk for Heart Attack
  Up to half of all patients who take a daily aspirin to help prevent blood clots eventually halt their medication. That puts them at greater risk for having a heart attack.
- Multiple Blood Pressure Readings Give More Accurate Diagnosis
  One reading at your doctor's office is not enough information to accurately gauge your blood pressure, according to new research.
- Young Adults Don’t Think About Heart Health
  Nearly half of young adults in the U.S. say they are not concerned about heart disease or stroke and don't believe their current behavior will affect their health later on.
- Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Helps Prevent Irregular Heartbeat
  The same lifestyle changes that can help prevent heart disease can also help avoid an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.
- AHA Issues New Guidelines on Blood Clots
  The American Heart Association (AHA) has new guidelines for treating life-threatening blood clots that result from a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
- Air Pollution and Heart Attacks
  Stuck on the freeway again in rush hour? The smoggy air from all that exhaust can raise your risk for heart attack.
Men's Health
- Narcissistic Men at Risk for Health Problems
  Narcissism - that inflated sense of self-importance that often interferes with relationships - appears to play a negative role in men's health, as well, according to a new study.
- Fitness May Trump Weight for Good Health
  Question: Which is more important for health, how much your weigh or how fit you are?
- Construction Workers at High Risk for Injury and Illness
  Despite steps taken to reduce injuries on construction sites, a new report found that workers have a 75 percent chance of suffering a disabling injury over a 45-year career and a one-in-200 risk of being fatally injured on the job.
- Eat Well for Stronger Sperm
  Good nutrition is a cornerstone of good health - and may also be the underpinning of healthy sperm. Researchers say a healthy diet seems to improve both the number of sperm and their motility, a measure of how well sperm move around.
- When Real Men Become Fathers
  Fatherhood brings many changes, but one of them may be particularly surprising: a drop in testosterone levels. Researchers suspect it's because a man with children no longer needs to compete with other men for a mate.
- A Deadly Code of ‘Honor’
  Men who live in the South and West are more likely to live by a code that values defending one's honor at all costs. That mindset is linked to higher rates of accidental death.
- Men at Risk for Knee Cartilage Damage
  Although women are more likely to injure their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), men with an ACL injury are more likely to develop a hole in their cartilage after surgical repair.
- Erectile Dysfunction Tied to Sleep Disorder
  A follow-up study on men with restless legs syndrome (RLS) confirms that having the sleep disorder increases the risk for impotence.
- Refinements to PSA Testing May Save Lives
  Changing the way the PSA screening test is scheduled could help more men find prostate cancer early, as well as reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies.
- Air Pollution Another Threat for U.S. Troops
  Soldiers on duty in Iraq face an inhospitable environment - that of a war zone. But the geography of the country is also a health threat.
- More Men Are Turning to Plastic Surgery
  The plastic surgeon’s office isn’t just for women anymore. Although women still make up the majority of patients, many men are also seeking a younger look.
- PSA Testing Could Become a Thing of The Past
  How often do men need PSA screening for prostate cancer? Depending on the results, maybe only once, according to a new study.
Mind and Body
- Pedestrians with Headphones More Likely to be Injured
  People who walk to work or school wearing ear buds or headphones face a greater risk for injury or death because they are less aware of their surroundings. Pedestrian injuries in the U.S. have tripled since 2004, researchers say.
- Older Runners Still Use Oxygen Efficiently
  As runners age, they don't lose their ability to use oxygen economically. That's the good news. Where older runners fall short is in upper-body strength and flexibility.
- Do Certain Blood Types Boost Stroke Risk?
  In an intriguing study, researchers found that people with blood type AB had a 26 percent increased risk for stroke compared with those with blood type O.
- Hairdressers May Be First to Spot Skin Cancer
  Many hair professionals say they examine their clients' head, neck, and face for early signs of skin cancer. And, more hairdressers say they want better training to help recognize which moles or spots might signal cancer.
- Good Hygiene, Bad Results?
  Are Americans too clean? Proponents of the "hygiene hypothesis" argue that a societal emphasis on cleanliness has impaired the immune system's ability to respond as it was meant to. And that has left us open to other illnesses such as severe allergic reactions, gastrointestinal disorders, and autoimmune diseases.
- Roll Up Your Sleeve: It’s Flu Shot Time
  The CDC is urging everyone to get an annual flu shot. Although this year's vaccine provides protection against the same strains as last year's, it's still wise to improve your immunity with a shot this fall, the agency says.
- Mobile Devices Can Strain the Eyes
  Computer screen, smartphone, e-reader, iPad - the number of electronic devices Americans stare at daily continues to grow. And the smaller the screen, the harder their eyes have to work.
- A Cleaner Colon Is Key to Effective Screening
  Proper bowel cleaning before a colonoscopy makes it easier to spot precancerous polyps, and avoid costly repeat tests, says a new study.
- More Americans Than Ever Have Asthma
  Asthma is on the rise in the U.S., and so is the cost of treating it, according to new information from CDC.
- Study Indicates Radiation Exposure from Scanners No Threat
  An increasing number of air passengers pass through full-body scanners as part of airport security. And many of those passengers are asking, "Are those scanners safe?"
- Have Dog, Will Walk – Or Should
  Dog owners are more likely to meet the minimum federal exercise goals each week than people who don't have a dog.
- Long Life for Knee Replacements
  Just like the battery bunny that keeps chugging along, replacement knees are still working well 20 years out.
Women's Health
- Sleep Apnea Affects Men, Women Equally
  Women with sleep apnea face an increased risk for heart problems, just as men with this condition do. But just as for men, women who are treated with CPAP appear to bring their risk down.
- HPV Test Finds Cervical Cancer Earlier
  The human papillomavirus (HPV) test is better than the traditional Pap test alone as a screening tool for cervical cancer - both in the short and long term, researchers say.
- ‘Broken Heart’ Syndrome More Common in Women
  Broken heart syndrome - a temporary heart condition brought on by extreme physical or emotional stress - is far more likely to occur in women than in men.
- Hormone Therapy May Be OK for Some Women
  The pendulum may be swinging back toward the use of supplemental estrogen - in low doses and for short periods of time - to help ease some symptoms of menopause.
- Moderate Drinking May Offer Benefits to Women
  Middle-aged women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol may end up in better physical and mental health in old age than women who don't drink.
- Many Doctors Still Urging Yearly Pap Tests
  Although national health guidelines say that some women can safely stretch the time between Pap test to three years, many doctors haven't gotten the message.
- C-Section Rate Reaches Record High in U.S.
  The number of women giving birth by cesarean section is at an all-time high, raising concern among doctors.
- Hormone Therapy May Lower Risk for Artery Disease
  Not all data on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is negative: A new study says that HRT may help prevent peripheral artery disease (PAD).
- Study Confirms Longer Time OK Between Pap Tests
  Women 30 and older who have normal results on two previous Pap tests can wait three years before their next one.
- Young Mothers Weigh More than Their Peers
  Motherhood can bring joy, challenges - and perhaps extra pounds.
- Medical Devices Need Better Testing in Women
  The FDA is approving heart valves, pacemakers, stents, and other heart-related devices without adequately testing them on women, a new study says.
- New Heart Disease Guidelines for Women
  Women have unique health challenges, and that includes their risk factors for heart disease. So the American Heart Association (AHA) says guidelines for the prevention and treatment of heart disease in women should be unique, as well.