Don't Let Fear of Cancer Keep You From Doctor Visits

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- As terrified as you might be of a possible cancer diagnosis from your doctor, a new study warns that you still need to keep your appointment.

Why? Patients who blow off appointments for cancer symptoms are 12% more likely to die within a year of diagnosis, British researchers report.

Smarter Snacks for Football Fans

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- This year, when the gang comes over to watch football, score big with these healthy treats.

Rich and creamy onion dip with chips is a favorite and so easy to make by mixing sour cream into a flavor packet. But most dip mixes are loaded with MSG, sodium and artificial flavors, plus they have z...

Take a Fresh Look at Fitness Classes

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Tired of taking the same old cardio class? It's time to explore some of the combination classes being offered at both large gyms and small, more personalized fitness centers.

One of the most popular options is the multi-discipline class -- two or more activities woven into the same workout ses...

Hysterectomy Procedure Tied to Worse Cancer Outcomes

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Women who must have their uterus removed should be wary of a procedure called uncontained uterine power morcellation, Yale University researchers warn.

This once common surgical option for hysterectomy or myomectomy (removal of uterine fibroids) has been linked to worse outcomes for patients...

Cases of Vaping-Linked Lung Illness Rise to 530 Across 38 States: CDC

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The number of confirmed or suspected severe lung illnesses linked to vaping has leapt to 530 cases across 38 states and the Virgin Islands, U.S. health officials reported Thursday.

There have also been seven confirmed deaths in six states -- California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota a...

Keeping Blood Sugar Steady Helps You Live Longer With Diabetes

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- If you have type 2 diabetes, keeping your blood sugar levels stable over time may be key to living longer.

New research finds that people who have more swings in their blood sugar levels were more than twice as likely to die early, compared to folks with more stable blood sugar management. ...

Opioid Prescriptions for Eye Surgery Patients Surge

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Though eye surgery has gotten easier for patients, the percentage who filled an opioid prescription after an eye operation tripled between 2000 and 2014, a new study reports.

"This really is surprising, given that there have been tremendous strides in the past decade to reduce the invasivene...

Just 2 Weeks on the Couch Starts to Damage Your Body

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- A new study proves that the old adage "use it or lose it" is definitely true when it comes to fitness.

After just two weeks of sedentary behavior, formerly fit people had:

• A decline in heart and lung health
• Increased waist circumference
• Greater body fat an...

Scientists Discover New Way Fat Harms Your Arteries

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists may have found a way that obesity directly damages the arteries and contributes to heart disease -- a discovery that they say could eventually lead to new treatments.

The British researchers found that in heart disease patients who are obese, body fat surrounding the arteries tend...

For People at High Risk, Evidence That Exercise Might Slow Alzheimer's

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- For people at risk of Alzheimer's disease, working out a couple of times a week might at least slow the onset of the illness, new research suggests.

Regular exercise over a year slowed the degeneration of the part of the brain tied to memory among people who had a buildup of amyloid beta pro...

AHA News: These Diets Helped Women With Diabetes Cut Heart Attack, Stroke Risk

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Eating patterns similar to the Mediterranean diet and the blood pressure-lowering DASH may help older women with Type 2 diabetes ward off heart attacks, strokes and related problems, new research suggests.

Diabetes afflicts one-quarter of Americans 65 and older. An estimate...

Maker Halts Distribution of Generic Zantac Due to Possible Carcinogen

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Novartis, the maker of a generic form of the popular heartburn drug Zantac, said Wednesday it will cease distribution of the medicine after investigations suggested that generic and branded versions contain a known carcinogen.

A distribution halt is not the same as a full recall, and it mean...

Parents, Throw the Garden at Your Picky Eater

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- When it comes to convincing your kids that vegetables taste good, variety might be the key to success.

New research suggests that offering children more than one type of vegetable may improve the chances that they'll eat a greater amount.

The study included 32 families with childre...

Can You Still Be Healthy If You're Overweight?

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- If you're overweight but have dodged chronic health issues like high cholesterol and high blood pressure, you might not think that losing weight is a priority. But an analysis of five years of records on 3.5 million people -- underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese -- has found reason for con...

Foods That Will Make You Feel Full Faster

THURSDAY, Sept. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- When you get the urge for a snack, you might not think that a slice of turkey can have the same lip-smacking effect as a handful of chips. But scientists have known for some time that protein is the most efficient nutrient for not only quickly satisfying hunger, but also for keeping you feeling satisf...

All-in-One Pill Helps Protect Heart

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Could popping just one pill a day keep your heart and blood vessels humming along for years to come?

Possibly. Researchers just tested a combo pill containing low doses of two blood pressure medications, a statin and a medication that keeps you from retaining excess fluid. They estimated t...

Intense Gaming Can Trigger Irregular Heartbeat, Fainting in Some Players

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Video games that guarantee heart-stopping action might come dangerously close to fulfilling that promise in some players.

A handful of video gamers have passed out when intense sessions caused their heartbeat to lapse into an irregular rhythm known as an arrhythmia, researchers report.

Tiny Genetic Tweak May Stop Ebola Virus in Its Tracks

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- New experiments in monkeys suggest that one slight alteration to the DNA of the Ebola virus might render it harmless to humans.

Changing just a single protein appears to activate the body's immune system to fight off the deadly infection, researchers report.

The mutated virus also...

New Healthy Drinks Guidelines for Kids: Skip the Soy, Avoid Sugars

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Four of America's biggest health organizations are banding together to urge parents to better monitor the drinks their young kids sip each day.

The take-home message from the new "Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids" guidelines: Cut down on sugary sodas, juices and the like, and favor breast milk...

C-Section Delivery Might Alter Newborn's 'Microbiome'

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- New research reveals that the bacterial composition of a newborn's gut may be dependent on how the baby is delivered.

Gut bacteria found in children delivered by cesarean section largely reflected the bacterial surroundings of the hospital in which the baby was born, British investigators r...