Second Thoughts About That Tattoo? Here's Some Advice

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- If it's time for that tattoo to go, here's some advice from the American Academy of Dermatology.

Lasers removal of tattoos has become safer and more effective, but the results depend almost entirely on the person doing the work.

"For the best results and to reduce your risk of seriou...

FDA OKs New Pill for Type 2 Diabetes

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- A new pill to lower blood sugar for people with type 2 diabetes was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday.

The drug, Rybelsus (semaglutide) is the first pill in a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) approved for use in the United States. Before Rybelsus, t...

Make Learning Fun, and Kids Learn More

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Make it fun, and they will learn.

That's the conclusion of a new Canadian study that analyzed a kindergarten teaching program that favors playful activities and socializing over sit-down lectures. In the end, the innovative program appeared to give kids a leg up on reading, writing and arithm...

Sick Americans Turning to Medical Pot for Help

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- More Americans use marijuana to help them cope with an illness than just to get high, a new study finds.

Nearly 46% of those who use pot say they do so because of a medical condition, compared with 22% who say they use marijuana for recreation.

And only 36% of those with...

Low Vitamin D Levels, Shorter Life?

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Young and middle-aged adults with low vitamin D levels may live shorter lives, a large study suggests.

The findings come from a 20-year follow-up of more than 78,000 Austrian adults. Researchers found that those with low vitamin D levels in their blood were nearly three times more likely to di...

Flavored E-Cigarettes May Make Asthma Worse

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Black licorice, banana pudding and other flavored electronic cigarette liquids may make respiratory diseases like asthma worse, a new international study finds.

Vaping has surged in recent years, especially among young people. An estimated 9% of 18- to 24-year-olds use e-cigarettes in the...

Anemia During Pregnancy Tied to Higher Odds for Autism, ADHD in Kids

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Women who suffer from anemia early in pregnancy are at risk for having a child with autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intellectual disabilities, a study by Swedish researchers suggests.

The study couldn't prove cause and effect, but "a diagnosis of anemia earlier in p...

AHA News: Adopted Baby's Unexpected Heart Problem Brought Unexpected Joy

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- When their hopes of adopting a child from China were stretched thin by years of wait, Vanessa and Chris Zoog asked for a baby with a physical issue – one who could use an extra dollop of love. Doing so, they learned, would expedite the adoption process.

The New Jersey f...

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...