Kids Often Prescribed Drugs 'Off-Label,' Raising Concerns

MONDAY, Sept. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- When a child gets sick, doctors are increasingly relying on what's known as "off-label" use of medications, a new study says.

Off-label use of a drug means that it hasn't been specifically studied and approved for the condition, age group or weight of the person getting the prescription.

Even Dolphins Are Threatened by Antibiotic-Resistant 'Superbugs'

MONDAY, Sept. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have found one more way Flipper is a lot like people: The sharp rise in antibiotic resistance affecting humans is also happening to dolphins.

The discovery stems from a 13-year study of bottlenose dolphins in Florida's Indian River Lagoon.

"We've been able to provide a la...

Don't Let Kids Wander Alone in Parking Lots

FRIDAY, Sept. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Many children walk through parking lots without adult supervision, putting them in great danger, a new study warns.

Researchers watched 124 kids, ages 2 to 10, and their adult companions as they crossed a parking lot at a community recreation center.

The team found that 67% of th...

Adult Support Can Make the Difference for Boys From Tough Neighborhoods

FRIDAY, Sept. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Strong adult social support can help prevent violence among teen boys growing up in poor neighborhoods, new research shows.

The study included nearly 900 boys in poor areas of Pittsburgh, aged 13 to 19, who took part in a sexual violence prevention trial.

The researchers looked at ...

Most U.S. Parents Say Vaccination Should Be Requirement for School: Poll

FRIDAY, Sept. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- More than 8 in 10 U.S. adults say kids should be required to get vaccinated in order to attend school, but far fewer trust the safety of vaccines, a new poll finds.

The nationwide poll from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health sampled 1,550 adults (704 parents and 846 others) and foun...

Links Between Smog, 2nd Pregnancies and Preterm Birth

FRIDAY, Sept. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to higher levels of air pollution in a second pregnancy than in a first may increase the risk of preterm birth, a new study says.

U.S. National Institutes of Health researchers analyzed data from more than 50,000 women who gave birth in 20 hospitals in Utah between 2002 and 2010, as w...

Heartburn Drug Zantac May Contain Small Amounts of Known Carcinogen, FDA Says

FRIDAY, Sept. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- A substance that could cause cancer has been found in some ranitidine heartburn and ulcer medicines, including the brand-name drug Zantac, and the source of this contamination is being investigated, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

While preliminary tests found low levels of the nit...

More U.S. Teen Girls Are Victims of Suicide Than Thought, Study Finds

FRIDAY, Sept. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The gender gap in teen suicide is smaller than previously estimated, with more girls dying by suicide each year, a new study contends.

Suicide death rates among 10- to 19-year-old girls have been systematically underestimated, while rates among boys have been overestimated, according to the repo...

AHA News: Women With Heart Failure Less Likely to Get Heart Pump Device

FRIDAY, Sept. 13, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Women are less likely than men to receive a mechanical heart pump that is becoming the norm for people with advanced heart failure, according to new research.

The study, published Friday in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Heart Failure, took a deepe...

Most Cyclists Suffering Head Injuries Not Wearing Helmets: Study

FRIDAY, Sept. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Only about one in five U.S. adults and one in 10 children and teens who suffered head and neck injuries in cycling crashes said they wore a helmet, a new study finds.

An analysis of data from more than 76,000 cyclists nationwide who experienced such injuries between 2002 and 2012 found that on...

CDC Revises Number of Vaping-Linked Lung Illnesses to 380 in 36 States

FRIDAY, Sept. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. health officials have revised downward the number of cases of a severe lung injury linked to vaping, from more than 450 cases cited last week to the total of 380 cases announced late Thursday.

The decrease is due to the exclusion of "possible" cases, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control a...

For This Mom, Rare Bone Disease Is a Family Affair

FRIDAY, Sept. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Most people expect some risk in activities like mountain biking or rollerblading, but few would expect to end up in the emergency room with a broken thigh bone from doing a squat.

That's exactly what happened to Rachael Jones, 39, who was just trying to stay in shape, despite having a lifelon...

Stricter Arsenic Standard Made Public Drinking Water Safer: Study

FRIDAY, Sept. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Stricter U.S. government standards for drinking water have reduced arsenic violations by public water systems, proving such safety regulations work, researchers say.

Public water systems provide more than 80% of the nation's drinking water.

The new standard was introduced in 2001...

What's the Right Balance of Fats and Carbs?

FRIDAY, Sept. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- What is the perfect amount of fats and carbohydrates for a healthy diet? Scientists from McMaster University in Canada analyzed food diaries from more than 135,000 people in 18 countries around the world to find out.

The answer supports the old adage that moderation is good for your heart and...

10 Quick Tips for a Healthier, Safer Life

FRIDAY, Sept. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Some things that you can do to protect your health take just minutes, so no more excuses! Here are 10 suggestions from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every month. Yes, this is an addition to changing the batteries once a year....

Kidney Transplants Safe When Donors Had Hepatitis C

THURSDAY, Sept. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Kidneys from donors with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are routinely used in kidney transplants in the United States and function well in the first year after transplantation, a new study says.

The findings provide reassurance that the use of HCV-infected kidneys for transplantation is safe an...

Is Your Pelvic Pain a Sign of Endometriosis?

THURSDAY, Sept. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Women with pelvic pain should consider the possibility of endometriosis and discuss it with their doctor, an expert in gynecology says.

While pelvic pain can be a sign of many conditions, endometriosis is among the most common. It occurs when cells from the lining of the uterus grow into oth...

Heart Attack Can Be More Lethal If Symptoms Are More Gradual

THURSDAY, Sept. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Heart attack patients often take longer to seek help if they have gradual symptoms, which may put them at increased risk of death, researchers say.

Gradual symptoms begin with mild discomfort that slowly worsens, while abrupt symptoms are sudden and severe pain, according to authors of a stu...

How to Keep Your Bones Strong and Prevent Fractures

THURSDAY, Sept. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- If you're a young adult, start thinking about your bone health, an expert advises.

Most people reach peak bone mass -- the strongest bones they'll ever have -- between 25 and 30 years of age, according to Dr. Philip Bosha, a physician with Penn State Sports Medicine in State College, Pa.

U.S. Autism Rates Rising Fastest for Hispanics, Blacks

THURSDAY, Sept. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Autism rates among U.S. children are rising fastest among blacks and Hispanics, researchers say.

"We found that rates among blacks and Hispanics are not only catching up to those of whites -- which have historically been higher -- but surpassing them," said study author Cynthia Nevison, a re...