Next-Gen Artificial Pancreas Boosts Blood Sugar Control

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The latest version of the so-called artificial pancreas system helped people with type 1 diabetes gain even better control of their blood sugar levels than current technology does, a new study reports.

The device combines an insulin pump, a continuous glucose monitor and a computer algorith...

Stress in Pregnancy May Affect Baby's Sex, Preterm Delivery Risk: Study

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Physical and mental stress during pregnancy may influence the baby's sex, and physical stress may increase the risk of preterm birth, a new study suggests.

Researchers assessed 187 healthy pregnant women between 18 and 45 years of age. About 17% were mentally stressed, with high levels o...

For Kids With Genetic Condition, Statins May Be Lifesavers

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- When children with genetically high cholesterol are prescribed statins, it can drastically cut their risk of heart disease and death before the age of 40, a new study finds.

At issue is a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), an inherited genetic disorder that causes levels of...

Brain Damage From Concussion Evident a Year Later

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Concussion damage may linger a full year after an athlete returns to play, Canadian researchers report.

"Brain recovery after concussion may be a more complex and longer-lasting process than we originally thought," said lead investigator Nathan Churchill, a research associate in the Neurosci...

Aging Population, Unhealthy Habits Underlie Expected Cancer Surge

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Due to population growth and aging, the number of cancer cases worldwide is expected to jump 60% by 2040 -- but unhealthy lifestyle habits are likely to make the surge even larger.

That's the conclusion from the new edition of the Cancer Atlas, unveiled Wednesday at the World Canc...

Irregular Periods, Shorter Life Span?

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Women whose menstrual cycles persistently vary from the 28-day norm may have an increased risk of earlier death, new research suggests.

The study found that women who had irregular periods or extra-long menstrual cycles had as much as a one-third higher risk of death during the two-decade s...

How Giant Dinosaurs Evolved to Stay Cool

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Giant dinosaurs, such as long-necked sauropods, evolved special cooling systems to prevent overheating and brain damage, according to a new study.

"Small dinosaurs could have just run into the shade to cool off, but for those giant dinosaurs, the potential for overheating was literally inesc...

Depression, Anxiety Can Dampen Efforts to Recover From a Heart Attack

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Recovering from a heart attack can be tough, but new research suggests that depression, anxiety and stress can make it even tougher.

"Anxiety may lead to fear of another cardiac event and stop people from being active," said study author Angela Rao, from the University of Technology Sydney i...

AHA News: 'New Amsterdam' a Drama, But It Looks at This Real-Life Heart Issue

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- The New Amsterdam Medical Center is an active place. At any second, the ER might have to revive a man whose heart stopped after a basketball game with the friendly but convention-defying hospital director, while at the same time its staff is sleuthing out the cause of a child's illnes...

AHA News: Lowering Blood Pressure May Prevent New Brain Lesions in Older People

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Many people know treating high blood pressure reduces the odds of a heart attack, stroke or heart failure. Now, a new study suggests another added benefit: a lower risk of lesions in the brain that increase the chances of dementia, stroke and falls in older adults.

The stud...

None of Top-Selling Kids' Drinks Meet Experts' Health Recommendations

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Drinks marketed to children often contain loads of unhealthy sugars and sweeteners, and they come in packages that deliver too-large servings, a new report finds.

None of 34 sweetened drinks aimed at the youth market meet nutrition recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP),...

Can Testosterone Make Women Better Runners?

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- A little bit of testosterone cream might help women run faster longer, a new study suggests.

Some female athletes have naturally high testosterone levels that are similar to men, and there is controversy over whether it's fair to allow them to compete against female athletes with normal test...

Moms' Weight-Loss Surgery Tied to Lower Risk of Birth Defects

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Weight-loss surgery before pregnancy may lower obese women's odds of having a baby with major birth defects, new research suggests.

For the study, the researchers examined data on more than 33,000 births in Sweden between 2007 and 2014.

Of these, nearly 3,000 children were born t...

A Guide to Good Etiquette at the Gym

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Universal gym etiquette includes steps like turning off your cellphone whenever you're working out, being courteous when using shared equipment in the weight room, taking thoughtful steps such as not wearing heavy perfume, and wiping off your sweat after working out on a machine.

But there a...

Millet: A Whole Grain You Might Be Overlooking

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Don't let the names of exotic grains like millet keep you from trying them. They're as easy to make as standard white rice yet far more nutritious.

Millet is the seed of a grass that grows in Africa. It has a fluffy, dry texture and tastes similar to corn. Millet has a wide variety of nutrie...

Breast Milk Combats Growth of Bad Bacteria

TUESDAY, Oct. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers say they have identified a compound in breast milk that combats the growth of infection-causing bacteria in infants.

The compound is called glycerol monolaurate (GML), and the amount of GML in human breast milk is more than 200 times higher than in cow's milk. Infant formula has no...

When Baby Makes Four

TUESDAY, Oct. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- When people in non-monogamous relationships decide to have a baby, they may find that hospitals are not ready to handle their childbirth needs, a new study suggests.

The study is among the first to look into the health care experiences of people in "polyamorous" relationships.

While ...

Bladder Drug Can Cause Eye Damage: Study

TUESDAY, Oct. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The widely used bladder drug Elmiron may cause eye damage, a new study claims.

A report released last year suggested that the drug -- known as pentosan polysulfate sodium and used by hundreds of thousands of people for decades -- may be toxic to the retina, the light-sensing tissue at the back...

What Helps Calm Agitated Dementia Patients?

TUESDAY, Oct. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Dealing with the agitation, anxiety and aggression that often come with dementia is one of the most challenging aspects of caring for someone with this brain disorder. But new research suggests that massage and other non-drug treatments may be more effective than medications.

Even just taking...

AHA News: The Road to Better Exercise Might Be in Your Playlist

TUESDAY, Oct. 15, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Music may be just what you need to stick with an exercise program – and picking the right tunes could even improve performance.

Federal exercise guidelines recommend people get at least two and a half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or 75 minutes of vigoro...