Pot Is Bad News for Baby During Pregnancy

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking pot regularly during pregnancy won't do your baby any favors, researchers warn.

They studied sonograms from nearly 450 pregnant women who said they used marijuana daily. The researchers concluded that daily use of the drug is associated with delayed fetal growth, which may increase the r...

Dangers of 'Superbug' Germs Greater Than Believed

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of new superbugs that pose a threat to human health and food crops is much higher than previously thought, new genetic research shows.

There's been an uptick in the number of laboratory studies showing how just one mutation could create highly infectious or "hypervirulent" strains of di...

Could Obesity Alter a Child's Brain Structure?

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Childhood obesity may be linked to changes in brain structure that might result in impulsive kids who struggle with problem-solving, a new study reports.

Overweight and obese children tend to have a thinner prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain associated with decision-making and problem-solvin...

What Is Your Cat Trying to Tell You? 'Cat Whisperers' Know

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Only a few people seem able to decipher what most people consider unreadable expressions on cats' faces, researchers find.

These "cat whisperers" can discern subtle differences on feline faces that reveal their mood. Women and people in the veterinary field, but not necessarily cat lovers, are m...

Many Kids Traveling Overseas Aren't Vaccinated Against Measles

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Many American kids aren't vaccinated against measles before they travel overseas to areas where the disease is endemic, a new study finds.

Nearly 60% of these children hadn't received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination before going abroad. This year, the more than 1,200 cases of me...

Additives to E-Cigarettes May Be Upping Health Dangers

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Natural compounds added to marijuana-derived vaping liquid produce toxic chemicals in the vapor that users inhale, a new lab study reports.

The compounds, known as terpenes, are added into pure THC distillations to dilute the product and provide the vapor with aroma and taste, said senior resear...

As Diabetes Costs Soar, Many Turn to Black Market for Help

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Skyrocketing prices and insurance limits are driving many people with diabetes to seek medications and supplies from an underground supply chain, a new study found.

"The cost of insulin, which is required in type 1 diabetes and a subset of type 2 diabetes, has increased substantially over the l...

One-Third of Lung Cancer Patients Battle Depression: Study

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Depression is common among lung cancer patients and can damage their quality of life and treatment outcomes, a new study indicates.

The findings suggest that doctors should screen lung cancer patients for depression and refer them for mental health care if necessary, said lead author Barbara And...

AHA News: Public Enemy's Keith Shocklee Turns Heart Attack Into Call to Action

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Don't take Keith Shocklee's word for it when he says he didn't look like someone about to have a heart attack.

Check his photos from last year and you'll find a producer who looks lean, strong and maybe a decade younger than his actual age. Or watch the Facebook video selfie of hi...

Is Timing Everything for SIDS Risk?

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that a baby's age may offer clues to sudden unexplained infant death (SUID) -- formerly known as SIDS.

The study identified two unique groups of babies who died from SUID -- one who died within a week of birth, and another who died later on.

"SUID is a term that...

Playing Sports Might Sharpen Your Hearing

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Playing sports may improve the brain's ability to process sounds, a finding that could lead to new therapies for people who struggle with hearing, researchers report.

"No one would argue against the fact that sports lead to better physical fitness, but we don't always think of brain fitness and ...

Is Childbirth More Dangerous in Rural Areas?

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- If you are pregnant and live in a rural area of the United States, new research shows that you're at higher risk of life-threatening complications or death during or after childbirth.

"Our study suggests that geographic disparities may put rural women at an increased risk of requiring lifesaving...

CBD Medicine May Help Ease Another Form of Seizure

SATURDAY, Dec. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Prescription-grade CBD may help control hard-to-treat seizures caused by a rare genetic disorder, a preliminary study suggests.

The study involved 224 patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) -- a genetic condition that affects about one in 6,000 people, accor...

Good Workouts Might Extend a Woman's Life

SATURDAY, Dec. 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- If you can tackle a tough workout, that may bode well for your longevity, new research suggests.

A woman's risk of dying from heart disease, cancer or other causes is much lower if she can engage in vigorous exercise, scientists report.

The new study included more than 4,700 middle-a...

Healthy Lifestyle, Regular Screening May Keep Cancer at Bay

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- A healthy lifestyle might be your best defense against cancer, an expert says.

About 42% of cancer cases and 45% of cancer deaths are attributable to modifiable risk factors, according to the American Cancer Society.

"Modifiable risk factors are behaviors within one's control, ...

Virtual Doc Visits Suffice for Many With Neurological Disorders

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- If you have a neurological disorder, a video chat with your doctor might be as good as an office visit for checking on your condition.

That's the conclusion of researchers who analyzed 101 studies on telemedicine use for concussion, traumatic brain injury, dementia, epilepsy, headache, multiple ...

FDA Testing Levels of Carcinogen in Diabetes Drug Metformin

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Levels of possible cancer-causing chemicals in metformin diabetes medications are under investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Metformin is a prescription drug used to control high blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Over the past year and a half, several typ...

FDA Approves First Generic Forms of MS Drug Gilenya

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The first generic versions of the multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The three generic versions of Gilenya (fingolimod) capsules were approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults.

"Approving...

Domestic Abuse Can Leave Legacy of Poor Health

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Women with a history of domestic abuse are more likely to develop chronic conditions that cause pain and fatigue, a new study says.

British researchers examined medical records of more than 18,500 women who had suffered domestic abuse between 1995 and 2017 and more than 74,000 who had not been a...

AHA News: Here's How Black Barbershops Could Save Lives and Millions in Health Costs

FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- A national program to fight high blood pressure by sending pharmacists to black barbershops could prevent thousands of strokes, heart attacks and deaths, and save the health care system $870 million a year, a new analysis shows.

The research, led by Dr. Dhruv S. Kazi of the Smi...