Health Headlines - December 29

UN Says Post-Tsunami Disease Could Kill Thousands

Disease could double the death toll from the tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean region at the weekend, a top World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Tuesday.

Working While Ill Increases Risk of Heart Attack

Men who never take a sick day even though they're not in good health may be setting themselves up for a heart attack, according to a new study.

Wealthy School Systems More Likely to Spot Autism

Children with signs of autism are more likely to be diagnosed with the disorder in wealthier school districts, results of a new study show.

Diabetes Drugs Might Treat Multiple Myeloma

In the lab, multiple myeloma cells are killed by drugs similar to existing anti-diabetes drugs like Avandia or Actos, according to researchers at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York.

Gay and Straight Men Alike in Body Image Hang-Ups

Both gay and heterosexual men are equally likely to aspire to an unattainable body type, or to harbor a distorted image of their actual body, new research indicates.

Drug Improves Symptoms of Diabetic Nerve Damage

People with diabetes are prone to develop nerve damage that causes numbness, tingling or pain -- which may reduce awareness of skin damage and lead to serious infections and ulcers. Now, a new drug may improve this situation, Japanese researchers report.

Dry, Cracked Hands May Be Dermatitis

Hands that are red, cracked, itchy or sore may be more than just a cold-weather problem with dry skin. It could be a sign of dermatitis, or eczema, according to the December issue of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

Metapneumovirus an Emerging Cause of Kids' Illness

Human metapneumovirus was first identified as a cause of respiratory infection in 2001. It now appears to be infecting more and more children, Italian researchers report.

Quitting Smoking Quickly Benefits Heart Patients

Smokers with coronary heart disease who suffer a heart attack or severe angina, rapidly benefit from kicking the smoking habit, German investigators report.

'Watchful Waiting' OK for Some Prostate Cancers

New research shows that it's possible to identify men with slowly progressive or latent prostate cancer, reflected by prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels that remain stable or fall over time.

FDA Approves New Drug for Severe Pain

The government approved a drug Tuesday that offers a new way of fighting severe pain — an option for patients who no longer benefit from morphine and other traditional pain medications.

Cardiologist Calls for More FDA Power

The controversy over pain relievers' cardiovascular risks highlights the need to empower the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to demand drug companies conduct further tests on already-approved drugs, according to a prominent cardiologist.

Remarriage Turns Men Into Couch Potatoes

Men who remarry after a divorce or death of a spouse start packing on the pounds and cutting back on exercise, essentially letting themselves go, a new study finds.

Internal Clock Affects Heart Rhythm Patterns

In a scientific first, researchers have found that the body's internal clock, known as the circadian cycle, affects heart rate, independent of a person's sleep/wake cycle or other behavioral influences.

Light Technology Lends a Hand to Pap Test

Using a bright light technology called speculoscopy immediately after a Pap smear may help doctors detect more cervical lesions than the Pap test alone, says a review of three previous studies.

Faulty Gene Signaling Linked to Crohn's

Researchers have identified a faulty inflammatory signaling process that may lead to the development of Crohn's disease.

Virus Infecting Dogs Hardier Than Thought

Canine parvovirus, an organism that can sicken and kill dogs, has undergone epidemic-like growth since its appearance more than 25 years ago and is capable of doubling its population size every few years.

Tobacco Promotions Woo College Crowd

Tobacco companies often give away cigarettes at college bars and campus social events, a new Harvard survey found. And undergraduates who take advantage of the giveaways are three times more likely to start smoking.

Under-age drinking has killed hundreds of Australian teens

Under-age drinking led to the deaths of more than 500 Australian teenagers in the decade leading up to 2002, according to a new university study.

Blind American girl, 7, sues pharmaceutical giant Johnson&Johnson

A seven-year-old girl sued US pharmaceutical giant Johnson&Johnson, claiming it failed to warn of a possible allergic reaction to a children's drug that left her blind.