Health Headlines - January 6

Herbal Extract Reduces Migraines

An extract of the root of a plant called butterbur (Petasites hybridus) significantly reduces the frequency of migraine headaches, new research findings suggest.

U.S. Studies Point to Protein Role in Heart Attacks

It's not enough to reduce "bad" cholesterol to prevent heart attacks because a substance called CRP also must be kept low, doctors said on Wednesday in a finding that could save tens of thousands of lives.

Secondhand Smoke Lowers Kids' Math, Reading Scores

Kids and teenagers exposed to even trace amounts of secondhand smoke score lower on tests of reading and reasoning, according to new research.

Sperm-Sorting Machine May Help Infertile Men

Scientists in Australia have developed a sperm-sorting machine which may help infertile men to become fathers.

Tanners Have Higher Vitamin D Levels, Bone Mass

People who try to stay bronze with the help of a tanning bed tend to have higher blood levels of vitamin D than those shun the salon, according to a new study.

'Infertile' British Woman Has Baby

A British woman who had been told she was infertile after undergoing chemotherapy has given birth to a son -- described by doctors as a medical first -- British newspapers reported on Thursday.

Antibiotic Shown to Protect Nerves in Animal Study

Antibiotics could one day be used for more than killing bacteria and may help patients suffering from neurological diseases, scientists said on Wednesday.

Fruits, Veggies Lower Kids' Blood Pressure

Preschoolers who eat the recommended four servings of fruits and vegetables -- along with two servings of dairy products -- each day may have lower blood pressures in early adolescence, new study findings suggest.

Mental Deficits Common After Very Preterm Birth

More than three-quarters of children who were born before the 26th week of pregnancy are affected by cognitive and neurologic impairments by the time they reach school age, British researchers report.

Medtronic Loses a Patent Case

Medical device maker Medtronic Inc. lost a patent case over heart stents against rivals Guidant Corp. and Boston Scientific Corp. on Wednesday, but the company said it would appeal the decision.

Canada May Limit Cross-Border Pharmacies

Canadian health officials are drafting a proposal to prevent Internet pharmacies from selling mail-order prescription drugs to U.S. consumers, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Man Who Shed 450 Pounds to Head Home Soon

His recovery was slowed because of an infection, but a man who once weighed more than 1,000 pounds may soon leave a hospital after shedding more than 450 pounds.

Aid Sought to Prevent Post-Tsunami Disease

The World Health Organization said Wednesday it urgently needs $60 million to prevent outbreaks of waterborne and other infectious diseases in tsunami-hit areas around the Indian Ocean.

Tsunami Survivors Worry Psychiatrists

Some banged their heads against the hospital wall. Some, wide-eyed, just stared vacantly. Others mumbled "the sea is coming," reliving the horrors of the massive tsunami that took their families and homes.

Vietnam Reports Boy's Death From Bird Flu

A 9-year-old boy in Vietnam has died of bird flu, bringing the number of people in the country killed by the virus to 21, a doctor said Wednesday.

Kids With Special Needs Have Bigger Medical Bills

Children with special health-care needs have health-care costs three times greater than other children, says a study in the January issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Obese Blacks Incur Lower Health-Care Costs

Health-care costs for obese blacks are less than for obese whites, says a study that also concludes the costs of obesity-related health problems grow progressively greater as adults age.

Some Cases of Sudden Cardiac Death May Start in Brain

Disrupted signals from the brain to the heart may be responsible for sudden cardiac death caused by emotional stress, says a University College London study.

Elderly Women With Cervical Cancer Face Tough Battle

Elderly women with cervical cancer face an especially difficult struggle, says a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Mammography's Early Catches Have Silver Lining

Women whose breast cancer is detected by physical examination are about three times more likely to receive chemotherapy than women whose breast cancer is detected by mammography.

Childhood Obesity Weighs Heavily on Kids

It may not come as a surprise to anyone who's ever heard an overweight child getting teased in the schoolyard, but a new study reports that kids who are overweight or obese have a lower quality of life.

Role Seen for Vitamin A to Prevent Breast Cancer

A glitch in the way the body processes vitamin A may contribute to the development of breast cancer, a new study says.

C-Reactive Protein a Red Flag for Heart Trouble

Blood levels of a molecule called C-reactive protein are just as important as cholesterol readings when measuring cardiovascular risk, say two studies that looked at the issue in different groups of patients.