Health Headlines - February 4

Alcohol, Tobacco Pose Equal Burden on Global Health

When it comes to causing death and disability, alcoholic drinks are as bad as tobacco and high blood pressure.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Raises Heart Death Risk

Rheumatoid arthritis seems to raise the risk of silent heart disease in patients -- even before they know they have the chronic condition, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.

Welders Show Elevated Rate of Parkinson Symptoms

Welders may have a higher-than-average rate of Parkinson's disease symptoms, the results of a new study suggest.

NIH Asks for Internet Access to Studies

The U.S. National Institutes of Health, which spent nearly $20 billion last year funding research, urged scientists on Thursday to let the agency publish their studies on the Internet.

Vaccine Program Reduces Chickenpox Deaths

Since the universal childhood varicella vaccination program was implemented in the United States in 1995, there has been a sharp decline in chickenpox-related deaths, according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

FDA Warns Glaxo on Hypertension Drug Marketing

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned GlaxoSmithKline Plc on Thursday over misleading advertisements touting its hypertension drug called Coreg.

Bush Signals Tougher Embryo Research Limits

President Bush plans to press for even stricter limits on human embryo research and has no intention of softening restrictions on stem cell research, a senior administration official said on Thursday.

Kidney Disease Tied to Mental Impairment

Menopausal women with chronic kidney disease have lower scores on tests of mental proficiency (cognitive function) than those without chronic kidney disease, according to a new study.

Diets Rich in Rice Bran Oil May Lower Cholesterol

New research findings pinpoint the specific component of rice bran responsible for its heart-healthy effects. Two small studies show that it is the oil, and not the fiber, that helps lower cholesterol.

Poverty Worsening HIV Among U.S. Black Women

Poverty, unemployment and other socioeconomic factors are helping to fuel a growing HIV problem among black women, a U.S. study released on Thursday suggests.

Migraine Headaches May Have Stroke Risk

Migraines, which are most common in young women, have long been considered a possible indicator of stroke risk. The latest research indicates that those who experience grayed or blacked-out vision are at almost double the risk of stroke.

Docs Try to Treat 'Mermaid Syndrome' Baby

A Peruvian medical team is preparing for pioneering surgery to separate the fused legs of a 9-month-old girl born with a rare condition known as sirenomelia, or "mermaid syndrome."

Chair Yoga Catching on Among Seniors

A more gentle form of yoga is catching on in some retirement communities. The yoga mat is replaced by the chair. Sometimes two.

Study Links Stroke Risk, Southern Blacks

Blacks in the South apparently get a double whammy of stroke risk: They die at much higher rates than either Southern whites or blacks who live elsewhere.

Lawmaker Pushes Umbilical Cord Donation

A state senator is proposing that the state promote stem cell treatment from umbilical cords.

WHO: Tsunami Hasn't Spawned Outbreaks

Precautions at the outset of the tsunami disaster in Indonesia's Aceh province prevented major outbreaks of infectious diseases, even though medical aid distribution was bedeviled by poor coordination, a World Health Organization official said Thursday.

Vietnam Seeks U.N. Help to Fight Bird Flu

Vietnam has appealed to the United Nations to help it fight a raging bird flu outbreak that has killed 12 people in the communist country over the past five weeks, officials said Thursday.

Hydrocortisone Fights Severe Pneumonia

Treatment with infusions of the corticosteroid drug hydrocortisone brings significant improvement to patients with severe pneumonia, according to a study from Italy.

Mini-Strokes Need More Medical Attention

People who suffer a "mini-stroke", or transient ischemic attack (TIA), receive less aggressive medical attention in terms of testing, treatment and education than patients with a full-blown stroke do.

Breast Cancer Prevention From The Sea

More than just a slimy nuisance that wraps itself around your ankles while you walk the beach, seaweed may actually be a powerful tool in the fight against breast cancer.

Friday Means Free Dental Care for Needy Kids

At least half a million children across the United States will receive free dental services Friday, Feb. 4, as part of the American Dental Association's (ADA) nationwide Give Kids a Smile Day.

Injections Best for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

In the first-ever comparison of the two most common treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome, Spanish researchers conclude that simple steroid injections bring most people long-term relief.

China struggles to prevent diseases spreading as millions hit the road

Millions of Chinese were hitting the road for the Lunar New Year, as officials struggled to ensure they did not carry meningitis and other hazardous diseases to the furthest corners of the country.