Health Headlines - April 7

Study: Drug-Resistant Staph Cases Rising

Dangerous drug-resistant staph infections are showing up at an alarming rate outside hospitals and nursing homes in the United States. New research found that in one part of the country, as many as one in five infections were picked up out in the community.

Smoking, Extra Weight Decrease Odds of IVF Success

Smoking reduces the chances that women undergoing IVF fertility treatment will have a baby -- equivalent to aging them ten years.

Senators to Stall FDA Pick Over Contraception

Two Democratic senators plan to block a vote on President Bush's pick to head the Food and Drug Administration over the agency's stalled decision on whether to allow a "morning-after" contraceptive to be sold over the counter, one of the lawmakers said on Wednesday.

WHO: Millions of Mothers, Babies Die Needlessly

One woman still dies every minute in pregnancy or childbirth, while each 60 seconds 20 young children succumb to easily preventable disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

U.S. Focusing on Disease Spread Through Air Travel

U.S. government health agencies are strengthening ties to airlines and aviation regulators to guard against the spread of infectious diseases or other deadly agents aboard commercial aircraft, federal officials said on Wednesday.

FDA Staff Questions Value of Breast Implant Data

New data from Inamed Corp. and rival Mentor Corp. on their silicone gel breast implants are of "limited value" in gauging the risk of ruptures, U.S. regulatory staff said in reports made public on Wednesday.

Brazil: Promoting Abstinence Ineffective Against AIDS

There is no evidence that promoting abstinence or marital fidelity works against AIDS, as the Bush administration argues, a senior Brazilian health official told the United Nations on Wednesday.

A New Blood Test for Heart Risk?

A test that measures blood levels of a molecule produced by heart muscle appears to be a strong indicator of future cardiac problems among healthy older people, Danish researchers report.

Health Tip: Your Baby's Teething

Teething usually starts during a child's first four to seven months. If your infant doesn't show any teeth until much later, don't worry. This may be determined by heredity, and it doesn't necessarily mean that anything is wrong.

Health Tip: Handling Postpartum Depression

It's supposed to be one of the happiest times of your life. You got through the long months of pregnancy and the challenges of childbirth, and now you've got a brand new baby. So, why do you feel so blue?

Vitamin E May Harm Patients With Head, Neck Cancers

Supplementation with the antioxidants vitamin E and beta carotene may cause unexpected problems in patients with head and neck cancer, researchers warn.

Progestin Dose May Explain HRT's Breast Cancer Link

High doses of progestin in hormone replacement therapy may explain the regimen's link to breast cancer recurrence in women with a history of the disease, a new study finds.

Free, Confidential Alcohol Screening Offered

When does social drinking cross the line to become a real problem? And how much daily alcohol is too much? Americans can get get free, confidential answers to questions like these at thousands of sites across the United States on National Alcohol Screening Day on April 7.