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February 7, 2012
Obama risks Catholic vote with birth-control mandate
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February 7, 2012
Bread blamed for Americans' high salt intake
Reuters could not immediately reach a food industry spokesman for comment on the CDC recommendation that they reduce the amount of salt in food.
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February 7, 2012
White House to spend more on Alzheimer's
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February 7, 2012
Walmart to label healthier food as "Great For You"
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February 6, 2012
Male smokers lose brain function faster as they age
LONDON (Reuters) - Men who smoke suffer a more rapid decline in brain function as they age than their non-smoking counterparts, with their cognitive decline as rapid as someone 10 years older but who shuns tobacco, scientists said on Monday.
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February 6, 2012
Fitness and 'fatness' both matter to the heart
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Losing fitness or packing on fat with age each can be bad for the heart -- but avoiding either one of those fates may protect the ticker, a study published Monday suggests.
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February 6, 2012
Orexigen, FDA agree on trial design for obesity drug
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February 3, 2012
Green tea drinkers show less disability with age
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Elderly adults who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile and independent than their peers over time, a large study of Japanese adults suggests.
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February 3, 2012
In PIP implant scandal, a ragged safety net exposed
LONDON (Reuters) - In June 2000, when American medical regulators posted a warning letter on the Internet about problems at a breast-implant maker in southern France, French authorities didn't pay much attention.
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February 2, 2012
French drug regulator searched in Mediator case
PARIS (Reuters) - Investigators searched the offices of French healthcare regulator Afssaps on Thursday in connection with a case involving the anti-diabetes drug Mediator, which officials blame for at least 500 deaths in France.
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February 2, 2012
Smoking tied to higher psoriasis risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Adding to the list of possible health consequences from smoking, a large study suggests that smokers have an increased risk of developing the chronic skin condition psoriasis.
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February 1, 2012
Omega-3s tied to lower risk of heart arrhythmia
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a new study of some 3,000 older adults, those with the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood were 30 percent less likely to develop an irregular heartbeat over the next 14 years than peers with the lowest blood levels of omega-3s.
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February 1, 2012
Jessica Alba goes toxin-free with The Honest Company
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Working mom Jessica Alba is adding entrepreneur to her many titles, shifting from movie star to businesswoman with a venture that provides parents easy access to eco-friendly natural products for babies and homes.
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January 31, 2012
Weight loss may prevent leaky bladder in diabetes
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Overweight women with diabetes may be able to cut their risk of urine leakage if they shed some pounds, a new study suggests.
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January 31, 2012
Statins work as well for women as men: study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Despite doubts raised by some studies, a new research review suggests that cholesterol-lowering statins offer as much protection for women as for men.
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January 30, 2012
Study clouds evidence on soy and menopause
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Middle-aged women may find some relief from hot flashes and other menopause problems with soy supplements, according to Chinese researchers.
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January 30, 2012
Calories count, but not where they come from: study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Sticking to diets with strict proportions of fat, carbs and protein may not be more effective for people who want to lose weight and fat mass than simply cutting back on calories, according to a new comparison of four diets.
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January 30, 2012
Big Pharma donates drugs for neglected diseases
LONDON (Reuters) - The world's major pharmaceutical companies joined forces with governments and leading global health organizations Monday to donate drugs and scientific know-how to help control or wipe out 10 neglected tropical diseases by 2020.
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January 26, 2012
Spike in deaths blamed on 2003 NYC power outage
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The biggest electricity blackout to occur in the United States resulted in 90 additional deaths in New York City, caused both by accidents and disease-related problems, according to a new analysis of data from the summer of 2003.
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January 26, 2012
CORRECTION: Exercise may boost mood for some chronically ill
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Working out regularly may brighten the mood of people with chronic health problems like cancer, heart disease and back pain, according to the first sweeping look at previous research.
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January 25, 2012
Exercise may boost mood for some chronically ill
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Working out regularly may brighten the mood of people with chronic health problems like cancer, heart disease and back pain, according to the first sweeping look at previous research.
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January 25, 2012
FDA fails to approve cholesterol drug for kidney
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators amended the prescribing label for Merck & Co's cholesterol-lowering drug Vytorin to show it prevents heart problems in patients with chronic kidney disease, but stopped short of approving its use for that purpose.
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January 25, 2012
Kids' health predicts parents' future heart disease
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - When children have high cholesterol or blood pressure, their parents may have increased risks of diabetes and heart disease down the road, a new study finds.
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January 25, 2012
Controversial scan doesn't help smokers quit: study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Checking for clogged arteries doesn't help inveterate smokers kick the habit if they are already in a quit-smoking program, Swiss researchers have found.
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January 25, 2012
Drinking black tea may cut blood pressure
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who enjoy drinking black tea throughout the day may get the added benefit of a slight reduction in their blood pressure, suggests a new Australian study.
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January 25, 2012
USDA sets guidelines for healthier school meals
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - School meals for millions of children will be healthier under obesity-fighting U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards unveiled on Wednesday that double the amount of fruits and vegetables in cafeteria lunches - but won't pull French fries from the menu.
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January 25, 2012
Device makers urge coverage of weight-loss surgery
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Device manufacturers are pushing the U.S. government and health insurers to cover weight-loss surgery, an effort that could give millions more obese Americans access to the treatments.
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January 24, 2012
Illinois Senator Kirk talking following stroke
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois, who suffered a stroke over the weekend and had part of his skull removed to relieve brain swelling, is alert and talking but has a long recovery in store, his doctor said on Tuesday.
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January 24, 2012
Common scans could hurt thyroid, researchers say
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The iodide dye used in heart scans and other medical imaging might damage some people's thyroid glands, which could cause important health problems later on, U.S. researchers say.
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January 24, 2012
Swimming lowers older adults' blood pressure
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many older adults like to take a dip a pool, and now a small study suggests it can be good for their blood pressure.
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January 24, 2012
Contaminated medicines kill at least 27 in Pakistan
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - The government in Pakistan's Punjab province is scrambling to recall contaminated drugs that have killed at least 27 people over the last month, provincial health officials said on Tuesday.
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January 23, 2012
Positive psychology has limited health benefits
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A psychology technique that encourages patients to think positively and gain confidence helped some with high blood pressure and heart disease stick to medication and exercise goals, according to new research.
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January 23, 2012
Senator Mark Kirk hospitalized after stroke
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Senator Mark Kirk underwent surgery on Monday after suffering a stroke, according to a statement from the Illinois Republican lawmaker's office.
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January 20, 2012
Study links sleep apnea and sudden deafness
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Sudden hearing loss might be tied to an underlying sleep disorder that interrupts breathing, suggests a new study from Taiwan.
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January 20, 2012
Pomegranate seed oil fails to cool hot flashes
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In the first clinical trial of pomegranate seed oil as a treatment for menopausal hot flashes, women taking the supplement twice a day for 12 weeks got no more relief than women taking a placebo pill containing sunflower oil.
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January 20, 2012
EU says Novartis MS drug needs heart monitoring
LONDON/ZURICH (Reuters) - The European Medicines Agency advised doctors to continuously monitor patients for six hours after giving them a first dose of Novartis AG's multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya, casting a shadow over the potential blockbuster product.
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January 19, 2012
Goal for Alzheimer's drug by 2025 too ambitious?
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. government has set a deadline of 2025 for finding an effective way to treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease, an ambitious target considering there is no cure on the horizon and one that sets a firm deadline unlike previous campaigns against cancer or AIDS.
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January 19, 2012
J&J to pay $158 mln to settle Texas Risperdal case
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson said on Thursday it will pay $158 million to settle a Texas lawsuit accusing the drugmaker of improperly marketing its Risperdal anti-psychotic drug to state residents on the Medicaid health program for the poor.
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January 19, 2012
Plant compounds tied to fewer heart deaths
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older adults who get a moderate amount of certain plant compounds in their diets are less likely to die of heart disease or stroke, a large study finds.
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January 19, 2012
Tall? That may be good news for your heart: study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Tall men are less likely than shorter ones to develop heart failure, suggests a new study of U.S. doctors.
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January 18, 2012
France "criminal" in advising removal: implant boss
PARIS (Reuters) - The founder of a French company at the heart of an international health scandal acknowledged on Wednesday that he had used unapproved silicone in breast implants, but said France's recommendation for women to have them removed was "criminal."
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January 17, 2012
Fish oil plus exercise may do older muscles good
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older women may be able to boost their muscle strength by adding fish oil supplements to their exercise routine, a small clinical trial suggests.
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January 17, 2012
How much iodine is too much?
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Iodine deficiency is a major health problem worldwide, but a new study points to the potential downsides of too much iodine.
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January 17, 2012
Little change in U.S. obesity rates in recent years
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The number of kids and adults in the United States who are obese has held steady over the last few years, two reports out Tuesday suggest.
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January 16, 2012
Vitamin D doesn't ease lung disease symptoms: study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a new study of people with moderate or severe lung disease, taking large amounts of vitamin D was not linked to any symptom relief, researchers from Belgium report.
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January 13, 2012
Magnesium-rich diet tied to lower stroke risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A fresh look at past research concludes that people who eat lots of greens and other foods rich in magnesium have fewer strokes -- a finding that supports current diet guidelines.
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January 13, 2012
Pollution tied to disease risk in L.A. black women
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a study of more than 4,000 black women in Los Angeles, those who lived in areas with higher levels of traffic-related air pollution were at increased risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure.
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January 13, 2012
Medicare shortchanges hospitals on stroke therapy
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Treating stroke patients with clot-busting drugs costs U.S. hospitals substantially more than Medicare pays, a new study finds.
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January 13, 2012
China seeks to unlock secrets of herbs, roots
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Chinese legends have long extolled the benefits of the Tian Shan Xue Lian, a rare white flower found in snowcapped mountains that is revered as a panacea, an elixir so powerful it can supposedly bring the dead back to life.
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January 13, 2012
US group seeks re-vote on birth control clot risk
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. watchdog group on Thursday urged the Food and Drug Administration to hold a new vote about blood clot risks from popular birth control pills, after advisers to the agency were shown to have ties to the pill makers.