Health

Health Born to run barefoot? Some end up getting injured Born to run barefoot? Some end up getting injured (Video)

By ALICIA CHANG AP Science Writer Published: May 22, 2012 at 7:42 AM PDT Last Updated: May 22, 2012 at 9:43 AM PDT
As more avid runners and casual athletes experiment with barefoot running, doctors say they are treating injuries ranging from pulled calf muscles to Achilles tendinitis to metatarsal stress fractures, mainly in people who ramped up too fast. In serious cases, they are laid up for several months.
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Health (New) FDA says Xarelto reduced deadly heart attacks

By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer Published: May 22, 2012 at 10:10 AM PDT
The Food and Drug Administration said Monday that a blood thinner from Johnson & Johnson appears to reduce life-threatening blood clots in high-risk patients, although it also increases the risk of internal bleeding.
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Health CDC: Half of overweight teens have heart risk

By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer Published: May 21, 2012 at 8:09 AM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2012 at 9:32 AM PDT
Half the nation's overweight teens have unhealthy blood pressure, cholesterol or blood sugar levels that put them at risk for future heart attacks and other cardiac problems, new federal research says.
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Health Knee surgery stats prompt changes at U.S. hospitals

By HOLLY RAMER Associated Press Published: May 21, 2012 at 8:18 AM PDT
Knee replacement surgeries at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center soon could be handled by a specialized operating room team as the result of a data-sharing project among health systems throughout the U.S. aimed at improving health care and lowering costs.
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Health Study finds coffee drinkers live longer Study finds coffee drinkers live longer

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE AP Chief Medical Writer Published: May 16, 2012 at 2:48 PM PDT
One of life's simple pleasures just got a little sweeter. After years of waffling research on coffee and health, even some fear that java might raise the risk of heart disease, a big study finds the opposite: Coffee drinkers are a little more likely to live longer. Regular or decaf doesn't matter.
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Health Scientists hunt ways to stall Alzheimer's earlier

By LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer Published: May 16, 2012 at 10:01 AM PDT
Look for a fundamental shift in how scientists hunt ways to ward off the devastation of Alzheimer's disease - by testing possible therapies in people who don't yet show many symptoms, before too much of the brain is destroyed.
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Health FDA panel backs first rapid, take home HIV test

By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer Published: May 16, 2012 at 9:25 AM PDT Last Updated: May 16, 2012 at 11:41 AM PDT
American consumers may soon be able to test themselves for the virus that causes AIDS in the privacy of their own homes, after a panel of experts on Tuesday recommended approval of the first rapid, over-the-counter HIV test.
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Health FDA delays rules meant to ease sunscreen confusion FDA delays rules meant to ease sunscreen confusion

By LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer Published: May 15, 2012 at 8:51 AM PDT
Sunscreen confusion won't be over before summer after all. The government is bowing to industry requests for more time to make clear how much protection their lotions really offer.
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Health Clock ticking with new plan to fight Alzheimer's

By LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer Published: May 15, 2012 at 8:41 AM PDT
The Obama administration declared Alzheimer's one of the country's biggest health challenges on Tuesday, adopting a national strategy that sets the clock ticking toward better treatments by 2025 — along with help for suffering families today.
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Health 1 in 3 autistic young adults lack jobs, education 1 in 3 autistic young adults lack jobs, education

By LINDSEY TANNER AP Medical Writer Published: May 14, 2012 at 10:46 AM PDT
One in 3 young adults with autism have no paid job experience, college or technical schooling nearly seven years after high school graduation, a study finds. That's a poorer showing than those with other disabilities including those who are mentally disabled, the researchers said.
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National & World FDA panel backs first pill to block HIV infection FDA panel backs first pill to block HIV infection

By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer Published: May 11, 2012 at 7:44 AM PDT
The first drug shown to prevent HIV infection won the endorsement of a panel of federal advisers Thursday, clearing the way for a landmark approval in the 30-year fight against the virus that causes AIDS.
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Health CDC: Half of young adults get sunburned CDC: Half of young adults get sunburned (Video)

By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer Published: May 10, 2012 at 9:19 AM PDT Last Updated: May 10, 2012 at 11:16 AM PDT
Half of U.S. adults under 30 say they have had a sunburn at least once in the past year, a government survey found - a sign young people aren't heeding the warnings about skin cancer.
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