Health News

This Mama's Smokin'
Maternal cigarette smoking in the first trimester was associated with a 20 to 70 percent greater likelihood that a baby would be born with certain types of congenital heart defects, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Another Scary Thing In The Basement
Every night, homeowners lock their doors, and maybe set an alarm system to keep out danger or intruders. But there's one danger that quite literally can slip through the cracks and come inside: radon gas. 
Low Priority for Feeling Low
Heart attack patients are less likely to receive priority care in emergency departments if they have a history of depression, according to a study by researchers at the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences.
Teeth Eater
Researchers have discovered a new type of bacteria associated with severe cavities in early childhood.
Pumping Iron and Zinc
Many infants from poor families lack certain nutrients. Giving these infants iron and zinc supplements to prevent nutritional deficiencies does not appear to have long-term benefits for their mental skills.
Researchers Clearly C Vitamins' Role in Cataracts
A recent study from Harvard Medical School finds that vitamins C and E appear to do little to influence the development or outcome of age-related cataracts.
Supporting the States
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new report showing that the Affordable Care Act provides states with significant flexibility and resources to improve health care benefits and protect consumers.
Lifting the Fog on Cataract Meds
Pirenoxine (PRX), a non-prescription medication found in eye drops used in China and other countries to prevent cataracts, may actually work, according to a new study.
The Key is in the Pee
Scientists have developed a simple home urine test that can determine if patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are producing their own insulin.
Gene Expression and Metastasis in Head and Neck Cancer
A study of 222 cases of oral or oropharyngeal cancer has yielded startling results about the role of gene expression in metastasis.