January 26, 2012

• Testosterone Exposure May Explain Boys' Language Delay

  THURSDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Infant boys exposed to high levels of the male hormone testosterone before birth have double the risk for language delay as females, according to a new study.

• Oral HPV Infection Strikes Men More Than Women: Study

  THURSDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Almost 7 percent of American men and women are infected orally with the human papillomavirus (HPV), new research reveals, with men showing significantly higher infection rates than women.

• Too Many Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Inactive, Study Finds

  THURSDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- More than 40 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients live a sedentary life, a new study finds.

• Health Tip: Create the Right Environment for Sleep

  (HealthDay News) -- It's important to create the right environment to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

• Health Tip: Caring for Minor Burns

  (HealthDay News) -- Minor burns, although painful, often can be treated at home. Proper care can help them heal faster while reducing the risk of infection.

• Active Ingredient in Viagra Shrunk Disfiguring Growths in Kids

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- A new preliminary report suggests that the active ingredient in Viagra, sildenafil, could reduce the size of large growths that can disfigure the bodies of children.

• Avastin May Be Helpful Before Breast Cancer Surgery

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- The addition of the cancer-fighting medication Avastin to chemotherapy prior to breast cancer surgery increases the chance that all of the cancer will be removed, according to new research.

• Long Shifts May Raise Some Nurses' Odds for Obesity

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Nurses who work long hours and have less physically demanding jobs are much more likely to be obese than other nurses, according to a new study.

• Optimal Heart Health Starts Early: Study

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- People who reach midlife without developing high blood pressure, diabetes or other risk factors for cardiovascular disease are much less likely to have a heart attack or stroke by age 80 than their less healthy peers, a new study suggests.

• U.S. Soldiers Face Host of Mental Health Issues

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. military personnel and veterans are plagued by substance abuse, depression and suicide, three new studies indicate.

• Men at Higher Risk for Mental Decline That Precedes Alzheimer's

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Subtle problems with memory and thinking skills -- known as mild cognitive impairment -- often precede Alzheimer's disease, and a new study finds that men are at higher risk for these troubles than women.

• Neurologists Should Screen Patients for Abuse: Experts

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Neurologists should screen their patients for abuse by family members, caregivers or other people, the American Academy of Neurology says in a new position statement.

• Women Can Take Steps to Prevent Cervical Cancer

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Women need to get recommended Pap tests, while girls and young women should be vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) to protect them from cervical cancer, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises during Cervical Health Awareness Month.

• Lifestyle Counseling Helps Diabetes Patients Control Blood Sugar

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Incorporating lifestyle counseling into routine care for diabetes patients significantly reduces the time it takes them to reach their treatment goals, according to a new study.

• Less Salt, More Veggies in School Lunches: USDA

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled on Wednesday new standards for school meals -- the first revisions in more than 15 years. The goal: To provide healthier meals and better nutrition for the nearly 32 million children who take part in school meal programs.

• Many Docs Use Costly MRIs to Diagnose Nerve Condition: Study

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors are more likely to use high-cost MRI scans to diagnose peripheral neuropathy than cheaper -- and more effective -- glucose tolerance tests, a new U.S. study has found.

• Protein That Controls Movement Does the Opposite in Parkinson's

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers who identified a protein that worsens symptoms of Parkinson's disease say their finding could eventually lead to new treatments for the neurodegenerative disease.

• Oldest Known Dinosaur Nesting Site Found

  WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers who found the earliest known dinosaur nesting site say it offers significant clues about the evolution of complex reproductive behavior in early dinosaurs.

• Health Highlights: Jan. 25, 2012

  Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay: