Reuters: Health News

House set to open healthcare debate

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:44:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With a close vote looming, the U.S. House of Representatives was expected to open debate on Saturday on a sweeping reform bill that would spark the biggest healthcare changes in four decades.

House Democrats scramble for healthcare votes

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:23:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives scrambled on Friday to allay lingering concerns about a broad healthcare overhaul and said a landmark vote planned for Saturday could slip a day or more.

Another reason to cover your cough: pets at risk

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:56:30 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People who think they may have H1N1 flu need to stay away from work, avoid sneezing on their spouses and children and now, they have someone else to worry about infecting too -- their pets.

What kids drink at 5 could affect weight at 15

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:24:57 GMT

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Parents may be setting their daughters up for weight problems simply by allowing them to drink two or more sweetened drinks daily while young, study findings hint.

CDC says U.S. making progress on swine flu vaccine

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:49:36 GMT

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. health officials said on Friday they are making progress in improving the supply of H1N1 vaccine to state health departments and urged people frustrated by long lines and scarce supply not to give up.

Moderate exercise may lower prostate cancer risk

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:25:51 GMT

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Men who regularly get moderate exercise may have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer -- including aggressive, fast-growing tumors, a new study finds.

Passive work means less activity off the job, too

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:24:42 GMT

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Do you have an unchallenging job with little control over what you do? You may be more likely to be a couch potato in your leisure time, a new study shows.

Animals need to be closely watched for flu

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:37:42 GMT

GENEVA (Reuters) - Some pigs, turkeys and household pets have become infected with the H1N1 flu, but the pandemic virus does not yet appear to be spreading quickly among animals, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

Study explains how smells conjure strong memories

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:35:51 GMT

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The aroma of Grandmother's fresh-baked cookies etch themselves into the brain's emotional memory, but so does a whiff of rotten fish, Israeli scientists said in a finding that might help in treating trauma patients.

Obesity causes 100,000 U.S. cancer cases, group says

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:18:49 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Obesity causes more than 100,000 cases of cancer in the United States each year -- and the number will likely rise as Americans get fatter, researchers said on Thursday.

FDA says companies violating flavored cigarette ban

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:17:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators warned 10 companies for violating a recently enacted ban on sales of flavored cigarettes, letters released on Friday showed.

WHO says pandemic flu on rise in China, Japan

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:07:10 GMT

GENEVA (Reuters) - H1N1 swine flu is on the rise in China and Japan after triggering an unusually early start to the winter influenza season in Europe, Central Asia and North America, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

Seasonal flu may hit Europe after H1N1: experts

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:57:40 GMT

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The H1N1 pandemic flu virus could kill up to 40,000 people across Europe and be followed by seasonal flu waves that could kill the same number, European health experts said on Friday.

Some countries "ambushed" by H1N1

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:04:28 GMT

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Some countries have been "ambushed" by sudden severe outbreaks of disease and death from the H1N1 flu pandemic, and have gone over the top in their response, a European flu specialist said on Friday.

Company sequences whole human genome for $1,700

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:24:11 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Want to know your entire DNA sequence? A California company has done it for as little as $1,700.

Study explains how smells conjure strong memories

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:32:21 GMT

Health reform gets boost before close vote

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:50:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With a close vote looming in the U.S. House of Representatives, President Barack Obama's push for healthcare reform was boosted on Thursday by the support of powerful lobbies representing doctors and seniors.

Breast feeding may not alter older kids' health

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:00:59 GMT

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Exclusive breast feeding for up to 6 months, though beneficial for an infants' immunity and mothers' weight, may not alter children's health risks over the long term, study findings hint.

Psoriatic arthritis common in people with psoriasis

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:58:32 GMT

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - As many as 14 percent of people with psoriasis may also have psoriatic arthritis, research shows.

CORRECTED: Mom's antidepressants tied to child health risks

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:55:11 GMT

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Babies whose mothers used antidepressants during pregnancy visit the doctor more often and have higher risks of certain health problems than other children their age, a new study suggests.

Obesity causes 100,000 US cancer cases, group says

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:48:02 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Obesity causes more than 100,000 cases of cancer in the United States each year -- and the number will likely rise as Americans get fatter, researchers said on Thursday.

Flu shots for Wall Street stirs ire in New York

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:39:14 GMT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City health officials scrambled to explain themselves on Thursday following outraged media reports about bankers who got scarce H1N1 flu vaccines through their employers.

U.S. hospitals weathering flu pandemic so far

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:39:03 GMT

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Last May, an influx of children with flu symptoms and their worried families flooded the emergency department of Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, swelling the normal patient load from 150 a day to 400 and leaving a net loss for the month of $325,000.

Scientists halt brain disease with new gene therapy

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:36:15 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists have managed to halt a rare and fatal brain disease with an experimental gene therapy technique using a deactivated version of the AIDS virus, a study published on Thursday showed.

Red, processed meats linked to prostate cancer

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:39:56 GMT

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Men who eat a lot of red meat and processed meats may have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer than those who limit such foods, a large study of U.S. men suggests.