Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest featured health news - the top stories http://www.medicalnewstoday.com admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156497.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156497.php The tonsils are fleshy pieces of lymphatic tissue that rest in the back of the throat above and below the tongue. As part of the immune system, the tonsils help fight infections. However, if bacteria or viruses contaminate the tonsils, the result is an infectious inflammation and swelling of the tonsils - or tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is often labeled as acute, subacute, or chronic. Ear, Nose and Throat Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156487.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156487.php A consortium of European and Australian scientists doing a genome-wide association study found three gene variants were strongly linked to melanoma risk: two of them had previously been linked to pigmentation, freckling and sun sensitivity, and one was a new discovery. Melanoma / Skin Cancer Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156488.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156488.php Acupuncture originates from China and has been practiced there for thousands of years. Although there are records of acupuncture being used hundreds of years ago in Europe, it was during the second half of the twentieth century it began to spread rapidly in Western Europe, the United States and Canada. Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156452.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156452.php New research from the US and Japan showed that giving the caffeine equivalent of five cups of coffee a day to aged mice with symptoms of Alzheimer's reversed two signs of the disease: it reversed memory impairment and reduced the hallmark protein in the animals' blood and brains. Alzheimer's / Dementia Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156464.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156464.php A survey of UK adults found that nearly two thirds are risking their health by not doing enough exercise and putting themselves at greater risk of potentially fatal illnesses like cancer, heart disease and stroke. The Opinium Research survey was conducted in April this year for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) thorugh an online poll of 2,084 UK adults. Sports Medicine / Fitness Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156451.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156451.php Puberty is the period in children's lives when they experience physical changes by which their bodies eventually become adult bodies that are capable of reproducing. Puberty is triggered by hormone signals from the brain to the ovaries and testes (gonads). Pediatrics / Children's Health Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156433.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156433.php Psychotherapy consists of a series of techniques for treating mental health, emotional and some psychiatric disorders. Psychotherapy helps the patient understand what helps them feel positive or anxious, as well as accepting their strong and weak points. If people can identify their feelings and ways of thinking they become better at coping with difficult situations. Psychology / Psychiatry Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156436.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156436.php The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) informed in its weekly update on Friday evening, 3rd July, 2009, that the total number of confirmed human cases of swine flu A(H1N1) infection stands at 33,902, including 170 deaths. In a Swine Flu conference held today in Cancun, Mexico, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the virus' spread is now "unstoppable". Swine Flu Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156437.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156437.php The Health Protection Agency (HPA), UK, informed yesterday 3rd July, 2009, in its weekly update that the total number of confirmed human cases of Swine Flu A(H1N1) infection has reached 7,447. British health authorities estimate that the figure will be over 100,000 by the end of this summer. Swine Flu Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156401.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156401.php US researchers said that undiagnosed cases of celiac disease, where the immune system has a strong adverse reaction to the protein found in wheat and other grains, appear to have increased dramatically in the last 50 years. They also found, over a 45 year follow up, that people with undiagnosed celiac disease have a nearly four-fold increased risk of premature death from any cause. GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156306.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156306.php Scientists in the US and the Netherlands discovered what most doctors already suspected: the new H1N1 swine flu virus causes more severe infection than seasonal flu, but the two groups disagreed on how easily it spreads, with one finding that it spreads easily while the other finding it does not. The two studies are published in the 2 July online issue of Science. Swine Flu Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156322.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156322.php Researchers in Sweden found that people who have the APOE Alzheimer's gene and who live alone in middle age after being widowed or separated from a life partner, are at higher risk of developing dementia. The study is the work of Dr Krister Hakannson, a research fellow at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, and colleagues, and is published in the 2 July online issue of the BMJ. Alzheimer's / Dementia Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156263.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156263.php The first of two reviews in this week's edition of The Lancet discusses the standards of health and lifestyles of Indigenous people. It is the work of Professor Michael Gracey, of the Unity of First People of Australia, Perth, WA, Australia, and Professor Malcolm King, of the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Aid / Disasters Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156284.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156284.php The second of two reviews in this week´s The Lancet discusses the primary origins of the health gap. In an effort to understand these inequalities, the authors attempt to give an Indigenous perspective. Aid / Disasters Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156285.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156285.php PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is triggered by a traumatic event - it is a kind of anxiety. The sufferer of PTSD may have experienced or seen an event that caused extreme fear, shock and/or a feeling of helplessness. Most of us experience a brief period of difficulty adjusting and coping with traumatic events. However, we gradually get better with time and healthy coping methods. Psychology / Psychiatry Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156286.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156286.php Tinnitus (from the Latin tinnitus or "ringing") is a condition characterized by ringing, swishing, or other noises that appear to be originating in the ear or head. Not normally a dangerous or serious problem, tinnitus is usually a symptom of some other underlying condition and most often considered a nuisance. Ear, Nose and Throat Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156256.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156256.php An advisory committee to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted on Tuesday to recommend new restrictions on the popular pain relief drug acetaminophen (known in many other countries as paracetamol), which is found in many US top selling over the counter medications such as Tylenol, aspirin-free Anacin, Excedrin, and also in prescription drugs such as Vicodin and Percocet. Regulatory Affairs / Drug Approvals Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156114.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156114.php A new study by a large international consortium found that many common genetic variants contribute up to a third of a person's risk of inheriting schizophrenia and many of the same DNA variations are also involved in bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156054.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156054.php Wal-Mart Stores Inc has stunned other big employers by revealing it had broken ranks to openly support the White House plan to mandate employers to provide health insurance to employees; the central plank of President Barack Obama's proposal to increase coverage to include Americans. Health Insurance / Medical Insurance Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155965.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155965.php A 12-year study that followed over 60,000 Britons, half of whom were vegetarian, suggests that vegetarians had a lower risk of developing cancer than meat-eaters. However, more studies are needed before we can use this evidence as sufficient reason to ask people to change their diets, say the researchers and other experts. Cancer / Oncology