Latest news and information affecting your health, selected from sources around the nation.
MSDH Health Headlines
Selected headlines of special interest from sources worldwide appear below.
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One Sweet Drink a Day Raises Kidney Stone Risk
A new U.S. study finds that drinking one or more servings of fruit juice or sugar-sweetened soda daily results in a 23 percent higher risk for kidney stones than drinking just one serving a week.
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Children's Gasoline Poisoning Peaks in Summer Months
Thirty-one percent of children's poisonings due to gasoline, lighter fluid and kerosene occurred in the summer months, according to a new study of data from 2000 to 2009.
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Even Low Levels of Lead Hinder Kindergartners' Reading Skills
A large study of U.S. children finds that low levels of lead exposure usually considered safe are associated with a drop in kindergartner's reading-readiness skills.
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One Average Restaurant Meal Has Almost a Day's Worth of Calories
Two new studies find that the average restaurant meal provides diners with most of the calories, fats and salt they require for the entire day.
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High Blood Sugar May Add to Alzheimer's Risk
A new study from the University of Arizona finds that elevated blood sugar levels affect brain metabolism in a way similar to Alzheimer's disease.
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Outdoor Recess May Help Protect Kids From Nearsightedness
Two new studies suggest that being outdoors and increasing exposure to sunlight both reduce children's risk of developing nearsightedness.
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FDA Strengthens Warnings on Tanning Beds
Strong links between the use of indoor tanning devices and rising rates of skin cancer have prompted the FDA to require warning labels on sunlamp products.
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One Sugary Soft Drink a Day Raises Diabetes Risk
Drinking just one 12-ounce sugar-sweetened soft drink a day can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by about 20 percent, a large international study concludes.
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Mediterranean Diet Might Help Stave Off Dementia
Eating fish, chicken, olive oil and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids while staying away from meats and dairy may help older adults keep their memory and thinking skills sharp, a large new U.S. study suggests.
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Mental Training Beats Other Alternatives in Preserving Brain Function
A review of the best evidence for methods to prevent mental decline with age finds that only one, mental exercise, consistently makes a difference.
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Babies Delivered Even Two Weeks Early Fall Behind in Development
Children delivered at 37 or 38 weeks, just a week or two away from full term, scored lower on test of mental and physical development at age 1, a large study of infants in Chile finds.
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Number of Vaccines in Childhood Not Linked to Autism: Study
A new study of U.S. children that measured vaccination levels in children under 2 found no association between autism symptoms and the amount or frequency of children's exposure to vaccines.
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Folic Acid in Pregnancy May Lower Autism Risk
A new study suggests that women who start taking folic acid supplements either before or early in their pregnancy may reduce their child's risk of developing autism by 40 percent.
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FDA Recalls and Safety Alerts