HEALTH NEWS

Health news items include: Swim lessons for toddlers; infectious threats to the U.S. blood supply; Silly Bandz bracelets may be dangerous; smoking causes gene mutation, and myths about sun protection.

Twelve health articles from the past week are chronicled, with topics ranging from at-home flu shots, medications, cancer studies, and pregnancy studies.

Seafood tests safe; kids/cholesterol; salsa/dips/food poisoning; hot flashes; warning signs/heart attack; vitamin E/dementia; breast cancer drugs endorsed; weight/brainpower; cancer/death risk; insulin/Alzheimer's; Avandia; cancer drug; schools/junk food.

Recall of Tylenol, etc.; bone density testing; Alzheimer's finding; video games & kids; artificial skin; Chewable Lipitor for Kids; obesity surgery and diabetes; radiation dose concerns; food additives; chocolate & pregnancy; safety of Avandia.

Safety of Avandia and Crestor questioned; tips for hospital patients; charm bracelets & rings recalled; Maryland bans BPA in baby bottles; safety of giving testosterone to older patients; car for blind drivers; value of cold cereals.

Blood pressure monitoring; child car safety seats; blood clots; drugs for criminals; cutting CT radiation doses; cutting the risk of Alzheimer's; breast milk for babies; Vitamin D & asthma attacks; expressive writing & IBS; polio vaccines; getting naked.

More medical care isn't always better; radiation boosts prostate cancer survival; proteins linked to women's bowel disease; gout drug useful for heart pain; infection control problem; some cancer victories; autism & genetic roots; MS drug being tested.

Seven ways to save on dental expenses; obesity and arthritis hinder women in later life; 10 min. of exercise has hour-long effect; the end of empathy; cancer patients should exercise; hormone patch for women, and 're-growing' knees.

Americans get the most radiation from medial scans; a cheap drug could save thousands of lives; early cancer screenings can cause overdiagnoses; push on to revise food guide pyramid; a surprise in study of dominant-looking men, plus other stories.

Health news items include: Massive toy dart recall; Alzheimer's bad and good news; processed meats and health risks; voluntary DNA samples for Berkeley students; who's packing ERs? - not the uninsured.

Health care reform could include changes for restaurants but we must not lose site of our responsibilities as a consumer.

The worst health scares and health stories of the year include some emerging bad news and some longstanding global health issues that should get more attention. This is the worst health news of the past year.

Chocolate is an energy-rich food full of calories from sugar and fat, with that oh-so-smooth umami texture. Although packed with calories, this wonder food, consumed in moderation, does appear to have numerous health benefits.

When it comes to health topics, our kids are often the ones that do not get a fair shake. I plan to change all of that.

Here are some of the features of WebMD, a website that allows its users to learn about current health issues and "diagnose" themselves using a symptom checker.

A health update on how to make your exercise routine more effective.

The Internet is a great place to find out about different health conditions.You can find everything from the symptoms to the tests the Dr. will run.You can also research the medications used to treat the health condition.

A penis gained, a penis lost. It's been a hard few weeks for the recipient of the first ever penis transplant, who opted to have the organ removed after serious objections to the new member were levied by his wife

Notice to would-be bank robbers: an exploding crotch will hamper your efforts every time!

Is Jesus making house calls? When Rhonda Hodge, of Pittsburgh, PA, underwent an MRI of her spine, she was startled to discover an image of Jesus in the film. "My neck does feel better." Hodge says. "I don't know if that was Jesus or physical therapy."