Health care

Study: Colonoscopy cuts colon cancer death risk (AP)
AP - Millions of people have endured a colonoscopy, believing the dreaded exam may help keep them from dying of colon cancer. For the first time, a major study offers clear evidence that it does.

US drafts plan to fight feared Alzheimer's disease (AP)
AP - The Obama administration declared Alzheimer's "one of the most feared health conditions" on Wednesday as it issued a draft of a new national strategy to fight the ominous rise in this mind-destroying disease.

Common prenatal tests become campaign issue (AP)

AP - First birth control, now prenatal testing? Once again a fact of life for many American women has become a jarring issue in the presidential race.

Colon cancer study backs blood stool screening test (Reuters)
Reuters - Although colon cancer screening is recommended by many organizations, less clear is which method is best to detect tumors and precancerous lesions.

Endometriosis Could Raise Risk of 3 Ovarian Cancers (HealthDay)
HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Feb. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Women with a history of endometriosis have a significantly increased risk of developing three types of ovarian cancer, according to a new study.

Researchers Spot New Gene Mutation Linked to Breast Cancer (HealthDay)
HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Feb. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have identified a new gene mutation linked to breast cancer.

U.S. advisers back experimental obesity pill (Reuters)
Reuters - Experimental obesity drug Qnexa won the backing of U.S. health advisors on Wednesday, raising hopes for approval of the first prescription weight-loss pill in 13 years.

Malaysia bans British author's sex education book (AP)
AP - Malaysia has banned a nearly 40-year-old sex education book written by a British author following complaints by Muslim activists that it is obscene.

Supreme Court sends back California Medicaid cuts case (Reuters)
Reuters - The Supreme Court sent back to a lower court a case on whether Medicaid recipients and medical providers can sue California for cutting reimbursement rates in the healthcare program for low-income Americans.

Exercise in Pregnancy Safe for Baby, Study Finds (HealthDay)
HealthDay - TUESDAY, Feb. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Exercising at moderate or -- for very active women -- even high intensity during pregnancy won't hurt your baby's health, a new study finds.

Obama's Alzheimer's plan focuses on treatment, care (Reuters)
Reuters - The Obama administration's plan to fight Alzheimer's disease aims to harness the nation's expertise to find real treatments by 2025 and improve the care and treatment of the 5.1 million Americans already afflicted with the brain-wasting disease.

Transgender Children at High Risk for Child Abuse (ContributorNetwork)
ContributorNetwork - COMMENTARY | On Feb. 20, the American Academy of Pediatrics released the disturbing, but unsurprising, results of a long-term study investigating abuse rates among transgender children. The investigation followed some 17,000 people who demonstrated "gender nonconformity" before age 11, measuring their mental health and markers for abuse in early adulthood. The findings of the study were alarming and indicate a frightening and hidden epidemic of abuse.

FDA Moves to Head Off Shortages of 2 Cancer Drugs (HealthDay)
HealthDay - TUESDAY, Feb. 21 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday what it called a series of steps to ensure the continued availability of vital cancer drugs that have been in dangerously short supply.

Toddlers With Angry Parents May Have More Temper Tantrums (HealthDay)
HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Feb. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Toddlers are more likely to become easily upset and act out if their parents anger quickly and overreact to their children's behavior, according to a new study involving adopted youngsters.

Hepatitis C Now Kills More Americans Than HIV (HealthDay)
HealthDay - MONDAY, Feb. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Deaths from hepatitis C have increased steadily in the United States in recent years, in part because many people don't know they have disease, a new government report says.

Type 1 Diabetes May Develop More Slowly Than Thought (HealthDay)
HealthDay - TUESDAY, Feb. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Insulin production may continue for decades after the onset of type 1 diabetes, according to a new study.

Allergic to Love? How Kissing Can Pose Risks for Some (LiveScience.com)
LiveScience.com - Those who have certain food or drug allergies can experience an allergic reaction after kissing if their partner has consumed an allergenic item, allergists say.