What's Ahead for Health Reform in 2018?

THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The Republican Party's quest to undo the Affordable Care Act -- either by replacing it, repealing it or letting it fail -- is creating enormous uncertainty for millions of Americans who buy their own health insurance.

Senate Republicans huddled again Wednesday night to discuss a path forward ...

Oxygen Therapy Revives Brain of Toddler Who Nearly Drowned

THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- In one of the first such confirmed cases, an Arkansas toddler who suffered severe brain injury after nearly drowning has had that brain damage reversed, using a new treatment.

The treatment is known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). It exposes a patient to pure oxygen within the confines...

Scans May Show Consciousness in 'Comatose' Patients

THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Sophisticated brain scans might be able to detect consciousness in brain injury patients who appear unconscious in the intensive care unit, a new study says.

"Early detection of consciousness and brain function in the intensive care unit could allow families to make more informed decisions ab...

Wider Access to Meds Cuts Global AIDS Deaths in Half

THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- AIDS-related deaths worldwide have been halved since 2005 as more people were able to get lifesaving drugs, UNAIDS (a United Nations Program) says in a new report.

In 2016, 19.5 million (53 percent) of the almost 37 million people living with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) had access to HIV...

Senator McCain Faces a Tough Cancer Foe

THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Sen. John McCain faces an uphill battle fighting the aggressive cancer discovered in his brain last week, experts say.

The cancer, glioblastoma, is the most common malignant tumor that originates in brain cells, as opposed to cancers that spread to the brain from elsewhere in the body, said D...

Laser Therapy Shows Promise Against Eye 'Floaters'

THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A laser treatment can reduce spots in people's vision known as "floaters," a new study finds.

"Floaters often arise as the vitreous -- a gel-like substance that fills the eye -- contracts and pulls away from the back of the eye," explained ophthalmologist Dr. Naomi Goldberg, who reviewed the ...

Travelers to Europe Need Measles Protection: CDC

THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Americans traveling to Europe should take steps to protect themselves against measles, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises.

Since January 2016, more than 14,000 cases of measles have been reported in Europe. And 35 people across Europe have died from the highly contagi...

Sen. John McCain Has Brain Cancer

THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Sen. John McCain, a respected longtime lawmaker, former prisoner of war and the Republican presidential nominee in 2008, has been diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer.

A statement released by McCain's office Wednesday night said the cancer, known as a glioblastoma, was discovered after a...

Insured, But Still Barred From Top-Tier Cancer Centers

THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Choosing a cheaper health plan could cost you access to cream-of-the-crop cancer doctors and facilities, a new study reports.

Less-expensive "narrow network" health plans are much less likely to cover treatment by doctors at centers affiliated with the U.S. National Cancer Institute, said stu...

Antidepressants in Pregnancy Tied to Slight Increase in Autism

THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- In the long-standing debate over whether antidepressants are safe to take during pregnancy, a new study suggests that exposure to the drugs in the womb might bump up a child's risk of autism.

The risk of autism was 45 percent higher for kids whose moms took antidepressants compared to kids bo...

Targeting 9 Risk Factors Could Prevent 1 in 3 Dementia Cases: Study

THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- One-third of dementia cases worldwide might be prevented by paying attention to nine risk factors throughout life, researchers say.

These measures include: staying in school until you're at least over the age of 15; reducing hearing loss, obesity and high blood pressure in mid-life (ages 45 t...

More Patients OK'd for Cancer Trials Under Obamacare: Study

THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The Affordable Care Act has enabled more privately insured patients to enroll in clinical trials for new cancer treatments, a new study contends.

Speedy approvals are important for patients who want to participate in clinical trials, said study author Dr. David Hong. He's deputy chair of inve...

How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

THURSDAY, July 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Health initiatives typically center on diet and fitness. But the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society state that getting enough sleep is just as important as eating right and exercising.

Your health can truly suffer if you're constantly shortchanging yourself on s...

Good Diet, Exercise While Pregnant Could Cut C-section Risk

WEDNESDAY, July 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Eating a healthy diet and exercising during pregnancy isn't just good for the developing baby.

A new analysis of 36 studies including a total of more than 12,500 women suggests these behaviors can also lower a mom-to-be's chances of having a Cesarean-section delivery or developing diabetes w...

Many Terminal Cancer Patients Remain in Denial

WEDNESDAY, July 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 10 percent of patients with terminal cancer don't want to know they're dying, which can make their final days more difficult, a new study finds.

Unwillingness to face poor prospects can lead to unnecessary treatments and keep patients from making end-of-life plans, the researchers rep...

Study Traces All Dogs to Gray Wolves in Europe

WEDNESDAY, July 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Modern dogs likely descended from a single population of gray wolves in Europe up to 40,000 years ago, new research suggests.

The findings challenge existing evidence and could help scientists gain a better understanding of dog evolution, the study authors said.

Dogs were the first...

Healthy Heart in 20s, Better Brain in 40s?

WEDNESDAY, July 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Folks with heart-healthy habits in their 20s tend to have larger, healthier brains in their 40s -- brains that may be better prepared to withstand the ravages of aging, a new study reports.

Twentysomethings who closely followed the "Life's Simple 7" guidelines from the American Heart Associa...

As Your Weight Creeps Up, So Does Your Risk of Heart Failure

WEDNESDAY, July 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Gaining even a little weight can increase your chances of developing heart failure, a new study finds.

Adding pounds can change the structure of your heart and its ability to pump blood. But losing weight can reverse this potentially deadly process, the researchers said.

"People wh...

Losing Medicaid Tough on People Battling Depression: Study

WEDNESDAY, July 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Proposed changes in Medicaid coverage could hit people with depression especially hard, a new study suggests.

"These vulnerable populations are being hit hard by the loss of Medicaid coverage when they need help," said study author Xu Ji. She is a doctoral candidate at Emory University's Rol...

'Smart' Robot Technology Could Give Stroke Rehab a Boost

WEDNESDAY, July 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists say they have developed a "smart" robotic harness that might make it easier for people to learn to walk again after a stroke or spinal cord injury.

The harness, the researchers said, can be fine-tuned to individual patients to help them find a more natural walking pattern as they ...