Number Has Doubled In Past Seven Years; Five Times Higher For Diabetic Teens

The number of pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes has more than doubled in seven years, a California study found, a troubling trend that means health risks for both mothers and newborns.

And the number of diabetic teenagers giving birth grew fivefold during the same period, according to the study, the largest of its kind.

To read the full story Study: Pregnant Women With Diabetes Rising, click here.

Researchers: Brain Exercises That Improve Working Memory Also Increase Intelligence

An intense game of Concentration or other demanding memory task might kick your intelligence up a notch or two, and the more you engage your brain this way, the smarter you might become.

Researchers reporting in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences say that brain exercises designed to improve working memory also increase scores in fluid intelligence. Fluid intelligence is the ability to reason and solve new problems. It does not rely on memory and is often thought of as having a strong hereditary component. Such intelligence is considered one of the most important factors in learning and is linked to academic and professional success, according to researchers.

To read the full story Boost Your Memory, Become Smarter?, click here.

Reckless Homicide Charges Filed After 11-Year-Old With Untreated Disease Dies

The parents of an 11-year-old Wisconsin girl who prayed instead of seeking medical help for the diabetic child are facing homicide charges in connection with her death.

Dale and Leilani Neumann were charged with second-degree reckless homicide,
Save Marathon County District Attorney Jill Falstad announced at a press conference today. If convicted, the couple could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.

To read the full story Parents Who Prayed While Child Died Charged, click here.

Immunization Rates Falling, CDC Study Finds
Toddlers May Be Missing Crucial Vaccines, CDC Says

Fewer children in the United States are getting the immunizations they need, putting themselves and others at much greater risk of contracting and spreading vaccine-preventable diseases, new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests.

To read the full story Immunization Rates Falling, CDC Study Finds, click here.

Women with positive findings need repeat tests to assess risk, experts say

With apologies to Mark Twain, reports of the death of the Pap smear are premature.

Yes, new research suggests a test for the HPV virus that causes cervical cancer may replace the old-fashioned Pap one day as that cancer's primary screening tool. But even enthusiasts say it will take years of additional research to make such a big switch.

To read the full story Pap plus HPV tests can bring confusing results, click here.

Benefits of early detection seen even after age 80, new study finds

Women aged 80 and older who have regular mammograms significantly reduce their chances of being diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer, according to a new study. Yet only about 20 percent of women in this age group get mammograms regularly.

To read the full story Women are never too old for a mammogram, click here.

Govt. recommended plan lowered heart attack rate 24 percent, study says

A large study offers the strongest evidence yet that a diet the government recommends for lowering blood pressure can save people from heart attack and stroke.

Researchers followed more than 88,000 healthy women for almost 25 years. They examined their food choices and looked at how many had heart attacks and strokes. Those who fared best had eating habits similar to those recommended by the government to stop high blood pressure.

To read the full story Diet helps prevent cardiac trouble in women, click here.

New Study Shows That Act of Choosing Leads to Mental Fatigue, Decreased Productivity

Do you find yourself in a brain fog after choosing which flavor to put in your morning latte? Don't blame it on being sleepy. A new study shows that while mulling over a few options may weigh heavily on your mind, finally choosing one may just plain wear you out.

To read the full story Too Many Choices Exhaust The Brain, click here.

Brain Imaging Studies Show Fair Treatment Activates Portion of Brain Linked to Happiness

There's no escaping the fact that life isn't always fair, but that usually doesn't make unfair treatment any easier to accept. Now new brain imaging studies may help explain why.

The research shows that being on the receiving end of fair treatment is inherently rewarding, activating the portion of the brain associated with happiness.

To read the full story Treated Unfairly? Here's Why You're Sore, click here.

Mid-life high cholesterol raises Alzheimer's risk

High cholesterol levels in your 40s may raise the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease decades later, according to a study underscoring the importance of health factors in middle age on risk for the brain ailment.

The study involving 9,752 people in northern California found that those with high cholesterol levels between ages 40 and 45 were about 50 percent more likely than those with low cholesterol levels to later develop Alzheimer's disease.

To read the full story Mid-life high cholesterol raises Alzheimer's risk, click here.

Hardly a week goes by without news of antioxidants' health-promoting benefits. Experts believe these nutritional substances may help prevent heart disease, fight certain cancers, ward off dementia, and even slow certain aging processes.

There are thousands of antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, meats, poultry, and fish. Even foods once not known for being especially healthful, such as chocolate, coffee, and red wine, are now recognized as potent delivery systems for beneficial antioxidants.

To read the full story The DNA of antioxidants, click here.

Despite objections from the indoor tanning industry, dermatologists present more evidence that there's no such thing as a healthy tan.


At this year's Oscars actress Anne Hathaway stood out not just because of her gorgeous red Marchesa gown but because of the creamy pale skin she wore under it. If her decision to appear sans tan was an attempt to send a signal that tanning is losing its glamorous glow, her timing couldn't be better, dermatologists say.

To read the full story Fake Bake Debate, click here.

Karo syrup for constipation: Is it safe for babies?

Is it safe to give my baby corn (Karo) syrup for constipation?

Giving infants corn (Karo) syrup for constipation is no longer recommended.

It is true that corn syrup draws more fluid into the intestine, which makes stool less hard. But in excess, corn syrup can cause diarrhea in infants, resulting in water and electrolyte losses.

To read the full story Karo syrup for constipation: Is it safe for babies?, click here.

Bisephenol A, Used In Many Shatter-Proof Containers, Liked To Hormone Issues, Tumors

A chemical used to make baby bottles and other shatterproof plastic containers could be linked to a range of hormonal problems, a preliminary government report has found.

The report was greeted by some environmental groups as confirmation of their warnings, while chemical makers latched on to the report's preliminary nature and its authors' warning against drawing overly worrisome conclusions.

To read the full story Chemical In Plastic Bottles May Be Toxic, click here.

They Can Make All The Difference During Emergencies; Dr. Emily Senay Treats Conventional Wisdom

Almost everyone has been faced with a medical emergency.

And the first aid measures you take at the scene -- even before you call 911 or head to the emergency room -- could make all the difference.

On The Early Show Wednesday, medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay looked at common first aid mistakes. Her do's and don'ts may surprise you.

To read the full story Common First-Aid Mistakes, click here.

Breathing Problems During Sleep May Cause Fatigue That Masquerades as Depression

When Lissa Schulz, a 34-year-old mother of two living in Austin, Tex., was diagnosed with depression six years ago, she never suspected that something that she was doing in her sleep could be the root of her problem.

To read the full article Depressed? You May Be Snoring, click here. 

UNTIL nine years ago, Dr. Neal Grossman didn

Study With Mice Suggests Antioxidant May Stop Breast Cancer Growth

An antioxidant in green tea may be a powerful weapon against breast cancer. A new study shows the green tea antioxidant EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) significantly slowed breast cancer growth in female mice.

To read the full article Green Tea Ingredient Slows Breast Cancer, click here.

Dr. Jon LaPook And Dr. Lori Warren Respond To Most Frequent Queries From Viewers

n the CBS Evening News Thursday, CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook had a report featuring Dr. Lori Warren, a gynecologic surgeon. She believes strongly in a new way to do hysterectomies. Dr. Warren says laparoscopic hysterectomies dramatically reduce the invasiveness and pain involved, as well as the length and difficulty of recovery -- yet most doctors still use the standard method of performing the procedure.

To read the full article Hysterectomies: Your Questions Answered, click here.

The Pill Is Back; IUDs Safer

Birth control options are growing for women 40 and older - a group that once viewed its choices as pretty much limited to tube-tying surgery and condoms.

For them, the pill is back. So is the IUD. The reason is that both are safer. There's even a nonsurgical method of tube-tying.

To read the full article Birth Control Options After 40, click here.

From Ear Candling To Colon Cleansing, Here Are 5 Home Remedies To Avoid

Some home remedies like cornstarch and water on a bee sting work just fine, but other do-it-yourself health techniques can spell trouble. For instance, do you really think you should be cleansing your colon from the comfort of your home? Or removing wax from your ear by holding a lit candle inches from your head?

To read the full article 5 Home Remedy No-No's, click here.

Nearly a third were 1 week old or younger, first U.S. study reveal

About 1 in 50 U.S. infants is a victim of nonfatal child abuse or neglect in a year, according to the first national study of the problem in that age group.

The study focused on children younger than 1 year, and found nearly a third were one week old or younger when the abuse or neglect occurred.

To read the full article 1 in 50 infants suffers abuse, CDC finds, click here.