Health News

BOSTON, July 11 (UPI) -- Researchers say that as the U.S. population becomes heavier perception of what is a normal weight has also increased.

BALTIMORE, July 11 (UPI) -- Dry mouth, caused by a decrease in salivary function, afflicts about 25 percent of Americans, U.S. researchers said.

HOUSTON, July 10 (UPI) -- Even older patients are able to play sports six months after shoulder joint replacement, U.S. researchers say.

BALTIMORE, July 10 (UPI) -- Alzheimer's disease may be less likely in those who had good language skills when college age, U.S researchers say.

LEBANON, N.H., July 10 (UPI) -- Teens who participate in sports are less likely to become smokers, but exposure to movies increased the likelihood of teen smoking, U.S. researchers said.

INDIANAPOLIS, July 10 (UPI) -- An abnormality in the major pumping chamber of the heart in children often leads to heart failure, researchers reported at a symposium in Indianapolis.

WASHINGTON, July 10 (UPI) -- U.S. officials Friday announced $350 million in grants to help states and territories prepare for H1N1 flu virus this fall.

CHICAGO, July 10 (UPI) -- People who work sick are more likely to hinder business than help, researchers at Chicago's Loyola University said.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 10 (UPI) -- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation soon could be taught using the Nintendo Wii video game console, students at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, said.

SEATTLE, July 10 (UPI) -- Dental pain may portend future medical problems because a diet bad for teeth may be also bad for the body, a U.S. researcher said.

NEW YORK, July 10 (UPI) -- Elevated insulin levels in the blood appear to increase the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, researchers in New York said.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., July 10 (UPI) -- U.S. beach goers who play in the sand are at greater risk of diarrhea and gastrointestinal diseases than those who just walk on sand, scientists said.

OXFORD, England, July 10 (UPI) -- Over-the-counter sport creams and heat gels are unproven and may do no more than rubbing your skin with saliva, a British biochemist said.

ATLANTA, July 10 (UPI) -- U.S. influenza A H1N1 activity decreased during the week of June 28-July 4, but there were local or regional outbreaks, health officials said Friday.

SEATTLE, July 10 (UPI) -- Using cardiac CT scans on low risk chest pain patients can reduce costs and shorten the length of hospital stays, researchers in Seattle said.