Health News

Salty Soul Singer Etta James Dies
You've probably heard her music, even if you don't recognize her name. "At Last" - the classic love song - is a wedding favorite. And you may know "The Wallflower," or "Something's Got a Hold on Me."
Have You Had Your Roughage Today?
A spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down, but a review of studies on dietary fiber shows including enough of it in your diet might mean avoiding medicine in the first place.
Novartis Drug Treats Cushing's Disease
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use ( CHMP ) of the European Medicines Agency ( EMA ) adopted a positive opinion for Signifor ( SOM230 , pasireotide ) for the treatment of Cushing's disease.
Birth Control Pill Debate Heats Up
The support of two advisory committees to the FDA for birth control pills with drospirenone is in question.  A industry watchdog group pointed out various relationships among committee members.
Sparing the Scalpel in Lymph Node Biopsies
Breast cancer patients have sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsies to determine if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. This is a surgical procedure and has its risks. A new method being investigated may not require a scalpel.
Gel to Prevent Preemies a No-Go
A vaginal gel containing progesterone that developers hoped would prevent early birth was rejected by the FDA for lack of adequate evidence that it's effective.
Cancer Combo Extends Life
Earlier this week, we learned that two medications work better than single drugs in fighting HER-2 positive breast cancer. Now, researchers have found two chemotherapy drugs are better than one for colon cancer.
Take Heart - And Make Whoopie
If you've had a heart attack or other cardiovascular event, you may be depressed that sex is no longer on the table. But follow some basic tips, and there's no reason to abstain.
A Pain in the Back
Arthritis comes in many forms. One of these may have a funny sounding name, but the pain it brings is no laughing matter. It is called ankylosing spondylitis , and it is a pain in the back.
Converting Cancer Cells into Tumor Killers
Prescription creams containing a compound known as i miquimod , such as Aldara , are known and approved to effectively treat some skin cancers, particularly basal cell carcinoma. New studies suggest this compound may be even more useful.