Reading Comes Easier for Kids When Rover's Around

FRIDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Third grader Zephaniah San Juan didn't like reading books. No matter what the subject, he could barely get through one chapter before calling it quits.

Health Tip: Do Your Part to Reduce Air Pollution

(HealthDay News) -- Emissions from cars and power plants are major contributors to air pollution, which can cause burning eyes and nose, itchy throat and problems breathing.

Health Tip: Help Prevent Anemia

(HealthDay News) -- Anemia occurs when a person has too few red blood cells or insufficient amounts of a vital blood protein called hemoglobin. This means your blood may not be carrying enough oxygen to all parts of your body.

The Fight Against Autism Goes High Tech

FRIDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- From iPods to robots to avatars, people with autism are increasingly taking advantage of cutting-edge technologies to improve their social skills and, in the process, break the isolation of their condition.

Lymphoma Survivors Often Miss Out on Follow-Up

FRIDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Many Hodgkin lymphoma survivors don't receive recommended follow-up screening tests for other cancers, a new study finds.

Electronic Monitoring of Asthma Med Use May Boost Adherence

FRIDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Patients may be more likely to take their asthma medications if doctors keep close tabs on them, new study findings suggest.

Coffee Might Guard Against Head, Neck Cancers

FRIDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- Coffee may help protect against head and neck cancers, a new review finds.

On Father's Day, Give Dad Gift of Health

FRIDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- This Father's Day, as dads unwrap their new ties and other tokens of gratitude, they might think about giving their families and themselves another kind of gift: a promise that they'll watch their health, suggests a family doctor at Loyola University Health System.

Moderate Coffee, Tea Drinking Lowers Heart Disease Risk

FRIDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Drinking coffee or tea in moderation reduces the risk of developing heart disease, and both high and moderate tea drinking reduces the risk of dying from the condition, according to a large-scale study from Dutch researchers.

Patients Could Use More Help Quitting Smoking

FRIDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Many U.S. health professionals fail to offer programs, plans or prescriptions to help patients quit smoking, finds a new study.

Summer Vacation May Set Back Kids' Language Skills

FRIDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Bilingual children in poor families are at increased risk for falling behind in reading and language skills during the summer holidays, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Hopes Dashed That Vitamin D Reduces Cancer Risk

FRIDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- New research appears to dash hopes that people who consume more vitamin D might be at less risk of developing several less-common types of cancer.

People May Skip Soft Drinks Rather Than Pay More

FRIDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Boosting the price of regular soft drinks may reduce consumption and help lower levels of obesity and diabetes in the United States, a new study suggests.

'Watchful Waiting' Often Best Strategy for Slow-Moving Prostate Cancer

FRIDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with prostate cancer that has a low risk of progression, active surveillance, also known as "watchful waiting," may be a suitable treatment option, according to a large-scale study from Sweden.

FDA Panel Backs New 'Morning After' Pill

THURSDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted unanimously on Thursday to recommend approval of a new emergency contraception pill that is effective for a longer period of time than the "morning after" pill known as Plan B.

Ninety Percent of Stroke Risk Due to 10 Risk Factors

FRIDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- A large international study has found that 10 risk factors account for 90 percent of all the risk of stroke, with high blood pressure playing the most potent role.

Health Highlights: June 18, 2010

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Tasigna Approval Widened to Include Early Stages of Rare Leukemia

FRIDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- The anti-cancer drug Tasigna (nilotinib) has received new approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to include people in the early stages of a rare blood cancer called Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+CP-CML), the agency said in a news release.

Clinical Trials Update: June 18, 2010

(HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com:

FDA Panel Votes Against Approval of 'Female Viagra'

FRIDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Friday unanimously agreed that a pill dubbed by some as a "female Viagra" did not show strong enough benefits to warrant approval.