Menstrual Cycle May Affect Reaction to Breathing Tube

MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- A woman's heart rate and blood pressure response to receiving a ventilation tube when undergoing surgery varies at different times of the menstrual cycle, researchers have found.

Health Tip: Get the Nutrients You Need

(HealthDay News) -- Your body needs a variety of nutrients to function properly and stay healthy.

Health Tip: Teach Kids to Swim

(HealthDay News) -- For children aged 4 and older, one of the best ways to help prevent drowning is to teach them to swim.

War Damages Future Work Prospects of Many U.S. Vets: Data

MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. combat veterans are more likely than non-combat veterans and non-veterans to face lifelong socioeconomic challenges, a new study finds.

Specific Type of Blood Clot Filter Linked to Complications

MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Two types of filter devices used to prevent blood clots from reaching the lungs may break and some fragments could travel to the lungs and cause potentially life-threatening complications, a new study suggests.

Relieving Eye Pressure May Slow Glaucoma

MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with glaucoma who have more rapid visual field change than other patients may benefit from a reduction of pressure within the eyeball, new research suggests.

Food Labels Lead to Healthy Food Choices

MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- People who read food labels have healthier diets than those who don't pay attention to such information, a new study shows.

Just a Little Belly Fat Can Damage Blood Vessels

MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- People who put on even a little weight around their middle hinder the function of cells that line their blood vessels, increasing the risk for high blood pressure and other problems, a new study finds.

Adding Third Drug May Improve Hepatitis C Treatment

MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- The current two-drug standard treatment for the potentially lethal hepatitis C could be rendered nearly twice as effective if doctors added in a third antiviral medication called boceprevir, new research suggests.

Many Girls Now Begin Puberty at Age 7, 8

MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- The onset of puberty is continuing to drop among American girls, with many girls as young as 7 and 8 now showing the beginnings of breast development, new research shows.

Wider Waist May Raise Death Risk Later in Life

MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Among middle-aged and older adults, having a large waist can significantly raise the risk for dying prematurely, new research indicates.

Health Highlights: Aug. 9, 2010

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

Scientists Unravel Secrets of Sound Sleep

MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Ever wonder how some people can sleep through thunderstorms and traffic noise, while others wake up at the slightest sound? Differences in people's brain rhythms during sleep may hold the answer, scientists say.

Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 9, 2010

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

Many Stroke Patients Stop Taking Meds, Study Shows

MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Many stroke patients stop taking their medications while many heart failure patients are never prescribed recommended medications in the first place, new research shows.

'Biomarkers' Could Spot Alzheimer's Disease Early, Studies Suggest

MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) -- The presence of three proteins in cerebrospinal fluid may spot Alzheimer's disease long before symptoms start and might also signal how fast the disease is progressing.