From the Couch to the Computer: A New Take on Therapy

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Texting, webcams and instant chat might seem like innovations best suited to passing along teenage gossip, but medical researchers are discovering their usefulness in helping people with psychological disorders.

Health Tip: Are You at Risk for Post-Partum Depression?

(HealthDay News) -- It's common for a woman to become depressed during or just after a pregnancy. The timing and specific symptoms tend to vary by person.

Health Tip: Avoid Extra Fluids While on Dialysis

(HealthDay News) -- Hemodialysis helps your body remove waste products when your kidneys don't function properly. People on dialysis usually need to limit fluid intake to prevent swelling, weight gain and possible heart trouble.

Get Rid of Standing Water to Protect From Mosquitoes

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes that can spread serious diseases such as the West Nile virus. Yet many urban families don't take simple steps such as dumping out standing water to reduce their risks, researchers say.

Cardiologists Often Miss Heart Defects in Young Athletes: Study

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- About 76 young U.S. athletes collapse and die from sudden cardiac arrest during practice or a game every year, which has led some experts to call for mandatory electrocardiograms to screen players for possibly fatal heart defects.

Music Eases Cancer Patients' Anxiety: Study

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Listening to music or having sessions with trained music therapists can help ease cancer patients' anxiety, researchers say.

Weight-Loss Surgery Gains More Practitioners

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- More doctors are performing weight-loss surgery today, and hospitals are touting better survival rates, a new study finds.

Religion Might Boost Happiness in Times of Stress

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Religious people outnumber and are happier than atheists in societies facing hardship or conflict, a new study indicates.

Insurance Premiums Vary Widely From State to State

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Monthly premiums for individual health insurance average $215 a person in the United States, but vary widely from state to state, a new report says.

Sleep Apnea Makes Quick Return When Treatment Stops

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleepiness rapidly return when patients stop using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, a new study finds.

Patients Taking Antipsychotics Urged to Get Routine Physicals

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who take antipsychotic medications aren't being adequately monitored for dangerous health complications, researchers have found.

Many Arthritis Patients May Not Be Exercising Enough

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Although being physically active is one of the best ways people with osteoarthritis can alleviate pain and improve their ability to get around, a new study shows that people with the joint disease are much more sedentary than previously thought.

Fido's New Forte: Helping Kids Learn to Read

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Dogs can teach children about responsibility, shower them with love and maybe even help them maintain their reading skills.

Many Men Underestimate Prostate Surgery Side Effects

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- New research finds that men who undergo prostate removal often suffer more from incontinence and impotence than they expected, even when counseled beforehand about possible aftereffects.

Health Highlights: Aug.12, 2011

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

Feds Outline Rules for States' Insurance Exchanges

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Treasury Department today awarded $185 million to 13 states and the District of Columbia to speed up creation of Affordable Insurance Exchanges -- a cornerstone of President Obama's health care reform -- across the country.

Disabilities From 9/11 Behind Rising Retirements for NYC Firefighters

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Health problems linked to the World Trade Center attacks may be spurring an increase in retirements for New York City firefighters, a new study suggests.

Court Rules Against Insurance Mandate in Obama Health Care Law

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- In a 2-1 decision, a panel of three judges with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday struck down the controversial "individual mandate" rule in the health care reform package.