Health Tip: Practice Food Safety at Parties

(HealthDay News) -- Nothing can ruin a party or holiday get-together like a foodborne illness, so take care to treat your guests to foods that won't send them running home.

Health Tip: Undergoing Cardiac Rehab

(HealthDay News) -- Cardiac rehabilitation can help strengthen the heart and improve overall health after a heart attack, angioplasty, coronary bypass, heart valve replacement or another heart problem.

General Anesthesia Does Not Boost Cancer Risk, Study Finds

MONDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Among patients given general anesthesia for surgery, the length or depth of sedation was not linked to an increased risk of developing cancer within five years of the operation, Swedish researchers report.

Rest Assured, Parents, Teens Really Do Get Smarter With Time

MONDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- As teenagers mature, their mental speed improves, making them smarter, according to a new study.

Cheap Drug Helps Smokers Quit, Study Finds

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- For people trying to quit smoking, the drug cytisine works better than a placebo, and its comparatively low cost makes it an appealing alternative to newer stop-smoking medications, researchers say.

Mild Strokes May Have Hidden Effects

MONDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Even mild strokes can result in serious but unrecognized disabilities, such as depression, vision problems and difficulty thinking, according to a new study.

Smoking May Double Risk for Stroke

MONDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Compared to people who don't smoke, smokers face twice the risk of stroke and they are likely to have that stroke nearly a decade sooner, a Canadian study finds.

Experts Assess What Works for Weight Loss

MONDAY , Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Weight loss programs that focus on changing behaviors, as well as those that combine behavior changes and weight-loss medications such as orlistat (Alli, Xenical), can help people shed pounds, according to a new review.

Early, Intensive Therapy Better for Kids With Autism, Study Finds

MONDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Children with an autism spectrum disorder appear to benefit from early, intensive therapy to improve their social and communication skills, according to a new study from the University of Missouri.

Preemies May Be at Higher Risk of Epilepsy Later in Life

MONDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Babies born very preterm -- defined as 23 to 31 weeks of gestational age -- are five times more likely than full-term newborns to have epilepsy as an adult, according to a recent study.

Some U.S. Parents Ignoring Vaccination Guidelines

MONDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- More than one in 10 parents don't follow recommended vaccination guidelines for their children, opting instead for an "alternative" schedule that could involve skipping doses or delaying shots.

Could Surgery, Anesthesia While Very Young Hamper Kids' Development?

MONDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Children younger than 2 who undergo multiple surgeries requiring general anesthesia may be up to three times more likely than other children to develop speech and language problems as they grow up, a new study suggests.

Conviction Rates Similar for Suspects of Child, Adult Murder in Utah

MONDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- In Utah, people suspected of child abuse homicide are convicted at a rate similar to those suspected of adult homicide, and they receive similar sentences, according to new research.

Health Highlights: Oct. 3, 2011

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

Mom's Healthy Diet Might Cut Birth Defect Risk

MONDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Pregnant women who eat a healthy diet appear to reduce the risk of having a baby with a major birth defect, such as spina bifida or a cleft lip or palette, a new study suggests.

Older Dads Can Pass on Gene Mutations That Lower Intellect

MONDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Certain genetic abnormalities in a man's chromosomes appear to be linked to intellectual disabilities in his offspring, especially if he fathered them late in life, a new study suggests.

HPV-Linked Oral Cancers on the Rise, Study Finds

MONDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- The rate of oral cancers linked to the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) rose dramatically over two decades, according to new government research.

Facebook Pages May Offer Clues to Underage Drinking

MONDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Facebook and other online social networking sites might be new weapons in the fight against underage drinking and alcohol abuse, a new study shows.