Health Tip: Stop Your Child's Thumb-Sucking Habit

(HealthDay News) -- Thumb sucking may be a soothing pursuit for young children, but the instinctive practice could eventually damage the teeth, experts say.

Health Tip: Get More Veggies Into Your Diet

(HealthDay News) -- Everyone knows it's important to eat a lot of vegetables. But how can you eat more of these healthy foods without upsetting your routine?

FDA to Weigh Safety of Tobacco Lozenges, Strips

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- They may look and smell a lot like candy, but dissolvable, smokeless tobacco products aren't for kids. The safety and risks of "dissolvables" are the subject of a three-day U.S. Food and Drug Administration meeting this week.

More Known About Proteins That Cause Autoimmune Diseases

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- A new study says more than 32 million people in the United States have autoantibodies, which are proteins produced in the immune system that attack the body's tissues.

Younger Adults on Multiple Meds at Risk for Falls: Study

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Young and middle-aged adults who take two or more prescription drugs at any one time may be at increased risk for accidental falls, a new study finds.

Knee Arthritis May Speed Up Process Linked to Cell Aging

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- A process linked to natural cell aging has now also been associated with knee osteoarthritis, researchers say.

'The Pill' Can Help Ease Period Pain, Study Finds

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- There's more evidence that use of the oral contraceptive pill can help ease the cramps, bloating and other pain some women experience during their period.

Heavier Ex-NFL Players May Be Prone to Brain Decline

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Retired National Football League players who pack on the pounds may not be as sharp later in life as their counterparts who maintain a healthy weight, a new study suggests.

Drinking Late in First Trimester May Be Most Hazardous

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- It's known that drinking during pregnancy leaves babies vulnerable to a spectrum of abnormalities called fetal alcohol syndrome. Now, a new study pinpoints the latter half of the first trimester as a critical time in the development of some of the syndrome's most telling physical characteristics.

Injuries to Pedestrians Wearing Headphones Tripled Since 2004

MONDAY, Jan. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Folks who walk to work or school while listening to music via headphones may want to unplug, with a new U.S. study finding injuries to this group of people tripling since 2004.

Vitamin D Won't Help Most COPD Patients: Study

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Vitamin D supplements don't seem to help most patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a new study by Belgian investigators.

'Upper Normal' Blood Pressure Linked to Heart Risk in Men

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Middle-aged men with blood pressure in the upper-normal range are at increased risk for atrial fibrillation later in life, researchers say.

Americans Aren't Getting Any Skinnier

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- One in three American adults and one in six American children are obese, new government reports show.

Drug Duo May Help Fight Aggressive Form of Breast Cancer

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Combining two drugs that target an aggressive type of breast cancer known as HER2-positive appears to work better than using either drug alone, researchers report.

Experimental Blood Thinner Given Before Surgery Shows Benefit

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental anti-blood-clotting drug can serve as a replacement for other drugs such as Plavix in the days before heart surgery, a new study has found.

Health Highlights: Jan. 17, 2012

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

Joint Replacement Patients Face Blood Clot Risk in Hospital

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- One of every 100 people undergoing knee replacement surgery and 1 of 200 people having hip replacement surgery will develop a blood clot before they leave the hospital, even if they take steps to prevent the development of these blood clots, a new evidence review suggests.

U.S. Wants to Buttress Alzheimer's Arsenal by 2025

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- With the Alzheimer's epidemic predicted to reach crisis proportions as the U.S. population ages, a panel of experts is meeting for two days to draft a plan to combat a disease that is fast emerging as one of the nation's biggest -- and costliest -- health threats.

Experimental Drug Might Help Some a Bit With Colon Cancer

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- The experimental cancer drug regorafenib appears to extend survival slightly in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, a new trial indicates.

Blood Test Shows Promise in Spotting Pancreatic Cancers Early

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- A new blood test may hold promise as a means of early detection and diagnosis for often deadly pancreatic cancers.