Rate of Statin-Linked Muscle Woes Unclear, Study Suggests

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- It's been long known that people on high doses of statins, cholesterol-lowering medications taken by millions of Americans, are at risk for a rare yet serious muscle condition. However, new research suggests that the frequency of the condition, called rhabdomyolysis, is a bit less clear due to confusion with the codes health professionals use to classify and report such problems.

Health Tip: What Constitutes 'Healthy Eating?'

(HealthDay News) -- When you commit to healthy eating, it means more than choosing fresh veggies over French fries. It's changing the way you eat, too.

Health Tip: Caring for a Sunburn

(HealthDay News) -- Sunburn can occur as quickly as 15 minutes after exposure to the sun begins, and the effects can range from mildly uncomfortable to quite painful.

Study Recommends Putting Your Left Face Forward

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- People show more emotion on the left side of their face, and that may help explain why that side typically appears more pleasant to others, researchers say.

More Babies Today Have Irregular Head Shape: Expert

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence of babies with irregular head shapes, such as a flattened section in the back of the skull, have increased in the United States since the Back to Sleep campaign was introduced in 1994 to prevent sudden infant death syndrome, an expert says.

Some Schools Don't Let Kids Carry Asthma Inhalers

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Although all 50 states have laws that allow children with asthma to carry inhalers at school and 48 states have laws that let youngsters carry epinephrine pens for serious allergies, experts say that some kids are still being denied access to these lifesaving medications during the school day.

Animals More Interesting to Kids Than Toys, Study Shows

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Given the choice between a real animal and a toy, new research shows that children prefer a living creature.

Vitamin D May Affect Lung Transplant Success

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Vitamin D is important for the health of lung transplant patients, a new study suggests.

Blood Clot Risk for Outpatients Needs More Attention: Study

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- People undergoing outpatient surgery should be warned about their risk for dangerous blood clots, according to a new study that finds the risk is higher among groups including, but not limited to, those who are older or obese.

Research Gets Closer to Genetic Roots of Glaucoma

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Two genetic variations are linked to a common form of glaucoma, known as primary open-angle glaucoma, according to new research.

Bullied Children at Greater Risk for Self-Harm, Study Finds

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Children who are bullied are three times more likely than others to self-harm by the time they are 12 years old, according to a new study.

Upper-Body Strength Key for NASCAR Drivers

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- A resistance-training program that focuses on building upper body strength can improve success for stock car drivers, such as those on the NASCAR circuit, a new study suggests.

Taking Away Car Keys Can Be Tough for Older Drivers

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Driving can be a major factor in elderly people's quality of life, affecting their mental health and overall well-being, an expert says.

Adjusting Your Attitude About Chronic Pain May Help You Sleep

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- People with chronic pain who learn to think less about their pain may be able to sleep better, according to a new study.

Heart Test Spots Sudden Death Risk in Young Athletes

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Electrocardiograph (EKG) screening of young athletes can help identify those at risk for sudden cardiac death, according to a new study.

Leisurely Strolls More Popular, Yet Walk Times Shorter: CDC

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- In recent years, more Americans have embraced the habit of taking leisurely walks, a new government analysis reveals.

Health Highlights: April 27, 2012

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

Afinitor Approval Expanded to Include Benign Kidney Tumors

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Afinitor (everolimus) is the first drug to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat benign kidney tumors among people with a rare genetic condition called tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), the agency said in a news release.

Votrient Approved to Treat Cancer That Begins in Soft Tissue

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Votrient (pazopanib) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat people with soft tissue sarcoma that have received previous chemotherapy.

FDA Approves New Impotence Drug Stendra

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced that it had approved Stendra, a new medication for erectile dysfunction.

Levaquin Approved to Treat or Prevent Plague

FRIDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Approval of the antibiotic Levaquin (levofloxacin) has been expanded by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to include plague, a rare but deadly bacterial infection.