Snow Shoveling Really Does Raise Heart Attack Risk: Study

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Snow shoveling does increase the risk of heart attack, a new study confirms.

Health Tip: Dealing With Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

(HealthDay News) -- Hemorrhoids are swollen, painful veins that develop in the rectum. Up to half of pregnant women have them, the womenshealth.gov website says.

Health Tip: Are You Actually Hungry?

(HealthDay News) -- When your stomach growls, it's often hunger that's talking. Hunger is your body's way of saying it needs to be nourished.

Toy Safety Tips Help Protect Kids

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Toys are a major part of children's fun and excitement during the holiday season, so parents and others need to make sure the toys are safe, experts say.

Donated Pacemakers From U.S. Safely Reused in India: Study

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Reusing pacemakers from dead patients is safe and effective, according to a new study.

Legalized Same-Sex Marriage May Boost Gay Men's Health

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Gay men who live in states where same-sex marriage is legal are healthier, have less stress, make fewer doctor visits and have lower health-care costs, a new study finds.

Robotic Therapy May Help Some Stroke Survivors Walk

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Using a robotic assist system along with conventional rehabilitation therapy boosts the walking ability of people who've suffered a severe stroke, Italian researchers say.

Low Iron Levels May Increase Blood Clot Risk

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Low levels of iron in the blood are associated with an increased risk of dangerous blood clots that form in a vein, according to the results of a new study that included patients with an inherited blood vessel disease.

Dentists Could Fill Gap in Health Care, Study Says

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 20 million Americans who see a dentist at least once a year don't see a doctor or other general health care provider, which suggests that dentists could screen these people for systemic health disorders, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, a new study says.

Smoking Linked to Skin Cancer in Women

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- If you're a woman who smokes and you are looking for another reason to quit, consider this: A new study has found a link between tobacco use and skin cancer.

Calorie Info Helps Teens Choose Water Over Sugary Drinks

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Black teens might drink fewer sugar-sweetened beverages if they're provided with easy-to-understand facts about calories, especially when the information includes how many minutes of exercise it would take to burn off those calories, researchers have found.

Recession Hurting Parent-Child Ties, Survey Finds

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- The recent recession took a toll on parent-child ties, with parents who were under financial strain reporting that they felt less connected to their kids and kids saying they were less likely to act with generosity, a new study finds.

Brief, Intense Exercise Lowers Blood Sugar, Small Study Finds

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Lack of time is a common reason cited for not exercising, but new research suggests that several short intensive workouts a week may help lower blood sugar levels similarly to longer, more regular exercise regimens.

HPV Test Spots Cervical Cancer Earlier Than Pap Smear: Study

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) - To catch cervical cancer or the lesions that can lead to it, a human papillomavirus (HPV) test is the best option for women over 30, Dutch researchers report.

Health Highlights: Dec. 15, 2011

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

Experts Urge Limits on Medical Research on Chimpanzees

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- A long-awaited U.S. government-mandated report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that the use of chimpanzees in biomedical research be conducted only in very limited circumstances.

Poor Lifestyles Harming U.S. Heart Health: Report

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Americans' heart health is in a woeful state, says this year's report card from the American Heart Association.

NYC Sees Drop in Child Obesity; Can Other Cities Do Same?

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- In what might serve as a hopeful sign for all children in the United States, a new study finds that obesity rates among New York City's school children have dropped slightly in the past five years, particularly among the youngest.