Casual Sex Can Lead to Long-Term Relationships: Study

TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- People who "hook up" for casual sex can have as rewarding a long-term relationship as those who take it slowly and establish a meaningful connection before they have sex, says a new study.

Health Tip: Spot Symptoms of Ringworm

(HealthDay News) -- Ringworm is a fungal skin infection.

Health Tip: Signs That People With Dementia Shouldn't Drive

(HealthDay News) -- People with dementia may no longer be able to drive safely. Recognizing this may be a very difficult conclusion, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says.

In Triathletes, Heart Adapts for Efficiency, Scans Show

TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- The hearts of triathletes adapt to the rigors of training and competition by becoming more efficient, which suggests that combining endurance and resistance training may be the best way to achieve optimal heart health, researchers say.

Genetic Studies Find Clues to 'Lou Gehrig's Disease' Risk

MONDAY, Aug. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Genetic variations on a specific chromosome appear to play a role in a fatal motor neuron condition known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, two teams of scientists have found.

Certain Exercises Benefit Arthritic Dogs

TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Certain types of exercise may help ease stiffness and pain in dogs with arthritis, a new study suggests.

U.S. Pediatricians Decry Media's Portrayal of Sex

TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- The nation's leading group of pediatricians has issued a strong policy statement directed toward pediatricians, parents and the media on the danger of messages American teens and children are getting about sex from television, the Internet and other media outlets.

Dementia Patients, Caregivers May Benefit From Home-Based Program

TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- A home-based program designed to improve life for dementia patients and their caregivers offers some benefits, finds a new study.

Review Finds No Statin-Cancer Link

TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- There's no evidence that popular cholesterol-lowering statins cause cancer, says a review that challenges earlier research raising concerns that the drugs may be associated with an increase in cancer and cancer-related deaths.

Personal Music Players Damage Hearing Over Time

TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Personal music players may pose a major risk to hearing if they're played too loudly or for too long, researchers report.

Clinical Trials Update: Aug. 31, 2010

(HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com:

Active Lifestyle May Help Counter Obesity Genes

TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Exercise can reduce a person's genetic predisposition to obesity by 40 percent, finds a new English study.

Can Fruits, Veggies Help Ward Off Lung Cancer?

TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables may help protect some smokers from lung cancer, a new European study suggests.

Health Highlights: Aug. 31, 2010

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

East Coast Should Prepare for Hurricane Earl: FEMA

TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Residents of the U.S. East Coast need to take steps to prepare for Hurricane Earl, say Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials.

'DASH Diet' Shown to Lower Heart Attack Risk Almost 20%

TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats can significantly lower the risk of heart attack for people with mildly elevated blood pressure, Johns Hopkins University researchers say.

Babies Born Late May Face Small Cerebral Palsy Risk

TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Infants born preterm or later than term are at slightly greater risk of developing cerebral palsy, Norwegian researchers report.

Preventive Surgeries May Be Lifesaver for Women at High Cancer Risk

TUESDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Women who carry genetic mutations that boost their odds of breast and ovarian cancer can live longer and reduce their cancer risk by having preventive surgery, a new study suggests.