Health Tip: Dispose of Medications Safely

(HealthDay News) -- Medications that are expired or no longer needed shouldn't be dumped down the sink or toilet, the U.S. Home Safety Council warns. Doing so could pollute our water, making animals and other people sick.

Health Tip: Ease Swelling Beneath a Cast

(HealthDay News) -- Wearing a cast or splint requires special care to help a broken bone heal.

Special Needs Kids Bullied More, Fare Poorly at School

WEDNESDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- Many 'special needs' kids who struggle with medical, emotional or behavioral issues often face tough social and academic troubles in school, a new study suggests.

Kids From Unplanned Pregnancies Tend to Lag Behind Intellectually

WEDNESDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- Young children born after unplanned pregnancies tend to have a smaller vocabulary and poorer non-verbal and spatial abilities than other children, but these problems are actually due to socioeconomic factors, a new study suggests.

Caution Urged in Intensive Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

WEDNESDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- Intensive glucose-lowering treatment for people with type 2 diabetes doesn't reduce the risk of cardiovascular-related death and doctors need to be cautious about prescribing this type of treatment, a new study suggests.

Only 15% Use Calorie Info at NYC Fast Food Chains: Study

TUESDAY, July 26 (HealthDay News) -- Only about one-sixth of fast food restaurant customers in New York City use calorie information provided on menus and menu boards, but they do tend to buy food with fewer calories, a new study shows.

Menopause Does Not Boost Diabetes Risk, Study Finds

WEDNESDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- Menopause does not raise a woman's odds of developing diabetes, according to a new study.

Age-Related Memory Loss May Be Reversible, Animal Study Suggests

WEDNESDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- Age-related memory problems occur due to declines in the neural networks of a certain area of the brain, but this problem may be reversible, a new study in animals suggests.

Greater Breast Density May Raise Cancer Risk

WEDNESDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- Greater breast density is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and certain aggressive tumor traits, new research says.

Hepatitis Rates Soar Among IV Drug Users, Study Finds

WEDNESDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- About 10 million injection drug users worldwide have hepatitis C, and 1.3 million have hepatitis B, a new study reports.

Computer-Aided Mammography Doesn't Improve Breast Cancer Detection: Study

WEDNESDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- The widely used mammography software known as computer-aided detection (CAD) doesn't improve detection of invasive breast cancer, new research suggests.

Health Highlights: July 27, 2011

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

Implantable Device May Ease Tough-to-Treat Hypertension

WEDNESDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- For people with high blood pressure that medication can't control, a new implantable device shows promise, researchers report.

Cell Phones Don't Seem to Pose Cancer Risk to Kids: Study

WEDNESDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- Children who use cell phones don't seem to face an increased risk of brain cancer, compared to children who don't use them, a new study contends.

Scientists ID Gene Linked to Syndrome Behind Elephant Man Disease

WEDNESDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers say they've identified the gene mutation that causes the same condition that Joseph Merrick, the 19th century Englishman famously known as "The Elephant Man," was thought to have had.

Densensitization Procedure Helps Hard-to-Match Kidney Recipients

WEDNESDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- A combination therapy that "desensitizes" kidney transplant recipients could help hard-to-match patients find a needed kidney faster.

Gene Study Sheds Light on Deadly German E. Coli Strain

WEDNESDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists who sequenced the genetic structure of the E. coli strain that caused the deadly food poisoning outbreak in Germany that began in May say their findings could help fight the deadly bug.

1 in 3 Nose Job Patients Has a Mental Illness: Study

WEDNESDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- A new study suggests that about one-third of people who want rhinoplasty, also known as a nose job, also have symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) -- a mental condition in which excessive concern about imagined or minor defects in appearance interferes with daily life.