Health Tip: Recognizing Asthma in Children

(HealthDay News) -- Asthma can develop in children of any age, but symptoms typically begin by age 5, the Cleveland Clinic says.

When Protecting Baby Becomes an Obsession

THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Many new mothers feel a bit anxious about caring for their infant. But sometimes that concern develops into an obsession over all the things that can go wrong.

9/11 a Life-Defining Day for the Young

THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Mallory Ham had just arrived at her first-grade class when the hijacked planes with their terrified passengers ripped into the World Trade Center. Though her recollections of that day are incomplete, they're burned into her memory just the same.

Black Children May Be More Prone to Peanut Allergy, Study Finds

THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Black children may be more likely to develop peanut allergy, a new study suggests.

For Women, Moderate Midlife Drinking Linked to Healthier Old Age

THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Women who consume moderate amounts of alcohol in middle age are somewhat more likely than teetotalers to be in good physical and mental health in old age, new research finds.

Big Health Plans Can Negotiate Lower Hospital Costs: Study

THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- The bigger the health plan, the lower the hospital costs, a new RAND Corp. study finds.

Risk for COPD Higher Than Thought: Study

THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- People are at much higher risk for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than previously thought, according to a new study.

New X-Rays Offer Clues on Evolution of the Human Brain

THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- New X-rays revealed the best and most accurate images of the brain shape of an early human ancestor, according to researchers.

TNF Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis Boosts Skin Cancer Risk

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors appears to increase their risk of developing skin cancer, a new review of prior research indicates.

Weight Watchers Produces Bigger 'Losers' Than Standard Weight-Loss Care

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Dieters may be more likely to slim down if they are referred to a commercial program such as Weight Watchers than if they battle the bulge with primary health care providers alone, a new study finds.

More U.S. Adults Using Illegal Drugs: Report

THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- The number of Americans using illegal drugs has continued to rise, reaching 22.6 million, or 8.9 percent of the population, in 2010, a new government survey shows.

Losing Child in First Year Might Raise Early Death Risk for Parent

THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Parents, particularly mothers, who experience a stillbirth or the death of a child in infancy have an increased risk of death for many years afterward, a new study suggests.

Two Doses of HPV Vaccine May Work as Well as Three

THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Two doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may offer just as much protection against cervical cancer as the three-dose regimen now being used, new U.S. government research shows.

Rising Health Care Costs Hitting Family Pocketbooks

THURSDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Health care costs have risen faster than the cost of other goods and services in the United States over the past decade, leaving many Americans financially worse off, according to a new RAND Corp. study released Thursday.

Health Highlights: Sept. 8, 2011

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