Discerning Gift-Givers Look for Toys That Offer More Than Fun

MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- When it comes to toys, kids' wish lists for the holiday season often pose a dilemma for parents, who find themselves asking two crucial questions.

Choosing a Toy? Think 'Kid-Powered'

MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Most parents who come into Top Ten Toys in Seattle are concerned about the safety of the toys they buy, asking about toxins like lead and chemicals in plastics like BPAs, the store's buyer/manager, Kathie Dockstader, said.

Study Suggests Most Would Sacrifice One Life to Save Many

MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Most people are willing to sacrifice the life of one person in order to save many others, new research suggests.

Obesity Linked to Lower Paychecks

MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Obese Americans have smaller paychecks than those who aren't overweight, and this difference is especially strong among women, a new study finds.

Health Tip: Skip the Cold Medicine Before Age 4

(HealthDay News) -- Parents want to do whatever they can to ease a child's cold symptoms, but cough and cold medicines aren't recommended for children under age 4.

Health Tip: Are You at Risk for Macular Degeneration?

(HealthDay News) -- Macular degeneration is a disease of the eye's macula, the portion responsible for your ability to see fine detail. Age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss, affects many people as they get older.

Tips for Avoiding Asthma, Allergy Triggers This Season

MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Holiday decorations, both old and new, can cause asthma attacks and allergic reactions, an expert says.

Knee Pain Plagues Many Women Over 50

MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Knee pain is common in middle-aged and older women, a new study finds.

Blood Pressure Control in Middle Age Can Lower Lifetime Heart Risk

MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Blood pressure changes in middle age can affect your lifetime risk for heart disease and stroke, a new study suggests.

Previous Cancer May Up Melanoma Risk

MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- A new study finds that cancer survivors are at increased risk for cutaneous melanoma, one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer. The highest risk is among those previously diagnosed with melanoma.

Nearly 1 in 3 Young U.S. Adults Have Arrest Records: Study

MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- By the time they're old enough to vote, roughly one in four Americans has had at least one criminal arrest.

Folks Flock to Facebook for Kindred Spirits

MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that Facebook, the online social networking web site, shows that people tend to connect with those who are the most like them.

Health Highlights: Dec. 19, 2011

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

Bottled Tan May Keep Women Out of the Sun

MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Young women who get their tan out of a bottle may spend less time sunbathing or using tanning beds, two riskier behaviors, according to a new study.

Vitamin D Helps Bone Health Only With Calcium: Report

MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- A new analysis on the effects of vitamin D on bone health shows that it cuts fracture risk in older adults, but only when taken with calcium supplements.

'Nerve Snip' Might Ease Dangerous Irregular Heartbeat

MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Snipping certain nerves may help prevent dangerous heart rhythms caused by stress, a small, new study suggests.

Endometriosis Tied to Higher Risk of Crohn's, Colitis

MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Women with endometriosis may be up to 80 percent more likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis compared to women without the uterine disorder, according to a new long-term study.