Even Today, the Stigma of Mental Illness Won't Fade

THURSDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- People with a mental illness struggle with symptoms ranging from crushing depression and crippling anxiety to powerful delusions and hallucinations that force them to actively sort out the real from the imagined.

Virginia Man Won't Let His Mental Illness Define Him

THURSDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Loren Booda experienced his first psychotic break when he was 19 years old.

Is American Medicine Too Test Happy?

THURSDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- If you've had a medical procedure lately, you probably first had blood tests, an imaging test like an MRI or ultrasound, perhaps an electrocardiogram and possibly more.

Health Tip: Exercising With Arthritis

(HealthDay News) -- Physical activity, an important part of arthritis management, can help improve pain and joint flexibility.

Health Tip: Eat Right During Pregnancy

(HealthDay News) -- When you're pregnant, eating a balanced, healthy diet is important for you and your baby.

Risk Factors for Vision Loss After Spine Surgery Identified

THURSDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have identified six risk factors linked to blindness after spine surgery, a rare but devastating complication.

Hand-Washing Key to Stopping Spread of Disease

THURSDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- There are many ways to prevent spreading germs and disease, but experts say one of the easiest ways is also one of the most important: proper hand-washing.

Are Global Market Forces Linked to Obesity Epidemic?

THURSDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Nations with open trade policies have greater densities of fast food restaurants and higher rates of obesity than those with more trade controls, a new study has found.

Health Care Reform Battle Tops Health News for 2011

THURSDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- While no one story dominated health news in 2011, the ongoing debate over the legality of the new health care reform law was perhaps the most polarizing, with the case now set to go to the U.S. Supreme Court early in 2012.

Music May Help Ease Pain for Anxious People

THURSDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Concentrating on music can provide enough distraction to ease the pain of people with significant anxiety, according to a new study.

Parents Speak Out on Catastrophic Youth Sports Injuries

THURSDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- On Aug. 22, 2008, sophomore Matt Gfeller, 15, played in his first varsity high school football game at R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Gene Mutation May Be Key to Familial Pancreatic Cancer

THURSDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals may face a higher hereditary risk for developing pancreatic cancer if they carry abnormalities in the so-called "ATM" gene, new research reveals.

'Silent Strokes' Linked to Memory Loss in Elderly: Study

THURSDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- In some cases, memory loss among the elderly may be due to so-called "silent strokes," new research suggests.

Health Highlights: Dec. 29, 2011

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