Health Tip: What's Behind Epilepsy?

(HealthDay News) -- Epilepsy causes the nervous system to send abnormal and excessive electrical impulses. The result are seizures, which may be characterized by involuntary movements, periods of lack of awareness, and other behavioral changes.

Health Tip: Protect Yourself From Flu

(HealthDay News) -- There are no guarantees that you'll never get the flu, but with these precautions suggested by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, your risk may be reduced:

Juggling a Hospital Job and Family Can Be Painful

THURSDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- The greater the conflict between their job and family demands, the more likely it is that nurses and other hospital workers will suffer musculoskeletal pain, a new study finds.

Postoperative Program Prevents Respiratory Complications: Study

THURSDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- A simple and inexpensive program can reduce the risk of life-threatening and costly respiratory complications that are common after surgery, according to a new study.

Diabetes Screening May Not Lower Overall Death Rates

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Screening for type 2 diabetes does not appear to reduce the risk of death in the general population, according to a new study.

Scientists Uncover Genetic Link for Uterine Fibroids

THURSDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers who discovered genetic risk factors linked to uterine fibroids in white women say their findings will lead to new screening and treatment methods for the condition.

Hormone Therapy in Early Menopause May Benefit Some Women: Study

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that hormone replacement therapy, used to relieve hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, might be safe for younger menopausal women when taken in smaller doses for short periods of time.

Aspirin May Help Preserve Brain Function in Older Women With Heart Disease

THURSDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- The same daily, low-dose aspirin that many women take to lower their risk for heart attack may have spillover benefits on their risk for developing mental decline, suggests new research from Sweden.

BPA Exposure Impacts Pregnant Women's Thyroids, Study Suggests

THURSDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- New research finds that BPA -- a chemical widely used in the manufacture of hard plastics, cans and even store receipts -- is associated with lower levels of thyroid hormone in both pregnant women and their newborn boys.

Botox Injections: Option for Urge Incontinence?

THURSDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Botulinum toxin, the anti-wrinkle treatment known as Botox, can also help women with urge incontinence reduce their leaking episodes, according to a new study.

Health Highlights: Oct. 4, 2012

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

Meningitis Outbreak Not Over Yet: Experts

THURSDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Health experts said Thursday they expect to see more cases of a deadly type of meningitis that has been linked to an apparently contaminated steroid used for back pain. The outbreak so far has killed four people and sickened at least 30 others in five states, authorities report.