Harvard Health Content API

A screening test called CT colonography is almost as good as identifying possible cancers as traditional colonoscopy is. Now, a study has found that people undergoing CT colonography may not need to take laxatives the day before. Harvard researchers did the study. It involved 605 people. Each had a CT scan without laxatives. About 5 weeks later, each had a traditional colonoscopy. The tests were equally accurate at finding polyps that were at least 1 centimeter in diameter. A polyp is a growth in the colon. Larger ones often become cancerous. Colonoscopy was better at finding smaller polyps, however. These also may become cancerous, and are usually removed during a colonoscopy. And if something suspicious is found during a CT scan, the person would then need a colonoscopy, too. The study was published in the May 15 Annals of Internal Medicine. CBS News reported on it.

Having a family history of high blood pressure doesn’t mean you’re helpless to stay heart healthy. A study from the American Heart Association journal Hypertension involved 6,278 adults. Most were Caucasian, and the majority were men. They were followed for about 5 years. During that time, 1,545 developed high blood pressure. Everyone in the study took a treadmill fitness test. Some people were considered “highly fit.” In that group, people with a family history of high blood pressure had only a 16% higher risk of high blood pressure, compared with people who had no family history.

More children are going to the emergency room (ER) with injuries related to batteries, new research finds. A 20-year study found that annual ER visits for this reason nearly doubled between 1990 and 2009. Button batteries were the most common culprit. They accounted for 84% of all ER visits. Most often, batteries were swallowed. But they also were stuck in noses and ears. Button batteries look like small coins. They are found in watches, remote controls, toys, hearing aids, musical greeting cards and games. The study was published in the journal Pediatrics. USA Today and Reuters wrote about it.

Products known as probiotics might help to prevent diarrhea after antibiotic treatment. That’s the conclusion of a review of research on the topic. Antibiotics kill bacteria that cause infections. But at the same time they kill many normal, “good” bacteria in the digestive system. This can cause diarrhea. This problem occurs in about one-third of people treated with antibiotics. Usually it is mild, but some cases can be dangerous. Probiotics contain live cultures of “good” bacteria. The purpose is to boost these bacteria in the gut. Probiotics are found in yogurts and other products. Researchers reviewed 82 earlier studies related to probiotics. They found that people who took probiotics along with antibiotics were 42% less likely to develop diarrhea. Researchers said consumers need more information to decide whether to use these products.

Increasing numbers of adults in the United Kingdom have multiple health problems, a new study says. And the British health system must change to cope with their needs, the authors say. The study focused on 1.75 million adults. They were registered with a total of 314 medical practices in Scotland. Records showed that 23% had at least 2 long-term (chronic) medical conditions. The study called this “multimorbidity.” Most of these patients saw multiple specialists. But their care was not well coordinated, the study found. The conditions included coronary artery disease, diabetes, cancer, depression and many others. Among people 65 and older, a majority had at least 2 conditions. The study found that multiple conditions were more common in poor areas. They also occurred 10 to 15 years earlier, on average.

Waking up to an alarm clock might seem like a good way to get to work on time. But researchers say it’s an example of “social jetlag” that can lead to sleep loss and obesity. Social jetlag is the mismatch between the body’s internal clock and people’s actual schedules. It leads to sleep deprivation. Needing an alarm clock to wake up, for example, is a sign that you haven’t slept enough. German researchers have spent the last 10 years putting together a database on sleep patterns worldwide. In a new study, they found that people with the most severe “social jetlag” also are more likely to be overweight. The journal Current Biology published the study online May 10.