Harvard Health Content API

Kids exposed to a lot of smoking in movies are more likely to become smokers, new research finds. The study surveyed more than 1,700 kids on their movie-watching habits. The kids were 10 to 14 years old at the time and did not smoke. Seven years later, they were surveyed about smoking. Those who had the highest exposure to smoking in movies were also more likely to have smoked more than 100 cigarettes. The study appeared in the April issue of the journal Pediatrics.

People with two healthy kidneys are said to have 100% of their kidney function. A drop in how the kidneys function can increase a person’s risk of heart and artery problems, two new studies suggest. One study kept track of 4,378 elderly people for 8 years. About one-quarter of them had a decline in kidney function. They were more likely to have a heart attack or develop heart failure than people without kidney problems. They also were more likely to develop peripheral artery disease. The other study included 13,029 people. All were age 45 to 64 when the study began. Researchers kept track of them for 9 years. Some people’s kidney function dropped by more than 5.6% per year. People in this group had a higher risk of developing heart disease. They also were more likely to die early than people with stable kidney function.

More than 1 in 3 adults has balance problems, a study has found. These problems can lead to dangerous falls. Adults with diabetes are even more likely to have problems with balance. Balance is controlled by a system in the inner ear. It is called the vestibular system. When it doesn’t work right, a person feels dizzy. The study looked at 5,086 adults, ages 40 and older. They found that about 35 of every 100 people had some balance problems. Among people with diabetes, about 60 of every 100 had some balance problems. The study was published May 25 in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.

Weight-loss surgery done by experts is no more dangerous than other major surgery, a study concludes. These procedures are known as bariatric surgery. The study looked at data on two types, gastric bands and gastric bypass. The bands are wrapped around the stomach to make it smaller. The bypass makes the stomach smaller and also bypasses part of the intestines. Researchers looked at two years of data from 10 hospitals that specialize in this type of surgery. For every 1,000 people, 3 died during surgery or within the next month. Another 43 had a major problem, such as a blood clot. A few years ago, death rates were about 20 per 1,000. The study appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine. The Associated Press wrote about it July 30.

A disturbingly large number of black men and women develop heart failure before the age of 50, according to new findings from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. People in the study were ages 18 to 30 when the study began. Researchers observed them for 20 years. One in 100 blacks in the age group studied developed heart failure. This rate is 20 times higher than whites. Heart failure in black study participants was often preceded by risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, and chronic kidney disease. The Associated Press wrote about it March 19.

Soccer is growing in popularity for kids. Unfortunately, soccer injuries also are becoming more common. The American Academy of Pediatrics released a report that lists tips to help prevent soccer injuries. There were about 186,500 soccer injuries in 2006, and more than half were to the ankle or knee. Concussions in soccer are as common as they are in football or ice hockey. The AAP provides tips for parents, coaches, and pediatricians. MedPage Today wrote about it January 25.

Being fat in middle age can reduce women’s chances of being healthy at age 70, a study has found. The study included 17,000 female nurses. Researchers kept track of their weight and health from 1976 to 2000. A normal body mass index (BMI) is 19 to 24.9. A BMI of 25 or more is considered overweight. Researchers tracked women’s BMI increase after age 18. For every 1-point increase, they had a 12% lower chance of being healthy at age 70. Good health included being free of major disease. It also included being able to perform daily tasks such as vacuuming and climbing stairs. Risk was highest for women who were overweight at age 18 and later gained more than 20 pounds. Their chance of good health at age 70 was 80% lower than for normal-weight women. The study appeared in the journal BMJ. The Associated Press wrote about it September 30.

A test that does not require surgery can be used to diagnose endometriosis, a study finds. This condition can be painful and cause infertility. It occurs when cells from the uterus lining (endometrium) grow outside the uterus. The new test looks for nerve fibers in the endometrium through a biopsy. Researchers inserted a device through the vagina and took tissue samples from 99 women. The women also had surgery through a small cut (laparoscopy). This is the standard way to diagnose endometriosis now. The surgery found disease in 64 women. The biopsy found nerve fibers in all but one sample from this group. The surgery found no disease in the other 35 women. Biopsy samples showed no nerve fibers for 29 of these women. A second study found that nerve fibers are 14 times more common in the uterus lining among women with endometriosis.

A drug tested to prevent prostate cancer did seem to reduce risk, a study says. More than 10,000 men were in the study. Some took dutasteride (Avodart) and others took a fake pill. After 4 years, men who took the drug were less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. They also had fewer problems with enlarged prostates. But men who took the drug were more likely to have sexual side effects, as well as heart failure. And men who took the drug and still got prostate cancer were more likely to have an aggressive form of cancer. The study was published in the April 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The Associated Press reported on it March 31.

A brain scan may show signs of multiple sclerosis years before symptoms occur, a study has found. But not everyone with abnormal brain areas developed MS symptoms. The study included 44 people. All of them had magnetic resonance (MRI) scans of the brain for a variety of reasons. Doctors noticed abnormal areas in the brain like those seen in MS. They kept track of the people for 5½ years. In that time, about one-third developed MS symptoms. One-third developed additional abnormal areas, but had no symptoms. The study was published December 10 in the journal Neurology. USA Today and HealthDay News wrote about it.