Harvard Health Content API

Smoking bans cause several positive health effects that are confirmed by research, the World Health Organization says. Agency researchers looked at previous studies and reports on the subject. They found that the bans help smokers to quit or cut back. They also protect people from secondhand smoke and reduce respiratory symptoms in workers. The bans also do not hurt business for restaurants or bars, researchers found. They said heart benefits also may occur. In some studies, hospital admissions for heart disease fell 10% to 20% in the year after a smoking ban was enacted. Reuters Health news service wrote about the report June 30. It was published in the journal Lancet Oncology.

Worried about hair loss? A new test may suggest whether the number of hairs you lose is normal. Researchers did a study with 60 white men who did not appear to be balding. Ages ranged from 20 to 60. They washed their hair three days in a row with the same shampoo. On the fourth day, they combed their hair over a towel for 60 seconds and counted the hairs that fell. They did the combing for the next two days as well. Researchers concluded that loss of 10 hairs in this test is normal. HealthDay News wrote about the study June 16. It was published in the journal Archives of Dermatology.

About 1 out of 4 parents have doubts about giving certain vaccines to their children, results of a survey suggest. But a doctor’s reassurance may make a difference. Researchers analyzed nearly 4,000 interviews with parents. They were part of a U.S. government survey. About 28% of parents fit into one of three groups. They were unsure about childhood vaccines, decided to delay them, or refused them. All three groups expressed concern about safety. But some of them changed their minds. The reason cited most often was new information or reassurance from a doctor. Reuters Health news service wrote about the study October 6. It appeared in the journal Pediatrics.

Scientists have found a rare gene mutation that they say allows two women to function well with only six hours of sleep a night. The mother, who is 69, and her 44-year-old daughter both go to bed about 10 p.m. The mother gets up at 4 a.m. and her daughter half an hour later. The rest of their family gets more sleep. Researchers found that both women have a mutation in a gene called DEC2. This gene is involved in regulating the body’s clock. Researchers said they have not found anyone else with this gene mutation so far. The study appeared in the journal Science. The Associated Press wrote about it August 14.

Some people with migraines and depression may share genes that increase their risk of both conditions, a study suggests. Researchers used data on 2,652 people who were part of a long-running study. All were descendents of 22 couples in the Dutch town of Rucphen. About 25% of those with migraines also suffered from depression. Only about 13% of those without migraines were depressed. The link was even stronger for those who had migraines with aura. An aura is a flash of light or other visual change that occurs before a headache starts. Researchers concluded that 56% of migraine cases were linked to genes. For migraines with aura, 96% were linked to genes, they said. The journal Neurology published the study online. HealthDay News wrote about it January 13.

Pain in the legs could be a sign of a dangerous blood clot. But it’s often not diagnosed and treated in time, U.S. health officials say. They have started a campaign to spread the word about this problem. A blood clot in the leg is called deep vein (or venous) thrombosis, or DVT. A clot can kill if it moves into the lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolism. Such clots kill about 100,000 Americans each year. The new campaign includes a report from the surgeon general and booklets aimed at both patients and doctors. The Associated Press wrote about it September 15.

U.S. drug regulators say we need a better way to tell women and their doctors about the risks of specific drugs during pregnancy. Therefore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to scrap the current system, which gives each drug a letter grade. Drugs are grouped according to what research shows about their safety. The FDA wants to get rid of the letter grades. Instead, labels would have more information on pregnancy risks. The labels would say whether the research was done in people or animals. They also would say whether a drug is considered risky only during part of a pregnancy. The Associated Press wrote about the proposal May 29.

Some people with multiple sclerosis (MS) don’t get diagnosed right away. This is more likely if they also have other conditions, a new study finds. The study used files for more than 9,000 MS patients. MS was found 1 to 10 years later in people who also had other conditions. These included high blood pressure, high cholesterol and mental, artery or joint problems. People who were obese or smoked also were diagnosed later. The authors said the other problems may have been blamed for symptoms of MS. HealthDay News wrote about the study October 29. It was in the journal Neurology.

About 8 out of 10 large U.S. companies are trying to help their workers better manage long-term health conditions, a survey has found. That’s an increase from half of the companies the year before. Some employers are providing personal health coaches or on-site clinics. Some are waiving copayments for some drugs. People with diabetes, heart disease and other conditions account for a large share of health insurance costs. Keeping these workers healthier can reduce costs. McClatchy-Tribune Information Services wrote about the trend April 3.

People being treated for colon cancer who also take aspirin may cut their risk of death by nearly 30%, a study suggests. The study focused on nearly 1,300 people with colorectal cancer. All were involved in one of two larger studies. Their health had been tracked for an average of 12 years. All had surgery for colon cancer. Some had chemotherapy. Of the whole group, 549 used aspirin regularly. About 15% of them died of colorectal cancer. Of the 730 people who didn’t use aspirin, 19% died. Researchers said more study was needed. The ideal study would randomly assign people with colon cancer to take or not take aspirin. Aspirin can lead to side effects. It can cause bleeding in the stomach or intestines. The study appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine. The Associated Press wrote about it August 12.