KCAU - Health

Ask The Doc

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:12:00 EDT

Channel 9 Eyewitness News teams up with Dr. Thomas Benzoni to answer your health questions every Wednesday night during "Ask the Doc", on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 10.

Genes may boost woman's risk of postpartum depression

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

Pregnant women with specific alterations in two genes may be at increased risk of suffering depression after giving birth, a small new study suggests.

Living near major roadways in pregnancy tied to respiratory woes in children

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:09:00 EDT

A child whose mother lived near heavy traffic while pregnant faces a relatively higher risk for developing a respiratory infection before the age of 3, a new study suggests.

Eyelash extension adhesives may cause bad reactions

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:53:00 EDT

Eye experts warn that the adhesives used to apply eyelash extensions can cause allergies and infections.

Gene variations may explain weight gain among men, women

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

Weight gain in men and women is predicted by two different genetic variations -- so-called polymorphisms, according to a new study from the Netherlands.

Angelina Jolie has preventative double mastectomy

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:24:00 EDT

Hollywood film star Angelina Jolie announced Tuesday that she has undergone a double mastectomy because she carries a genetic mutation that greatly increases her risk of potentially fatal breast cancer.

Too much texting, Facebook time may lower college women's grades

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 08:58:00 EDT

Media use is a serious distraction for college freshmen, with a new study finding young women devote up to 12 hours daily on pursuits such as texting, posting status updates and surfing the web.

Human gene patent case goes to Supreme Court

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:14:00 EDT

The question of whether human genes can be patented is at the center of a case to be heard Monday by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Changes to psychiatry's 'bible' could widen definition of ADHD

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 08:58:00 EDT

Experts believe several changes in psychiatry's 'bible' will broaden both the definition and diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder -- ADHD.

Moderate drinking may not affect breast cancer survival

Tue, 9 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EDT

Women who have survived breast cancer can drink alcohol in moderation, new research indicates.

Experimental vaccine shows promise for ovarian cancer

Mon, 8 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EDT

A novel but preliminary new treatment for ovarian cancer has apparently produced complete remission for one patient with an advanced form of the disease, researchers are reporting.

Fitness in middle age may help shield men from cancer later

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:00:00 EDT

Men who are physically fit in middle age have a lower risk of developing and dying from certain cancers, new research indicates.

Erectile dysfunction tied to long-term narcotic use in men

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

If you're a man, the pain-killing medications known as opioids may do more than relieve pain -- they may also put a damper on your sex life.

Prostate cancer may be deadlier for the uninsured

Wed, 8 May 2013 10:07:00 EDT

Men who are uninsured or underinsured get advanced prostate cancer at nearly four times the national average and don't survive as long as other men with advanced disease, a new study says.

Study links timing of hospital visit to prostate cancer survival odds

Tue, 7 May 2013 12:03:00 EDT

Men with prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of their body are more likely to die after visiting an emergency department on the weekend rather than a weekday, a new study finds.

Younger men biggest consumers of added sugars

Wed, 1 May 2013 14:59:00 EDT

Young U.S. adults are consuming more added sugars in their food and drinks than older -- and apparently wiser -- folks, according to a new government report.

Men who are obese while young can pay a price later

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:59:00 EDT

Men who are obese in their early 20s have a significantly increased risk of dying or of having serious health problems such as diabetes and heart disease by the time they reach age 55, a new long-term study indicates.

Balding men could face higher heart risks

Thu, 4 Apr 2013 11:22:00 EDT

New research out of Japan shows a potential link between male baldness and an increased risk for coronary heart disease.

Low testosterone linked to later arthritis in study

Thu, 4 Apr 2013 14:57:00 EDT

Men with low levels of the hormone testosterone may be at greater risk for rheumatoid arthritis, according to a new study.

U.S. teen birth rate plummets

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

Teen birth rates in the United States are dropping sharply, especially among Hispanic teens, according to a new government report.

Too few kids use fast-food calorie info

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

Kids who eat fast food at least twice a week are 50 percent less likely to use calorie and nutritional information than kids who eat fast food less often.

More kids getting donor organs, but gaps persist

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

Over the last decade, the number of American children who die each year awaiting an organ donation dropped by more than half, new research reveals. And increasing numbers of children are receiving donor organs.

Weather worries can threaten a child's mental health

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:35:00 EDT

The monstrous tornado that devastated Moore, Okla., on Monday, killing dozens of adults and children, is a stunning example of violent weather that can affect a child's mental well-being.

Student suicide may spur similar thoughts in teens

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:29:00 EDT

When a classmate commits suicide, teens are more likely to consider or attempt suicide themselves, according to a new study.

Sleepless nights may hurt school performance of kids with asthma

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:25:00 EDT

Urban elementary school children with poorly controlled asthma are likely to experience sleep problems and suffer academically, new research indicates.

ADHD in childhood may raise risk for obesity in adulthood

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

Boys who are diagnosed with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are twice as likely to become obese adults as those who didn't have the disorder when they were young, a new 30-year study shows.

Latest edition of psychiatry's 'bible' launched amid controversy

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

As the American Psychiatric Association unveils the latest edition of what is considered the "bible" of modern psychiatry this weekend, the uproar over its many changes continues.

Swallowing magnets can be fatal for children

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:01:00 EDT

Children who swallow high-powered magnets often need surgery and other invasive procedures to remove the objects, according to a new study.

Many seniors suffer mental decline in silence

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:41:00 EDT

About 13 percent of Americans 60 and older say they have increasing problems with thinking and memory and that they suffer growing confusion, a new report released Thursday shows.

Swimming pools may pose hazard for people with heart devices

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:35:00 EDT

With summer approaching, researchers caution that swimming pools may pose a risk to patients with irregular heartbeats who've received implantable defibrillators.

Omega-3s no help against age-linked eye trouble

Tue, 7 May 2013 11:48:00 EDT

Adding omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients to standard antioxidant vitamins doesn't give older people any added protection against a leading cause of blindness, a new study finds.

Odds of dying in traffic accident increase with age

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:14:00 EDT

Elderly pedestrians face a much higher risk of being killed in a traffic accident than the young do, a new government report finds.

Seriously stressed? Hair analysis tells all

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:22:00 EDT

Hair analysis can reveal if seniors have elevated stress hormone levels that may put them at increased risk for heart disease and stroke, a new study suggests.

Complications from kidney stone surgery rising

Mon, 1 Apr 2013 10:36:00 EDT

As more patients undergo a minimally invasive procedure to remove kidney stones, the rate of complications from the surgery is also rising, according to a new study.

Researchers test implanted brain stimulator for Alzheimer's

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:18:00 EDT

Researchers are testing whether applying electrical stimulation directly to the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease might improve thinking, focus and alertness.

Too few Americans pass last days in hospice care

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:57:00 EDT

Many people are still dying in hospitals, despite the fact that there has been a decrease in the number of patients who spend their final days in a setting that most would rather avoid, a new government report shows.

New method may help pinpoint woman's final menstrual period

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:57:00 EDT

A new formula to predict a woman's final menstrual period could help menopausal women fight bone loss and reduce their heart disease risk, a new study reports.

Americans still making unhealthy choices

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:42:00 EDT

The overall health of Americans isn't improving much, with about six in 10 people either overweight or obese and large numbers engaging in unhealthy behaviors like smoking, heavy drinking or not exercising.

Managing seasonal allergies

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:35:00 EDT

Although spring arrived late this year in parts of the United States, the summer allergy season will still be strong, according to a sinus expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Cellphone use may reveal your dominant brain

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:03:00 EDT

New research suggests the dominant side of your brain may make the call on which ear you choose to use while talking on your cellphone.

Angelina Jolie will have ovaries removed to lower chances of cancer

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:05:00 EDT

Film star Angelina Jolie will have her ovaries removed to help lower her odds for ovarian cancer, People magazine reported Wednesday.

Rich 'cougar,' 'sugar daddy' stereotypes might not mirror reality

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:33:00 EDT

The notion of wealthy "sugar daddies" with young, pretty wives and well-heeled "cougar" women with handsome, young husbands may be more fiction than fact, new research suggests.

Nearly half of high schoolers text while driving

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:03:00 EDT

Close to half of U.S high school students text while driving, a habit that dramatically increases their risk of getting into a potentially fatal car crash, a new study shows.

Diet soda habit as bad for teeth as meth addiction

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:15:00 EDT

Heavy consumption of diet soda can damage teeth as badly as methamphetamine or crack cocaine, a new study contends.

American Cancer Society celebrates 100 years of progress

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:20:00 EDT

The American Cancer Society, which is celebrating on Wednesday a century of fighting a disease once viewed as a death sentence, is making a pledge to put itself out of business.

Simple steps can protect pets in weather disasters

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:18:00 EDT

In the aftermath of this week's deadly tornado, many people in Oklahoma are not only struggling to care for children and relatives, but also their pets.