Health Tip: Why Do I Have Gingivitis?

(HealthDay News) -- Gingivitis is a mild type of gum disease. Left untreated, however, it can progress to a more serious form called periodontitis.

Health Tip: Help Prevent Bruises

(HealthDay News) -- A bruise creates a darkened area of skin, when an injury causes small blood vessels to leak below the skin's surface.

Study Examines Reasons Some Black Men Avoid Doctors

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Many black men may not visit their doctor because they find the interaction stressful and don't feel physicians give them enough useful information on how to make recommended lifestyle changes, new research suggests.

Pediatricians Issue New Vaccination Recommendations

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Teenagers need a booster shot to protect them from meningococcal meningitis, a potentially deadly infection of the tissue around the brain, while all kids should have up-to-date whooping cough vaccines in light of recent outbreaks, according to new recommendations from pediatric experts.

Girls Win When They Play Video Games With Parents: Study

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Finally some good news for families about gaming: girls who play video games with their parents behave better, have stronger mental health and feel more connected to their families, according to a new study.

HIV Linked to Higher Pregnancy Rate in Young Women

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- HIV-positive teens and young women are more likely to get pregnant and to have pregnancy complications than are those who do not have HIV, a new study finds.

Infectious Disease Experts Call for More Focus on Hepatitis C

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Among injection drug users, new cases of HIV infection have declined dramatically in the past two decades, but the number of new infections from the hepatitis C virus have dropped only a small amount, a new study reports.

Key Protein May Warn of Future Spread of Cancer

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- High levels of a certain protein in cancer cells may indicate which tumors are likely to spread, scientists report.

Experts Issue Guidelines on Care of Clogged Neck Arteries

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- There isn't sufficient evidence to recommend widespread screening or routine ultrasound tests to check for blocked neck arteries that could cause a stroke.

Look-and-Sound-Alike Names Account for Many Painkiller Prescription Errors

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Confusion caused by look-alike and sound-alike names contributes to a large number of the painkiller prescription errors that occur in hospitals, U.S. researchers report.

Children May Pack on Pounds After Tonsillectomy

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Weight gain is common after children have their tonsils removed, an analysis of four decades of research concludes.

Trained Labrador Can Sniff Out Colon Cancer, Researchers Say

MONDAY, Jan. 31 (HealthDay News) -- With powers of smell far superior to those of humans, dogs can sniff out buried earthquake victims. They can unearth hidden bombs or drugs. They can also apparently detect colorectal cancer, Japanese researchers suggest.

Health Highlights: Feb. 1, 2011

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

Clinical Trials Update: Feb. 1, 2011

(HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com:

Blacks Still Hit Hardest by Cancer

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Even as overall cancer death rates continue a downward trend among black Americans, the community still bears the biggest brunt of cancer-related deaths in the United States, a new report shows.

New Campaign Urges Women to Know Signs of Heart Attack

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Every minute a woman has a heart attack in the United States, yet many don't reach out for help because they don't recognize the symptoms, U.S. health officials said Tuesday.

More Evidence Cancer Drug Avastin May Cause Harm

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- A new review finds more evidence that the beleaguered cancer drug Avastin may harm patients.

For-Profit Hospices May Prefer Certain Types of Patients: Study

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- End-of-life care facilities run for profit are more likely to have patients who require less-skilled care on the part of the hospice, or patients who need longer times in hospice care, research reveals.

Half of Adults Have Hypertension or High Cholesterol: CDC

TUESDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Despite some improvements, far too many Americans have out-of-control blood pressure and cholesterol levels -- both primary risk factors for heart disease, federal health officials warn.