Health Tip: Stay Inside When Spring Allergens Are at a Peak

(HealthDay News) -- Seasonal allergies can cause itchy, watery eyes, nasal congestion and sneezing.

Health Tip: Talk to Your Doctor About the Nicotine Patch

(HealthDay News) -- While the nicotine patch can be an effective method to help some people quit smoking and improve their health, it may not be the best smoking cessation tool for everyone.

Group Visits With Doctor May Benefit Parkinson's Patients

WEDNESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Group visits to a doctor are effective for Parkinson's disease patients, researchers say.

Girls Less Likely Than Boys to Be on Kidney Transplant List

TUESDAY, April 26 (HealthDay News) -- Girls are much less likely than boys to be placed on a kidney transplant waiting list, a new study finds.

Anxiety's on the Menu for People With Food Allergies

TUESDAY, April 26 (HealthDay News) -- Every time her teenage daughter Jordyn leaves the house, Nancy Geller worries about the food her daughter might choose to eat. Jordyn has a severe peanut allergy, and exposure to even a small amount of a peanut-containing food could cause a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Alzheimer's Caregivers Need Care, Too

WEDNESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- The growing number of people with Alzheimer's disease in the United States means that more people are becoming caregivers, a responsibility that health experts warn can pose risks to body and mind.

Researchers Describe Gene Activity in Living Cells

WEDNESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers in New York City say they are the first to observe the activity of a single gene in living cells.

Read a Book, Stay Connected

WEDNESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Reading a book can satisfy the crucial human need for belonging, a new study has found.

No Long-Term Effects Seen From Anesthesia in Infancy

WEDNESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Exposing young children to a brief, single anesthetic does not seem to cause long-term harmful effects on the brain, a finding that should reassure parents, researchers say.

Report: California Cities Have Worst Air Pollution in U.S.

WEDNESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- About 154 million Americans -- or more than half the U.S. population -- live in areas where the air is so polluted that it is often dangerous to breathe, a new report says.

Pet Dogs May Be Exposed to High Levels of Flame Retardants

WEDNESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Levels of chemical flame-retardants in the blood of pet dogs are five to 10 times higher than in humans, researchers have found.

When Docs Own MRIs, Back Pain Scans Increase: Study

WEDNESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors are far more likely to refer patients complaining of lower back pain for an expensive MRI scan if they own or lease such imaging equipment, a new study indicates.

Removing Ovaries During Hysterectomy Won't Raise Other Health Risks: Study

WEDNESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Among women who have had a hysterectomy, those whose ovaries were also removed had a lower risk of subsequent ovarian cancer and no greater risks of heart disease, hip fractures or other types of cancer, a new study indicates.

Health Highlights: April 27, 2011

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

Morning Heart Attacks Cause More Damage, Study Finds

WEDNESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- If you suffer a heart attack in the morning, it is likely to be more severe than having one at any other time of day, a Spanish research team reports.

Higher Oxygen Levels Improve Preemie Survival: Study

WEDNESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Babies born prematurely need supplemental oxygen to survive, but just how much has been a matter of debate.

Novel Hepatitis C Drug Holds Promise: FDA

WEDNESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental new drug that may treat hepatitis C more effectively than earlier medications will be reviewed Thursday by a panel of experts for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

New Clues to How Gastric Bypass Surgery Combats Diabetes

WEDNESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- Gastric bypass surgery has been known to improve blood sugar control, often sending people with type 2 diabetes into remission, but experts have long wondered exactly how that happens.

Armadillos Give Leprosy to Humans in Southern U.S.: Study

WEDNESDAY, April 27 (HealthDay News) -- The prehistoric-looking armadillo, already the state animal of Texas, now has a new claim to fame: leprosy.