The New Face of Pet Therapy

TUESDAY, Dec. 27 (HealthDay News) -- No doubt about it. People have a deep and complex relationship with animals, which elicit a wide range of emotional responses by their very presence and interactions with human beings.

The Mainstreaming of Vegan Diets

TUESDAY, Dec. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Vegan diets are considered by some to be extreme, a strict way of eating that exists on the radical fringes of vegetarianism.

Health Tip: Discuss Weight With Your Child

(HealthDay News) -- Talking about weight with your child can be difficult, but it's important to foster a healthy attitude toward weight and eating.

Health Tip: Choose Your Day to Quit Smoking

(HealthDay News) -- Your desire to stop smoking is a major decision, and shouldn't be taken lightly.

Eating Out Doesn't Have to Mean Excess Calories

TUESDAY, Dec. 27 (HealthDay News) -- While the holidays tend to translate into restaurant meals that are bigger and higher in calories than those prepared at home, eating out doesn't have to be unhealthy, an expert says.

Get a Head Start on 2012 Fitness Resolutions

TUESDAY, Dec. 27 (HealthDay News) -- With all those parties, tempting foods and travel, it can be a challenge to stick with your fitness program during the holidays.

Poor People May Be Quicker to Be Kind

TUESDAY, Dec. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Poor people are quicker than middle-class or rich individuals to recognize the suffering of others and to show compassion, according to a new study.

Racial Disparities Seem to Persist in Depression Diagnosis

TUESDAY, Dec. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Racial and cultural factors still affect the diagnosis and treatment of depression in elderly Americans, despite improvements to diagnostic tools and therapies in recent decades, according to a new study.

Adversity, Trauma May Boost Mental Toughness

TUESDAY, Dec. 27 (HealthDay News) -- New research finds some truth in the old saying that whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger.

More Schooling Might Raise IQ

MONDAY, Dec. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Children who have more schooling may see their IQ improve, Norwegian researchers have found.

Health Highlights: Dec. 27, 2011

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

Breast Cancer Radiation Linked to Raised Heart Risk

TUESDAY, Dec. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Women who have breast cancer on the left side of the body and who are treated with radiation therapy have a higher risk of developing narrowing of the arteries that lead to the heart, researchers say.

New Blood Test May Rule Out Heart Attacks More Quickly

TUESDAY, Dec. 27 (HealthDay News) -- A new test measuring levels of troponin I in the blood may help determine whether someone is really having a heart attack earlier than is currently possible.