For Texas Man, Bariatric Surgery Led to Diabetes-Free Life

FRIDAY, Jan. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Paul Garcia, 54, came from a family that loved to eat. "We always had a lot of food at home, and whenever we ate, it was like a feast," said Garcia.

Weight-Loss Surgery Is New Diabetes Foe

FRIDAY, Jan. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Though it began as a treatment for something else entirely, gastric bypass surgery -- which involves shrinking the stomach as a way to lose weight -- has proven to be the latest and possibly most effective treatment for some people with type 2 diabetes.

Health Tip: You May Need a Bone Density Test

(HealthDay News) -- A bone density test measures the amounts of calcium and other minerals in your bones, and how likely you are to develop thin and brittle bones -- characteristics of a condition called osteoporosis.

Health Tip: Should I Be Screened for Prediabetes?

(HealthDay News) -- Prediabetes is a condition characterized by abnormally high blood sugar levels that are not so high that diabetes may be diagnosed.

Doctor-Patient Communication Key to Sticking With Meds

FRIDAY, Jan. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Ineffective communication is a major player when patients don't properly take medication as prescribed, a new study finds.

Brain Injury Doesn't Raise Dementia Risk for Most: Study

THURSDAY, Jan. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Having a traumatic brain injury at some time in your life doesn't raise the risk of dementia in old age, but it does increase the odds of re-injury, a new study finds.

Implanted Heart Devices Have Real-World Benefits: Study

FRIDAY, Jan. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Implantable heart defibrillators aimed at preventing sudden cardiac death are as effective at ensuring patient survival during real-world use as they have proven to be in studies, researchers report.

Dementia, Late-Life Depression May Be Linked

FRIDAY, Jan. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Older people with depression may be more likely to experience mild mental impairment or dementia than their peers, Dutch researchers report.

Experts Challenge Americans to Reduce Salt Intake

FRIDAY, Jan. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Americans can dramatically reduce their daily salt intake by cutting bread, cold cuts and cured meats from their diet, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Flu Cases Rise Across U.S., Severe Season Feared

FRIDAY, Jan. 4 (HealthDay News) -- In Chicago, a hospital employee describes the emergency department as "knee-deep in flu and pneumonia cases."

Health Highlights: Jan. 4, 2013

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

Keeping Sexuality Secret Takes Mental Toll on Bisexual Men

FRIDAY, Jan. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Bisexual men have higher rates of mental health problems than gay men do, and new research suggests that this burden might stem from their desire to keep their sexual relationships with men secret.