Kinston Press :: Medical and Health News

Allergan Inc., the maker of wrinkle-smoothing Botox, has agreed to pay $600 million to settle a yearslong federal investigation into its marketing of the top-selling, botulin-based drug.

New test seen as big advance in diagnosing TB

Posted: 1 Sep 2010 at 6:34pm

Scientists are reporting a major advance in diagnosing tuberculosis: A new test can reveal in less than two hours, with very high accuracy, whether someone has the disease and if it?s resistant to the main drug for treating it.

Journal editors question sale of diet pill Meridia

Posted: 1 Sep 2010 at 6:29pm

Editors of a top medical journal call Meridia ?another flawed diet pill? and question whether it should stay on the market as a study shows it raises the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with heart problems.

Benefits seen for high-risk women in ovary removal

Posted: 31 Aug 2010 at 5:01pm

Surgery to remove healthy ovaries gives a triple benefit to high-risk women: It lowers their threat of breast and ovarian cancer, and boosts their chances of living longer, new research suggests.

Double hand transplant patient shows new hands

Posted: 2 Sep 2010 at 5:19pm

The recipient of a rare double hand transplant says he feels ?fantastic? and can wiggle fingers on both his new hands.

FDA looks to curb abuse of cough medicine

Posted: 31 Aug 2010 at 2:55pm

Federal health regulators are weighing restrictions on Robitussin, NyQuil and other cough suppressants to curb cases of abuse that send thousands of people to the hospital each year.

Time to get your flu shot, but just one this year

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 at 1:31pm

It?s flu-shot season already, and for the first time health authorities are urging nearly everyone to get vaccinated. There is even a new high-dose version for people 65 or older.

Aging vets? costs concern Obama?s deficit co-chair

Posted: 31 Aug 2010 at 8:04pm

The system that automatically awards disability benefits to some veterans because of concerns about Agent Orange seems contrary to efforts to control federal spending, the Republican co-chairman of President Barack Obama?s deficit commission said Tuesday.

Scientists expect C-section rate to keep rising

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 at 5:20pm

More women will be giving birth by C-section for the foreseeable future, government scientists said Monday, releasing a study into the causes of a trend that troubles maternal health experts.