A study shows a rare genetic variation dramatically raises the risk of developing autism. This opens new research for better understanding the disorder and for treating it. Â

Officials with the Food and Drug Administration began cracking down on Internet sales of custom-mixed hormones for menopausal women. Officials say these alternative hormone mixes are no safer than prescription estrogen therapy.

U.S. health officials said on Wednesday they had warned seven pharmacies selling "bio-identical" hormones over the Internet that they were breaking the law with false and misleading claims about the benefits for menopausal women. The Food and Drug Administration sent

About 3.1 million Americans ages 12 to 25 -- about 5 percent of that age group -- have at some time used an over-the-counter cough and cold medication to get high, a U.S. government survey to be released on Thursday

Those who suffer from allergic asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis or stinging insect allergies may be good candidates to receive immunotherapy, also known as "allergy shots," according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). "Immunotherapy is a form of

Following is a statement by Linda A. Suydam, D.P.A., president of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), regarding today's release of the U.S. Health and Human Services Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Association's National Survey on Drug Use and

Movies seen at the youngest ages" -- mostly rated "G," "PG," or PG-13" -- "had as much influence over later smoking behavior as the movies that children had seen recently," according to researcher Linda Titus-Ernstoff of Dartmouth Medical School, summarizing

German researchers report that smokers are more likely to have suicidal thoughts than nonsmokers.

Decisions about treatment are often based on fear rather than logic.

Whatever the science behind them, unconventional treatments do often workâ€"whatever that means.

New studies reveal a genetic cause and find no connection to shots containing thimerosal.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will consider a proposal to send some 3,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan to thwart any spring offensive by Taliban militants, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. "This proposal is coming before the secretary this week,"

Medication-related weight gain and insulin resistance in schizophrenic patients can be attenuated with metformin and lifestyle interventions, alone or in combination, researchers report in the Jan. 9/16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

A chromosomal abnormality that appears to increase susceptibility to autism has been identified. A segment of chromosome 16 is either missing or duplicated in about 1 percent of individuals with autism or related disorders. Duplication or deletion of the ch16

Duplication or deletion of genes in a "hot spot of genetic instability" accounts for 1% of early autism cases, researchers find.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Urinary catheters may be one of the least pleasant parts of a hospital stay, but doctors, families and patients need to pay more attention to the...

By Ed Edelson, HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Jan. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Italian researchers say they've identified an abnormal heartbeat pattern in young athletes...

By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Jan. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Abnormalities on chromosome 16 appear to raise children's risk for developing autism, a...

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Ten minutes of discussion with a doctor about drinking may help at least one in six problem drinkers change their...

A multi-institutional study has identified a chromosomal abnormality that appears to increase susceptibility to autism. In a New England Journal of Medicine report that is receiving early online release, the investigators -- most of whom are associated with the Boston-based