FRIDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- The increasing availability of direct-to-consumer genetic screening tests in the United States increases the risk that consumers will order inappropriate tests or misinterpret the results, warns the National Society of Genetic Counselors.

In the absence of federal regulations governing genetic testing, consumers should get the advice of a genetic...(click link above to read more)

FRIDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- Many people who aspire to leadership actually want to help others, according to a new study that challenges the widespread belief that most leaders are selfish and egoistic.

A team of European researchers used economics-based games to study the personality traits of people who choose to be leaders and found that they were more likely to be rated as...(click link above to read more)

FRIDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- Swimmers who dip into the pollution-free waters of sub-tropical beaches, such as those in southern Florida, face an elevated risk for developing gastrointestinal and/or respiratory illnesses, a new study indicates.

The study, which involved tracking 1,300 South Florida beach-going residents, was released online in advance of publication in an...(click link above to read more)

FRIDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- Genetics may determine to what extent you're swayed by the alcohol consumption of people around you, new research suggests.

A study published in a recent issue of Psychological Science found that people with a particular genetic profile are far more likely than others without the gene to drink more when they see someone else drinking...(click link above to read more)

FRIDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- The new Affordable Care Act is likely to help 30 million women obtain better health insurance or coverage if they don't already have any, a new report shows.

Under the new provisions, which are already taking effect, 15 million uninsured women will gain access to health coverage and 14.5 million underinsured women will get better coverage, the report...(click link above to read more)

THURSDAY, July 29 (HealthDay News) -- Although millions of people take calcium supplements to boost bone health and ward off osteoporosis, New Zealand researchers say the supplements have little effect on bone strength and contribute to a small increase in the risk for heart attack among older people.

Rather than relying on calcium supplements, the researchers suggest that people get...(click link above to read more)

FRIDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- Contrave, an experimental weight loss drug that combines an antidepressant with an anti-addiction medication, appears to help users shed pounds when taken along with a healthy diet and exercise, researchers report.

People who took the drug for more than a year lost an average of 5 percent or more of body weight, depending on the dose used, the team...(click link above to read more)

THURSDAY, July 29 (HealthDay News) -- Will the new health-reform legislation mean higher taxes for the middle class? Will panels decide what care very sick, older people should receive?

Not sure? Join the crowd.

A new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll shows confusion still reigns when it comes to the health-reform bill signed into law by President...(click link above to read more)

THURSDAY, July 29 (HealthDay News) -- Children with brain injuries tend to be able to acquire the same language abilities as other children but have greater difficulty developing story-telling skills, a new study shows.

"Our findings suggest that there may be limitations to the remarkable flexibility for language functions displayed by children with brain injuries," study author and...(click link above to read more)

THURSDAY, July 29 (HealthDay News) -- Weight loss has been noted among patients who've had a knee or hip replacement, a new study says.

The research focused on 196 patients, mean age 67 years, who had knee or hip replacement surgery (arthroplasty) at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City between 2005 and 2007.

The researchers found that, after their surgery, nearly 20...(click link above to read more)