HealthDay TV: Wrapup 7

This week in health news...
Forbidden foods may contribute to obesity in children....
Prescription drugs that can affect you behind the wheel...
Starting college on a healthy note...
And improving the quality of life for cancer patients.
Hello, I'm Dr. Cindy Haines...
A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that people with advanced cancer who receive care for their pain and stress, along with their other medical treatments, may enjoy an improved quality of life.
But while palliative care can help patients feel better, researchers found that it had no effect on the number of days spent in a hospital, the number of emergency room visits or the frequency of treatments.

If I say driving while impaired, you probably think of alcohol, but many routine prescription drugs can affect you on the road. And a study of drivers older than age 55 shows that many people are unaware of the risks.

Out of 630 drivers surveyed only 18 percent ever remember receiving a warning from a health-care professional.

There are several so-called "driver-impairing medications", including ACE inhibitors, sedatives and beta-blockers. Talk to your doctor about what's in your medicine cabinet.

Hiding the chips, soda and candy from your children may backfire, according to new research conducted by the Center for Childhood Obesity Reseach at Penn State. The study followed 197 girls starting at the age of 5. Those with lower self control were almost twice as likely to be overweight by the time they were 15. And researchers found a direct connection between parental food restriction, a child's perception of forbidden foods and weight gain.
More research needs to be done to see if boys react the same way as girls when foods are off limits.

And finally, the freshman rush is underway on college campuses nationwide... and for some kids the adjustment is hard. Research shows opening up about their feelings may help them form new friendships that will ease the transition. According to the study, students who keep all of their negative emotions private may also suppress positive sentiments, like laughing at someone's joke or smiling during a conversation.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines for HealthDay TV, wishing you and your family the best of health.