WEDNESDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Consider this:

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Stretching before taking warm-up swings may hurt your golf game, a new study suggests.

(HealthDay News) -- Playtime is more than a source of amusement for kids and their parents. It teaches toddlers social skills, how to pay attention and to use their imagination, says the American Academy of Pediatrics.

(HealthDay News) -- While controlling stress and taking certain medications can help manage symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), monitoring your diet and eating habits can have the most significant impact, the American Dietetic Association says.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- People generally judge the personalities of attractive people more accurately than those of others, according to a new study.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- It seems that Americans really can be in love with their possessions, a new study shows.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- A disturbing new study finds that bacteria often contaminate the hands of those who give anesthesia to surgical patients, and those germs contribute to disease transmission during operations.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Admissions for alcohol abuse treatment have remained the same in parts of the Midwest and South while dropping elsewhere in the United States, while treatment rates for illegal drugs are increasing across the country, especially for marijuana abuse, according to a new report.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- A new commentary calls on doctors to disclose when they're deprived of sleep and not perform surgery unless a patient gives written consent after being informed of their surgeon's status.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Federal researchers say they've gained insight into how to analyze the risks facing people with a rare immune system-weakening condition called chronic granulomatous disease, paving the way toward more personalized treatment.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors can learn more about anesthesia, sleep and coma by paying attention to what the three have in common, a new report suggests.

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

(HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com:

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- A treatment team headed by an experienced nurse improved the health of patients suffering from multiple chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and depression.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Having sex early in a relationship may lead to less satisfying marriages because couples can fail to develop important skills to communicate well and resolve conflicts, new research suggests.