THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Snow shoveling does increase the risk of heart attack, a new study confirms.

(HealthDay News) -- Hemorrhoids are swollen, painful veins that develop in the rectum. Up to half of pregnant women have them, the womenshealth.gov website says.

(HealthDay News) -- When your stomach growls, it's often hunger that's talking. Hunger is your body's way of saying it needs to be nourished.

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Toys are a major part of children's fun and excitement during the holiday season, so parents and others need to make sure the toys are safe, experts say.

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Reusing pacemakers from dead patients is safe and effective, according to a new study.

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Gay men who live in states where same-sex marriage is legal are healthier, have less stress, make fewer doctor visits and have lower health-care costs, a new study finds.

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Using a robotic assist system along with conventional rehabilitation therapy boosts the walking ability of people who've suffered a severe stroke, Italian researchers say.

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Low levels of iron in the blood are associated with an increased risk of dangerous blood clots that form in a vein, according to the results of a new study that included patients with an inherited blood vessel disease.

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 20 million Americans who see a dentist at least once a year don't see a doctor or other general health care provider, which suggests that dentists could screen these people for systemic health disorders, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, a new study says.

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- If you're a woman who smokes and you are looking for another reason to quit, consider this: A new study has found a link between tobacco use and skin cancer.

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Black teens might drink fewer sugar-sweetened beverages if they're provided with easy-to-understand facts about calories, especially when the information includes how many minutes of exercise it would take to burn off those calories, researchers have found.

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- The recent recession took a toll on parent-child ties, with parents who were under financial strain reporting that they felt less connected to their kids and kids saying they were less likely to act with generosity, a new study finds.

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Lack of time is a common reason cited for not exercising, but new research suggests that several short intensive workouts a week may help lower blood sugar levels similarly to longer, more regular exercise regimens.

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) - To catch cervical cancer or the lesions that can lead to it, a human papillomavirus (HPV) test is the best option for women over 30, Dutch researchers report.

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

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- A long-awaited U.S. government-mandated report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that the use of chimpanzees in biomedical research be conducted only in very limited circumstances.

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Americans' heart health is in a woeful state, says this year's report card from the American Heart Association.

THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- In what might serve as a hopeful sign for all children in the United States, a new study finds that obesity rates among New York City's school children have dropped slightly in the past five years, particularly among the youngest.