Friday, December 03, 2004

Health Headlines - December 3

Female Sex-Drive Patch Needs More Study

Procter & Gamble Co.'s testosterone patch for boosting female sex drive needs longer-term testing for serious side effects before it can win approval, a U.S. advisory panel unanimously ruled on Thursday.

Internet Could Spark Rise in Suicide Pacts

The growing popularity of the Internet could lead to a rise in suicide pacts in which several people kill themselves together, a leading psychiatrist in Britain said on Friday.

New Method Helps Map Women's Happiness

Having sex is the high point of most women's' days, while commuting is the low point. And most women like being with their kids less than they will admit, according to a study published on Thursday.

Prescription Drug Use at Record High for Americans

Americans, long considered one of the most medicated peoples in the world, are swallowing more pills than ever, according to a report released on Thursday by the U.S. government.

Even Tiny Amounts of Benzene Damage Body

Even "safe" levels of benzene damage immune system cells and could lead to cancer or other problems, U.S. and Chinese researchers reported on Thursday.

Taking a 'Statin' Soon After Heart Attack Helpful

Heart attack survivors might do well to begin treatment with a statin drug -- such as Lipitor or Zocor -- as soon as possible, a new study suggests.

Moderate Alcohol Use Linked to Fewer Heart Plaques

Drinking one or two alcoholic beverages per day seems to reduce plaque buildup in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, new research indicates.

Green Tea May Block Prostate Cancer

Green tea contains chemicals called polyphenols that appear to slow the progression of prostate cancer, at least in mice, according to a report in the journal Cancer Research.

Epilepsy Drug Safely Treats Drug Addiction

The epilepsy drug vigabatrin appears to be safe for the treatment of cocaine or methamphetamine dependence, new study results suggest.

Red Meat Linked with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Study

People who eat lots of red meat may be raising their risk of rheumatoid arthritis, an incurable and crippling disease, British researchers reported on Thursday.

HIV Infection Rate Holds Steady

Despite the government's promise to "break the back" of the AIDS epidemic by 2005, about 40,000 Americans test positive for the HIV infection every year — the same number as a decade ago.

Spending Urged for Anti-Smoking Programs

Only three states — Maine, Delaware and Mississippi — are spending money on anti-smoking efforts at the minimum levels recommended by federal health officials, a coalition of public health groups said Thursday.

Gov't Targets Drugged Driving Among Teens

Many teen drivers believe it's less dangerous to drive after smoking marijuana than after drinking alcohol, a perception the government wants to change.

Dental Plaque Linked to Pneumonia

Better oral hygiene, including good regular toothbrushing, may lessen nursing home residents' chances of developing pneumonia, according to a study which traced germs from dental plaque to the lungs of patients with the potentially fatal illness.

Some Stem Cells Don't Work

Bone marrow-derived side population stem cells appear to have limited potential for regenerating injured cardiac and skeletal muscle, says a University of Chicago study.

Health Tip: No More Tears

Tear production is important to the eye's health, according to the National Eye Institute. Tears keep the organ moist, help wounds heal and protect against eye infection.

Shark Cartilage No Proven Cancer Cure

Although shark cartilage products remain widely available to the public, there's no scientific evidence to show they cure cancer, as advocates claim.

MRI Can Spot Foot Trouble in Basketball Players

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for early detection of potential stress fractures in the feet may help reduce the risk of season-ending injuries for college basketball players, says a Duke University study.

Gay Men Using Viagra Recreationally

The use of "recreational" Viagra in combination with illegal drugs is common among gay men, says a study in the most recent issue of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Misaligned Knees May Speed Up Osteoarthritis

Leg alignment may influence the benefits of weight loss for people with knee osteoarthritis, says a study in the December issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

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