Friday, January 14, 2005

Health Headlines - January 14

Global High Blood Pressure Rates Set to Soar

A third of the world's adult population -- more than one billion people -- will suffer from high blood pressure by 2025, scientists predicted on Friday.

Big Tobacco Tried to Blur Cancer Link

Tobacco companies tried to cast doubt on the link between smoking and cancer by funding projects that challenged the findings of a landmark study, scientists said on Friday.

Sunblock and Footwear Key to Haj Wellbeing

Pilgrims should stock up on sunblock and shoes before starting the five-day haj pilgrimage this month, a British Muslim doctor said on Friday.

U.S. Finds Gaping Racial Disparities in Public Health

Black people in the United States are far more likely than whites to die from strokes, diabetes and other diseases, according to a federal study that shows wide racial disparities persist in health care.

Merck Seeks Over-The-Counter U.S. Cholesterol Drug

Drug maker Merck & Co. Inc. urged U.S. advisers on Thursday to approve the first over-the-counter sales of a cholesterol-lowering pill, but regulators questioned if consumers would use it properly.

Gay Men May Be Misusing Viagra

Approximately one out of six gay men use Viagra recreationally, and are more likely to do so if they are also using illegal drugs, new research indicates.

Johnson & Johnson Withdraws 300 Stents from Market

Johnson & Johnson on Thursday said it has voluntarily withdrawn 300 of its Cypher stents from the U.S. market after determining that the coating on six of the devices did not meet specifications.

Taking Medicine Prevents AIDS Mutations

Taking AIDS drugs exactly as prescribed is the best way to prevent the virus from mutating and becoming resistant to those drugs, researchers said on Thursday.

Sleep Apnea Linked to Heartbeat Irregularities

People with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome -- in which airways become blocked periodically during sleep and breathing stops for brief periods --experience a relatively high number episodes of irregular heart rhythm, Spanish investigators report.

Fears Ease Over Disease Risk in Tsunami Zone

Fears that the Indian Ocean tsunami could unleash epidemics which would double the death toll are fading as access to clean water improves, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

Vending Machine Industry Aims at Obesity

The vending machine industry, taking heavy criticism as kids and other Americans get fatter, is launching an anti-obesity marketing campaign to improve its image and fend off efforts to remove machines from schools.

Researchers Link Gene to Form of Deafness

Researchers have identified a gene that prevents the regeneration of inner ear cells that are critical to hearing, a discovery experts say is the first step toward finding a way to correct the most common form of deafness among the elderly.

Surgeon General Renews Radon Warning

The surgeon general is reminding Americans to have their homes checked for radon.

Intestinal Immune Cell Network Discovered

A newly identified network of gastrointestinal immune cells in mammals could help scientists better understand how the immune system recognizes and responds to dangerous bacteria and viruses.

Eye Protein Plays Key Role in Allergy Response

A protein in the eye that plays an important role in the early stages of allergic response has been identified by University College London researchers.

New Gene Principle Changes the Rules

Researchers are rewriting the rules for human genetics, and their findings have medical implications for conditions ranging from diabetes to cancer to heart disease.

Iron Deficiency Sends Cells Into Tailspin

Iron deficiency forces cells to preserve what little iron they have and to maintain essential functions by dramatically reducing the activity of more than 80 different genes.

African health ministers agree to massive anti-polio drive: WHO

Eight African states have agreed to a massive series of anti-polio vaccination campaigns aimed at halting transmission of the virus by the end of 2005, the World Health Organisation said.

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