Monday, March 21, 2005

Health Headlines - March 21

Congress Debates Right-To-Die Case

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation on Sunday aimed at prolonging the life of a brain-damaged woman, Terri Schiavo, in an extraordinary intervention by Congress to move the Florida case into the jurisdiction of federal courts.

Senate Passes Legislation on Schiavo Case

The Senate passed a bill that could prolong Terri Schiavo's life while House Republicans, stalled by Democrats, scrambled to bring enough lawmakers back to the Capitol for an emergency vote early Monday.

Experts Question Reduced-Sugar Cereals

Experts who reviewed the lower-sugar versions of six major brands of sweetened cereals at the request of The Associated Press found they have no significant nutritional advantages over their full-sugar counterparts.

Schiavo Case Sparks Push for Living Wills

Terri Schiavo didn't have a living will. But because of her, thousands of other Americans won't make that same mistake.

Mobile Phones for Kids Raise Concerns

Parents should think twice before giving in to a middle-schooler's demands for a cell phone, some scientists say, because potential long-term health risks remain unclear.

Study: Abstinence Pledgers May Risk STDs

Teens who pledge to remain virgins until marriage are more likely to take chances with other kinds of sex that increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, a study of 12,000 adolescents suggests.

Sen. McCain: Baseball 'Can't Be Trusted'

Saying Major League Baseball "can't be trusted," Sen. John McCain warned Sunday that legislation might be needed to force the sport to change its steroids policy.

Giving Doctors the Data They Need

Switching doctors? Start the relationship off on the right foot with a few simple steps, advises Dr. Caroline Rudnick, a Saint Louis University family physician.

Study Confirms Effectiveness of Drug for Persistent Asthma

Adding the drug Xolair to an asthma patient's medication regimen helps cut emergency medical visits, new research confirms.

Scientists Take to the 'Airways' to Find New Asthma Treatments

Research focusing on inflammation of the airways in asthma may eventually lead to new therapies for the disease.

Thailand's dengue fever cases rise 75 pct over same period last year

An explosion of dengue fever in Thailand since the start of the year has health officials warning occurrences of the disease, already up 75 percent over the same period last year, will likely rise with the arrival of mid-year rains.

China plans national database of HIV/AIDS victims as epidemic looms

China plans to set up a national database containing the records of its HIV/AIDS victims in a bid to get a better grip of the extent of the epidemic.

S.African supermarket giants order clean-up after cancer food scare

South African supermarket giants have launched a sweeping clean-up after some products were found to be laced with a heavy-duty dye that can potentially cause cancer.

Majority of Britons favour change in abortion law

A majority of Britons believe the country's legal time limit to terminate a pregnancy should be reduced below the current maximum 24th week.

Indian woman suicides to donate corneas to blind sons

A 36-year-old Indian woman suicided allowing her to donate her corneas to two near-blind sons.

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