Health Headlines - May 17

Lower Doses of Chemo Effective in Children

Lower doses of chemotherapy appear equally effective in treating many children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and may help reduce the number of long-term side effects, new study results suggest.

Moderate Exercise May Lower Risk for Ovarian Cancer

Moderate, but not vigorous, physical activity appears to lower the risk for ovarian cancer, Canadian researchers have found.

Lifestyle Changes Can Curtail Cancer's Return

Simple lifestyle measures may reduce the risk of recurrence of certain types of cancer.

Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs May Protect Against Cancer

The cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins, used by many to protect against heart disease, may also guard against several kinds of cancers.

Alcoholism-Linked Brain Damage Hits Women Sooner

Brains scans suggest women may be neurologically more vulnerable to alcohol than men.

Study: Acne Treatment Won't Trigger Depression

New research appears to refute well-publicized reports linking the use of the prescription acne drug Accutane to depression and suicide among teens.

Prescription Reflux Drugs Beat OTC Remedies

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are less effective than prescription drugs in fighting chronic acid reflux, according to a new international study.

Failed Lung Cancer Drug May Fight Breast Tumors

The lung cancer drug Iressa may one day have a role to play in treating breast cancer patients.

Antidepressants Linked to Increased Bleeding

Commonly used antidepressants such as Paxil, Zoloft and Prozac appear to be linked to an increased risk of abdominal bleeding, researchers reported Monday.

Child Cancer Survivors Have Other Problems

Two out of three children who beat cancer go on to develop other chronic health problems, ranging from heart disease to blindness, because of radiation and other treatments that saved their lives, new research finds.

Study: 18 Pct. of Adults Obese in Ireland

Ireland is quickly growing fat on its economic success, a report on the country's obesity problem found Monday. The National Taskforce on Obesity, formed by the government in March 2004, found that 57 percent of Ireland's adults were overweight, including 18 percent who were obese.

Experts Debate Study on Fat, Breast Cancer

A new study seems to suggest that low-fat diets can help prevent a return of breast cancer in certain women, but many specialists disagreed with the conclusions, saying other factors might have played a role.

Drug's Effect on Cancer Stuns Doctors

No one could have been more surprised than the doctors themselves. They were just hoping to relieve the symptoms of a deadly blood disorder — and ended up treating the disease itself. In nearly half of the people who took the experimental drug, the cancer became undetectable.

Drug That Treats Diarrhea May Prevent It

A drug already used to treat that tourist nightmare — traveler's diarrhea — may also prevent it without causing the antibiotic resistance that can eventually make medicines ineffective, new research suggests.

Food Fact:
Soymilky way.

A splash of soy milk on your breakfast cereal may help lower your cholesterol. According to the FDA, 25 grams of soy protein, or about four daily servings, is a good part of a dietary plan for a healthy heart. One cup of soymilk has 6.25 grams. Calcium-fortified soymilk is sold in supermarkets and whole foods stores. It's available in plain, vanilla, chocolate or strawberry flavors. Not all soymilk is calcium-fortified, however, so check labels. You can also use soymilk in custards, baked goods and other desserts -- just as you would with regular dairy milk.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Food for thought.

If weight loss is part of your plan, you've got good reasons to watch your portions. Don't deny yourself your favorite foods, but don't go overboard, either. Keep track of what you eat and each day focus on small successes. They can add up to a new you, and a lifetime of feeling better about yourself and your weight.

FAQ of the day:
What's a Daily Value?

The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) and a related number, the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), are suggested intakes of nutrients based on age and sex. They do not appear on food labels, but they were used to develop the Daily Values you see on a label. The Daily Value is a single number for everyone that is set high enough to ensure that the vast majority of people get enough of each nutrient. It's the best general guide for the public.