Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Health Headlines - November 23

Stress Quadruples Risk of Asthma Attacks in Children

Children with asthma face quadruple the risk of an attack following stressful events in their lives, according to a study published on Wednesday in the journal Thorax.

Five Million Smokers Died Worldwide in 2000

Smoking killed nearly 5 million people worldwide in 2000, with men more than three times as likely as women to go to an early grave, according to a study published on Wednesday in the journal Tobacco Control.

Obesity Linked to Unhealthy Heartbeat in Study

Obesity raises the risk of atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heartbeat that can lead to stroke and early death if not controlled, researchers said on Tuesday.

Heart Surgery Performed in Awake Patients

Heart surgery is a frightening prospect for many people, but now imagine undergoing the operation completely awake! That's what seven patients treated at a hospital in Turkey went though -- in a planned, deliberate study.

Painful Periods May Be Linked to Stress: Study

The abdominal or low back pain that many women experience during their monthly menstrual periods may partly be due to stress, new study findings suggest.

Biogen, Elan Win U.S. Approval for New MS Drug

A once-a-month drug for treating multiple sclerosis that appears to cut relapses of the autoimmune disorder was approved on Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Breast-Conservation May Be OK for Inherited Cancers

Breast-conserving therapy (BCT), which involves limited surgery and radiation, is a suitable option for young women with BRCA-associated breast cancer, the most common hereditary type of the disease, new research suggests.

Report: Birth Rates for Older Women Rising

U.S. women in their 30s and early 40s had higher birth rates in 2003, while births among teenagers fell for the 12th straight year, federal health officials said on Tuesday.

Dental Plaques Linked with Pneumonia in Elderly

Bacteria in dental plaque can cause hospital-acquired pneumonia in elderly nursing home residents, according to a report in the medical journal Chest.

U.S. FDA Adds Restrictions to Acne Drug

Roche's acne drug Accutane and its generic versions will face tighter prescription controls to prevent harm to unborn children, U.S. health regulators said on Tuesday.

2003 Sees Highest Caesarean Birth Rate

More than 27 percent of the babies born in the United States last year were delivered by Caesarean section, a record high for the surgical method that is a controversial subject among both obstetricians and mothers.

Tests Negative on Suspected Mad Cow Case

A cow the Agriculture Department had suspected of carrying mad cow disease was declared free of the illness after follow-up tests, officials said Tuesday.

Girl Cured of Rabies With New Treatment

Doctors say they used a unique combination of drugs to cure a 15-year-old girl of rabies, making her the first known human ever to survive the usually fatal disease without vaccination.

N.J. Hospital Thwarts Smuggled Flu Vaccine

A New Jersey hospital helped thwart an attempted sale of smuggled flu vaccine, authorities said.

Study Suggests 'Glycemic Index' Diet

A diet favoring "good" over "bad" carbohydrates is better for the heart and less likely to slow down metabolism than a conventional low-fat diet, a small, preliminary study suggests.

Once-Joined Filipino Twins Recovering Well

Once-conjoined twin boys from the Philippines can do "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" hand movements, have graduated to crackers from pureed foods and "are well on their way to leading normal, active lives," one of their surgeons said Tuesday.

CDC Admits Errors in Obesity Risk Study

A widely reported government study that said obesity is about to overtake smoking as the No. 1 cause of death in the United States contained statistical errors and may have overstated the problem, health officials acknowledged Tuesday.

GERD: It's More Than Just Heartburn

Dinner is done and, predictably, that miserable fire beneath your breastbone has reignited. Time and again, you've reached for antacids and acid blockers, but nothing seems to extinguish your internal inferno.

Trouble at Home, School Hurts Kids' Coping Skills

Family problems, poor neighborhoods and other key environmental factors can undermine the coping skills of adolescents -- even among kids with good grades or high self-esteem.

Overstressed Teens Have Troubled Relationships

Poverty, depression and family conflict are associated with long-term, negative changes in teens' attitudes toward personal relationships, according to a study by the Society for Research in Child Development.

Health Tip: Clean Hands

Washing your hands is one of the best ways to avoid illness, experts say.

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