Health Headlines - December 7

Study Shows Different Heart Effects of COX Drugs

People who take Merck & Co. Inc.'s analgesic Vioxx are nearly three times as likely to have heart attacks as those taking Pfizer Inc.'s Celebrex, according to an independent study published on Monday.

Studies Show Why Lost Sleep Equals Gained Weight

People who put on a few extra pounds may be able to blame a lack of sleep for the added weight, according to two separate studies published on Monday.

Birth Month Seen Linked to Multiple Sclerosis Risk

People born in May in the northern hemisphere have a higher than average risk of developing multiple sclerosis, researchers said on Tuesday.

Flu Season Off to Slower Start, CDC Chief Says

This year's flu season has started slowly in the United States, where there are concerns about a shortage of vaccine caused by production problems at a major manufacturer, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday.

South Beach Diet Creator Shuns 'Low-Carb' Label

The South Beach diet is no fad, its creator says, rejecting the notion that his eating plan would fizzle out with the rest of the low-carb craze.

Babies Unused to Sleeping Face-Down Seen at Risk

Since the "Back to Sleep" campaign to prevent SIDS, many babies have always slept on their backs -- but new research suggests that maybe they should be given a chance to become acquainted with being face-down, under careful observations.

Ariz. Lawsuit Blames Zicam Spray for Loss of Smell

Users of homeopathic nasal spray Zicam Cold Remedy have filed a proposed class action lawsuit, claiming the popular over-the-counter product robbed them of their sense of smell.

Botox Useful for Leaky Bladder

Treatment with Botox (botulinum-A toxin) can help women with urge incontinence, a type of urine leakage resulting from involuntary contractions of the bladder muscles, new research shows.

Millennium Says Velcade Works in All Myeloma Stages

Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Monday said studies show that its drug Velcade is effective for patients at all stages of the bone marrow cancer multiple myeloma.

Medicare Lays Out Regions for Coverage

U.S. Medicare officials sought a compromise with private insurers on Monday by dividing the country into more regions, a ruling that could encourage more firms to broaden their health care plan offerings to the elderly.

U.S to Purchase More Doses of Flu Vaccine

The government is purchasing as many as 5 million additional doses of flu vaccine from plants in Canada and Germany to help relieve the U.S. shortage.

Mass. Launches Computerized Medical Files

Doctors in Massachusetts would be able to access patients' records from any hospital or clinic in the state by computer under an initiative announced Monday.

Hardee's Monster Burger Creates Uproar

At 1,420 calories and 107 grams of fat, Hardee's Monster Thickburger couldn't escape notice in these diet-conscious times. Or the jabs of late-night talk show hosts.

AARP Says Drug Prices Rose More Slowly

Brand-name prescription drug prices edged up by half a percent in the third quarter, more slowly than earlier in 2004 or during the corresponding period last year, AARP said Monday.

FDA to Hear Silicone Breast Implant Data

Makers of silicone breast implants will try to persuade the government next spring to lift a long-term ban on most uses of the devices, presenting new data about safety and durability.

Carmona: Steroid Abuse Is Health Concern

The surgeon general said Monday he is greatly concerned about the impact of steroid use in the major leagues on young athletes who see professional baseball players as role models.

Regulators Suggest Restricted Use of Drug

British regulators recommended Monday that physicians restrict the use of the anti-depressant Efexor because its use could have side effects for heart health and pose other risks that require more careful monitoring than its competitors.

EU: Flu Pandemic Is Waiting to Happen

The European Union warned on Monday that an influenza pandemic was waiting to happen and said nations were still struggling to prepare for it.

Malaria Cases Rise in Dominican Republic

Malaria cases have increased 31 percent over the past year in the Dominican Republic, possibly because of heavy rainfall during Hurricane Jeanne, authorities said Monday.

Health Tip: Women and Heart Disease

Twice as many women die from heart disease each year as from all types of cancer combined, including breast cancer, Duke University Medical Center says.

Health Tip: The Importance of Stretching

A good dose of stretching should precede and follow just about any exercise routine, the American Council on Exercise says.

Nutritional Supplement Helps Ease Depression

Adding the nutritional supplement SAMe to common antidepressants may help depressed patients who haven't responded to single-drug treatment.

More Proof That Chimp, Human Brains Share Similarities

New research provides more evidence that chimpanzee brains are human-like in terms of the links between brain asymmetry, language and right- or left-handedness.

Keep Toy Safety in Mind at Christmas

Toy safety should be at the top of your list when you select Christmas presents for children.

Should TV Ads on Sports Shows Carry a 'PG' Rating?

One of every five commercials broadcast during major sporting events shows unsafe or violent behavior that might be inappropriate for children, a new study says.

Water Helps Those With Low Blood Pressure

Plain tap or bottled water may buoy the health of people with low blood pressure who faint while they're standing, says a British study in the latest issue of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

Shampoo Ingredient Kills Rats' Brain Cells

Experiments with the brain cells of rats show that contact with an ingredient found in shampoos, hand lotions and paint causes neurons to die.

Heart Risk Factors for Obese Kids Murky

More of America's young people are getting fat, but the results aren't showing up consistently in obesity-related risk factors for heart disease, U.S. researchers report.

Gel Eases Pain for Babies Getting Shots

A common sight at the pediatrician's office is that of a baby wailing and a parent wincing as the infant receives a vaccination, but a new gel may cut down on the number of those gut-wrenching moments.