More Young Adults Take Anticholesterol, Hypertension Medications, Report Finds

Wednesday 31 October 2007 at 10:20 am The percentage of young adults who take anticholesterol and hypertension medications has increased significantly in recent years, according to a report released on Tuesday by pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions, the AP/Washington Times reports.

According to the report, the percentage of adults ages 20 to 44 who took anticholesterol medications increased from 2.5% in 2001 to more than 4% in 2006, a 68% increase. About 4.2 million young adults took anticholesterol medications in 2006, the report found.

In addition, the report found that the percentage of young adults who took hypertension medications increased from 7% in 2001 to more than 8% in 2006, a 21% increase. About 8.5 million young adults took hypertension medications in 2006, according to the report. (more)

New Mexico Gov. Richardson Announces Universal Health Coverage Plan For State

Wednesday 31 October 2007 at 10:19 am Presidential candidate New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) on Thursday announced a health care proposal that aims to increase the number of insured state residents, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports (Terrell [1], Santa Fe New Mexican, 10/26). Under the proposal, the state would phase in a requirement that people obtain private health coverage, enroll in a state-subsidized program or provide documentation showing they have sufficient financial resources to afford health care expenses out of pocket. Some residents, primarily those who are able to afford coverage, would be required to start showing proof of coverage beginning in 2010, such as when they renew a driver's license.

In addition, the proposal would require employers with six or more workers to pay into a state-run fund, with the payments offset by the amount that an employer contributes to coverage for its employees. (more)

Plastic Surgery Has Wide Appeal

Wednesday 31 October 2007 at 10:18 am Interest in Cosmetic Surgery and Liposuction is 'Widespread,' Researchers Report
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 30, 2007 -- If money were no object, would you ever consider getting cosmetic surgery or liposuction to improve your looks or body?

When more than 52,000 adults answered that question in an online survey, 71% of women and 40% of men expressed at least possible interest.

The results surprised researchers including David Frederick, a psychology graduate student at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). (more)

Political Candidates' Views On Abortion 'Not Especially Important,' Opinion Piece Says

Tuesday 30 October 2007 at 1:32 pm Although some voters might "care deeply" about how a candidate views abortion "because that stance is accurately considered an important signifier of the candidate's sensibilities and sympathies, and of his or her notion of sound constitutional reasoning," those views are "not especially important" when it comes to abortion policy Washington Post columnist George Will writes in a Post opinion piece.

According to Will, abortion policy is not determined by political candidates but is "almost entirely in the custody of the U.S. Supreme Court and will remain so unless or until the court" overturns Roe v. Wade -- the 1973 decision that effectively barred state abortion bans. In addition, a "Republican president's alteration of the court's balance" might not result in the overturning of Roe, Will writes. (more)

State Of Colorado Expands Contract With Alere Medical To Include Medicaid Recipients With COPD

Tuesday 30 October 2007 at 1:30 pm Alere Medical, Inc., a leading health management company, announced today that it has been chosen by the State of Colorado to manage its Medicaid recipients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) beginning in October 2007. This is the second expansion of the State of Colorado's contract with Alere Medical, which is also successfully managing the state's Medicaid heart failure and asthma patients.

"We believe that the success we've achieved with Alere's asthma program, combined with the preliminary positive experience in Alere's heart failure program, will result in similar results for our members with COPD," said Christy Hunter, Disease Management Coordinator for the state.

"Alere has been very pleased with the success of its Medicaid heart failure and asthma programs in Colorado," added Timothy J. Moore, MD, MS, executive vice president and chief medical officer for Alere. "We're confident that our COPD program, with its proven results, can improve the health of the state's members with COPD as well." (more)

Study Links Hypertension In Obese Children To Television Viewing

Tuesday 30 October 2007 at 1:28 pm Researchers from the University of California, San Diego; the Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego; the University of California, San Francisco; and the University of South Alabama determined that television viewing is not only linked to childhood obesity, but also to hypertension in children, according to a study published in the December 2007 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Childhood obesity is a major health concern in the United States. As of 2004, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) estimated that 17% of children and adolescents were obese. Obesity is known to increase the possibility of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension. Recent studies have shown that cardiovascular risk factors in childhood are significant predictors of preclinical atherosclerosis in adulthood. (more)

Michigan House Passes Bill To Limit Insurance Rate Increases

Monday 29 October 2007 at 10:01 am The Michigan House on Wednesday voted 89-17 to approve bills that would limit how much for-profit health insurers could increase their rates during policy renewals, the Detroit News reports. The bills, introduced earlier this month, also would require health insurers to contribute to a pool administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan that would cover the health expenses of individuals who cannot afford health insurance.

In addition, the legislation would enable the Accident Fund, the for-profit subsidiary of BCBS, to sell other types of insurance besides workers' compensation. BCBS said that the bills are needed to limit for-profit insurers from insuring only the healthiest individuals while leaving BCBS, the state's insurer of last resort, to provide coverage to the state's sickest residents. BCBS also said the bills would limit for-profit insurers' practice of drastically increasing premiums for members after they develop an illness. (more)

Opinion Pieces Address Health Care Issues In 2008 Campaign

Monday 29 October 2007 at 10:00 am Summaries of several opinion pieces that discuss health care issues in the 2008 presidential election appear below.

Anne Kinzel, Des Moines Register: A number of presidential candidates have promoted their health care proposals to Iowa residents, but "are they asking us what we actually want or are they just giving us 10-second sound bites to what is a 65-year-old issue?" Kinzel, an honorary board member of CodeBlueNow!, writes in a Register opinion piece. Kinzel writes, "Until we the people get involved, nothing will change, no matter what the candidates say" about health care, adding, "We are not as divided as our political parties would have us think." Kinzel concludes, "It's time to couple the ingenuity of Americans with the knowledge of health professionals because together we can solve our problems and tell the candidates what they need to do -- for us" (Kinzel, Des Moines Register, 10/22). (more)

Medical-bill errors increasingly common

Monday 29 October 2007 at 09:55 am Don't assume that your complicated medical bill is correct. Errors on bills for doctors, medical tests or hospitals can result in overcharges that run from a few dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.

House Defies Bush And Passes Revised Child Health Bill

Friday 26 October 2007 at 09:20 am The US House of Representatives has voted to pass a bill to extend state supported child health insurance in defiance of a threat by President George W Bush to veto it. The vote, cast yesterday, was 7 votes short of the the two-thirds majority needed to overturn a presidential veto and comes only one week after a vote on an earlier draft of the bill also failed to do so.

Representatives voted 265 to 142 in favour of the bill to extend the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to cover nearly 4 million more children whose families cannot afford private health insurance, but earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, the federal health insurance scheme for the poor. This would bring the total number of American children covered to 10 million compared to the current 6.6 million. (more)

Drinking Alcohol May Protect Lungs

Friday 26 October 2007 at 09:18 am Light to Moderate Alcohol Drinking May Protect Against Lung Disease
By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MDOct. 25, 2007 -- Drinking alcohol in moderation may help you breathe easier.

A new study shows light to moderate drinkers performed better on breathing tests than people who abstain from alcohol.

Researchers found that people who drank fewer than two drinks, on average, per day had a nearly 20% lower risk of lung disease than nondrinkers.

Their results were presented at CHEST 2007, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians. (more)

Stressed Out

Friday 26 October 2007 at 09:17 am 1 in 3 Adults Feel Extreme Stress
Extreme Stress Taking a Toll on Health, Relationships, and Work, Survey Shows
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MDOct. 25, 2007 -- Nearly a third of U.S. adults report "extreme stress" in a new survey from the American Psychological Association.

The results include: (more)

Get Married, Gain Weight

Thursday 25 October 2007 at 12:37 pm Weight Gain After Marriage or Moving in Together Is Common in Young Couples
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 24, 2007 -- After marriage, weight gain becomes more likely and exercise takes a nose dive, a new study shows.

The key finding: Young couples who marry or move in together are more likely to report gaining weight than those who stay single.

"The results suggest that sharing a household environment with a romantic partner may predispose individuals to become at risk for obesity and obesity-promoting behaviors," write Natalie The and Penny Gordon-Larsen, PhD, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (more)

Don't be a victim of pharmacy errors

Thursday 25 October 2007 at 12:36 pm (CNN) -- When Chanda Givens found out she was pregnant, she did what most expectant mothers would do: She went out to fill her prescription for prenatal vitamins.

When she miscarried within a few weeks of taking the drug, Givens said it never occurred to her the prescription might be the cause. She later learned that instead of being given a prescription for Materna, a prenatal vitamin, she received one for Matulane, a chemotherapy drug used to treat Hodgkin's disease, according to a lawsuit filed this month in federal court.

The drug is intended to interfere with cell growth and DNA development, according to the lawsuit. (more)

Health Tip: Exercise Doing Everyday Chores

Thursday 25 October 2007 at 12:34 pm (HealthDay News) - Getting needed exercise can be as simple as performing a few household chores regularly.

Memory Decline Begins Later But Progresses More Quickly In The More Educated

Wednesday 24 October 2007 at 09:49 am A new US study suggests that people with more years of formal education experience the onset of memory decline associated with dementia later, but once it starts it declines more rapidly, compared to people with fewer years of education.

The study is published in the 23rd October issue journal Neurology and is the work of Dr Charles B Hall, from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York and colleagues.

Hall said that:

"Higher levels of education delay the onset of dementia, but once it begins, the accelerated memory loss is more rapid in people with more education." (more)

Lonely Kids on the Sports Sidelines

Wednesday 24 October 2007 at 09:45 am Study: Children Short on Sports Skills May Be Lonelier Than Their Peers
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 23, 2007 -- In grade school, children's loneliness may reflect their skill -- or lack thereof -- on the playing field.

Researchers from Canada's University of Alberta report that news in the Journal of Sport Behavior.

If you were the king of the kickball field -- or the last to be picked for a playground team -- in elementary school, you may find their findings familiar. (more)

Smoke a serious health threat as wildfires spread

Wednesday 24 October 2007 at 09:43 am (CNN) -- The scenes from the California wildfires are horrifying enough, with windblown walls of flames destroying homes and buildings in their path, but health experts say the smoke can be even more dangerous.

Plumes of smoke can be seen from NASA satellites and are so thick that they look like rain on Doppler weather radar.

But the real concerns are the particles and gases in the smoke. When a fire burns it generates carbon dioxide, water vapor, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and other chemicals.

And the wind can carry those particles to areas far from the fires. See the NASA photograph of smoke from the fires (more)

House Republican Leadership Request Meeting With Pelosi To Discuss SCHIP

Tuesday 23 October 2007 at 09:31 am House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) on Friday sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) requesting a meeting to discuss drafting a new SCHIP bill, which the House is expected to vote on in two weeks, CongressDaily reports (CongressDaily, 10/19). The House on Thursday voted 273-156 to sustain President Bush's veto of legislation that would have reauthorized and expanded SCHIP. Supporters of the bill were 13 votes short of overriding the veto.

The legislation would have provided an additional $35 billion in funding for the program over the next five years and increased total SCHIP spending to $60 billion. The additional funding would have been paid for by a 61-cent-per-pack increase in the tobacco tax (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 10/19).

In the letter to Pelosi, Republican leaders wrote, "On Sept. 19, we sent you a letter expressing our interest in working with you to craft a responsible, (more)

Broccoli Protects Skin From Sun Damage

Tuesday 23 October 2007 at 09:28 am Broccoli Extract Reduces Redness, Inflammation Caused by Sun Exposure
By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 22, 2007 -- Add sunscreen to the list of broccoli’s health benefits. A new study suggests the potent vegetable may help protect the skin from sun damage.

Researchers found the compound sulforaphane, which is derived from broccoli sprouts, reduces the skin redness and inflammation caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Repeated sunburns are linked to a higher risk of skin cancer, and researchers say controlling the redness, known in medical terms as erythema, may be another way to fight skin cancer and sun-related skin damage. (more)

Vibrate to Keep Fat Off? Study Weighs In

Tuesday 23 October 2007 at 09:27 am In Lab Test, Mice Avoid Adding Fat by Standing on a Low-Vibration Platform
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 22, 2007 -- Subtle vibrations may help keep body fat in check, a new study shows.

The study isn't about fat-jiggling gizmos peddled on TV or the Internet. Instead, it's about a platform that vibrates so mildly that it's barely noticeable.

The researchers -- who included C.T. Rubin, PhD, of New York's Stony Brook University -- placed mice on the low-vibration platform for 15 minutes, five days a week, for 15 weeks. (more)

National Nurses Movement Lauds Al Gore For Leadership On Single-Payer Healthcare

Monday 22 October 2007 at 10:34 am The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee thanks Al Gore for his forceful new words in support of the kind of universal, non-profit, single-payer healthcare that this country desperately needs-and that is succeeding in nearly every other industrialized democracy.

The statement reflects a growing national consensus that a national, non-profit insurance system would clearly out-perform the private insurance corporations that spend up to one-third of their overhead on overhead and profits ... and that it is long past time to put an end to the nation's healthcare crisis.

On this issue, however, the public is far ahead of most of the political class. A March New York Times/CBS poll found that the vast majority of Americans want a total restructuring of the healthcare system, and preferred a single-payer system to the current private insurance system 47% to 38%. Unfortunately, many politicians continue to accept money from health insurance corporations, and push plans that mandate Americans to purchase expensive and inefficient private insurance products. (more)

Growing Number Of Patients Turn To Internet For Health Information

Monday 22 October 2007 at 10:32 am A growing number of people with chronic or serious illnesses are going online to research their health problems, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. According to a recent study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, about 51% of people with a disability or chronic illness use the Internet, compared with 74% of the general population, but once people with illnesses get online, they become more frequent users.

The study also found that about three-quarters of so-called "e-patients" said information they found online affected their treatment decision, and nearly 69% said information found online led them to ask their physicians new questions or get a second opinion. However, according to the study, 67% of e-patients said they do not always check the source or date of online information.

Susannah Fox, associate director of the Pew project, said the health care industry used to discouraged patients from doing online research, but now medical organizations are launching their own Web sites and steering people toward credible online health information. (more)

Health Tip: Wear a Helmet

Monday 22 October 2007 at 10:29 am (HealthDay News) - Wearing a helmet during activities where head injury is possible is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself. Head injuries can be serious and even life-threatening.

Malaria Vaccine Passes Early Test

Friday 19 October 2007 at 09:18 am Experimental Malaria Vaccine Appears Safe for Babies
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MDOct. 17, 2007 -- Researchers today reported encouraging results from an early study of a new malaria vaccine.

The malaria vaccine seems to be safe for babies, according to the study, published online today in The Lancet.

Malaria is one of the world's leading killers. Here are malaria facts from the World Health Organization: (more)

Maine School Makes Birth Control Pills Available To 11 Year Olds

Friday 19 October 2007 at 09:10 am A school in Maine, US, is to make birth control pills available to middle school children as young as 11 through its health centre. According to an Associated Press (AP) report, the decision was made in a school committee meeting earlier this week following a request from the school's health centre to make the pills available to children of high school age who were still attending middle school.

Officials from King Middle School in Portland, Maine, defended the decision saying it was aimed at a handful of sexually active students.

The decision means King will be the first middle school in Maine to offer a full range of contraception to students aged from 11 to 15 (grades 6 to 8), said the Portland Press Herald. (more)

House Fails to Override SCHIP Veto

Friday 19 October 2007 at 09:07 am Democrats Pledge to Quickly Submit New Children's Health Bill
By Todd Zwillich
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 18, 2007 -- The House failed to override President Bush’s veto of children’s health insurance legislation Thursday, setting up more battles on the issue.

A two-thirds majority is required to override a presidential veto. Supporters needed 288 votes to get around the president, but the move failed on a 273-156 vote.

Democrats pledged to quickly pass new legislation aimed at expanding children’s health care. (more)

10 Democrats Who Oppose Abortion Rights Send Letter Criticizing National Right To Life Committee's Neutrality On SCHIP

Thursday 18 October 2007 at 08:52 am Ten House Democrats who oppose abortion rights on Monday sent a letter to the National Right to Life Committee criticizing the group for its neutrality on a bill (HR 976) that would reauthorize the SCHIP, which provides health insurance for children from low-income families, The Hill reports (Young, The Hill, 10/17). The "reauthorization of the SCHIP program will contribute to reducing the number of abortions performed in the U.S.," the letter said, adding that "ensuring low-income, pregnant women and children have affordable health care is a key component to any sound policy approach for reducing the number of abortions in America" (Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) release, 10/15).

Bush earlier this month vetoed the legislation, which would have provided an additional $35 billion in funding for the program over the next five years and increased total SCHIP spending to $60 billion. The additional funding would have been paid for by a 61-cent-per-pack increase in the tobacco tax. An override vote in the House is scheduled for Thursday (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 10/16). The authors of the letter called on NRLC to "join with other pro-life organizations and pro-life members of Congress in supporting the bill's passage." (more)

Is Stretching Worth It?

Thursday 18 October 2007 at 08:50 am Researchers Say Stretching Before or After Exercise Has Little or No Effect on Soreness
By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MDOct. 17, 2007 -- Stretching before or after vigorous exercise won't spare you the agony of sore muscles, according to a new review.

Researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia arrived at the conclusion after reviewing the results of 10 published studies.

The review "showed very clear results that stretching is not effective in avoiding muscle soreness," says study researcher Marcos de Noronha, a PhD candidate at the university. The study is published in the latest issue of The Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews. (more)

Democrats dig in heels on kids' health bill as vote nears

Thursday 18 October 2007 at 08:48 am WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Democrats will keep fighting to expand the state-run Children's Health Insurance Program even if they fail Thursday to override President Bush's veto, the speaker of the House said.

By a vote of 273 to 156, the measure fell 13 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed for an override. Forty-four Republicans voted for the override.

"Now is the time for Congress to stop playing politics and to join the president in finding common ground," said a White House statement after the vote. Bush was "pleased," the statement said, that the "misguided legislation" was defeated.

Democrats, sensing earlier that they didn't have the votes, vowed to continue the fight, despite a defeat. (more)

Medicare Rx Plan: Overhead Too High?

Wednesday 17 October 2007 at 3:14 pm Congressional Report Criticizes Administrative Costs of Seniors' Prescription Drug Plan
By Todd Zwillich
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 16, 2007 -- Insurance company data show that administrative costs and profit taking by insurers are limiting seniors' savings under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, according to a report issued by congressional Democrats.

The report is based on data from a dozen large firms offering Part D coverage, as the Medicare prescription drug benefit is known. It concludes that insurers don't cover prescription drugs as efficiently as other government programs do. The report also says beneficiaries and taxpayers could be saving billions of dollars per year if seniors got their Part D benefits directly from Medicare instead of through insurance companies. (more)

Healthful breakfast tips to keep you fueled all day

Wednesday 17 October 2007 at 3:13 pm More than any other meal, breakfast is an investment in good health. Eating in the morning helps you stay focused and energized through busy days. Breakfast increases the likelihood of meeting recommended daily doses for essential vitamins and minerals that help prevent disease. And recent research makes the idea of a morning meal even more appetizing. A study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that individuals who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight -- and more likely to exercise -- than non-breakfast eaters.

"Starting the day with a healthy meal may help keep your appetite in check, resulting in healthier food choices overall," says Suzanne Phelan, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown Medical School and co-investigator for the National Weight Control Registry, which tracks the eating and exercise habits of "successful losers." "Nutrients consumed at breakfast also may lead to a better ability to perform physical activity later in the day," says Phelan. (more)

Virus test found to be better than pap smear for women

Wednesday 17 October 2007 at 3:11 pm A test that looks for the virus found in 99 percent of cervical tumors is far more effective than a Pap smear for detecting the early stages of cervical cancer, Canadian researchers said on Wednesday.

Wide Gap In Mortality Rates In US Hospitals

Tuesday 16 October 2007 at 2:46 pm America's top rated hospitals have a 71% lower mortality rate than the country's lowest rated hospitals, according to the tenth annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, which came out today. The study looks at 18 procedures and conditions. The study also found that if all the hospitals in the USA had the mortality rates of the top rated hospitals 266,604 Medicare patients who died over a three-year-period would have lived.

The HealthGrades study is the most comprehensive annual study of its kind and covers about 5,000 hospitals and 41 million Medicare hospitalizations records during 2004-2006.

The following procedures and conditions were examined: (more)

Why Garlic Is Good for You

Tuesday 16 October 2007 at 2:45 pm Garlic Relaxes Blood Vessels, Increases Blood Flow
By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 15, 2007 -- The health benefits of garlic have been touted for centuries, but now researchers may have pinpointed at least one reason why.

A new study shows red blood cells process compounds from digested garlic and turn them into the cell messenger hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow. Therefore, eating garlic may increase our natural supply of this vital chemical and play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease. (more)

Health Tip: Breast Self-Exams

Tuesday 16 October 2007 at 2:42 pm (HealthDay News) - Women should give themselves a breast exam each month, beginning at age 20. This exam should be performed at about the same time every month.

Many States Begin To Consider Proposals To Expand Health Insurance To More Residents

Friday 12 October 2007 at 09:44 am The Philadelphia Inquirer on Thursday examined recent efforts by states to expand health insurance coverage to more residents and to make health care more accessible and affordable. According to the Inquirer, legislatures in more than two dozen states have begun to consider proposals to expand health insurance to more uninsured residents, and four recently have enacted such proposals.

Jennifer Tolbert, a policy analyst for the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, said, "There is clearly broad interest across the country and in many states in developing broad strategies to address the problem of the uninsured" that "seek to build on existing public programs such as SCHIP."

Richard Cauchi, health program director for the National Conference of State Legislatures, said, "This activity is genuinely local, not national," adding, "Each state is calculating its own needs and resources and checking finance realities." He said, "With 2008 sessions just 12 weeks away, it should be an interesting year" (Goldstein, Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/11). (more)

Abortion just as common where it's illegal

Friday 12 October 2007 at 09:39 am LONDON, England (AP) -- Women are just as likely to get an abortion in countries where it is outlawed as they are in countries where it is legal, according to research published Friday.

In a study examining abortion trends from 1995 to 2003, experts also found that abortion rates are virtually equal in rich and poor countries, and that half of all abortions worldwide are unsafe.

The study was done by Gilda Sedgh of the Guttmacher Institute in the United States and colleagues from the World Health Organization. It was published in an edition of The Lancet medical journal devoted to maternal health. (more)

Does birth order matter? What every parent needs to know

Friday 12 October 2007 at 09:36 am The question's been around forever -- and so have the myths surrounding it.
But the debate over the impact of birth order gained new urgency this summer when the results of a new study were announced: Firstborns' IQs tend to be higher than those of their younger siblings.

Does that mean later-born kids are destined to be less accomplished and successful? Studies like this don't tell the whole story -- and neither do birth-order stereotypes. Here's how to bring out the best in each child:

What the latest study found (more)

My job's giving me a heart attack!

Thursday 11 October 2007 at 10:07 am ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- When Helen Smith had a heart attack at age 37, she was in shock. She was young, healthy and in tip-top shape. There'd been no warning signs. She had no family history of heart disease.

It was no little heart attack, either. It was a big one, she says, that forced her to take drugs and wear a pacemaker for the rest of her life. What in the world, Smith wondered, had caused the heart attack? And, more important, what could she do to make sure she didn't have another one?

Smith, a forensic psychologist, never got a clear answer to the first question, but she answered the second one on her own: She knew deep down that her stressful working conditions had contributed to her medical crisis. And she knew things had to change if she wanted her heart to keep ticking. (more)

Makers pull cold medicines sold for infants

Thursday 11 October 2007 at 10:04 am (CNN) -- The makers of several leading over-the-counter cold medications are voluntarily withdrawing products sold for infants, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association said Thursday.

Pricey Running Shoes Not Worth It: Study

Thursday 11 October 2007 at 10:03 am WEDNESDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- When it comes to picking footwear, runners should follow Prince Charming's lead and consider a shoe's fit, not its price tag, new research suggests.

Discouraging Kids From Drinking Sodas Has No Long Term Effect On Obesity

Wednesday 10 October 2007 at 09:55 am Teaching children about healthy eating and discouraging the consumption of sodas (fizzy drinks) has a short to medium term effect on childhood obesity, but no long term impact. Researchers found that three years after an education program came to an end the impact was completely gone.

You can read about this in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

The authors explain that simple interventions are only really effective if there are ongoing and long-term. Approximately 10% of the global school age population is overweight. Forecasts predict that 20% of boys and 25% of girls in the United Kingdom will be obese by 2010. (more)

Drinking Tea May Slow Bone Loss

Wednesday 10 October 2007 at 09:52 am Study Shows Elderly Tea Drinkers Have Higher Bone Density
By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 8, 2007 -- Drinking tea may be good for your bones.

A new study shows elderly women who drank tea had higher bone density in their hips and less bone loss than women who didn't drink tea.

Researchers say the results confirm previous studies that have suggested drinking tea may protect against bone loss and osteoporosis.

In the study, Australian researchers surveyed 275 women between the ages of 70 and 85 who were participating in a larger five-year study of calcium supplements and osteoporosis about how much black and green tea (but not herbal teas) they drank. Bone density measurements of the hip were also taken at the beginning and end of the five-year study. (more)

Health Tip: Say Cheers With Red Wine

Wednesday 10 October 2007 at 09:42 am (HealthDay News) -- Red wine has been shown to help improve cardiovascular health, most likely because it is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids.

Bad Marriage, Bad Heart?

Tuesday 09 October 2007 at 08:30 am Negative Relationships Boost Heart Disease Risk by 34%, Study Shows
By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 8, 2007 -- Marriages and close friendships marked by negativity -- such as conflict and adverse exchanges -- boost the risk of heart disease, according to a new study.

"Those in a negative relationship were 34% more likely to have a coronary event in the 12 years of follow-up," says Roberto De Vogli, PhD, MPH, a researcher for the study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. (more)

Sex and dating after 50

Tuesday 09 October 2007 at 08:28 am (LifeWire) -- Like 20- or 30-something singles, older men and women are dating and embracing their sexuality. But many older singles -- some of whom have already been down the aisle -- aren't looking to exchange their single status for a band of gold.

"We are not aiming for great changes in the second half of life, but looking for fulfillment in who we are now," says Sharon Romm, a Seattle-based psychiatrist and author of "Dating After 50: Negotiating the Minefields of Midlife Romance."

"Not everyone wants another marriage. Someone might want a companion for going to concerts on Saturday night and not much more. Others might absolutely want -- or not want -- sex as part of another relationship." (more)

10 tricks to boost your memory

Tuesday 09 October 2007 at 08:27 am You can't find your glasses (they're on your head), you forgot the morning staff meeting (it was an hour ago), and the kids are safely at school (but their lunches are still on the kitchen counter). Oh well, when you're crazy-busy, exhausted, or valiantly multitasking from morning till night, something's gotta give -- and it's usually your memory. Not to worry: A little memory loss is perfectly normal once you hit middle age, says Martha Weinman Lear, author of the forthcoming book "Where Did I Leave My Glasses? The What, When, and Why of Normal Memory Loss." But, guess what? You don't have to put up with it. Our 10 memory-boosting tricks will have you remembering where you parked the car in no time.

Keep track of your to-do's.

The trick: Play a mind game. (more)

Democrats Says They Will Not Compromise With President Bush On SCHIP

Monday 08 October 2007 at 11:03 am Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday said congressional Democratic leaders will not compromise with President Bush on SCHIP, after Bush on Wednesday vetoed legislation that would have reauthorized and expanded the program, the AP/St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Democratic leaders said that no matter the outcome of the override vote, they would not negotiate further (Babington, AP/St. Paul Pioneer Press, 10/4).

The House on Wednesday won a procedural vote that allowed them to postpone until Oct. 18 a vote to override a veto of compromise SCHIP legislation. The compromise bill would have provided an additional $35 billion in funding over the next five years and increased total spending on the program to $60 billion. The additional funding would have been paid for by a 61-cent-per-pack increase in the tobacco tax (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 10/4). (more)

Today's Seniors Are Smarter

Monday 08 October 2007 at 11:02 am Tests Suggest Less Mental Decline for Current Generation of Elderly
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 5, 2007 -- Senior moments notwithstanding, elderly people are smarter today than they were less than a generation ago, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that when it comes to mental acuity, 74 is the new 59.

They compared performances on a battery of intelligence tests between a group of contemporary 74-year-olds and another group of people who took the tests 16 years earlier, when they were also 74. (more)

How to break bad eating habits

Monday 08 October 2007 at 10:59 am (RealSimple.com) -- Bad habits are made to be broken. Learn these easy tricks to help you eat better every day.

Bad eating habit: You're a serious snacker

The fallout: You may end up overeating. A healthy snack or two between meals is fine. They can keep blood sugar steady as well as allow you to rack up more servings of fruits and vegetables. "It's when you snack in place of eating real meals that you're more likely to lose track of how much you're eating," says Tara Gidus, R.D., an Orlando, Florida--based spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Of course, what you eat matters, too. Typical snack foods (chips, cookies, pretzels) aren't that nutritious or satisfying, so it's easy to overdo them. (more)

Negativity May Change Your Mind

Saturday 06 October 2007 at 1:05 pm Know a Harsh Critic? Their Negative Views May Skew Your Opinions, Marketing Study Suggests
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 5, 2007 -- Negativity may be catching among consumers, especially among those with a personal connection, a new study shows.

The researchers, who work at Indiana University, make three main points in their paper:

People tend to abandon their positive views of a new product when they find out that others dislike that product.
People become even more negative about a new product when they find out that people they were about to meet with dislike that product. (more)

Purpose of appendix believed found

Saturday 06 October 2007 at 1:02 pm WASHINGTON (AP) -- Some scientists think they have figured out the real job of the troublesome and seemingly useless appendix: It produces and protects good germs for your gut.

That's the theory from surgeons and immunologists at Duke University Medical School, published online in a scientific journal this week.

For generations the appendix has been dismissed as superfluous. Doctors figured it had no function. Surgeons removed them routinely. People live fine without them.

And when infected the appendix can turn deadly. It gets inflamed quickly and some people die if it isn't removed in time. Two years ago, 321,000 Americans were hospitalized with appendicitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (more)

Health Tip: Prevent Athlete's Foot

Saturday 06 October 2007 at 12:54 pm (HealthDay News) - Athlete's foot is a fungal infection, often found in public locker rooms and showers, or anywhere else that is damp, dark and warm.

Hot Chili Peppers May Relieve Pain

Friday 05 October 2007 at 09:33 am Animal Study Shows Pain Relief Benefits From Anesthetic Using Chili Pepper Ingredient
By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 3, 2007 -- A new hot-chili-pepper-based anesthetic may offer better pain relief during childbirth, surgery, or other painful situations than conventional anesthetics.

Preliminary tests of the anesthetic in rats show it effectively blocked pain without causing complete loss of movement in the targeted areas. (more)

When Yoga Hurts

Friday 05 October 2007 at 09:30 am Amy Toosley was standing in a split pose when her yoga instructor gave her leg a little prod. "I heard the loudest pop I've ever heard, and the instructor said, 'Ooh! Good release, huh?'" Toosley recalls. "Not really--I could hardly walk." With her hamstring muscle snapped, Toosley, 32, avoided yoga for the next three months, and almost a year later, she is still in pain.

Bad-mouthing yoga seems like begging for a hit of unfavorable karma. But with more than 14 million people practicing yoga or tai chi nationwide, up 136% since 2000, orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists and chiropractors across the country are dealing with the increasing fallout from yoga gone awry. Over the past three years, 13,000 Americans were treated in an emergency room or a doctor's office for yoga-related injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. (more)

Romney, Clinton health care plans similar: experts

Friday 05 October 2007 at 09:28 am When it comes to health care, Republican Mitt Romney loves to take swipes at Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Bush Vetoes Kids' Health Insurance Bill

Thursday 04 October 2007 at 1:38 pm President Objects to Expanded Funding for State Children's Health Insurance Program
By Todd Zwillich
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 3, 2007 -- President Bush vetoed an expansion of government-funded health insurance for children Wednesday, setting up a congressional fight to try to override him.

Bush made good on a weeks-old threat to reject the bill because, he said, it moves the country closer to "federalizing" medicine.

"I don't think that's good for the country," he said in a speech in Lancaster, Pa., Wednesday afternoon. (more)

Woman's Breasts Mistakenly Removed After Apparent Lab Mix-Up

Thursday 04 October 2007 at 1:36 pm ORLANDO, Fla. -- A woman had both of her breasts mistakenly removed after a lab headquartered out of Florida apparently switched her tissue specimens with a patient suffering from cancer.

Eason said she did all the right things after the cancer diagnosis.

"They told me, basically, you didn't have cancer and never did," Eason said. (more)

Health Tip: Understanding Compulsive Overeating

Thursday 04 October 2007 at 1:33 pm (HealthDay News) - Compulsive overeating occurs when a person uncontrollably binges on large amounts of food. The affected person usually is overcome with feelings of guilt and shame.

Antibiotic May Help Treat Stroke

Wednesday 03 October 2007 at 10:18 am Minocycline May Be a Treatment for Stroke Patients Who Miss Treatment Window for Other Stroke Drugs

WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 2, 2007 -- The antibiotic minocycline may reduce stroke damage in some stroke patients.

Researchers report that news in today's edition of the journal Neurology.

The finding comes from a study of 152 men and women in Israel who had a stroke caused by a blood clot. Such strokes, called ischemic strokes, are the most common type of stroke. (more)

Red Wine Compound May Curb Diabetes

Wednesday 03 October 2007 at 10:04 am Compound, Called Resveratrol, Counters Insulin Resistance in Lab Tests
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 2, 2007 -- Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red wine, may counter type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, a new study shows.

Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar. When the body becomes less sensitive to insulin, that's called insulin resistance, a condition that can lead to type 2 diabetes. (more)

Creatine Combined With Resistance Exercise Boosts Strength In Older Adults

Wednesday 03 October 2007 at 09:59 am If you are an 'older adult' and take creatine as well as doing exercise you may well enjoy greater benefits than just doing the exercise, say researchers from McMaster University, Canada. One of the common consequences of growing older is an increase in body fat and lowering of muscle mass, say the researchers.

You can slow down the loss of muscle mass by doing exercise, say the scientists. Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky, a professor of pediatrics and medicine, and team carried out a study which showed that if you take a combination of creatine monohydrate (CrM) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) along with resistance exercise training the results will be greater still.

You can read about this study in PLoS ONE, the peer-reviewed online journal of the Public Library of Science, October 3rd issue. (more)

Medicare Standard Monthly Premiums To Rise 3.1% In 2008 To $96.40

Tuesday 02 October 2007 at 12:06 pm Hailing the lowest rise in six years, US health officials announced that the Medicare standard monthly premium will rise by 3.1% in 2008 to $96.40. An accounting mistake would have increased the premiums further, apparently - hence the lower increase, they say. As the formula to calculate the premium depends on physicians taking a 10% cut in reimbursement next year, many comment that the calculation of 3.1% is hopeful at best. If Congress decides to offset some of that cut, or gets rid of it altogether, premiums will have to rise.

43 Million American seniors (elderly) and disabled people are covered by the Medicare Part B program. This program has seen costs rise significantly over the last few years. Health officials announced that the average deductible for Part B will rise from the present $131 to $135 next year. (more)

Vaccine FAQ

Tuesday 02 October 2007 at 12:05 pm Vaccine Benefits, Vaccine Risks: 9 Basic Questions Answered

Oct. 1, 2007 -- What are the real benefits -- and the real risks -- of U.S. childhood vaccines? Do vaccines cause autism? Why do some vaccines still contain the controversial, mercury-based compound thimerosal?

WebMD asked Anne Schuchat, MD, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, to answer these and other basic but vital vaccine questions. (more)

Health Tip: Quitting Smoking Has Immediate Benefits

Tuesday 02 October 2007 at 12:03 pm (HealthDay News) - Most people know that in the long term, quitting smoking offers enormous health benefits.

But within weeks -- and even hours -- after quitting smoking, your body has already shown health improvements.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms Reduced By Dark Chocolate Consumption

Monday 01 October 2007 at 07:53 am If you suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome you may well find that your symptoms are significantly reduced if you regularly consume dark chocolate - that means chocolate with a high cocoa content and without any milk in it. A pilot study carried out on patients with chronic fatigue syndrome found that their symptoms were alleviated when they consumed dark chocolate, much more so than when they consumed milk chocolate that had brown dye added to it.

According to the scientists from Hull York Medical School who carried out the pilot study, it is possible the dark chocolate is boosting levels of serotonin, a brain chemical. They also stressed that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) patients should consume moderate amounts of chocolate. (more)

American Voters See Health As Important Issue

Monday 01 October 2007 at 07:50 am America is the only major industrial country to have a large number of its citizens without any health coverage at all; the number has been steadily growing during the last decade - today, estimates say that approximately one in seven Americans has no health cover. Add to this the growing number of 'under-insured' Americans and you have health as one of the major election issues.

Most presidential hopefuls, even Republican ones, are mentioning health and explaining that important changes have to be implemented. A recent survey showed that Democrats place the issue of health right up there with Iraq.

While Republican presidential hopefuls claim they will make health insurance cheaper and more accessible, with tax concessions and market changes, the Democrats would like to see universal health cover, involving a combination of private and public plans. (more)

Occupation, Autoimmune Deaths Explored

Monday 01 October 2007 at 07:48 am Job May Increase RA, Lupus, Scleroderma Risk
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDSept. 28, 2007 -- Farmers and teachers have an increased risk of dying from autoimmune diseases, but waitresses, bookkeepers, and teachers’ aides do not, new research shows.

In the largest study ever to examine the occupations of people who die from systemic autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and lupus, researchers reviewed death certificates from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s.

More than 300,000 death certificates from 26 states were reviewed, including 50,000 deaths due to systemic autoimmune disease. (more)