*** News You Can Use! -- 31 May 1996 ***
In last week's News You Can Use! we told you about the new government study into whether estrogen can prevent or delay Alzheimer's. A more well-rounded look into the risks and benefits of estrogen can be found in an article in Health News Naturally.
Scientists will give about 8,000 post-menopausal women either estrogen or a dummy pill, and then track their health over the next 6-to-9 years. To enroll in the study, call 800-549-6636.
A new study indicates high doses of Vitamin E can reduce the ravages of aging. Dr. Margarite(?) Kay, with the University of Arizona at Tucson, told CBS Radio reporter Victoria Steele that "we can prevent at least some of the aging changes by taking a Vitamin E supplement..." and that actions taken "in middle age are effective" in slowing down the aging process. Dr. Kay suggested adults take 400 to 800 I-U's per day, since too much Vitamin E is toxic. And she said this research can actually prolong life, by providing breakthroughs into other age-related types of disorders, such as Alzheimer's and arthritis. (CBS Radio, 29 May 1996)
In last week's News You Can Use! we told you about new evidence that too much salt is bad for your health. Now another study, in the 22 May issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association" is fanning the fires of debate. "We feel people can probably stop worrying about salt," says Alexander Logan of the University of Toronto. He was involved in an analysis of 56 earlier studies, and the Canadian researchers conclude that healthy people and even some people with high blood pressure don't gain much by lowering their salt intake. Those conclusions are disputed by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which points out that some of the studies cited lasted less than two weeks. And USA Today writer Tim Friend points out that Logan got an unconditional grant from Campbell Soup Company, which has been criticized for the high levels of salt in their products. (Associated Press, 21 May 1996; USA Today, 22 May 1996)
If you've never accessed the AMA site before, and want to read their article, register first.
You might expect that rapid response to health concerns would improve the patient's health and save them money. In the 30 May 1996 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers at the Veterans Administration Medical Center say maybe not. In a study of 1,396 severely ill veterans, they found that those whose cases were carefully followed by a physician spent more time in the hospital and had no improvement in quality of life. The doctors conclude that certain "assumptions about changes in health care systems" need to be evaluated closely. (USAToday, 30 May 1996)
Brian Gould is a New Jersey computer programmer who suffers from the disabling pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. So he's developed "Ergosentry," to help others avoid injuring their hands while typing at their computer keyboard. "Ergosentry" monitors the frequency of keystrokes, and lets typists know when it's time to take a break. It can even be set to freeze the computer screen, so the user *has* to rest. (Associated Press, 27 May 1996)
Taking care of your elderly parents is more than a moral idea -- in the city-state of Singapore, it's the law. Parents who have grown old or fallen into poverty can force their children to provide monthly allowances, or a lump-sum payment. The lawmaker who guided the measure to passage said it was aimed at the "small minority that cannot be counted on to do what is right." (Associated Press, 28 May 1996)
It affects nearly 80% of people at some point in their lives, usually just before a big date. It's acne, and it's getting tougher. A study by the Leeds University Skin Research Center in England says some strains of acne-causing bacteria are resisting treatment by a common antibiotic, when it is prescribed alone. Researchers suggest using a combination of drugs to fight this new, more persistent strain. Center director William Cunliffe told a Vancouver conference that, by the year 2000, dermatologists may have fewer drugs in their arsenals to treat acne patients. (Broadcast News, 28 May 1996)
Cunliffe's comments echoed his previous remarks on the subject in Washington, D.C. this February.
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health conducted a survey, asking both Americans and Canadians how they felt about their system of health care. Most Americans (between 55 and 65 per cent) prefer Canada's universal health care. Since 40 million Americans are uninsured, their big concern is with general access to health care. North of the border, there is more satisfaction on that score. But many Canadian respondents complained about the government-run system regulating specialists, saying there were few choices, difficulty getting referrals, and then long waits to see specialists. (Broadcast News, 27 May 1996)
Vietnam veterans who suffer prostate cancer or peripheral neuropathy linked to Agent Orange exposure will now be eligible for disability payments. President Clinton ordered the two ailments added to the list of conditions covered by the Veteran's Affairs Department. Clinton also wants Congress to extend benefits to spina bifida patients whose fathers were veterans exposed to the defoliant. That would mark the first time offspring have qualified for veteran's benefits, linked to Agent Orange. Although medical experts aren't sure these diseases are caused by the herbicide, Clinton says the government has neglected Vietnam veterans for too long. (Associated Press, 28 May 1996)
STB's News You Can Use! edited and written by --
Tom Connolly, for Infant Moose Web Page Creations.
Past newsletters: 9 May 1996 | 16 May 1996 | 25 May 1996
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