*** News You Can Use! -- 26 June 1996 ***
A new report from the The Toronto Hospital's Women's Health Program indicated that the top health concern among otherwise healthy women is simple fatigue. Of the 153 women surveyed, 80% listed chronic fatigue among their top ten health concerns. And another 72% listed stress among their top ten problems. Dr. Donna Stewart, who heads up the program, says the numbers are about twice as high as those found in similar studies of male fatigue. The most common answer when women were asked what they thought caused their fatigue? Combining outside paid jobs with housework and other work in the home. (Broadcast News, 21 June 1996)
When there's a high level of air pollution, hospital admissions increase. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health studied 13 cities, and found up to 10% of hospital admissions for asthma were due to higher levels of smog. Ground-level ozone, the main ingredient of smog, can cause coughing and wheezing, and can worsen the effects of asthma and emphysema. The study, conducted for the American Lung Association, also found 50,000 emergency room visits due to breathing problems. (Associated Press, 20 June 1996)
Limited studies had shown that Vitamin B-6 was of some benefit to people who suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome. Now a new University of Michigan study not only disputes that conclusion, but suggests B-6 could do more harm than good. The researchers say B-6 supplements could cause serious nerve damage, including symptoms that mirror multiple sclerosis. (Associated Press, 23 June 1996, Broadcast News, 24 June)
Ever since soldiers began reporting the neurological, respiratory and skin ailments now lumped together as "Gulf War Syndrome," speculation on its cause has centered on chemical weapons or the inoculations designed to prevent chemical exposure. American defense officials now say that in March 1991, U-S troops destroyed an Iraqi ammunition depot that *may* have contained chemical weapons. The Pentagon can not be certain that rockets, containing sarin or mustard gas, were present in the depot when it was destroyed. The rockets could have been placed there later. A toll-free number has been set up for soldiers involved (1-800-472-6719) to answer questions and ask for more information. (Associated Press, 21 June 1996, 22 June, Broadcast News, 24 June)
In a recent edition of News You Can Use! we told you that New York state was considering establishing a pesticide registry. The legislation was passed unanimously in both houses of the state legislature. The registry would allow researchers to track where certain pesticides are used, and see if those areas have higher concentrations of breast cancer. The law creates a panel of doctors and scientists to review the database, allows the public to have access to the same information, and requires the Department of Environmental Conservation to issue a yearly report on pesticide usage, beginning 1 July 1998. (Associated Press, 19 June 1996)
The Center for Marine Conservation conducted their annual coastal cleanup of America's rivers and coastlines, and as one official put it, "You would not believe what people put into the water, believing out of sight is out of mind." An estimated 800,000 cigarette butts make up 20% of the trash, followed by chunks of plastic and plastic foam. Volunteers also found: 24,000 disposable cigarette lighters, 8,000 car tires, 27 TV's, 14 refrigerators, 3 VCR's. The figures point to a steady increase of discarded trash from individuals. One hopeful sign: commercial and recreational fishers aren't discarding as much as in the recent past. (Associated Press, 20 June 1996, 21 June)
The Food and Drug Administration has approved Nevirapine as a treatment for AIDS. The drug, which will be marketed under the name Viramune, is effective when used in combination with the older AIDS drugs, AZT and DDI.
Also, the FDA approved a lottery system to let patients with Lou Gehrig's disease register for a lottery to try a new, unproven treatment. Scientists disagree whether Myotrophin works in slowing the paralyzing disease, but patients tearfully begged officals to clear the drug for trial. Cephalon, who manufactures the drug, hopes to have a free lottery set up in a few weeks. (Associated Press, 24 June 1996)
People who eat vegetables and other foods high in folic acid have less risk of heart disease than those who don't, according to a new study by the Cancer Bureau of Health Canada. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the researchers studied over 5,000 men and women, and the benefits of folic acid were found in both genders. Folic acid is found in green leafy vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, lettuce and spinach, as well as some fruit, including apples and oranges. (USA Today, Broadcast News, 26 June 1996)
STB's News You Can Use! edited and written by --
Tom Connolly, for Infant Moose Web Page Creations.
Past newsletters: 20 June 1996 | 12 June 1996 | 6 June 1996 | 31 May 1996 | 25 May 1996 | 16 May 1996 | 9 May 1996
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