*** News You Can Use! -- 9 August 1996 ***
Does your state of mind affect your blood pressure? Perhaps so. A new study finds that blacks with slightly elevated blood pressure were able to lower it by meditating twice a day. The research was conducted by an institute devoted to transcendental meditation, and the West Oakland Health Center. The Associated Press asked Harvard medical professor Dr. Herbert Benson for his reaction to the study, and he said he wasn't surprised by the findings. But he wondered whether the same results could be achieved with other forms of stress reduction and relaxation techniques, such as prayer or yoga. (Associated Press, 7 August 1996)
There's a new study that implies there's a good medical reason to obey moral codes. Women are five to eleven times more likely to develop cervical cancer if their men have many sexual partners. Dr. Keerti Shah of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine put it this way: "Male behavior is the important thing in this cancer." Cervical cancer is directly linked to human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus commonly spread by sexual intercourse. It's simply a numbers game -- you have more chance of catching the disease if you have more sexual partners. The study appears in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The risk of transmitting HPV can be reduced by the man's correct use of condoms, and by the woman's frequent gynecological exams. Women can also place themselves more at risk, if *they* have many sexual partners. (Associated Press, 6 August 1996)
Health experts convinced many restaurants to switch from cooking with products with saturated animal fats to cooking with vegetable shortening. Now the Center for Science in the Public Interest says that may be just as bad. They're worried about so-called "trans fats," which are created when vegetable oil is hardened by a process called hydrogenation, to increase shelf life. The CSPI claims trans fats raise the level of "bad" cholesterol, raising the risk of heart attacks. What's more, the level of "trans fats are not revealed on nutrition labels. "That's why we call it `the phantom fat,'" says nutritionist Bonnie F. Liebman of CSPI. The Center is urging restaurants to switch to liquid vegetable oils, which have no trans fats. And it wants the government to compel food processors to list trans fat content on their labels.
The Center's concern is not shared by Dr. Joseph Spence of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center. "The data we generate do not show the trans fats are as bad as saturated fats," Spence says. "They do raise cholesterol levels but not to the extent of saturated fats." He does say that lowering fat levels is always a good idea. (Associated Press, 7 August 1996; USA Today, 8 August)
A survey conducted by "Newsweek" magazine found a large majority of workers think their workplace is generally pleasant -- and a large majority also experiences on-the-job stress. In all, 73% believe their employer values them as individuals, and a decisive 87% considered their workplace generally pleasant. But more than half don't feel they're being paid what they're worth, and 70% have experienced stress while on the job. Why such a high level of overall satisfaction, *and* bouts of workplace stress? Maybe it's simply becoming accepted as being "part of the job." As the economy evolves into a white-collar marketplace, perhaps employees expect to be mentally stressed as a condition of their employment.
One other thing, bosses -- according to the survey, 57% of the people who work for you think they're as smart as you are. 31% think they're smarter. (Associated Press, 3 August 1996)
What are the most dangerous jobs? What occupations suffer the most on-the-job injuries? The top three are: truck drivers, non-construction laborers ... and nursing home workers. Quite a few nursing home workers suffer sprains and back injuries lifting patients. Now the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is offering training sessions to nursing homes that want to participate. OSHA says there are ways of lifting people, and equipment that can be used, to help minimize the risk of injury. (Associated Press, 8 August 1996)
Yes, it's an election year, so all this action might be viewed cynically, but there has been widespread bipartisan support for two bills that claim to protect the environment by regulating pesticides, and drinking water.
Standing in front of an invited audience of farmers, consumer advocates and children, President Clinton signed into law the Food Quality Protection Act, although he calls it the "Peace of Mind Act." The measure is designed to protect produce buyers from pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables.
Three days later, it was another signing ceremony, as the President signed the Safe Drinking Water Act. The measure requires that utility water bills include information about the safety of the water supply. It also strengthens standards against contaminants that pose the greatest health risks. If Congress approves the funds in future spending bills, it will also set up loan funds for as much as ten billion dollars, that states can use for upgrading their drinking water systems. While it's unclear how much Congress actually will appropriate each year, they're foursquare behind the concept -- the measure passed the House, 392-30, and the Senate, 98-0. (Associated Press, 2 August 1996, 3 August, 6 August)
Here's the latest from the Food and Drug Administration: they've approved a painless alternative to standard HIV testing. Calypte Biomedical Corporation says its new test for HIV antibodies is safer becuase it doesn't require needles, and because urine, unlike blood, poses no risk of infection. However, the FDA notes that urine testing is only about one-tenth as accurate as blood testing. So anyone who tests positive will need to follow up with a blood test to confirm the results.
The FDA also gave the green light to Nicoderm CQ, a new over-the-counter nicotine patch. Studies indicate Nicoderm helps about 20% of smokers succeed in quitting, and that's about the same success rate as other anti-smoking aids. This patch comes in three strengths, so smokers can gradually wean themselves off cigarettes over an eight to twleve week period. Smithkline Beecham plans to have it in stores by Labor Day. (Associated Press, 2 August 1996, 6 August, 7 August)
Prisons have a special concern: keeping their wards healthy. But if a prisoner falls ill, he or she may be sent to a hospital, which is not nearly as secure as a prison. So they keep an eye out for prisoners who might be faking illnesses. For example, this story from the Isle of Wight, where a prisoner suddenly turned bright yellow. He wasn't really sick, but he was *hoping* the wardens would think he'd developed a severe case of jaundice, so they'd move him to a hospital. It was part of an escape plan. It failed when a prison officer looked in his cell and saw him coloring his face with a flourescent yellow felt-tipped pen. He'd spent two days coloring his entire body with it. (Broadcast News, 5 August 1996)
STB's News You Can Use! edited and written by --
Tom Connolly, for Infant Moose Web Page Creations.
Past newsletters: 2 August 1996 | 25 July 1996 | 18 July 1996 | 11 July 1996 | 3 July 1996 | 26 June 1996 | 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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