Health Watch

• Some Cholesterol Drugs May Slow Prostate Growth

  

  Posted 9:02 PM 5/21/2012

  May 21, 2012 -- Cholesterol-lowering statins may also slow the growth of the prostate, according to researchers at Duke University.

  Their findings could eventually lead to new treatments for the millions of middle-aged and older men who experience urinary and other (More)
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• Study: Trash Old, Unused Drugs

  

  Posted 10:41 PM 5/18/2012

  May 18, 2012 -- Prescription medication "take-back" programs are increasingly promoted as a way to safely dispose of unused drugs, but they are no better for the environment than simply throwing old drugs in the trash, a new study suggests.

  When researchers used a complicated methodology called "comparative life cycle assessment" to estimate the environmental impact of (More)
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• Athletes Better Equipped to Play Through the Pain

  

  Posted 8:09 PM 5/18/2012

  May 18, 2012 -- Sprains, strains, and worse injuries are unavoidable in sports, and playing through the pain comes with the territory for most athletes.

  So how do they continue to excel with pain that would leave others sidelined?

  New research confirms that athletes have a higher tolerance for pain than couch potatoes or even weekend warriors, and the (More)
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• FDA Approves Generic Versions of Plavix

  

  Posted 5:58 PM 5/18/2012

  May 18, 2012 -- The FDA has approved several generic versions of the popular blood thinner Plavix (clopidogrel).

  Officials say the approval will make more affordable options available for people who take Plavix to reduce their risk of (More)
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• Chinese Herb Kudzu May Help Drinkers Cut Down

  

  Posted 10:30 PM 5/17/2012

  May 17, 2012 -- An extract from the Chinese herb kudzu may help drinkers cut down on drinking, according to a new pilot study.

  "It didn't stop the drinking," says researcher David M. Penetar, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School. "They still drank, but they drank less."

  He studied the (More)
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• More People -- Even Kids -- Need to Wear Sunglasses

  

  Posted 4:03 AM 5/17/2012

  May 17, 2012 -- With summer nearly upon us, our sunglass habits could use improvement, according to a new report issued today by The Vision Council, an industry group.

  While 73% of adults do wear sunglasses, only 58% of them make their children wear shades, too, the report found.

  More than half of us lose or break our sunglasses every year. More than a quarter of us never bother to wear them, despite benefits to (More)
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• Raising HDL Levels May Not Lower Heart Attack Risk

  

  Posted 10:51 PM 5/16/2012

  May 16, 2012 -- It is widely believed that raising "good" cholesterol levels lowers heart attack risk, but surprising new research finds evidence that this may not be the case.

  Genetic studies failed to show a (More)
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• Coffee May Be Part of the Recipe for a Longer Life

  

  Posted 9:01 PM 5/16/2012

  May 16, 2012 -- Whatever you call it -- joe, java, mud -- it is likely a key way to jump-start your day, and now new research suggests it may also help you live longer.

  The study, described as the largest of its kind, found that coffee drinkers had a lower risk of death from heart disease, respiratory disease, (More)
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• Americans Living Longer but Obesity Rising

  

  Posted 4:01 AM 5/16/2012

  March 16, 2012 -- The CDC today released its annual state of the union's health, and there's good news and bad. We're living longer. But we're also gaining more weight. Teen pregnancies are at a record low. But fewer people can afford necessary prescription (More)
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• The Laxative-Free 'Virtual Colonoscopy'

  

  Posted 9:32 PM 5/14/2012

  May 14, 2012-- For many people, preparing for a colonoscopy is sometimes more daunting than the procedure itself.

  You typically stop eating solid food for at least a day, and then drink what seems like gallons of liquid to clean out your bowel. You need to stay close to a bathroom, because you will be going and going and going.

  Dread of the prep might be one reason why, according to government estimates, about 4 out of 10 Americans ages 50-75 don't (More)
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• Sleepwalking May Be More Common Than You Think

  

  Posted 8:02 PM 5/14/2012

  May 14, 2012 -- Do you remember exactly where you were last night? If you are a sleepwalker, maybe not.

  Sleepwalking may be more common than experts have estimated, says a California psychiatrist.

  "The numbers are very big," says researcher Maurice Ohayon, MD, PhD, DSc, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and director of the (More)
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• Acupuncture May Be Worth a Shot for COPD

  

  Posted 5:36 PM 5/14/2012

  May 14, 2012 -- Acupuncture may allow people with the lung disease COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) to breathe a bit easier.

  COPD is the umbrella term for chronic lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is often marked by a chronic cough and shortness of breath. Treatment typically involves the use of inhaled steroids and (More)
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