Drugs add 13 years to average life of HIV patient
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cocktails of HIV drugs help patients live an average of 13 years longer -- if they are lucky enough to get them, researchers reported on Thursday.
Congress Votes To Triple Money For AIDS Victims
Congress is sending President Bush legislation that triples funds for a global AIDS relief program credited with saving millions of lives in Africa and elsewhere in the world.
Smokers Struck by Influenza Face Higher Mortality Rates
THURSDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- In experiments with mice, U.S. researchers have discovered why viral infections have more severe consequences in smokers than in nonsmokers.
CDC unveils new September 11 site health effort
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health officials unveiled plans on Thursday to help people who lived or worked near New York's World Trade Center who may have been harmed by exposure to dust and debris from the collapse in the 2001 attacks.
Oxygen therapies may ease headache pain
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Two forms of oxygen therapy may help manage two types of debilitating headache pain, a new research review suggests.
Lance Armstrong, top doctors launch cancer quest
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cyclist and testicular cancer survivor Lance Armstrong joined forces with four former U.S. surgeons general on Wednesday to urge Americans to do more to prevent cancer and get recommended screening tests.
Prenatal fish oil may lower child's asthma risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children born to women who took fish oil capsules in late pregnancy are less likely to have asthma at the age of 16, according to a new European Union-funded study.
Laptops Could Affect Men's Fertility
But some accessories on the market could help stave off the negative health consequences of your favourite gadget.
Cold Study Has Some Hot Under Collar
Medical trials for research into the common cold at a budget motel chain in Britain are being held under safe conditions,...
Soda Machines On Base May Be Removed
Medical and dental officials in Norway say they want to ban soft drink dispensers on the country's military bases. ...
Illegal Fentanyl Deaths Top 1,000 Over 2 Years
More than 1,000 people died over two years from an illegal version of the painkiller fentanyl, the government reported Thursday in its first national tally of those deaths.
Many seniors' insomnia in their heads
Old people are known to be lousy sleepers, but a new study suggests it might all be in their heads, at least for many of them.
More than 1,000 died in painkiller overdoses
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At least 1,013 people died of overdoses in several U.S. cities from 2005 to 2007 after illegally injecting the highly potent painkiller fentanyl, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
CDC unveils new September11 site health effort
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health officials unveiled plans on Thursday to help people who lived or worked near New York's World Trade Center who may have been harmed by exposure to dust and debris from the collapse in the 2001 attacks.
CDC: About 5% of Kids Have ADHD
Title: CDC: About 5% of Kids Have ADHD Category: Health News Created: 7/24/2008 Last Editorial Review: 7/24/2008
Fish Oil, Red Yeast Rice Cut Cholesterol
Title: Fish Oil, Red Yeast Rice Cut Cholesterol Category: Health News Created: 7/24/2008 Last Editorial Review: 7/24/2008
Soy Foods, Sperm Concentration Link?
Title: Soy Foods, Sperm Concentration Link? Category: Health News Created: 7/24/2008 Last Editorial Review: 7/24/2008
Health Highlights: July 23, 2008
Title: Health Highlights: July 23, 2008 Category: Health News Created: 7/24/2008 2:00:00 AM Last Editorial Review: 7/24/2008
Mouse Model to Aid Sinusitis Research
Title: Mouse Model to Aid Sinusitis Research Category: Health News Created: 7/24/2008 2:00:00 AM Last Editorial Review: 7/24/2008
Allergies Linked to Gene, Skin Protein
Allergies like dermatitis, hay fever and asthma have been linked by German scientists to a gene found in 8 percent of Europeans.
Drug Holds Promise Against AIDS
By Randy Dotinga , HealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- New research offers more evidence that a new AIDS drug brings significant benefits to...
Antidepressant Scripts Up 16 Million Over 3-Year Period
THURSDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- Between 2002 and 2005, the number of prescriptions filled for antidepressant drugs increased from 154 million to 170 million, according to a...
Small Side Dishes Can Offer Big Fat Doses
Getting a little extra to go with your meal may seem like the key to a satisfying meal, but it might be a dietary disaster.
Homeopathy Proven Better Than Conventional Medicine for Eczema
(NaturalNews) No benefit exists in using the highly toxic drugs for eczema pushed by conventional medicine. Homeopathy has better results without the use of harmful products. A peer-reviewed journal reports that there is no reason to subject your children to life-threatening steroids for eczema. The report, published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine , documents a one-year study of one to sixteen year-old children with eczema. The children treated with homeopathy had equal or better results than those treated with corticosteroids. More intriguing is that those children whose conditions were worse at the beginning of the study had greater degrees of improvement with the homeopathic treatment. This is clearly a win-win for patients. Why would anyone choose potent drugs that can permanently damage health when there's another, safe option? When you add in the fact that homeopathically-treated children may fare better than those treated by conventional medicine, then it's inconceivable why any parent would consider putting a child at risk by treating eczema conventionally, when homeopathy is a safe option. Trial Methodology and Results The study, done in Germany, included both urban and rural subjects recruited between January 1998 and December 2000. Its focus was on patients' and doctors' perceptions of improvement, both in terms of the eczema itself and quality of life. The methodology was designed to reflect routine treatment. Questionnaires were filled out by both physicians and patients, or when necessary, by their parents at the beginning of the study, at six months, and again at 12 months. The study focused on subjective results, not clinical tests. As the authors noted, although clinical tests may show differences in children with eczema and asthma in a biomarker like immunoglobulin E, it doesn't have any bearing on the patient's well-being. Children included had to meet the following criteria: * Under age 17. * Not previously treated by the physician who treated them in the study. * Suffered from itching and at least three of the following five symptoms: symptoms in skin creases, dry skin for at least twelve months, asthma or allergic rhinitis history, family history of eczema (only in children aged 1-3), or eczema first appearing before the first birthday. The homeopathic doctors came from Germany's DZVhbrbrConventional, allopathic, doctors were chosen randomly from practices that specialize in pediatrics, dermatology, and family practice. No homeopathy could be used.brbrAll subjects were self-selected. That is, they had chosen their physicians prior to the study. Of 118 children, 54 received homeopathic treatment and 64 received allopathic drugs. An interesting side point is that children whose parents had an education level of more than 12 years were significantly more likely to opt for homeopathy. 64% of the homeopathic parents' education level was more than 12 years, while only 33% of the allopathic parents had more than 12 years of education.brbrIResults by Symptom Relief/IbrbrThe children treated with homeopathy started with worse symptoms than the allopathically-treated group. Both groups showed significant improvements over 12 months. Both allopathic and homeopathy physicians rated the initial severity of symptoms and the improvements higher than the patients did. Here are the percentages of improvement reported by patients and physicians after 12 months:brbrISelf Assessment/Ibrbr* Homeopathy, 27% improvementbrbr* Conventional, 38% improvementbrbrIPhysician Assessment/Ibrbr* Homeopathy, 91% improvementbrbr* Conventional, 75% improvementbrbrIResults by Quality of Life/IbrbrIn terms of quality of life, it's quite interesting to note that both groups indicated improvements from both types of treatment, though it was minimal in both.brbrWhen looking at the data plotted by graph, the results are intriguing. After six months the allopathic group's quality of life was reported as slightly better than the homeopathic group's. However, at 12 months, the allopathic group's quality of life had diminished slightly, and the homeopathic group's quality of life had continued to improve to a slightly higher level.brbrOne must ask what would the results have been two years after the study's start, instead of only one year. Though the authors of the study didn't note it, the homeopathic group showed a definitive trend towards improvement, while the allopathic group had clearly leveled off, possibly losing ground, at the one year point.brbrThis may be the most significant point in the study. It strongly indicates the need to do longer term trials, especially considering that the risks associated with corticosteroid drugs are enormous. These risks are documented later in this article, and they tend to be cumulative. The longer a corticosteroid drug is taken, the more likely that there will be a damaging effect.brbrbImplications/bbrbrThe single most obvious point is that, when treatment with highly dangerous drugs does not provide a better outcome, and when they may result in outcomes that are not as good as a nontoxic alternative, then there is absolutely no justification for using them. Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, prednisolone, and methylprednisolone, are fraught with risks, both short and long term. The study's authors noted only one potential risk, skin atrophy. There are, though, many highly significant reasons for concern with this class of drugs. To make clear just how many and how serious the effects of corticosteroids can be, here's a list of side effects of prednisolone, which are virtually identical to other corticosteroids. It was taken directly from Medscape, an authoritative reference provided for allopaths:brbrIGastric/IbrbrAppetite increase, Esophageal ulcer, Hemorrhage, Hypersecretion, Nausea, Peptic ulcer, Weight gainbrbrIHeart/Circulation/IbrbrBradycardia, Embolism, Chronic heart failure, Cardiac arrest, Conduction disorder, Hypertension, Pulmonary edema, Tachyarrhythmia, Thromboembolic disorder, Thrombophlebitis, VasculitisbrbrIMental/Emotional/IbrbrDelirium, Depression, Euphoria, Excitement, False sense of well-being, Hallucinations, Impaired cognition, Insomnia, Malaise, Mood changes, Nervousness, Paranoid disorder, Personality disorder, Psychiatric disturbancebrbrINeurological/IbrbrDizziness, Headaches, Intracranial hypertension, Muscle weakness, Myopathy, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Paresthesia, Tonic-clonic seizure, VertigobrbrISkin/IbrbrAcne vulgaris, Allergic dermatitis, Ecchymosis (bruising), Flushing, Hyperhydrosis (excess sweating), Petechiae (red spots on skin), Urticaria (hives), Skin rash, Skin scaling, Skin striae (shiny lines indicating weakness of elastic tissues)brbrIEye/Vision/IbrbrCataracts, Glaucoma, Ocular hypertensionbrbrIBones/Tendons/IbrbrFractures, Osteoporosis, Tendon rupturebrbrIGeneral/IbrbrAllergic reactions, Anaphylaxis, Diabetes, Dyspnea (difficulty breathing), Edema (fluid retention), Erythema (skin redness from capillary dilation), Fainting, Glycosuria (excess sugar in the urine), Hepatomegaly (liver enlargement), Hiccups, Hirsutism (excess hair growth), Impaired wound healing, Infection, Irregular menstruation, Lipodystrophy (metabolic fat disorder), Liver malfunction, Pancreatitis (acute), Weight gainbrbrbAnalysis/bbrbrWhat's the connection?brbrAll of these diseases and conditions are the result of metabolic disturbance in the body's hormonal system.brbrHormones regulate your metabolism. When too much (or too little) of a hormone exists in your body, it interrupts your system's ability to stay in balance.brbrCorticosteroids mimic hormones produced by the adrenal glands. When steroids are introduced, they interfere with the metabolic balance. This results in knock-on effects throughout the body. Damage is cumulative.brbrThe desired effect of pharmaceutical steroids is anti-inflammation, which can suppress many symptoms, including pain and things like eczema. However, they also have other effects, such as the fight-or-flight response to fear. Blood flow is altered. It's redirected away from digestion towards the heart, lungs, and extremities. This is a protective mechanism under the right circumstances, when your own adrenal glands provide the extra steroids as needed. However, when it comes from the outside, especially on an on-going basis, the result can be devastating.brbrBecause blood is less available to absorb nutrients, the body suffers from lack of nutrition. Thus, a condition like osteoporosis can develop. Nearly all the diseases and conditions on the list of steroid side effects can be explained by the disruption of the body's hormone system. Others, such as liver damage, are the result of the excess stress placed on the organ as it attempts to detoxify the harmful substance from the body.brbrThe lesson here is to consider alternatives, such as homeopathy, acupuncture, nutritional support, or other modalities, before considering drastic and potentially life-destroying drugs. Inform yourself.brbrRemember, it's your body (or your child's). Nobody lives with the results of what goes into it but you or your child.BRBRbAbout the author/bbr* Heidi Stevenson, BSc, DIHom, FBIH * Fellow, British Institute of Homeopathy * Gaia Therapy (http://www.gaia-therapy.com) * * The author is a homeopath who became concerned with medically-induced harm as a result of her own experiences and those of family members. She says that allopathic medicine is the arena that best describes the motto, "Buyer beware." * * Iatrogenic disease is illness, disability, and death caused by medical practice. It is common, resulting in huge costs to society and individuals. It's possible - even common - to suffer an iatrogenic illness without realizing its source. * * Heidi Stevenson provides information about medically-induced disease and disability, along with incisive well-researched articles on major issues in the modern world, so members of the public can protect themselves.brbrhttp://www.NaturalNews.com/023697.htmlThu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDTMore Children's Toys Contain High Levels of Heavy Metals, Dangerous Chemicals(NaturalNews) More than a third of toys tested contain toxic chemicals, according to a report released by the Ecology Center's Environmental Health Project and the Washington Toxics Coalition.brbrThe groups tested 1,200 toys and other children's products using an X-ray fluorescence analyzer that reveals objects' elemental composition. According to the groups, this method is far more accurate than the types of home lead-testing kits that are widely available.brbrThe researchers found that more than a third of all products tested contained toxic elements, the most common being lead, mercury, cadmium or arsenic. Other elements tested for were bromine, chlorine, chromium and tin.brbrSeventeen percent of the objects tested contained more lead than is allowed by federal safety standards, or 600 parts per million (ppm). Some products had lead levels more than five times the allowed maximum -- a Hannah Montana card game, for example, tested at 3,056 ppm. brbrCadmium levels greater than 100 ppm were found in 2.9 percent of products, and arsenic levels greater than 100 ppm were found in 2.2 percent.brbrLead was most common in jewelry, but other products containing toxins included bath toys and bedroom slippers. Many brand-name products were on the report's list of "worst toys," including Elmo's Take-Along card games and a Go Diego Go backpack.brbrThe children's products were tested only to see if they contained toxic substances, so it is unknown exactly how much risk of exposure each product poses, or what the health effects of using them might be.brbrAccording to Tracey Easthope, director of the Environmental Health Project, the purpose of the study was to spur the government to carry out better testing, rather than to accuse specific toys of being dangerous.brbr"We aren't making claims about immediate danger," Easthope said. "But the government is not testing for toxic chemicals, and too many manufacturers are not self-regulating."brbr"We're publishing the results of our test with the hope that we can urge the government to do this kind of thing themselves," she said.http://www.NaturalNews.com/023696.htmlThu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDTMerck Pushing for Over-The-Counter Approval for Statin Drug Mevacor(NaturalNews) For the third time, Merck is seeking FDA approval for over-the-counter sale of its cholesterol-lowering statin medication lovastatin, marketed under the brand name Mevacor.brbrAn FDA advisory panel voted against approving the drug for over-the-counter use on December 14, 2007. The recommendations of FDA advisory panels are not binding, but the agency usually follows them. After similar recommendations in 2000 and 2005, the FDA rejected Merck's applications to sell Mevacor over the counter.brbrIn its December 14 decision, the FDA panel cited concerns that patients are not able to determine for themselves whether the cholesterol-lowering medication is right for them, the same concern cited in 2000 and 2005. The FDA has noted that high cholesterol is a chronic condition lacking overt symptoms, unlike other health problems that are currently treated over the counter.brbr"People can't, on their own, evaluate whether they are at sufficient enough risk that they could benefit from this drug," said physician Sidney Wolfe, who testified against the drug's approval to the FDA panel. Wolfe is the director of the Public Citizen Health Research Group.brbrAt the FDA's recommendation, Merck added new warnings to the proposed labels for over-the-counter Mevacor since 2005. The labels say that the drug should not be used by men under the age of 45, women under the age of 55, pregnant or nursing women, or women who might become pregnant while taking the drug. According to Merck, recent studies indicated that the new labels helped consumers make better decisions about whether to take the drug. The FDA advisory panel disagreed.brbrThe FDA is expected to decide on January 26 (2008?) whether to approve Merck's application. According to pharmaceutical industry consultant Steve Francesco, a decision to approve over-the-counter Mevacor "would be a real turning point" for the industry, paving the way for the approval of other over-the-counter medicines including more statins and drugs for allergy, dermatology and heartburn.http://www.NaturalNews.com/023695.htmlThu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Licking your wounds may help them heal faster
Researchers have identified a compound in saliva that accelerates healing of chronic wounds resulting from diabetes and other disorders, as well as traumatic injuries and burns.
Indian American scientist plugs loopholes in computer safety
A technique developed by Indian American computer scientist Anoop Singhal will minimise chances of hackers stealing confidential corporate data, including health and financial records.
House Readies To Approve $48B In Global AIDS Fight
Expanding on a program that has saved and prolonged the lives of millions in Africa alone, the House prepared Thursday to pass and send to President Bush legislation that triples money to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis around the world.
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