News Channel 9: Health Headlines

Inhalers Going "Green"

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:38:35 GMT

We begin tonight with a final warning for people with asthma. Inhalers are going green, and if you haven't already switched. you'll have to by the end of the month.

The new inhalers will still give you the same medicine, just in a more eco-friendly way. They're also more expensive; $30 to $60, compared to as little as $5.00. Even though this change has been in the news all year, about 20% of all Albuterol prescriptions were still being filled with the old inhalers.

If you haven't switched, be prepared for the medicine to feel and taste different, though it works just as well.

In tonight's "Health Headlines", by December 31st, all asthma inhalers will need to be earth friendly; that means no more cfc's that damage the earth's ozone layer.

Acupuncture Good For Headaches

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:36:34 GMT

Topping tonight's "Health Headlines", if you have chronic headaches, there may be something better than aspirin. There is now evidence that acupuncture may work better.

A review of studies involving nearly 4,000 patients with migraine, tension headache and other forms of chronic headaches shows that nearly 62% of acupuncture patients reported relief compared with 45% of people taking medicines. Duke University researchers say it took five to six visits on average for patients to report headache relief. They also say this study adds to the growing evidence of the effectiveness of acupuncture for a variety of purposes, ranging from enhancing fertility to decreasing post operative pain

Pill Could Help Cut Down On Chemo Effects

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:43:28 GMT

Topping tonight's "Health Headlines", some advanced lung cancer patients already treated with chemotherapy may actually be able to skip the bad side effects by taking a pill instead.

In the U.S., Iressa is approved for use in patients who failed chemo and it tends to work better in patients who have never smoked, asians, women and those with other particular genetic profiles.

An international study showed patients on Iressa, an expensive, newer treatment, survived about as long as those on another course of chemo. Few treatments for lung cancer exist and most patients die within a few years of diagnosis. The problem with Iressa, it is very costly, thousands of dollars each month.

Growing Allergy Trend

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:01:30 GMT

If your child has allergies, there's growing evidence that they're part of a nationwide trend. In tonight's health headlines, as allergies to peanuts, milk, eggs and gluten have become commonplace, prescriptions for epi-pens have taken a huge jump.

In in last five years, prescriptions for the single use shots of epinephrine that counter allergic reactions have shot up up 36%. School nurses who may have had one or two epi-pens on hand in the late 1990's now have 50 to 60. Epi-pens save lives, but they are costly; it expires every 12 months and even with insurance, one epi-pen often runs between $60 and $100.

A Woman's Risk Of Breast Cancer

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:14:14 GMT

In tonight's "Health Headlines", new information about a woman's risk of breast cancer. It may have more to do with family history than the results of a genetic test.

New research shows if breast cancer runs in the family, women can be at high risk even if they test free of the diseases most common genetic mutations. The genes BRCA one and two are linked with a particularly aggressive hereditary breast cancer and an increase risk of ovarian cancer, but testing negative doesn't mean a woman is free and clear.

Those genes only account for about 15% of all breast cancer cases. Women who test negative still have a four fold higher risk than average women of developing breast cancer.

Ginko Does Not Prevent Dementia

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:03:47 GMT

Ginkgo Biloba is an herbal supplement often taken in hopes of improving memory function, but can it help to prevent dementia and alzheimer disease in the elderly? A study in the Journal of the Medical Association has the answer to that question.

Betty Haughin was married for 58 years to her husband Ken. He passed away almost four years ago. "He meant the world to me. All we ever wanted was each other, and a home, and children and the good lord sent them all to us. We had a good marriage. "The last year of Ken's life was tough, as Alzheimers disease took its toll. "it's just a descent into sadness."

Betty volunteered for a first-of-its-kind research study, to see if ginkgo biloba - a popular herbal supplement taken in hopes of memory improvement - helps prevent dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.

The University of Virginia School of Medicine's Doctor Steven Dekosky, who was at the University of Pittsburgh at the time of the study, led the research team. "Because it is the most common kind of dementia in late life, we were especially interested in focusing on alzheimer's disease as well as all other causes of dementia that occur in late life."

The study appears this week in jama, Journal of the American Medical Association. It compared the effect of ginkgo biloba with placebo for as long as seven years, by more than 3,000, age 75 or older, with normal cognition or with mild cognitive impairment.

"The test results showed us that under these circumstances, ginkgo doesn't appear to have any effect of slowing down thinking changes in late life."

No effect - and so, no breakthrough. but Dr. Dekosky still has a goal: to find a way to delay the onset of dementia in the elderly. "Delaying the onset of the disease for ten years would effectively eliminate it from the population."

In this study, participants took 240 milligrams of ginkgo biloba - or placebo tablets - every day. To find out more you'll find the article from the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Restalyne Treatments

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:59:06 GMT

Topping tonight's health headlines, the FDA wants to track the long term safety of facial injections to smooth away wrinkles and tell patients about the risks.

Women and even some men are drawn to the facial fillers Juvederm and Restalyne by the promise of youthful good looks at far less cost and trouble than a face lift. Unfortunately, for some patients, the result can be blotchy skin, bumps on the face and worse.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons told the FDA advisers it is ready to take a leading role by encouraging the reporting of problems, improving training for doctors and their assistants, and advising consumers.

Of particular concern? Using the fillers to plump up the lips which are extremely sensitive.

March Of Dimes' Premature Birth Report Card

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:03:37 GMT

Topping tonight's "Health Headlines", the United States has received a "D" in the March of Dimes' first state by state premature birth report card, released today.

However, not one state in the nation recieved an "A", the guidelines being a pre-term birth rate of 7.6% or less. In fact, Onondaga County had the highest pre-term rate in New York State, at 12.6%

More than 530,000 babies are born prematurely each year and pre-term birth is the leading cause of newborn death and a major cause of lifelong disabilities. Vermont ranked the best with only 9%of premature babies, while Mississippi ranked the worst at over 18%.

States need to expand health insurance coverage for women of child-bearing age and hospitals should review reasons for labor inductions and c-sections performed before 39 weeks. Studies show doctors are often performing them for the mother's convenience, rather than for medical reasons.

Among some of the solutions presented? pregnant women who have had a previous pre-term birth should get weekly shots of the hormone progesterone, beginning at 16 weeks. That is shown to cut the birth risk by a third.

Vitamin D And Breast Cancer

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:45:06 GMT

Topping tonight's health headlines, if you were hoping you could prevent cancer and heart disease by taking vitamins, two new studies out this evening show the science just isn't there.

The first, is a study to see if taking Vitamin D can help women prevent breast cancer. Researchers tested the theory in a large study of more than 36,000 older women, half of whom took daily supplements of Vitamin D for seven years, while the other half took a placebo.

Results showed no differences in their odds of developing breast cancer and no difference in their colon cancer risk either. Doctors recommend that women take daily Vitamin D for bone health and wait to see if any additional health benefits emerge.

Drug Coated Stents For Diabetics

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:13:29 GMT

In tonight's Health Headlines, good news for diabetics. If you need stents to open your arteries, it turns out the more expensive drug coated stents are better.

A new study shows, the drug coated stents are more effective in reducing the risk of repeat surgical procedures, heart attack and death in patients with diabetes, compared to older, bare metal stents. Diabetics make up a third of all patients who undergo procedures to reopen blocked arteries.

Vitamin Found In Poultry Could Help With Alzheimer's

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:01:48 GMT

Topping tonight's health headlines, a vitamin found in poultry could help patients dealing with Alzheimers Disease.

There's no way of knowing if it would have the same effects on humans and scientists say they aren't ready to recommend taking the vitamin in large doses yet. Alzheimer's Disease affects around 5.2 million people in the United States.

Researchers tested a form of Vitamin B3 on mice suffering from a rodent version of the disease and in large quantities, it was found to eliminate memory problems. The vitamin is found in things like pork, peanuts, turkey, chicken and veal.

Weight Gain In Pregnancy Can Be Risky

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:59:44 GMT

Topping tonight's health headlines, according to a new study, gaining 40 pounds or more during pregnancy almost doubles the risk of having a baby that weights 9 pounds or more, which poses health risks for mom and baby.

The study's lead author says more than one in five women gain too much weight during their pregnancies. B

Current guidelines advise that an underweight woman should gain 28 to 40 pounds, women with normal weight should gain up to 35 pounds and overweight women should gain no more than 25 pounds.

igger babies are at risk for getting stuck in the birth canal, which often leads to broken collar bones and can also increase the need for a c-section. Also, the heavier the baby, the more they are at risk for obesity and type two diabetes later in life.

Protecting Your Baby From Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:02:53 GMT

We have a health alert to pass along tonight for parents of infants. October is "Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month, and as winter fast approaches, the group REACH CNY is warning that bundling your baby up to keep them warm is not the way to go. It could increase your baby's chance of dying of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which is commonly referred to as SIDS. The group hopes that by kicking off their statewide campaign, parents across the state will avoid going through what so many families have.

Among the safety precautions every parent should take:

-There should never be blankets, pillows or bumpers of any kind in your child's crib

-No stuffed animals and toys in the crib

-Always place your baby on their back when putting them to sleep

New Way Of Attacking Leukemia

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:33:50 GMT

Topping tonight's health headlines, researchers from Syracuse University have discovered a new way to attack some forms of leukemia.

The research, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, explains how the team has found a way to disrupt a protein switch, a critical part of the white blood cell creation process. These discoveries could lead to more effective ways of treating the illness, as well as a new way of approaching the treatment of other cancers.

Leukemia Drug Could Help Those With MS

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:11:42 GMT

Also making headlines, researchers in Britain say they have found a drug used to treat leukemia can halt and even reverse the effects of multiple sclerosis, which causes the immune system to attack nerve fibres.

The report, published in the New England Journal of Medicine says a drug called Alemtuzumab may stop the advance of m-s in its early stages. In trials, the drug cut the number of attacks and helped them recover lost functions.

The MS Society said the results of this trial will bring hope to thousands living with the condition.

Depression In Pregnancy Could Lead To Pre-Term Babies

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:09:49 GMT

Topping tonight's Health Headlines, why do some pregnant women go into early labor? Well, it could have something to do with depression.

Those women with serious depression were twice as likely to deliver a baby pre-term than those who were not depressed and the more severe the depression, the greater the risk they wouldn't make it to their 37th week.

The authors say depression during pregnancy could interfere with placental hormones that contribute to having a healthy, full-term child.

Researchers screened women for depression about 10 weeks into their pregnancies and more than 40% said they had depression symptoms and half of those women reported severe symptoms.

Medications Related To Serious Illness

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:15:55 GMT

We begin with a health alert about a record number of serious problems and deaths linked to medications.

In the first three months of this year, a health industry watchdog group reports 21,000 people had serious drug reactions and 4,800 died. Two drugs accounted for a disproportionately large share of the reports.

One was pfizer's anti-smoking medication, Chantix. Chantix has been linked to psychiatric problems including suicidal behavior and vivid dreams. Pfizer stands behind Chantix and says the volume of reports might be linked to publicity about the drug's side effects. The other drug that had a large number of problems reported was Heparin, the tainted blood thinner from China that caused a safety scandal.

ADHD Affects Marriages

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:08:58 GMT

Also in tonight's Health Headlines, evidence that parenting a child with ADHD can take a toll on the marriage. A new study suggest parents of hyperactive kids are twice as likely as other parents to divorce by the time the child is eight.

The study by doctors at Suny Buffalo says the child's disruptive behavior doesn't itself cause marriages to fail, but instead increases tensions that could cause conflict.

In the study, 23% of parents with a child with ADHD divorced before their 8th birthday. That's in comparison with 13% of parents who had children without the disorder.

Not all researchers agree. A Canadian study last year found the divorce rate was no higher for parents of kids with ADHD.

Autism Therapy

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:07:15 GMT

In tonight's Health Headlines, there's a push for insurance companies to pay for therapy for children with autism.

Autism advocates are targeting New York and ten other states to require health insurers to cover intensive and costly behavioral therapy for autism. In the past couple of years, six states have passed laws requiring such coverage, costing in some cases up to $50,000 dollars a year per child. The advocacy group autism speaks is behind this effort.

Chicken Soup Could Lower Blood Pressure

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:59:00 GMT

Topping tonight's health headlines, chicken soup, which has often been called "grandma's penicillin" for its cold-fighting abiliities, may also help in another way.

Japanese researchers have found the collagen proteins in chicken may actually lower your blood pressure. The collagens act like blood pressure medications called ace inhibitors, but, it's the chicken that works as the medicine. Adding salt or other unhealthy ingredients could actually offset the potential benefits.