Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.health From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: health Thu, Mar 5 1992 Date: Thu, 5 Mar 92 05:55:52 EST Message-ID: 03-05 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update March 5, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network TEST CAN REDUCE CANCER RISK: A widely available test called flexible sigmoidoscopy can reduce the risk of dying from colon cancer by 60% to 70%, suggests research reported in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. The American Cancer Society recommends the test, costing $100 to $200, for every three to five years after age 50. The research indicates every 10 years should be enough for early detection. EXERCISE LESSENS COLON CANCER: Regular exercise may reduce the risk of colon cancer, suggests a study reported in the March issue of American Health. Researchers at Harvard University's School of Public Health, in a study of 17,000 men, found burning 1,000 calories or more weekly through exercise lowered the risk of colon cancer by half. The findings confirm earlier studies on the effects of exercise on colon cancer. CONGRESS ADDRESSES ABORTION: A House panel began hearings Wednesday on the Freedom of Choice Act, which, according to advocates, only encompasses what was decided by the Supreme Court in Roe vs. Wade. Opponents cite the lack of parental notification and consent laws and limits on late-term abortions. The Supreme Court also set April 22 as the date to hear a Pennsylvania law that could overturn Roe vs. Wade ADVICE ON TRAVEL DISEASES GIVEN: A recent outbreak of cholera among among passengers aboard a South American airliner raised awareness of the disease among travelers, but there are other diseases to consider, according to Dr. Kenneth Dardick, Storrs, Conn. Some basic rules can lower a traveler's risk of contracting a disease such as cholera or malaria to less than one in 100,000, says Dardick. (For more, see special Travel package below.) PERSONALITY MAY BE GENETIC: Babies whose mothers had certain Type A traits cried 40% longer during exams and were rated as more intense and less predictable than other babies, reports a new study in Pediatrics. The babies could possibly have been exposed to their mother's stress hormone in-utero or the differences could simply be genetic, says Dr. Steven Parker, Boston University School of Medicine. MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE UNPUNISHED: Doctors who neglect or mistreat patients often go unpunished by hospitals, reports a study by Public Citizen Health Research Group out Wednesday. The study found that although negligent care causes over 100,000 injuries or deaths annually, 750 restrictions of 30 days or more were placed on U.S. doctors' hospital privileges in the 12 months ending last August. DOT SETS UP DRUG POLICY HOTLINE: Information on the Department of Transportation's drug testing policy and regulations covering workers is now available over the phone or through a modem, Deputy Secretary of Transportation James B. Busey said Wednesday. Busey was in Oklahoma City inaugurating the Anti-Drug Information Center, a 24-hour service aimed at enhancing public safety. Call: 800-CALL-DRUG. Modems: 800-225-3804. AIDS SURVIVAL RATES STUDIED: AIDS patients taking Retrovir brand zidovudine (AZT) therapy may have increased survival time, suggests a study in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association. Of 271 patients enrolled by Italy's National Registry of AIDS Cases, the one- and two-year survival rate was 85% and 46% respectively for those taking AZT, compared to 46% and 20% for those who were untreated. STRESSFUL CITIES RANKED: Reno, Nev., is the most stressful place to live in the USA, according to John Tepper Marlin, an economist who studies cities and the author of the book, "The Livable Cities Almanac." The rankings were based on alcoholism, suicide, divorce and crime, says Marlin. Reno was followed by Las Vegas, Miami, Little Rock, Ark., and Jacksonville, Fla. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON TRAVEL: SIMPLE RULES CAN REDUCE RISK: Debilitating travel diseases can be avoided, says Dr. Kenneth Dardick. His advice: "Cook it. Boil it. Peel it. Or forget it." The six most common travel diseases, says Dardick, are (in order of risk) giardiasis, hepatitis A, malaria, salmonella and shigellosis, typhoid and cholera. Cholera, a bacteria in fecal-tainted water, causes diarrhea. Avoided it by following food and water rules. AVOID TAINTED FOOD AND WATER: Giardiasis, caused by a parasite in fecal-tainted water worldwide, has symptoms including diarrhea that develops weeks after exposure and lasts for weeks. Obey food and water rules to avoid it. Symptoms of hepatits A, also spread by tainted water and food, include vomiting and fatigue. To avoid: Obey food and water rules and get a shot of gamma globulin before going. ORAL TYPHOID VACCINE AVAILABLE: Malaria, a mosquito-born infection, can be avoided with specific repellents and pills. Its symptoms are flu-like, developing in two weeks to a year. Typhoid, salmonella, shigellosis and cholera are all bacterial illnesses from tainted food or water. Symptoms of salmonella: Intense diarrhea developing within days. Typhoid: High fever, muscle aches. A new oral typhoid vaccine has been developed. (End of package.) Health Editor: Christopher Goldthwaite. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM