Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.health From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: health Tue, Jul 21 1992 Date: Tue, 21 Jul 92 06:06:53 EDT Message-ID: 07-21 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update July 21, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network AIDS SPREADS FAST AMONG WOMEN: Someone in the world gets infected with the AIDS virus every 15 to 20 seconds - and half are women, an expert said Monday. Men bore the brunt of the early epidemic, but the gap between sexes is narrowing, says Dr. Michael Merson of the World Health Organization. One tragic result: More infected and orphaned children. (For more, see special AIDS package below.) WARNING OUT ON HISMANAL: Beware of the prescription antihistamine drug Hismanal. The Food and Drug Administration reports it may cause deadly irregular heart beats or heart attacks if taken in more than the recommended dose of one tablet a day. Side effects are rare but they can occur after taking just two tablets a day. The FDA has asked manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceutica to let doctors know about the risks. EPA INVESTIGATES SMOKE: Passive smoke is under fire again. The Environmental Protection Agency reopens hearings on the dangers of cigarette fumes Tuesday, focusing on recent findings of its effect on children. A report in the making attributes up to 300,000 respiratory infections in babies to passive smoke. The report also says nearly 3,000 lung cancer cases have been reported in never-smokers or former smokers. AGENCIES CONSIDER SMOKING BAN: The EPA cannot regulate tobacco products. But state or federal agencies could use an approval to ban smoking in the workplace or in public places. Affected workers might file suits against employers who don't ban smoking. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is considering indoor air quality regulations that could, in several years, ban job-site smoking. HEALTH SPENDING TO RISE: Massachusetts Gov. William Weld signed a $14.18 billion budget that increases programs to increase breast cancer research, prevent the spread of AIDS and combat domestic violence. The plan also calls for more family health services and a woman and infant nutrition program. STATE BANDS TOGETHER: Ninety percent of New Jersey residents recently polled said they would pay $10 to $100 to provide health care to the 800,000 state residents who can't afford it. Urban residents ages 18-29 were most likely to lack insurance. The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey paid $7,500 for the study, which was conducted by the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. MORE INSURING THEMSELVES: Self-insurance of workers compensation has increased from 18.1% of total premium in 1980 to 25.9% in 1990, according to a study reported by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. The study also found that workers compensation accounted for 40% of all self insurance in 1990. Cited: Rising medical costs, increased claims and insurer assessments. BCBS STUDIES HEART SURGERY: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Tennessee is sponsoring a study of open-heart surgeries at six hospitals that may help doctors assess the health risks of the operation, says the plan's medical director, Richard Armstrong, M.D. The study may also let doctors compare patients' hospital stays and the demands on hospital resources, added Amrstrong. BLOOD BROCHURE AVAILABLE: People can get the facts about blood transfusions in a free brochure from the Medical Awareness Association. Those interested can call 1-800-899-0005 to order "Blood Transfusions, The Choice is Yours." SPECIAL PACKAGE ON AIDS: GLOBAL TRENDS SEEN: One million of the world's 11 million to 13 million HIV-infected people have contracted the virus in the past six months, Dr. Michael Merson of the World Health Organization told the International Conference on AIDS. "This is just the beginning of the AIDS era," he said. Other trends: More infections outside major cities; and the spread of HIV outside of high-risk groups. MORE PEOPLE GETTING TESTED: Delegates at the Eighth International Conference on AIDS Monday reported the November 1991 announcement of Magic Johnson's HIV infection prompted a lot of people to get tested. Testing rates in San Francisco rose 20% immediately afterwards, say researchers from that city's health department. The largest increases were among black and Hispanic women, but rates among black men rose as well. MESSAGE FOR MEN: "Women have been told ... to be monogamous and to protect themselves by condom use," says Anke Ehrhardt of Columbia University. "These are goals that should be addressed to men. ... Women need to be given messages and tools they can truly control." Says Harvard's Jonathan Mann, conference chairman: "Male-dominated societies are a threat to public health." (End of package.) Health Editor: Michele Coleman. (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