Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!tamsun.tamu.edu!mtecv2!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Newsgroups: usa-today.health,americast.usa-today.health Subject: health Wed, Aug 26 1992 Message-ID: Date: 26 Aug 92 08:21:15 GMT Organization: American Cybercasting Lines: 112 Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com 08-26 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update Aug. 26, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network FLU SHOTS MAY GIVE WRONG SIGNAL: If you're among the millions who will get flu shots this fall, there's a small chance you'll test positive for viruses you don't have when you next donate blood. Blood banks find positive tests for up to three viruses - the AIDS virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human T-cell lymphotrophic virus, type 1 (HTLV-1) - in as many as 1.7% of recent vaccine recipients. (For more, see special Shots package below.) SUPPLEMENTS MADE OF BUG MATERIAL: Insect hormones, plant steriods and animal glands are among the 235 ingredients found in dietary supplements advertised in magazines like Muscle and Fitness and Flex, says a survey in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association. Many manufacturers call these products alternatives. But effects - good or bad - for more than half aren't known, researchers say. FDA CONSIDERING TOUGHER RULES: Some supplements have caused health hazards, so doctors should ask patients whether they take them, says Dr. Rossanne M. Philen. The Food and Drug Administration and Congress are considering tougher regulation of supplements. SMOKING BAD FOR THE EYES: Smoking more than a pack of cigarettes a day raises the risk of developing cataracts. New research suggests smoking may be responsible for 20% of all cataract cases. Researchers say cigarette smoking may raise the risk of cataracts by depleting important nutrients in the blood, called antioxidants. Cataracts cause more than three million cases of visual impairments a year. ALCOHOLISM IS REDEFINED: It might be easier to spot alcoholics now. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence has issued a new definition of alcoholism. It's the first definition to include denial of the problem as a characteristic. Other characteristics are impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with alcohol and use of alcohol despite adverse consequences. DIET FIRMS PETITION FTC: Some major diet companies want the Federal Trade Commission to set industry-wide standards for weight-loss advertising. They said the FTC has been taking the wrong approach by investigating diet companies one by one. Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig International, Nutri-System, Physicians Weight Loss Center and Diet Center have filed a formal petition. GM WANTS WORKERS TO PITCH IN: General Motors is asking white-collar workers to help pay for health care. The auto giant will require 100,000 active and 90,000 retired U.S. employees to kick in a portion of what GM pays for health care each year. Blue-collar workers - protected by union contracts - won't be affected by GM's plan. SAVE MONEY AND CALORIES: The Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Information Service, which says Americans spend close to $12 billion a year on junk food, analyzes calorie counts for several snacks. Worst snacks per cup: oil-roasted almonds (970), trail mix (693), Cornnuts (372), cheese puffs or twists (236). Best snack per cup: air-popped popcorn (31), pork rinds (115), plain or salted pretzels (162). CARING FOR ELDERLY PARENTS: Companies are becoming more sensitive to family care. A survey by the Conference Board shows about 350 companies help employees take care of aging parents. Seventy-eight percent offer family leave; 77 percent have flexible work hours; 71 percent have spending accounts; and 58 percent have seminars on aging and referral services. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON SHOTS: DONORS NOT AT RISK: A report in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association shows follow-up tests for the viruses reveal the donors really aren't infected. "Influenza vaccine poses no risk for infection with these viruses," says Dr. William R. MacKenzie, a federal Centers for Disease Control researcher in Madison, Wis. LINK NOTICED LAST YEAR: Officials first noticed the link between flu shots and positive tests for viruses in 1991. They said the vaccine might stimulate antibodies that, on tests, look like antibodies to the viruses. The discovery raised questions about whether people who've had recent flu vaccines should refrain from giving blood because their blood would be thrown away if it tested positive. BANKS SHOULD ACCEPT DONORS: Blood banks now reject anyone who's ever tested positive for Hepatitis C. Researchers conclude vaccine recipients shouldn't be barred from blood drives because false-positives are relatively rare. Also, donors with multiple false-positive results after a flu vaccine should be allowed to donate when they later test negative. (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