Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.health,americast.usa-today.health From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: health Wed, Sep 23 1992 Date: Wed, 23 Sep 92 04:36:28 EDT Message-ID: 09-23 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update Sept. 23, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network BODY TEMPERATURES VARY: The familiar gauge of measuring fever at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit should be discarded, a new study says. Doctor Philip Mackowiak of the Baltimore VA Medical Center says fever should be defined as a morning oral reading of 99 degrees or more. Evening fevers would reach 100 degrees or more for adults under age 40. Research shows normal body temperature rises at night. AGENCY FOCUSES ON CHILDREN: Only a third of low-income pre-school children receive the recommended number of visits to a doctor when they are well, according to a new study by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Among the nation's more affluent pre-schoolers, the researchers found only half receive the recommended number of visits. (For more, see special Children package below.) DOCTORS GET CANCER CLUE: Doctors may be closer to determining a smoker's chances of developing lung cancer. Researchers say they've found a molecular marker that could pinpoint the chances. The same study also found vitamin E may protect against carcinogens in smoke. The findings are in a paper presented Tuesday to a Harvard School of Public Health cancer forum. DIET SHOULD BE LEANER, GREENER: The best diet for better health would be a lot leaner, meaner and greener than current dietary recommendations, say some of the nation's top nutrition experts. October's Consumer Reports asked experts to reveal the ideal diet. The consensus: Eat no more than three servings of red meat a week and gobble up at least seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day. BACK INJURIES COST MORE: Costs from work-related lower-back injuries rose to about $16 billion in 1990 and are expected to hit $40 billion by 2000, according to Ted Braun, director-ergonomics services for Liberty Mutual. Braun, addressing the insurer's Risk Management Forum in Chicago Tuesday, blamed "unrestrained medical costs, excessive legal disputes and fraud" for the rising costs. RISING COSTS BLAMED ON FRAUD: The uncertain nature of work-related back injuries "invites protracted litigation, fraud and unrestrained medical costs," says Ted Braun, Liberty Mutual's director-ergonomic services. A study of the insurer's back claims over a one year shows the average cost per case was nearly $7,000, while the median cost was $391, indicating an uneven distribution of costs, Braun said. MORE CANCER VICTIMS GET TAXOL: Taxol will be provided to more women with ovarian cancer because of a growing supply of the experimental anti-cancer drug, the National Cancer Institute said Tuesday. Cancer specialists not part of the NCI's 39-hospital treatment plan can call the agency at 301-496-5725 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET to get taxol for advanced ovarian cancer patients. TIPS TO AVOID SKIN CANCER GIVEN: The Skin Cancer Foundation is offering advice to guard against skin cancer. A new brochure, called "Skin Cancer: If You Can Spot It, You Can Stop It," gives tips. To get a copy, send a self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope to: The Skin Cancer Foundation, Dept. S.E., Box 561, New York, New York, 10156. GUIDEBOOK OUT ON FACIAL SURGERY: Before making any decision about cosmetic surgery, Dr. Robert Kotler of the UCLA Center for Health Sciences, advises reading his book, "The Consumer's Guidebook to Cosmetic Facial Surgery." To order the book ($12.50, Ernest Mitchell and Associates Publishers), call 213-553-5792. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON CHILDREN: UNINSURED KIDS ARE LEFT OUT: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends well-child visits at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 24 months and then annually for older pre-school children. A study shows uninsured children from families living below 200% of the federal poverty line (or below $27,842 for a family of four at the time of the study) are less likely than other children to receive the preventive care services. KIDS ARE NOT GETTING SHOTS: "Departures from the recommended guidelines are particularly pronounced in the second year of life. As a result, some children may fail to receive immunizations for preventable diseases, such as measles, rubella and mumps," said AHCPR's Pamela Farley Short, Ph.D., and Doris C. Lefkowitz, Ph.D. PARENTS NEED TO BE EDUCATED: According to the authors, factors other than insurance and income, such as the lower educational attainment of low-income mothers, explain about 80% of the gap in well-child visits between children above and below 200% of poverty. The authors suggest combating the problem by aiming educational programs at parents to encourage well-child visits. (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