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 Mon, Oct 19 1992 Date: Mon, 19 Oct 92 04:38:13 EDT Message-ID: 10-19 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update Oct. 19, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network RELIGION IS GOOD FOR THE BODY: Religion is said to be good for the soul. It seems to be good for the body, too. A study led by medical sociologist Kenneth F. Ferraro of Purdue University shows people who regularly worship say they feel healthier than those who don't. WORSHIPPING HELPS HEALTH: Researchers compiled data from interviews with 1,473 people and found: Of those who said they don't worship regularly, 9% reported poor health and 26% claimed excellent health. Among the regular worshipers, just 4% said they were in poor health, while 36% reported excellent health. PEOPLE SURVIVE TRANSPLANTS: Kidney transplant patients have a good chance of surviving one year after the operation. The Health, Resources and Services Administration shows 92% of kidney transplant patients survive a year; more than 80% of heart transplant patients make it a year; about 75% of liver patients make it; and more than 50% of lung patients survive after a year. BUSH SIDES WITH INSURER: The Bush administration says a Houston company had the right four years ago to cancel almost all health insurance for a worker with AIDS. The response waas filed Friday at the request of the U.S. Supreme Court, which is deciding whether to hear the appeal of John McGann. After McGann developed AIDS and filed a claim, his Houston employer changed its health plan and reduced his benfits. ASSOCIATION CHARGED WITH RACISM: Members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy are charging the group with racism. Members charge the organization isn't doing enough to promote diverse membership or leadership. Protesters say the association has had one minority board member in 50 years. The group celebrated its 50th birthday over the weekend. EASY ON THE CHILI PEPPERS: Eating too many chili peppers in too short a time can cause an intestinal blowout, a group of Israeli doctors warn in a recent Journal of the American Medical Association. They report the case of a 23-year-old man who ate 25 chili peppers in 12 minutes in a competition with his brother. Four hours later, he showed up in the emergency room, vomiting and suffering abdominal pain. NOT ALL GAYS AWARE OF SAFE SEX: Despite massive efforts to spread the word about safer sex in the gay community, not all gay men know how to protect themselves against AIDS, the U.S. Public Health Service reports. A study of gay men in Long Beach, Calif., found: Many of them thought natural condoms were as protective as latex condoms (they're not); they used lubricants that increased chances that the condom would break. STOMACH VIRUS DOES DOUBLE DUTY: A common virus that causes diarrhea in babies also can infect their livers under certain circumstances. The rotavirus has been found in the livers of children who died of diseases of the immune system, showing for the first time that the virus can live outside the digestive tract, said Dr. Mark Gilger, a gastroenterologist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. BLAZING TRAILS IN FOOT SURGERY: Arthroscopic surgery, previously associated primarily with knee surgery, has revolutionized foot and ankle care within the past few years, according to leading podiatric surgeons from the American College of Foot Surgeons. They note that arthroscopic surgery has become a significant component in the diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle conditions. SURGERY HELPS ARTHRITIS: In addition to rapid treatment and rehabilitation from sport and industrial injuries, arthroscopy is also being used to diagnose and relieve chronic pain and swelling in ankle joints. "Arthroscopy also plays an important role in diagnosis and treatment of arthritic conditions," says Dr. Lowell Scott Weil of Des Plaines, Ill., vice president of American College of Foot Surgeons. CONFERENCE ADDRESSES RURAL CARE: A two-day rural health case conference opened Sunday at West Virginia University in Morgantown. Among topics discussed were efforts to expand medical coverage to all state residents, possibly involving emphasizing primary care over specialists. TV TRIGGERS HEALTH BILL: President Bush is expected this week to sign a bill requiring national standards for mammography exams - a feather in the cap of NBC correspondent Michele Gillen, who started the ball rolling two years in an NBC News report on lack of uniform standards in the exams. 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