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, Oct 21 1992 Date: Wed, 21 Oct 92 04:30:09 EDT Message-ID: 10-21 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update Oct. 21, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network BREAST CANCER, FAT UNLINKED: After nearly 10 years of warning women too much fat in the diet may cause breast cancer, doctors are now saying never mind. Results of Harvard University's Nurses Health Study, involving 89,494 women, all but rule out a link between dietary fat and breast tumors. The study also finds no reduction in breast cancer from eating more fiber. MILLIONS DRINKING BAD WATER: Millions of people are being supplied with water containing unhealthy levels of poisonous lead, shows an EPA study of 130 water systems. Some of the nation's biggest water supplies exceed new federal guidelines, including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and Phoenix. The highest level was found in Charleston, S.C., with lead 14 times higher than allowable. NEW PROSTATE DRUG OUT: Research shows a new drug to treat enlarged prostate glands eases symptoms in about one-third of men with the problem. But the drug, finasteride, isn't as effective as surgery improving urinary flow, says a study by drugmaker Merck Sharp & Domme. Daily doses of the drug, taken for life, cost about $1.50. SCHOOLS NOT SERVING BREAKFAST: Record numbers of low-income kids eat school breakfasts, but millions more don't. The Food Research and Action Center says thousands of schools don't participate in school breakfast programs even though they are eligible. The center says a little more than 50% of eligible schools participate. MAINTAINING WEIGHT IS BETTER: Maintaining a stable, healthy weight - even if it's slightly higher than ideal - may be a better goal for struggling dieters, finds a Harvard Alumni Health Study. Findings show people who gain and lose at least 11 pounds during a decade or so don't live as long as those who maintain a stable weight. MORE BUYING LOW-FAT MILK: Americans are becoming more conscious of fat intake. Low-fat milk sales are hot, while whole milk sales have cooled. The Department of Agriculture reports consumers drank 23 gallons of whole milk per person in 1971. That decreased to less than 10 gallons in 1991. Low-fat milk consumption was four gallons per person in 1971. That increased to about 12 gallons in 1991. KIDS MISS OUT ON BREAKFAST: Kids who skip breakfast may miss out on key nutrients that they often don't make up during the day, says Theresa Nicklas, a researcher with the Bogalusa (La.) Heart Study. Her group has examined kids' eating habits for 20 years. She presented some of the research Tuesday at the American Dietetic Association meeting in Washington, D.C. KIDS BETTER OFF AT SCHOOL: Researcher Theresa Nicklas found 16% of youngsters pass up breakfast. Also found: Kids who miss breakfast end up consuming lower amounts of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, riboflavin, thiamine and vitamins A, E, D, B-6 and B-12; and children who eat breakfast at home get more sugar in their diets than kids who eat breakfast at school. SPERM, EGG MANIPULATED: Researchers have sliced the membrane that surrounds a female egg - an invitation to a single, fertilizing sperm. Called micromanipulation, this technique is an aggressive new turn in the field of "test-tube babies" - or in vitro fertilization - that may increase odds for a successful birth. It's being done at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., and 23 other hospitals. KIDS GET BREATH OF FRESH AIR: The Fresh Air Fund is sending needy children from the inner city to suburban and rural host families throughout the country. More than 60% of the kids are invited back to the same family every year. For more information, call 1-800-367-0003. SIMON, GORE TO MEET: Singer Paul Simon and Senator Al Gore will meet Wednesday at a Newark, New Jersey, homeless shelter. Stella Wright Homes is one of the sites of Simon's Children's Health Fund. The fund provides families with free health care in its mobile vans. Vice Presidential candidate Gore is expected to make a policy statement about the health care of needy children. GET INFO ON DIAPER RASH: Parents can get the bottom line on preventing diaper rash by calling Johnson & Johnson's "no rash" hot line. It provides answers to questions about diaper rash. The number to call is 800-282-7274. DRUNKEN DRIVING LAWS PUSHED: Most states should allow for drunken driving conviction when a motorist's blood-alcohol level reaches 0.08%, a tighter standard than the .10 used in 45 states, the Department of Transportation says. The 0.08% standard has been adopted in five states: California, Maine, Oregon, Utah and Vermont. 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