Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.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 Tue, Nov 3 1992 Date: Tue, 3 Nov 92 04:59:46 EST Message-ID: 11-03 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update Nov. 3, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network MANY SUFFER HOLIDAY STRESS: Help is on the way for sufferers of excessive holiday stress. According to Susan Klein, an Iowa State University Extension home economist, holiday stress occurs because old fashioned holiday expectations are not compatible with contemporary lifestyles. "Working mothers are killing themselves making cookies at midnight, throwing and attending lots of parties, says Klein. (For more, see special Stress package below.) MORE ENROLL IN HMOS: Information the Statistical Abstract of the United States shows a rise of HMOs: The number of Americans enrolled in health maintenance organizations rose from 6 million in 1976 to 34.1 million in 1991. Also, in 1982, the average obstetrician:gynecologist paid 10% of his or her net income for liability insurance. By 1989, the amount had risen to 19%. MANY HAVE UNHEALTHY HABITS: In 1985, 22% of Americans age 18 and over reported sleeping six hours or less per night, 24% skipped breakfast, 39% snacked every day, 13% said they were at least 30% above their desirable weight, and 30% said they smoked. That information is included in the 1992 Statistical Abstract of the United States. LAUGHING GAS REDUCES FERTILITY: Breathing in nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, may reduce fertility in women, a study suggests. The anesthetic gas is used most often in dental offices. Women working around unvented nitrous oxide took an average of 32 menstrual cycles to get pregnant, compared to six cycles in other women, the Digest of the National Institute of Dental Research reports. ALZHEIMER'S DRUG VOTED DOWN: A Food and Drug Administration panel Monday said that studies on a drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease does not show the drug is safe or effective. Mentane is manufactured by Hoechst Roussel. The panel recommended against expanding the availability of Mentane for Alzheimer's patients who are not taking part in clinical studies. There is no known treatment for Alzheimer's. NEW DENTAL FLOSS COMING OUT: Progressive grocer describes a new dental floss coming to market: Glide Floss made from Gore-Tex, the same stuff used to repel rain from hiking boots, jogging suits and parkas. According to its manufacturer, the Gore-Tex variety effortlessly slips between teeth and, unlike regular nylon floss, does not shred. AIDS PATIENTS NOT ALLOWED: Most Central Florida nursing homes don't admit AIDS patients, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Hospital staffers identified one nursing home in Orange County and two in Volusia County that have accepted AIDS patients. Nursing homes have denied that they discriminate. DRUG RELIEVES COLD SYMPTOMS: A recent study on Naprosyn reports it reduces cold symptoms. Researchers at the University of Virginia infected 79 healthy volunteers with a cold virus. Half were treated with Naprosyn and the others were given a placebo. During the next five days, both groups had the same number of colds. But compared with the placebo group, subjects receiving Naprosyn had fewer cold symptoms. TEST RESULTS AREN'T PICKED UP: Only 22,300 of the 50,800 people tested for HIV in 1991 at state-sponsored clinics in Michigan returned for the results, according to the state Department of Public Health. Officials at the 285 state clinics have until Dec. 1 to submit plans to increase responses. BOOK COVERS INSURANCE QUESTIONS: A handbook is available for small-business owners and employees to learn about insurance. "The Complete Small Group Health Insurance Handbook" by William Wilson answers more than 140 common questions. Send $17.95 to Essentialbooks, P.O. Box 109057-P, Chicago, Ill. 60610 or call 800-892-7456. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON STRESS: TRIM LIST TO CUT STRESS: Twenty years ago, the holiday season was considered much less stressful than it is today, according to surveys. To make the holidays more cheerful, Susan Klein suggests a number of remedies. People should list all the old family traditions that appear consistently on their calendars every year. After examining the list carefully, they should trim it to a more practical agenda. DEBT CAUSES STRESS: The same process can be used with gift-giving. Make a list of all of the gifts wanted by family members and simply cross off those that are just too expensive or unnecessary. Debt causes more stress than Junior's tantrum over the $300 video game that he didn't get. TACKLE STRESS EARLY ON: The best way to avoid stress is to tackle the problems early on, according to Dr. F.J. McGuigan of the Institute for Stress Management in San Diego, Calif. For a free pamphlet discussing stress and progressive relaxation, send a SASE to: The Institute for Stress Management, U.S. International University, 10455 Pomerado Rd., San Diego, CA, 92131. (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