Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.health From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: health Tue, Jun 2 1992 Date: Tue, 2 Jun 92 05:20:35 EDT Message-ID: 06-02 0000 DECISIONLINE: Health USA TODAY Update June 2, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network LYME EXPERTS HOLD CONFERENCE: More than 9,300 cases of Lyme disease were reported in 47 states in 1991, say researchers at the Fifth International Lyme disease Conference in Crystal City, Va. From late May to early June is the most likely time of year to get the disease, which is concentrated in East Coast states from Maine to Virginia, in California and the upper Midwest, researchers say. Tiny deer ticks carry the disease. (For more, see special Lyme package below.) USA STILL DOESN'T EXERCISE MUCH: Nearly 50% of people 18- to 29-years-old exercise rarely, if at all, says a Centers for Disease Control report. Of those over 65, only 11% of women and 16% of men exercise regularly, although that figure is an improvement from five years ago. The report is from a CDC survey of 20,000 people in 26 states in 1986 and in 1990. The USA is a sedentary society, says the CDC's Carl Caspersen. REVERSAL OF SMOKING BAN OPPOSED: The Department of Veterans Affairs will oppose a bill that would overturn no-smoking policies in VA medical centers, VA Secretary Edward J. Derwinski said Monday. The bill, approved by the House Veterans' Affairs Committee last week, would require indoor smoking lounges and would overturn a 1991 ban on the sale of tobacco products in hospital canteens. STUDY CITES FALSE JUICE LABELS: Fruit juice manufacturers are passing off apple and grape juices as more expensive kiwi, papaya, raspberry and cherry juices, says the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which studied more than two dozen brands. The issue is the quantity of juice and water, not a company's trade secrets and formulas, says the Grocery Manufacturers of America. CANCER SURVIVORS TO BE HONORED: Sunday is National Cancer Survivors Day, a nationwide event of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship and Coping magazine. The event was originally created by H&R Bloch co-founder Richard Bloch to honor Americans who live with cancer. For free brochures on cancer survivorship, write: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 3704, Memphis, Tenn. 38101. EDELL TO HOST NEW SHOW: Dr. Dean Edell, known for his nationally syndicated radio program, will debut as host of "Doctor Dean" June 15 on NBC. The show will discuss health topics and feature people who have video taped their medical questions and have sent them to the show. The show will provide reliable advice, says Edell. SEX EDUCATION PROGRAM TESTED: Atlanta eighth-graders exposed to a program called Postponing Sexual Involvement are five times less likely to become sexually active than students in schools without the program. Under the program, tested in Oregon, teens are provided with techniques to resist peer pressure. Some California schools will begin the program this summer. CANCER FEARS UNWARRANTED: Growing fear about human papillomavirus, believed to be linked to most cervical cancers, is unwarranted, say experts. HPV, they say, is a common infection that rarely leads to cancer, and while HPV diagnoses are increasing, the women getting them are not part of a new epidemic. HPV simply explains an old disease, says Dr. Mark Schiffman, a National Cancer Institute researcher. EMBRYO BATTLE ENDS: A three-year custody battle over seven frozen embyros ended Monday when the Tennessee high court ruled that a divorced man can not be forced to become a father. The decision allows Junior Lewis Davis to block use of eggs taken from his ex-wife and fertilized with his sperm before their divorce. Davis' ex-wife had won temporary custody of the embryos in 1989. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON LYME: MOST PATIENTS DEVELOP RASH: The first symptom of Lyme disease is a round rash, occurring in 60%-80% of cases, accompanied by flu-like aches. Antibiotics usually alleviate symptoms, but without treatment, Lyme disease can cause nerve palsy, heart rhythm disturbances or arthritis. The variability of symptoms and unreliable tests make diagnosis hit-or-miss, says Dr. David T. Dennis of the Centers for Disease Control. REPELLANT RECOMMENDED: Lyme disease has been reported in 27 states where there is no evidence of infected ticks, says Dennis, indicating possible misdiagnosis, or that the illness was picked up while traveling. To avoid the disease, Dennis advises that people wear tick repellant and protective clothing and check themselves often for ticks. If a tick is removed within 36 hours, the risk of infection is slight. LYME TREATMENTS STUDIED: For Lyme disease patients who are unaided by antibiotics, retreatment may be the answer, says Dr. Daniel Cameron of Mount Kisco, N.Y. After retreating 39 patients, he found that 82% improved with a second course of antibiotics. In light of the findings, the original guidelines for treatment should be reexamined, says researcher Victoria Malara. (End of package.) Health Editor: Christopher Goldthwaite. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. 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