Roundup of the Day's Health News
Aug. 20, 2001 -- In the medical file today:
Trimming Edges
In a major cost-cutting measure that will affect millions of people who rely on Medicare, the federal health insurance program plans to dramatically reduce how much it pays for treatments done on an outpatient basis, such as chemotherapy and pacemaker implants. Some doctors say they may be forced to give these same treatments in the hospital, which would cost even more. Read more.
If You Can't Quit
Researchers in Sweden report that people who reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke by half, have significantly reduced risk for heart disease after only eight weeks. The findings suggest that people who are unable to quit entirely may still benefit from smoking less. Read more.
08/17 Accutane; West Nile virus
08/16 Car pollution; fluoride; hands-free cell phones
08/15 Estrogen therapy; cloning; AIDS
08/14 Pacemakers; AIDS; oysters
08/13 Natrecor; OxyContin
08/09 Placebos; asthma inhalers; Claritin
08/08 OxyContin; bone density; chess masters
08/07 Meningitis; Dimericine; teeth-cleaning chewing gum
08/06 Breast feeding; smoking and pregnancy; creatine
08/03 Zinc and colds; Viagra and lung disorders
08/02 Hospital error; stress and strokes; pregnancy and depression
07/31 Teen abuse; women and smoking; ovarian cancer
07/30 Medicare; marijuana
07/27 Flu vaccine; melanoma
07/25 OxyContin; women and doctors; psoriasis
07/24 Prostate cancer; West Nile virus; secondhand smoke
07/20 Ecstasy; AIDS therapy; brain shape
07/19 Antibiotics; mad cow; hantavirus
07/18 Breast cancer; smoking and alcohol; Teflon CFCs
07/17 Stem cells; doctor visits; exercise; Lincoln and mercury
07/16 Septuplets; artificial heart progress; bypass surgery; asthma study death
07/12 Mail-order drugs; Synthroid; syphilis; DDT; HIV testing
07/11 Medicare; male contraceptive; heart disease; womb music; cocaine
07/09 Fetal insurance; chocolate; pain relievers; ticks
07/05 C-sections; stroke factors; baby gender selection
07/03 Tamoxifen; antibiotics; mineral supplements
07/02 Drowning; hearing loss; thermometers; home fertility tests
06/28 Mosquitoes; blood; abstinence; flu shots; osteoporosis
06/27 Vegetables; doctor visits; migraines; cancer and diabetes
06/26 Heart disease; breast exams; autism; hospital delays
06/25 ER trips; weight loss; obesity; insulin inhaler
06/22 Cancer drug; damaged sperm; meat and cancer; flu shot
06/21 Mexican-Americans and diabetes; new TB test; the AIDS war; PET
06/20 Race and heart attacks; bubonic plague; childhood trauma; mad cow
06/19 Ferraro's blood cancer; folic acid; breast cancer; treating pain
06/18 Terminal illnesses; fatherhood and hormones
06/15 Pig cells for diabetes; fat tax; aggressive drivers
06/14 Heart attack drugs; vitamin C danger; undermedication
06/12 Lyme disease; TB; teen pregnancy; prescription drugs
06/11 Carpal tunnel syndrome; marijuana and heart attacks
06/07 Measles vaccine for lymphoma; Down syndrome; wine pills
06/05 Cancer deaths down; rating Medicare providers; the Lap Band
06/04 Meningitis outbreak; kids & condoms; kids who snore
05/31 AIDS surge; ritalin & grades; artery-hardening burgers
05/29 HMO errors; unnecessary operations; medication for gambling?