Better Care Needed For Dying

If you or someone you know is dying from a terminal illness, there are medications that can make the final months more bearable, and groups that can help provide emotional and spiritual support. But all too often dying patients suffer needlessly, according to a report from the Institute of Medicine, a Washington, D.C-based nonprofit organization. And the reason is a combination of strict laws governing pain-relieving medication, poor education of doctors concerning the treatment of such patients, and a community that has become removed from -- and thus ignorant of -- the process of dying.

Many Cosmetics Clear of Acne Risk

Many cosmetics never deserved a reputation of causing acne, according to a recent report to dermatologists. Improved methods for studying the products' effects on skin show that oil-based cosmetics do not plug the pores and are unlikely to cause acne in adult women. In fact, a recent study in 20 patients found that petrolatum and moisturizing agents might even deserve praise as acne-clearing aids rather than blame as acne villains.

'Smart' Cars Could Save Lives

Imagine yourself pinned in a car after a serious accident, helpless and unable to call for help -- until your new 'smart' car alerts local emergency crews to come to your rescue. The high-tech warning system is called Automated Collision Notification (ACN). Experts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), writing in the current issue of Annals of Emergency Medicine, say the ACN system's goal is to allow "an injured occupant to get medical assistance in the shortest time possible."

Caffeine Not a Risk to Bone

Older women who drink lots of coffee and tea need not worry that caffeine will increase their risk for developing brittle bones due to osteoporosis, researchers say. A new study shows that caffeine intake even greater than 5 cups a day won't adversely affect bone density or cause loss of bone mineral content in women who are beyond menopause.

FDA Seeks Limits On Ephedrine

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing strict limits on the recommended dose of ephedrine, a dietary supplement that is sold over-the-counter for weight loss and to boost energy and athletic performance. The FDA does want to limit the amount of ephedrine in products to an intake of under 8 mg in a 6-hour period, or less than 24 mg per day. For ephedrine products that might tempt consumers to short-term excessive intake, such as those that claim to boost energy, the agency wants the label to include the words, "Taking more than the recommended serving may result in heart attack, stroke, seizure, or death."

Gulf War and Birth Defects

Gulf War veterans are no more likely to have a child with birth defects than military personnel that did not serve in the war, suggests a large new study of nearly 40,000 infants born between 1991 and 1993. The study did find a slight increase in birth defects in children of women who served in the Gulf War, about 1.12 times, or 12% higher, than that seen in other female military personnel. The researchers believe that the finding is not due to some exposure, but may be because the women who served in the Persian Gulf were more likely to be African-American, single and in the Army -- groups that may have been at higher risk of birth defects for other reasons.

When Patients Get Second Best Care

Two physician experts believe compromised healthcare is gaining wider acceptance as doctors try to justify cheaper means of treatment for those under their care. "The reality is that clinical services believed to be beneficial are limited (by physicians) because those services are seen as too costly," say Drs. David Asch and Peter Ubel of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. They published a "sounding board" essay on the subject in the current issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Shots for Sciatica Questioned

Corticosteroid shots for leg pain from a slipped disc in the lower back may offer some relief in the short run, but are ineffective after a few months, a new study shows. The widely used spinal injections also seem to be of little value for sciatica patients seeking to reduce the need for back surgery to correct their disc problem.

Drugs vs. Angioplasty Debate

When a patient comes to the hospital in the throes of a heart attack, either clot-dissolving drugs or artery-clearing angioplasty can be used to restore blood flow to the heart. And in some cases, angioplasty, a procedure in which a balloon-tipped catheter is used to clear fatty plaques from coronary arteries, may be a better choice, according to a report in The New England Journal of Medicine.

< Back > < Contents >  < Home >