USA TODAY articles from February 2002

USA TODAY archives from February 2002

Herbal remedies pose health threats. (Alternative Medicine).(possible complications with surgical anesthesia)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Two independent studies conducted by anesthesiologists are providing some of the first evidence specifically associated with surgical complications and the prolonged use or sudden discontinuation of "alternative" medicines. Often available over...

Myths & facts. (Dietary Supplements).(Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act 1994, United States)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... With mounting evidence that consumers want greater access to information about vitamins, minerals, herbs, and specialty supplements, the dietary supplement industry has launched a far-reaching public education campaign to focus on the health...

Health beat.(various)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Male breast cancer is rare, but 400 men die each year from it, indicates Ward Parsons, associate professor of radiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Men who have a family history of breast cancer in female...

Do-it-yourself bleaching kits can cause problems. (Teeth).(dental care)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... People who want to brighten their smiles are opting for over-the-counter bleaching kits instead of visiting their dentist's office. While generally safe, these products have the potential to cause an infection or nerve damage, warns David...

Black youths not getting enough calcium. (Nutrition).(osteoporosis prevention)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Most African-American teenagers aren't thinking about their bones, but the National Medical Association, the professional organization of African-American physicians, thinks they should. It is launching a new calcium education campaign to teach...

Weight, not aging, may cause fatigue. (Fitness).(during exercising)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... If activities leave you more tired than in the past, don't be too quick to blame your age. Weight gain and a lack of regular exercise might turn out to be the real culprits. "People often blame their age for slowing down in activities such...

Children's sports injuries can be prevented. (Trauma).(preparticipation physical examinations and age appropriate exercise)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Each year, more than 1,400,000 youth under 15 are treated in doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals, or emergency rooms for injuries related to basketball, football, baseball, hockey, and soccer, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons...

Seniors can fight foot pain. (Aging).(bunion, heel bone care)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Senior citizens with foot pain can do something about it. Instead of abiding by the faulty, but commonly accepted, notion that muscle and joint discomfort is a natural consequence of aging, they could seek treatment, rather than needlessly...

Helping runners to avoid physical problems. (Feet).(The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Long-distance runners and casual joggers can improve their performance by keeping their feet in top condition and taking steps to control foot problems common in runners, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS)....

Right shoe can protect Achilles tendon. (Sports Injuries).(prevent injuries)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Athletes who experience painful Achilles tendon injuries could prevent them by being more careful when selecting athletic shoes, according to Michael K. Lowe, a foot and ankle surgeon in Salt Lake City, Utah, and team podiatrist for the NBA's...

Helping new mothers reduce injury risk. (Back).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Although 40-50% of pregnant women initially complain of back pain, it usually resolves within a week or two of delivery. However, their chance of having it again increases after the baby is born. Back pain can result whenever you lift or carry...

Mom was right--stand up straight. (Posture).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Remember your mother poking you in the back and admonishing you to stand up straight? Well, it turns out Mom knew best. According to the Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, bad posture doesn't just make you look dumpy, it can lead to serious...

Men and women are built differently. (Orthopedics).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... For several years, researchers have been investigating the differences between men and women when it comes to their musculoskeletal structures. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, female athletes are four to six times...

Performing artists may face debilitating injury. (Repetitive Stress).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The rigors encountered by performing artists are similar to those endured by professional athletes. They each undertake a vigorous regimen of training and conditioning. "Musicians and other performing artists are exposed to tremendous amounts...

New guidelines for at-risk women. (Cholesterol).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... If, at last count, your level of HDL (good) cholesterol was 35 milligrams per deciliter, you probably were told that it was fine. You may hear a different story the next time you visit your doctor, however. According to the Mayo Clinic Women's...

How "good" cholesterol protects arteries. (Circulatory System).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Scientists at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas have discovered that high-density lipoprotein (HDL)--the "good cholesterol"--triggers a process that keeps arteries clean and flexible. This, researchers believe, could...

Nontraditional uses for Botox. (Plastic Surgery).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Botox, a purified, botulinum A toxin used to block nerve impulses and temporarily paralyze muscles that cause wrinkles, is safe and effective for nontraditional uses in facial rejuvenation, according to a study co-authored by Alan Matarasso,...

Microdermabrasion effective for resurfacing. (Skin).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Microdermabrasion, a skin-resurfacing technique, is effective and safe to improve the appearance of aged skin, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The technique is popular with both men and women and was performed on 870,000...

Periodontal disease and pregnant diabetics. (Mouth).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Pregnant diabetics have more gingival inflammation and deeper pockets between their teeth and gums, which are symptoms of periodontal disease, than nondiabetic pregnant women, a study at the University of Iowa's Colleges of Dentistry and...

Skin replacement offers victims hope. (Burns).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Recovering from the aftermath of burn injuries can be faster and less painful, thanks to a new skin replacement treatment, notes Rajiv Sood, associate professor of plastic surgery, Indiana Medical University, Indianapolis. Burn victims often...

Skin and muscle transfers salvage limbs. (Diabetes).(medicine)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Using skin or muscle from different areas of the body can prevent lower extremity amputations in diabetic patients. "Fifty to 70% of all leg amputations result from diabetes." indicates Norman Weinzweig, associate professor of plastic and...

Nitric acid may have therapeutic effect. (Sickle Cell Anemia).(American Society of Anesthesiologists)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Nitric oxide (NO) gas, considered an environmental pollutant in large quantities, one day may help people with sickle cell disease, predicts C. Alvin Head, an anesthesiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. The disease affects an...

Herpes infections can be tamed. (Viruses).(medicine)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... If you don't have a herpes virus somewhere in your body, consider yourself lucky. You are one of few people to escape this pesky bug, according to the Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, which reports that 135,000,000 Americans age 12 and older...

Safer drugs reduce need for narcotics. (Pain Prevention).(post-surgery drug therapy developments)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... An injectable form of acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) and a member of a new class of drugs called COX-2 inhibitors hold promise as safe and effective tools for controlling surgical pain, according to the American Society of...

Americans flocking to Mexico for pharmaceuticals. (Medication).(missing Food and Drug Administration standards)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... As many as 40% of U.S. residents who enter Mexico this year will return home with a souvenir of their visit--a prescription drug that has not met U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety standards. While the majority may experience no ill...

Fighting diseases with microchips. (Biomedicine).(analgesics research)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Treatment for life-threatening diseases and relief from disease-related pain one day may be supplied by microscopic chips that could be implanted in the body, according to researchers in the new field of biomedical nanotechnology. The...

Helping survivors restore their sex lives. (Cancer).(post-cancer treatment women)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Feminine cancers--which involve the endometrium, ovaries, and cervix--are ranked fourth in prevalence among women (after breast, colon, and lung cancers). Although many of today's treatments--hysterectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy--can...

Microsurgical nerve grafts restore potency. (Prostate Cancer).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Men who have had their prostate gland removed (prostatectomy) due to cancer can still maintain their sexual function through microsurgical nerve grafting, according to a study at Baylor University School of Medicine, Houston, Tex. As many as...

Reducing pain without impairing image quality. (Mammography).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Woman's Touch MammoPad, designed by breast surgeon Gail Lebovic and manufactured by Bio-Lucent, Inc., Aliso Viejo, Calif., is a soft, foam cushion made of radiolucent material. It has been clinically proven to reduce the pain many women...

New method could help reduce breast biopsies. (Imaging).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... One day, doctors may be able to diagnose breast cancer with better accuracy using an imaging method being developed at Ohio State University, Columbus. The procedure, which involves computerized analysis of magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of...

Extra weight adds cancer risk. (Obesity).
February 1, 2002... Researchers at the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) warn that carrying extra weight means carrying extra cancer risk. Moreover, the nation's current epidemic of overweight and obesity is likely to drive up cancer rates in coming...

Erectile dysfunction may indicate other disorders. (Urology).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... It is important for physicians in general and cardiologists in particular to identify men with erectile dysfunction (ED) and, if necessary, encourage them to seek treatment, according to Lawrence Levine, a urologist at Rush-Presbyterian-St....

Who is at high risk for apnea? (Sleep).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Researchers reported at the American Thoracic Society 2001 International Conference that about one-third of primary care patients in the U.S. and Europe have risk factors for sleep apnea, a disorder in which a person stops breathing during...

Chronic abuse changes brain's programming. (Alcoholism).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Like a computer virus that is eating away software, chronic alcohol abuse can change the programming of critical areas of the human brain on the molecular level, researchers at The University of Texas at Austin warn. R. Adron Harris, director...

Top 10 healthy home trends for 2010. (The Future).
February 1, 2002... Should we be walking around our homes wearing blue decontamination suits? Not quite yet, but the health of our homes will be a challenge at the forefront of technology in the coming years. Nasty spores, mites, and bacteria may fall victim to an...

Airway problems can be avoided. (Anesthesiology).(important to report condition "difficult airway" upon surgery)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... As many as 2,000,000 surgical patients will learn this year that they have a medical condition that could make their surgical and anesthesia care more risky. Yet, when having a second surgery, many of these same patients fail to report this...

New approach to hip replacement. (Surgery).(surgical innovation)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A new approach to hip replacement surgery done through a few small portals instead of a large, 12-to-18-inch incision used in traditional hip replacement surgery, dramatically reduces time in the hospital, pain, and expenses. Because it...

Be ready for the unexpected. (Emergency Care).(family guidelines)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... When it comes to your health and the health of your family, it is essential to be ready for the unexpected. Emergencies can happen anytime or anywhere. That's why the Council on Family Health (CFH) is providing the public with some basic tips...

Computer simulation can aid sore joints. (Technology).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Many of us will face pain and swelling caused by osteoarthritis, the natural wear and tear on our joints as we age. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., are developing computer models of joints that could lead to a...