Although still very small, the risk of dying in childbirth is rising in the U.S. Between 2003 and 2004, maternal mortality rates rose from 12 deaths in 100,000 live births to 13 in 100,000 (Fewer than 600 American women giving birth in 2004 died in the process.) Infant mortality is actually more common than death […]
Continue Reading Add comment August 26th, 2007
Several decades ago, doctors routinely told their pregnant patients to gain about 25 pounds but no more than 35 pounds. Today, however, more expectant mothers may already be overweight or obese before conceiving. In these instances, weight gain guidelines should be reduced.
According to the March of Dimes, carrying too much weight while pregnant increases risks […]
Continue Reading Add comment August 17th, 2007
A German study indicates that women at high-risk for breast cancer can benefit from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans by detecting a nonmalignant tumor called ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS). If the pre-cancerous growth is discovered and removed before it becomes malignant, breast cancer could be prevented. Almost all malignant breast cancer is believed to begin […]
Continue Reading Add comment August 11th, 2007
Ovarian cancer is one of the most difficult female cancers to find early. The symptoms are often vague, illusive, or nonexistent until the cancer has spread beyond the ovary and into the abdominal cavity. As a result, only 45% of all women with the disease survive at least five years after diagnosis.
When ovarian cancer is […]
Continue Reading Add comment June 13th, 2007
This month the FDA approved the first birth-control pill designed to stop women’s menstrual periods indefinitely. Lybrel, expected to be on the market by July, is approved for continuous use to prevent pregnancies.
Lybrel can have troubling side effects for some women, especially in its first year of use. About half the women enrolled in the […]
Continue Reading Add comment May 28th, 2007
Many people take vitamin supplements daily, believing they will be healthier in the process. No studies have ever shown a true benefit from taking multivitamins and minerals. Some studies have indicated that vitamin A and iron are toxic at high levels. And Beta-carotene can increase the risk of lung cancer in those who smoke.
Taking vitamins […]
Continue Reading 1 comment May 17th, 2007
Individuals who are of average height appear to receive more protection from air bags than those who are especially short or tall. In a study of over 52,000 drivers and 14,000 drivers involved in crashes from 1995-2000, most weren’t seriously injured when air bags were involved. However, about 2.5% of drivers and 2.6% of passengers […]
Continue Reading Add comment May 16th, 2007
A new test for prostate cancer, believed to be much more accurate than the PSA test, is expected to be approved soon. The test, currently undergoing large-scale clinical trials, measures the blood protein EPCA-2. Not only can it detect prostate cancer more effectively than measurement of prostate specific antigens (PSA), it also can determine the […]
Continue Reading Add comment May 10th, 2007
While some women embrace the concept of eliminating their periods entirely, others are reluctant to take the new pill Lybrel that would in essence eliminate monthly menstrual bleeding entirely. Newer birth control pills already on the market (such as Seasonale) can enable women to have periods just once every three or every four months. Lybrel […]
Continue Reading Add comment May 4th, 2007
The artificial hip is indeed a medical miracle, but the joint replacement surgery usually lasts only 20 years or so. Each year about 300,000 Americans undergo hip joint replacement surgery. As younger patients avail themselves of this type of hip surgery, the problem of “outliving” the joint replacement must be faced.
Middle-aged or younger people with […]
Continue Reading Add comment April 16th, 2007
