Harvard Health Content API

Americans are living longer because of cleaner air, a new study finds. Researchers looked at the years 1978 through 2001. In that time, average lifespan rose by almost three years. Particulates in the air decreased by about one-third. Researchers looked at data from 51 cities. They adjusted the numbers for other things that could have increased lifespan. For example, smoking rates have decreased. They concluded that reduced pollution accounted for nearly five months of the longer lifespan. The study was in the New England Journal of Medicine. The Associated Press wrote about it January 22.

Most people with asthma don’t get flu shots, a U.S. government survey has found. Health officials advise flu vaccination for everyone with asthma. But in the 2005-06 flu season, only 36.2% of people with asthma got vaccinated. HealthDay News wrote about the survey June 20. It appeared in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Public health officials said they have found the source of a Texas outbreak of whooping cough (pertussis) in 2004. It was a hospital worker who had whooping cough symptoms around that time. She worked in a newborn nursery. She cared for 11 newborns who developed whooping cough a few weeks later. Nine of the sick babies were admitted to hospitals. Children are vaccinated against whooping cough. But health care workers and adults in close contact with babies should get a booster, health officials said. The shot is called Tdap. Reuters Health news service wrote about the study June 5.

Many groups are urging routine screening tests for cancer. But most tests have not been proven to save lives, the New York Times reported July 17. A new advertising campaign promotes exams for thyroid cancer. But this cancer is rare and usually grows slowly. A member of Congress is seeking funding to promote breast cancer detection in young women. But mammograms don’t detect cancer as well in young women. Also, few young women get breast cancer. Screening tests also can cause harm, experts told the Times. People may get biopsies they don’t need. They may get surgery for cancers that would never harm them. They may get so tired of tests that they ignore real symptoms later on.

When it comes to weight loss, the type of diet a person follows is not as important as counting calories. Researchers assigned 811 people to one of four diets. Each diet had different levels of fat, protein, and carbohydrate. After two years, the people in each group had lost about the same amount of weight. The Associated Press reported on the study Feb. 26, the same day it appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine.

A new report questions the cost-effectiveness of a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer when used in women in their 20s. The vaccine works against the human papilloma virus. It costs about $375. Because the virus spreads through sex, health officials say it works best when given to girls ages 11 to 12, before they begin having sex. Some doctors offer the shot to women in their 20s. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health conducted the study. The report was published August 21 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

A group of experts says most people over age 75 do not need routine tests for colon cancer. The advice is part of a report from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. This independent group offers advice to doctors on preventive care and testing. The new report was published November 4 in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. It also says there’s still not enough proof that two new tests for colon cancer are effective. The tests are CT colonoscopy, also called “virtual colonoscopy,” and DNA stool tests.

If you have asthma, cleaning can make you sick, suggests a new study. The study included 25 women with asthma and 19 without the disease. After cleaning, both groups of women had some sort of breathing problem. But the problems were more severe in women with asthma. Researchers said it may be the chemicals in cleaning products that made asthma symptoms worse. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and other breathing problems. The study appeared in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Reuters Health wrote about it January 29.

Certain bacteria added to milk may reduce fevers and colds in children, a study found. The study included 326 children, ages 3 to 5. They were randomly divided into three groups. One received milk plus a placebo (sugar) twice a day. Another group got milk with Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria added. The third group drank milk with these bacteria plus another type, Bifidobacterium animalis. These bacteria are also found naturally in the body. They are called probiotics. The study lasted from November to May. In that time, the group that got the placebo had 66 fevers. There were only 31 in the Lactobacillus group, and 18 in the group that got two probiotics. The probiotic groups also had fewer coughs and runny noses. The study appeared in the journal Pediatrics. Reuters Health news service wrote about it July 27.

Electrodes implanted in the brain can help control Parkinson’s disease symptoms. But they also may lead to side effects, a study has found. The study included 255 people with advanced Parkinson’s disease. They were assigned to receive either the “brain pacemaker” or medicine alone. After 6 months, 7 out of 10 people in the pacemaker group could move better. That’s more than double the improvement in the medicine group. People with pacemakers gained about 5 hours a day of good quality movement. But 4 out of 10 had side effects, including falls with injuries. The study was in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The Associated Press wrote about it January 7.