Category: news-perspectives

A common blood pressure medicine may also help people with leg pain from clogged arteries, a new study suggests. The study included 212 people with peripheral artery disease. People with this condition have plaque inside the arteries in the legs. This narrows the channel where blood flows. A common symptom is pain in the legs while walking. People were randomly assigned to receive either ramipril or a placebo (fake pills). Ramipril is a type of blood pressure medicine called an ACE inhibitor. These drugs lower blood pressure partly by making blood vessels wider. People were given a treadmill test at the start of the study. After taking ramipril for 6 months, people were able to walk more than 4 minutes longer. There was little change (about 21 seconds) for those taking the placebo.

Women who have only the lump removed in early-stage breast cancer may have better survival rates than women who get a mastectomy, a study suggests. Researchers looked at records for more than 112,000 women. All of them had early breast cancer, Stage I or II. Most women with early breast cancer can have the lump removed (lumpectomy) instead of the whole breast (mastectomy). In the study, 55% chose lumpectomy, followed by radiation. The others had mastectomies. Researchers kept track of the women for a median of 9 years. Half were followed for a longer time, and half for less time. More than 31,000 women died during follow-up. About 40% of the deaths were from breast cancer. Women who had a lumpectomy and radiation were more likely to survive than those who had mastectomies. The difference was greatest for women over 50 with a type of cancer that grows in response to hormones.

Men — but not women — who take calcium pills may face a higher risk of dying from heart disease, a new study suggests. The study looked at data on 388,000 men and women. They were part of a study on diet and health. They were 50 to 71 years old when the study began in 1995. Researchers kept track of people for an average of 12 years. In that time, about 7,900 men and 4,000 women died of heart disease or stroke. Of this group, 51% of men and 70% of women were taking calcium pills. Researchers calculated that men taking 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily had a 20% increased risk of heart-disease death. There was no increase in risk for women who were taking calcium pills. Calcium obtained from food or drinks did not affect death risk for men or women. The study could not show whether taking calcium pills actually caused the increased risk. Researchers said more study was needed.

A new report in a medical journal looks at some common beliefs about obesity and weight loss, and finds them a little thin on proof. Among the obesity myths is the one about sex burning 100 to 300 calories. Since it lasts about 6 minutes, on average, that total is way too high, the authors say. They also say it’s not true that small changes over time lead to a large weight loss. The body’s energy needs will change, so you’ll lose less than you expect. School gym classes also don’t reduce obesity because they are too short or not intense enough. It’s also a myth that losing weight slowly is better than losing a lot fast, the authors say. Research shows that people who take the slow approach often lose less in the long run. The New England Journal of Medicine published the study. The Associated Press (AP) wrote about it January 31.

For people with heart disease, having a big waist may be worse than having a high overall weight, a new study suggests. The study put together numbers from 5 earlier studies. Everyone in the studies had coronary artery disease, a narrowing inside the arteries of the heart. The studies included about 15,000 people. Their average age was 66. Researchers measured their body mass index (BMI), a measurement of weight compared with height. They also measured waist-to-hip ratio. This is equal to waist size divided by hip size. Doctors use this measurement to estimate belly fat. Researchers kept track of people for about 5 years. In that time, nearly 4,700 died. People who had a normal BMI but a larger waist were 27% more likely to die than people who were obese but carried less weight in the belly. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology published the study.

Not nearly enough U.S. adults are getting recommended vaccines, health officials say. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the new estimates. They are based on a national survey taken in 2011. Adult vaccines protect those who get them. They also help to protect people’s close contacts, including children. The pneumococcal vaccine protects against some forms of pneumonia, meningitis and blood infections. It’s recommended for people ages 65 and older. About 62% had received this vaccine, the CDC said. The Tdap vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). Vaccination rates were up in 2011. But still only 13% of adults had ever received this shot. Another type of tetanus shot is also given, but it does not protect against whooping cough. Cases of whooping cough have greatly increased in recent years.

Erectile dysfunction could be a sign of early heart disease, says an Australian study. The study found that men with severe erection problems had nearly twice the risk of early death as men who had no erection problems. Men with erection problems also had higher risks of heart attack, heart failure and other heart-related problems. The study included data from 95,000 men. It is the largest study to look at the link between erection problems and heart disease. Erection problems are common. About 1 in 5 men over the age of 40 say they have moderate to severe problems maintaining an erection. The study was published January 29 in the journal PLoS Medicine. The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, as well as several other newspapers, wrote about it January 30.

Kidney damage can occur in children taking common drugs for fever and pain relief, a study finds. Researchers looked at records for about 1,000 cases of kidney damage treated at a children’s hospital. In about 3% of cases, the damage was related to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). About two-thirds of these children had been using the common drug ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others). Other NSAIDs include naproxen (Aleve) and ketorolac (Toradol). Most of the children had been taking normal doses for a week or less. Most of them also were dehydrated. They did not have normal amounts of fluid in their bodies. Many had lost fluids through vomiting and diarrhea, as well as not drinking enough. The kidneys have a way to protect themselves from damage when the body becomes dehydrated. But researchers said the NSAIDs interfere with this protection.

A man pulls off a condom during sex, or threatens a woman so she’ll get an abortion. These are examples of “reproductive coercion,” a major group of doctors for women says. The new statement comes from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Preventing a woman from making choices about birth control and pregnancy is a form of abuse, ACOG says. It says doctors should look out for such abuse and help patients avoid it. The statement cites a study of teens in abusive relationships. About 25% reported “birth control sabotage.” So did 15% of physically abused women. Examples include destroying birth control pills or forcing a woman to have unprotected sex. Some men have even pulled out intrauterine devices (IUDs) and vaginal rings, ACOG says. The group urges doctors to screen patients and refer those who are abused to counseling.

Two new studies suggest that about 1 patient out of 5 returns within 30 days after a hospital stay. One study examined 4 million hospital stays. About 18% of patients came back within a month after their hospital stay. About 40% of them went to the emergency room only. The others were admitted again. A second study looked at 3 million hospital stays by Medicare patients. Among those who were admitted for heart failure, nearly 25% were admitted again within 30 days. Almost 20% of those with heart attacks came back. So did 18% of those with pneumonia. Most people were admitted the second time for a different problem. The author of this second study said a long hospital stay can increase people’s risk of illness or injury soon afterward. Some reasons include poor sleep in the hospitals or weaker muscles from bed rest.