space
Cox Health.  No One Knows You Better
space
Cox Health.  No One Knows You Better
space
space space space

Find a Physician/Clinic | Services | Calendar | Careers | Contact Us | Site Map | Home

space

SEARCH
space

advanced search
space

Health News Feature Archive
Health News Feature Archive

Health News Feature Archive
Past weekly news feature articles on health topics.

2004 - 2005 Health News Feature Archive

View the 2001- 2002 archive

   

Diabetics Can Have Sweets, But Only in Moderate Amounts

April 25, 2005

Many diabetics are conditioned to see candy the way vampires view garlic. But patients with a sweet tooth shouldn't automatically shrink from candy, cake or cookies.

Diabetics Can Have Sweets, But Only in Moderate Amounts

 

Sleep Deprivation Reaches Epidemic Proportions

April 18, 2005

Millions of Americans are getting fewer than the recommended seven to nine hours of shut-eye they need each night, causing irritable behavior, concentration problems and daytime drowsiness.

Sleep Deprivation Reaches Epidemic Proporations

 

New Anti-Clotting Drugs Not Yet the 'Magic Bullet'

April 11, 2005

Anti-coagulants are prescribed to millions of people to treat and prevent the life-threatening effects of a clot blocking a blood vessel.

New Anti-Clotting Drugs Not Yet the 'Magic Bullet'

 

Know the Enemy: Protecting Against Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac

April 4, 2005

Spring, the season of rebirth, is often associated with gardening and yard work: the appearance of flowers, vegetables, grass, shrubbery, and� poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.

Know the Enemy: Protecting Against Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac

 

Controlling Sinus and Allergy Problems Cuts
Asthma Risk

March 28, 2005

The arrival of allergy season may be a time to consider whether your sneezing and wheezing is becoming more serious than a temporary discomfort, caused by allergens in the air or on the ground.

Controlling Sinus and Allergy Problems Cuts Asthma Risk

 

Shin Splints Come From Too Much Exercise, Too Soon

March 21, 2005

Vows to exercise spring eternal this time of year, as many people set out to shed the extra pounds they gained during winter.

Shin Splints Come From Too Much Exercise, Too Soon

 

Has Tamoxifen Been Usurped As The Breast Cancer Drug?

March 14, 2005

Tamoxifen's long reign as the queen of breast-cancer treatments is being challenged by three heiress presumptives -- drugs known as aromatase inhibitors.

Has Tamoxifen Been Usurped As The Breast Cancer Drug?

 

Virtual Reality Eases the Experience of Dentistry, Burns, Even Cancer Care

March 7, 2005

Minnesota dentist Dr. Kimberly Harms admits that, like many of her patients, she's "chicken" when it comes to getting her own teeth drilled and filled.

Virtual Reality Eases the Experience of Dentistry, Burns, Even Cancer Care

 

All About Grapefruit, the ‘Two-Faced’ Citrus Fruit

February 28, 2005

One day in 1989 a Canadian medical scientist, a former world-class runner, was noodling around in his laboratory when he made a stunning accidental discovery, one that is still reverberating today in the world of pharmacology.

All About Grapefruit, the 'Two-Faced' Citrus Fruit

 

Facing Up to the Menace of Hypertension

February 21, 2005

�Blood pressure�—arguably the two most important words in medicine.

Facing Up to the Menace of Hypertension

 

Pacemaker's Valuable Uses Extending Beyond the Heart

February 14, 2005

Nearly a half-century old, the cardiac pacemaker just keeps on ticking, pepping up desultory hearts quietly and efficiently.

Pacemaker's Valuable Uses Extending Beyond the Heart

 

C-Section or Vaginal Birth: Does One Preclude the Other?

February 7, 2005

Having a baby is always full of fateful decisions. One is whether to have an elective cesarean section.

C-Section or Vaginal Birth: Does One Preclude the Other?

 

For Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Therapy Is Far From a Sure Bet

January 31, 2005

As we entered 2005, the good news about age-related macular degeneration was that researchers were still attempting to find a successful treatment for this condition that's the leading cause of vision loss in the elderly.

For Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Therapy Is Far From a Sure Bet

 

Despite Increased Health Risks, HRT May Still Be Useful

January 24, 2005

Few bubbles burst with such apparent finality as long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) did in the summer of 2002. After many years of study and analysis, researchers determined that HRT, at the very least, increased a post-menopausal woman's risk for a variety of ailments, including heart disease.

Despite Increased Health Risks, HRT May Still Be Useful

 

Hidden Brain Damage Linked to Migraine Attacks

January 17, 2005

The more we learn about migraine headaches, the less we seem to know. The fact that there are improved medicines for treating the pain of migraine or preventing attacks would seem to be comforting. Yet, a series of small studies has led to a bubbling debate over whether migraine may be considerably more than a significantly painful experience, at least for some patients.

Hidden Brain Damage Linked to Migraine Attacks

 

Minimally Invasive Surgery Driven by Consumer Demand

January 10, 2005

Not so long ago, a torn ligament in the knee, or even a frayed cartilage, was a nightmare scenario for a patient, fraught with the prospect of open surgery, followed by painful recovery and rehab lasting many months. Knees were generally never the same afterward.

Minimally Invasive Surgery Driven by Consumer Demand

 

Too Much on New Year's Eve? The Only Hangover Cure is Time

January 3, 2005

Now that New Year's Eve has come and gone, did the seductive social draw of drinking and celebrating overwhelm your good sense?

Too Much on New Year's Eve? The Only Hangover Cure is Time

 

Despite Possible Vaccine, Don't Say Goodbye to the Pap Test Yet

December 27, 2004

The day of the Pap test may be drawing to a close�but not quite yet.

Despite Possible Vaccine, Don't Say Goodbye to the Pap Test Yet

 

GERD, By Any Other Name, Is Still a Troublesome Condition

December 20, 2004

It was once known as acid indigestion, or heartburn or upset stomach. It was remedied by a couple of Tums—or maybe just a small glass of ginger ale.

GERD, By Any Other Name, Is Still a Troublesome Condition

 

Steroid Dangers May Outweigh Performance Boost

December 13, 2004

As major league baseball owners and players' union leaders struggle with an escalating scandal involving performance-enhancing steroids, scientists are exploring the potential dangers these drugs may hold.

Steroid Dangers May Outweigh Performance Boost

 

Tele-health Care Goes Wireless for Home Monitoring

December 6, 2004

In the beginning, personal wellness monitoring meant the bathroom scale and the mercury thermometer. Then they went electronic, and home blood-pressure devices became common.

Tele-health Care Goes Wireless for Home Monitoring

 

Keeping Those Holiday Blues at Bay

November 29, 2004

" 'Tis the season to be jolly." "Make the yuletide bright." "From now on, your troubles will be out of sight."

Keeping Those Holiday Blues at Bay

 

Chocolate is Awfully Handy, and It's Much More Than Candy

November 22, 2004

There's something about chocolate, something beyond tactile taste that is indefinable, ineffable, and inexpressible.

Chocolate is Awfully Handy, and It's Much More Than Candy

 

Multi-tasking: A Drug's Original Use Only the Starting Point

November 15, 2004

To paraphrase Forrest Gump: �Sometimes, medicine is like a box of chocolates � you never know what you're going to get.�

Multi-tasking: A Drug's Original Use Only the Starting Point

 

It's Not Just Baby Fat: Teen Obesity Linked to Serious Disease

November 7, 2004

Large numbers of teenagers may be setting themselves up for early heart disease because of a condition that was scarcely known when their parents were young. And heart disease is only one of the potential problems they may have prematurely from this condition.

It's Not Just Baby Fat: Teen Obesity Linked to Serious Disease

 

Treatments Start to Work as Fibromyalgia's Mystery Vanishes

November 1, 2004

Once considered by traditional medical practitioners as a phantom illness, fibromyalgia is not only acceptable as a diagnosable illness, it is also one that researchers are finding more complicated as new information emerges.

Treatments Start to Work as Fibromyalgia's Mystery Vanishes

 

More Evidence Fatty Acids Need a Balancing Act

October 25, 2004

Whether you've been counting carbs, calories or fat grams, you can help your body by paying attention to what are known as fatty acids — specifically, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These essential chemicals can't be manufactured by the human body, so they must be obtained from dietary sources or supplements.

More Evidence Fatty Acids Need a Balancing Act

 

Don't Be Too Quick with Antiobiotics for Your Child's Earache

October 18, 2004

Your toddler's been up half the night, crying and pulling on his ear, and by now you know the routine. Call the doctor, get an antibiotic prescription, go to the pharmacy and get him on the road to recovery from that ear infection.

Don't Be Too Quick with Antiobiotics for Your Child's Earache

 

New HRT Report Recommends Limited Estrogen Use

October 11, 2004

While it doesn't dispute the major findings that some forms of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for post-menopausal women can be dangerous, a report from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says that some variations of short-term use can be effective and safe.

New HRT Report Recommends Limited Estrogen Use

 

The Key to Physical Fitness: Stamina and Attitude

October 4, 2004

Even though they may spend years as couch potatoes, many Americans expect to regain their former fitness levels as soon as they start a rigorous exercise or physical activity regimen.

The Key to Physical Fitness: Stamina and Attitude

 

If You Had it As a Child, You Might Get it Again...

September 27, 2004

Like the sequel to a bad movie, some medical conditions can show up years after an initial infection or injury. Many of them are every bit as bad—or worse—the second time around.

If You Had it As a Child, You Might Get it Again...

 

Even with Antibiotics, Strep Infection is Still Dangerous

September 20, 2004

Streptococcus, or �strep� as it's more commonly known, is one of the most familiar medical terms in America. In fact, it's so widely known that some physicians fear the public isn't giving it the attention it deserves.

Even with Antibiotics, Strep Infection is Still Dangerous

 

As Common Cold Season Approaches, the Old Standbys Still Work

September 13, 2004

Determined this cold season to nip your sneezing, runny nose and scratchy throat in the bud before those nasty respiratory symptoms sideline you?

As Common Cold Season Approaches, the Old Standbys Still Work

 

Is America's No. 1 Killer Cancer Under-Publicized and Under-Funded?

September 6, 2004

More people in the United States die from lung cancer each year than die of breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer combined.

Is America's No. 1 Killer Cancer Under-Publicized and Under-Funded?

 

Breast Cancer Detection Advances Pose New Questions

August 30, 2004

Compelling evidence that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound can detect even the smallest tumors has many women wondering if the screening mammograms their doctors recommend still represent their best option for finding breast malignancies at an early stage.

Breast Cancer Detection Advances Pose New Questions

 

   

How to Quit Smoking? There’s No Single Way

August 16, 2004

In the never-ending quest to help Americans stop smoking, experts are honing in on customized programs for groups of people with common problems or similar lifestyles.

How to Quit Smoking? There’s No Single Way

 

Statins Seek Expanded Territory in Heart Attack Prevention

August 9, 2004

Heart attack prevention has just taken another step with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's go-ahead for one of the nation's best-selling cholesterol-lowering drugs to be used by people whose cholesterol levels are not elevated.

Statins Seek Expanded Territory in Heart Attack Prevention

 

New Treatments Make Prostate Cancer Patients’ Future Brighter

August 2, 2004

According to the U.S. government’s National Institutes of Health, advances in diagnosing and treating the disease are tied to a dramatically improved overall prognosis for prostate cancer patients. Survival rates for patients at all stages of the disease are now nearing 97 percent.

New treatments make prostate cancer patients’ future brighter

 

West Nile Virus Heads Southwest, with a Few Cases in the East and Midwest

July 19, 2004

As if the usual seasonal afflictions like heatstroke and bee stings aren’t worrisome enough, now there’s West Nile virus to contend with. According to some experts, it looks like the Southwestern states may be particularly hard hit this year.

West Nile virus heads Southwest, with a few cases in the East and Midwest

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis Takes it Out of You in More Ways Than One

June 21, 2004

The myths and misunderstandings about Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) are among the most difficult aspects of this serious and often lifelong disorder for mental health professionals to manage.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Takes it Out of You in More Ways Than One

 

ADHD: Serious, Persistent, But Treatable In Children
and Adults

June 14, 2004

The myths and misunderstandings about Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) are among the most difficult aspects of this serious and often lifelong disorder for mental health professionals to manage.

ADHD: Serious, Persistent, But Treatable In Children & Adults

 

Does the Medicare Discount Drug Card Save You any Money?

June 7, 2004

It's the burning question on every senior citizen's lips: Should I sign up for a Medicare drug discount card?

Does the Medicare discount drug card save you any money?

 

How Well does Angioplasty Work?

May 31, 2004

Heart specialists perform an estimated 1.2 million angioplasty procedures each year, according to the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. But are they all necessary? Learn more, in this week's feature story.

How well does angioplasty work?

 

New Parkinson’s Drug Brings New Measure of Control

May 24, 2004

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval to the drug Apokyn (apomorphine) last month. This brings yet another source of relief to those who suffer from the debilitating malady known as Parkinson’s disease. Apokyn treats periods of immobility that affect some people with Parkinson's disease.

New Parkinson’s Drug Brings New Measure of Control

 

Searching for the "Perfect" Sleep Aid

May 17, 2004

Approximately 70 million Americans have some form of sleep disorder, according to the National Sleep Foundation. But some critics argue that drug makers have largely created the market for sleep aids, and that people don't need medication to overcome insomnia. Learn more, in this week's feature story.

Searching for the ‘Perfect’ Sleep Aid

 

Gearing Up for Flu Season 2004-2005

May 10, 2004

With the 2003-2004 flu season fading into the rear view mirror, health officials have already begun making preparations for the upcoming season. One thing seems almost certain: Many more people than ever before will be lining up to get vaccinated.

Gearing Up for Flu Season 2004-2005

 

Understanding Asthma’s "Roots" May Help in Treatment

May 3, 2004

Immunologist are increasingly coming to understand asthma as a genetic disorder - at least, in its beginnings. Learn more, in this week's feature story.

Understanding Asthma’s ‘Roots’ May Help in Treatment

 

New Test Will Help Determine When Antibiotics Are Needed

April 19, 2004

One of the most pressing problems in infection care is the overuse of antibiotics. The misuse of antibiotics isn't intentional, but rather a response to not knowing the source of infections. Now, a simple blood test can help determine which patients require antibiotics.

New Test Will Help Determine When Antibiotics Are Needed

 

Scientists Zeroing in on "Inherited" Cancers

April 12, 2004

Cancer experts believe that between 5 percent and 10 percent of cancers are the results of single genes that have gone awry that get transmitted across generations. These "susceptibility genes" put a person at substantially greater risk of developing cancer in specific organs.

Scientists Zeroing in on ‘Inherited’ Cancers

 

Researchers Identify Four Different Kinds of Asthma

April 5, 2004

Scientists have found that symptoms among people with asthma depend upon when they were diagnosed with the condition and whether they have white blood cells called eosinophils in their bloodstream. With these new classifications, doctors hope to develop more effective asthma medications.

Researchers Identify Four Different Kinds of Asthma

 

U.S. Begins to Test First New TB Vaccine in 60 Years

March 29, 2004

During the 1940s scientists discovered a vaccine for tuberculosis (TB), a dangerous infection. Although the number of TB cases dropped rapidly in the 1940s and 1950s after the introduction of the TB vaccine, the number of TB cases in the United States began to rise again during the mid-1980s. Today, TB is a leading killer of young adults worldwide.

U.S. Begins to Test First New TB Vaccine in 60 Years

 

Most People with Diabetes Do Not Make Recommended Lifestyle Changes

March 15, 2004

For some people, being diagnosed with diabetes is a wake-up call that encourages to eat healthier, lose weight, and exercise regularly. But a recent study has found that most people diagnosed with diabetes don't take crucial steps to make positive changes that could reduce the risk for complications of diabetes. Learn more in this week’s Health News.

Most People with Diabetes Do Not Make Recommended Lifestyle Changes

 

For Teens, It's Often Not Just Rewards

March 8, 2004

Teenage behavior can leave parents shaking their heads and wondering what could possibly be motivating their adolescent's actions. It turns out it actually takes quite a bit to motivate a teen, because the reward center in an adolescent's brain isn't fully developed and isn't as responsive as the reward center in adults. Learn more in this week’s Health News.

For Teens, It's Often Not Just Rewards

 

Researchers Identify Four Different Kinds of Asthma

March 1, 2004

Scientists have found that symptoms among people with asthma depend upon when they were diagnosed with the condition and whether they have white blood cells called eosinophils in their bloodstream. With these new classifications, doctors hope to develop more effective asthma medications. Learn more in this week’s Health News.

Researchers Identify Four Different Kinds of Asthma

 

Preventing a Pandemic: Understanding Avian Influenza

February 22, 2004

A particularly dangerous strain of avian influenza—a virus that affects mainly birds and ducks—has been found in several Asian countries this winter. Health officials are concerned that the virus could spread to people, whose immune system would be susceptible to a new form of the flu. Read this Health News to learn more about avian influenza and how you can protect you and your family.

Preventing a Pandemic: Understanding Avian Influenza

 

Drug-resistant Salmonella Bacterial Infection is on the Rise

February 16, 2004

A powerful strain of Salmonella, a common bacteria, has become resistant to antibacterial medications during the past five years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Learn how antibiotics work – and how you can prevent bacterial infection – in this week’s Health News.

Drug-resistant Salmonella Bacterial Infection is on the Rise

 

Women: Breaking Up Is Hard for Your Heart … and Your Mental Health

February 9, 2004

A recent study found that women take longer to recover from a breakup than men. Researchers also discovered that men were less anxious and depressed when they were living with their partner; women had better mental health when married. Find out more about this study – and how you can tell whether you might be depressed after a breakup – in this week’s Health News.

Women: Breaking Up Is Hard for Your Heart … and Your Mental Health

 

FDA Bans Ephedra: Dietary Supplement Carries Significant Health Risks

February 2, 2004

Following a lengthy review period, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned the sale of ephedra, an herbal dietary supplement mostly used for weight loss. Researchers at the FDA found that people who took ephedra could develop high blood pressure, heart palpitations, and strokes. Read more about ephedra—and how you can keep safe—in this week’s Health News.

FDA Bans Ephedra: Dietary Supplement Carries Significant Health Risks

 

Mad Cow Disease Detected in U.S.; Security Measures in Place to Ensure Food Safety

January 25, 2004

A Holstein cow was found to have bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), better known as mad cow disease, last month. Eating meat of a cow infected with BSE can cause a rare disease in humans; although Europeans developed this disorder, no one in the United States has. After confirming the case of BSE, federal officials took important steps to ensure food safety. Read more about BSE, and how you can protect you and your family from mad cow disease, in this week’s Health News.

Mad Cow Disease Detected in U.S.; Security Measures in Place to Ensure Food Safety

 

Bullies Enjoy Popularity at School; Victims of Bullying Experience Depression and Anxiety Study

January 19, 2004

Did you know that kids who have been bullied have the highest levels of depression, social anxiety, and loneliness of all students? Kids considered bullies, on the other hand, were “psychologically stronger” than their classmates and enjoyed the highest social status in school. Learn what to do about bullying in this article.

Bullies Enjoy Popularity at School; Victims of Bullying Experience Depression and Anxiety: Study

 

Sledding Safety: Preventing Injury in the Snow

January 12, 2004

After a snowfall, many children spend long hours sledding down hills in the neighborhood. And while speeding through the snow is great fun, it can also be dangerous. Every year, thousands of kids - mostly 14 and younger - end up in the emergency room with serious sledding-related injuries. But with a little preparation, the right equipment, and proper clothing, sledding can be both fun and safe.

Sledding Safety: Preventing Injury in the Snow


Fighting an Epidemic: Doctors Are Urged to Screen Adults for Obesity

January 5, 2004

To help reduce the number of people who are overweight, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended that all adults should be screened for obesity. People who are overweight should be given information and counseling about diet exercise, and losing weight. Learn why obesity is so dangerous for your health in this week’s Health News.

Fighting an Epidemic: Doctors Are Urged to Screen Adults for Obesity


 

Home | Site Map | Contact Us | Disclaimer, Policies and Ownership

CoxHealth is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Call 630-792-5000 for more information on JCAHO, or visit www.jcaho.org.

CoxHealth, Springfield, Missouri | (417) 269-3000
Copyright © 2002 CoxHealth. All rights reserved.

Powered by Healthvision |