Female Smokers at greater risk for cancer

Posted by bumeral

March 6, 2008

PAIN: A SILENT EPIDEMIC -- True, drug addiction is a serious problem
for many Americans, some of whom become hooked on prescription drugs
after medical treatment. But chronic pain is also a huge problem.
According to the American Academy of Pain Management, about 50
million Americans live with chronic pain caused by disease, disorder
or accident, and another 25 million suffer acute pain after surgery
or accident. In 2000, 36 million Americans missed work due to pain.
Pain is a complex problem, and patients often have difficulties
communicating their needs to doctors. And yet, there are many
treatment options available that can be tailored to meet individual
needs. If you or someone you love is not getting relief, do not give
up. A good source of information can be found at
http://www.aapainmanage.org/

SMILES VERSUS SNIFFLES -- Worried about catching a cold? Smile! A
study conducted by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found
that people with a generally upbeat attitude who were exposed to cold
viruses were much less likely to catch the cold than people who were
sad, anxious, or angry. Positive thinkers who did come down with the
bug tended to minimize their symptoms, so they still ended up better
off than their more negative counterparts.

FEMALE SMOKERS AT GREATER RISK FOR CANCER -- Women who smoke have
more than double the risk of contracting lung cancer than men. That
was the surprising result of a past study, in which CT screenings of
close to 3,000 men and women showed that female smokers were 2.2
times more likely to develop the disease than men. It is not yet
known why women are more susceptible than men. According to the
American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer
death among men and women. In 2003 there will be about 171,900 new
cases of lung cancer in the United States and 157,200 people will die
of this disease. The study also found that annual CT screenings can
make a big difference in detecting lung cancer early and improving
cure rates, from 10 percent to up to 90 percent.

TRACKING THE GENETICS OF DEPRESSION -- Depression is the second
leading cause of disability in the United States and worldwide.
Depressive disorders affect an estimated 9.5 percent of Americans
ages 18 and over in a given year, or about 18.8 million people in
1998, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. So it is
good news that scientists at the University of Pittsburgh recently
identified 19 regions on human chromosomes that seem to hold the
genetic key to mental illnesses such as addictions and major
depression. These studies may help researchers develop more effective
medications to combat the illness. For more information about
depression, check out the NIMH web site at
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/depressionmenu.cfm

COLONOSCOPY CHOICES -- If you are 50 years of age or older, a
screening for colorectal cancer could save your life, according to
the Centers for Disease Control. These tests can reveal asymptomatic
polyps or cancerous cells, which will then need to be removed. One of
the most effective tests is a colonoscopy, in which you are sedated
while a doctor views your colon with a flexible tube. Now you can
also choose a virtual colonoscopy, a non-invasive process using a CT
scanner. A recent study has shown the virtual CT scan method to be
just as effective as the traditional one. However, the new test is
more expensive - and may not be covered by your insurance. And unlike
a colonoscopy, in which any polyps that are identified are removed on
the spot, a virtual colonoscopy's function is limited to diagnostics.
If one or more polyps are found, you will still have to have a
colonoscopy to get them removed.

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