Sports & Medicine

New hope for blood clot sufferers   Reported December 07, 2009 Results from a major trial look set to change the way thousands of patients are treated for blood clots in the UK. Experts believe dabigatran capsules could soon replace warfarin, the "rat poison" blood-thinning drug given to patients at risk from lung clots, heart attacks and strokes. … [Read more...]

Winning Athletes Get BiggerReported July 24, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- As swimmers lined up for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, former Olympic swimmer and NBC Sports commentator Rowdy Gaines quipped that swimmers keep getting bigger, with the shortest one in the current race towering over the average spectator. What may have been seen as an off-hand remark turns out to … [Read more...]

High-Sugar, Low-Caffeine Drinks Worsen Sleepiness Reported July 21, 2006 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- That sugar rush might give you a quick burst of energy, but it may later make you more tired than you already were. A new study from the University of Loughborough, England, reveals one hour after having a high-sugar, low-caffeine drink participants had slower reactions and more … [Read more...]

Eisai Falls Most in Four Years on Drug-Filing Delay Reported February 04, 2008 Feb. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Eisai Co. fell the most in more than four years in Tokyo trading after the Japanese drugmaker was forced to delay seeking U.S. approval for its first potential new medicine since the Aciphex stomach ulcer treatment … [Read more...]

New Push to Market Diabetic Drug ExuberaReported August 13, 2007 You may have noticed an aggressive new ad campaign for a diabetes drug called Exubera. It's inhalant insulin. It's actually been available for a year, so why the big push now? Eye on Health asked Las Vegas endocrinologist, Fred Toffel. At first, there was a lot of excitement about Exubera because the inhalant … [Read more...]

FDA finds more deaths from improper use of fentanyl painkiller patchReported December 21, 2007 WASHINGTON - Improper use of patches that emit the painkiller fentanyl is still killing people, the U.S. government said Friday - its second warning in two years about the powerful narcotic. Some of the deaths came after doctors prescribed the patches to the wrong patients, the … [Read more...]

Pain Relief to go After Surgery Reported April 19, 2006 SALT LAKE CITY (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- At most hospitals across the country, patients who undergo orthopedic surgery are given narcotics to help them handle the pain. Narcotics have a lot of side effects, and many patients simply aren't able to take them. Now, technology is offering a new kind of pain relief. Rob … [Read more...]

Taking Steps After a Stroke   Reported April 27, 2009 HOPE, R.I. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Surviving a stroke is only the beginning of the battle. Walking again is at the top of the wish list for those trying to recover. More than half of stroke survivors have difficulty walking on their own or can't get around at all. For some, electricity may … [Read more...]

Plan for new jab to eradicate chickenpox Reported January 04, 2009 WOMEN and children could be vaccinated against chickenpox under plans being considered by health officials. Adults could also be vaccinated against shingles, which is caused by the same virus. One option being considered by Government advisers would be to combine the chickenpox … [Read more...]

Aspirin shows promise for colon cancer patients Reported August 11, 2009 CHICAGO — Score another win for the humble aspirin. A study suggests colon cancer patients who took the dirt-cheap wonder drug reduced their risk of death from the disease by nearly 30 percent. Aspirin already is recommended for preventing heart attacks and strokes, along with its traditional use for … [Read more...]

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Sore losers aren’t the cause of violence after a big game. It may actually be the fans of the winning team who send people to the emergency room following a sports event. At least that's what researchers found after following international rugby and soccer matches in Wales. Researchers from Cardiff University wanted to know what impact international … [Read more...]

High-Tech Help for AthletesReported October 29, 2008 COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The equipment that helps action heroes jump from tall buildings and dodge disaster in your favorite movies is now being used to help athletes. The high-tech system shows players how to make subtle adjustments to their technique, keeping them off the bench and on the field. Working … [Read more...]

Get off the sofa and go for a walk! 10 August, 2007 These days, it's easy for people to get confused about exercise -- how many minutes a day should they spend working out, for how long and at what exertion level. Conflicting facts and opinions abound, but one Mayo Clinic physician says the bottom line is … [Read more...]

Montreal drug crisis counsellor says kids as young as 11 are using drugsReported December 28, 2007 MONTREAL - Alvin Powell, a former National Football League player who runs a drug crisis centre in Montreal, says he is stunned when young people tell him they started using drugs at the age of 11. The former Seattle Seahawk, who is also the father of three, … [Read more...]

FDA warns that some cholesterol and heart drugs don't mixReported August 08, 2008 WASHINGTON - The U.S. government says patients taking some common medications for high cholesterol and irregular heart beats can suffer severe muscle damage because of a problem in the way the drugs interact. The Food and Drug Administration warned Friday that doctors should use extra care … [Read more...]

Taping Injuries Reported August 20, 2009 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- There's a new type of tape in town. Volleyball player Kerri Walsh sported it at the Olympics. In his new book, champion cyclist Lance Armstrong swears by it. But Kinesio tape isn't just for professional athletes. The elastic woven material is also helping patients in … [Read more...]

Nasal Vaccine Holds Promise Against Swine Flu Reported August 05, 2009 As the nation girds for a possible swine flu pandemic, one of the big weapons may come from an unexpected source — a vaccine squirted or dropped into the nose. MedImmune, which already makes the nasal spray vaccine FluMist for seasonal flu viruses, says it is on track to produce about five times as … [Read more...]

Winter's Tail Helps HumansReported April 06, 2009 CLEARWATER, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- She may be the only dolphin to lose her tail and survive. Now her progress in the water is helping amputees on land. The research behind the one-of-a-kind prosthetic is making life more comfortable for others who've lost a limb. Winter the dolphin doesn't realize it, but she's a … [Read more...]

Japan to check more flu drugs for side effects 08 August, 2007 TOKYO - Japan is looking into whether two influenza drugs other than Tamiflu are linked to abnormal behavior including cases of young patients screaming and one boy attempting to jump off a balcony, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday. Japan in … [Read more...]

Drug May Help Lung Cancer PatientsReported November 09, 2007 NEW YORK (AP) -- ImClone Systems Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. claimed Tuesday that the drug Erbitux improved the survival rate of patients with the most common type of lung cancer in a late-stage study. ImClone shares jumped 21 percent. The drug, already approved to treat colon cancer and head and neck … [Read more...]

Fentanyl Painkiller Patches RecalledReported February 13, 2008 WASHINGTON (AP) -- Patches containing the prescription painkiller fentanyl were recalled Tuesday, because of a flaw that could cause patients or caregivers to overdose on the potent drug inside. Sold in the United States under the brand name Duragesic by PriCara and generically by Sandoz Inc., the recall … [Read more...]

Saving Younger Knees   Reported August 19, 2009 CLEVELAND (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Most people take about 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. In the average lifetime, that's 115,000 miles. Most cars wear out by then -- so why shouldn't your knees? More than 400,000 people will need knee replacements this year, but before Gen X'ers go for the total … [Read more...]

Sports Injuries Hit Girls Hardest Reported July 03, 2008 ATLANTA (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- If you follow pro sports, you know that a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common injuries in the NBA and the NFL. Now, there are as many as a quarter of a million new ACL injuries every year in non-professional athletes, and more and more … [Read more...]

Testing Teen Athletes Reported May 22, 2008 ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- More than 70 cardiologists, medics, administrative assistants and other volunteers are bracing for a groundbreaking event in cardiac health history. Johns Hopkins medical experts will screen more than 1,000 athletes this Saturday for early signs of life-threatening heart … [Read more...]

Study warns of sexual health crisis due to drug use Reported 09 May, 2008 The culture of binge drinking and drug use among young people in Europe is increasing the risk of a sexual health crisis, researchers warned today. Young people are drinking alcohol to increase the likelihood of having sex and using drugs to enhance their sexual pleasure, the … [Read more...]

Women Deal With Concussions Differently Reported July 15, 2008 (Ivanhoe Newswire) Female athletes who’ve suffered from more than one concussion recover differently than men or people without a history of concussion, according to a new report. It’s estimated there are between one and four million sports-related concussions every year in the United … [Read more...]

Osteoporosis drugs can aid against cancer Reported June 15, 2008 ALL women at high risk of breast cancer should be given drugs commonly used to treat osteoporosis, a new report says. The Cancer Institute NSW says 9000 Australian women could avoid developing breast cancer in the next five years if they took the drugs tamoxifen and raloxifene. … [Read more...]

Drug development raises ethical issuesReported February 24, 2009 The possibility that one day a drug could cure learning disabilities may have massive societal implications. But as that drug moves slowly from theory to reality, it's also unleashing a host of ethical challenges, including safety issues related to testing drugs on children. “The biggest ethics issue is how … [Read more...]

Exercise Before Fatty Meal May Curb Bad Effects Monday, December 20, 2004 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People gearing up for an indulgent holiday feast may want to make time for some pre-meal exercise. A small study out Monday suggests that a long walk before a fatty meal can lessen the effects of high fat intake on blood vessel … [Read more...]

For Big Athletes, 'Fat and Fit' a Myth Reported October 29, 2009 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Superior size and strength can mean championships, scholarships and million-dollar paydays for today's athletes. But a comparison of professional baseball players and football players reveals that the larger professional athletes -- specifically football linemen … [Read more...]