Jul 28, 2008 5:32 pm US/Eastern
Health: Accidental Overdoses
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
There has been a 3,000 percent increase in deadly, at home drug mistakes, according to the first study of it's kind from the University of California. Actor Heath Ledger is part of a new and dangerous American trend of people dying accidentally from an overdose of prescription medications, that's according to a new study of 50 million death certificates. It says deaths from combining medications with alcohol and illicit drugs have skyrocketed. Researchers say drug mistakes don't just happen in hospitals, and there needs to be more awareness about at home errors.
People with early stage Alzheimer's who exercise regularly have better brain function, according to new research. MRI images showed less shrinkage in regions that control memory. Researchers say this is more proof that cardiovascular exercise can help slow down the progression of Alzheimer's Disease.
Strong bones might be linked to an increased risk for breast cancer among post menopausal women, according to
new research from the University of Arizona. It found women with high scores on bone mineral density tests were 25 percent more likely to develop breast cancer. Doctors say hormones play a role. Researchers say there are other more reliable tests to predict breast cancer, but bone density could someday be an additional tool.
Men who worry a lot have an increased risk for diabetes, according to a new study. It shows high levels of psychological stress linked to anxiety doubles the risk of diabetes. Researchers say stress appears to interfere with how the brain regulates hormones. Women were also tested, but researchers say worrying didn't affect them the same way.
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