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Updated: 12:19 PM Jun 30, 2009
Medical Moments: Prostate cancer screening, link between heart and mental health & FDA vote
A new study suggests it may be better to not screen for prostate cancer in certain patients because it could do more harm than good.
In other health news, researchers are looking into a link between heart health and mental health.
Also, almost three dozen experts are scheduled to vote on whether combination cold medications should be pulled from the market. Posted: 6:25 AM Jun 30, 2009 |
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A new study suggests it may be better to not screen for prostate cancer in certain patients because it could do more harm than good.
Researchers at the University of Texas found the lifetime risk for prostate cancer death went from 3% to 2.4% over the last 20 years, yet the risk of being diagnosed with the disease went from 6% to 17%.
Researchers say this shows many cancers are over-diagnosed, meaning they would have never been clinically significant.
In other health news, researchers are looking into a link between heart health and mental health.
In a study of nearly 200 coronary artery disease patients, those with daily or even weekly chest pain were much more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression, as well.
What's unclear though is what comes first: the chest pain or the mental health problem. This study did not prove one causes the other. It only showed an association between the two.
Patients who underwent procedures to open their arteries were also subject to chest pain.
Also, almost three dozen experts are scheduled to vote on whether combination cold medications should be pulled from the market.
It’s an effort to help curb deadly overdoses. The FDA assembled the group for a two day meeting.
They will talk about ways to prevent overdose with acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is the pain-relieving, fever-reducing ingredient in Tylenol and dozens of other prescription and over-the-counter medications.
The FDA says acetaminophen is the leading cause of liver failure in the US. It says acetaminophen sends 56,000 people to the emergency room every year.
There are about 200 acetaminophen related deaths each year.

