Second-Chance Summary
Second-Chance Summary
Oct. 19, 2001 -- Whether you missed it the first time or would like a little reminder, here's a wrap-up of some of the big stories in medical news this week. (For the complete text of the stories, go to related links).
If researchers can tease out the link between depression and heart attacks, mega-popular antidepressant medications like Prozac and Zoloft may soon become even more widely used. A study at the University of Pennsylvania showed that those taking these so-called SSRI-type antidepressants seemed to reduce their risk of heart attack by 65%, compared to those not taking them.
Researchers have already found a tie between depression and heart disease. But this is the largest study to date to show that this class of antidepressants can protect people from heart problems. The report was published Oct.16 in the journal Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Lead researcher Stephen E. Kimmel, MD, suggests the drugs might protect the heart in the same manner as aspirin: thinning the blood and preventing the formation of blood clots, which cause a heart attack. What the researchers don't know, however, is whether it was the antidepressants themselves that were so helpful or if treating the depression indirectly benefits the heart, so more study is needed.
Two new studies published this week in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggest working the night shift may put women at a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.
Possible explanations focus around the hormone melatonin, which regulates many systems in the body. The hormone usually is produced in greater amounts as the night wears on, when most people are asleep. But being exposed to bright light can disrupt the production of the hormone.
One study found that in comparing 800 groups of American women from their mid 20s to 70s with and without breast cancer, those who worked the night shift showed 60% higher chance of developing the disease. And the more late hours the women worked, the greater their risk.
Second-Chance Summary.....
Oct. 19, 2001 -- Whether you missed it the first time or would like a little reminder, here's a wrap-up of some of the big stories in medical news this week. (For the complete text of the stories, go to related links).
A Link Between Depression and Heart Attacks
If researchers can tease out the link between depression and heart attacks, mega-popular antidepressant medications like Prozac and Zoloft may soon become even more widely used. A study at the University of Pennsylvania showed that those taking these so-called SSRI-type antidepressants seemed to reduce their risk of heart attack by 65%, compared to those not taking them.
Researchers have already found a tie between depression and heart disease. But this is the largest study to date to show that this class of antidepressants can protect people from heart problems. The report was published Oct.16 in the journal Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Lead researcher Stephen E. Kimmel, MD, suggests the drugs might protect the heart in the same manner as aspirin: thinning the blood and preventing the formation of blood clots, which cause a heart attack. What the researchers don't know, however, is whether it was the antidepressants themselves that were so helpful or if treating the depression indirectly benefits the heart, so more study is needed.
Is Working the Night Shift a Breast-Cancer Risk?
Two new studies published this week in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggest working the night shift may put women at a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.
Possible explanations focus around the hormone melatonin, which regulates many systems in the body. The hormone usually is produced in greater amounts as the night wears on, when most people are asleep. But being exposed to bright light can disrupt the production of the hormone.
One study found that in comparing 800 groups of American women from their mid 20s to 70s with and without breast cancer, those who worked the night shift showed 60% higher chance of developing the disease. And the more late hours the women worked, the greater their risk.
