FED: Checkup column for Friday, December 19

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2003
FED: Checkup column for Friday, December 19

A ROUNDUP OF ISSUES AFFECTING YOUR HEALTH

By National Medical Writer Kylie Walker



PRETTY FACES BEGUILE BIG SPENDERS

Men are more likely to go for instant cash when they're in the presence of a woman
who's easy on the eye - even if it means forfeiting bigger monetary rewards in the long
run.

Psychologists in Canada asked male university students whether they'd prefer to take
$19 tomorrow or $25 next week, then showed them pictures of pretty ladies.

The men more often chose to take the instant sum rather than wait for a bigger wad of cash.

Authors of the study suggest men want money quickly so that they can use it to impress
and possibly woo the good-lookers.

Women's monetary desires, however, were unaffected by the sight of a gorgeous guy.

HANGOVERS HAUNT AUSTRALIAN YOUTH

About six per cent of Australian men aged between 18 and 24 say their work or study
life has been frequently affected by hangovers over the past year.

About half as many young women reported similar problems.

One in 10 teenagers say they've experienced memory loss after a big night out.

The figures are a compilation of two different surveys on Australian alcohol use, and
have prompted a warning from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre to take care
over the Christmas-New Year party season.

"The best way to prevent a hangover is not to drink too much but that is not always
possible, so be prepared," the centre's spokesman Paul Dillon said.

"If you do find yourself not feeling too well, remember that the effects of a hangover
last about 24 hours, so be patient."

A hearty meal before drinking and lots of water before bed can help guard against the
worst of the after-effects of alcohol, he added.

Naturopath Monica Jane Shalit suggests Vitamin B and vegetable juices may also be beneficial.

DRIVING OKAY ON METHADONE

Heroin addicts treating their habit with methadone could be able to drive as well as
people who don't use drugs.

An Australian study published in the latest issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence found
34 patients taking methadone and other drugs used to treat heroin dependence performed
just as well in a simulated driving test as 21 non-drug using volunteers.

Both groups drove equally poorly after drinking enough alcohol to push their blood
alcohol level to 0.05 per cent.

STRESS DRIVING DOCTORS CRAZY

More than one-quarter of all doctors are suffering depression or mental illness, a
British medicine conference has heard.

The problem appears to be even worse for first-year doctors, as many as 30 per cent
of whom are classed as psychologically distressed.

By comparison, mental disorders afflict only about 15 per cent of the general population.

Heavy workloads, perfectionism, stress and burnout have been identified as major culprits,
with anaesthetists, general practitioners and psychiatrists suffering the most.

Compounding the problem, doctors admit they often self-medicate, are poor at seeking
help and less likely to take time off than other professions.

OXYGEN BREEZES INTO CANCER FIGHT

University of Adelaide researchers who have worked out how the human body senses and
responds to changes in oxygen levels say the discovery may lead to improvements in the
treatment of cancer.

Too much oxygen can produce harmful free radicals, leading to ageing, and too little
can encourage cancer or cause a stroke or a heart attack.

Low oxygen stimulates cancer to form new blood vessels and increase tumour size, the
researchers say.

They've now found a key "oxygen sensor" that switches on when body levels of the vital
gas fall too low.

"This information may prove important in the therapeutic treatment of cancer, heart
attack and stroke," lead researcher Dr Murray Whitelaw said.



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