Your Health

By Janice M. Horowitz

GOOD NEWS

SUDDEN DEATH? Have those news reports of young, superfit athletes' dying suddenly in the middle of a competition got you too scared to exercise? They shouldn't, because chances are it won't happen to you. The probability of sudden death occurring during vigorous exercise is extraordinarily low, amounting to less than 1 in 1million, according to a new study. You can reduce the risk even further by starting any new exercise program gradually--and then sticking with it.

BAD NEWS

HIGH ANXIETY Your teenager may not know agoraphobia (a fear of public places) from Aerosmith, but adolescents who smoke a pack or more a day are five times as likely to develop it as their smoke-free peers. They're also five times as likely to experience an anxiety disorder and a whopping 12 times as likely to develop panic disorder. With any luck that'll scare them off smoking for good.

HERPES HEARTACHE Hold that kiss! A provocative but still preliminary study suggests that herpes simplex virus Type 1 (the virus that causes cold sores and fever blisters) may be linked to heart disease. Researchers found that seniors with a history of herpes were twice as likely to suffer a heart attack as those who never had a cold sore.

HERBAL HAZARD You may not have heard of ephedrine, but some 12 million Americans consume the stimulant--extracted from the herb mahuang--in dozens of over-the-counter weight-loss and energy-boosting potions. Now a report identifies ephedra as the likely culprit behind at least 85 cases of heart attack, stroke and other serious reactions over the past two years. The supplement industry disputes the findings, but the study's authors want the FDA to set a "safe dose" level and require manufacturers to spell out just how much ephedra their products contain.

--By Janice M. Horowitz

Sources: Good News--New England Journal of Medicine (11/09/00). Bad News--Journal of the American Medical Association (11/08/00), Circulation (11/09/00), New England Journal of Medicine (12/21/00, early release)