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Health in the News
You can die of a broken heart
The New England Journal of Medicine reports that a sudden emotional shock such as the death of a loved one can cause serious heart problems or death. In one case, the shock was caused by a surprise birthday party.
The cardiologists blame stress hormones that included adrenalin, which the patients were producing. In each case, they found stress hormone levels up to 34 times as great as normal levels and two to three times as great as those typically seen during severe heart attacks.
The doctors say "broken-heart syndrome" is reversible provided the initial shock
isn't too great.
Meningitis shots for students
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging all college freshmen living in dorms to get vaccinated for bacterial meningitis.
The bacteria cause infection in the fluid surrounding the spinal cord and brain.
Those most at risk are first-time students living in dormitories, smokers, people exposed to passive smoke, those who have had a recent upper-respiratory infection, people with weakened immune systems, and people who share utensils and drinking glasses.
Symptoms include high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to bright light, confusion, and sleepiness.
Cancer is now the top killer
Cancer has surpassed heart disease as the top killer of Americans under 85 according to the American Public Health Association and the American Cancer Society. Deaths from both are falling, but improvement has been more dramatic for heart disease. The main reason cited is that there are fewer smokers.
The top causes of death were cancer, followed by heart disease, injury, lung disease, stroke, diabetes, influenza, kidney disease, Alzheimer's disease, suicide, and liver disease in that order.
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