News and Health Headlines

Side airbags that protect people's heads are reducing driver deaths in cars struck on the near (driver) side by an estimated 37 percent. Airbags that protect only the chest and abdomen but not the head are reducing deaths by 26 percent.

Head-protecting side airbags reduce driver fatality risk when cars are struck by SUVs and pickups, not just other cars. This is important because risks go up for occupants of cars struck in the side by the higher riding vehicles. In particular, the car occupants' heads are vulnerable to being struck. The Institute's study confirms that side airbags are reducing fatality risk in these crashes. Automakers are cooperating to reduce vehicle incompatibilities in both side and front collisions that lead to car occupant injuries, and a big part of this is to equip vehicles with side airbags.

The overall research findings echo those of a 2003 Institute study of side airbag effectiveness in cars. Data weren't sufficient then to compute fatality risk reductions for drivers of SUVs, but this time around there were enough data. Fatality risk in SUVs went down 52 percent with head-protecting side airbags and 30 percent with airbags that protect the chest and abdomen but not the head.

courtesy Medialink

 -- Results from the new National Cancer Awareness Survey show that Americans list cancer as their number one health concern. Yet, while 71 percent of those surveyed say they believe a healthy lifestyle leads to long term health, less than one-third of those polled attributed their personal cancer risk to their own unhealthy lifestyle behaviors - such as poor nutrition, lack of exercise and weight gain.

Experts say a healthy lifestyle can help lower your risk of cancer – and cite simple things Americans can do, such as taking a multivitamin each day. Multivitamins provide the needed vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to boost your health. But, experts also say it's important to take the right vitamin. Women should be talking a once-daily multivitamin that includes vitamin D to support breast health, while men should be taking a once-daily multivitamin that includes lycopene and selenium to promote prostate health.

The survey also highlighted Americans' concerns that their doctors don't provide enough health advice about nutrition, exercise and vitamin intake.

The National Cancer Awareness Survey was commissioned by Bayer Consumer Care as an educational effort - and in support of The Lance Armstrong Foundation and The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in their fight against cancer.

courtesy Medialink