This twenty-seventh edition of "Annual Editions: Health" provides convenient, inexpensive access to current articles selected from the best of the public press. Organizational features include: an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites; an annotated table of contents; a topic guide; a general introduction; brief overviews for each section; a topical index; and an instructor's resource guide with testing materials. "Using Annual Editions in the Classroom" is offered as a practical guide for instructors. "Annual Editions" titles are supported by our student website.

Table of Contents:
UNIT 1. Promoting Healthy Behavior Change1. How To Live To Be 100, Richard Corliss and Michael D. Lemonick, Time", August 30, 2004Recent research indicates that a long life is not just due to genes but is related to health behaviors"-what and how much you eat, where you live, and what type of stress" you experience.2. Putting a Premium on Health, John Dorschner, The Miami Herald", May 15, 2005Employers look for ways to reduce healthcare costs by rewarding employees with healthy lifestyles" lower premiums and other benefits such as free membership in gyms. For those with unhealthy behaviors" such as smoking", many companies are charging them higher rates for health insurance".3. Why the Rich Live Longer, Dan Seligman, Forbes", June 7, 2004Throughout the world, the rich live longer than the poor. Education plays a role as well as the fact that the well-to-do are less likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors" such as smoking", poor diet, and sedentary lifestyle".UNIT 2. Stress and Mental Health4. Happier and Healthier?, Consumer Reports on Health", March 2004Your physical well-being may reflect your mental health" and happier people are healthier. Positive emotions can mean less stress", less disease, and longevity.5. Enough to Make You Sick?, Helen Epstein, New York Times Magazine", October 12, 2003In poor urban neighborhoods, diseases that typically affect the elderly are afflicting the young. A combination of lifestyle and the stress" of living in poverty may cause higher rates of cancer", heart disease", asthma, and diabetes".6. Are You OK?, Consumer Reports on Health", February 2005The emotional symptoms that can negatively impact health" and well being are often minimized. Staying emotionally healthy", overcoming barriers to treatment, and treatment options are addressed.7. Dealing with Demons, Christopher Conte, Governing", August 2004While public health" campaigns against smoking" or unsafe sexual practices" are common, suicide" is not often managed in the same way. Several states, however, are starting to see suicide as a preventable condition.8. Too Young to be Stressed, Aparna Bagdi, Childhood Education", Summer 2004A recent study indicated that over one-third of children ages 8-14 are stressed" enough to need medical help.UNIT 3. Nutritional Health9. The Trouble with Trans Fat, Harvard Women's Health Watch", March 2004Trans fats" found in many processed foods, have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease" and possibly diabetes". This article discusses new food labeling laws that will soon require manufacturers to list the trans fat content of their products.10. 10 Myths That Won't Quit, Bonnie Liebman, Nutrition Action Health Letter", December 2004The misconceptions are endless when it comes to nutrition" and diet". Many myths are unproven theories with minimal evidence. Or, they are outdated ideas that have been disproven by recent research. Bonnie Liebman clarifies the evidence on ten "facts" that few people dispute or question.11. What Does Science Say You Should Eat?, Brad Lemley, Discover", February 2004Harvard scientist, Dr. Walter Willett, recommends that consumers abandon the conventional food pyramid and adopt a new way of eating. The new pyramid distinguishes good fats" from bad fats and refined versus whole-grain carbohydrates". Willett's diet is linked to reduced incidences of heart disease", cancer", and diabetes".UNIT 4. Exercise and Weight Management12. Sweating Makes You Smart, Chris Jozefowicz, Psychology Today", May/June 2004Exercise" keeps the brain young and strong along with making you look and feel better. Good workouts may be as good for the mind as they are for the body.13. The Skinny on Popular Diets, Harvard Heart Letter", February 2005Do-it-yourself diets" may work just as well as the bestselling diet plans according to this article that evaluates some popular diet" books. The conclusion is that a plan you can stick with for a long time, maintain your health", offer delicious foods, and not require special foods is a good way to manage your weight".14. The Female Triad, Lola Ramos and Gregory L. Welch, American Fitness", May/June 2004The female triad is a combination of three conditions related to exercise" training and include disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis". The three components of the triad pose serious health concerns for young athletic women. To counter the triad, it is suggested that a wellness" environment that supports sound physical training and nutritional habits is important.15. Stretching...Out?, Biomechanics", October 2004Recent research on the value of stretching has left its advocates angry since it appears that stretching is neither particularly harmful nor helpful. Since preventing injury while engaging in physical activity" is desirable, people who depend solely on stretching to avoid injury may be mislead.16. Eat More Weigh Less, Amanda Spake, U.S. News & World Report", March 7, 2005According to researcher Barbara Rolls, the key to weight management" lies in food choices that help people feel full with less calories. People, according to Rolls, neeed to eat more low-calorie foods such as fruits and vegetables so they get a satisfying amount to food without excessive calories.17. Why We're Losing the War Against Obesity, Louise Witt, American Demographics", December 2003/January 2004The majority of Americans are overweight and/or obese", but what is more alarming is that an increasing number of children and teenagers are overweight. As these children grow up, their obesity-related health problems will have huge implications for our society.UNIT 5. Drugs and Health18. The New Drug War, Roger Parloff, Fortune", March 8, 2004Because Canada regulates the price of prescription drugs", the costs for medications are 30-80 percent cheaper than in the U.S. This has led to many Americans crossing the border or ordering Canadian drugs on-line. American pharmaceutical companies are unhappy, but many politicians are interested in legalizing the practice.19. Sports and Drugs, Kenneth Jost, CQ Researcher", July 23, 2004The scandal over athletes who use drugs" to enhance their performance has increased. It appears that most fans disapprove of these drugs", though many feel the penalties are not strict enough.20. Just Say No Again: The Old Failures of New and Improved Anti-Drug Education, Renee Moilanen, Reason", January 2004Many drug education programs attempt to discourage all drug" use, which may not be realistic. Alternatives include promoting safer use of drugs", for example, avoid drinking and driving.21. Dangerous Supplements Still at Large, Consumer Reports", May 2004According to a Consumer Reports" investigation, many dangerous supplements" are available in stores and on the Internet. Some of these supplements can lead to liver failure, heart" attacks, or death.UNIT 6. Sexuality and Relationships22. Sexual Healing, Alice Park, Time", January 19, 2004Making love is related to heart" health, less cancer", pain management, less depression and anxiety", and a healthy immune" system.23. Male Contraception: Search Is On for Options, Contraceptive Technolgy Update", February 2003Though the only male contraceptive" is a condom, there has been a recent interest in developing other methods. Research has focused on the surpression of sperm production by hormonal or nonhormonal means and the development of drugs that prevent sperm from fertilizing eggs.24. It's Just Mechanics, Ziauddin Sardar, New Statesman", January 1, 2005Ziauddin Sardar addresses changes in Sexual practices" and behaviors and the role of new drugs, such as Viagra, to treat sexual dysfunction".25. Promiscuous Plague, Karen Testerman, < em>The World & I", March 2004Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)" are the single greatest health" threat affecting young people today. Karen Testerman addressed the fact that youth are allowed to believe that safe sex exists and that STD"s are not a major health threat. In reality, many STDs are incurable and can lead to cancer and infertility.UNIT 7. Preventing and Fighting Disease26. 'Diabesity', a Crisis in an Expanding Country, Jane E. Brody, The New York Times", March 29, 2005Jane Brody asks why we don't have a national initiative to address the diabetes" epidemic that is closely related to the increasing obesity problem in the United States. Unfortunately, too many people don't take the disease seriously even though it can cause serious and sometimes fatal side effects.27. The Battle Within: Our Anti-Inflammation Diet, Michael Downey, Better Nutrition", February 2005Michael Downey discusses the relationship between paper cuts, spicy foods, stubbed toes, and heart disease", colon cancer" or Alzheimer's disease". It appears that these diseases are related to the long-term effects of inflammation" on the body.28. Why We're Losing the War on Cancer and How to Win It, Clifton Leaf, Fortune", March 22, 2004The real hope in reducing deaths may lie in treatment that blocks the development of blood capillaries supplying oxygen and nutrients to tumors.29. The Puzzling Origins of AIDS, Jim Moore, American Scientist", November/December 2004Jim Moore explores how HIV", which has apparently coexisted with humans for millennia, suddenly and relatively recently crossed over into humans. He identifies four competing theories and discusses their validity and controversy. He also believes that understanding the origins of AIDS" may help prevent the next disease pandemic.UNIT 8. Health Care and the Health Care System30. The Overtreated American, Shannon Brownlee, The Atlantic Monthly", January/February 2003According to Shannon Brownlee, reducing" excess or unnecessary health care" could save enough money to provide health care to all those who are currently uninsured". It is estimated that 20 percent to 30 percent of health care spending goes for procedures, drugs, and hospitalization that do nothing to improve the quantity or quality of life.31. Stay Safe in the Hospital, Consumer Reports on Health", January 2005Both patients and their families need to take action to get the best care and to prevent medical and other errors from occurring while they are hospitalized. Since studies show that errors made by hopsital staff kill up to 100,000 people each year and seriously injure approximately 500,000 more, it's important that patients and their relatives ask questions and be vigilant about the quality of care received.32. A High Dose of Tech, Rob Turner, U.S. News & World Report", August 2, 2004While we live in a technically advanced society, many hospitals have been reluctant to embrace modern systems that could positively impact health care". Many health centers and hospitals are still writing prescriptions by hand and keeping paper records. Both of these practices can lead to medication and other errors.33. Putting a Value on Health, Don Peck, The Atlantic Monthly", January/February 2004One way to stop escalating health care costs is to admit that we already ration health care" and then figure out a better way to manage rationing.UNIT 9. Consumer Health34. Doctoring Yourself: When is it Wise?, Consumer Reports on Health", January 2004Along with the benefits of self-care" comes the concern that it will lead to improper and dangerous care. Many consumers using online sources may be unaware that much of the health information on the Internet is either incorrect, unclear, or confusing. Other concerns surround self-diagnosing symptoms that may be less clear-cut or common.35. Making an Informed Decision About Breast Implants, Carol Rados, FDA Consumer", September/October 2004Though the safety of breast implants remains controversial, the demand is higher than ever among women who want to increase their breast size or restore breasts after a mastectomy. Choosing implants, for whatever reason, is a decision that should be made only after a woman fully understands and acknowledges the potential harm and the importance of follow-up medical care.36. How to Ease Your Pain, Consumer Reports on Health", February 2005In September of 2004, the painkilling drug Vioxx was withdrawn from the market due to concerns about increased heart attack risks among users. Other pain relievers such as Celebrex, Aleve, and Bextra may also be a risk factor for heart attacks leaving pain sufferers fewer drugs to ease their symptoms. This article identifies ways to manage both acute and chronic pain and also addresses safe ways to use pain killers.UNIT 10. Contemporary Health Hazards37. Agencies Work to Corral Mad Cow Disease, Linda Bren, FDA Consumer", May/June 2004Mad Cow Disease", which has ravaged the British beef industry for over 20 years, has recently made its U.S. debut. The nature of the prion", the agent at the root of the condition, has made scientists realize how difficult it will be to control the safety of the food supply. Prions" are transmitted to cattle through their feed and humans who eat the infected animals can develop a variant of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, a neurological disorder.38. Just Too Loud, Jeffrey Kluger, Time", April 5, 2004Noise pollution is mostly considered a nuisance rather than a health hazard. Jeffrey Kluger identifies health risks related to loud noise exposure including hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and hypertension. Solutions are addressed and include ways to eliminate road and airport noise as well as urban noises.39. What's at Risk?, John Eyles and Nicole Consitt, Environment", October 2004For the general public, evidence is circumstantial that substances in the environment are major risk factors for cancer and other diseases. Yet, there are fears and factors outside our control that negatively impact us. Newly recognized diseases such as SARS, West Nile Virus, and Mad Cow Disease may be linked to environmental changes.40. Flu Shot Fever, Current Events", November 12, 2004The 2003-2004 flu season began earlier than usual and killed several children, mostly in western states. Experts say the best protection is a flu vaccination", but unfortunately, the supply of vaccine in the 2004-2005 flu season was severely diminished. One of the two vaccine" suppliers was unable to ship the millions of promised doses because of contamination. Officials say something must be done to prevent shortages in the future.41. When Does Autism Start?, Claudia Kalb, Newsweek", February 28, 2005While autism" was first identified over six decades ago, researchers still don't know what causes it, nor do they know how to treat this vexing brain disorder. What is clear is that there has been a tenfold spike in numbers over the past 20 years; 1 in 166 children is now diagnosed with the disease of unknown origin that has been blamed on vaccinations", mercury poisoning, and other unproven exposures.