Your Health: Dec. 31, 2001

GOOD NEWS

COLD WAR Are scientists closing in on a cure for the common cold? Researchers report that besides alleviating a runny nose and achy muscles, a drug called pleconaril cuts the duration of a cold by one day. Though that may not sound very dramatic, the way pleconaril works is. Other remedies merely fight symptoms; this drug attacks the cold virus itself, destroying its ability to reproduce. FDA approval is not expected until after this year's cold and flu season.

BAD NEWS

ASPIRIN ALERT Most folks who routinely take low-dose aspirin to prevent a second heart attack think nothing of downing additional anti-inflammatories to quell their arthritis pain. Not a good idea. Scientists have discovered that ibuprofen, sold under the brand names Advil and Motrin, may interfere with aspirin's ability to protect the heart. What's left? Tylenol (in low doses) and prescription anti-inflammatories Voltaren and Vioxx don't mess with aspirin.

POISON PEN What screenwriter doesn't dream of winning an Academy Award? Well, snap out of it. A Canadian study of every screenwriter ever considered for an Oscar shows that to win the golden guy--as opposed to being nominated--shortens life expectancy by 3.6 years. Last spring the same researchers found that actors who win live 3.9 years longer. Why the plot twist? Success seems to kill screenwriters because, unlike actors, they needn't worry about public scrutiny and are freer to smoke, sleep less and generally lead unhealthy lives.

--By Janice M. Horowitz

Sources: Good News--American Society for Microbiology; Bad News--New England Journal of Medicine, British Medical Journal