Doctor's Orders: Apr. 25, 2005

QUICK FIX FOR THE HEART

Taking 2 g daily of fish- or soy-oil capsules may boost heart function in the elderly faster than expected--in as little as three weeks, according to a study in Chest.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER FOR LAZY EYES

Lazy eyes are usually treated before first grade, when therapy is most effective. But NIH-funded research in the Archives of Ophthalmology gives hope to older kids, ages 7 and up, suggesting that patches, eyedrops and near-vision activities can improve their vision too.

39 inches

There's no easy way to predict insulin resistance, a metabolic condition that can lead to heart disease and diabetes. But a study published online by the British Medical Journal suggests that waist circumference provides a good test. If your waist measures 39 in. or less, you're in the clear; above 39 in., you may be at risk.

AN UNWANTED GIFT FROM GRANDMA

Pregnant moms who smoke cigarettes may be harming not only their children but their grandchildren. In a study, youngsters whose grandmothers smoked during pregnancy were more than twice as likely to get asthma as children whose grandmothers didn't.

CHIPPING AWAY AT THE YIPS

Frustrated golfers, take heart! Mayo Clinic scientists are chipping away at the mysterious root of the yips--those involuntary twitches of the hand or wrist that defeat putts and crush spirits. A new study suggests that the yips are a task-specific movement disorder, like writer's or musician's cramp. But, unfortunately, there's still no cure.

--By Sora Song