Doctor's Orders: Aug. 1, 2005

POT AND MARRIAGE

In the first year of marriage for couples in their 20s, husbands follow their wives' lead in deciding whether or not to smoke pot, according to University of Buffalo researchers. A survey of 634 couples found that husbands, on the other hand, had little influence on their wives' marijuana habits.

$754 BILLION

That was the total of charges for U.S. hospital stays in 2003. The figure does not include physicians' fees and was based on about 38 million hospital visits, according to data released last week by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Tabs for the five costliest conditions (in billions):

Blocked arteries and other heart conditions $44    1.3 million patients

Heart attacks $31    751,000

Congestive heart failure $27    1.1 million

Pneumonia $26     1.3 million

Neonatal care $25     4 million

FREE PILLS MAKE MONEY

Drugs called ACE inhibitors are so good they should be given away, says a University of Michigan study. If the meds were free for diabetics age 65 and older, there would be fewer cases of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure--and a big net saving for Medicare.

STOP SMOKING, SAVE YOUR TEETH

Smokers face up to six times the risk of losing teeth as a result of gum disease, but a new study offers hope. Fifty smokers being treated for gum problems were tracked for a year. Those who managed to quit smoking saw their oral health improve; those who kept lighting up just got worse. --By David Bjerklie