Past U-M radio news reports are available on the following topics:

Note: To automatically down-load a radio news report, click on the title of the story. The transcript and the press release are also available via a link for each RNS package. If you would like more information about RNS, call Andi McDonnell, UMHS media coordinator, at 734-764-2220.

Alcohol/tobacco/drugs

Fear of weight gain may keep women from trying to quit smoking
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:48)
Is a fear of getting fatter partly to blame for the fact that nearly one in five American women still smokes, and many don’t try to quit? According to U-M researchers, smokers are more likely to have unrealistic body image and eating problems, and women who had weight problems as girls are more likely to start smoking early(Full Press Release/November 2007)

Inhalants: The new, convenient high for kids and teens
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:36)
While the effects of ‘huffing’ are short-lived, inhalant abuse can carry long-term health consequences and death, even the first time they are used. U-M experts advise that parents discuss the dangers of inhalant abuse with their kids early, before they’re exposed to it in social settings. To help, they offer some suggestions on how and when to talk with kids, as well as tips on how to detect inhalant abuse. (Full Press Release/July 2006)

Commit to quit: It's never too late to stop smoking
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:41)
Kicking the habit can be especially difficult for seniors, but support groups help elderly smokers quit

Each year, smoking kills more than 400,000 Americans. Kicking the habit can be especially difficult for older adults who have spent a lifetime smoking. But it's never too late to quit smoking. To help, the University of Michigan Health System is offering older adults tips and support to kick the habit for good. (Full Press Release / November 2005)

'Roid rage, depression and suicide: U-M addiction expert warns of dangers of teen steroid use
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:48)
Suspicions of steroid use are clouding Major League Baseball at the start of its 2005 season, but a bigger problem than the image of the national pastime is the health impact of anabolic steroids on adolescents.
(Full Press Release / April 2005)

Beyond hangovers: Heavy drinking by college students poses many serious dangers, U-M expert warns
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:44)
As American college students gear up to head back to campus later this month, they'll look forward to all the usual college traditions: football games, late-night discussions, and pizza with new friends after classes. But almost half of all college students share a tradition that could wreck their futures: heavy alcohol drinking that puts them at risk for everything from bad grades and date rape to fights, serious injuries and even death.
(Full Press Release / August 2004)

Steroid abuse not just an Olympic problem
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:16 )
Every athlete wants to run as fast as Michael Johnson, vault as powerfully as Mary Lou Retton or hit a baseball like Mark McGwire. But as the 2004 Summer Olympics approach, one expert cautions teens and weekend athletes not to turn to performance-enhancing steroids to reach their gold-medal potential.
(Full Press Release / August 2004)

Teens using medicines to get high, U-M expert warns
From Vicodin, Valium, OxyContin and Ritalin to plain cough syrup, parents need to watch for signs of use and abuse
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:29)

The medicine cabinet may seem like a strange place to look for a way to get high. But a growing number of teenagers are doing just that, raiding their parents' pill bottles or buying prescription drugs illegally through Internet pharmacies and dealers. From potent painkillers to humble cough syrups, the same medicines that can help patients can also be misused to produce a high feeling. And they can hurt teens or hook them into addiction just as easily as other illicit drugs.
(Full Press Release / July 2004)

Don’t let holiday reveling take a wrong turn with alcohol misuse
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:52)
‘Tis the season to be jolly,’ says a traditional holiday carol, and for many, the holiday season is a jolly, fun time when people’s attention turns to dinners with family or friends, office parties and other festive get-togethers. Mixed drinks, wine and tasty punches often contribute to the holiday revels. Sadly, they contribute to deaths and injuries, as well.
(Full Press Release / Dec. 2003)

Quit smoking, and your whole body will thank you:
U-M lung expert offers 10 reasons to kick the habit
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:52)
Most smokers might assume only their lungs suffer from their tobacco habit, but that is not true. From a smoker’s head to his or her toes, puffing away on cigarettes or cigars does damage throughout the body. That’s what makes it so risky – and what makes quitting so important. (Full Press Release / Oct.2003)

'Tis the season to drink responsibly
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:16)
Before you toast the holiday season, emergency physicians at the U-M Health System warn that even moderate drinking may impair judgement and lead to a number of serious safety and health problems - and in some extreme cases, alcohol dependence. (Full press release/Dec. 2002)

Never quit quitting
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:21)
U-M addiction specialist provide tips for smokers to kick the nicotine habit for good and also give insight as to why it's often so difficult for so many to quit. (Full press release/Nov. 2002)

Alcohol and Sleep
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:51)
Research has revealed that a drink before bed can have a serious effect on sleep, often aggravating insomnia rather than eliminating it. (Full
press release/April 2002)

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Autoimmune diseases

Aging gracefully, with a chronic disease
(Radio Transcript TRT 2:43)
For the better part of three decades, Sherrie Kossoudji has endeavored each day to manage the inflammation, chronic pain, tight joints and other types of physical strife caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Now 53, Kossoudji – and million of others like her – is trying to sort out what is a normal part of aging, and what is a facet of RA. (Full Press Release/May 2007)

What’s your “stroke IQ”?
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:57)
Stroke is the third largest cause of death and the top cause of disability. Still, studies have shown that Americans don’t know enough about why strokes happen, what to do when they happen – or how to prevent strokes from happening.  So, the U-M Stroke Program is offering a test that can check anyone’s stroke IQ, and maybe bump it up a few points.
(Full Press Release/May 2007)

Dealing with potentially life-threatening allergies
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:10)
Peanuts, bee stings and fear: A U-M Health System allergy specialist discusses severe allergic reactions, who may be at risk for this life-threatening event, and what allergy dangers may lurk in the warmth of summer.
(Full Press Release / May 2006)

Asthma on the home front: Know your triggers and clean the air
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:42)
Over the past 20 years, self-reported cases of asthma have increased by 74 percent. In that same time, the number of asthma-related office visits has doubled and the number of asthma-related deaths has increased by 61 percent. With more than 31 million adults and children who have asthma in the United States alone, the need to educate the public in ways to prevent attacks is critical. Learning what triggers your asthma attacks and asthma-proofing your home are the key to maintaining control over this life-long condition. (Full Press Release / November 2004)

Enabling people with arthritis in everyday life
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:55)
Seventy million Americans have some form of arthritis. While medication relieves symptoms of pain and stiffness in the joints, it is occupational therapy that is helping people regain mobility and independence. (Full Press Release / Oct.2003)

New medications help patients cope with rheumatoid arthritis
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:00)
Today, Americans affected with the rheumatoid arthritis have several new medication options. And rheumatologists with the U-M Health System have found that these new drugs, called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, can be extremely effective. (Full press release/March 2003)

Living with lupus: when the body turns on itself
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:09)
Diagnosing lupus and awareness about the disease has greatly improved in the past 30 years, which has allowed patients to learn how to best manage their disease to lead relatively normal lives.
(Full press release/Feb. 2003)

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Brain/nervous system disorders

Memory loss becoming less common in older Americans
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:44)
A new nationally representative study led by the University of Michigan shows a downward trend in the rate of “cognitive impairment” – the umbrella term for everything from significant memory loss to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease – among people aged 70 and older. While the reasons for this decline aren’t yet fully known, the authors say it may be linked to the fact that today’s seniors are more likely to have had more formal education, better economic status, and better care for risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking that can jeopardize their brains.
(Full Press Release/February 2008)

Overactive nerves in head and neck may account for "ringing in the ears"
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:06)
Preliminary U-M results in animals suggest that acupuncture, trigger point therapy may be effective treatments in people.
(Full Press Release/January 2008)

New U-M program focuses on brain, nerve problems in athletes
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:13)
Athletes are more prone than others to a lot of brain and nerve problems. That’s why the U-M Health System launched a unique new program for competitive athletes that focuses on injuries and illnesses affecting the brain and nerves. Called Michigan NeuroSport, it helps athletes get fast diagnosis and treatment, without running afoul of performance-enhancing drug guidelines. (Full Press Release/October 2006)

Auto pioneer’s suicide inspires research on bipolar disorder
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:12)
Five years ago, the automotive industry was shocked by the suicide of one of its brightest stars, Heinz Prechter. Today, the tragedy of his death is driving scientists at the U-M Health System and elsewhere to perform research that should give hope to the 5.7 million Americans who have bipolar disorder.
(Full Press Release/October 2006)

Brain surgery without the surgery?
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:53)

Doctors can do more than ever to find and fix the problems that cause many strokes — before a stroke ever happens. And they can do it without ever having to open up the skull. It’s brain surgery without the surgery, also called minimally invasive, and according to U-M doctors, it’s allowing many patients to reduce their risk of a stroke, including those who wouldn’t be able to withstand a brain operation. (Full Press Release/July 2006)

Restless legs sending your partner to the other room?
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:04)

About 1 in 10 Americans suffer from restless leg syndrome, a common, yet under-diagnosed neurological disorder characterized by uncontrollable, often painful urges to kick and thrash the legs when trying to fall asleep. Fortunately experts at U-M say there are several ways to reduce the symptoms of RLS to help you and your bed partner get a better night’s sleep. (Full Press Release / March 2006)

Heads-Up on Traumatic Brain Injury
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:58 )
More than half a million people each year sustain a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. These brain injuries are caused when the brain, which floats in cerebral fluid, smashes against the hard wall of the skull following an impact. They are often caused by motor vehicle or sports traumas, but also can be caused by physical abuse or or, surprisingly, by mundane household or workplace accidents.(Full Press Release / August 2005)

Enduring chronic pain: "Nobody should have to suffer when treatments are available"
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:15 )
Far too many people suffer from chronic pain without receiving adequate treatment. Pain is a thief in the night; it steals people's livelihood. Pain is under-treated. If something is not done about the pain epidemic, it's going to significantly impact this society.(Full Press Release / August 2005)

U-M Health System receives $10M grant for Alzheimer's disease research
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:20 )
Alzheimer's disease research at the University of Michigan is getting a $10 million boost: a major grant that will fund a broad array of efforts aimed at finding and fighting the causes of the disease and other memory conditions.(Full Press Release / July 2005)

Re-learn the art of a good night’s sleep: U-M Cognitive behavioral therapies, education can help insomniacs
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:44)
While sleep may seem like a natural process, it is one that can easily be taken for granted. A recent poll by the National Science Foundation found that only 50 percent of Americans get a good night’s sleep a few nights each week. When interruptions to sleep become a chronic problem, doctors can offer patients a multidisciplinary approach to treating insomnia that teaches them how to sleep. (Full Press Release / June 2005)

U-M launches study looking at how women and men experience – and react to – strokes
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:51)
What does it feel like to have a stroke? For some people, the ability to speak or walk disappears in a moment. For others, arms, legs and faces suddenly go numb. And for others, it's a rush of confusion or dizziness. But what if you had a stroke and your symptoms weren't typical?
(Full Press Release / May 2005)

Discovering the source of back pain
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:38 )
EMG testing can provide answers that MRI can't. Expert says both kinds of tests have their strengths, and a current study at U-M is looking at the MRI scan and EMG test to find out which one is better at identifying the source of back pain. (Full Press Release / March 2005)

Healthy heart, healthy mind?
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:02)
You know that watching your weight, quitting smoking, cutting back on fatty foods and exercising regularly will help your heart. But did you know that these steps might also help your brain, and protect your memory?
(Full Press Release / February 2005)

Feeling dizzy? Like your head is spinning?
U-M expert offers help for vertigo sufferers
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:07 )
Imagine what it would be like to feel that dizzy and off-balance for minutes, hours, days — or even years. This kind of serious dizziness, called vertigo, makes life miserable for millions of people each year, and keeps some from driving or working. It starts without warning for no apparent reason, and comes and goes. But, it doesn't have to be this way.
(Full Press Release / January 2005)

Unique clinic addresses special health needs of Down Syndrome
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:53)
UMHS clinic provides coordinated care for children, adults.
New specialty Down syndrome clinic now open at the University of Michigan Health System. The clinic addresses the medical and rehabilitation needs of children and adults with Down syndrome, a condition that affects one in 800 live births.
(Full Press Release / May 2004)

Preventing falls one step at a time
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:29)
Approximately 30 percent to 40 percent of senior citizens fall each year, which places falls as the leading cause of accidental death among older adults in the United States. Although it is impossible to prevent all falls, geriatric specialists from the Mobility Research Laboratory at the University of Michigan Geriatrics Center suggest both improving balance through exercise to avoid falls and employ “fall-proofing” behaviors in and around the home to reduce risks. (Full Press Release / Oct. 2003)

Planning for the gray cloud of dementia
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:38)
Dementia is a fate that faces many of us as we age. Currently, about 4.5 million Americans are struggling with Alzheimer’s disease -- the most common and well known form of dementia, and, unless more effective treatments are found, this number is expected to triple in the coming decades as baby boomers age. (Full Press Release / Oct. 2003)

U-M experts give hope to people with pseudoseizures
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:37)
Pseudoseizures resemble epileptic seizures. When seizures are prolonged or unusual in character, that should raise concern about whether patients have pseudoseizures, rather than epileptic seizures.
(Full Press Release/ Aug. 2003)

Overcoming language loss after stroke or other traumatic brain injuries
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:08)
Aphasia, a life-long language disorder resulting from traumatic brain injury. The injury disrupts the brain’s ability to translate thoughts into words and understand spoken or written words. But thanks to an innovative program at the University of Michigan, patients find their voices again.
(Full press release/June 2003)

Spinal cord injuries increase with warm weather
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:20)
As the weather warms up, so do the chances of acquiring a spinal cord injury. About 400,000 people in the United States have spinal cord injuries, with about 100,000 new cases each year. Men ages 16-30 are most at risk of spinal cord injury, based on riskier behavior patterns.
(Full press release/June 2003)

Are migraine headaches in your coffee cup?
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:03)
If you are one of the millions of migraine-sensitive Americans who need caffeine to rev you up for work in the A.M. or pick you up off your desktop in the P.M., you may actually be triggering a debilitating headache that will keep you out of the office altogether. (Full press release/April 2003)

Seeing into the Alzheimer's brain
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:00)
U-M researchers believe that PET imaging may be able to tell Alzheimer's disease apart from other disorders. This new diagnostic test could help patients with Alzheimer's disease get help early - and make the most of their remaining years. (Full press release/Nov. 2002)

Defend yourself against a brain attack
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:17)
Doctors and scientists at the U-M Health System are waging an all-out war to improve diagnosis and treatment of stroke, and to raise public awareness of the risks and symptoms of "brain attacks".
(Full press release/Nov. 2002)

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Cancer

70% of cancer surgeons don't discuss breast reconstruction
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:17)
Only a third of patients with breast cancer discussed breast reconstruction options with their surgeon before their initial surgery, according to a new study. What's more, women who did discuss reconstruction up front were four times more likely to have a mastectomy compared to those women who did not discuss reconstruction.
(Full Press Release/December 2007)

HER-2 status predicts success of chemotherapy in breast cancer treatment, study finds (Radio Transcript/TRT 2:26)

Researchers have found they can potentially target chemotherapy for breast cancer to only those women most likely to benefit, sparing the majority of patients from unnecessary side effects.

The multicenter study, led by University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers, found women whose breast cancer expressed a protein called HER-2 were most likely to benefit from adding the drug Taxol to the chemotherapy regimen, while women whose tumors were fueled by estrogen but did not express HER-2 did not get any benefit from the added Taxol. About 15 percent to 20 percent of breast cancers express HER-2, and as many as three-quarters of breast cancers are so-called estrogen-receptor-positive. (Full Press Release/October 2007)

Control acid reflux to prevent esophageal cancer
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:18)
Esophageal cancer rates are on the rise and the increase may be due to the rise in obesity. Fortunately, U-M experts have rediscovered a procedure that’s helping many patients battle this often silent form of cancer. (Full Press Release/July 2007)

Colon cancer risk: it's often all in the family
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:59)
Since about 10 percent of all colon cancers have a genetic component to them, experts at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center recommend that people with a strong family history of colon cancer get genetic counseling and early screening to know their risks.(Full Press Release/March 2007)

Women catching up to men in lung cancer deaths
(Radio Transcript / 1:42)
Lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer-related killer in the United States. And while men are more likely to die from lung cancer than women, the trend is starting to change. U-M experts say women are at high risk for developing lung cancer, particularly those women who smoke, and there is a greater risk of dying from lung cancer than from breast cancer. (Full Press Release/November 2006)

The link between breast cancer and osteoporosis
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:11)
Powerful chemotherapy drugs and estrogen-blocking hormone treatments are highly effective in treating breast cancer. But in the process they may be putting women at risk of another disease: osteoporosis. (Full Press Release/October 2006)

Writing a roadmap to the future for cancer survivors
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:14)
By 2010, an estimated 1 out of every 250,000 people will be a survivor of childhood cancer. For these survivors, cancer will always be a part of their lives, making it that much more important for them to carefully map out their future care to stay cancer-free. (Full Press Release/June 2006)

Lifting the veil of sadness after cancer loss
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:27)
A unique program at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center is helping to lift the ‘veil of sadness’ for family members grieving the loss of loved ones to cancer. The program extends the continuum of care to help families cope with their grief, either in a group setting or individually. (Full Press Release / April 2006)

Healthy baby is dream-come-true for woman with cancer
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:55)
This holiday season, Carrie and Brad Lintner have a lot to celebrate - a new baby and Carrie's defeat of Hodgkin's lymphoma. But none of it would have been possible without a unique robot-assisted surgery at the U-M Health System that preserved Carrie's fertility during her cancer treatment by relocating her ovaries behind her uterus during her radiation treatments.(Full Press Re lease / December 2005)

Fighting cancer from the inside out
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:07)
U-M scientists use nanotechnology to get cancer-killing drugs inside tumor cells

At the University of Michigan Nanotechnology Institute, a nanotechnology equivalent of a “Trojan Horse” has been created to smuggle a powerful chemotherapy drug inside a tumor cell, increasing the drug's cancer-killing ability. While it is still in the experimental stages, this technology holds great promise to revolutionize medicine. (Full Press Release / November 2005)

Unique U-M protocol brings hope to some with pancreatic cancer
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:23)
Treatment developed in lab moves to clinical care where it's improving survival among patients with this killer cancer

Pancreatic cancer will strike about 32,100 Americans in 2005, and it will kill 31,800. Surgery is possible only in about one-sixth of patients, and standard chemotherapy and radiation offer only small benefits against pancreatic cancer, which is why most patients are likely to die in less than a year. Despite that dismal prognosis, a new treatment developed at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center is giving patients a glimmer of hope. (Full Press Release / November 2005)

Advanced imaging, vessel-sparing radiation techniques help in prostate cancer treatment
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:56 )
As more men are cured of disease, focus shifts to quality of life
One of the dilemmas patients face after a prostate cancer diagnosis is choosing from several treatment options. Studies have not shown any of the options leads to greater survival rates. What it comes down to for most men is a choice between side effects.(Full Press Release / Sepember 2005)

The silent killer: Recognizing the early warning signs of bladder cancer
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:05 )
There's no easy screening test, there's no splashy awareness month and there are few clues to its existence early on. But experts urge people to pay attention to the signs of bladder cancer, which will develop in some 63,000 Americans this year. (Full Press Release / July 2005)

Unique dual treatment for liver cancer packs curative punch
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:41 )
Most often, liver tumors originate as cancer in another part of the body and spread to the liver. Primary liver cancer, or cancer that starts in the liver, is among the most serious and deadly types of cancer. Typically, it’s not discovered till an advanced stage because it causes few distinct symptoms. About 17,500 people are expected to be diagnosed with primary liver cancer this year, and 15,420 will die from it, according to the American Cancer Society. (Full Press Release / June 2005)

Listen to your voice: Changes could mean danger
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:45)
Many people take their voices for granted. For people whose careers revolve around speaking, such as teachers, salespeople, clergy and receptionists, untreated voice problems can greatly interfere with their work. It's important to take voice symptoms seriously. Such symptoms can include hoarseness; loss of vocal range; loss of volume or ability to project a loud voice; and loss of endurance. Neck muscle pain or throat soreness after voice use can also indicate a problem.
(Full Press Release / April 2005)

Color your diet with foods to prevent cancer
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:39)
The jury may be out on whether a low-carb diet is the best way to lose weight. But moderating the carbohydrates you eat could help prevent cancer. It's clear for all the top cancers that diet has an influence on your risk of getting cancers. (Full Press Release / March 2005)

50 is the golden age to begin routine colonoscopies
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:33)
Colon cancer, a cancer of the large intestine, is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States . It's also the leading cause of cancer death among non-smokers. The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2004, there were about 145,400 cases of colon cancer diagnosed, and approximately 56,300 colon cancer deaths in the U.S. Colonoscopies are the best way to prevent colorectal cancer and increase survival rate following diagnosis. (Full Press Release / March 2005)

Blood test provides window into treatment of advanced breast cancer
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:55 )
A new blood test could change the way doctors treat women whose breast cancer has spread to other parts of their body. Using a technology that separates the cancer cells circulating in the blood of women with metastatic breast cancer, doctors are able to count these cells and determine within just three to four weeks whether a new treatment is working. (Full Press Release / October 2004)

A bond of brothers: Siblings and prostate care
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:22)
Ongoing research at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center is looking at men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their unaffected brothers to help determine what genes are involved, if siblings realized they were at higher risk and what they are doing about it.
(Full Press Release / September 2004)

Newly approved therapy successfully targets cancer
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:16)
It’s estimated that in the year 2004, at least 54 to 55-thousand new cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma will be diagnosed in the United States, and about 300-thousand people at the present time are estimated to be living with the disease. More importantly, it is now ranked as the 6th leading cause of cancer death in the United States. (Full Press Release / Jan. 2004)

Surviving childhood leukemia:
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:09)
Leukemia is a form of cancer that arises from the bone marrow. Sometimes described as blood cancer, it affects the white blood cells, which help the body combat infection. In acute lymphocytic leukemia, or ALL, immature white blood cells divide uncontrollably, accumulating in the bloodstream, bone marrow and lymph system. This invasion of abnormal cells interferes with the production and function of the healthy blood cells making the person with leukemia highly susceptible to infections with little or no defense. (Full Press Release / Dec. 2003)

Knowing your risk: Genetic counseling for breast cancer
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:35)
Until recent years, the only course of action for these women was to stay vigilant and undergo regular mammograms. Now genetic testing for the two major genes known to account for a significant number of breast cancers is becoming more and more available.
(Full Press Release / Oct. 2003)

Uncovering the truth about life and sex after prostate cancer
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:56)
Even with lifesaving medical care available, men still worry about how the possible side-effects of their prostate cancer treatment will affect their overall quality of life and the intimate relationship they have with their partner. (Full Press Release / Sept.2003)

"Early warning" procedure helps more melanoma patients beat cancer
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:05)
An "early warning" procedure, called sentinel lymph node mapping, has been used for years by the U-M melanoma team, one of the most experienced in the country, on faces, throats, scalps, ears and necks of melanoma patients. (Full press release/April 2003)

U-M scientists find “stem cells” in human breast cancer
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:13)
Of all the neoplastic cells in human breast cancers, only a small minority - perhaps as few as one in 100 - appear to be capable of forming new malignant tumors, according to just-published research by scientists in the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. The discovery could help researchers zero in on the most dangerous cancer cells to develop new, more effective treatments. (Full press release/March 2003)

Spreading the word about sarcoma
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:59)
In an effort to raise public awareness about sarcoma,the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center, where actor Robert Urich received treatment from a team of noted sarcoma specialists, is teaming up with Urich's friend and former co-star, chef Emeril Lagasse.
(Full press release/Oct. 2002)

The big freeze: using cryosurgery to kill breast cancer
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:54)
Women may soon have a new weapon to use in the fight against breast cancer. This potentially new treatment, called cryosurgery, is currently being studied by the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.
(Full press release/Oct. 2002)

The quest for the best cure
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:17)
For the first time, a national trial will seek to compare two major forms of prostate cancer treatment - seed implant therapy and prostatectomy - to determine which is the most effective cure. (Full press release/Sept. 2002)

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Cardiovascular

How to be heart smart with your shopping cart
(Radio Transcript/TRT 3:42)
What you eat can have huge impact on your heart health. That’s why it’s important to read labels before putting food in your grocery cart. To help, U-M nutrition experts offer tips on what to look for on food packages to ensure you’re buying heart-healthy items.
(Full Press Release/February 2008)

U-M Cardiovascular Center opens June 11
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:53)
A grand-opening celebration will be held on June 7 for the new U-M Cardiovascular Center building, and it will open to patients on June 11. The new building will provide one-stop access to most of the University’s adult heart and vascular care – and allow U-M specialists from different disciplines to work together as never before. (Full Press Release/June 2007)

Leg pain can mean heart danger, U-M expert says
(Radio Transcript TRT 3:04)
Most people think clogged artery disease, or arterial sclerosis, only happens in the heart. But it can happen throughout the body. When it does, it’s called peripheral arterial disease or PAD. And in some people, PAD causes leg pain that can act as an early warning symptom that someone is at high risk for a heart attack or a stroke, say U-M experts. (Full Press Release/March 2007)

Fight back against inherited sudden-death heart condition
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:24)

A combination of better diagnosis, treatment and genetic testing is starting to help people fight back against hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an inherited condition that has the potential to cause sudden cardiac death. Now, people who have a family history of HCM can get a clearer picture of the risks that they and their children face. And, U-M experts say, that can help shape both treatment and preventive steps. (Full Press Release/September 2006)

Should you get a high-tech “snapshot” of your heart?
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:16)

New high-tech heart scanners can take high-speed “snapshots” of the heart and look for potential problems. Experts agree that this new technology, called 64-slice CT scanning, is poised to revolutionize heart care. So, should you get your heart checked out this way? It depends on who you are, say U-M Cardiovascular Center experts. (Full Press Release / March 2006)

Is high blood pressure in your genes?
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:04)
A multi-year U-M study has revealed a link between high blood pressure and a particular gene variation. The discovery may help explain why some people develop high blood pressure and others don't — and why some people's blood pressure increases as they age. (Full Press Release / February 2006)

Sex and the silver years
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:55)
Despite myths to the contrary, many older adults can and do stay sexually active well into later life. That’s why a U-M sex therapist is encouraging adults over age 50 to get off the couch this Valentine’s Day and date, or find ways to strengthen their sexual relationship with their partner. (Full Press Release / February 2006)

Adults born with heart defects face special challenges later in life
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:04)
Born with heart defects, many adults have grown up with limited function and the knowledge that their condition might shorten their lives. But the good news is that many adults with heart defects can have a life expectancy just like that of other Americans, especially if they’re treated by a doctor experienced with managing patients like them. (Full Press Release / February 2006)

Common syndrome multiplies risk of heart attack, stroke
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:48)
The old saying “three out of five ain’t bad” might be true in sports. But when it comes to your heart, three out of five can definitely be bad. More doctors now agree that there are five basic factors that can lead to heart disease and diabetes - and that anyone with at least three of these characteristics is at especially high risk.
(Full Press Release / January 2006)

For desperate heart patients too sick for surgery, U-M team offers life-saving technology
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:56 )
Dramatic rescues are made possible by a device called the TandemHeart pVAD, the first in a new generation of heart devices that can take over for the heart's pumping function but don't require surgery. U-M teams have helped more than a dozen patients already with the TandemHeart, and hope to help many more with this device and other, more experimental technologies now being tested. (Full Press Release / October 2005)

High-tech heart implants ready to help more Americans than ever, U-M expert says
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:30)
Nine years ago this week, a team of University of Michigan doctors gave a dying heart patient a second chance at life by implanting a high-tech pump in his chest. The high-risk procedure was the first in Michigan performed using a new blood-pumping device called a HeartMate, which helped the patient live until he received a heart transplant five weeks later. Today, an improved version of that same life-saving technology, and similar devices, have helped more than 175 U-M patients and thousands of Americans with failing hearts. (Full Press Release / October 2005)

A fix for failing hearts: Surgery with new device invented at U-M gives heart failure patients hope
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:26 )
University of Michigan athletes really know how to handle footballs and basketballs. But can they turn a basketball into a football? Probably not — but U-M heart surgeons can. They're fixing sick, basketball-shaped hearts and restoring them to a more normal, football-like shape, using a new device invented at the U-M Cardiovascular Center . The result is new hope, and a new treatment option, for people with heart failure.
(Full Press Release / September 2005)

Erectile dysfunction common among men with heart disease
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:53)
Heart disease – a potentially lethal and often debilitating affliction – can affect much more than just the heart.

The most common cause of heart disease, a hardening of the arteries known as atherosclerosis, often causes erectile dysfunction in men. Erectile dysfunction can be a sign that someone has heart disease and can be a predictor of the leading cause of death in the United States.

Zapping the heart back into rhythm:
U-M specialists lead the way in curing atrial fibrillation
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:18 )
If the electrical system in your house was going haywire, you’d call an electrician right away to fix it. But what if the electrical system in your heart was on the fritz?
Now, a new option offered at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center and a handful of other centers nationwide is proving to be a true, lasting cure for the vast majority of people who receive it.
(Full Press Release / June 2005)

Saving lives in a heartbeat
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:49 )
Cardiac arrest can strike with frightening speed. The patient may descend from apparently good health to unconsciousness, without warning and within seconds. Ideally, an ambulance could arrive in time. But since emergency personnel often need eight or nine minutes to reach a patient, a device called an in-home defibrillator might help save some of the 450,000 people who die each year from cardiac arrest.
(Full Press Release / February 2005)

Valentine’s Day traditions can be good for the heart
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:29)
Chocolate, wine and romance aren’t just the quickest ways to your true love’s heart. A University of Michigan Health System cardiologist says these Valentine’s Day traditions are also the way to a healthy heart.
(Full Press Release / February 2005)

Reducing the risk of a second heart attack
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:36)
Each year, approximately 1.2 million Americans suffer a heart attack. Of these, about 500, 000 have already had at least one heart attack. Research consistently shows that aggressively making changes to risk factors can reduce the likelihood of coronary artery disease. Making lifestyle changes is an important tool for people who have had a heart attack and who are willing to follow through with new heart-healthy habits to avoid another cardiac event. (Full Press Release / October 2004)

A lesson in heart health
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:17)

Unhealthy eating habits, coupled with the rising rate of obesity among America 's children, have lead experts to come together to teach students a very important lesson: how to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle to reduce their future risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
(Full Press Release / September 2004)

New hope for children with abnormal heart rythym
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:05)

Arrhythmias can cause the heart to beat too fast or too slow. Treatment for arrhythmia is done in the cardiac catheterization laboratory and involves identifying where the short circuit occurs within the heart. Doctors then put a catheter in that circuit and turn on energy, either heating or cooling. This lets the heart's normal conduction system work the way it's supposed to, creating a normal heartbeat. (Full Press Release / June 2004)

Dangerous clotting disorder can be caused by air travel
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:01)
Sitting in that cramped airline seat for a long international flight could be more than just uncomfortable. Those conditions, combined with the lower oxygen levels and dehydration common to airline travel could cause a serious condition called deep vein thrombosis. (Full Press Release / May 2004)

Cleansing the blood of ‘bad’ cholesterol
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:01)
For approximately one in 300,000 people exercise, a healthy diet and medications are not enough to reduce their cholesterol. They now have another option. Cholesterol apheresis is a blood-filtering technique similar to kidney dialysis that strips the blood of LDL cholesterol to help lower the levels of this artery-clogging substance. UMHS is one of a handful of centers across the country, and the only one in Michigan, to offer this technique. (Full Press Release / March 2004)

A ticking time bomb: Abdominal aortic aneurysm
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:57)
Nearly 15,000 Americans die each year from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Until it ruptures, this bulge in the main blood vessel that runs from the heart rarely causes any symptoms for the unsuspecting patient. However, it is a ticking time bomb.
Experts from UMHS recommend that men and women who are at risk for developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm talk with their health care professional about screening for this silent killer.
(Full Press Release / March 2004)

Americans still too slow in responding to heart attack,
U-M expert says, but simple tips can save lives
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:37)
What would you do if you started feeling chest pains right now, or if someone around you suddenly felt short of breath? If you’re like most Americans, you might wait it out for an hour or two, just to see if the symptoms go away. But that’s just about the worst way to react to such symptoms. (Full Press Release / Feb. 2004)

Stroke prevention is the best medicine
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:34)
Stroke is the most preventable catastrophic disease there is. Through knowledge of personal risk and a change in lifestyle, people can reduce their chance of having a stroke.
(Full press release / May 2003)

How can you mend a broken heart?
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:02)
A new treatment being tested by doctors and researchers at the U-M and other institutions may help mend patients' "broken hearts." The technique transplants cells from a patient's own leg muscles into the damaged part of the heart to help heal it. (Full press release/Feb. 2003)

Leptin
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:13)
High levels of leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells in the body, could explain why obese people develop dangerous blood clots.
(Full press release/April 2002)

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Children's Health

Virtual gaming no replacement for real exercise
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:34)
Video games like Wii Sports and Dance Dance Revolution can play an important role in getting kids off the couch and involved in physical activity. But U-M fitness experts say they are not a replacement for traditional exercise, and burn few calories.
(Full Press Release/March 2008)

Health tips to ease family travel
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:05)
While spring break trips can be fun for families, they can also be stressful — especially when it comes to dealing with unexpected health issues. To help alleviate some stress, a U-M pediatrician encourages parents to prepare for health situations before they take off on their next family getaway, and offers tips for what to pack should your child get sick while traveling. (Full Press Release/March 2008)

For babies with heart defects, busier hospital = lower risk
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:08)
Though the odds for infants with heart defects are much better now than they were even 10 years ago, a new U-M study suggests a way to give them a better chance at survival: Get them to hospitals that are the most experienced at handling such cases. It’s the first national study of this issue, and lends support to the creation of regional congenital heart centers.(Full Press Release/December 2007)

5 things to know about the HPV vaccine
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:45)
Millions are parents are struggling to decide if the HPV vaccine is right for their child. To help, a University of Michigan pediatrician looks into the fact and fiction of this controversial vaccine, and offers parents some advice and guidelines. (Full Press Release/August 2007)

Back-to-school season can be tough on kids with asthma
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:03)
Many of the 9 million children in this country who have asthma need more than just pencils and notepads when they return to the classroom each fall. According to U-M pediatric allergy specialists, these children require easy access to their inhalers and other medications, and the awareness of teacher and school officials about their condition. (Full Press Release/August 2007)

Living with dangerous food allergies: A safe place to learn the boundaries (Radio Transcript TRT 1:57)
Testing children with serious food allergies can be an extremely stressful and even dangerous situation. These concerns have prompted the U-M Health System to create an innovative Food Allergy Clinic that offers families a safe and relaxing facility to test or challenge for food allergies. (Full Press Release/August 2007)

A parent’s guide to understanding tonsils and strep
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:05)
When is a tonsillectomy the right choice for your child? And, why are some children more prone to chronic throat infections? To help answer those questions, a U-M Health System expert offers parents a seven-step guide to better understand tonsils, tonsillitis, strep and tonsillectomies before the start of the school year. (Full Press Release/August 2007)

Camp creates summer memories for kids with special needs
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:55)
It's every kid's summer dream to climb and swing from trees, go fishing, play outdoors, take boat rides, and have slumber parties with friends. While those dreams may seem impossible for children with disabilities, a very special camp called Trail’s Edge Camp has been them a reality for more than 25 years.
(Full Press Release/July 2007)

7 ways for kids to have a slimmer summer
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:37)
This might be the first generation of children who do not outlive their parents because of health problems related to childhood overweight and obesity. But parents can take action now to help prevent the early onset of these diseases. And, U-M experts say, summer is an excellent time to make some healthy lifestyle changes that will benefit kids and the entire family.
(Full Press Release/June 2007)

New device offers hope to children with chest, spinal deformities
(Radio Transcript /TRT 2:13)
The U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital is the first in the state to offer a new device to help children born with a deformity of the chest wall or spine grow normally into adulthood. Called VEPTR, this implantable device is designed to mechanically stabilize and lengthen certain deformities of the spine and torso, allowing normal lung development and offering correction for some spinal conditions. (Full Press Release/March 2007)

Rotavirus: Messy diapers may be sign of severe intestinal infection(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:04)
While mild bouts of diarrhea aren’t uncommon in young children, moderate to severe diarrhea, lasting several days could be a sign a dangerous infection in the intestines known as rotavirus gastroenteritis. A U-M expert explains how parents can help prevent the spread of rotavirus, and care for their child through unpleasant episodes. (Full Press Release/September 2006

Kids behave and sleep better after tonsillectomy, study finds
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:27)
A rigorous new U-M study finds that children who have surgery to remove their tonsils are very likely to behave and sleep better one year later. In fact, about half of the children in the study who were found to have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder before tonsil surgery no longer met criteria for this diagnosis one year later.(Full Press Release / April 2006

Teaching kids healthy habits for life
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:09)
The University of Michigan Health System believes schools can be a vehicle for healthy lifestyle changes that will last a lifetime – and possibly help curb obesity in America. That’s why it created Project Healthy Schools, a program that is paving the way for a long, healthy life by teaching kids in middle schools how to eat right and exercise. (Full Press Release / February 2006)

Medbuddies: A child's constant friend in the hospital(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:15)
For most medical students, the first two years of training are largely composed of lectures, labs and endless book-study. But an innovative student-run program at the University of Michigan Medical School is helping first and second year medical students to see the human side of medicine by pairing them with pediatric patients.
(Full Press Release / December 2005)

Parents: Get the lead out
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:18)
Lead-based paint and gasoline have been banned for sale in the United States for more than 25 years, but peeling paint and even dust in older homes are today still placing American children at risk for lead poisoning. That's why U-M experts say it's so important for parents to find out if their child is at risk and get them tested.(Full Press Release / December 2005)

Is your child overscheduled & overstressed?
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:03)
From birth through high school, it seems that American kids today have a full calendar every day of the week. And for families with two or more children, and parents who work outside the home, it can get pretty hectic trying to get everyone to the right place at the right time. It's hectic for the parents. But what about the kids? (Full Press Release / August 2005)

Potty training tactics
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:40 )
Potty training is an important milestone in a child's life. Training can easily turn aggravating, though, when a child isn't as responsive as hoped. U-M doctors have valuable toilet-training tips to help parents with the process, including signs that indicate when your child is ready to begin training.(Full Press Release / July 2005)

Helpling kids be "CHAMP's" with constraint therapy
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:10)
A program offered at the University of Michigan Health System has children with brain injuries using weakened or underdeveloped upper extremities. The Comprehensive Hand-Arm Movement Program, or CHAMP, works through a combination of the children learning new techniques for using their arm and actual changes that occur in the brain. (Full Press Release / June 2004)

Kids and car safety
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:52)
We depend on cars everyday to drive the kids to school, soccer practice, and friends' houses. But many people underestimate the dangers of motor vehicles. More than just modes of transportation, cars are potential weapons that kill thousands of people each year, but we can make efforts to keep children safer.
(Full Press Release / June 2004)

Family exercise can be the key to healthier lifestyle for kids
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:01)
In the last two decades the number of overweight and obese children has more than doubled, putting them at risk to become overweight or obese adults with serious problems such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and even psychological and social problems. Fortunately, parents can take steps now to prevent this.
(Full Press Release / April 2004)

Bringing HOPE to students
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:01)
The Health Occupations Partners in Education Program, offered by the University of Michigan Medical School, helps minority high school students learn about careers in the health care field, providing tutoring, job shadowing and academic advice. (Full Press Release / April 2004)

Schools and parents create “peanut-free” zones to keep kids safe
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:49)
As children head back to school, the daily grind of packing lunches begins as well. But this fall, children may be eating fewer peanut butter and jelly sandwiches around school.
(Full Press Release/ Aug. 2003)

Children with Down syndrome walk earlier with help from parents and Olympic-style technology
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:19)
A baby’s first steps is one of the most critical milestones of childhood. Researchers at the University of Michigan’s Division of Kinesiology developed a unique mobility study that is helping children with Down syndrome walk with more stability at an earlier age. (Full press release/July 2003)

Healthy campers are happy campers
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:23)
Thousands of children are injured each year at camp — some seriously — and a few die. Parents can do a lot to keep their kids safe and healthy at summer camp, says a University of Michigan doctor who has special expertise in camp health and safety.
(Full press release/June 2003

Outlook much brighter today for kids with cleft lip and palate
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:54)
Through surgery, therapy and counseling, children with cleft lip and palate have been given a chance to have a normal face, and the normal physical, mental and social development that go along with it. (Full press release/Jan. 2003)

Childhood discipline: the good, the bad and the ugly
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:07)
U-M pediatric behavior specialists provides parents with tips on how to effectively discipline children while nurturing their development.(Full press release/Jan. 2003)

Keep kids from gobblin' down too much candy
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:59)
U-M nutrition experts offer up simple tips for parent to help kids eat healthy at trick-or-treat time - and year-round to prevent childhood obesity. (Full press release/Oct. 2002)

Parents: Keep an eye on your child's ears
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:22)
Severe hearing loss in babies is more common than you might think. That's why from birth onward, U-M experts say it's important to catch hearing loss early. (Full press release/Sept. 2002)

Asthma plan helps parents, kids breathe a sigh of relief
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:03)
If your child has asthma, it's important for him to be equipped with special medical instructions for their teachers and after-school caregivers.
(Full press release/August 2002)

Lighten up! (Radio Transcript/TRT 1:40)
A new U-M study has found that an overloaded school bag can be a pain in your child's back. So before school starts, make sure your kid has the best backpack and knows the right way to wear it.
(Full press release/August 2002)

Pediatric ear tubes helps curb over-use of antibiotics
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:44)
Specialists at the U-M Health System suggest that in many cases, antibiotics might not be the best defense against chronic ear infections.
(Full press release/August 2002)

What's causing your child's behavior problems?
(Radio transcript/TRT 1:48)
A U-M physician explains how sleep apnea could be linked to hyperactivity in children. (Full press release/July 2002)

Kids & Headaches (Radio Transcript/TRT 2:06)
U-M physicians say headaches are just as big of a problem for children as they are for adults. But identifying them early in a child’s life can help alleviate some of the pain. (Full press release/May 2002)

Child Abuse (Radio Transcript/TRT 1:56)
Physicians with the U-M Child Protection Team give advice on detecting child abuse, how to talk with children about the subject, and how to help children protect themselves. (Full press release/April 2002)

Play Project (Radio Transcript/TRT 2:56)
A U-M program aims to coax autistic children out of that shell early in life, using an intensive form of play-based therapy delivered by parents who have been trained by experts. (Full press release/April 2002)

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Depression

Everyone needs to be on the lookout for warning signs of teen suicide (Radio Transcript TRT 3:29)
On the surface, Chase Edwards appeared to be a bright and happy boy. But his parents didn’t realize that his problems sleeping and his irritability were more than just adolescent moodiness until he took his own life at the age of 12. With the hope of saving other young, bright lives, the Edwards family recently helped pass a law that will encourage school systems in Michigan to train school personnel in some of the signs of clinical depression in youth.
(Full Press Release/January 2007)

Crawling out of the deep hole of cancer depression
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:51)
Increasingly, health care providers are realizing the many mental health issues involved in a cancer diagnosis. It starts with the adjustment of hearing a diagnosis and understanding what it means and continues through the grueling nature of most cancer treatments and the uncertainty and worry that the cancer will come back or spread.
(Full Press Release / April 2005)

Handling stress before it handles you
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:10)
What was your day like today? Did you wake up late, slurp down a cup of coffee and speed through busy traffic on your way to work? What about after work? Could you come home and relax or were you forced to finish up errands from last week? With the pace of life reeling out of control, stress and the overwhelming sensation that comes with it is becoming a problem for almost everyone.
(Full Press Release / Jan. 2004)

Getting a grip on holiday anxieties
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:01)
Since holiday stress can trigger panic attacks or acute social anxiety, mental health specialists with the U-M Health System encourage people to slow down and for those individuals suffering from anxiety disorders to seek professional help. (Full press release/Dec. 2002 )

Linking smoking and depression
(Radio transcript/TRT 2:27)
Who's most likely to puff their life away and why? Several U-M studies, including one that will look at the relationship between smoking and depression, hope to find out.
(Full press release/July 2002)

Elderly Depression (Radio Transcript/TRT 2:27)
Millions of older Americans face mental health problems, but most aren't getting the kind of professional help they may need to prevent a decline in their mental and physical health. (Full press release/May 2002)

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Diabetes

Exciting times for people with diabetes means few excuses for high blood sugar
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:06)
A generation ago, there was just one kind of pill that could help people with diabetes keep their blood sugar levels down. But today, virtually anyone with diabetes can find an option that will work for them, and keep their blood sugar low enough to prevent or delay long-term problems like heart attacks, blindness, amputation and kidney failure. (Full Press Release/November 2006)

Burning or tingling feet may be early warning of pre-diabetes
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:56 )
Researchers are investigating neuropathy, or nerve damage characterized by a persistent tingling, burning or numbness in the hands and feet, as an early warning sign of pre-diabetes. Their preliminary research also suggests that lifestyle modifications, including weight loss and regular exercise, may be able to prevent further nerve damage among patients with pre-diabetes and – very possibly – reverse the damage.
(Full Press Release / July 2005)

The coming diabetes explosion: a by-product of America’s obesity epidemic
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:06)
Being overweight or obese puts you at a very high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which carries many significant health threats. The most serious of these health risks is heart disease—the leading cause of death related to diabetes. So what can we do to reduce our risk for diabetes and diabetes-related heart disease? Eat healthy and get active!
(Full Press Release / February 2005)

Diabetes and travel
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:26 )
The busiest travel season of the year will find many Americans packing their bags for places near and far. But for individuals with diabetes travel can be challenging. With a little planning, you can have fun on your trip, enjoy yourself and not run into problems.
(Full Press Release / November 2004)

Are you at risk for kidney disease? (Radio transcript/TRT 2:18)
The number of people who develop diabetes is on the rise. And older individuals, people with a history of high blood pressure and African Americans are more likely to develop high blood pressure, making them at risk for developing kidney disease. (Full press release/June 2002)

Identifying pre-diabetes: just look in your mirror
(Radio transcript/TRT 2:40)
About 16 million Americans have a condition known as pre-diabetes, which, if left untreated, often develops into full-blown diabetes, carrying with it a myriad of additional health risks and complications.
(Full press release/June 2002)

Diabetes (Radio Transcript/TRT 1:58)
Very few people, including many of the 10 million Americans with the disease, would associate diabetes with foot care. (Full press release/April 2002)

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Endocrinology

7 common myths about osteoporosis
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:38)
Even though millions of Americans suffer from bone loss due to osteoporosis, it still remains a widely misunderstood disease. To help separate fact from fiction, a U-M endocrinologist offers information about osteoporosis, as well as diagnosis, prevention and treatment options available for the disease.
(Full Press Release/ May 2007)

Small gland, big problems: Diagnosing thyroid disease
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:35)
Endocrinologists at the U-M Health System recommend that men and women ask their health care provider to check their thyroid as part of their routine health care. (Full press release/April 2003)

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Eye Conditions

Itchy, burning eyes can be sign of dry eye syndrome
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:10)
Dry eye syndrome isn’t just something that happens during allergy season or when you’ve slept overnight in your contacts. It’s a serious and often painful condition, which affects an estimated 20 percent of the population over age 50, primarily women. And if left untreated, dry eyes can lead to a decrease in vision. (Full Press Release / May 2006)

Sight for sore eyes
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:12 )
Basketball, baseball, soccer, paintball – it's all fun and games until someone gets an elbow, ball or paint pellet in the eye. Sports-related eye injuries – which affect more than 40,000 people in the United States a year – can lead to considerable loss of vision.
(Full Press Release / April 2005)

Senior Drivers: Assess your driving before hanging up the keys
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:12 ) (Radio Transcript / TRT 2:12 )
For many seniors, the thought of hanging up the car keys might feel like an end to independence. But when the fatality rate per mile driven for older drivers — those aged 85 years and older — is nine times higher than the rate for drivers aged 25 to 69 years, it becomes a problem that seniors and their loved ones can no longer ignore. (Full Press Release / November 2004)

Bionic eyes? Implanted telescope offers hope for those with macular degeneration

(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:20)
Macular degeneration, a common eye condition that affects more than 13 million Americans – usually those over age 60. Now a tiny, implantable telescope may offer those people struggling with macular degeneration some hope. (Full Press Release / Dec. 2003)

Lift the fog of age-related cataracts

(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:59)
Cataracts affect about 50 percent of all Americans by the age of 65, and approximately three-quarters of all 75-year-olds. About half of the men and women suffering from cataracts will have significant enough changes in their vision to warrant treatment. (Full Press Release/ Aug. 2003)

Watching your kids for the signs of eye disease
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:13)
When detected early, strabismus and amblyopia can be successfully treated to prevent childhood vision loss. (Full press release/Jan. 2003)

Seeing into your future takes more than just a crystal ball
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:45)
U-M ophthalmologists offer up some clear advice for taking care of your eyes as they age to prevent low vision and blindness.
(Full press release/August 2002)

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Infectious diseases

A ‘pox' on shingles: Vaccine proven effective for debilitating disease
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:17)
Chicken pox is an annoying, itchy rash for children, but the virus that causes chicken pox can cause Shingles, a very serious health problem for older adults. A national study by the Department of Veterans Affairs found that a higher dose of the children's chicken pox vaccine can help to prevent shingles in adults. When shingles did occur, the vaccine reduced the chronic pain of the nerve disease often associated with the infection. (Full Press Release / September 2005)

Potentially dangerous staph infections spreading
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:36)

Staph bacteria are not uncommon in health care settings. In fact, they account for a large number of hospital-related infections each year. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of these types of bacteria which is now found among athletes, military recruits and others in the general population. What is particularly concerning to medical experts is that MRSA is resistant to many common antibiotics.
(Full Press Release / August 2004)

Keeping on guard against West Nile Virus
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:46)
Infectious disease specialists at the UMHS believe that, although the chances of becoming seriously ill from West Nile Virus are very small, it is a good idea to take precautions against mosquito bites this summer – especially for the elderly.
(Full press release/June 2003)

Polio a thing of the past?
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:02)
For men and women who contracted the polio through epidemics of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, many are experiencing the late effects of their struggle with polio. The U-M Post-Polio Clinic is studying the way age and gender are effecting this population.
(Full press release/April 2003)

U-M treatment for hepatitis C has good results
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:45)
Physicians at the U-M Health System urge people with risk factors for hepatitis C to be tested, because early diagnosis and treatment can mean the difference between life and death. (Full press release/Oct. 2002)

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Medical School

Medical School blog gives students “Dose of Reality”
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:13)
Just about every network on television features a show about young doctors and medical students in training. How realistic are they? What’s the experience really like? The U-M Medical School recently launched the “Dose of Reality” blogs to help answer that question. The site enables medical students to share with others their thoughts, feelings, triumphs and frustrations.(Full Press Release/November 2006)

Heading back to campus? Watch for depression triggered by college stresses, U-M expert advises
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:51)
There’s a common college experience that one in seven students may face: depression. Brought on by a combination of students’ vulnerable age and the stress and demands of college life, depression and related conditions can strike for the first time in college, or come back to haunt those who had first battled it in high school.
(Full Press Release/ Aug. 2003)

U-M doctors head back to the classroom for business training
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:44)
Doctors are going to business school to learn the business of health care. Ultimately it will result in shorter wait times, faster access to test results, and improved customer satisfaction for patients. (Full press release/ May 2003)

U-M Medical School re-orients approach to teaching medicine
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:23)
Since health care systems are under increasing pressure to deliver high quality care in a cost-effective manner, doctors-to-be are finding a greater emphasis on critical reasoning skills, earlier access to patients. (Full press release/March 2003)

Program teaches students to walk in patients' shoes
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:26)
Beginning this fall, first year medical students at the U-M Medical School will visit patients in their homes to get an understanding of how family, environment, culture, and lifestyle all play a part in an individual's health. The Family Centered Experience is one of the new programs being instituted as part of curriculum changes at the UMMS. (Full press release/March 2003)

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New technology

They're neck-and-neck down the long stretch:
Two stroke-prevention procedures give similar benefit
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:04)
Like horses running down the long stretch of a race track, two different artery-opening treatments appear to be running neck-and-neck when it comes to preventing stroke among people with clogged neck arteries and other health problems.
(Full Press Release/April 2008)

Catheter chaos: Hospitals mixed on UTI prevention
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:56)
American hospitals are all over the map when it comes to preventing the most common type of in-hospital infection -- urinary tract infections related to the use of urinary catheters -- a new U-M/VA study finds. That means that hospitalized patients and families shouldn't be afraid to speak up to ask if a catheter is still necessary.
(Full Press Release/January 2008)

Invisible ink: The removal of unwanted tattoos
(Radio Transcript TRT 2:03)
Behind every tattoo is a story. But for a growing number of people, the story behind their tattoo is something they’d like to erase – like the tattoo itself. While laser technology is making it easier to remove most tattoos, it can still be a painful and costly process. (Full Press Release/July 2007)

Fibromyalgia: The misunderstood disease
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:31)
Ongoing research at the University of Michigan is demonstrating that fibromyalgia may affect millions of Americans, and research using sophisticated imaging techniques is helping the medical community better understand this disease. (Full Press Release/June 2007)

Advanced imaging technique allows for more accurate neurosurgery
(Radio Transcript TRT 2:09)
The U-M Health System is taking brain imaging to the molecular level, allowing doctors to image more than the brain – to image the mind. These advanced images are being used to better plan brain surgeries in order to help avoid critical structures and brain connections that could have a devastating impact on the patient. (Full Press Release/June 2007)

Deadly disease that scars lungs sends patients on ‘Quest for Breath’ (Radio Transcript / TRT 2:42)
An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 people in the U.S. may be living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive scarring of the lungs in which lung function declines. While there currently is no cure, new research at the U-M Health System, supported by an initiative called Quest for Breath, may bring hope in the future.
(Full Press Release/September 2006)

Boomers: It’s not your grandma’s hip replacement
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:48)
Advancements in hip replacement – from the procedure itself to the variety of hip prostheses available and shortened recovery times – have more and more baby boomers turning to surgery earlier in life to stay active and better their quality of life.(Full Press Release / April 2006)

When breathing needs a tune-up, harmonica class hits all the right notes
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:37)
Weekly harmonica instruction is one way that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can focus on their breathing in a way that improves their respiratory function, says a pulmonary specialist at UMHS. (Full Press Release / October 2005)

One-stop shopping: New University of Michigan web site connects the public to U-M studies that need volunteers
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:56 )
From cancer and heart disease to rare disorders, the University of Michigan is one of the world's largest centers for studies of new medical treatments and ideas. The U-M Health System has launched a new web site that provides one-stop public access to studies taking place around the University. (Full Press Release / October 2005)

‘Virtual surgery’ simulations help train tomorrow’s surgeons
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:52)
The rigors of medical school teach the information required to become a physician, but when it comes to surgery, the greatest teacher is experience. Traditional surgical training is done through a type of immersive apprenticeship, with experienced surgeons teaching residents in the operating room over a period of years. Now, doctors-in-training can practice their skills on extremely realistic procedural simulators, including those designed for developing surgical skills. These sophisticated simulators mimic the look – and even the feel – of performing an actual surgical procedure, allowing surgical trainees to practice techniques before they ever reach the operating room.
(Full Press Release / December 2004)

New shoe insole design decreases the risk of serious foot infection for diabetics
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:08)
More than 60 percent of all non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in the United States occur among people with diabetes — a disease that causes many complications due to the body’s inability to produce or properly use insulin. Two effects of diabetes, nerve damage (neuropathy) and poor circulation, only help to aggravate blisters and calluses on the feet. And if the wounded areas are left untreated, infections may develop and lead to gangrene or even amputation. (Full Press Release / Dec.2003)

Remarkable surgery removes huge tumor from behind youth’s face
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:26)
It was an oral surgeon who first recognized something was growing around the boy’s nasal cavity and immediately referred Zach to the University of Michigan Health System. Doctors diagnosed a benign tumor called juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. It was growing in the back of Zach’s nasal cavity and had spread through the skull base to push against the covering of his brain. (Full Press Release / Dec. 2003)

Advancing Medical Research: Clinical Trials
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:02)
The world of medicine is changing faster today than ever and a large part of that change is due to the increasing numbers of clinical trials. These trials test everything from drugs to medical devices, to innovative treatment protocols, all on volunteer patients. (Full Press Release / Sept.2003)

U-M doctors implant new ‘bionic ear’
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:04)
A rare condition, known as neurofibromatosis type II is a hereditary disorder caused by non-cancerous tumors that grow on the hearing and balance nerves. Surgeries to remove these ‘acoustic neuromas’ can leave a person completely deaf. A complex surgical procedure available at the University of Michigan Health System can give a person a chance for a new kind hearing with a ‘bionic ear.’
(Full press release / July 2003)

Overcoming stress incontinence
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:40)
Physicians estimate that up to three-quarters of all women experience some kind of urinary incontinence during their lifetime. Now experts at the University of Michigan Health System are offering a new solution – tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) to correct the problem.
(Full press release/ July 2003)

A bridge that leads to the gift of life
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:18)
U-M doctors are currently testing an "artificial liver", a unique machine that can temporarily take over some of the functions of a failing liver and act as a "bridge" to transplant. (Full press release/Dec. 2002)

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Nutrition

Diet, exercise can put kids on a path to a healthy heart
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:11)
Millions of kids today may face heart disease in the future, especially if heart disease runs in the family. But University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center experts say parents can act now to change their children’s diet and exercise regime to put them on a better path to a healthy heart. (Full Press Release/February 2008)

Spice up your health this new year
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:08)
This New Year, make the resolution to spice up your health – literally. By adding spices like basil, oregano, garlic and rosemary to your diet, you can fight cancer, lower blood pressure and even maintain a healthy weight.
(Full Press Release/January 2007)

What you feed your baby now may impact his waistline later (Radio Transcript / TRT 2:14)
U-M researchers say that feeding your baby and toddler foods made with real fruits and vegetables, instead of sweets, early in life could be the key to controlling their waistline as they grow through childhood and into adulthood. (Full Press Release/September 2006)

What you drink may be ruining your diet
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:20)
Think you’ve got your diet under control? You may be gulping down hundreds of unwanted calories each day without even knowing it. To help you make healthier beverage choices – from soda and sports drinks to fruit juice and milk – and cut back on extra calories, a U-M expert offers tips that will help quench your thirst and keep your diet in check.  (Full Press Release/July 2006)

Probiotic microbes could be a key to good healths
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:48)

One of the keys to good health could be living in our guts. Researchers are finding that “good” bacteria living in our digestive tracks, known as probiotic bacteria, helps to not only stimulate digestive health, but also a healthy immune system. And it may even be a key to understanding obesity. (Full Press Release / March 2006)

Mother knew best: Ginger’s medicinal benefits
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:15)
A common mother’s home remedy for a tummy ache or nausea has long been a glass of ginger ale or ginger tea. It turns out mom was onto something. Now U-M researchers are specifically looking at whether ginger can also be used to prevent nausea from chemotherapy.
(Full Press Release / January 2006)

Healthy school lunches increase kid's appetite for learning
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:26)
Eating a healthy lunch, with limited sugar, can help children do better in school
What you pack in your child's lunchbox can determine his or her appetite for learning. Studies show kids who eat healthy lunches, with limited sugar, tend to learn better throughout the afternoon.
(Full Press Release / September 2005)

Salt kicks hypertension up a notch
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:51)
Do you think you’re doing enough to reduce sodium in your diet by not adding extra dashes from the salt shaker to your dinner plate?
That will help, but it’s not nearly enough. The bigger problem is that salt hides in a range of foods – including soup, cereal, frozen dinners and canned vegetables – and the result can be higher blood pressure in people with hypertension (high blood pressure). (Full Press Release / June 2005)

Turning ‘yuck’ into ‘yum’ for picky eaters
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:44)
Believe it or not, children don’t develop picky eating habits just to annoy and frustrate their parents. Picky eating is actually believed to be rooted in our natural evolution as humans. But, there are ways to make mealtime less stressful. (Full Press Release / May 2005)

The buzz about energy drinks
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:37 )
Highly caffeinated energy drinks – such as Red Bull, Go-Fast! and Monster – market themselves as sources of increased energy and concentration. But are these drinks good for you? An addiction specialist raises some concerns about the beverages, particularly when they are mixed with alcohol, ingested before intensive exercise or used by children.
(Full Press Release / March 2005)

Obesity growing as health concern for people with spinal cord injury
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:16 )
Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System are looking at how people with spinal cord injury burn calories and how that is affected by their muscle mass and body weight. The goal is to make better recommendations to people with spinal cord injury, but the research will also translate into greater understanding of obesity in the general population as well. (Full Press Release / January 2005)

Giving up the diet resolution
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:27)
America seems to be a country on a diet. At any one time, more than 25 percent of men and 45 percent of women are dieting, yet the United States has the highest incidence of obesity in the world. Here are some suggestions to make your New Year's resolutions stick and help ensure 2005 is the year we abandon the “diet mindset” to controlling our eating decisions. (Full Press Release / January 2005)

Weight loss answers: How do we get so fat?
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:25)
We're less active. We eat super-sized portions of greasy, processed food. And as a society we're getting older. Combine these factors and you get a population in which nearly a quarter of the country is obese. It's a $100 billion burden that appears to be getting worse.
(Full Press Release / July 2004)

Weight loss answers: How diets work in the body
(Radio Transcript / TRT 3:09 )
Maybe you've tried them all. It's even likely they all worked at first, until suddenly you seemed to hit a wall. With the increasing prevalence of obesity in the United States , what's a desperate dieter to do?
(Full Press Release / July 2004)

Mighty vitamin D is heart samrt
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:54)

It’s time for vitamin D to get its day in the sun. Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System are finding this often ignored bone-building vitamin can play a significant role in the prevention of heart disease and the function of other critical body systems. And getting enough vitamin D in your system is as easy as soaking up the sun. (Full Press Release / May 2004)

Low-carb mania: getting past the hype
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:02)
In today’s low-carb craze, weight loss plans that once promoted low-fat, high-carbohydrate foods like potatoes and breads as the keys to a healthy diet have been pushed aside in favor of a menu of meats, eggs, and cheeses. Even the Burger King Whopper has gone bunless. (Full Press Release / Feb. 2004)

Eating healthier in the New Year by cracking the food label code
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:41)
Polyunsaturated, saturated, trans-fat, natural sugar, added sugar, low fat, light, no fat—it can all lead to confusion when we shop the aisles of our local grocery store. (Full Press Release / Jan. 2004)

Fighting obesity by conquering “The Hunger Within”
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:15)
Dozens of weight-loss books dot the best-seller lists, and the airwaves are thick with advertisements for weight-loss solutions. But in spite of these purported ‘answers,’ the number of overweight Americans continues to grow. According to recent statistics, two-thirds of us are overweight and one-third are considered obese – weighing at least 100 pounds over acceptable standards. (Full Press Release / Jan. 2004)

Exposing the hidden syndrome: Irritable Bowel
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:12)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is among the most common gastrointestinal problems in the United States. Symptoms suggestive of IBS include abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea. But, people many shy away from discussing the problem and end up missing out on effective treatment for the syndrome. (Full Press Release / Oct.2003)

Help your overweight child have a healthy future through simple food and exercise tips, U-M expert says
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:59)
America’s children and teenagers are too fat, they don’t get enough exercise, and they’re doomed to a lifetime of health problems if they don’t lose weight. But what’s an ordinary parent supposed to do if a child or teenager is overweight? (Full Press Release / Sept.2003)

The A-B-C's of organic foods
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:41)
For a growing number of Americans, the choice seems clear: buy organic. But for many others, the higher price tag or questionable value of organic foods keep them out of the family's grocery cart. (Full press release/March 2003 )

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Prescription drug / Patient safety

Stress may lead students to stimulants
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:05)
Recent studies show that a growing number of high school and college students are turning to stimulants like ADHD drugs and energy drinks to help them through their stress — particularly during exam time. U-M experts say that misuse of stimulants can lead to serious health consequences, and encourage parents to take steps toward preventing their children from overusing stimulants.
(Full Press Release/April 2008)

Study proves the co-pay connection in chronic disease
(Radio Transcript/TRT 3:09)
As 2008 begins, millions of Americans are facing higher insurance co-pays for drugs and doctor appointments. But a new study finds that instead of going up, co-pays should go down - at least for some people taking some drugs. For people with chronic diseases, a few dollars can make all the difference when deciding to buy key preventive medicines.
(Full Press Release/January 2008)

What drug is best for you? Ask your genes
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:20 )
When patients receive chemotherapy, 15 percent will have severe side effects while 85 percent will not – even though they're given the same relative dose. What determines this reaction? It's all in your genes and the way in which each individual's body processes the drugs.
(Full Press Release / October 2005)

Baby Boomers put the hurt on the health care system
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:43 )
The oldest of the Baby Boomer generation will turn 60 this fall, and unlike their predecessors, they aren't afraid to visit the doctor. In fact, their interest in staying healthy coupled with their sheer numbers are taxing the health care system more than any group in history. (Full Press Release / August 2005)

When drugs collide, health can suffer
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:01 )
Cardiovascular medications help to prevent heart attack and stroke, saving many people from the number-one killer in the United States. But taking certain over-the-counter drugs or herbal remedies along with them can cause the prescribed cardiovascular drugs to lose their effectiveness or to increase their potency in ways that can be beneficial or harmful.
(Full Press Release / May 2005)

Pay bills or pay for medications?
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:21 )
Recently, researchers at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and the U-M Health System have been taking a closer look at the health consequences patients face when they are unable to pay for their prescribed medications, and how health care providers are helping patients get the medication assistance they need.
(Full Press Release / January 2005)

If you've ever had heart trouble, the Fab Four of heart drugs could help you "Get Back" to health, saying "I feel fine"
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:29)
Listen -- do you want to know a secret? Do you promise not to tell? The Fab Four are back, and they're heading straight for the hearts of millions. It's enough to make you want to “Twist and Shout”! This Fab Four is a combination of four kinds of medicines that can protect the heart — and maybe save the life — of almost anyone who has ever had a heart attack or chest pain. But many of those who could benefit from this drug combo haven't heard the news. (Full Press Release / November 2004)

The long journey: Caring for the caregiver
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:51 )
Caregiving without help over a long period of time takes its toll emotionally, physically and financially. U-M expert offers caregivers who are going through a stressful situation suggestions on how to look for people who can help. (Full Press Release / September 2004)

U-M doctors get under the skin of acne patients to find new clues to better treatment
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:26 )

University of Michigan researchers are working to defeat acne by understanding it better on a molecular level, and testing new ideas about how to treat it. They've enlisted armies of volunteers in their efforts to explore acne's roots in the cells and chemicals under the surface of the skin, and to try new combinations of pills, creams and other potential therapies. (Full Press Release / September 2004)

Poison-proof your home to prevent accidents
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:13 )

Every 15 seconds a person in the United States is accidentally poisoned, and about 60 percent of those people are children younger than age six. To help prevent common household poisonings, a U-M expert offers some advice on keeping kids and adults safe. (Full Press Release / June 2004)

Can daily aspirin therapy save your life?
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:47)
Aspirin is considered a wonder drug based on its affect on heart
(Full press release/ May 2003)

A prescription for patient safety
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:15)
Preventable medical errors happen everyday in hospitals across the country, putting thousands of patients at risk. That's why the U-M Health System is trying to prevent these errors and to help keep patients safe.
(Full press release/Nov. 2002 )

Does your medicine cabinet need a check-up?
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:54)
U-M Pharmacy Services specialists prescribe cleaning out your medicine cabinet once a year to get ride of expired medications and restock you first aid supplies. (Full press release/Sept. 2002)

Rx for savvy consumers (Radio transcript/TRT 2:10)
U-M expert offers tips to help you sort through all of the latest in prescription drugs so you can get the most from your medicine choices.
(Full press release/June 2002)

Ancient vs. modern medicine
(Radio trasncript/TRT 2:01)
Are ancient treatments really a safe and effective alternative to some of the greatest advances in prescriptive and surgical medicine? U-M CAMRC studies investigate the best alternative. (Full press release/July 2002)back to top

Seasonal Tips / Activities

Spring cleaning … for your nose
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:09)
Relief for a runny or stuffy nose, watery eyes or post-nasal drip is just a rinse away, say experts at the University of Michigan Health System. Nasal irrigation - rinsing the nose and nasal passages with a solution, typically salt water – is a cheap and easy way for the millions of people who suffer with spring allergies and nasal congestion to alleviate symptoms. (Full Press Release/April 2008)

Bring in the New Year with a new fitness routine
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:17)
Joining a gym is easy. What’s hard is sticking with an exercise routine for more than a few weeks into the new year. To start and stick with a new workout plan through 2008, a University of Michigan Health System fitness expert offers advice for setting reasonable fitness goals, and staying motivated at the gym.
(Full Press Release/January 2008)

Tips to get into shape without leaving the house
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:23)
Don’t have the time, money or the desire to sign up for a gym membership? That shouldn’t keep you from making a New Year’s resolution to get fit. University of Michigan Health System fitness experts say you don’t have to join a gym to develop a successful and sustainable fitness regimen. With the right equipment and motivation, you can start an exercise program at home that will last.
(Full Press Release/January 2008)

Avoid tummy trouble while traveling this holiday season
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:40)
While holiday goodies are often to blame, U-M gastroenterologists say that holiday travel, along with stress and poor eating habits, can create a recipe for tummy trouble too. But, they say, understanding your gut’s internal rhythm and watching what you eat when you travel can help ease tummy trouble this holiday season.
(Full Press Release/December 2007)

5 tips for buying the safest toys for kids this holiday season
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:34)
With recent recalls, many parents are worried about buying safe toys for their kids this holiday season. To help, a U-M pediatrician puts recent concerns over toy safety into perspective, and offers tips to help parents pick the safest and most age-appropriate toys for their children. (Full Press Release/December 2007)

Hunters: Don’t let heart trouble ruin your season!
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:40)
Every year, an unknown number of hunters never make it back home because their hearts suffer problems brought on by the strenuous exercise and dramatic bursts of activity that hunting can bring. Fortunately, U-M experts says, hunters can take steps now to protect themselves from heart problems during the hunt – and to make sure they know what to do if a fellow hunter goes down. (Full Press Release/October 2007)

Make Thanksgiving dinner healthy without the loss of flavor-packed foods
(Radio Transcript/TRT 2:40)
A traditional holiday meal could be on the menu for you as long as you make some slight modifications to cut back on fat and sodium, and to add more vegetables and whole grains. U-M nutrition experts say doing so could save the typical person a staggering 50 to 60 grams of fat during the Thanksgiving meal.(Full Press Release/November 2007)

Don’t get burned this summer!
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:23)
As the summer weather heats up, there are many ways to get burned. To help you stay safe this summer, a U-M expert offers tips avoid some of the more common summer burns, including those from the sun and fireworks.
(Full Press Release/July 2007)

Stay hydrated this summer to prevent painful kidney stones
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:22)
Throughout the year, but particularly in the summer, drinking enough water is the most important step people can take toward preventing the development of kidney stones. To help prevent the pain of kidney stones, a U-M urologist offers seven tips to help reduce your risk, and explains the techniques and medications available to treat those who develop kidney stones.
(Full Press Release/June 2007)

U-M expert offers 7 tips to prevent, treat poison ivy
(Radio Transcript /TRT 2:16)
Would you know what to do if you came into contact with poison ivy? To take the “itch” out of summer for both kids and adults, a U-M expert offers tips to help treat poison ivy, and advice on how to avoid contact with the three leaves of this poison plant. (Full Press Release/May 2007)

7 things to know about preventing, treating winter laryngitis
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:43)
Viral laryngitis is contagious and passes the same way as common colds and flu bugs. To avoid getting laryngitis, a U-M expert suggests seven ways to prevent and treat this inflammation of the voice box, and offers suggestions for caring for your voice even when it’s healthy.
(Full Press Release/January 2007)

Holiday heartburn: Tasty treats may trigger acid reflux
(Radio Transcript / 1:56)
For the 15 million Americans who experience chronic heartburn, or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), the holidays can be especially painful. To help people with heartburn survive the holidays, a U-M expert dishes up some advice to keep your stomach and esophagus merry and acid-free this holiday season. (Full Press Release/November 2006)

U-M expert offers tips for picking safe Halloween costumes
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:01)
While Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year, it also can be one of the most dangerous. To keep kids safe, a U-M expert encourages parents to dress their children in Halloween costumes that are safe, and offers tips for picking the right costume. (Full Press Release/October 2006)

Fourth of July will sparkle with these tips for a safe celebration
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:13)
Each year in the United States, about 10,000 people are injured by fireworks. To help make this Fourth of July sparkle, an expert with the University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center offers tips to enjoy a safe Independence Day and avoid serious injury. (Full Press Release/June 2006)

Tips to avoid jet lag, drowsy driving during summer travely
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:21)
Millions of Americans will take to the roads and the skies forsummer travel this year. For many, jet-lag, environmental changes and a change in habits can make getting a good night’s sleep a major challenge. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do before and during your trip to help keep those sleep problems from happening. (Full Press Release/June 2006)

The buzz on treating summer insect stings and bites
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:12)
What should you do if your child is stung by a bee, and when should you be concerned about mosquito bites? To take the sting out of summer, a University of Michigan Health System pediatrician offers tips to help treat insect bites and stings, and advice on how to prevent mosquito and tick bites. (Full Press Release/June 2006)

Tips on how to walk your way to better health
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:26 )
Getting healthy doesn’t need to be hard. It may only require a few simple steps. An expert at the University of Michigan Health System offers some tips for starting and maintaining a regular walking program this spring and summer that can improve cardiovascular fitness levels and even lose weight.
(Full Press Release / May 2006)

Parents: Get a jump on summer trampoline safety
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:38)
Trampolines can be fun, but without proper safety precautions, they can be extremely dangerous for children. A University of Michigan Health System expert offers tips on how parents can get a jump on trampoline safety this summer, and avoid the ups and downs of summertime injury.
(Full Press Release / May 2006)

Wet, mild winter may cause problems for allergy sufferers
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:04)
Soon millions will experience the runny nose, watery eyes and other symptoms of spring allergies. Because of the wet and relatively mild winter this winter throughout most of the country, U-M experts warn that mold and other spring allergies could be especially bad this year.(Full Press Release / April 2006)

Cranked-up music on headphones can lead to hearing loss
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:48)
Nothing is innately unhealthy about listening to iPods and other MP3 players, but listening to them with the volume turned up too high can cause lasting damage and irreversible hearing loss, a University of Michigan audiologist cautions.
(Full Press Release / January 2006)

Turning down the heat to save money could cost your health
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:40)
With home heating costs expected to soar this winter, millions of Americans will be dialing down their heat to save money. For most people, dialing-down just means a slightly chilly home, but for the elderly, it could bring serious health implications, including hypothermia.
(Full Press Release / January 2006)

Giving the gift of life
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:59)
As families gather to exchange gifts this holiday season, experts and patients with the University of Michigan Transplant Center say it's the perfect time to talk about giving a gift that could give someone a second chance at life – becoming an organ and tissue donor.
(Full Press Release / December 2005)

With or without pandemic, flu is a serious health threat
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:34)
Every year, about 36,000 Americans die of the flu. But only with some unusual event -- the movement of new flu strains or a shortage of vaccine – does the public typically take notice. And this year, flu season holds a frightening new prospect – the avian flu.(Full Press Release / November 2005)

Don't wait - vaccinate!
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:06 )Polio, diphtheria, mumps, and German measles – all life-threatening diseases that have been virtually eradicated through the use of vaccines.

Despite life-saving immunization programs, some children still are not getting vaccinated according to the recommended schedule, putting themselves and their communities at risk. Fortunately, there is a way for kids to catch-up on necessary vaccinations they may have missed.
(Full Press Release / August 2005)

Minimize injuries on the way to retirement
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:15)
The American workforce is aging. It is estimated that in 25 years the number of people in the United States who are 55 years and older will rise from one out of every 10 Americans to one out of every three Americans. This means more experienced workers in the field, but it can also mean more workplace injuries related to our bodies' natural aging process.

By being aware of the physical changes of aging and workplace risk factors, then taking steps to prevent injury, our valuable older workers can minimize injuries as they approach retirement.
(Full Press Release / July 2005)

Summer injuries a concern for adults too
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:54)
The summer is traditionally a season of relaxation, recreation and fun for adults and children alike – yet it’s also the most common time for injuries to occur. An expert has some advice to help adults prevent these injuries and enjoy a safe summer. (Full Press Release / May 2005)

Summer means scrapes, stings, sprains, bites, burns and other dangers for children and teens
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:49 )
As the days grow longer and hotter, it’s time to bring out the bikes, skates, lawnmowers and boats. But for families with children, it’s also time for helmets, kneepads and the watchful eyes of an adult supervisor because summer can be a busy time in emergency rooms.
(Full Press Release / May 2005)

Seniors: Not ready to slow down?
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:37 )
While senior athletes are taking gyms and sports arenas across America by storm with the mentality and ambition of athletes half their age, their aging shoulders, knees and muscles may be paying the ultimate price.
(Full Press Release / April 2005)

Avoiding Winter Injury Hazards
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:00 )
As the snowflakes start to fall, many emergency rooms become busy with injuries specific to the winter months. An expert cautions us on common winter hazards and how to avoid them.
(Full Press Release / January 2005)

Home and healthy for the holidays
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:38)
Life-saving advancements in neonatal medicine are coming at a time when the number of babies born prematurely is on the rise. Of the 4 million live births last year in the United States, about 300,000 babies were born prematurely. Amazing advancements in neonatal medicine in the past 5 to 10 years are now making it possible for these babies to survive.
(Full Press Release / December 2004)

Avoid those holiday ‘gimmes’
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:40)
The gift giving that usually accompanies the holiday season can be a wonderful time for friends and family, but for many parents, holiday gift giving can be a struggle of wills with their children. By setting limits this season, you can teach your children there’s more to the holidays than gifts. (Full Press Release / December 2004)

Follow these Tips for a Happy, Safe Holiday
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:58 )
The holiday season is always a fun and festive time for friends and family. With all the parties and decorations, food, toys and icy roads, the holidays can also be a time of potential hazards, especially for children. So this holiday season, before you throw the party, buy the toy, decorate the house or run that last errand, be sure you know how to keep yourself, your family and your friends safe through all the hustle and bustle.
(Full Press Release / December 2004)

We wish you a Merry (achoo!) Christmas
and a (sniffle) Happy New Year! (cough, cough)
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:44 )

This year’s “holiday rush” of colds and flu may be especially bad because of the shortage of flu vaccine. But there are simple and specific things you can do to keep yourself from getting — or giving — this most unwelcome holiday gift. And if you do get a cold or the flu, there are some basic things to know about taking care of yourself and your loved ones — including when to go to the ER.(Full Press Release / December 2004)

Candy’s not the only Halloween safety concern
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:48)

While many parents painstakingly inspect the pounds of sugary loot brought home each Halloween, they need to keep in mind that candy tampering isn’t the largest concern they face.
(Full Press Release / October 2004)

Avoid the flu bug – get your flu shot now!
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:52)

Each year, between 25 million and 50 million Americans will suffer with the flu. And for many people, especially older adults, very young children and people with chronic diseases or immune deficiencies, the flu is much more than a miserable inconvenience – it’s often life-threatening.
(Full Press Release / October 2004)

Vote early, vote often: Parents who help kids understand voting & election issues may set the stage for fewer risky behaviors, U-M expert says
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:08)

When kids are engaged in society, research suggests they may be less likely to experiment with risky behaviors like drugs and violence, and more likely to feel better about themselves and about helping their community. You have to start early, and reinforce the message by repeating it often. (Full Press Release / October 2004)

Exercise: It's never too late to improve your fitness
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:43 )

For many older adults, even a walk to the car tires them easily. A research program is measuring the effects of a moderate intensity aerobic exercise program among older adults. Through aerobic circuit-training, these older men and women will help researchers determine if this type of exercise program can help older men and women more easily perform basic tasks of daily living.
(Full Press Release / August 2004)

Olympics have you inspired? Preventing sports injuries
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:43)

As the summer Olympics get underway, many of us will be inspired to run, jump, bike and swim just like our Olympic heroes. But some weekend athletes can exercise themselves into sports-related injuries. A sports medicine expert offers advice to wanna-be Olympians and weekend athletes. (Full Press Release / August 2004)

Summer heat may endanger older people
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:49)

Last year, the world was shocked and saddened when thousands of elderly men and women in France died as a result of a heat wave in that country. Here at home, the 1995 Chicago heat wave led to more than 700 deaths in that steamy city. Heat-related illness can be a very serious problem, especially among older men and women. Health concerns – or just the normal physiological changes of aging – may make it difficult for older people to handle high temperatures.
(Full Press Release / July 2004)

A heads up on bike safety
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:04)
Biking is a fun way for kids to be active and get outside, but danger lurks beneath those tire spokes. Each year, bike-related crashes kill about 900 people and injure 567,000 others. Statistics show that 67,000 of these injuries are head injuries– and most of them, 80 percent to 85 percent, would have been less severe or prevented altogether if the rider had been wearing a helmet.(Full Press Release / April 2004)

Get a jump on treating spring allergies
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:42)
As April showers prepare to usher in May flowers, so too comes the tree, grass and weed pollens that trigger allergies in up to a quarter of the population. While seasonal allergies are on the rise, heading them off early by seeking treatment before the runny nose, congestion and watery eyes set in can help keep these uncomfortable symptoms at bay.
(Full Press Release / April 2004)

Are teens dying for a tan?
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:04)
As the long cold days of winter pale our complexion, thousands will turn to tanning booths to brighten their skin and their spirits. What people don’t realize is that the bronzed glow they so desire is only the skin’s visible response to damage from harmful ultraviolet rays. Dermatologists at the University of Michigan Health System say even one trip to the tanning booth can result in DNA damage that can cause skin cancer.
(Full Press Release / March 2004)

Avoid the flu blues: It’s time for fall flu vaccines
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:43)
The CDC estimates that up to one quarter of Americans comes down with the flu during its prime season and 20,000 Americans die each year from it. That’s why experts stress the importance of protecting yourself from getting the flu. (Full Press Release / Oct.2003)

Lawn mower safety could safe life and limb this summer
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:29)
75,000 American adults and children are injured in lawn mower accidents each year. But with a little extra lawn mower caution and safety, many of the serious and even life-threatening injuries often caused by lawn mowers can be prevented.
(Full press release/June 2003)

Tattoos and piercings: body art health tips
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:16)
Many kids covet them, and most parents dread them. But like it or not, tattoos and body piercings are all the rage. So as the impulsive days of spring break near, physicians at the U-M Health System recommend keeping a level head when considering body art.
(Full press release/March 2003)

When snow falls the risk for injury goes up
(Radio Transcript/TRT 1:55)
Emergency medicine physicians at the U-M Health System say that using good judgement and extra caution this winter will help you and your family prevent some of the more common cold weather related injuries. (Full press release/Dec. 2002)

Don't let summer heat "spoil" your picnic (Radio transcript/TRT 1:42)
Registered dietitians with MFit at the University of Michigan Health System offer healthy picnic tips to keep your summer food safe.
(Full press release July 2002)

Common sense is key to summer safety
(Radio transcript/TRT 2:04)
A U-M physician provides important safety tips for keeping your family out of the emergency room this summer.
(Full press release/July 2002)

West Nile Virus bites its way back this summer
(Radio transcript/TRT 2:22)
Evidence of West Nile, a mosquito-borne virus, has already been detected in several states this year, including Michigan. A UMHS physician tells you who is at risk, common symptoms and how to protect yourself from becoming infected with this potentially deadly virus.
(Full press release/June 2002)

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War and Terrorism

Parents: Help kids cope with shocking news from Iraq, and watch for signs of distress, U-M expert advises
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:10)
For almost three weeks, it's been impossible to avoid the horrible images and stories coming out of Iraq . It's been a struggle for adults to understand these events, as emotions of disbelief and shame mix with outrage and confusion. But what about children and teens? Depending on their age and how much they've seen or heard, the news and pictures may affect them too — in ways that parents might not predict. (Full Press Release / May-June 2004)

As troops come home from Iraq, U-M experts advise vigilance for symptoms of ‘Gulf War syndrome II’
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:25)
Now that service members are starting to return home, the strain they faced under fire may start to catch up with them in more ways than they ever could have imagined. From aches and pains to rashes and memory gaps, the lingering effects of the intense stress of war may be taking a toll on their bodies and brains. (Full press release July 2003)

Dealing with terrorism anxiety
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:08)
To help ease the anxiety many Americans are feeling over being on the front lines of the war on terrorism, a U-M Health System expert offers some common-sense advice to help keep our lives in balance.
(Full press release/March 2003)

Dealing with war anxiety
(Radio Transcript / TRT 1:48)
It's everywhere you turn - talk of the war with Iraq, images of American troops in battle. A U-M Health System expert offers suggestions for dealing with the tremendous anxiety war creates - even for those of us watching from afar. (Full press release/March 2003)

Talking with Kids about War and Terrorism
(Radio Transcript / TRT 2:18)
A U-M pediatrician offers advice for parents to help their kids cope with dangerous times and urges them to set aside time to come together as a family, to provide a place of support and structure. (Full press release/March 2003)

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Women's Health