HEALTH/WELLNESS Wednesday, July 9, 1997 UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 5 Diet drug may be cause of illnesses Fen-phen users could lose weight respiratory health The Associated Press ROCHESTER, Minn. — A diet-drug combination known as fen-phen, which is taken by millions of Americans, can cause serious heart and lung damage, said Mayo Clinic researchers and government officials yesterday. Mayo Clinic researchers identified 24 women who had taken fen-phen, a fenfluramine and phentermine combination, to lose weight and later developed deformed heart valves. Eight of the women also developed a potentially fatal lung disease called pulmonary hypertension, in which lung blood vessels become blocked. The drug combination has been available since 1995, and deaths in Florida, Kentucky and Massachusetts have been attributed to heart failure linked to the diet prescription. None of the women in the Mayo Clinic study died; however, five underwent heart surgery. Doctors wrote more than 18 million re Doctors wrote more than 18 million prescriptions for fen-nph last year. Researchers planned to publish their findings next month in the New England Journal of Medicine, but released them early at the urging of journal editors. The Food and Drug Administration has begun sending letters to thousands of doctors, asking them to immediately check fenphen patients and report problems. Both drugs are available only by prescription and have been approved separately by the FDA. The agency has not approved the drug combination. Under law, doctors are free to prescribe the two drugs as chosen fit of prescribing the two drugs as they see it. Michael Friedman, the FDA's acting com- "The agency is not saying it is inappropriate to use fen-phen. What we're saying is patients and physicians must be very careful." Michael Friedman FDA acting commissioner missioner, said five patients' valve tissue examination results strongly suggested the disorder was fen-phen related. "The agency is not saying it is inappropriate to use fen-phen," Friedman said. "What we're saying is patients and physicians must be very careful." Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories Inc. of Philadelphia, the sole manufacturer of fenfluramine, said the Mayo Clinic report was limited and inconclusive. Larry Davidow, fen-phen researcher, said the risk of lung disease from fenfluramine has been suspected for several years. But he said that the potential for heart-valve trouble was new. He said the dangers pointed out in the Mayo Clinic report should be weighed against the benefits of fen-phen. Obesity, defined as being more than 20 percent heavier than ideal weight, causes 20 million illnesses and 300,000 deaths in the United States yearly. Ears sensitive to injury Chief of Staff at Watkins Health Center Special to the Kansan Bv Randall Rock. Summer activities can put ears at risk for injury. Precautions can minimize risks and limit short-term or permanent injury. Applied to the outer ear, sunscreen can prevent sunburn and limit the risk of skin cancer. A helmet can protect the head during bicycling excursions on Lawrence streets or on the trails at Clinton State Park. The ears are at risk for blows or bites incurred during athletic activities such as boxing. Keep tempers cool and do not get into the ring with anyone. Swimmer's ear is an inflammation of the canal leading from the outer ear to the ear drum. Repeated or prolonged exposure to water may result in retained moisture in the ear canal allowing a bacterial or fungal infection to develop. Symptoms include pain when pressure is applied along the canal or to the outer ear, discharge or odor from the ear and diminished hearing as the canal is narrowed by water, inflammation and debris. Swimmer's ear requires medical attention. A topical medication in drop form applied to the canal is adequate often. Keeping the ear canal dry is an important part of prevention. Position your head to allow water to drain from the canal after swimming or showering. A blow dryer on low heat can help dry out the canal. Rinsing the canal with a few drops of an equal solution of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol can dislodge water droplets. Water skiing, tubing and diving can cause water to hit the ear drum at a high speed perforating the ear drum. Symptoms include pain, sudden decrease in hearing and bleeding. Seek medical attention. Referral to a specialist may be necessary. Keep cotton swabs out of the ear. Other summer activities such as mowing lawns, listening to music concerts or working on construction projects can expose a person to noise substantial enough to lead to hearing loss. Turn down the volume, invest in ear plugs, put distance between yourself and the noise and seek medical attention if you are concerned about your hearing. Family physicians, internists and nurse practitioners are available at Watkins Health Center to evaluate your medical needs. Call 864-9500 for more information. Allergic consumers should check their carrot cakes NEWS IN BRIEF The Associated Press WASHINGTON — People allergic to nuts should not eat icing-covered carrot cakes made by Knaub's Cakes Inc. because they contain walnuts, the company said yesterday. Knaub's recalled from stores nationwide People with nut allergies risk a life-threatening reaction if they eat the cakes. cakes that did not list the nuts as an ingredient. The company said that by Monday carrot cakes placed on store shelves had been properly labeled as containing walnuts, but that people who already had purchased mis-labeled cakes may return them for a refund. Consumers should check for the wording "seven-inch carrot cakes" on products sold in a clear plastic dome that contain a UPC code ending in the numbers 00722. NATURALWAY 820-822 Mass.841-0100 Hollywood Theaters BEFORE 6 P.M. ADULTS $3.75 SENIORS $3.50 ) HEARING IMPAIRED SOUTHWIND12 3433 IOWA 832-0880 1 Least World Pt-13 1:15 — 4:00, 6:40, 9:40 2 Scream 8 — 2:45, 5:00, 7:20, 9:55 3 Brassed Off 8 — 2.15, 4:20, 6:45, 9:55 4 Batman & Robin Pt-13 — 3:30 — 6:30, 9:30 5 Men in Black Pt-13 — 3:15 — 6:15, 9:15 6 Hercules II "The Press" — 2:30, 4:50, 6:50, 9:50 7 Men in Black Pt-13 1:30 — 4:00, 7:00, 9:50 8 Hercules II "The Press" 1:30, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:50 9 Batman & Robin Pt-13 1:15 — 4:15, 7:10 — 10 Fifth Element Pt-13 1:30 — 4:15, 6:45, 9:20 11 Least World Pt-13 — 2:00, 5:00, 9:20 12 Speed 2 Pt-13 1:45 — 4:30, 7:15, 9:50 * SHEAK "Contact" Saturday 7:15pm ONLY! ...Stay and see "Batman" tweel! 1 Skimlade R 2,00; 4.50, 7.15, 0.45 2 Game Flicker P6 2,30; 5.80, 7.95, 0.35 3 Boody Call B 2,15; 4.50, 7.90, 0.40 4 Father's Day P3* 2,20; 4.55, 7.15, 0.45 5 Addicted to Love B 2,10; 5.85, 7.25, 0.30 Fri-Sat Daily Austin Powers # 2:45 5:00, 7:15, 9:30 Two great summer comedies! The University of Kansas The University Theatre presents Kansas Summer Theatre '97 Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon Directed by Ronald A. Willis July 11, 13, 19, 25, 1997 Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley Directed by Jack B. Wright July 12, 18, 20, 26, 1997 All Performances are at 8:00 p.m. Crafton-Preyer Theatre/Murphy Hall Reserved seat tickets are on sale in the KU box offices: Murphy Hall, 864-3943; Lied Center, 864-ARTS; SUA Office, 864-3477; both VISA and MasterCard are accepted for phone orders. Individual tickets: public $10, KU students $5, other students and senior citizens $9; buy both shows: public $16, KU students $8, other students and senior citizens $14 INTERNSHIPS: EARN.TRAVEL.SS www.bike.inside Council Travel CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange REQUEST TO MEDIATE GOVERNMENT ISSUE ON G025 CASE Common Travel CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange Tel : 913-743-3900 Email : CouncilLawrence@ciee.org 622 West 12th Street, Lawrence, KS A SALUTE TO CLASS IN AN AGE OF TRASH Hollywood Movie Posters 1911-1961 presented by the cultural division of Vietnam Veterans for Academic Reform Leonard Magruder— Founder/Co-Director Gallery Lawrence Public Library 707 Vermont July 1-31, 1997