2012 Health News Roundup 
The Good and Bad News on Drugs, Food, Lifestyle, and Health Care Policy

2012 has come and gone, but many of its health innovations—and setbacks—will stick around for years to come. 

Of course, the most far-reaching health news of 2012 will affect all of us in the U.S. The national health care reform law (also referred to as “Affordable Care Act” or “Obamacare”) was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in June. Most states, however, are not up to the enormous task of running health exchanges for their citizens, with only 15 states signing on to do so. 

Drug research led to more good news for an oldie but goodie drug: aspirin. Researchers found that aspirin might protect against liver disease and cancer, and even slow elderly brain decline.  On the higher-tech side, researchers manufactured stem cells that can target and destroy HIV. But we also saw a number of drug contaminations, including a Lipitor recall due to contamination with minuscule glass shards. A new, non-HIV immunodeficiency disease was found, and scientists determined that chemotherapy could damage neighboring healthy cells. 

As far as food goes, some news was more than welcome: chocolate can lower the risk of stroke in men, turmeric can protect against diabetes, and coffee can lower the risk of heart failure. Counterbalancing the good news, though, we had the pink slime scandal that rocked the U.S. meat industry; energy drinks appeared to be associated with a number of deaths; and fish oil and omega-3s might not be the miracle ingredients we once thought they were. 

It’s not all doom and gloom, though: dopamine levels, associated with good mood, appear to improve long-term memory formation. A decline in smoking rates means fewer heart attacks. And studies show that while a lack of sleep during your teenage years can raise the risk of diabetes, happiness in adolescence can lead to a wealthier adulthood. 

The flooding from hurricane Sandy damaged years of research at NYU, but research and policy have still progressed by leaps and bounds. The UN reported a 24% drop in HIV infections in children since 2009. Access to free birth control was linked to a drop in abortion rates, and child mortality has fallen more than 40% in the past 20 years. 

Despite some setbacks, 2012 showed us a number of ways to live better: eat chocolate, pop popcorn, and spend time with friends. Take a look at our highlights below, compiled from AskaPatient’s tweets over the course of the past year. May your 2013 be even happier and healthier than 2012. Cheers! 

-by Chuck Pletcher. Contact him and follow health news at Twitter.com/Askapatient  

Drugs and Treatments: The Good News

Aspirin could help prevent liver disease  
Daily dose of aspirin may reduce the risk of many cancers

Aspirin can slow brain decline in elderly patients

The State Department plans to have AIDS under control within four years

Psoriasis drugs could slow the progression of dementia

Transplants from their own nose cells helped paralyzed dogs walk again

One colonoscopy is enough to prevent colon cancer in some patients

Replacing defective DNA may be able to treat genetic diseases

Hormone therapy within five years of menopause could reduce Alzheimer's risk

Snake venom could be a more effective pain killer than morphine

Snake venom could hold clues to curing cancer and diabetes

Cancer Research UK predicts a 17% drop in cancer deaths by 2030

Human muscle has been regrown using animal-muscle scaffolding

Scientists have been able to grow ears, bone, and skin to heal wounded troops

The first total artificial heart has been deemed a success

Stem cells were manufactured that target and 'kill' HIV

Drugs & Treatment: The Bad News

Lipitor was recalled due to contamination from tiny glass particles

Digoxin has been linked to deaths due to its narrow dose range

Genes, not sunlight, are behind redheads' increased risk of melanoma

Antidepressants may pose risks for women during pregnancy

Some antidepressants could raise stroke risk

Climate change will make mosquito-borne diseases more lethal

Influenza vaccines might not be as effective as thought

Ontario reported the first case of pig-to-human H1N1 transfer

A non-HIV immunodeficiency disease was found in Thailand and Taiwan

Chemotherapy could damage nearby healthy cells

Methadone painkillers account for 5000 deaths every year

The iodide used in routine scans could damage thyroid glands

7% of US adults carry HPV in their mouths

Doctors in India reported a strain of TB that is totally resistant to drugs

Food: The Good News

Pepsi is releasing a drink in Japan that includes a weight-loss-inducing fiber

A tomato-rich diet could lower your risk of stroke

A blend of sesame and rice bran oil can lower your blood pressure

The shape of your beer glass can affect how fast you drink

Restaurants with softer music and lower lighting can help with portion control

Chocolate could lower stroke risk in men

Dark chocolate could help lower your blood pressure

A daily dose of walnuts could improve sperm quality

A compound in turmeric could help fend off diabetes

Moderate coffee consumption decreases the risk of heart failure

Popcorn is loaded with antioxidants and other health benefits

Dessert as the first meal of the day might help dieters lose weight

Frying food in sunflower or olive oil is better than frying in other oils

Food: The Bad News

ABC News is sued over report that “pink slime” is in U.S. ground beef

High fructose corn syrup is linked to type 2 diabetes

Drinking grapefruit juice with certain medications could be deadly

The FDA has released reports on the deaths associated with energy drinks

Caffeine levels in energy drinks can often stray from what the labels indicate

Overweight and obese kids face kidney risks down the line

3 or more cups of coffee per day may cause vision loss

Too much salt could be harming kids' health

Bread accounts for most of the salt in Americans' diets

Fish oil and Omega-3s don't ward off heart attacks

Diseases linked to imported spices and fish are on the rise

Cadmium in food could raise the risk of breast cancer

Chlorinated tap water has been linked to the increase of food allergies

'Good' cholesterol might not be that good for us

Lifestyle: The Good News

Happiness during adolescence linked to increased wealth in adulthood

Dopamine has been linked to improved long-term memory formation

Bans on smoking are reducing heart attack rates

Women who quit smoking before 40 can avoid up to 90% of its risks

Russia is planning a ban on all public tobacco smoking

Group weight loss programs appear to work best

Free bus passes could encourage seniors to stay active

Sitting fewer than 3 hours a day could increase your lifespan by 2 years

Brain scans showed that people can learn to forget regrets as they age

Lifestyle: The Bad News

The CDC has found a correlation between traffic pollution and autism

Weight loss surgery not an effective solution to fighting diabetes

Flame retardants found in furniture could pose health risks

Unemployment is a significant risk factor for a heart attack

Chronic exposure to bright light at night could trigger depression

High blood pressure can accelerate brain aging in middle-aged people

The longer mice stayed overweight, the harder it was to shed pounds

Lead paint is still a risk in millions of Americans' homes

Lead has been found in 400 types of lipstick

Indoor tanning has been linked to 170,000 skin cancers each year

Lack of sleep during the teen years could raise risk of diabetes

Second-hand smoke can damage everyday memory

A third of adults in the US have high blood pressure

One in three people uses his or her phone--even texts--while crossing the street.

Health Care Policy & Practice: The Good News

The FDA has approved the first flu vaccine produced in cell culture

The UN reports a 24% drop in new HIV infections in children since 2009

Access to free birth control caused abortion rates to drop

The FDA is cracking down on online pharmacies for selling bad drugs

A government task force is urging doctors to check for signs of alcohol overuse

Child mortality has fallen more than 40% in the past 20 years

Remote-controlled drug-releasing implants recently tested in humans

2025 is a deadline for an Alzheimer's treatment or cure

Health Care Policy & Practice: The Bad News

The drug industry's ties to research can bias findings

A shortage of primary care physicians could lead to health care issues

Medical research was lost in the flooding at NYU

In-vitro fertilization linked to birth defect risks

Deadly intestinal bacterium targets untreated HIV-positive individuals

TRICARE doesn't provide enough help for soldiers coping with substance abuse

30 cents of every dollar spent on US health care is wasted

A study says that hospital sounds are getting in the way of patients' sleep

Children's vaccines in the US might not be stored properly

1 in 33 baby boomers has hepatitis C

Overweight doctors less likely to help patients tackle weight problems

Higher bills aren't the only problem: patients often kept out of electronic record billing loop.

-2012 Health Care Roundup List edited by Thomas Williams.

AskaPatient.com has been providing comparative drug information for consumers since 2000. Operated by Consumer Health Resource Group, LLC, AskaPatient has more than 100,000 patient reviews of prescription drugs. Subscribe to our weekly twitter news feed at www.askapatient.com