(November 30, 2009 - Insidermedicine)

From Boston -  Americans born in the Southern 'stroke belt' may be at increased risk of dying from stroke, according to a report published in the journal Neurology. Researchers examined national death records from 1980, 1990, and 2000--looking specifically at Southern states that comprise the 'stroke belt'--North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. They found that, for people who were born in and lived in the stoke belt, 74 people per 100,000 died from stroke compared with only 47 per 100,000 who were not born in or did not live there.

From Connecticut - According to a report published in the journal Arthritis Care and Research, when patients are given the choice of their medical treatment they will usually  take the conservative approach. Researchers subjected over 200 participants to 2 videos outlining medications and their serious, but rare, consequences. Participants were then given two sets of instructions, one in which the doctor essentially chose for the patient and prescribed the medication, and another in which the choice to take the medication was left completely up to the patient. Results showed that the responsibility of choosing medical treatment increased a patient's concern over the side effects and thus led to less willingness to take these treatments.

And finally, from California - Too much exercise for middle aged men and women may lead to arthritis, according to a report presented at the meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Researchers studied 236 adults aged 45-55, finding that those who engaged in higher activity levels suffered more damage to their knees, thereby increasing their risk of developing osteoarthritis later in life.