(November 22, 2007 - Insidermedicine) From Dartmouth - A new study suggests that the stereotype of city-dwellers getting better medical care than people in rural areas may be incorrect. Evaluating over 125,000 cases of colorectal cancer and 160,000 of lung cancer, researchers showed that patients in rural areas presented with milder stages. The study questions the effectiveness of screening for lung and colorectal cancer in urban areas.

From Chapel Hill - Over the past 3 decades the number of calories ingested from drinks has increased by 94%, and calories from juice, pop and other sugary beverages has nearly quadrupled.  By 2002, the average American adult consumed over 400 calories from beverages, or nearly one fifth of their calories from fluids. The increase in calories from beverages was not associated with a corresponding decrease in calories ingested from solid foods.

And finally from California - High levels of ozone can raise the risk of death from heart attack and stroke. Ozone - a chemical that is created from a reaction between UV light and exhaust fumes - is linked to higher death rates. Researchers demonstrated that when temperatures rose by 10 degrees, the percentage of people dying rose by 1% in areas of low ozone, and nearly 9% in areas with high ozone.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.