Health Buzz: Runner's High and Other Health News

Drug Approval Deadline Approaching? Watch Out for the Risk

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine today shows that drugs approved by the FDA when that regulatory agency is facing a deadline have elevated odds of later being pulled off the market for safety reasons.

Under current federal law, manufacturers' applications to market new drugs must be acted upon within 10 months of their submission to the FDA. This HealthDay article offers examples of three drugs, including Vioxx, that were rushed to approval and then yanked from the market because of risks that were initially overlooked.

The FDA said it is following up the new finding with its own research.

It's Official: Runner's High Is Not a Myth

A study recently released by German researchers offers proof of what many longtime runners have felt for years: Exercise alters your mood. The study suggests that running or any other intense exercise floods the brain with feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which, in turn, improves your state of mind.

For more on exercise, read Katherine Hobson's On Fitness column.

Belly Fat Is Linked to Dementia Risk

You've heard the message: Having a bulging belly can be detrimental to your health. Extra weight around the midsection is known to increase one's risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and early death. Now a study, published yesterday in the journal Neurology, suggests that having a larger belly in middle age may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

Visit our Living Well section on usnews.com to learn how to lose those pounds and keep them off.

Extra: Can't Find a Doctor? You Aren't Alone

Primary-care doctors are increasingly overworked and in short supply. Discover why this trend is occurring, and read about Nancy Shute's frustrating experience trying to find a doctor. Trying to locate a physician without much luck? Here are seven tips for better success.