Health Report

THE GOOD NEWS

-- Despite low incomes and poor access to medical care, Hispanics appear to have mortality rates from major chronic illnesses like respiratory disease, cancer and heart disease that are between 25% and 33% lower than the rates for other white Americans. Researchers speculate that one reason for the discrepancy is the stronger family ties among Hispanics.

-- The Food and Drug Administration will probably approve a long-awaited vaccine for chickenpox by spring. Each year 4 million Americans, mostly youngsters, catch chickenpox; about 9,000 develop serious complications ranging from blood infections to brain damage, and about 90 die.

THE BAD NEWS

-- Americans fail to take their medicine as ordered half the time, says a new report from the drug industry. Some patients skip doses or stop taking their medication early; others dont even get their prescriptions filled. Such lapses cost an estimated $100 billion in added medical bills and lost productivity.

-- Middle-aged men with high levels of anxiety appear to have twice the risk of developing high blood pressure as do their less tense peers, according to a 20-year study of 497 men and 626 women. Puzzlingly, highly anxious middle-aged or older women did not suffer an increased risk of hypertension.

SourcesGOOD: Journal of the American Medical Association; A.P. BAD: Task Force for Compliance; Journal of the American Medical Association.