Top 10 Health Stories Of 2005

WebMD Picks The Year's Major Health News Stories

(WebMD) 
4. Contraceptives Questioned

Fewer women use birth control today than they did in 1995, even though they are sexually active and do not want to get pregnant. At the same time, more women are seeking family planning advice from a doctor or nurse.

The problem may be compounded by safety concerns that surfaced over a contraceptive patch. In November a warning about the extra estrogen in the Ortho Evra birth control patch raised questions about its safety.

The concern over the birth control patch followed on the heels of a black box warning late last year about bone loss in long-term users of Depo-Provera, a long-lasting injectable contraceptive.

Half of unplanned pregnancies occur in women not using birth control.
These women might still prevent pregnancy by using the morning-after pill, sold as Plan B. But Plan B has to be taken very soon after unprotected sex.

In 2003 an FDA advisory panel recommended approving Plan B for over-the-counter sale. In 2004 FDA officials said no. And in 2005, the FDA kept the approval in limbo by saying it needed more time to consider how to make the drug available to adults while keeping it out of the hands of girls under 17.


5. Tom Cruise Condemns Antidepressants

Like other members of the Church of Scientology, actor Tom Cruise says he doesn't believe depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, and therefore drugs designed to treat that problem are unnecessary. Last June, during an interview with Matt Lauer on the Today show, Cruise denounced the use of psychiatric drugs.

The Hollywood star told his fans — and everyone else — that psychiatric drugs are harmful, not helpful. He criticized actress Brooke Shields for taking antidepressants for postpartum depression.

There are, of course, debates among medical experts about the proper role of antidepressants and other drugs in the treatment of mental illness. And there are, indeed, risks from taking any drug, including antidepressants. But psychiatrists tell WebMD patients should discuss their concerns with their doctors before taking the advice of Cruise.

Some of WebMD's readers couldn't agree more, taking the web site to task for even considering Cruise's opinion.

6. Medicare on the Mind

For Americans over 65, 2005 has handed them a big decision about Medicare's prescription-drug benefit. And whether to enroll in the program — known as Medicare Part D — is only the first part of the problem.

Choosing from the huge variety of drug plans isn't easy. It means understanding the kinds of medicines a person needs the most — and when. Despite a government web site and help line, confusion reigns.

Medicare's future continues to be debated. The federal health program faces financial challenges, as an aging U.S. population collides with burgeoning health care costs and drug prices.

The U.S. House and Senate each passed very different Medicare/Medicaid plans. Both bills cut Medicare spending.

The Senate bill focuses on cutting costs paid to insurers and drug companies — although it expressly forbids the government from directly negotiating lower drug prices with manufacturers. The House bill would put more responsibility on beneficiaries, with an eye to lowering health care costs by giving patients incentives to keep health expenses in check.

Many in Congress would like to see Medicare become more like private health insurance. In this scenario, Medicare would become more of a premium-support plan. The idea is to cut costs by increasing market competition among insurance providers. Others would like to see Medicare save money by expanding reimbursement for preventive care.

Only one thing is certain: Medicare again will be a big story in 2006.

7. Building a Better Pyramid

2005 New Year's resolutions got a big boost when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced sweeping new dietary guidelines.

The stress is on eating healthy fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products; limiting saturated fats, sugar, alcohol, and salt; and getting plenty of exercise.

All that got rolled into the U.S. Department of Agriculture's new food pyramid — the first remodeling of this health landmark in 13 years.

It's more than a single pyramid. The new MyPyramid lets you build a food pyramid based on your own health needs. And there's even a new kids' food pyramid.