Health agencies face major shake-up SEVERAL AGENCIES in the health sector are expected to be merged or abolished in the weeks ahead as part of the Government's drive to cut costs, it has emerged.

Risks from Vioxx continue for one year after finishing drug AN INCREASED risk of stroke and heart attack caused by the anti-inflammatory medication Vioxx continued for one year after patients stopped taking the drug, research published today has found.

Health News

• Mole mapping clinic launched at CUH New service in Cork aims to improve detection of cancerous moles
• Warning over safety of food supplements FOOD SUPPLEMENTS that offer health-promoting properties could also contain potentially harmful contaminants, a conference in Cork will hear later this week.
• Study begins on Travellers' health THE FIRST comprehensive study of the health status of Travellers throughout the island of Ireland begins today.
• Irish-born doctor named GP of the year in Australia AN IRISH-born doctor and Trinity College Dublin graduate has been named general practitioner of the year in Australia.
• Legal speak: Take note of judicial decisions and avoid court Clinicians and health risk managers could avoid court and maximise patient care if they took greater note of judicial decisions, according to Geraldine Hickey, a partner in solicitors McCann Fitzgerald in Dublin.
• In Short A roundup of today's other health news

News Focus

• Financial strain of living with cancer A national study into the financial hardships people incur following a cancer diagnosis, was announced last week. Marese McDonagh talks to patients about their own experiences
• 'Constant money drain' CATRIONA MCGOLDRICK didn't have a holiday this year. She might consider this the least of her worries 12 months after getting her breast cancer diagnosis - which came six months after her 82-year-old mother died with the same condition.
• 'Getting the medical card was a saga in itself' Anna Kelly from Termonfeckin, Co Louth got her first breast cancer diagnosis in January 2004. Ten weeks later after being through the trauma of two operations, a lump was found on her other breast and Anna was told she would be having surgery for the third time. "I got caught in a storm," she said.
• Linking health to wealth HSE West director of public health Dr Diarmuid O'Donovan has just won several British Medical Awards
• Can ill health in the economy make us unwell? MEDICAL MATTERS : Historically, recession has been shown to be bad for human health
• Shedding a little light (bulb) in dark times HEART BEAT : An economy based on snakes and ladders - and the mother of all serpents

Men's Health

• The burning issue of acid reflux Heartburn tends to be more prevalent among men mainly due to lifestyle risk factors
• Hooked, even after the pleasure goes THAT'S MEN : There are three main stages in the addiction to porn - anticipation, consumption and self-hatred
• The wide and varying symptoms of an erupting wisdom tooth MEN'S HEALTH MATTERS : Treating a troublesome tooth

Parenting

• Pet moves to tackle phobias ASK THE EXPERT : Even if the fear is groundless, it is a real fear and must be acknowledged
• Exceptional talent for learning While some 23,000 children in the Republic are gifted, a significant number of those also have a learning disability
• Drawing out the pain What happens when words are not enough? Luckily for these women, they found articulation through art
• More is less if life becomes a tyranny of tasks HEALTH PLUS : Divisions between personal and work time, while essential, are being eroded
• All quiet apart from the cousins and the dog poo IT'S A DAD'S LIFE : We'll have a laugh but I won't compare notes with anyone about the state of Newcastle FC

Your Health

• Feeding your retail habit Ensuring your future health, the health of the planet and the health of your local economy

Consumer Health

• Balancing benefits of exercise in pregnancy against potential risks Done safely, regular physical activity during pregnancy can have positive health benefits for both mother and child

YourLifestyle

• Going the extra mile for runners MARATHON COUNTDOWN : THERE IS some research to suggest that if you're training for a marathon you'd do well to steer clear of running by major roads because of the fumes from cars and trucks, while it's generally accepted that pounding away on hard surfaces can take its toll on your knees.
• Marathon guide The Irish Times will publish a four-page guide to the Dublin marathon on Saturday, October 25th.
• The challenge is to keep our feet on the ground MIND MOVES : Familiarity can breed contempt - and a host of other undesirables
• Giving migraine a headache Beaumont Hospital's specialist migraine clinic celebrates its 10th birthday
• New treatment not suited to all strokes CHECK-UP : Thrombolytic therapy involves the use of drugs to dissolve clots
• Talks on the impact of a cancer diagnosis LIFELINES : The psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis is the theme of the first of three free public talks in the Trinity Building, St James's Hospital, Dublin on Tuesday, October 21st at 7pm.

My Health Experience

• Vive la différence No waiting room, no trolleys, no queues, no admission fee and free parking. It was very strange indeed, writes Michael Foley

HolisticHealth

• Natural reflexes With a trained therapist, reflexology can bring great relief to cancer patients
• Reflexology: what is its secret? What is it? Reflexology is a complementary therapy that involves pressure to various points on the feet or hands. There are detailed maps which link specific reflexology points on the feet to every organ, gland, bone or system in the body.
• An antioxidant with promising results DOES IT WORK? Pycnogenol and blood circulation

TheBackPage

• Charity begins online NEW LIFE : Making it easier to donate to charity has evolved into a new business opportunity for a former engineer
• Addiction is 'major contributor' to suicide rates ON THE COUCH : John Crimmins is a psychotherapist and founder of ATI Training and Education