Medical Update - December 9, 2004

In this Medical Update, a link between lead exposure and cataracts in men, plus a new screening tool for heart disease. <br/><br/>News on 6 anchor LeAnne Taylor reports. <br/><br/>A simple fingertip

Thursday, December 9th 2004, 10:40 am

By: News On 6

In this Medical Update, a link between lead exposure and cataracts in men, plus a new screening tool for heart disease.

News on 6 anchor LeAnne Taylor reports.

A simple fingertip test may be able to detect the earliest stages of heart disease. Researchers measured the activity of the blood vessels in the fingertips. Patients with abnormal readings had disease starting in the arteries of their heart.

More research is needed, but scientists hope to eventually use the test as a screening tool.

Long term exposure to lead raises the risk of cataracts in elderly men. We've all heard lead exposure is dangerous to children. Now for the first time, there's research indicating long term exposure raises the risk of cataracts in older men.

The study found men with the highest amount of lead in their bones had the highest risk of cataract.