Your health: Warning against mixing booze, energy drinks no bull

No Bull

Mixing alcohol with energy drinks like Red Bull can put a hurtin' on more than the next day's hangover.

Wake Forest University found that students who mixed alcohol and energy drinks doubled their risk of being injured, driving with a drunken driver, being taken advantage of sexually or taking advantage of someone else.

The mixture does not reduce the level of drunkenness, but results in wide-awake drunks with the energy to try things they shouldn't.

The findings were based on an Internet study of more than 4,000 students from 10 universities.

Mixing was more prevalent among males, whites, older students, and fraternity/sorority members.

Lower dose for rosacea:

People suffering from a skin disease called rosacea who took a lower dose of antibiotics did just as well as patients taking a higher dose, a study has found.

Rosacea shows itself in redness, swelling and pimples on the face.

Patients taking 40 mg of timed-release Oracea, which contains doxycycline, did as well as those on 100 milligrams of doxycyline daily, but had fewer side effects like nausea, diarrhea and stomach pain, researchers found in a study sponsored by Oracea's maker, CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals.

Both treatments were given with the topical medication MetroGel 1 percent.

Dr. Guy Webster, past president of the American Acne & Rosacea Society, warns the condition can be worsened by cold weather, dry skin and harsh, anti-bacterial soaps -- but, contrary to popular perception, not indoor heat.

Rev it up

Power wheelchairs are available to those 65 and over and people with permanent disabilities at no cost.

Senior Wheels USA provides power wheelchairs to those who can't walk safely and can't self-propel a manual wheelchair, but meet the guidelines of the program.

Participants need at least Medicare Plan B coverage. Because the program is meant to help keep people living independently at home, residents of skilled nursing or assisted living facilities are not eligible.

For information, call toll free (800) 246-6010.

Migraine alternative

Good news for those who suffer from migraine headaches.

A new medication that works differently from current drugs shows promise in tests.

The study by Merck of MK-0974 shows it relieved pain for more than two-thirds of patients, and lasted more than 24 hours.

If approved by federal regulators, it won't be available until next year, but would provide an alternative to those who can't get relief from triptans.