Very hot tea may pose health risk
LONDON, March 27 (UPI) -- A study of tea drinkers in Iran suggests drinking very hot beverages may raise the risk of esophageal cancer, the British Medical Journal said.
The report said people who drink tea hotter than 158 F were eight times more likely to develop esophageal cancer than those who preferred a cooler temperature, The Times of London reported Friday.
Researchers said a high incidence of esophageal cancer was found in Iran's Golestan province, where residents report drinking large amounts of very hot tea, the report said.
David Whiteman, of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Australia, said in an accompanying editorial in the medical journal that tea drinkers should wait five to 10 minutes between making and pouring tea to allow it to steep properly and cool sufficiently.
The Times said most Britons prefer their tea at 140 F or lower.
CDC: Pets considered a fall hazard
ATLANTA, March 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 86,000 people are injured each year in falls caused by their cats and dogs.
That's an average annual injury rate of 29.7 per 100,000 people, the agency said in a release. Nearly 88 percent of the injuries were associated with dogs and women were twice as likely to be injured than men.
The findings are based on data from hospital emergency departments.
Nearly 62 percent of dog-related injuries occurred inside or immediately outside the home. Thirty-one percent of those cases involved falling or tripping over a dog. Most falls involving cats occurred at home, with 66 percent due to the person falling or tripping over the cat.
The CDC said there needs to be increased public awareness of pets and pet items as fall hazards and of situations that can lead to fall injuries. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommendations emphasizing obedience training for dogs should also be reinforced, the agency said.
Pyramids, towers to turn out lights
NEW YORK, March 27 (UPI) -- The Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower and Egypt's Pyramids of Giza are among the landmarks that will go dark Saturday night for Earth Hour.
The World Wildlife Fund has designated 8.30 p.m. March 28 as Earth Hour, urging everyone to turn off lights as a statement about the need for effective action on climate change. The action is aimed at urging an agreement on a global deal on climate change at a U.N. climate conference in December, WWF said in a release.
The St. Louis Gateway Arch and the Golden Gate Bridge are among the other major U.S. structures that will go dark Saturday night.
WWF said 2000 towns and cities in 84 countries are expected to participate in the annual event started two years ago in Australia.
Rabid fans face health risk
ORLANDO, Fla., March 27 (UPI) -- A California cardiologist says living and dying by the success or failure of a favorite sports team can be deadly.
Robert A. Kloner, director of research at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, said there was an increased number of deaths for two weeks following the closely contested 1980 Super Bowl between the Los Angeles Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Four years later, deaths fell after the LA Raiders easily beat the Washington Redskins, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
Similar results were reported following major sporting events in Germany and France.
Kloner said becoming emotionally involved in a team isn't always good for the heart. He is presenting the research at an American College of Cardiology meeting in Orlando, Fla., the newspaper said.
