Health News Archive - April 23, 2005

It may be nearly a half-century old, but the cardiac pacemaker just keeps on ticking, pepping up desultory hearts quietly and efficiently. The advent of the implantable battery-powered pacemaker is considered one of the singular medical achievements of the 20th century.

The decline in drinking-related auto accidents that began in the early 1990s may be over: A new survey suggests Americans are hitting the bottle more often now before they hit the road.

New research on Norwegian smokers presented at a major U.S. cancer conference this week found that long-term use of certain over-the-counter painkillers raises risks for heart attack and stroke. Maybe. A number of experts say the findings raise more questions than they answer.