The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reportedly rejected a request by Merck and Co. on Friday to market Arcoxia, a successor to its withdrawn arthritis drug Vioxx in the United States after a 20-1 vote some weeks ago.

Arcoxia falls in the same category of drugs as Vioxx, Bextra and Celebrex that have been withdrawn from the market in September 2004, after studies showed they doubled the risk for heart attack and stroke

An Australian study suggests that women suffering from arthritis should invest time in exercising to increase their chances of staying pain-free from the disease, which can leave those affected handicapped.

According to a recent study published in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy, exercising even as little as one hour and 15 minutes a week now can make a difference over the next three years

An Australian study suggests women suffering from arthritis to invest time in exercising to increase their chances of staying pain-free from the disease. According to a recent study published in the journal Arthritis Research and Therapy, even exercising as little as one hour and 15 minutes a week now can make a difference.

AP quotes lead author Kristiann Heesch from the University of Queensland, Australia as saying, "I don't think the results are suggesting that you should just become this maniac exerciser. What it does suggest is that just adding some walking and moderate activity to your life can make a big benefit

Overweight people are 50 percent more likely to develop asthma than those with normal weight, a new study has revealed. The latest study, which reviewed seven studies involving over 330,000 adult patients, said excess weight causes impairments in lung function, such as a reduction in lung volume and an increase in the amount of oxygen used during breathing, which could be one of the factors in triggering asthma.

Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system in which the airway occasionally constricts, becomes inflamed, and is lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers. These episodes may be triggered by such things as exposure to an environmental stimulant (or allergen), cold air, exercise or exertion, or emotional stress

The consensus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC's) report: almost 80 percent of Americans aged 65 years and older have at least one chronic health disease (for instance, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis or depression). Nearly 40 percent of the elderly population have at least two chronic conditions.

The CDC's report on "The State of Aging and Health in America 2007" was supported by The Merck Company Foundation in its fifth volume series of aging and health in America, including other regions of the world