Health roundup: Statins linked to cancer survival

Kim Painter, Special for USA TODAY

Lipitor tablets made by Pfizer are one type of statin. People who took statins were more likely to survive their cancers in a new study. But the study does not prove statins made the difference.

Your Thursday morning health roundup:

Statins and cancer: Cancer patients in Denmark who happened to be taking statins for their heart health were less likely to die of their cancers than patients not taking statins, a new study shows. The study does not prove that statins made the difference and is no reason for cancer patients to start taking statins, experts say. But it will lead to more research on whether the cholesterol lowering drugs have any effect on cancer. (WebMD)

Winter and heart attacks: You don't have to live in a cold climate for the onset of winter to increase your risk of dying from a heart attack, stroke or heart failure, new research shows. The risk increases from Massachusetts to California, researchers say. One theory: It's the relative drop in temperature that matters -- meaning that a 45-degree morning in Los Angeles may be as stressful as a 20-degree morning in Boston for people used to their local climates. (Los Angeles Times)

New arthritis pill: The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new pill for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Xeljanz, from Pfizer, is for patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis who either can't tolerate or don't respond to methotrexate, the FDA says. (NPR)

Today's talker: The porn industry is threatening to pack up and leave Los Angeles County after a decision by voters Tuesday to make porn actors wear condoms. An industry group, the Free Speech Coalition, also plans to file a lawsuit to prevent the rule from going into effect, Reuters reports. At stake, according to the coalition: a billion dollar business that provides 10,000 jobs. The condom proposal was backed by an AIDS prevention group.

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