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Health Headlines - May 17

Post-Concussion Activity Levels Affect Recovery

The activity level of athletes after they've suffered a concussion affects brain function and speed of recovery, says a U.S. study in the Journal of Athletic Training.

Athletes who engage in high levels of activity following a concussion showed impaired brain function, while those who engaged in moderate levels of activity had the best performance on brain function tests, the study found.

"We surmise that most athletes in the highest-intensity activity group probably experienced a less severe initial injury, but by continuing with high levels of activity, they began to exhibit similar symptoms to those who initially experienced a more severe concussion," researcher Jason P. Mihalik, a certified athletic trainer at the University of North Carolina, said in a prepared statement.

The study also found differences in recovery based on age and gender, which suggests that different post-concussion strategies may be needed for certain groups of athletes.

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FDA Repeats Warning About Transplant Drugs

The organ transplant drugs CellCept and Myfortic can cause miscarriages and birth defects when used by pregnant women, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reminded doctors Friday.

In an online notice to doctors posted Friday, the agency recommended "confirming that a pregnancy has not occurred and ensuring that patients use effective contraceptive measures," the Associated Press reported.

The drugs suppress the immune system in order to avoid organ rejection in transplant patients. Last October, the FDA added its most serious warning to CellCept and Myfortic after it received reports of miscarriages and infants born with ear and mouth defects after their mothers took CellCept.

Most of these cases occurred in mothers who took the drug before they knew they were pregnant, said the FDA, which noted that some of the women were taking the drugs for unapproved conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, the AP reported.

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Most U.S. Teen Girls Suffer Sexual Harassment: Study

About 90 percent of American teenage girls have suffered at least one incident of sexual harassment, suggests a study that included 600 girls, ages 12 to 18.

The researchers found 67 percent of the girls reported receiving unwanted romantic attention, 62 percent were exposed to demeaning gender-related comments, 58 percent were teased because of their appearance, 52 percent were subjected to unwanted physical contact, and 25 percent were bullied or threatened with harm by a male, United Press International reported.

In addition, 76 percent of the girls reported sexist comments on their athletic abilities, and 52 percent received discouraging gender-based comments about their math, science and computer abilities.

The findings were published in the May/June issue of the journal Child Development.

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Scientific Laboratories Inc. Banned From Making, Distributing Drugs

Scientific Laboratories Inc. has been banned from making and distributing drug products until their manufacturing operations meet federal regulations and their products are approved, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

The company is a contract manufacturer and distributor of various prescription cough and cold products. A number of Scientific Laboratories' drugs "have not undergone FDA review for safety and efficacy and may pose potential health risks," Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a prepared statement.

The unapproved new drugs manufactured and marketed by Scientific Laboratories as prescription cough and cold products include: B-Vex Suspension; Ben-Tann Suspension; D-Tann Suspension; D-Tann AT Suspension; D-Tann CT Suspension; D-Tann DM Suspension; D-Tann HC Suspension; Dur-Tann DM Suspension; Duratan DM Suspension; L-All 12 Suspension; Nazarin Liquid; and Nazarin HC Liquid.

Pharmacies should stop dispensing these products, and consumers with these products in their homes should talk to their health care provider about whether to stop using the products, the FDA said.

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Texas Seafood Producer Ordered to Close, Recall Products

A seafood processing company in Texas has been ordered to close down and recall all products manufactured at its facility since 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

Under a different name, Hope Food Supply Inc., of Pasadena, Texas, had made dried smoked catfish steaks and other smoked seafood products but was ordered to close until it developed and implemented an adequate Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan for its products.

The company hasn't developed this plan and can't resume production until it's implemented an approved HACCP plan, the FDA said. This type of plan requires the company to identify all food safety hazards likely to occur with each type of seafood product they process and establish preventive measures to control those hazards.

Without such a plan, seafood products could contain potentially harmful bacteria that could cause serious illnesses in people.

Hope Food Supply's products have been distributed across the United States. Consumers should take any smoked seafood products to the place of purchase to determine if the products came from Hope Food Supply. If so, the products should be thrown away, the FDA said.

Consumers who have eaten Hope Food Supply dried smoked catfish or other smoked seafood products and have suffered adverse reactions should consult a health care professional.

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Drug Shows Promise in Atrial Fibrillation Patients

The investigational drug Multaq (dronedarone) decreased the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization or death from any cause by 24 percent in patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, according to drug maker Sanofi-Aventis.

The findings were expected to be presented at a meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society, in San Francisco.

"Atrial fibrillation is a very common disease, and our prior treatment options have been focused only on symptom relief and a hope to not do harm, which has been the problem with prior antiarrhythmic drugs," Dr. Christopher Cannon, a senior investigator in the TIMI Study Group at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, said in a prepared statement.

"Now with (this study) demonstrating a highly significant reduction in death or hospitalization, as well as a 45 percent reduction in arrhythmic death or 30 percent cardiovascular death, dronedarone may become an appropriate treatment option for atrial fibrillation," said Cannon, who was not involved in the study.

Atrial fibrillation affects about 2.5 million people in the United States and about 4.5 million people in the European Union.

Health Tips for May 17

Health Tip: Preparing Your Pet for Baby

Bringing a new baby into your home where your family pet is already settled can be an adjustment for your furry family members.

The American Pregnancy Association lists these suggestions to help prepare your pet for the smooth arrival of your new baby:

* Address issues now that you think may cause problems when the baby arrives.
* Try establishing new routines before the baby arrives so that the pet is already adjusted to your change in activities.
* If you have a dog, teach him which toys are for him, and which are off-limits.
* Understand that your pet may be jealous of the attention you give to the baby, so make sure that you give him plenty of love and affection, too.
* Never leave your baby alone in the room with a dog -- make sure someone always supervises them together.
* Talk to your veterinarian about ways to make these changes easier for your pet.

Health Tip: Poison Ivy Rash

Poison ivy is a plant that can cause a red, itchy rash on the skin.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these tips to treat the rash. It also identifies signs that you may need a doctor's attention:

* Try over-the-counter medications to control itching, such as an antihistamine (like Benadryl), calamine lotion and hydrocortisone creams.
* Take oatmeal baths to soothe the skin.
* Fevers of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit require a doctor's attention.
* Rashes that cover the eyes, mouth, genitals or a large area across the body should be treated by a doctor.
* If pus is oozing from the rash, see your doctor.
* See your doctor if the rash does not improve.

Health Headlines - May 16

Large Increase Predicted in Cancer Drug Spending

Compared to all other drugs, spending on cancer medicines worldwide will grow twice as fast in coming years because emerging nations such as China, Russia and Brazil are boosting spending on diagnosing and treating cancer, according to a report released Thursday by the health care research firm IMS Health.

The overall global drug market is expected to grow by 6.4 percent a year through 2012, while cancer drug spending is expected to increase between 12 percent and 15 percent a year, reaching $75 billion to $80 billion by 2012, the Associated Press reported.

In addition to increased cancer spending by emerging nations, cancer is a priority among drug firms with multibillion-dollar research and development budgets.

"Oncology is the top of the bill when it comes to new products in development. Oncology R&D dwarfs all other research efforts within these organizations," the wire service quoted Titus Pattel, an IMS vice president, as saying.

This year, worldwide cancer drug sales are expected to reach $48 billion.

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Court Overturns Vioxx Verdict

A multimillion dollar verdict in a Vioxx lawsuit has been overturned by a Texas court.

The family of 71-year-old Leonel Garza was awarded $32 million two years ago, although damage caps reduced the amount to about $8 million. Garza had been taking Vioxx for less than a month when he died, the Associated Press reported.

But the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals said Garza's family failed to prove that a 23-year battle with heart disease wasn't the cause of his fatal 2001 heart attack.

"Today's decision reaffirms that there is simply no reliable scientific evidence that Vioxx caused Mr. Garza's heart attack," Ted Mayer, outside legal counsel for drug maker Merck and Company, said in a prepared statement, the AP reported.

Vioxx was taken off the market in 2004 after studies showed it increased users' risks of heart attack and stroke. Merck faces numerous lawsuits over the drug.

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Sweetwater Cheese Recalled Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

Potential listeria contamination has prompted the recall of Tennessee Aged Black Pepper Cheese made by Sweetwater Farm, Inc. of Philadelphia, Tenn. Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly, and others with weak immune systems, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

In healthy people, listeria may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In addition, listeria can cause miscarriage and stillbirths among pregnant women. No illnesses in connection with the cheese have been reported.

The recalled cheese, lot number 616-361, was distributed in 5-, 7-, and 10-ounce bars through the Sweetwater retail store in Philadelphia, Tenn. and a winery in Portland, Tenn. between December 27, 2007 and May 12, 2008.

Consumers with the recalled cheese should return it to the store for replacement or a refund. For more information, contact Sweetwater at 1-877-862-4332.

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Multi-Drug Approach Needed in Bird Flu Pandemic: Study

No single drug alone would be adequate to treat all people who would become infected during a worldwide flu pandemic, and nations need to stockpile more than one type of drug, say scientists at the National Institute for Medical Research in Great Britain.

They analyzed samples of H5N1 bird flu that had infected humans and found a mutation that made it resistant to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu. However, the mutation didn't protect the virus from another drug called Relenza, BBC News reported.

The study appears in the journal Nature.

"In order not to be outflanked by the virus, it will be necessary to have stocks of both existing drugs," said research team leader Dr. Steve Gamblin, BBC News reported. "There is a huge imperative to develop further drugs and it is likely a future pandemic will need to be tackled using a three- or four-pronged approach, much as we tackle HIV today."

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Meningitis B Vaccine Shows Promise

Preliminary clinical trials of a vaccine against meningitis B yielded "encouraging" results, according to drug maker Novartis.

Doses of the vaccine were given to 150 British infants at two, four, six and 12 months. One month after the third dose, the children's immune response against three strains of meningitis B was 89 percent, 98 percent and 93 percent. After the fourth dose, the immune response was 100 percent, 98 percent and 93 percent, BBC News reported.

"These initial results... show that the vaccine induces an immune response against strains containing the vaccine components. The next step is to find how broad these responses are against other strains that cause disease," said Dr. Andrew Pollard, head of the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford. Pollard helped run the study.

This could be a major advance in combating meningitis, Professor David Salisbury, director of immunization, U.K. Department of Health, told BBC News.

"We have vaccinations against three of the four causes of bacterial meningitis. The one we have been waiting for is meningitis B. It has been a challenge for the past 20 years," Salisbury said. "This could be the beginning of getting a solution for meningitis B. The challenge has been to find a vaccine that works across different strains of the disease."

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Vitamin D May Prevent Prostate Cancer: Study

Vitamin D may be able to prevent prostate cancer, according to University of Rochester Medical Center researchers who found that the vitamin increases the activity of the gene G6PD and its production of an enzyme called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Increased activity of this enzyme clears cells of free radicals that can damage DNA and lead to cancer, United Press International reported.

The researchers used 1,25-hydroxylvitamin D3, the most powerful and active form of vitamin D in the human body. The study is published in the International Journal of Cancer.

"If you reduce DNA damage, you reduce the risk of cancer or aging," study leader Yi-Fen Lee said in a prepared statement, UPI reported.

"Our study adds one more beneficial effect of taking a vitamin D supplement. Taking a supplement is especially important for senior citizens and others who might have less circulation of vitamin D, and for people who live and work in areas where there is less sunshine," Lee said.

Health Tips for May 16

Health Tip: Prevent Antibiotic Overuse

Antibiotics are meant to treat bacterial infections, but they aren't effective against viruses such as those that cause the common cold.

To prevent overuse of antibiotics, it's important to only take them for bacterial infections.

Here are suggestions on how to use antibiotics properly:

* Only take antibiotics as recommended by your doctor. Never take any antibiotic that was prescribed for someone else, or that was prescribed for you to treat a different illness.
* If your doctor says you have a virus, you shouldn't ask for an antibiotic.
* Take your antibiotic exactly as prescribed, and always finish your prescription. Never save some of your antibiotic to treat a future infection.

Health Tip: Women and Antibiotics

Antibiotics are safe and effective medications prescribed to treat bacterial infections.

Here are possible side effects that women should be aware of before using these medications, courtesy of the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics:

* Yeast infections.
* Diarrhea, upset stomach and vaginal infections.
* Decreased effectiveness of birth control pills.
* Certain antibiotics should not be taken by a woman who is pregnant or nursing, unless prescribed by a physician who is familiar with the woman's condition.
* Antibiotics can interact with many other medications.

Health Headlines - May 15

Few U.S. Adults Proficient at Managing Health Care

Only 12 percent of the 228 million adults in the United States have the health literacy skills to manage their own health care proficiently, according to the latest News and Numbers report from the federal Agency for Healthcare Research.

Health literacy skills -- which describe a person's ability to obtain and use health information to make appropriate health care decisions -- include weighing the risks and benefits of different treatments, knowing how to calculate health insurance costs, and being able to fill out complex medical forms.

People with poor health literacy skills may have worse health care outcomes and face an increased risk of medical errors.

A 2003 survey found that:

• 12 percent of American adults had proficient health literacy skills.
• 53 percent had intermediate skills, such as being able to read instructions on a prescription label and determine the right time to take medication.
• 22 percent had basic skills, such as being able to read a pamphlet and understand two reasons why a disease test might be appropriate despite a lack of symptoms.
• 14 percent had below-basic skills, which means they could accomplish only simple tasks such as understanding a set of short instructions or identifying what's permissible to drink before a medical test.

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New Guidelines Urge Careful Monitoring of Heart Device Patients

People with implanted pacemakers, defibrillators and other devices to regulate heartbeat need to be monitored carefully after the devices begin working, a team of international experts recommended Wednesday.

Almost 2 million people across the globe have had the devices implanted, the Associated Press reported.

While much of the attention so far has been directed to who should get the devices and whether insurance companies would pay for them, the wire service said, experts in San Francisco at a meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society unveiled new guidelines designed to provide follow-up care for people who already have them.

The guidelines recommend:

• Making the doctor who implants the device responsible for follow-up care, including working with the patient's primary care doctor if the patient moves.
• Giving each patient an ID card, which would include information about emergency care and solving potential safety issues.
• Getting a checkup every three to 12 months.
• Urging the government to brand manufacturer recalls as "safety alerts," to avoid scaring patients into thinking they need immediate surgery to remove an affected product.
• Using wireless technology to monitor patients remotely from their homes.

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Former Supreme Court Justice Pleas for Alzheimer's Research

Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to sit on the nation's high court, is urging Congress to help boost research on Alzheimer's disease.

O'Connor retired from the bench in 2005, when she and her spouse moved to an assisted care center in Phoenix, the Associated Press reported. "My beloved husband John suffers Alzheimer's," she told the Senate Special Committee on Aging. "He is not in very good shape at present."

O'Connor welcomed recently approved legislation to ban discrimination based on genetic testing results. "My own sons I have not wanted to go be tested ... out of fear they would be ineligible for insurance," she told the panel on Wednesday.

More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's, the AP reported, a number that's forecast to rise to 16 million by 2050. Some 10 million people are already caring for loved ones with the disease, the Alzheimer's Association estimates.

"I suspect that you will not hear from many of my fellow caregivers directly ... simply because they do not have the resources to take time away from their loves ones in order to come before you," O'Connor said in her prepared testimony.

"Our nation certainly is ready to get deadly serious about this deadly disease," she said.

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More Americans Taking Drugs for Chronic Health Problems

A new study suggests that more than half of all insured Americans regularly take prescription drugs to treat chronic health problems, with drugs to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol the most widely used, the Associated Press reported.

The Medco Health Solutions Inc. analysis of prescription records from 2001 to 2007 revealed that 51 percent of American adults and children were taking one or more prescription drugs for a chronic condition in 2007, compared to 50 percent in 2006, and 47 percent in 2001.

Regular use of medications to treat chronic health problems occurred in all demographic groups:

• Three out of four people 65 or older.
• Almost two-thirds of women 20 or older.
• 52 percent of adult men.
• One in four children and teenagers.

The study found that among older Americans, 28 percent of women and nearly 22 percent of men take five or more medicines on a regular basis, the AP reported.

Medco manages prescription benefits for about one in five Americans.

Experts said the study findings reflect both worsening public health and better medicines for chronic conditions and more aggressive treatment by doctors, the AP reported.

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Americans Overconfident About Their Food-Safety Abilities: Survey

While 82 percent of Americans say they're confident in their ability to safely prepare food, many don't follow simple steps to reduce the spread of bacteria in the kitchen or ensure safe cooking temperatures, according to a new survey.

For example, only 48 percent of respondents said they used separate cutting boards for raw meat/poultry and produce, and only 29 percent said they use a meat thermometer.

The third annual Food and Health Survey, conducted by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation, included 1,000 American adults.

Among the findings:

• 92 percent said they wash their hands with soap and water when preparing food.
• 79 percent said they store leftovers within two hours of serving a meal.
• 67 percent said they cook food to the required temperature, but only 29 percent use a food thermometer to check the "doneness" of meat and poulty.
• Only 15 percent said they check the wattage on their microwave ovens and only 7 percent said they use a meat thermometer when using their microwave.

"Consumers are a lot more confident about their ability to safely prepare food than they ought to be, based on what we learned," Danielle Schor, senior vice president of food safety for the IFIC Foundation, said in a prepared statement. "We still have a long way to go to educate the public about the basics such as avoiding cross contamination and cooking to proper temperature."

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New Fitness Test for U.S. Adults

Aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and flexibility are the main components included in an adult fitness test being introduced Wednesday by the U.S. government. The test will feature several of the exercises done by millions of students each year as they strive for a Presidential Physical Fitness Award.

The new test for people 18 and older who are in good health was developed because baby boomers kept asking whether there was a physical-fitness test available similar to the ones they took as students, Melissa Johnson, executive director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, told the Associated Press.

The aerobic part of the test consists of a one-mile walk or 1.5-mile run, while the strength tests include push-ups and half sit-ups. The sit-ups are done for one minute and the push-ups are done until a person can't do any more. A "sit-and-reach" exercise is used to measure flexibility.

Participants can enter their scores online and get results that show where they rank among people in the same age group, the AP reported.

Health Tips for May 15

Health Tip: Harmful Chemicals in Your Home

Common household products for cleaning, cooking and doing other chores can contain potentially dangerous chemicals.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists these safety tips for household products:

* Check all products for warnings before use, and always follow instructions on the label.
* When you are finished using a product, throw it away. Toss any old products that you don't need any more.
* Make sure all potentially dangerous products are stored where children cannot reach them, and in an area with good ventilation.
* Be especially careful with dangerous products such as paint strippers, or any other products that contain methylene chloride.
* Be careful with chemicals around animals.
* Pay attention to clothes that have been drycleaned. If you notice a strong chemical smell, take it back and ask that it be cleaned or dried again.

Health Tip: Facts About Fleas

Fleas can cause more than discomfort for both people and pets. They also can cause health problems.

Here are some important things to know about recognizing and fighting fleas in your home, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Flea bites can cause a rash, small bumps that turn white when you press on them, swelling and hives.
* Bites can itch severely and commonly occur where the skin folds -- armpits, ankles, knees and other areas.
* Excessive scratching can cause the bites to become infected.
* Over-the-counter hydrocortiosone cream can help soothe itching.
* Insecticides can be used in the home to kill fleas -- but never spray around young children.
* It's important to use preventive treatments on household pets.

Health Headlines - May 14

Major Depression Affects 1 in 12 Teens: U.S. Report

One in every 12 American teens (about 2.1 million) ages 12 to 17 experienced major depression in the past year, according to a report released Tuesday by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

There was a large gender difference, with 12.7 percent of females and 4.6 percent of males reporting major depression. It's defined as a period of two weeks or longer of depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, and at least four other symptoms -- such as problems with sleep, energy, concentration and self-image -- reflecting a change in functioning.

The report, based on data from 67,706 teens who took part in the 2004 to 2006 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, also found that 48.3 percent of teens who reported major depression said it severely impaired their ability to function in at least one of four major areas of their everyday lives, such as home life, school/work, family relationships, and social life.

Teens who reported the most severe depression-related impairment were unable to carry out normal activities on an average of 58.4 days in the past year.

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Research Prompts Worries About 'Designer Babies'

Researchers believed to be the first to genetically alter a human embryo are dismissing worries that it's the first step toward creating "designer babies" by inserting specific genes into embryos to promote desired traits such as athletic ability or intelligence.

The scientists said their work was focused on stem cells, and they used an abnormal embryo that had no chance of developing into a baby, the Associated Press reported.

"None of us wants to make designer babies," said Dr. Zev Rosenwaks, director of the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He and his colleagues presented their study last fall at a meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, but it only received widespread attention after it was highlighted over the weekend by a British newspaper.

The Cornell scientists are developing techniques that others might use to produce genetically-modified humans, "and they're doing it without any kind of public debate," said Marcy Darnovsky, associate executive director of the Center for Genetics and Society, the AP reported. The research was also criticized by a London-based group called Human Genetics Alert.

The research doesn't trouble Kathy Hudson, director of the Genetics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., who noted that there are still many technical barriers to modifying babies by inserting genes.

"We're not even close to having that technology in hand to be able to do it right," and it would be ethically unacceptable to attempt it when it hasn't been proven to be safe, Hudson told the AP.

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Rising Food Prices Increase Risk of Child Malnourishment

Rising global food prices put 1.5 million more children in India at risk of becoming malnourished and could prove devastating for vulnerable women and children throughout South Asia, warns UNICEF. Currently, about five million Indian children are malnourished.

The UN children's charity noted that South Asia already has the largest number of malnourished children in the world and that nearly half of all Indian children showed signs of stunted growth before the current food price crisis, BBC News reported.

"It is a perfect storm; we have increasing malnutrition in an area that already has the majority of malnutrition in the world," said Daniel Toole, UNICEF's regional director for South Asia. "We have huge numbers of people living in poverty and a doubling of food prices. Those factors combined mean that we're going to just create tremendous vulnerability."

UNICEF's latest State of the World's Children report found that 48 percent of children under age five in India have stunted growth, compared to 43 percent in Bangladesh and 37 percent in Pakistan. The report also said 30 percent of babies in India are born underweight, compared with 22 percent in Bangladesh and 19 percent in Pakistan, BBC News reported.

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'CFC-Free' Asthma Inhalers Proving Difficult for Millions

The U.S. government-mandated switch to CFC-free inhalers is causing problems for millions of people with asthma and other lung diseases, according to The New York Times. CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), used as propellants in the inhalers, damage the Earth's ozone layer.

As of Jan. 1, 2009, CFC inhalers will have to be replaced with inhalers that use propellants called HFAs (hydrofluoroalkanes). But HFA inhalers cost much more than CRC inhalers and the new and old inhalers differ in feel, force and taste, and in how they're primed and cleaned, the Times said.

Many asthma patients and doctors haven't been educated about the changes, which has resulted in ungrounded fears about the new inhalers, preventable trips to emergency rooms, and even hoarding of CFC inhalers, the newspaper reported.

"What the government failed to do is to mandate anyone to tell patients and physicians this transition was happening. There is no education, no monitoring of patients, no financial assistance to patients who have to pay higher prices for the new drugs," said Nancy Sander, president of the Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics.

CFC-free inhalers have been available for more than a decade but four to five million inhaler users have yet to switch to them, the group said.

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Sleep Problems Plague Many U.S. College Students

Many American college students have sleep patterns that may harm their education, driving abilities and health, according to researchers who also found that white noise may help improve students' sleep.

The researchers surveyed more than 300 college students and found that one-third took more than 30 minutes to fall asleep and 43 percent woke more than once per night, United Press International reported.

The findings are published in the Journal of American College Health.

In another study, the same researchers concluded that the use of continuous white noise may help improve college students' sleep. White noise decreased difficulty falling asleep and reduced night wakings in students who'd reported sleep problems, UPI reported.

That study was published in the journal Sleep and Hypnosis.

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Minority-Tailored Asthma Education Programs Benefit Patients

Tailoring asthma education programs to minorities can improve patients' quality of life, according to Australian researchers who reviewed three studies that included 396 asthma patients, ages 7 to 59, from ethnic minority groups.

All the studies compared the use of culture-specific asthma education programs to general education programs or usual care, United Press International reported.

Culture-specific programs were more effective in improving asthma quality of life scores in adults than general programs or usual care, the review authors concluded. But there wasn't enough data to determine whether the culture-specific programs had any effect on asthma-related hospitalizations.

The review was published in The Cochrane Library journal.

Health Tips for May 14

Health Tip: Can You Quit Smoking Without Weight Gain?

Weight gain doesn't have to be a side effect of quitting smoking if you follow a few simple methods to keep you both slim and healthy.

Here are some things you can do to prevent unnecessary calories and weight gain while you're quitting smoking, courtesy of the American Heart Association:

* Choose healthy foods for meals and snacks -- low-fat and low-calorie foods, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.
* Drink plenty of water, and get regular exercise -- it will keep you busy and reduce stress.
* If you need to keep your hands busy, fiddle with a small object like a paper clip, pencil, marbles or something else you can play with in your hand.
* Snack if you feel the urge to have something in your mouth, but stick to crunchy fruits and vegetables, or sugar-free candy or gum.
* Brush your teeth frequently so that you have fresh, clean taste in your mouth that you don't want to ruin with smoke.
* Stay busy -- try knitting, crossword puzzles, writing letters, reading a book or playing a new sport.

Health Tip: Reducing Rosacea

Rosacea is a skin condition that causes redness in the skin, primarily on the face. Rosacea cannot be cured, but some redness can be controlled with various treatments.

Here are some factors that can increase redness caused by rosacea, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Exposure to sunlight
* Drinking very hot drinks or alcohol
* Eating spicy foods
* Exercising heavily
* Stress
* Exposure to very hot or very cold weather

Health Headlines - May 13

Scientists Closer to Developing Botulinum Toxin Antidote

U.S. scientists say they've made a breakthrough in efforts to develop an effective antidote for botulinum toxin, which is a common cause of food poisoning and a potentially devastating biological weapon. One gram of the poison can kill hundreds of thousands of people, according to defense experts, BBC News reported.

The Clostridium botulinum bacterium produces seven different neurotoxins that can block the chemicals nerve cells use to communicate with each other and with muscles. This can paralyze the breathing muscles and cause suffocation.

The researchers developed a protein that blocks the effects of the most powerful of these toxins by fooling it into not attacking cells in the body, BBC News reported. It will take at least four to five years before this finding results in an approved drug, said the researchers at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York and the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.

The findings are published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Currently, there are vaccines for botulinum toxin designed to be given before an attack. This research could produce as drug that would work after exposure.

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Munchkin Baby Bottle and Food Warmers Recalled

About 5,000 Munchkin Inc. baby bottle and food warmers are being recalled because they can overheat and pose a fire hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

So far, the North Hills, Calif.-based company has received nine reports of units overheating, including several that ignited and caused damage to countertops. No injuries have been reported.

The recall involves the Munchkin Deluxe Bottle and Food Warmer with Pacifier Cleaning Basket 2-in-1 Design, model # 13301 and lot number TP-1487. The Chinese-made warmers were sold at various retailers across the United States and through the Munchkin's catalogue from June 2007 through April 2008 for about $20.

Consumers should stop using the warmers and contact the company (866-619-8673) for a free replacement, the CPSC said.

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Nickel in Cheap Earrings Common Cause of Earlobe Dermatitis

Cheap earrings that contain nickel are a common cause of earlobe dermatitis, say U.S. researchers who analyzed 277 inexpensive earrings (under $50) purchased from 34 different stores and artists in San Francisco. The study authors noted that repeated exposure to nickel can make it difficult to treat earlobe dermatitis.

The tests revealed that 30.7 percent of the earrings contained at least some nickel. The highest proportion of earrings with nickel came from local artists (69 percent) and from those purchased in China Town (43 percent), United Press International reported.

The researchers also found nickel in 24 percent of earrings bought at stores targeting young women, compared to 1.7 percent of earrings from stores targeting women over age 40.

Price wasn't a good indicator of whether earrings contained nickel. For example, none of the 44 earrings that cost $5 and $8 at one store had nickel, while many earrings that cost $15 and $25 at another store did contain nickel, UPI reported.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

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Poultry Slaughtered to Control Bird Flu Outbreak in South Korea

All poultry in South Korea's capital city of Seoul have been killed in an effort to prevent the spread of bird flu following a new outbreak of the disease in the city, officials said Monday.

The slaughter of about 15,000 chickens, ducks, pheasants and turkeys began Sunday night, hours after confirmation of the city's second outbreak of bird flu in less than a week, the Associated Press reported. Authorities are now focusing on blocking any live poultry from being brought into Seoul.

Tests are being conducted to determine if the latest outbreak in the city was caused by the H5N1 virus. Results may be available as early as Monday night.

Last month, bird flu outbreaks started appearing in southern parts of South Korea for the first time in more than a year, which led to the slaughter of more than 6.8 million birds, the AP reported.

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Men More Likely to Desire Alcohol When Upset: Study

Men are more likely than women to want alcohol when they're upset, suggests a U.S. study that examined emotional and alcohol-craving responses to stress.

The study included 27 women and 27 men who were healthy social drinkers. They listened to three types of stories -- stressful, alcohol-related and neutral/relaxing -- in separate sessions on separate days, United Press International reported.

The participants' emotional, behavioral/bodily, and cardiovascular responses to the stories were assessed using heart rate and blood pressure monitoring, along with self-reported alcohol cravings.

"After listening to the stressful story, women reported more sadness and anxiety than men, as well as greater behavioral arousal," first author Tara M. Chaplin, of Yale University School of Medicine, said in a prepared statement. "But for men ... emotional arousal is linked to increases in alcohol craving. In other words, when men are upset, they are more likely to want alcohol."

Chaplin and her colleagues found that men had greater blood pressure response to stress, but didn't report greater sadness and anxiety, UPI reported. The researchers said this may mean that men are more likely to try to distract themselves from physiological arousal, possibly by consuming alcohol.

The study is published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

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Lawsuit Alleging Mercury-Autism Link to Begin

A preservative containing mercury and once widely used in childhood vaccines becomes the topic of a U.S. lawsuit this coming week as two Oregon families seek to prove that the substance caused two 10-year-old boys to develop autism.

The Associated Press reported that the boys' families are the first of 4,900 families to charge in court that the preservative thimerosal does indeed trigger autism in some children. The case is being heard in the U.S. Court of Claims.

A number of studies in recent years have found there was no evidence that thimerosal had any link to the onset of autism after a child had received one or more of the standard childhood vaccinations, the wire service said. In 2004 a committee from the Institute of Medicine concluded that thimerosal did not cause autism when used as a vaccine preservative, the AP reported.

Today, however, only the influenza vaccine contains thimerosal. The attorneys for the boys must prove that autism was caused by the vaccines, which at the time the children were injected contained thimerosal, the wire service reported.

According to interviews and examination of the court documents, the AP reported that the plaintiffs will attempt to present evidence that injections with thimerosal deposit a mercury variant in the brain. This, in turn, excites certain brain cells, which leads to autism.

"In some kids, there's enough of it that it sets off this chronic neuroinflammatory pattern that can lead to regressive autism," attorney Mike Williams told the AP.

Health Tips for May 13

Health Tip: Baby's Transition From Liquid Diet

Most babies typically stick to a diet of formula or breast milk up until about 4-to-6 months of age. When she's ready to start to add solid foods to her diet, she'll give you some signs to let you know.

Here are some signs your baby may be ready for solid food, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* She is now double her birth weight.
* She can support her own head and neck well.
* With some help, she is beginning to sit up.
* Expressing that she is full by closing her mouth or turning her head away from the food.
* Expressing an interest in solid foods that other people are eating.

Health Tip: Using Hair Dyes

Some studies have associated certain chemicals found in some hair dyes and coloring products to an increased risk of various types of cancer.

While there has not been a definite cause-and-effect established, it's important to take precautions when dying your hair.

Here are some safety tips to follow to reduce skin exposure when using hair dyes, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

* Don't leave the dye in your hair longer than required -- rinse it out after the time stated on the directions.
* Be sure to completely rinse your hair and scalp of the dye and residue.
* When putting the hair dye on your hair, wear gloves.
* Always follow the instructions carefully.
* Don't mix multiple hair dyes or other products together.

Health Headlines - May 12

Lawsuit Alleging Mercury Causes Autism to Begin in U.S. Court of Claims

A preservative containing mercury and once widely used in childhood vaccines becomes the topic of a U.S. lawsuit this coming week as two Oregon families seek to prove that the substance caused two 10-year-old boys to develop autism.

The Associated Press reports that the boys' families are the first of 4,900 families to charge in court that the preservative thimerosal does indeed trigger autism in some children. The case is being heard in the U.S. Court of Claims

A number of studies in recent years have found there was no evidence that thimerosal had any link to the onset of autism after a child had received one or more of the standard childhood vaccinations, the wire service said. In 2004 a committee from the Institute of Medicine concluded that thimerosal did not cause autism when used as a vaccine preservative, the A.P. reports.

Today, however, only the influenza vaccine contains thimerosal. The attorneys for the boys, William Mead and Jordan King, must prove that autism was caused by the vaccines, which at the time the children were injected contained thimerosal, the wire service reports.

According to interviews and examination of the court documents, the A.P. reports that the plaintiffs will attempt to present evidence that injections with thimerosal deposit a mercury variant in the brain. This, in turn, excites certain brain cells, which leads to autism.

"In some kids, there's enough of it that it sets off this chronic neuroinflammatory pattern that can lead to regressive autism," attorney Mike Williams told the A.P.

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85 Hepatitis C Cases Confirmed at Las Vegas Clinics

Health officials have identified at least 85 people treated at two Las Vegas area outpatient clinics over a four year period as having contracted Hepatitis C, the Associated Press reports.

The two clinics in question, the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada and the Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center, treated about 50,000 patients over this amount of time, the A.P. said, and while no official reason for the 85 people getting hepatitis C has been given, the cause may have been because the clinic staff reused syringes and vials of medication while administering anesthesia.

The doctors who ran the clinics, Dipak Desai and Eladio Carrera, have had their medical licenses suspended until Nevada's state Board of Medical Examiners hold hearings, the wire service reported.

Brian Labus, a senior epidemiologist with the Southern Nevada Health District, told the A.P. that the link between being treated at the clnics and contracting Hepatitis C was strong. "We know they [the 85 patients] didn't have a positive test before they went to the clinic, and now they're positive," he said.

State officials are worried that all 50,000 patients who were treated at the clinics between March, 2004 and Jan. 11, 2008 may have been exposed to Hepatitis C, which can linger in a person's system for years without symptoms. The disease can result in liver failure.

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Flu Vaccine Makers Preparing 143 Million Doses for Next Season

Hoping they picked the right viruses this time, the five companies that make influenza vaccine plan to offer at least 143 million doses to Americans for the 2008-2009 flu season, the Associated Press reports.

The 2007-2008 flu season, which is just ending, was the worst in four years for adult deaths, the wire service reports, largely because the viruses used in the flu vaccine were ineffective against many of the viruses that actually circulated in the population.

The viruses included in the vaccine each season are determined by scientists who have had a good record of predicting accurately, the A.P. reports, but two of the three viruses this season were wrong and were only 44 percent effective against the flu that circulated in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC and the American Medical Association are hosting a flu vaccine "summit" meeting in Atlanta next week, the wire service reports. Each year in the United States more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from the flu, and an average of 36,000 deaths occur, according the U.S. government statistics.

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Marijuana Linked to Teen Mental Health Problems

Teens who've reported being depressed at some point in the past year are more than twice as likely (25 percent) to have used marijuana than those who weren't depressed (12 percent), according to a White House Office of National Drug Control Policy report to be released Friday.

The paper also said that marijuana use by teens increases their risk of developing a mental disorder by 40 percent and that teens who use marijuana at least once a month for a year are three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than those who don't use the drug, the Associated Press reported.

In addition, teens who smoke marijuana when feeling depressed are more than twice as likely as other teens -- eight percent compared with three percent -- to abuse or become addicted to marijuana, the report said.

The report authors analyzed data from about a dozen previous studies that examined marijuana use.

"Marijuana is a more consequential substance of abuse than our culture has treated it in the last 20 years. This is not just youthful experimentation that they'll get over as we used to think in the past," John Walters, director of the drug control policy office, told the AP.

Since 2001, marijuana use among American teens has decreased 25 percent. Currently, about 2.3 million children use marijuana at least once a month, according to the drug control office.

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New Formulation of Coagulation Factor Approved by FDA

A new formulation (NovoSeven RT) of the genetically engineered version of Factor VIIA -- a plasma protein essential for the clotting of blood -- has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. With the new formulation, the product can be stored at room temperature (up to 81 degrees F) for up to two years.

NovoSeven RT shares the same uses as the earlier NovoSeven including: treatment of bleeding and the prevention of surgical bleeding in patients with hemophilia A or B who have antibodies that neutralize the action of clotting Factors VIII or IX; treatment of bleeding and the prevention of surgical bleeding in patients with congenital Factor VII deficiency; and prevention of surgical bleeding in patients with acquired hemophilia, the FDA said.

Approval of NovoSeven RT will benefit health-care facilities with limited refrigeration space. The original formula could be stored for three years at temperatures between 36 and 46 degrees F, the FDA said.

Fever, bleeding, injection site reaction, joint discomfort, headache, increases or decreases in blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, pain, swelling and rash are among the most common side effects associated with NovoSeven RT.

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FDA Approves Generic Versions of Restless Legs Drug

The first generic versions of the restless leg syndrome drug Requip have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The agency said it approved generic ropinirole hydrochloride tablets in the following dosages: 0.25 milligram, 0.5 milligram, 1 milligram, 2 milligrams, 3 milligrams, and 4 milligrams. The companies approved to market the generic tablets are: Roxane Laboratories Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Par Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.

While Requip is also approved to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease, the generic versions are currently not approved for that kind of use, which is protected by patent. However, that patent expires later this month and the makers of the generic drugs may then seek approval for the Parkinson's disease indication, the FDA said.

The generic tablets will carry the same safety warnings as Requip about the possible risk of falling asleep while doing daily activities, including driving.

Health Tips for May 12

Health Tip: Is Your Baby in Pain?

Babies may cry for a variety of reasons, and it's often difficult to figure out the reason for their unhappiness.

Here are signs that your baby may be in pain, courtesy of the University of Michigan Health System:

* Unusual crying: If the cry is in a different pitch than usual, if the crying lasts longer, or if the baby is crying more forcefully.
* Facial features: If the baby is squeezing the eyes shut, furrowing the brows, or has deep lines or wrinkles around the nose.
* A stiffness or tenseness to the body: If the baby has the arms and legs stretched out, or squeezes them in close. Some babies may seem unusually limp or quiet when in pain.
* Irritability: If you can't soothe the infant by the usual methods. Also, the infant may be fussy, restless and unwilling to eat or sleep.

Health Tip: Tension Headaches

A tension headache is characterized by tight, painful pressure across the forehead. The pain may also extend into the neck, and is usually steady, rather than sharp or stabbing.

Tension headaches may be brought on by everyday stress and frustration, eyestrain and poor posture, says the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. Other symptoms may accompany these headaches, including fatigue, depression and difficulty sleeping.

Tension headaches may be prevented by prescription medications such as tricyclic antidepressants, beta blockers and divalproex sodium. Over-the-counter medications -- such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen -- can help alleviate pain.