Health Headlines - December 9

Environmental Damage Threatens Human Health: WHO

Global environmental degradation is a threat to human health and may be partly responsible for the spread of new diseases such as SARS and bird flu, says a World Health Organization report released Friday.

It warned that environmental changes are already having an impact on human health and the effects could become more pronounced over the next 50 years, Agence France Presse reported.

Fresh water, clean air and a stable climate are basic human needs threatened by environmental damage. The report noted that water-borne diseases kill 3.2 million people a year -- about 6 percent of all deaths annually. More than a billion people have no clean drinking water and 2.6 billion lack proper sanitation, according to the report.

"Human health is strongly linked to the health of ecosystems, which meet many of our critical needs," said Maria Neira, who heads the WHO's department to protect the human environment.

"SARS may have entered the human population via wild species, also raised domestically, and consumed as food in China. It is clear that ecosystem changes, including changed biodiversity, influences the risk of transmission of many diseases to humans," the report said.

Kellogg to Use Soybean Oil to Lower Trans Fats in Products

U.S.-based Kellogg Co. says that, starting early in 2006, it will make some of its products with oils derived from genetically modified soybeans, to reduce or eliminate trans fatty acids in those products.

The company will use a Monsanto product called Vistive, a soybean oil low in trans fatty linolenic acid, the Associated Press reported. According to Kellogg, it will be one of the first food makers to use this oil to reduce the amounts of trans fat and saturated fats in its products.

Kellogg did not say which of its products would be the first to be made with the genetically modified soybean oil.

The company also said it plans to start using Nutrium, another brand of soybean oil that's low in linolenic acid, in its products in 2007, the AP reported.

Research indicates that trans fats contribute to higher levels of bad LDL cholesterol, which increases the risk of coronary heart disease.

Japanese Encephalitis Threatens Millions of Children in India

There isn't enough vaccine to protect the 70 million to 75 million children in India at risk of contracting deadly Japanese encephalitis, which has already claimed 1,402 lives in the state of Uttar Pradesh since the mosquito-borne disease broke out there in July, officials say.

"Around 70 to 75 million children in India are at high risk from Japanese encephalitis which can kill or maim them. We have recommended to the health ministry to get enough vaccines by April next year before the rainy season starts as the vaccines take about three weeks to take effect," Marzio Babille, UNICEF's chief of health for India, told Agence France Presse.

However, India's health ministry has decided to only increase its vaccine supply from 300,000 doses to 600,000 doses, UNICEF said. The majority of those doses will come from China, which has a surplus of 15 million doses that are available for export.

Mosquitoes transmit Japanese encephalitis from pigs to humans during the monsoon season, which runs from June to September.

UNICEF said the goal is to immunize 66 million children, ages 1 to 5, in India against the disease over the next five years, AFP reported.

Breast Cancer Study Boosts Herceptin's Promise

New research shows that it may be possible to avoid heart damage sometimes caused by the breast cancer drug Herceptin, a finding that makes the drug look more promising as a treatment for early- and late-stage breast cancer.

Finnish doctors said they found that nine weeks of Herceptin treatment, instead of the usual year of treatment, prevented cancer recurrence and did not increase the risk of heart failure. The research was presented Thursday at a meeting of 7,000 breast cancer experts in San Antonio, Texas, the Associated Press reported.

The finding that Herceptin may also be effective when given for a shorter period of time could reduce the cost of the expensive treatment.

The Finnish study supports the use of the drug earlier in breast cancer treatment, said Stanford University breast cancer expert Dr. Robert Carlson. "The jury is in and the jury has a very strong verdict," Carlson told the AP.

He said the findings suggest that virtually all women with breast cancer tumors of the type targeted by Herceptin should be given the drug, which is designed to act against a gene that's overactive in about 25 percent of breast cancers, the AP reported.

Herceptin is approved for treatment of late-stage breast cancer. The drug's maker, Genentech, wants to get approval to market Herceptin for treatment of early stage breast cancer. Most women have early stage disease when they receive their diagnosis.

Roche Close to Deal to Increase Tamiflu Production: Report

It's expected that pharmaceutical company Roche will soon announce deals with 15 drug companies or governments to help produce the influenza drug Tamiflu, which is being stockpiled worldwide in anticipation of a flu pandemic, The New York Times reported.

On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) said that Switzerland-based Roche had reached agreements with 15 entities to help increase the supply of Tamilfu. These include generic drug makers Mylan Laboratories and Teva Pharmaceuticals.

Those were the only companies identified by Roche, which acknowledged that it was in "advanced discussions" with potential partners to boost Tamiflu production, the Times reported.

Roche has been under increasing pressure to allow other manufacturers to make Tamiflu.

In related news, it's estimated that a widespread outbreak of bird flu in humans would reduce U.S. economic production by more than 5 percent and cost the economy $675 billion, including supply disruptions and lost work time. The estimate comes from a pending Congressional Budget Office report, Bloomberg News reported.

Thailand Announces 14th Human Bird Flu Death

A 5-year-old boy is the 14th person to die of bird flu in Thailand, officials announced Friday.

At first, it was believed the boy had pneumonia and doctors only began to treat him for bird flu a few hours before he died on Wednesday. He'd been sick since Nov. 25.

He had the same H5N1 bird flu strain that has killed 69 other people in Asia and millions of birds worldwide since 2003, the Associated Press reported.

The boy came from the Ongkarak district of Nakhon Nayok province, northeast of Bangkok. He lived next door to an uncle who raised chickens. Some of those chickens had recently died, public health officials said.

There have been 22 confirmed human cases of bird flu in Thailand.

China's fifth confirmed human case was reported Friday. It involves a 31-year-old woman who fell ill after she came into contact with dead birds. The woman has since recovered, Agence France Presse reported.

Health Tip: Protect Your Skin Against Winter Weather

Warnings about skin protection abound in summer, but it's important to maintain proper skin care in winter, too.

Dry, itchy skin is common in these months, so it's necessary to moisturize.

Heres a list of winter skin-care tips, courtesy of the American Academy of Dermatology:

Apply moisturizers within three minutes of exiting a bath or shower.
Wear and reapply a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to combat the damaging rays of the sun, usually reflected by snow.
Use a lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher to prevent chapped lips.
Use a humidifier to keep the humidity in your house higher in winter months.
Dab petroleum jelly on problem areas to heal dry skin.
After washing hands, immediately apply hand cream to seal in moisture.

Health Tip: Diverticulosis and Abdomen Pain

Diverticulosis, a condition that is mainly found in older people, refers to the presence of small sacs that can develop in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Although most patients don't have any symptoms, some experience discomfort in the left lower abdomen, bloating and a change in bowel habits.

The American College of Gastroenterology notes diverticulosis can be diagnosed through a barium enema, colonoscopy or a CT scan. Treatment usually includes antibiotics and, in severe cases, hospitalization.

Those who experience diverticulosis are encouraged to avoid foods that contain indigestible particles, such as nuts and fruits with small seeds.

Food Fact:
Tempeh -- jewel of the Southwest?

It may sound like a town in Arizona, but it's actually the meatiest of soy foods. Chewy and full-flavored, tempeh is made from whole soybeans, which means it's loaded with beneficial soy isoflavones. Tempeh slices easily, holds its shape during cooking and loves a good marinade.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Run for your life?

If you don't want to run alongside traffic, you're not alone. If you need to run or walk in an area where traffic is an issue, always run against the flow of traffic. Also be certain to wear reflective clothing so that you are clearly visible at all times.

FAQ of the day:
Why warm up before a workout?

During a warm-up, your body gradually prepares to bring extra blood and oxygen to the muscles during your workout. Your heart and respiration rate slowly increase, capillaries dilate and blood supplies flow to your extremities, which will need extra oxygen to fuel your muscles when you pick up the pace. The added heat and blood flow allow muscles to become more compliant, and thus less prone to injury. Finally, a proper warm-up is likely to improve your performance.