Health Headlines - June 30

Sexual Violence Rate Among NYC Teens More Than National Average

As many as 10 percent of American teenagers experience sexual violence at some point, surveys show, but if that adolescent is from New York City, the percentage climbs to more than 16 percent.

This finding is one of many from a three year research project announced over the weekend from Columbia University researchers and a coalition called The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault.

The entire study will be released in July, according to a news release from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, but the research highlights indicate New York City adolescents face even more exposure to violence related to sexual activity than teens across the country.

"These are alarming statistics any way you look at them," said Harriet Lessel, executive director of the New City Alliance Against Sexual Assault in a statement. "We are hopeful that these findings will highlight an issue that has been kept in the shadows for far too long, and encourage more young people to seek help when they are victimized."

Among other findings, based on survey of 1,300 New York city teenagers:

• Almost 90 percent of those who have experienced sexual violence knew their perpetratrator.
• Among those who experienced physical dating violence, 27.4 percent reported having been pushed or shoved by a dating partner, and 17 percent reported having been slapped or hit.
• Almost 10 percent of students who reported having a dating partner in the last year said that their partner touched them sexually when they didn't want to be touched, and 6.7 percent said they were forced to have sex against their will.

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Doctor Who Was Target in U.S. Anthrax Probe, Wins Multimillion Dollar Settlement

The physician and bio-researcher who the U.S. Justice department identified as a "person of interest" in the bizarre series of anthrax incidents that killed 5 people beginning in 2001 has settled his lawsuit against the government.

The New York Times reports that Dr. Steven Hatfill will receive almost $3 million in cash and an additional $150,000 annually for the next 20 years to settle a lawsuit he filed in 2003, charging the FBI and U.S. Justice Department with leaking information to the news media in order to link him to the mailing of letters that contained anthrax spores.

Hatfill has consistently denied having anything to do with the anthrax incidents, in which five people died after inhaling the spore particles and another 17 were hospitalized, in 2001 and 2002.

U.S. Justice Department officials have never explained why Hatfill was such a prominent figure in the investigation, and a government statement said only that the government admitted no liability but decided settlement was "in the best interest of the United States," the newspaper reported.

Mark Grannis one of Hatfill's attorneys, told the Times that the settlement "means that Steven Hatfill is finally an ex-person of interest."

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Working While Tired May Harm Heart

Doing mental or physical work while fatigued may lead to hypertension and heart disease, suggests a U.S. study.

It included 80 volunteers who were told they could win a prize by memorizing, in two minutes, a number of meaningless three-letter sequences. Their blood pressure and heart rate were monitored while they tried to memorize the information. Those with moderate fatigue showed stronger blood pressure increases than those with low fatigue, United Press International reported.

The study appears in the July issue of the International Journal of Psychophysiology.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers said their findings support a theory that a fatigued person's cardiovascular system has to work harder when trying to complete tasks, UPI reported.

"Individuals who experience chronically exaggerated cardiovascular responses are believed to be at greater health risk than individuals who do not. Thus, the implication is that chronic fatigue may pose a health risk under some performance conditions," said study leader Rex Wright.

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DNA Repair Capacity Affects Lung Cancer Risk in Non-smokers

A lack of DNA repair capacity may be a cause of lung cancers that occur in non-smokers, say researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. About 15 percent of lung cancers occur in non-smokers.

The researchers found that non-smokers with less efficient DNA repair ability were almost twice as likely to develop lung cancer, compared to non-smokers with normal DNA repair capacity, United Press International reported.

Non-smokers with the lowest DNA repair capacity were more than three times more likely than average to develop lung cancer.

"Our findings demonstrate that suboptimal DNA repair capacity together with secondhand smoke exposure are strong lung cancer risk factors in lifetime never smokers," UPI quoted lead author Olga Gorlova as saying in a prepared statement.

The study appears in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

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Unsafe Water Causes Many Diseases, Deaths: WHO

More than 9 percent of diseases and 6 percent of deaths worldwide are caused by unsafe water, says a World Health Organization report released Thursday. Dengue fever and diarrhea are among the diseases that can be transmitted via water.

Developing countries are disproportionately affected by water-related health problems. For example, unsafe water causes less than 1 percent of deaths in developed countries, compared with an average of 8 percent in developing countries, Agence France Presse reported.

Death rates in certain poor countries can be much higher, such as 24 percent in Angola.

"In the 35 most affected countries, over 15 percent of diseases could easily be prevented by improved water, sanitation, and hygiene," said report author Annette-Pruss-Ustun, AFP reported.

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Low-Fat Milk May Benefit Kidney/Heart Health

Low-fat milk may offer protection against poor kidney function linked to heart disease, according to American and Norwegian researchers.

They measured the kidney function of more than 5,000 adults, ages 45 to 84, and found that those who consumed at least one serving of low-fat milk or milk products a day were 37 percent less likely than those who had little or no low-fat milk to have poor kidney function related to heart disease, United Press International reported.

The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The authors noted that previous research suggests that milk protein, vitamin D, and magnesium may contribute to milk's potential heart health benefits, UPI reported.

Health Tips for June 30

Health Tip: After a Car Accident

Traffic accidents often cause more than physical injuries -- they can also cause emotional and mental trauma.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to prepare your mind and body for a return to the road:

* Take care of your physical injuries -- see your doctor about any post-accident pain.
* As long as your injuries permit, try to get some exercise. Speak to your doctor about setting limits.
* Talk about the experience with your friends and family. This may help you better deal with post-accident anxiety.
* Resume your old routine and daily activities.
* Teach yourself to become a more defensive driver. Always wear a seat belt, and practice good driving habits.

Health Tip: Taking a Mental Status Test

Mental status tests are given to determine the state of a person's mental health. The test, for example, can help gauge the mental progression of a physical illness such as Alzheimer's disease.

Here's what may comprise a mental status test, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* An examination of physical appearance, including dress and grooming.
* Orientation and awareness -- knowing one's own name, address, and phone, as well as the current date and season.
* Length of attention span, and short-term and long-term memory.
* Tests to determine abilities including problem solving and judgment.
* Ability to identify objects and recall words.

Health Headlines - June 29

Doctor Who Was Target in U.S. Anthrax Probe, Wins Multimillion Dollar Settlement

The physician and bio-researcher who the U.S. Justice department identified as a "person of interest" in the bizarre series of anthrax incidents that killed 5 people beginning in 2001 has settled his lawsuit against the government.

The New York Times reports that Dr. Steven Hatfill will receive almost $3 million in cash and an additional $150,000 annually for the next 20 years to settle a lawsuit he filed in 2003, charging the FBI and U.S. Justice Department with leaking information to the news media in order to link him to the mailing of letters that contained anthrax spores.

Hatfill has consistently denied having anything to do with the anthrax incidents, in which five people died after inhaling the spore particles and another 17 were hospitalized, in 2001 and 2002.

U.S. Justice Department officials have never explained why Hatfill was such a prominent figure in the investigation, and a government statement said only that the government admitted no liability but decided settlement was "in the best interest of the United States," the newspaper reported.

Mark Grannis one of Hatfill's attorneys, told the Times that the settlement "means that Steven Hatfill is finally an ex-person of interest."

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Working While Tired May Harm Heart

Doing mental or physical work while fatigued may lead to hypertension and heart disease, suggests a U.S. study.

It included 80 volunteers who were told they could win a prize by memorizing, in two minutes, a number of meaningless three-letter sequences. Their blood pressure and heart rate were monitored while they tried to memorize the information. Those with moderate fatigue showed stronger blood pressure increases than those with low fatigue, United Press International reported.

The study appears in the July issue of the International Journal of Psychophysiology.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers said their findings support a theory that a fatigued person's cardiovascular system has to work harder when trying to complete tasks, UPI reported.

"Individuals who experience chronically exaggerated cardiovascular responses are believed to be at greater health risk than individuals who do not. Thus, the implication is that chronic fatigue may pose a health risk under some performance conditions," said study leader Rex Wright.

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DNA Repair Capacity Affects Lung Cancer Risk in Non-smokers

A lack of DNA repair capacity may be a cause of lung cancers that occur in non-smokers, say researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. About 15 percent of lung cancers occur in non-smokers.

The researchers found that non-smokers with less efficient DNA repair ability were almost twice as likely to develop lung cancer, compared to non-smokers with normal DNA repair capacity, United Press International reported.

Non-smokers with the lowest DNA repair capacity were more than three times more likely than average to develop lung cancer.

"Our findings demonstrate that suboptimal DNA repair capacity together with secondhand smoke exposure are strong lung cancer risk factors in lifetime never smokers," UPI quoted lead author Olga Gorlova as saying in a prepared statement.

The study appears in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

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Unsafe Water Causes Many Diseases, Deaths: WHO

More than 9 percent of diseases and 6 percent of deaths worldwide are caused by unsafe water, says a World Health Organization report released Thursday. Dengue fever and diarrhea are among the diseases that can be transmitted via water.

Developing countries are disproportionately affected by water-related health problems. For example, unsafe water causes less than 1 percent of deaths in developed countries, compared with an average of 8 percent in developing countries, Agence France Presse reported.

Death rates in certain poor countries can be much higher, such as 24 percent in Angola.

"In the 35 most affected countries, over 15 percent of diseases could easily be prevented by improved water, sanitation, and hygiene," said report author Annette-Pruss-Ustun, AFP reported.

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Low-Fat Milk May Benefit Kidney/Heart Health

Low-fat milk may offer protection against poor kidney function linked to heart disease, according to American and Norwegian researchers.

They measured the kidney function of more than 5,000 adults, ages 45 to 84, and found that those who consumed at least one serving of low-fat milk or milk products a day were 37 percent less likely than those who had little or no low-fat milk to have poor kidney function related to heart disease, United Press International reported.

The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The authors noted that previous research suggests that milk protein, vitamin D, and magnesium may contribute to milk's potential heart health benefits, UPI reported.

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Maker of Anti-Flu Drug Seeks Corporate Stockpiling

The maker of the anti-flu drug Tamiflu has begun a program to encourage company stockpiling of the drug -- for an annual fee.

The plan announced Thursday by Roche Holding AG coincided with an effort by the U.S. government to begin encouraging corporate stockpiling of anti-flu drugs, since government reserves wouldn't include enough medication to treat every person in the United States in the event of a widespread flu outbreak, the Associated Press reported.

Experts have long warned that the virulent strain of bird flu that has been largely confined to Asian fowl over the past several years could mutate into a form that's more easily passed from animal-to-person and person-to-person, sparking a human flu pandemic.

Roche's plan includes provisions to substitute new supplies when older doses of Tamiflu expire, the wire service said.

Health Tips for June 29

Health Tip: Depression Among Teens

With all of the physical, emotional and hormonal changes in their lives, some teens are especially prone to depression.

Here are factors that could trigger depression in teens, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Undergoing a particularly stressful event, such as the death of a family member or parental divorce.
* Being physically or sexually abused as a child.
* Having a lack of social skills.
* Having a chronic illness.
* Living with another family member who suffers from depression.

Health Tip: Prevent Falls From Windows

Every year, thousands of children are killed or hurt by falling from windows.

Here are guidelines from the U.S. National Safety Council to keep your children safe:

* If you want to open a window for fresh air, only open those that are high enough that children cannot reach them. Keep others closed and locked.
* Move any furniture or other items away from windows, so that children can't climb on these objects to reach windows.
* Don't count on screens to protect your child. They are not strong enough to prevent children from falling through them.
* Teach your child not to play near windows or glass doors. Set rules about staying away from them.
* A window needs to be opened only 5 inches for a child under age 10 to fall through. In many locations, landlords are legally bound to install window guards in apartments with children.

Health Headlines - June 28

Working While Tired May Harm Heart

Doing mental or physical work while fatigued may lead to hypertension and heart disease, suggests a U.S. study.

It included 80 volunteers who were told they could win a prize by memorizing, in two minutes, a number of meaningless three-letter sequences. Their blood pressure and heart rate were monitored while they tried to memorize the information. Those with moderate fatigue showed stronger blood pressure increases than those with low fatigue, United Press International reported.

The study appears in the July issue of the International Journal of Psychophysiology.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers said their findings support a theory that a fatigued person's cardiovascular system has to work harder when trying to complete tasks, UPI reported.

"Individuals who experience chronically exaggerated cardiovascular responses are believed to be at greater health risk than individuals who do not. Thus, the implication is that chronic fatigue may pose a health risk under some performance conditions," said study leader Rex Wright.

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DNA Repair Capacity Affects Lung Cancer Risk in Non-smokers

A lack of DNA repair capacity may be a cause of lung cancers that occur in non-smokers, say researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. About 15 percent of lung cancers occur in non-smokers.

The researchers found that non-smokers with less efficient DNA repair ability were almost twice as likely to develop lung cancer, compared to non-smokers with normal DNA repair capacity, United Press International reported.

Non-smokers with the lowest DNA repair capacity were more than three times more likely than average to develop lung cancer.

"Our findings demonstrate that suboptimal DNA repair capacity together with secondhand smoke exposure are strong lung cancer risk factors in lifetime never smokers," UPI quoted lead author Olga Gorlova as saying in a prepared statement.

The study appears in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

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Unsafe Water Causes Many Diseases, Deaths: WHO

More than 9 percent of diseases and 6 percent of deaths worldwide are caused by unsafe water, says a World Health Organization report released Thursday. Dengue fever and diarrhea are among the diseases that can be transmitted via water.

Developing countries are disproportionately affected by water-related health problems. For example, unsafe water causes less than 1 percent of deaths in developed countries, compared with an average of 8 percent in developing countries, Agence France Presse reported.

Death rates in certain poor countries can be much higher, such as 24 percent in Angola.

"In the 35 most affected countries, over 15 percent of diseases could easily be prevented by improved water, sanitation, and hygiene," said report author Annette-Pruss-Ustun, AFP reported.

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Low-Fat Milk May Benefit Kidney/Heart Health

Low-fat milk may offer protection against poor kidney function linked to heart disease, according to American and Norwegian researchers.

They measured the kidney function of more than 5,000 adults, ages 45 to 84, and found that those who consumed at least one serving of low-fat milk or milk products a day were 37 percent less likely than those who had little or no low-fat milk to have poor kidney function related to heart disease, United Press International reported.

The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The authors noted that previous research suggests that milk protein, vitamin D, and magnesium may contribute to milk's potential heart health benefits, UPI reported.

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Maker of Anti-Flu Drug Seeks Corporate Stockpiling

The maker of the anti-flu drug Tamiflu has begun a program to encourage company stockpiling of the drug -- for an annual fee.

The plan announced Thursday by Roche Holding AG coincided with an effort by the U.S. government to begin encouraging corporate stockpiling of anti-flu drugs, since government reserves wouldn't include enough medication to treat every person in the United States in the event of a widespread flu outbreak, the Associated Press reported.

Experts have long warned that the virulent strain of bird flu that has been largely confined to Asian fowl over the past several years could mutate into a form that's more easily passed from animal-to-person and person-to-person, sparking a human flu pandemic.

Roche's plan includes provisions to substitute new supplies when older doses of Tamiflu expire, the wire service said.

Health Tips for June 28

Health Tip: Depression Among Teens

With all of the physical, emotional and hormonal changes in their lives, some teens are especially prone to depression.

Here are factors that could trigger depression in teens, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Undergoing a particularly stressful event, such as the death of a family member or parental divorce.
* Being physically or sexually abused as a child.
* Having a lack of social skills.
* Having a chronic illness.
* Living with another family member who suffers from depression.

Health Tip: Reduce Your Risk of a Crash

Knowing the rules of the road -- and being aware of what's going on around you -- can go a long way in preventing car accidents.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions:

* Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
* Don't look directly into the illuminated headlights of another car. Keep an eye on the yellow line in the road instead, until the car has passed.
* Be constantly aware of potential hazards, including potholes, construction equipment, or stopped cars.
* Pay careful attention to your car and those around you, especially while driving in bad weather.
* Be careful driving on the highway, and look out for other drivers that quickly change lanes to exit the road.
* Don't get emotional about other people's driving habits.
* Never drive while tired.

Health Headlines - June 27

Maker of Anti-Flu Drug Seeks Corporate Stockpiling

The maker of the anti-flu drug Tamiflu has begun a program to encourage company stockpiling of the drug -- for an annual fee.

The plan announced Thursday by Roche Holding AG coincided with an effort by the U.S. government to begin encouraging corporate stockpiling of anti-flu drugs, since government reserves wouldn't include enough medication to treat every person in the United States in the event of a widespread flu outbreak, the Associated Press reported.

Experts have long warned that the virulent strain of bird flu that has been largely confined to Asian fowl over the past several years could mutate into a form that's more easily passed from animal-to-person and person-to-person, sparking a human flu pandemic.

Roche's plan includes provisions to substitute new supplies when older doses of Tamiflu expire, the wire service said.

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Anheuser-Busch to End Production of Alcohol Energy Drinks

Anheuser-Busch, the largest brewer in the United States, will no longer produce caffeinated alcoholic beverages nationwide in order to settle an investigation involving 11 state attorneys general, the Bloomberg news service reported Thursday.

The so-called "energy drinks," including "Tilt" and "Bud Extra," had been illegally marketed to people under age 21, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo declared in a statement announcing the agreement.

The attorneys general had said they were concerned about the mistaken belief that caffeine in the drinks would counter the intoxicating effects of alcohol.

The brewer issued a statement saying it would reformulate the recipes for the drinks, dropping caffeine as an ingredient. The company also has agreed to pay $200,000 to cover the investigations in the 11 states, which besides New York included: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, and Ohio, Bloomberg said.

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High School Cigarette Use Levels Off

Cigarette use among high school students was virtually unchanged from 2003 to 2007, hovering at about 20 percent, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday. The rate had declined from 36.4 percent in 1997 to 21.9 percent in 2003.

While high school cigarette use remained steady between 2003 and 2007, smoking did decline among black and female students, the agency said in a prepared statement.

Getting more teens to quit will require "full implementation of comprehensive tobacco control efforts that make smoking socially unacceptable," the statement said.

It suggested community- and school-based efforts to reduce tobacco advertising and promotion, limit commercial availability of tobacco products, and spark higher cigarette prices through general price increases and excise tax hikes.

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Senators Strike Deal on World AIDS Bill

U.S. Senate negotiators have struck a tentative compromise on a $50 billion bill to fight AIDS and other diseases that have ravaged nations including Africa, the Associated Press reports.

The five-year bill would more than triple funding over the $15 billion global AIDS bill passed by Congress in 2003. That act expires at the end of September.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) said he expected the Senate would vote on the "agreement in principle" before President George W. Bush departed next week for a summit of G-8 nations in Japan.

"That would send an important message to the world that our country's commitment to fight HIV/AIDS has not wavered," Reid said.

The compromise, which stresses AIDS treatment programs, also targets malaria and tuberculosis, the wire service said.

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New York City Doubts Claims of Some 9/11 Plaintiffs

Of the 10,800 people who have sued New York City over purported health effects stemming from the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, many aren't really sick, city lawyers claim in new court filings.

About half of the total claims filed represent city employees, including police and firefighters, the Associated Press reported.

In a letter to U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, the city's law firm, Patton Boggs LLP, said nearly one-third of those who want compensation allege "only nominal injuries." The letter contends that these cases mostly include ailments that haven't been diagnosed, representing symptoms such as insomnia or a runny nose, the AP reported.

In fact, more than 300 of the lawsuits "do not claim any past or current physical injury," the lawyers alleged.

Attorney Marc Bern, representing workers who are suing the city, disputes the letter's contention that 30 percent of the plaintiffs don't have serious health problems. He said their cases would be helped when additional medical records are obtained.

"We're continuing to get more records every day, virtually by the minute," he said.

The U.S. government has established a $1 billion insurance fund to cover 9/11 claims. It's overseen by the city, the AP said.

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Kroger Recalls Ground Beef Possibly Linked to E. Coli Cases

The Kroger supermarket chain is recalling an unspecified amount of its ground beef products that may be tied to an outbreak of E. coli illnesses in Ohio and Michigan, the Columbus Dispatch of Ohio reported.

The chain is recalling all varieties of ground beef sold between May 21 and June 8 at its locations in both states for possible contamination with E coli O157:H7.

The recall doesn't end an investigation into which of several Kroger suppliers may be responsible for the outbreak, "nor does it rule out the possibility that meat purchased elsewhere is contaminated," the newspaper said Thursday. The Kroger suppliers also distribute meat to other retailers.

Ohio health officials said they identified a genetic match between 17 illnesses in Ohio and 16 in Michigan to ground beef sold at a Kroger store in Gahanna, Ohio, the newspaper said.

E. coli O157:H7 infection can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration, and in severe cases, kidney failure. Children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible.

Health Tips for June 27

Health Tip: Prevent Falls From Windows

Every year, thousands of children are killed or hurt by falling from windows.

Here are guidelines from the U.S. National Safety Council to keep your children safe:

* If you want to open a window for fresh air, only open those that are high enough that children cannot reach them. Keep others closed and locked.
* Move any furniture or other items away from windows, so that children can't climb on these objects to reach windows.
* Don't count on screens to protect your child. They are not strong enough to prevent children from falling through them.
* Teach your child not to play near windows or glass doors. Set rules about staying away from them.
* A window needs to be opened only 5 inches for a child under age 10 to fall through. In many locations, landlords are legally bound to install window guards in apartments with children.

Health Tip: Protect Your Child From Backpack Injuries

Loaded backpacks can strain young backs and shoulders, causing pain and injury.

Prevent backpack injuries by lightening the load. Check your child's backpack each day, and remove any items that aren't needed. Also, make sure the child uses both straps, to distribute the load evenly.

Here are warning signs that your child's backpack may be too heavy, courtesy of the U.S. National Safety Council:

* A difference in posture when wearing the backpack.
* Significant difficulty in putting the backpack on or taking it off.
* Complaints of pain or discomfort when the backpack is on.
* Red marks on the skin from the backpack straps.
* Feelings of numbness or a tingling sensation, especially in the back or shoulders.

Health Headlines - June 26

New England Has Highest Rate of Health Insurance Coverage

New England has the highest rate of health insurance coverage in the United States, while the Southwest has the lowest coverage, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.

Only 11 percent of non-elderly adults and 4 percent of children in New England are uninsured, compared with 30 percent of adults and 18 percent of children in the Southwest, the Associated Press reported.

Three regions -- the Great Plains, Great Lakes in the upper Midwest, and the Northeast -- had uninsured rates of 14 percent to 15 percent for adults and 6 percent to 7 percent for children. In the Southeast, almost 23 percent of adults were uninsured.

Overall, about 17 percent of people under age 65 were uninsured when the survey of 106,000 families was conducted from 2004 through 2006, the AP reported.

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FDA Has Questions About Gardasil Use in Older Women

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants more information before it considers approving the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil for women ages 27 to 45, drug maker Merck & Co. said Wednesday. The company had expected FDA approval by next month.

Merck spokeswoman Kelley Dougherty wouldn't reveal the nature of the FDA's questions but said the company will respond to the agency next month, Bloomberg news reported.

Gardasil protects against human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer later in life. According to a Merck-sponsored study, Gardasil prevented 91 percent of precancers and external genital lesions in women ages 24 to 45.

The FDA's concerns about the use of the vaccine in older women don't affect Gardasil's approved use for girls and women ages 9 to 26, Bloomberg reported.

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$30 Billion a Year Needed to Fight Hunger: U.N. Official

About $30 billion will be needed each year until 2050 to stave off world hunger, the director general of the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Wednesday at an agricultural conference in Innsbruck, Austria.

The bulk of the money is needed to increase worldwide agricultural production, Jacques Diouf told reporters before the conference, Agence France Presse reported.

He also said strong demand, low food reserves and harvesting problems caused by climate change mean the global price of food commodities will remain high.

Ways in which the FAO can help countries worst hit by the current food crisis will be among the topics discussed at the conference, AFP reported.

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Cuban Scientists Develop Lung Cancer Vaccine

A vaccine to fight lung cancer was unveiled Tuesday by Cuban scientists, who said the vaccine extends the lives of patients by up to five months, improves their breathing and decreases their pain.

The vaccine, the first of its kind in the world, is based on two proteins and triggers an immune response against lung cancer, Agence France Presse reported.

Advanced tests of the vaccine are currently under way at 18 Cuban hospitals and other tests were conducted in Canada and Great Britain. Further tests are scheduled or under way in a number of countries, including China, India, Malaysia, Peru and Singapore.

The vaccine is available in Cuba and will be commercialized in Latin America, AFP reported.

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Breast Cancer Gene Linked to Deadly Prostate Cancer

A gene that greatly increases a woman's risk of breast cancer also causes a particularly deadly form of prostate cancer, say Canadian researchers who studied 301 prostate cancer patients. On average, those with the defective BRCA2 gene lived an average of four years after diagnosis. The average survival time for prostate cancer patients is 12 years.

The University of Toronto study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, appears to confirm previous findings that BRCA2 is associated with highly dangerous prostate cancer, BBC News reported. An Icelandic study found that prostate cancer patients with the gene lived an average of 2.1 years.

The defective BRCA2 gene is found in about one in 500 men, and men with the gene can be five times more likely to develop prostate cancer than men in the general population.

"Although only a very small percentage of men with prostate cancer will carry a faulty BRCA2 gene, they're much more likely to die from the disease," Dr. Lesley Walker, of the charity Cancer Research UK, told BBC News. "It is important that more research is done in this area to ensure that this group is targeted effectively so cancer is picked up at an early stage and, more importantly, that they are given the most appropriate treatment."

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Unsafe Sexual Behavior a Problem in NYC

Unsafe sexual behavior continues to be a problem in New York City, says a health department report that found 11 percent of residents (about 610,000 adults) reported having more than one sex partner in the past year.

Men were much more likely than women to report multiple partners (17 percent vs. 6 percent), and young adults were four times more likely than older adults to report multiple partners, United Press International reported.

People with same-sex partners were three times more likely than those with opposite-sex partners to report more than one partner in the past year. Overall, 60 percent of those with multiple partners said they used a condom the last time they had sex. But that figure was only 43 percent among those in committed relationships who had sex with other partners in the past year.

In 2006, more than half of all pregnancies in New York City were unplanned and more than 60,000 new sexually transmitted infections were reported, including 3,745 people newly-diagnosed with HIV, UPI reported.

Health Tips for June 26

Health Tip: Swing Set Safety

Children's swing sets must be properly selected and assembled to prevent serious injury.

Here are recommendations on choosing and assembling a swing set, from the U.S. National Safety Council:

* Make sure the equipment is very sturdy, and look for sets that can be changed or upgraded to accommodate your child's growth.
* Secure the legs of the set in below-ground concrete. If you use anchors that come with the set, keep them below ground. Make sure all cables are taut. Cap any screws or bolts.
* Slides should not be too steep -- no more than a 30-degree slope. The slide must have tall sides to prevent falls, and an area at the bottom where children can regain balance and sit upright.
* Avoid sets with "S" hooks, or any parts that can pinch, cut or crush small fingers. Avoid any rings that are less than 5 inches or greater than 10 inches in diameter.
* In general, equipment should not be higher than 8t feet tall. And metal equipment, used in hot weather, can lead to burns.

Health Tip: Don't Overdo Fast Food

Fast food is a tempting option for hungry people on the run. But eating it too often or downing too much can wreak havoc on your health and waistline.

Keep these tips in mind when considering fast food, provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Fast foods are often high in calories, fat, sugar and salt.
* Many fast foods are cooked with high-calorie fats and butters.
* Fast food choices tend to lack fresh fruits and vegetables.
* The large portion sizes offered can encourage overeating.
* Many fast food restaurants have begun publishing nutritional information about their foods. In other cases, it is available on request. This information can help you better plan what you order.

Health Headlines - June 25

U.S. House Votes to Stop Medicare Cut for Physicians

With less than a week to go before a 10.6 percent cut takes effect in the amount Medicare reimburses participating doctors, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday to reverse the cut, the Associated Press reported.

Despite a threatened veto from President Bush, the bill passed 355-59. While the measure has the support of doctors, hospitals, and pharmacists, insurers oppose it. Under the legislation, the funding shortfall would be made up by cutting payments to private health insurers, the wire service said.

About 600,000 U.S. doctors care for Medicare participants. Payments had been set to drop by 10.6 percent on July 1, the result of a formula that triggers cuts after spending exceeds certain budgetary limits.

Under the bill passed Tuesday, payments to private insurers would be cut by almost $14 billion over five years.

Without its passage, many in Congress feared that medical care for seniors and the disabled on Medicare would be compromised as a growing number of doctors refused to see them, the AP reported.

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Some Premature Babies Don't Show Obvious Pain Response

Even if they do have pain while undergoing medical procedures, some premature babies may not show any obvious signs of discomfort, according to a study by researchers at University College London, U.K.

The scientists observed the brain activity of 12 babies while they had heel prick tests. Most of the babies displayed both brain and physical responses. However, some of the babies had a brain response to the pain but no obvious physical response, BBC News reported.

"Although the study is small, it does raise concerns about the tools normally used by doctors to establish whether a baby is feeling pain," lead researcher Dr. Rebeccah Slater said in a prepared statement. "Infants may appear to be pain free, but may, according to brain activity measurements, still be experiencing pain."

The study appears in the journal Public Library of Science.

There's debate about premature babies' ability to feel pain and how much painkiller is needed to make them comfortable, BBC News reported.

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Poor Children More Likely to Develop Diabetes as Adults

People who grow up in low-income households are more likely to develop diabetes than those who grow up in better-off homes, according to a study of adults, ages 17 to 94, in Alameda County, Calif. from 1965 through 1999.

Of the 5,913 participants, 307 developed type 2 diabetes. Of those who developed the disease, almost 65 percent lived in poor households during childhood, United Press International reported.

The findings appear in the American Journal of Public Health.

"Our study, among others, shows a strong, persistent effect of childhood socioeconomic position on the development of diabetes in adulthood, even after taking later-life socioeconomic position into account," lead author Siobhan Maty of the Portland State University School of Community Health in Oregon, said in a prepared statement, UPI reported.

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STDs Increase Risk of Serious Birth Defect

Women who have a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or urinary tract infection just before or during pregnancy are four times more likely than normal to have babies with a severe birth defect called gastroschisis, in which the intestines and other organs develop outside the abdomen.

The University of Utah study also found that age appears to be a major factor, United Press International reported. Women younger than age 20 are 11 times more likely than women over age 25 to have babies with gastroschisis.

The study appears in the British Medial Journal.

"If teens are having sex and getting pregnant, they're at risk of sexually transmitted diseases. They're not thinking about the consequences, so that's a huge problem with this age group," lead investigator Marcia Feldkamp said in a prepared statement, UPI reported.

She noted that women with an STD sometimes don't know they have it.

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FDA Approves 5-in-1 Children's Vaccine

The 5-in-1 pediatric combination vaccine Pentacel has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in infants and children ages 6 weeks through 4 years, maker Sanofi Pasteur announced.

Pentacel -- which includes immunization against influenza type B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis) and poliomyelitis -- was approved for administration as a four-dose series at 2, 4, 6 and 15 to 18 months of age, United Press International reported. The first dose can be given as early as 6 weeks of age.

Currently, children in the United States receive up to 23 injections by the time they're 18 months old, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The use of Pentacel could reduce that number of shots by as many as seven, said Wayne Pisano, president and chief executive officer of Sanofi Pasteur, UPI reported.

Health Tips for June 25

Health Tip: Check Blood Pressure at Home

Blood pressure can change frequently based on recent exercise, foods you've eaten, or changes in stress levels.

Here are suggestions for monitoring your blood pressure at home, courtesy of the American Heart Association:

* Take a measurement of your upper arm, and buy a blood pressure cuff that's the right size.
* At least 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure, avoid smoking, caffeine and exercise.
* Sit in the proper position, with your back straight and supported, and your feet flat on the floor. Place your lower arm on a flat surface with your upper arm at the level of your heart.
* Read the instructions on how to apply and use the cuff. Or ask your doctor to show you how.
* Take two to three readings at the same time each day, and wait at least one minute between readings. Always record all results.

Health Tip: Get Needed Vitamins and Minerals

A diet rich in vitamins and minerals is an important part of staying healthy and feeling well.

Here is a list of important vitamins and minerals to include in your diet, and how to get them, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Calcium, which is found in yogurt, cheese, milk and other dairy products; sardines, salmon and perch; soybeans and white beans; spinach and oatmeal.
* Potassium, which is found in sweet potatoes, seafood, fruits including bananas, peaches and honeydew; beans and dairy products.
* Magnesium, which is found in vegetables, bran, beans, tofu, brown rice and nuts.
* Vitamin A, which is found in the meat organs such as liver and giblets; vegetables such as pumpkin, sweet potatoes and spinach; and cantaloupe.
* Vitamin C, which is found in oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, strawberries, cantaloupe, guava and papaya; and vegetables such as red and green peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes.
* Vitamin E, which is found in nuts and seeds, turnip greens, peanut butter and spinach.

Health Headlines - June 24

FDA Approves 5-in-1 Children's Vaccine

The 5-in-1 pediatric combination vaccine Pentacel has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in infants and children ages 6 weeks through 4 years, maker Sanofi Pasteur announced.

Pentacel -- which includes immunization against influenza type B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis) and poliomyelitis -- was approved for administration as a four-dose series at 2, 4, 6 and 15 to 18 months of age, United Press International reported. The first dose can be given as early as 6 weeks of age.

Currently, children in the United States receive up to 23 injections by the time they're 18 months old, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The use of Pentacel could reduce that number of shots by as many as seven, said Wayne Pisano, president and chief executive officer of Sanofi Pasteur, UPI reported.

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Expert Panel Presents New Definition of Premature Ejaculation

A new definition of premature ejaculation was presented at the American Urological Association's annual meeting by an International Society for Sexual Medicine panel of experts, United Press International reported.

The panel said premature ejaculation should be defined as "a male dysfunction characterized by ejaculation which always or nearly always occurs prior to or within about one minute of vaginal penetration; and, inability to delay ejaculation on all or nearly all vaginal penetrations; and, negative personal consequences, such as distress, bother, frustration and or the avoidance of sexual intimacy."

The panel had been asked to create a new definition of premature ejaculation, based on available clinical evidence.

It's believed about 20 percent to 30 percent of men are affected by premature ejaculation, UPI reported. While it's less commonly reported than erectile dysfunction (ED), premature ejaculation may coexist in one-third of men who complain of ED.

There are no FDA-approved drugs for premature ejaculation, the wire service said. Behavioral and sexual exercises are among commonly prescribed treatments.

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Chicken Molecule May Improve Understanding of Allergic Reactions in Humans

Chickens may help scientists better understand severe allergic reactions in people and develop new ways to prevent or treat these potentially deadly attacks.

Researchers at King's College London in the U.K. found that chickens have a "fossilized" version of the main molecule responsible for severe allergic reactions in people, BBC News reported.

The IgY molecule in chickens may be an ancient predecessor of a similar human molecule called IgE, which plays a major role in asthma attacks and anaphylactic shock.

By studying IgY, it's possible to track the evolution of allergic reactions back at least 160 million years, said researcher Dr. Alex Taylor, BBC News reported.

The study appears in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

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NSAID Creams May Top Pills For Knee Pain

Anti-inflammatory creams are better than pills for treating chronic knee pain, say British researchers.

The team at the Queen Mary University of London studied 585 people over age 50 and found the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) topical treatments worked as well as NSAID pills and caused fewer side effects such as indigestion, increasing blood pressure, or worsening asthma, BBC News reported.

The study appears on the U.K. National Institute for Health Research Web site.

In the past, doctors have likely under-prescribed topical creams because they didn't believe they were as effective as pills, an Arthritis Research Campaign spokeswoman told BBC News.

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Turmeric May Help Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk

The curry spice turmeric may help reverse obesity-related inflammation and reduce type 2 diabetes risk, according to Columbia University Medical Center researchers.

In obese mice, turmeric significantly reduced inflammation in fat tissue and the liver and reduced the rodents' susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. The researchers believe curcumin -- an ingredient in turmeric -- may be responsible, United Press International reported.

The study was presented at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society and will be published in the journal Endocrinology.

"It's too early to tell whether increasing dietary curcumin -- via turmeric -- intake in obese people with diabetes will show a similar benefit," researcher Dr. Drew Tortoriello said in a prepared statement, UPI reported.

"Although the daily intake of curcumin one might have to consume as a primary diabetes treatment is likely impractical, it is entirely possible that lower dosages of curcumin could nicely complement our traditional therapies as a natural and safe treatment," Tortoriello said.

Health Tips for June 24

Health Tip: The Word on Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth that emerge, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. They often crowd or damage other teeth, and must be removed.

Here's what to expect during and after surgery to remove wisdom teeth, courtesy of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons:

* Wisdom teeth are removed under general anesthesia, local anesthesia or intravenous sedation, and the procedure is usually done in the surgeon's office.
* The complexity of the surgery depends on the position of the wisdom teeth.
* Some swelling and discomfort are common after the surgery. Pain medications and cold compresses can help alleviate these symptoms.
* You may need to eat softer foods and make other diet changes until your mouth recovers from the surgery.

Health Tip: Before Getting Plastic Surgery

You should do your homework before you elect to have plastic surgery.

Here are suggestions on how to prepare for the procedure, courtesy of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons:

* Research the surgery until you fully understand its possible benefits and risks.
* Talk to your doctor about what to expect after the surgery, including likely results, how much time it may take you to recover, and what the recovery period will feel like.
* Talk to other people who have had the procedure to gain their insight.
* Don't be afraid to discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor. Be sure the physician knows your complete medical history.
* Make sure the surgeon you select is qualified, properly trained, and certified to perform the procedure.

Health Headlines - June 23

Sleep Problems in Elderly May Be Helped by Tai Chi Chih

For the more than half of all Americans over age 59 who complain about not being able to fall asleep easily, the answer may rest with a 2,000 year old Chinese series of movements.

Researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles found that the 19 moves and one pose found in tai chi chih -- the Western version of the ancient philosophy that combines movements and poses to relieve stress and find spiritual fulfillment -- actually allowed study subjects to improve their sleep patterns.

The 112 older adults in the study who ranged in age from 59 to 86 were divided into two groups, one taking tai chi chih instruction and the other group taking classes that included stress management, diet and advice on improving sleep patterns.

According to a UCLA news release, the tai chi chih group "showed improved sleep quality and a remission of clinical impairments, such as drowsiness during the day and inability to concentrate, compared with those receiving health education."

"It's [tai chi chih] a form of exercise virtually every elderly person can do, and this study provides more across-the-board evidence of its health benefits," said lead study author Dr. Michael Irwin, the Norman Cousins Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and director of the UCLA Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, in the news release.

The study is available in the online edition of the journal Sleep.

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New Threat From Bird Flu: Food Shortages

A new warning has come about the deadly strain of avian flu that has caused the destruction of hundreds of millions of poultry around the world, especially in Asia.

But this time, the Associated Press reports, the threat is not so much whether the H5N1 strain will mutate into a virus that could infect millions of humans, but rather whether the destruction it has already caused will create a food shortage.

Communicable disease experts meeting at an infectious disease conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia acknowledged that H5N1 keeps erupting, even after local health officials believe they've brought an outbreak under control. "It's like a boiling pot, and we need to keep the lid on that before it gets worse," UN representative Juan Lubroth told the A.P.

Lubroth said that more than 240 million birds have been destroyed because of H5N1, and for poor people who raise their own food, the scarcity of poultry as a cheep protein source could cause hardship and hunger.

Insofar as the H5N1 strain mutating so that it can be spread from human to human, officials warned that possibility still remains, the wire service reported.

The disease is indeed deadly when humans become infected, the A.P. said, with 241 out of 385 who contracted it since 2003 dying. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Julie Gerberding warned against complacency.

"People have very short attention spans, and when something is in the news for a while, it becomes old news and then it's no news," the A.P. quotes her as saying.

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VA Says It Will Improve Care For Female Veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is working to eliminate disparities in care offered to female and male veterans, VA Secretary James Peake said Friday.

He was responding to last week's disclosure of a VA internal review, which found that about one-third of 139 VA facilities that offer outpatient care don't provide female veterans with the same quality of care as males.

"We are making a full-court press to ensure that women veterans receive the highest quality of care," Peake said at the National Summit on Women Veteran's Issues, the Associated Press reported.

In his speech, he said the VA recognizes that 86 percent of female veterans from recent conflicts are younger than age 40 and have health needs related to having children. The agency is spending about $32 million for equipment specific to women's health needs, Peake said.

He noted women make up about 14 percent of the U.S. Armed Forces, the AP reported.

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Blueberries May Lower Cholesterol

Blueberries may significantly lower cholesterol and protect the heart, according to Canadian researchers who conducted tests on pigs fed different kinds of blueberry-supplemented diets.

All of the diets reduced overall cholesterol levels, but some were more effective than others, United Press International reported.

"In feeding trials, we found that blueberry supplementation reduced plasma cholesterol levels more effectively when the animals received a mostly plant-based diet than when they received a less heart-healthy diet," lead scientist Wilhelmina Kalt said in a prepared statement. "The soy, oats and barley contained in these diets may have functioned synergistically with the blueberries to beneficially affect plasma lipids."

The greatest reduction in cholesterol levels was seen in pigs fed a two percent blueberry diet. In people, that would be equivalent to about two one-cup servings per day.

The study appears in the British Journal of Nutrition.

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U.S. Motorcycle Deaths More Than Doubled Since 1997

Between 1997 and 2006, motorcycle deaths in the United States increased from 2,110 to 4,810, a Governors Highway Safety Association study found.

From 2005 to 2006, motorcycle deaths increased in 27 states and Puerto Rico. The study also said that 15 states accounted for 67 percent of all U.S. motorcycle deaths in 2006 and that in 2004, 2005, and 2006, nearly one-third of all fatalities occurred in California, Texas and Florida, United Press International reported.

Despite clear evidence that proper helmet use saves lives, there is a patchwork of helmet laws in the country, poor enforcement, and a lack of helmet promotion, the study found. In states with partial or no helmet laws, most riders who died weren't wearing helmets.

In 2006, 25 percent of riders killed in motorcycle crashes didn't have a valid license, compared with 13 percent of drivers of passenger vehicles, UPI reported.

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Some Artificial Turf Fields Should Be Tested For Lead: CDC

Some artificial turf athletic fields should be tested for the lead, says a health advisory posted on the Web site of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency said any field containing worn or faded turf blades that are made of nylon or nylon-blend fibers should be tested, as well as nylon fields with visible dust, the Associated Press reported.

Testing doesn't need to be done on artificial fields made from polyethylene or nylon fields that aren't visibly worn, the CDC said.

The advisory was issued two months after health officials in New Jersey found high lead levels in artificial turf fibers from three athletic fields. They also determined that lead in the turf can be absorbed by people.

While the lead levels weren't high enough to cause poisoning in people who play on the fields, these levels could cause additional health damage to children already exposed to lead, said New Jersey epidemiologist Dr. Eddy Bresnitz, the AP reported.

Health Tips for June 23

Health Tip: Make Exercise a Daily Habit

Choosing the right exercise program is one of the first steps toward sticking with your exercise goals.

Try these suggestions to make exercise a tough habit to break, provided by the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Plan to exercise at a certain time every day, so it becomes part of your schedule.
* Write up and sign a contract, where you agree to exercise.
* Mark your calendar with a daily appointment for exercise.
* Keep a diary of all of your exercises. Log everything you do, and your progress.
* Have your doctor write out an exercise prescription, including how much exercise you should do and how often.
* Try joining a health club or gym. Paying a membership fee may prompt you to get your money's worth and go more frequently.

Health Tip: Dealing With Exercise-Induced Asthma

Exercise-induced asthma may be characterized by difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing and tightness in the chest after working out.

Here are suggestions for people with exercise-induced asthma, courtesy of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology:

* Try swimming, especially in a heated indoor pool. The warm, humid environment may help minimize symptoms for people with exercise-induced asthma.
* Try walking, biking or hiking at a leisurely pace.
* Try sports that offer frequent periods of rest, such as baseball, short -distance track, surfing, wrestling and football.
* Avoid cold-weather sports, or warm the air before you inhale it with a surgical mask or scarf over your mouth.
* Avoid sports that require long periods of strenuous exercise, such as soccer, basketball, field hockey and running.

Health Headlines - June 22

New Threat From Bird Flu: Food Shortages

A new warning has come about the deadly strain of avian flu that has caused the destruction of hundreds of millions of poultry around the world, especially in Asia.

But this time, the Associated Press reports, the threat is not so much whether the H5N1 strain will mutate into a virus that could infect millions of humans, but rather whether the destruction it has already caused will create a food shortage.

Communicable disease experts meeting at an infectious disease conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia acknowledged that H5N1 keeps erupting, even after local health officials believe they've brought an outbreak under control. "It's like a boiling pot, and we need to keep the lid on that before it gets worse," UN representative Juan Lubroth told the A.P.

Lubroth said that more than 240 million birds have been destroyed because of H5N1, and for poor people who raise their own food, the scarcity of poultry as a cheep protein source could cause hardship and hunger.

Insofar as the H5N1 strain mutating so that it can be spread from human to human, officials warned that possibility still remains, the wire service reported.

The disease is indeed deadly when humans become infected, the A.P. said, with 241 out of 385 who contracted it since 2003 dying. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Julie Gerberding warned against complacency.

"People have very short attention spans, and when something is in the news for a while, it becomes old news and then it's no news," the A.P. quotes her as saying.

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VA Says It Will Improve Care For Female Veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is working to eliminate disparities in care offered to female and male veterans, VA Secretary James Peake said Friday.

He was responding to last week's disclosure of a VA internal review, which found that about one-third of 139 VA facilities that offer outpatient care don't provide female veterans with the same quality of care as males.

"We are making a full-court press to ensure that women veterans receive the highest quality of care," Peake said at the National Summit on Women Veteran's Issues, the Associated Press reported.

In his speech, he said the VA recognizes that 86 percent of female veterans from recent conflicts are younger than age 40 and have health needs related to having children. The agency is spending about $32 million for equipment specific to women's health needs, Peake said.

He noted women make up about 14 percent of the U.S. Armed Forces, the AP reported.

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Blueberries May Lower Cholesterol

Blueberries may significantly lower cholesterol and protect the heart, according to Canadian researchers who conducted tests on pigs fed different kinds of blueberry-supplemented diets.

All of the diets reduced overall cholesterol levels, but some were more effective than others, United Press International reported.

"In feeding trials, we found that blueberry supplementation reduced plasma cholesterol levels more effectively when the animals received a mostly plant-based diet than when they received a less heart-healthy diet," lead scientist Wilhelmina Kalt said in a prepared statement. "The soy, oats and barley contained in these diets may have functioned synergistically with the blueberries to beneficially affect plasma lipids."

The greatest reduction in cholesterol levels was seen in pigs fed a two percent blueberry diet. In people, that would be equivalent to about two one-cup servings per day.

The study appears in the British Journal of Nutrition.

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U.S. Motorcycle Deaths More Than Doubled Since 1997

Between 1997 and 2006, motorcycle deaths in the United States increased from 2,110 to 4,810, a Governors Highway Safety Association study found.

From 2005 to 2006, motorcycle deaths increased in 27 states and Puerto Rico. The study also said that 15 states accounted for 67 percent of all U.S. motorcycle deaths in 2006 and that in 2004, 2005, and 2006, nearly one-third of all fatalities occurred in California, Texas and Florida, United Press International reported.

Despite clear evidence that proper helmet use saves lives, there is a patchwork of helmet laws in the country, poor enforcement, and a lack of helmet promotion, the study found. In states with partial or no helmet laws, most riders who died weren't wearing helmets.

In 2006, 25 percent of riders killed in motorcycle crashes didn't have a valid license, compared with 13 percent of drivers of passenger vehicles, UPI reported.

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Some Artificial Turf Fields Should Be Tested For Lead: CDC

Some artificial turf athletic fields should be tested for the lead, says a health advisory posted on the Web site of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency said any field containing worn or faded turf blades that are made of nylon or nylon-blend fibers should be tested, as well as nylon fields with visible dust, the Associated Press reported.

Testing doesn't need to be done on artificial fields made from polyethylene or nylon fields that aren't visibly worn, the CDC said.

The advisory was issued two months after health officials in New Jersey found high lead levels in artificial turf fibers from three athletic fields. They also determined that lead in the turf can be absorbed by people.

While the lead levels weren't high enough to cause poisoning in people who play on the fields, these levels could cause additional health damage to children already exposed to lead, said New Jersey epidemiologist Dr. Eddy Bresnitz, the AP reported.

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VA Denying Most Claims From Secret Tests

Only a small percentage of health claims filed by American veterans stemming from once-secret chemical and germ warfare tests conducted in the 1960s and 1970s have been approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Associated Press reported.

During the tests, conducted from 1962 to 1973, more than 6,000 of members of the military were exposed to real and simulated chemical and biological agents. In many cases, the tests were conducted without the participants' knowledge.

Of the 6,440 service members involved in the experiments, 4,438 have been notified of their participation, while the remainder couldn't be located or have died, the AP reported.

As of May 2008, 39 of the claims received by the VA were granted, 546 were denied, and 56 were pending. Many of the veterans have cancer, respiratory conditions or other health problems.

Health Tips for June 22

Health Tip: Grinding Your Teeth?

Frequent grinding of the teeth is a condition known as bruxism. Depending on severity, it could cause anything from pain and discomfort to fractures of the teeth.

Here's more information about bruxism, courtesy of the American Dental Association:

* Bruxism may involve clenching of the jaw as well as tooth grinding.
* Triggers may include stress, sleep problems, crooked or missing teeth, or anxiety.
* Symptoms can include headache, painful teeth and a sore jaw.
* Preventives may include a mouth guard to wear during sleep, muscle relaxants, and counseling to deal with stress.

Health Tip: Back Pain in Children

In a child, back pain is different from back pain in adults. Particularly in children under age 4, it indicates a serious underlying problem, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says.

You should see your doctor if your child has back pain, the academy says, especially if accompanied by any of these other symptoms:

* Fever.
* Weight loss.
* Feelings of weakness or numbness.
* Difficulty walking.
* Pain that extends through one or both legs, or if it prevents your child from sleeping.
* Issues with the bowels or bladder.

Health Headlines - June 21

VA Says It Will Improve Care For Female Veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is working to eliminate disparities in care offered to female and male veterans, VA Secretary James Peake said Friday.

He was responding to last week's disclosure of a VA internal review, which found that about one-third of 139 VA facilities that offer outpatient care don't provide female veterans with the same quality of care as males.

"We are making a full-court press to ensure that women veterans receive the highest quality of care," Peake said at the National Summit on Women Veteran's Issues, the Associated Press reported.

In his speech, he said the VA recognizes that 86 percent of female veterans from recent conflicts are younger than age 40 and have health needs related to having children. The agency is spending about $32 million for equipment specific to women's health needs, Peake said.

He noted women make up about 14 percent of the U.S. Armed Forces, the AP reported.

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Blueberries May Lower Cholesterol

Blueberries may significantly lower cholesterol and protect the heart, according to Canadian researchers who conducted tests on pigs fed different kinds of blueberry-supplemented diets.

All of the diets reduced overall cholesterol levels, but some were more effective than others, United Press International reported.

"In feeding trials, we found that blueberry supplementation reduced plasma cholesterol levels more effectively when the animals received a mostly plant-based diet than when they received a less heart-healthy diet," lead scientist Wilhelmina Kalt said in a prepared statement. "The soy, oats and barley contained in these diets may have functioned synergistically with the blueberries to beneficially affect plasma lipids."

The greatest reduction in cholesterol levels was seen in pigs fed a two percent blueberry diet. In people, that would be equivalent to about two one-cup servings per day.

The study appears in the British Journal of Nutrition.

-----

U.S. Motorcycle Deaths More Than Doubled Since 1997

Between 1997 and 2006, motorcycle deaths in the United States increased from 2,110 to 4,810, a Governors Highway Safety Association study found.

From 2005 to 2006, motorcycle deaths increased in 27 states and Puerto Rico. The study also said that 15 states accounted for 67 percent of all U.S. motorcycle deaths in 2006 and that in 2004, 2005, and 2006, nearly one-third of all fatalities occurred in California, Texas and Florida, United Press International reported.

Despite clear evidence that proper helmet use saves lives, there is a patchwork of helmet laws in the country, poor enforcement, and a lack of helmet promotion, the study found. In states with partial or no helmet laws, most riders who died weren't wearing helmets.

In 2006, 25 percent of riders killed in motorcycle crashes didn't have a valid license, compared with 13 percent of drivers of passenger vehicles, UPI reported.

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Some Artificial Turf Fields Should Be Tested For Lead: CDC

Some artificial turf athletic fields should be tested for the lead, says a health advisory posted on the Web site of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency said any field containing worn or faded turf blades that are made of nylon or nylon-blend fibers should be tested, as well as nylon fields with visible dust, the Associated Press reported.

Testing doesn't need to be done on artificial fields made from polyethylene or nylon fields that aren't visibly worn, the CDC said.

The advisory was issued two months after health officials in New Jersey found high lead levels in artificial turf fibers from three athletic fields. They also determined that lead in the turf can be absorbed by people.

While the lead levels weren't high enough to cause poisoning in people who play on the fields, these levels could cause additional health damage to children already exposed to lead, said New Jersey epidemiologist Dr. Eddy Bresnitz, the AP reported.

-----

VA Denying Most Claims From Secret Tests

Only a small percentage of health claims filed by American veterans stemming from once-secret chemical and germ warfare tests conducted in the 1960s and 1970s have been approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Associated Press reported.

During the tests, conducted from 1962 to 1973, more than 6,000 of members of the military were exposed to real and simulated chemical and biological agents. In many cases, the tests were conducted without the participants' knowledge.

Of the 6,440 service members involved in the experiments, 4,438 have been notified of their participation, while the remainder couldn't be located or have died, the AP reported.

As of May 2008, 39 of the claims received by the VA were granted, 546 were denied, and 56 were pending. Many of the veterans have cancer, respiratory conditions or other health problems.

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Earth's Population To Reach 7 Billion in 2012

Earth's population will reach seven billion in 2012, putting increased pressure on dwindling natural resources, according to projections released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

There is no agreement on how many people the planet can sustain, said William Frey, a demographer at the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution. It depends on how will the world's resources are managed, he told the Associated Press.

Currently, there are 6.7 billion people in the world. China, India and the United States have the largest populations.

In 1999, there were six billion people on the planet, which means it should take about 13 years to add another billion. By comparison, the world's population reached one billion in 1800 and two billion 130 years later, Carl Haub, a demographer at the Population Reference Bureau, told the AP.

Health Tips for June 21

Health Tip: Calming Your Fear of the Dentist

Do you ever get nervous just thinking about going to the dentist? You might be worrying unnecessarily, says the American Dental Association.

With dentistry's many advances, diagnosis and treatment gets more sophisticated and comfortable all the time. Here are some tips:

* It's often best to share your anxiety. If you're tense or anxious, tell your dentist and the dental staff. Getting your concerns out in the open will let your dentist adapt the treatment to your needs.
* Try to choose a time for your dental visit when you're less likely to be rushed or under pressure. For some people, that means a Saturday or an early-morning appointment.
* If the sound of the drill bothers you, bring a portable audio player and headset so you can listen to your favorite music.
* During the dental visit, you might try visualizing yourself relaxing on a warm beach.

Health Tip: X-Rays at the Dentist

Healthy teeth require more than good dental hygiene and regular cleanings. Dental X-rays can show potential abnormalities that your dentist couldn't otherwise see, indicating how healthy your teeth really are.

Here's a list of what dental X-rays can be used to identify, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* The number, size and position of all teeth.
* Teeth that are impacted or those that haven't emerged.
* Cavities.
* Damage to the bones surrounding the teeth.
* Abscesses.
* Fractures in the jaw.
* Other abnormalities of the teeth or jaw.

Health Headlines - June 20

FDA Sued Over Alleged Painkiller Risks

The painkiller propoxyphene, sold under the brand names Darvoset and Darvon, has too many health risks to be left on the market, a consumer advocacy group alleges in its lawsuit filed Thursday against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The drug, which also is sold generically, has been involved in the accidental deaths of more than 2,000 people who took it since 1981, Public Citizen said in its petition two years ago to ban the medication.

In its lawsuit, Public Citizen said the FDA broke the law when it failed to act on the petition within the required six months, the Associated Press reported.

The advocacy group has said that there are safer, more effective painkillers than propoxyphene, which the lawsuit says is addictive and can cause cardiac problems including a slowed heartbeat, the AP reported. It can also cause sedation and confusion among the elderly, according to Dr. Sydney Wolfe, Director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group.

None of the drug's manufacturer's immediately responded to the wire service's request for comment.

Some 22 million prescriptions for the drug are filled annually in the United States, the AP said.

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PETCO Warehouse Cited for Unsanitary Conditions

On the order of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, federal marshals on Thursday raided a PETCO warehouse in Joliet, Ill., that serves 16 states.

The agency cited unsanitary conditions at the facility, which provides pet food products and supplies to PETCO retail stores in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

The agency said it had no reports of pet illness or evidence that any of the products were unsafe. "However, the seized products were in permeable packages and held under conditions that could affect the food's integrity and quality," according to an FDA statement.

The agency said it inspected the facility twice in April and May, finding "widespread and active rodent and bird infestation."

It advised consumers who had any products from PETCO in affected states to thoroughly wash their hands with hot water and soap, and to thoroughly wash surfaces that may have come in contact with the packages.

If pets become sick after eating affected products, consumers should call their veterinarian and report such instances to the agency's state consumer complaint coordinator. A list of phone numbers is available at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html.

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Drug Linked to Suicide Being Tested on Veterans With PTSD

Veterans groups and some members of Congress say they're outraged over revelations that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are being recruited by the U.S. government for tests involving the anti-smoking drug Chantix, which has been linked to increased risk of suicide.

They're calling for an immediate halt to the tests and an investigation, ABC News reported.

"Nearly 40 suicides and more than 400 incidents of suicidal behavior have been linked to Chantix, yet the [Veteran's Administration] has chosen to continue the study and administer Chantix to veterans with PTSD," said Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA). "The VA must immediately suspend this study until a comprehensive review of the safety of the protocol is conducted."

"Our nation's veterans are not guinea pigs," said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "It is unacceptable for even one veteran to have been misled about the possible side effects of Chantix."

The VA says the ABC News/Washington Post report about the study is "inaccurate and misleading."

"In our PTSD and smoking cessation study, our research is to learn if it is easier to stop smoking when smoking cessation treatment is combined with PTSD therapy, or whether the two therapies are more effective if they are provided separately," said a statement posted on the VA Web site, ABC News reported.

"In either case, patients are receiving treatment recommended by their own doctors using counselling with or without FDA approved medication that includes Varenicline (Chantix). Participation in this program is voluntary, and all participants are closely monitored clinically by mental health professionals who provide smoking cessation methods patients agree to use," the statement said.

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Scientists Renew Old Muscles

U.S. scientists say they've found a way to renew old and tired muscles, and their research could lead to new treatments for age-related degenerative diseases, BBC News reported.

The University of California, Berkeley team was able to adjust biochemical signals in old mice to increase the ability of the rodents' stem cells to repair damaged muscle tissue almost as well as it occurs in young mice.

The findings appear in the journal Nature.

"We are one step closer to having a point of intervention where we can rejuvenate the body's own stem cells so we don't have to suffer from some of the debilitating diseases associated with aging," said researcher Dr. Morgan Carlson, BBC News reported.

The key is to find the right balance between the biochemical pathway that promotes healing and that which promotes aging, said lead researcher Dr. Irina Conboy.

"We need to find out what the levels of these chemicals are in the young so we can calibrate the system when we're older. If we can do that, we could rejuvenate tissue repair for a very long time," Conboy said.

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Baby Bottle Makers Sued Over Bisphenol A Use

Five baby bottle makers are facing a lawsuit over their use of the chemical bisphenol A, the Associated Press reported.

In the suit filed last week in U.S. District Court, four Ohio parents allege the companies knew that bisphenol A was associated with health problems. The lawsuit cites scientific studies that concluded the chemical seeped from plastic bottles and sippy-cups into liquid.

The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages.

The five companies named in the lawsuit are: Ohio-based Evenflo; Illinois-based Avent America Inc.; Missouri-based Handicraft Co.; Connecticut-based Playtex Products Inc; and the Swiss company Gerber Novartis, the AP reported.

Company spokespeople either refused comment or weren't immediately available to return calls from the AP.

Tests on rats suggest that bisphenol A may be associated with brain and behavior changes, early puberty and possible precancerous changes in the prostate and breast, the wire service said.

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Large Increase in Suicides By Elderly Japanese

The number of Japanese over age 60 who committed suicide increased by almost 9 percent in 2007. The 12,107 suicides among people 60 and older accounted for nearly 40 percent of all cases in the country, according to the National Police Agency.

Elderly people in Japan are increasingly plagued with worries about money and rising health care costs. Changes in the traditional family structure mean that many older adults are worried that no family members will be able to care for them. There's also concern among the elderly that the state will not be able to support them, BBC News reported.

Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. Nationwide in 2007, the overall suicide rate rose 2.9 percent to 33,093. The main reasons for suicide were depression, illness and debt, according to the National Police Agency.

Japanese officials have introduced a number of measures to try to reduce the suicide rate, including workplace counseling and blocking Web sites that offer suicide tips, BBC News reported.

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Rating System Being Introduced for U.S. Nursing Homes

A five-star rating system for U.S. nursing homes will be in place by the end of the year, the federal government announced Wednesday. The ratings, to be posted on the Internet, will provide consumers with an additional resource when selecting a nursing home.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services plans to seek input from consumers and the nursing home industry to determine the criteria for the rating system, the Associated Press reported.

"The fact a home has a lower rating will likely put them on the path to improvement," said Kerry Weems, the agency's acting administrator. "I don't think we're going to see many people who are very anxious to put a loved one in a one-star home."

Also on Wednesday, federal officials said new regulations will require all nursing homes to have sprinkler systems by 2013, the AP reported. After that time, homes without sprinkler systems will not be allowed to care for Medicare clients.

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Endangered Dogs Cloned By Disgraced Stem Cell Scientist

Seventeen clones of an endangered dog breed have been created by a South Korean team led by disgraced stem cell scientist Hwang Woo-suk. The Tibetan mastiff dogs were born in April, according to the Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, which refused to reveal the cloning success rate of the project, the Associated Press reported.

The cloning was done at the request of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Tibetan mastiff dogs are popular in China.

According to the Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, all 17 dogs were cloned from two Tibetan mastiffs -- a female and a male - through six surrogate dogs. However, an official with another institute that did blind DNA tests for the foundation said the samples it tested were provided by Hwang's team, meaning it was unclear if the samples came from the original dogs, the cloned dogs, or a combination of both, the AP reported.

In 2005, Hwang and colleagues created the first known dog clone. But Hwang's reputation was later tarnished when it was revealed that he faked what had been hailed as breakthrough research involving embryonic stem cells.

Health Tips for June 20

Health Tip: Reduce Your Risk of Anemia

Anemia occurs when there aren't enough red blood cells in your blood, or they are deficient in a protein called hemoglobin. This means your red blood cells don't carry enough oxygen to the rest of the body.

Women and people with chronic disease are at greater risk of becoming anemic.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers these suggestions to help prevent anemia:

* Get plenty of iron in your diet by eating such foods as leafy green vegetables, lean red meats, iron-fortified breads and cereals, fish and dried fruits.
* Consume foods with plenty of vitamin C, folic acid, and vitamin B12 to help your body absorb more iron.
* Avoid restrictive or fad diets that prevent a healthy balance of vitamins and minerals.
* Don't drink coffee or tea with meals. They make it more difficult for your body to absorb iron.
* Get tested for anemia every five to 10 years while in your childbearing years. If your doctor tells you that you're at greater risk of anemia, the physician may recommend annual testing.

Health Tip: If You Have to Take Iron Supplements

If you are anemic or need iron supplements for another reason, taking the pills can be difficult.

The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests how to make taking iron supplements a little easier:

* Take the pills with food.
* Gradually work your way up to the number of pills your doctor prescribed each day. Start out with one a day, then after three to five days, begin increasing the amount until you've reached the daily dose recommended by your doctor.
* If iron pills make you constipated, add fiber to your daily diet.
* If the pills make your stomach upset, don't take them before you go to sleep.
* If a particular brand causes problems, ask your doctor about different brands or formulas.

Health Headlines - June 19

FDA Approves Breathing Aid Used By Christopher Reeve

A device that helps people with spinal cord injuries breathe without a ventilator for at least four hours at a time has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency said Wednesday.

Actor Christopher Reeve, who died in 2004, first used the then-experimental device a number of years ago, the Associated Press reported. He had been paralyzed below the neck after a horseback riding accident in 1995.

The NeuRX DPS RA/4 Respiratory Stimulation System uses four electrodes to stimulate the diaphragm, a lower abdominal muscle that's essential for breathing. People who are paralyzed due to spinal cord injury often lose control of the muscle, which contracts when a person inhales and relaxes when a person exhales.

"While the NeuRx RA/4 does not cure paralysis of the diaphragm, allowing patients to be free from a mechanical ventilator for at least four hours a day may enhance their quality of life," Dr. Daniel Schultz, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a statement.

The device is manufactured by Synapse Biomedical Inc., in Oberlin, Ohio.

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Tiger Woods Facing Knee Surgery, Out for Season

Golf legend Tiger Woods will miss the remainder of the 2008 season to have reconstructive surgery on a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee.

Woods tore the ligament last summer while running near his Orlando, Fla. home, he said on his Web site. In April, he had arthroscopic surgery on the area, and while recovering, sustained a double stress fracture of the left tibia, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

The announcement came two days after Woods' dramatic victory at the U.S. Open in San Diego after a 19-hole sudden death playoff. Despite the win, he had a noticeable limp and often winced after making shots.

Woods said he had hoped to avoid reconstructive surgery until after the season ended. There had been no prior mention of an ACL injury, the newspaper said.

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Americans Have to Wait Until 2011 for Generic Lipitor

Generic versions of the cholesterol drug Lipitor won't be available in the United States until Nov. 30, 2011, under the terms of a patent dispute agreement reached between Pfizer Inc. and Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. of India.

"The agreement provides patients with access to a generic product much earlier than if Ranbaxy were unsuccessful in obtaining approval for its product and overcoming the relevant patents," Ian Read, president of worldwide pharmaceutical operations for Pfizer, said in a prepared statement, the Associated Press reported.

Along with giving more certainty to the timing of generic versions of Lipitor, the agreement gives Pfizer more time to develop replacements for Lipitor before generic versions of the drug go on the market.

The deal also permits Ranbaxy to sell generic versions of Lipitor in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden, the AP reported. Pfizer and Ranbaxy also resolved conflicts over Lipitor in Brunei, Malaysia, Peru and Vietnam.

The two companies are still involved in patent infringement litigation over Lipitor in Denmark, Finland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain.

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Certain Gene Variants Boost Levels of Good Cholesterol

One third of people have genes that increase levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and may help fight heart disease, says a study by U.K. and Dutch researchers.

They analyzed the findings of almost 100 studies that included about 147,000 patients and found that people with certain types of the CETP gene have about a 5 percent reduced risk of heart attack, BBC News reported.

The findings lend support to the idea that raising HDL cholesterol levels by influencing CETP activity could help prevent heart disease, said study leader Professor John Danesh.

The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, was published in the journal Circulation.

"Researchers are questioning whether approaches that raise HDL cholesterol could further prevent heart disease. This suggests that it might have benefits, but that more studies are needed to determine how much (benefit) might be derived," Professor Peter Weissberg, of the British Heart Foundation, told BBC News.

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Obese Women Less Likely to Have Cervical Cancer Screening

Compared to women with average body weight, obese women are less likely to be screened for cervical cancer, say Canadian researchers who analyzed the responses of 38,000 women, ages 20 to 69, who took part in a national survey in 2007.

The more obese a woman was, the less likely she was to have Pap smear testing, CBC News reported.

"Obese women are 30 to 40 percent less likely -- depending on the degree of obesity -- to have recommended cervical cancer screening performed," Raj Padwal, a researcher at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine, said in a prepared statement.

A number of factors may be to blame. For example, Padwal and colleagues found that severely obese women were nearly twice as likely as average-weight women to express fear about cervical cancer screening due to pain, embarrassment or anxiety about the findings, CBC News reported.

A woman's weight didn't have any effect on breast and colon cancer screening.

The study was expected to be published in the August issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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AMA Mum on Menthol Cigarette Exemption

The American Medical Associated voted Tuesday to defer comment on a proviso in federal tobacco legislation that would grant an exemption to menthol while banning other cigarette flavor additives such as mint, clove, and vanilla.

The AMA voted "to refer the decision on menthol to its board, effectively silencing the doctors who wanted the organization to speak out against the exemption," the Associated Press reported. The exemption is key to a compromise that would give regulatory control of cigarettes to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

While the other additives tend to be favored by younger people, menthol is preferred by more than 75 percent of blacks who smoke. That compares to fewer than 25 percent of whites who smoke, the AP said, citing government estimates.

Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Louis Sullivan, who held the post from 1989 to 1993, is among seven former health secretaries who have written to Congress opposing the menthol exemption.

"If we're banning things such as clove and peppermint, then we should ban menthol," he said. "This bill [if it includes the exemption] will be discriminatory against African-Americans."

But AMA President Dr. Ron Davis is among those who favors keeping the exemption, having said that removing it could threaten passage of the entire bill, the AP reported. "It would change the entire political dynamic," he said.

Health Tips for June 19

Health Tip: Avoiding Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is caused by the bite of an infected tick.

Here are suggestions to reduce your risk of Lyme disease, courtesy of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

* Stay out of areas where ticks are likely to be, including wooded areas, tall grass, and places with lots of leaf cover.
* Use an insect repellent on skin and clothing. Look for products that contain 20 percent to 30 percent DEET.
* Another repellent, permethrin, can be applied to clothing, but never directly to the skin.
* When heading to where ticks may gather, wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt that are both light in color, so it's easier for you to spot ticks.
* Check yourself thoroughly for ticks before heading indoors. If you spot a tick, remove it carefully with tweezers.
* Be aware of any unusual symptoms, including a circular rash, tiredness, chills, fever, headache, and muscle and joint pain.

Health Tip: Keep Bugs at Bay

Insect bites can itch, cause pain, and be quite uncomfortable. While they can't always be prevented, there are ways to reduce your chances of being bitten.

Here are suggestions to help prevent insect bites, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Don't poke, pick up or otherwise provoke insects.
* Be cautious around nests and hives, and avoid sudden or rapid movement.
* Avoid heavy perfumes, and clothing that has a floral pattern.
* Wear protective clothing that covers the skin, and apply insect repellent when you're outside.
* Pay attention when eating outside, especially when drinking sugary beverages or sitting near garbage cans.
* People with known allergies to bites or stings should carry an emergency epinephrine kit.

Health Headlines - June 18

AMA Mum on Menthol Cigarette Exemption

The American Medical Associated voted Tuesday to defer comment on a proviso in federal tobacco legislation that would grant an exemption to menthol while banning other cigarette flavor additives such as mint, clove, and vanilla.

The AMA voted "to refer the decision on menthol to its board, effectively silencing the doctors who wanted the organization to speak out against the exemption," the Associated Press reported. The exemption is key to a compromise that would give regulatory control of cigarettes to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

While the other additives tend to be favored by younger people, menthol is preferred by more than 75 percent of blacks who smoke. That compares to fewer than 25 percent of whites who smoke, the AP said, citing government estimates.

Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Louis Sullivan, who held the post from 1989 to 1993, is among seven former health secretaries who have written to Congress opposing the menthol exemption.

"If we're banning things such as clove and peppermint, then we should ban menthol," he said. "This bill [if it includes the exemption] will be discriminatory against African-Americans."

But AMA President Dr. Ron Davis is among those who favors keeping the exemption, having said that removing it could threaten passage of the entire bill, the AP reported. "It would change the entire political dynamic," he said.

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New Alzheimer's Drug Shows Promise

The experimental Alzheimer's disease drug bapineuzumab appears to be effective in some patients, according to mid-stage study results released Tuesday by drug makers Wyeth and Elan Corp, the Wall Street Journal reported.

In patients with a gene known to increase the risks of Alzheimer's -- and of developing the disease at an earlier stage -- the drug showed statistically significant clinical improvements. This did not occur in patients without the gene, who were at greater risk for fluid buildup in the brain, especially when taking the drug at higher doses.

Detailed results of the study are expected to be presented July 29 at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago. The drug has received a fast-track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It's expected that it will be at least two years before Wyeth and Elan apply for FDA approval of bapineuzumab, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The drug is designed to attack beta-amyloid. Many experts believe that a build-up of this substance in the brain causes Alzheimer's disease.

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U.S. Employers Facing Big Increases in Health Care Costs

Health care costs for American employers are expected to increase 9.9 percent this year and another 9.6 percent in 2009, says a PriceWaterhouseCoopers study released Tuesday.

There are two main reasons for the rising costs, the study said. One is an increase in the expenses people with insurance are paying for people without coverage. Second, many hospitals are replacing facilities and adding private rooms and outpatient treatment centers, the Associated Press reported.

"Health care providers, insurers and employers will have to monitor medical costs carefully if we are to avoid a resurgence of the double-digit annual increases seen in the past," said Dr. David Chin, leader of the Health Research Institute at PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

In an effort to control health care costs, study leaders said employers are increasing wellness, prevention and disease management programs designed to keep workers healthy and boost productivity, the AP reported.

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New Egg Freezing Method Called Safe

A new method of freezing human eggs for later use is as safe as conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, say Canadian researchers, who looked at 200 children conceived using eggs that were rapidly frozen using a process called vitrification.

In this method, water is removed from the egg, an "antifreeze" solution is added, and the eggs are then flash frozen in liquid nitrogen, BBC News reported. Up to 95 percent of eggs survive vitrification, compared with 50 percent to 60 percent of eggs frozen using older methods.

The Canadian team found that about 2.5 percent of the children born using vitrified eggs had birth defects, which is about the same as in natural pregnancies and conventional IVF.

The study appears in the journal Reproductive Biomedicine Online.

Additional studies are needed before the safety of vitrification can be established, Dr. Allan Pacey, the secretary of the British Fertility Society, told BBC News.

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AMA Report Card Rates Insurers

A report card that compares how quickly and accurately health insurers pay doctors was released Monday by the American Medical Association. The report card, based on an analysis of three million claims, compares Medicare and seven national commercial insurers, the Associated Press reported.

About 98 percent of medical services billed were paid by Medicare at the contracted rate, compared with 71 percent for Aetna and 62 percent for United Healthcare, which had the lowest rate of contract compliance.

Doctors and their billing services share responsibility for prompt payment, United Healthcare spokesman Gregory Thompson told AP.

"Data show there is often a significant lag time between when services are provided and physician claims are submitted," he said.

The aim of the report card is to lower claims processing costs and help doctors negotiate contracts with insurance companies, the AP reported. A reduction in wasteful administration costs (estimated at $210 billion a year) will help patients, said Dr. William Dolan, an AMA board member.

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Bone Density Screens Can Be Done Every Five Years: Study

Screening for bone loss in older adults can be done as infrequently as every five years, according to Canadian researchers who looked at 9,423 people, ages 25 to 85.

They found that women ages 50 to 54 had the most pronounced bone loss of all the participants -- 1.3 percent. The researchers said this decrease is within the margin of error of most bone density screening machines, which means that amount of bone loss is not as significant as previously believed, CBC News reported.

"The extent of bone loss that we observed suggests that repeat measurements of bone density could be delayed to intervals of up to five years in the absence of other risk factors," the researchers wrote.

Their findings was published Tuesday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

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Marijuana May Harm Fetal Brain

Smoking marijuana while pregnant may harm the developing brain of a fetus, say researchers at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

In tests on mice, the researchers found that marijuana can affect molecules essential to a signaling process that plays a role in normal brain development. The researchers also found that certain prescription drugs, including some used to treat obesity, can have a similar effect, BBC News reported.

"Our findings highlight that the integrity of this signaling system should be maintained and not disrupted if the brain is to develop normally," said Professor Tibor Harkany. "Anything that disrupts this process ... could ultimately affect the brain's functionality."

The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Previous research has suggested that children born to women who used marijuana while pregnant experienced problems with physical activity, BBC News reported.

Health Tips for June 18

Health Tip: Lawn Mowing Safety

Mowing the lawn doesn't have to be a dangerous task if some simple preventive techniques are followed.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these safety suggestions:

* Make sure blades are sharp and the mower is working properly, and only inspect the mower when it's turned off.
* Before you start to mow, check the yard for rocks, sticks, toys and any other objects that could get caught in the blades.
* Wear protective gear and clothing, including long pants, sturdy shoes, gloves and safety goggles.
* Never use a lawn mower while barefoot or wearing sandals.
* Never allow someone to ride with you on a riding mower.
* Be especially careful when mowing steep hills.

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 dry cleaned. If you notice a strong chemical smell, take it back and ask that it be cleaned or dried again.

Health Headlines - June 17

FDA Wants New Warnings for Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug: Report

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants an updated label for Amgen Inc.'s Enebrel to include warnings that the rheumatoid arthritis drug can be deadly when taken by children, and that the drug can cause serious infections in adults, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

In documents posted on its Web site, the FDA said infections, malignancies and neurological problems have been reported among children who have used the drug. These problems are similar to those experienced by some adults, the newspaper reported.

Enebrel is used to treat RA in adults and children and the skin disorder psoriasis in adults. While the drug's use in children is thought to be limited, the FDA said the number of life-threatening pediatric reactions disclosed to the agency's adverse event reporting database was "concerning," the Journal said.

Amgen has applied to the FDA to expand Enebrel's approved usage to include treating children with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. An expert panel advising the agency is set to consider whether to recommend the application when it meets Wednesday, the newspaper said. The full agency isn't bound to follow the suggestions of its advisory panels, but usually does.

"Given these considerable risks associated with [Enebrel], the benefit of this therapy in children with plaque psoriasis would need to be substantial in order to justify its approval and usage in the pediatric plaque psoriasis population," the agency said.

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Naltrexone May Help Problem Gamblers: Study

The drug naltrexone, widely used to treat alcohol addition, may also help people with a gambling problem, according to a University of Minnesota study of people who gambled for six to 32 hours a week.

The researchers had 58 men and women take doses between 50 milligrams and 150 milligrams of naltrexone every day for 18 weeks, while 19 others took a placebo. Of the 49 people in the treatment group who completed the study, 40 percent quit gambling for at least one month, compared with 10 percent of those in the placebo group, United Press International reported.

Participants who took the drug also reported a significant decline in the intensity and frequency of their urge to gamble. The findings appear in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Naltrexone isn't a cure for gambling, but does offer hope to problem gamblers, said study author Dr. Jon Grant, UPI reported.

"This is good news for people who have a gambling problem. This is the first time people have a proven medication that can help them get their behavior under control," Grant said in a prepared statement.

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Environmental Group Urges End of Shower Curtains Containing Harmful Chemical

For most of us, the only association we make between a plastic shower curtain and death is the memorable scene with Janet Leigh in the shower right before she meets a very bad end in the movie Psycho.

However, reports U.S. News and World Report, an environmental advocacy group is calling for the phase-out of all shower curtains and other products made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which it says can emit a number of harmful materials such as lead and phthalates (the chemicals that give plastic its flexibility) into the bathroom or elsewhere in the home.

The environmental group cited a small study indicating that the substances can be released, the magazine reports, but a previous study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had also found that plastic shower curtains containing PVC could emit toxic substances into the air.

Many major retailers have, or are in the process of, eliminating plastic products made with PVC, U.S. News and World Report says. IKEA hasn't sold shower curtains with PVC for more than a decade, and stores such as Target, Macy's, J.C. Penney and Bed, Bath and Beyond are in the process of replacing PVC products with safer ones.

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Pilot Project Tests Cell Phones in TB Fight

The cell phone is joining the arsenal of technology used to keep folks healthy.

A student-led group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge has developed a way to use cell phones to let tuberculosis patients report their adherence to the drug regimen they must follow. If the tests show patients are adhering to doctor's orders to take all their medication, they get rewarded with free cell phone minutes, the Associated Press reports.

Under the MIT pilot plan, patients test their urine using a strip that reveals a numeric code if it detects TB medicines, which are usually taken for six months. They then text-message the code to their health care provider and get credit toward incentives such as free minutes.

The in-home tests also eliminate the need for health care workers to make several patient-monitoring visits a week, a routine that is often impractical in remote places, said Jose Gomez-Marquez, one of the project's leaders.

Dr. Mario Raviglione, director of a World Health Organization program to fight TB, called the MIT idea "creative." But he told the AP personal visits must continue because systems that depend on patient self-reporting have often failed in the developing world.

In 2006, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 9.2 million people worldwide were diagnosed with tuberculosis, and 1.7 million died, according to AP. The WHO estimates that up to 10 percent of TB deaths are among patients who stop taking medication properly.

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Care of Female Veterans Lags at Some VA Hospitals: Report

U.S. female veterans aren't receiving the same quality of care as men at about one-third of Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, according to a VA review obtained by the Associated Press.

While the VA has created women's clinics at many hospitals, more clinicians need to be trained in women's care, and there's a need for more equipment focused on women's health, the document states.

The review, mandated by Congress, seems to support criticism by advocates and some members of Congress that the health care system needs to do more to help female veterans, the AP reported.

Any discrepancies in care are unacceptable and the agency is aggressively tackling the issue, said Dr. William E. Duncan, associate deputy undersecretary for health for quality and safety at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"We're striving to understand the reason for these health disparities and to eliminate differences in veterans' health care based on personal characteristics," Duncan told the AP.

Currently, women account for about five percent of the VA's population. But that percentage is expected to nearly double in the next two years as more female veterans return home from Iraq and Afghanistan, the wire service said.

Health Tips for June 17

Health Tip: Colicky Baby?

Colic -- an attack of unexplained crying that affects young infants -- can frustrate many new parents.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions when your baby shows signs of colic:

* Colic does not mean that your baby is unhealthy. Its exact cause is unknown.
* Don't feel guilty. You didn't do anything to cause your baby to be upset.
* Colic generally subsides by about 3 months of age, and almost never occurs beyond 6 months.
* It's not a bad thing to give your baby extra attention when colicky. Don't worry about spoiling your baby.
* There are lots of ways to calm your baby. Try different things until you find what calms the infant down, such as feeding your baby in an upright position, burping the infant often, or rocking the baby gently in a rocking chair.

Health Tip: Considering Adoption?

If you're thinking of adopting a child, choosing the right agency is an important step.

Here are guidelines to help select an adoption agency that's right for you, courtesy of the American Pregnancy Association:

* Get references and recommendations from friends or family members who have adopted. The agency should also be willing to provide references.
* Find out how long the agency has been working with adoptions. Have candidates disclose details of fees, contracts, legal documents and other requirements.
* Ask about services that the agency provides, for both the adoptive parents and birth parents.
* Find out whether the agency offers open or closed adoptions, and what experiences agency staff has had with both.
* Ask about the average wait time for completing an adoption.
* Inquire about procedures used to identify the health of the child.

Health Headlines - June 16

Environmental Group Urges End of Shower Curtains Containing Harmful Chemical

For most of us, the only association we make between a plastic shower curtain and death is the memorable scene with Janet Leigh in the shower right before she meets a very bad end in the movie Psycho.

However, reports U.S. News and World Report, an environmental advocacy group is calling for the phase-out of all shower curtains and other products made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which it says can emit a number of harmful materials such as lead and phthalates (the chemicals that give plastic its flexibility) into the bathroom or elsewhere in the home.

The environmental group cited a small study indicating that the substances can be released, the magazine reports, but a previous study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had also found that plastic shower curtains containing PVC could emit toxic substances into the air.

Many major retailers have, or in the process of, eliminating plastic products made with PVC, U.S. News and World Report says. IKEA hasn't sold shower curtains with PVC for more than a decade, and stores such as Target, Macy's, J.C. Penney and Bed, Bath and Beyond are in the process of replacing PVC products with safer ones.

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Pilot Project Tests Cell Phones in TB Fight

The cell phone is joining the arsenal of technology used to keep folks healthy.

A student-led group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge has developed a way to use cell phones to let tuberculosis patients report their adherence to the drug regimen they must take. If the tests show patients are following doctor's orders to take all their medication, they get rewarded with free cell phone minutes, the Associated Press reports.

Under the MIT pilot plan, patients test their urine using a strip that reveals a numeric code if it detects TB medicines, which are usually taken for six months. They then text-message the code to their health care provider and get credit toward incentives such as free minutes.

The in-home tests also eliminate the need for health care workers to make several patient-monitoring visits a week, a routine that is often impractical in remote places, said Jose Gomez-Marquez, one of the project's leaders.

Dr. Mario Raviglione, director of a World Health Organization program to fight TB, called the MIT idea "creative." But he told the AP personal visits must continue because systems that depend on patient self-reporting have often failed in the developing world.

In 2006, the most recent year statistics are available, 9.2 million people worldwide were diagnosed with tuberculosis, and 1.7 million died, according to AP. The WHO estimates that up to 10 percent of TB deaths are patients who stop taking medication properly.

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Care of Female Veterans Lags at Some VA Hospitals: Report

U.S. female veterans aren't receiving the same quality of care as men at about one-third of Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, according to a VA review obtained by the Associated Press.

While the VA has created women's clinics at many hospitals, more clinicians need to be trained in women's care, and there's a need for more equipment focused on women's health, the document states.

The review, mandated by Congress, seems to support criticism by advocates and some members of Congress that the health care system needs to do more to help female veterans, the AP reported.

Any discrepancies in care are unacceptable and the agency is aggressively tackling the issue, said Dr. William E. Duncan, associate deputy undersecretary for health for quality and safety at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"We're striving to understand the reason for these health disparities and to eliminate differences in veterans' health care based on personal characteristics," Duncan told the AP.

Currently, women account for about five percent of the VA's population. But that percentage is expected to nearly double in the next two years as more female veterans return home from Iraq and Afghanistan, the wire service said.

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Psoriasis Drug Could Raise Risk of Cancer: FDA

While the Johnson & Johnson drug ustekinumab may be effective in treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis, it also may raise users' risk of cancer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Friday.

On its Web site, the agency said it probably needed to evaluate additional safety data before deciding whether the skin-disease drug increased the likelihood of cancer, the Wall Street Journal reported.

"The is a question whether a larger number of subjects, followed for longer periods might better inform the long-term safety of use of ustekinumab," the agency said.

An FDA advisory committee of experts on Tuesday is scheduled to decide whether to recommend whether to approve the drug, the newspaper said. The full agency isn't bound to follow the recommendations of its expert panels, but generally does.

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EPA's Proposed Lead Standards May Not Be Adequate: Experts

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed new standards for lead air pollution may not be adequate to protect public health, according to some experts who attended a public meeting in Baltimore.

The meeting is one of a series being held by the EPA to gather input on its proposal to reduce the current standard of 1.5 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air to between 0.10 micrograms and 0.30 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

The standard should be set below 0.10 micrograms, Frank O'Donnell, president of the nonprofit group Clean Air Watch, told the EPA panel on Thursday, The Baltimore Sun reported.

"Lead is a very toxic pollutant that steals IQ points from children," O'Donnell said.

"We're pleased the EPA is tightening the standards, but they should be set at the higher level," said Gary Ewart, director of government relations for the American Thoracic Society, the Sun reported.

The EPA will accept written comments on the proposed standards until July 21 and is expected to adopt the new standards on Sept. 15, the newspaper said.

Health Tips for June 16

Health Tip: Get Your Child Back to Bed

If your child comes to your room in the middle of the night, it may be tempting to allow the child to crawl into bed with you, especially after a nightmare.

That's not recommended, says the Nemours Foundation, which offers these suggestions for getting your child to go back to his or her own bed:

* Make sure the child understands that you are there if he or she needs you again or gets scared.
* Explain that although the dream was frightening and that it's acceptable to be scared, everything will be OK.
* Do whatever the child needs to feel safe. Offer a night light, or show the child that there are no monsters hiding in the closet or under the bed.
* Soothe the child back to sleep with talk of pleasant dreams, or a comforting blanket or stuffed animal.

Health Tip: Delayed Speech in Children

Children who are slow to talk as much as others the same age may be affected by a problem called speech delay. Some children simply grow out of this problem, while others may require treatment.

Here's a list of common reasons for speech delay, provided by the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Hearing loss.
* Overall delayed development.
* Mental retardation.
* Cerebral palsy.
* Insufficient time spent talking with adults.
* Having a twin.
* Having autism.
* Not wanting to talk.

Health Headlines - June 15

Pilot Project Tests Cell Phones in TB Fight

The cell phone is joining the arsenal of technology used to keep folks healthy.

A student-led group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge has developed a way to use cell phones to let tuberculosis patients report their adherence to the drug regimen they must take. If the tests show patients are following doctor's orders to take all their medication, they get rewarded with free cell phone minutes, the Associated Press reports.

Under the MIT pilot plan, patients test their urine using a strip that reveals a numeric code if it detects TB medicines, which are usually taken for six months. They then text-message the code to their health care provider and get credit toward incentives such as free minutes.

The in-home tests also eliminate the need for health care workers to make several patient-monitoring visits a week, a routine that is often impractical in remote places, said Jose Gomez-Marquez, one of the project's leaders.

Dr. Mario Raviglione, director of a World Health Organization program to fight TB, called the MIT idea "creative." But he told the AP personal visits must continue because systems that depend on patient self-reporting have often failed in the developing world.

In 2006, the most recent year statistics are available, 9.2 million people worldwide were diagnosed with tuberculosis, and 1.7 million died, according to AP. The WHO estimates that up to 10 percent of TB deaths are patients who stop taking medication properly.

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Care of Female Veterans Lags at Some VA Hospitals: Report

U.S. female veterans aren't receiving the same quality of care as men at about one-third of Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, according to a VA review obtained by the Associated Press.

While the VA has created women's clinics at many hospitals, more clinicians need to be trained in women's care, and there's a need for more equipment focused on women's health, the document states.

The review, mandated by Congress, seems to support criticism by advocates and some members of Congress that the health care system needs to do more to help female veterans, the AP reported.

Any discrepancies in care are unacceptable and the agency is aggressively tackling the issue, said Dr. William E. Duncan, associate deputy undersecretary for health for quality and safety at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"We're striving to understand the reason for these health disparities and to eliminate differences in veterans' health care based on personal characteristics," Duncan told the AP.

Currently, women account for about five percent of the VA's population. But that percentage is expected to nearly double in the next two years as more female veterans return home from Iraq and Afghanistan, the wire service said.

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Psoriasis Drug Could Raise Risk of Cancer: FDA

While the Johnson & Johnson drug ustekinumab may be effective in treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis, it also may raise users' risk of cancer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Friday.

On its Web site, the agency said it probably needed to evaluate additional safety data before deciding whether the skin-disease drug increased the likelihood of cancer, the Wall Street Journal reported.

"The is a question whether a larger number of subjects, followed for longer periods might better inform the long-term safety of use of ustekinumab," the agency said.

An FDA advisory committee of experts on Tuesday is scheduled to decide whether to recommend whether to approve the drug, the newspaper said. The full agency isn't bound to follow the recommendations of its expert panels, but generally does.

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EPA's Proposed Lead Standards May Not Be Adequate: Experts

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed new standards for lead air pollution may not be adequate to protect public health, according to some experts who attended a public meeting in Baltimore.

The meeting is one of a series being held by the EPA to gather input on its proposal to reduce the current standard of 1.5 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air to between 0.10 micrograms and 0.30 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

The standard should be set below 0.10 micrograms, Frank O'Donnell, president of the nonprofit group Clean Air Watch, told the EPA panel on Thursday, The Baltimore Sun reported.

"Lead is a very toxic pollutant that steals IQ points from children," O'Donnell said.

"We're pleased the EPA is tightening the standards, but they should be set at the higher level," said Gary Ewart, director of government relations for the American Thoracic Society, the Sun reported.

The EPA will accept written comments on the proposed standards until July 21 and is expected to adopt the new standards on Sept. 15, the newspaper said.

Health Tips for June 15

Health Tip: Symptoms of a Social Phobia

A social phobia occurs when a person has unusually high anxiety before a social situation, such as going to a party, giving a speech, or going to a job interview.

It may include some or all of these physical symptoms, says the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Blushing.
* Sweating.
* Feeling nauseous.
* Trembling or shaking.
* Having trouble talking to or making eye contact with another person.

If you have these symptoms, a doctor should evaluate you for a social phobia. The physician can also recommend treatment options, including medication and/or behavioral therapy.

Health Tip: Taking a Mental Status Test

Mental status tests are given to determine the state of a person's mental health. The test, for example, can help gauge the mental progression of a physical illness such as Alzheimer's disease.

Here's what may comprise a mental status test, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* An examination of physical appearance, including dress and grooming.
* Orientation and awareness -- knowing one's own name, address, and phone, as well as the current date and season.
* Length of attention span, and short-term and long-term memory.
* Tests to determine abilities including problem solving and judgment.
* Ability to identify objects and recall words.

Health Headlines - June 14

Care of Female Veterans Lags at Some VA Hospitals: Report

U.S. female veterans aren't receiving the same quality of care as men at about one-third of Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, according to a VA review obtained by the Associated Press.

While the VA has created women's clinics at many hospitals, more clinicians need to be trained in women's care, and there's a need for more equipment focused on women's health, the document states.

The review, mandated by Congress, seems to support criticism by advocates and some members of Congress that the health care system needs to do more to help female veterans, the AP reported.

Any discrepancies in care are unacceptable and the agency is aggressively tackling the issue, said Dr. William E. Duncan, associate deputy undersecretary for health for quality and safety at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"We're striving to understand the reason for these health disparities and to eliminate differences in veterans' health care based on personal characteristics," Duncan told the AP.

Currently, women account for about five percent of the VA's population. But that percentage is expected to nearly double in the next two years as more female veterans return home from Iraq and Afghanistan, the wire service said.

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Psoriasis Drug Could Raise Risk of Cancer: FDA

While the Johnson & Johnson drug ustekinumab may be effective in treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis, it also may raise users' risk of cancer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Friday.

On its Web site, the agency said it probably needed to evaluate additional safety data before deciding whether the skin-disease drug increased the likelihood of cancer, the Wall Street Journal reported.

"The is a question whether a larger number of subjects, followed for longer periods might better inform the long-term safety of use of ustekinumab," the agency said.

An FDA advisory committee of experts on Tuesday is scheduled to decide whether to recommend whether to approve the drug, the newspaper said. The full agency isn't bound to follow the recommendations of its expert panels, but generally does.

-----

EPA's Proposed Lead Standards May Not Be Adequate: Experts

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed new standards for lead air pollution may not be adequate to protect public health, according to some experts who attended a public meeting in Baltimore.

The meeting is one of a series being held by the EPA to gather input on its proposal to reduce the current standard of 1.5 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air to between 0.10 micrograms and 0.30 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

The standard should be set below 0.10 micrograms, Frank O'Donnell, president of the nonprofit group Clean Air Watch, told the EPA panel on Thursday, The Baltimore Sun reported.

"Lead is a very toxic pollutant that steals IQ points from children," O'Donnell said.

"We're pleased the EPA is tightening the standards, but they should be set at the higher level," said Gary Ewart, director of government relations for the American Thoracic Society, the Sun reported.

The EPA will accept written comments on the proposed standards until July 21 and is expected to adopt the new standards on Sept. 15, the newspaper said.

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Toy Merry-Go-Rounds Pose Fall Hazard

About 15,000 Playsafe Spinning Quad Merry-Go-Rounds are being recalled due to a defect that creates a fall risk for children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. The inner bearing on the merry-go-round can fail, causing the seat assembly to suddenly drop to the ground. The manufacturer -- Pacific Cycle Inc., of Madison, Wis., -- has received one report of a child falling and suffering abrasions.

The recalled merry-go-round has four yellow plastic seats and black and silver metal bars. It was sold nationwide at Toys "R" Us between January 2008 through March 2008 for between $80 and $100.

Consumers should return the merry-go-round to Toys "R" Us for a full refund, or contact Pacific Cycle toll-free at 877-564-2261 to receive a free retrofit kit.

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Shower Curtains May Affect Health: Study

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shower curtains and liners release into the air 108 toxic chemicals that can affect the lungs, central nervous system, liver and kidney, according to a study by the Virginia-based Center for Health, Environment and Justice. It wants the federal government to recall and ban all PVC shower curtains and liners.

The researchers examined shower curtains and liners bought at retailers Bed Bath and Beyond, Kmart, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart, the New York Daily News reported.

"The familiar 'new curtain smell' may be toxic to your health," said Mike Schade, the center's PVC campaign coordinator. "It's really surprising that retailers are manufacturing products that contain and release harmful chemicals in our homes."

But a spokeswoman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission dismissed the center's demand for a recall and ban of the products.

"There's no justification whatsoever for the agency to take any kind of action," Julie Vallese told the Daily News. "The claims being made about the dangers of shower curtains are phantasmagorical. It's ridiculous."

Consumers needn't be worried, said a New York pediatrician who specializes in environmental exposure. Dr. Joel Forman, an associate professor of community and preventive medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, recommended airing out a new plastic curtain for a week before hanging it in the shower.

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More Underweight Babies Being Born in U.S.

The percentage of underweight babies born in the United States in 2005 was 8.2 percent, the highest level since 1968, says the annual Kids Count report released Thursday.

Mississippi had the highest rate (11.8 percent), while Alaska, Oregon and Washington had the lowest rate (6.1 percent). The rate of low-weight births was 13.6 percent for blacks, 7.3 percent for whites, and 6.9 percent for Hispanics, the Associated Press reported.

Low-birthweight babies (weighing less than 5.5 pounds) are at increased risk of dying in infancy or having long-term disabilities.

The nationwide rise in low-weight births was due to an increase in multiple births as more older women use fertility treatments to conceive, said Laura Beavers, coordinator of the Kids Count project for the Baltimore-based Annie E. Casey Foundation, the AP reported.

The Kids Count report examined 10 categories of children's health and well-being, finding that New Hampshire, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Utah ranked highest overall, while Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Alabama and South Carolina ranked lowest.

There were nationwide improvements in the child death rate, teen death rate, teen birth rate, high school dropout rate, and teens not in school and not working. Four areas worsened: low-birthweight babies, children living in poverty, children in single-parent families, and children living with unemployed parents.

Health Tips for June 14

Health Tip: Symptoms of Diabetes

Diabetes occurs when your blood sugar rises too high because your body doesn't produce enough of the hormone insulin, or the insulin doesn't work correctly.

Insulin, made by the pancreas, helps body cells absorb sugars from food.

Here are some common warning signs of diabetes, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

* Excessive thirst and urination.
* Feeling very hungry frequently.
* Feeling very tired.
* Unintentional weight loss.
* Frequent infections, or wounds that don't heal.
* Blurred vision.
* Numbness or tingling in hands and feet.
* Dry, itchy skin.

If you have any of these symptoms, visit your doctor to be tested for diabetes, especially if you are 45 or older.

Health Tip: Understanding Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia, the medical term for low blood sugar, is a common complication among people with diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association offers this list of warning signs and treatments for hypoglycemia:

* Symptoms may include dizziness, shakiness, sweating, headache, hunger, pale skin, sudden mood change, tingling around the mouth, and confusion.
* Treat hypoglycemia as soon as you notice symptoms. The condition can quickly become an emergency without treatment, if blood sugar drops dangerously low.
* Eat some sort of sugar, such as a few pieces of hard candy, 1/2 cup of fruit juice, or glucose tablets.
* Have a glucagon (a medication that quickly raises blood sugar) syringe on hand. In the event that you pass out, make sure friends and family know how to immediately use the shot. This is a medical emergency, and in addition to getting the shot, you should receive emergency care.

Health Headlines - June 13

Shower Curtains May Affect Health: Study

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shower curtains and liners release into the air 108 toxic chemicals that can affect the lungs, central nervous system, liver and kidney, according to a study by the Virginia-based Center for Health, Environment and Justice. It wants the federal government to recall and ban all PVC shower curtains and liners.

The researchers examined shower curtains and liners bought at retailers Bed Bath and Beyond, Kmart, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart, the New York Daily News reported.

"The familiar 'new curtain smell' may be toxic to your health," said Mike Schade, the center's PVC campaign coordinator. "It's really surprising that retailers are manufacturing products that contain and release harmful chemicals in our homes."

But a spokeswoman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission dismissed the center's demand for a recall and ban of the products.

"There's no justification whatsoever for the agency to take any kind of action," Julie Vallese told the Daily News. "The claims being made about the dangers of shower curtains are phantasmagorical. It's ridiculous."

Consumers needn't be worried, said a New York pediatrician who specializes in environmental exposure. Dr. Joel Forman, an associate professor of community and preventive medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, recommended airing out a new plastic curtain for a week before hanging it in the shower.

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Infrared Sauna Rooms Pose Fire Hazard

About 225 Sauna By Airwall infrared sauna rooms are being recalled because the heating unit and fuse can fail, leading to overheating and risk of a fire, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday.

Sauna By Airwall Inc. of Bellflower, Calif. has received four reports of fires that resulted in property damage. There have been no reports of injuries.

The recalled sauna rooms include the following model numbers: IC, I, IC II, IC III, IC IV, and IC V. The model number is found on the serial plate located on the back of the machine, in the lower right hand corner. The sauna rooms were sold nationwide from November 2006 through April 2008 for between $600 and $4,000.

Consumers with the recalled sauna room should stop using it and disconnect it from the power source, the CPSC said. Owners can contact Sauna By Airwall collect at 562-630-2283 for more information.

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Bosch Hammer Drills Recalled

About 9,700 Bosch hammer drills are being recalled because they can continue to operate after the trigger has been released, posing a danger to users and bystanders, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled hammer drills are blue with "BOSCH" printed on the side and have the number 1191VSR on the product nameplate mounted on the side of the motor. Only drills with a serial number that begins with "7" are included in the recall.

The hammer drills were sold nationwide from July 2007 through April 2008 for about $100. Consumers should stop using the hammer drills, the CPSC said.

To get information about a free repair, contact the Robert Bosch Tool Corp. toll-free at 877-472-0007.

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More Underweight Babies Being Born in U.S.

The percentage of underweight babies born in the United States in 2005 was 8.2 percent, the highest level since 1968, says the annual Kids Count report released Thursday.

Mississippi had the highest rate (11.8 percent), while Alaska, Oregon and Washington had the lowest rate (6.1 percent). The rate of low-weight births was 13.6 percent for blacks, 7.3 percent for whites, and 6.9 percent for Hispanics, the Associated Press reported.

Low-birthweight babies (weighing less than 5.5 pounds) are at increased risk of dying in infancy or having long-term disabilities.

The nationwide rise in low-weight births was due to an increase in multiple births as more older women use fertility treatments to conceive, said Laura Beavers, coordinator of the Kids Count project for the Baltimore-based Annie E. Casey Foundation, the AP reported.

The Kids Count report examined 10 categories of children's health and well-being, finding that New Hampshire, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Utah ranked highest overall, while Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Alabama and South Carolina ranked lowest.

There were nationwide improvements in the child death rate, teen death rate, teen birth rate, high school dropout rate, and teens not in school and not working. Four areas worsened: low-birthweight babies, children living in poverty, children in single-parent families, and children living with unemployed parents.

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Marijuana Potency Increasing

In 2007, marijuana potency reached its highest level in more than 30 years, according to a new report from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Researchers at the University of Mississippi's Potency Monitoring Project analyzed levels of THC (the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana) in samples seized by law enforcement agencies from 1975 through 2007, the Associated Press reported.

The average amount of THC in the samples was 8.75 percent in 2006 and 9.6 percent in 2007, compared to just under 4 percent in 1983. These increasing levels of THC pose greater psychological, cognitive and respiratory risks to people who use marijuana, according to John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Sophisticated growing techniques used by marijuana producers in the United States and Canada are behind the increased potency of the drug, according to the White House office.

While federal officials expressed concern over the increased potency of marijuana, one expert said marijuana users generally adjust to the level of potency and smoke it accordingly, the AP reported.

"Stronger cannabis leads to less inhaled smoke," said Dr. Mitch Earleywine, who teaches psychology at the State University of New York in Albany and serves as an adviser for marijuana advocacy groups.

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Lack of Sleep Increases Snacking

Lack of sleep can lead to excessive snacking, according to a University of Chicago study.

It included 11 healthy volunteers who each completed two 14-day laboratory studies at least three months apart. The participants had 5.5-hour or 8.5-hour sleep sessions and ad lib food intake, United Press International reported.

When their sleep times were limited to 5.5 hours, the participants consumed more energy from snacks and their carbohydrate content of snacks also increased, the study found.

This type of snacking may contribute to the increased risk of weight gain and obesity associated with inadequate sleep, said study leader Dr. Plamen Penev, UPI reported.

The study was presented at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

Health Tips for June 13

Health Tip: Help Put Sleep Apnea to Bed

Sleep apnea occurs when sleep is interrupted, though not always enough to wake the person. Often, it is caused by the temporary obstruction of the upper airway.

Sleep apnea is associated with loss of sleep, and more serious conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease, the American Lung Association (ALA) says.

Among children, sleep apnea often is caused by inflamed tonsils or adenoids, which should be evaluated by a pediatrician.

While the best course of treatment should be recommended by your doctor, the ALA offers this list of possible ways to control sleep apnea:

* Maintain a healthy body weight with exercise and a healthy diet.
* Attend a sleep lab, where sleep apnea can be analyzed and specific treatments recommended.
* A technique called a nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), which delivers air through a mask.
* Special dental appliances.
* Surgery.

Health Tip: Symptoms of Computer Strain

Frequent computer use -- especially when it involves poor posture or keystroke repetition -- can damage nerves, muscles, tendons or ligaments.

Here are common symptoms of computer-related injury, courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

* Numbness of the fingers.
* Pain or soreness in the lower back, neck, shoulders or wrists.
* Headache.
* Dryness, redness and soreness of the eyes, or blurred vision.

Health Headlines - June 12

U.S. Life Expectancy Hits New High

Life expectancy in the United States hit a record high in 2006 of 78.1 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. Life expectancy rose to new highs for white males (76), black males (70), white females (81) and black females (76.9).

In addition, the age-adjusted death rate fell to 776.4 deaths per 100,000 people from 799 in 2005, the agency said in a prepared statement. Death rates for many of the leading causes of death fell significantly in 2006, including a 12.8 percent drop in deaths from flu and pneumonia.

Deaths from lower respiratory disease fell 6.5 percent from 2005 to 2006, cases of stroke fell by 6.4 percent, heart disease by 5.5 percent, diabetes by 5.3 percent, and deaths from HIV/AIDS declined 4.8 percent from 2005.

The preliminary infant mortality rate for 2006 fell to 6.7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, a 2.3 percent drop from the 2005 figure of 6.9, the CDC said.

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AP: Paul Newman Has Cancer

Actor Paul Newman has cancer, the Associated Press reported, citing Newman's longtime business partner.

"I know that it's a form of cancer," the wire service quoted writer A.E. Hotchner as saying, although he didn't specify the type of cancer. He said Newman was still undergoing treatment.

Newman put out a statement Tuesday that he was "doing nicely," but didn't address speculation that he had cancer.

Appearing last month at a practice for the Indianapolis 500 car race, Newman appeared to have lost a significant amount of weight, the AP said.

In the 1980s, Hotchner partnered with Newman to start "Newman's Own," a salad dressing company that has branched out to other food products. By 2007, the company had contributed more than $200 million in profits to charity, according to the "Newman's Own" Web site.

Hotchner told the AP that Newman had an operation a few years ago "somewhere in the area of the lung."

"Everybody is hopeful," he said of Newman's prognosis. "That's all we know."

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American Tab for Allergy Sufferers: $11 Billion

It may be nothing to sneeze at, but $11 billion is how much Americans spent on doctor bills, prescription drugs, and other medical costs to fight allergy symptoms, the federal government revealed Wednesday.

The total for 2005, the most recent year evaluated, was nearly double the $6 billion spent five years earlier, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality said.

The analysis from the agency, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, also found:

• Some 22 million Americans visited a doctor, got a prescription drug, were hospitalized, or received home health care for allergy symptoms in 2005.
• Some $7 billion was spent on prescription drugs, and the remaining $4 billion was divided among doctor visits and hospital outpatient care.
• From 2000 to 2005, the annual average cost of allergy treatment rose from $350 per person to $520.

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Hong Kong, Fighting Bird Flu Outbreak, Orders Mass Chicken Cull

Hong Kong has begun culling all chickens in its markets and retail outlets after finding the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu among fowl in a total of seven markets, the Bloomberg news service reported Wednesday.

The outbreak was first detected at four markets last week, and the virus has since been found at three additional markets. Poultry imports from mainland China were suspended on June 7.

Some 3,500 chickens were to be slaughtered at about 470 locations, Bloomberg reported. Additional testing at bird farms will determine if more culls are needed, the government said.

So far, it has been difficult for the virus to pass between fowl and people, but experts have long feared that the germ would mutate and spark a human flu pandemic.

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Kids' Pajamas Recalled for Excessive Lead

Some 28,000 sets of camouflage child pajamas are being recalled because the screen print on the shirt contains excessive lead, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says. Made in Vietnam, the pajamas were sold at The Children's Place retail stores nationwide between December 2006 and January 2008. They also were sold on the retailer's Web site during the same period for $15 to $17. No injuries have been reported. Consumers should immediately take the pajamas away from children and return them to any The Children's Place store for a full refund.

For more information, contact the retailer at 877-752-2387.

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Bottles With Bisphenol A Safe: FDA Official

Plastic baby bottles and water bottles made with a chemical called bisphenol A are safe, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration official.

While small amounts of bisphenol A can be released as plastics break down, the levels of exposure is safe, Dr. Norris Alderson, the FDA's associate commissioner for science, said Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.

"Although our review is ongoing, there's no reason to recommend consumers stop using products with (bisphenol A)," Alderson told a House subcommittee.

The chemical has come under intense scrutiny. In a recent draft report, the U.S. National Toxicology Program said animal studies suggest bisphenol A may cause changes in behavior and the brain, and reduce birth weight and survival in fetuses, the AP reported.

The Canadian government plans to ban bisphenol A in baby bottles, and proposed U.S. legislation would ban the chemical in children's products.

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Chemical Changes May Identify Defects That Lead to Cancer

Subtle changes in cell chemicals may help identify people at risk for cancer before they actually develop the disease, according to researchers at the U.K. Institute of Food Research.

They detected these changes in apparently normal cells taken from the intestines of bowel cancer patients, BBC News reported.

"We looked at changes in 18 genes that play a role in the very earliest stages of colorectal cancer and detected clear chemical differences in these genes in otherwise normal tissue in cancer patients," said lead researcher Professor Ian Johnson. "This represents a new way to identify defects that could eventually lead to cancer."

The study was published in the British Journal of Cancer.

While this is an interesting finding, it requires much more research, Henry Scowcroft, science information manager at Cancer Research UK, told BBC News. He noted the chemical changes detected in the normal cells could occur in response to already having cancer or to cancer treatment.

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Smoking, High BMI Increase Risk of Hearing Loss

Smoking and high body mass index (BMI) increase the risk of hearing loss, says a European study that included 4,083 people in seven countries.

The more years a person smoked, the greater their risk of high-frequency hearing loss, said the study, which also found that people with higher BMIs had more pronounced hearing loss across the frequency range tested, CBC News reported.

Interestingly, moderate alcohol consumption appeared to protect against hearing loss. The study was published online in the Journal for Research in Otolaryngology.

The researchers couldn't explain their findings, but noted that smoking and high BMI lead to cardiovascular disease, which has been linked in previous studies to hearing loss, CBC News reported. And previous research has suggested that moderate alcohol consumption may help protect the heart.

Health Tips for June 12

Health Tip: Getting Calcium If You're Lactose Intolerant

People with lactose intolerance should restrict their intake of dairy foods and other sources of lactose, which include foods containing whey; curds; milk by-products; dry milk solids; and nonfat dry milk powder.

But then how do you get enough bone-enriching calcium?

While it's best to check with your doctor, here are some calcium-rich foods that are probably safe for the lactose-intolerant, provided by the University of Virginia Health System:

* Leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and kale.
* Fish such as salmon and sardines.
* Yogurts with active cultures, which can help make the yogurt easier to digest.
* Foods rich in vitamin D, such as eggs and liver, which help the body absorb calcium.

Health Tip: Taming a Sweet Tooth

Dieting doesn't mean that you have to completely give up desserts. It just means that you should opt for healthier alternatives.

The American Diabetes Association offers these dessert options when you're dieting or trying to watch your sugar and fat intake:

* Try fresh or dried fruits to soothe your sweet tooth.
* Have only a small portion of one of your favorite desserts.
* When ordering at a restaurant, choose a dessert to share with the people accompanying you.
* When baking, reduce the amount of fat and sugar you use in your recipes.
* Choose low-fat and low-sugar alternatives to your favorite desserts.

Health Headlines - June 11

Virginity Pledge May Help Delay Sexual Activity

A virginity pledge may help some young people postpone the start of sexual activity, according to RAND Corp. researchers who interviewed 1,461 virgins, ages 12 to 17, in 2001 and followed up with them one and three years later.

During the initial interview, about one-fourth of participants said they had made a virginity pledge. Thirty-four percent of those who made the pledge reported having sexual intercourse within three years, compared with 42 percent of those who didn't make a virginity pledge.

The findings appear online in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

"These findings do not suggest that virginity pledges should be a substitute for comprehensive sexual education programs, or that they will work for all kinds of kids. But virginity pledges may be appropriate as one component of an overall sex education effort," lead author Steven Martino, a psychologist at RAND, said in a prepared statement. RAND is a nonprofit research organization.

"Making a pledge to remain a virgin until married may provide extra motivation to adolescents who want to delay becoming sexually active," Martino said. "The act of pledging may create some social pressure or social support that helps them to follow through with their clearly stated public intention."

It's estimated that 23 percent of female adolescents and 16 of male adolescents in the United States have made a virginity pledge, the RAND statement said.

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Incentives Offered For Use of Electronic Health Records

Twelve sites across the United States will participate in a Medicare demonstration project that will offer incentives to doctors who switch to electronic health records (EHRs), Health and Human Service Secretary Mike Leavitt announced Tuesday.

Once the five-year, $150-million project is fully implemented, as many as 1,200 small- and medium-sized primary care practices will receive incentive payments in exchange for getting rid of paper records and adopting certified EHRs. The goal is to reduce errors and improve health outcomes for patients.

Total payments under the demonstration for all five years may be up to $58,000 per physician or up to $290,000 per practice.

Communities selected to work with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the EHR demonstration project include: Alabama; Delaware; Jacksonville, Fla. (multi-county); Georgia; Maine; Louisiana; Maryland/Washington, DC; Oklahoma; Pittsburgh, Pa. (multi-county); South Dakota; Virginia; Madison, Wis. (multi-county).

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Airline Passengers At No Greater Risk of Infectious Disease

Worries about being at high risk of catching the flu or other infectious diseases while traveling on airliners may be overblown, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau study released Tuesday.

"The risk of transmission of infection on board an aircraft is probably no greater than, and perhaps less than, other environments where large numbers of people are gathered together," according to study conclusions cited by Agence France-Presse.

Many people mistakenly believe air in passenger planes is laden with infectious germs and viruses because it's continually recycled with limited fresh air from outside, the bureau noted.

However, the study found that if an aircraft's recirculation and filtration systems are working properly, the risk of catching an infection while flying is no greater than eating in a restaurant or traveling by bus, AFP reported.

Most people who do contract an illness on a flight are seated close to a sick passenger and exposed to droplets from coughing and sneezing, rather than from contaminated re-circulated air, the study found.

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White House Offers More Money For Food and Drug Safety

A significant boost in U.S. government funding to ensure the safety of food and drug imports was proposed Monday by the Bush administration. It wants to add $275 million to the $2.4 billion budget it initially proposed for the Food and Drug Administration during the next fiscal year. That would make the 2009 FDA budget 18 percent higher than the 2008 budget, the Baltimore Sun said.

Federal officials said the extra money would help pay for basing inspectors abroad, increasing the number of inspections, and modernizing computer systems, the Sun reported.

In a conference call with reporters Monday night, FDA Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach said the agency would be able to hire 490 more employees with the new funding.

The Bush administration has been under pressure from Democrats and a coalition of industry, consumer and medical groups to increase the FDA budget. In March, the Senate voted to give the FDA an added $375 million, the Sun reported.

Democrats have alleged that White House underfunding of the FDA was responsible for the lethal contamination of imported pet food ingredients and a widely-used blood-thinning drug.

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New HIV Infections Outpace Treatment

The number of people becoming infected with HIV is far higher than those beginning treatment with antiretroviral drugs, according to United Nations officials. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

Last year, 2.5 million people were infected with HIV, while 1 million started using antiretroviral drugs, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told world leaders on the first of several days of U.N. debate on AIDS prevention, the Associated Press reported.

"Unless greater and swifter advances are made in reaching those who need essential services, the epidemic's burden on households, communities and societies will continue to mount," Ban said.

According to U.N. figures, at least 33 million worldwide are infected with HIV and about 2.1 million people died of AIDS last year, the AP reported.

Health Tips for June 11

Health Tip: Muscle Sprains and Strains

Sprains and strains are common injuries that result from sports and exercise. Sprains involve a stretch or tear of a ligament, while a strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon.

While everyone is prone to strains and sprains, here are suggestions from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons on how you can help prevent them:

* Try a conditioning program that will help strengthen muscles.
* Every day, do a few stretching exercises.
* Always wear shoes that support and fit properly.
* Always warm up before any sport or activity.
* Wear appropriate protective gear before participating in sports or exercise.
* Eat a healthy, balanced diet so that your muscles are well-nourished.

Health Tip: Wear and Tear on the Knees

Knee joints can wear as you age, or after years of high-impact exercise.

Here are ways to help minimize damage to knees, courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

* Avoid activities that tend to damage the knees, such as running, tennis, baseball and basketball.
* Engage in low-impact activities, such as swimming, biking, golf or walking.
* Talk to your doctor about anti-inflammatory medications, or joint supplements to help preserve the knees. Anti-inflammatory medications may also be injected by your doctor.
* Physical therapy and icing the knees can help improve function.
* Protective gear such as a brace, splint or elastic bandage can help support a weakened knee.

Health Headlines - June 10

U.S. Restaurant Chains Stop Serving Some Tomatoes

McDonald's, Burger King and a number of other restaurant chains announced Monday that they were suspending the use of certain fresh tomatoes until they learn the source of a recent nationwide salmonella outbreak.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers nationwide over the weekend not to eat raw red Roma, raw red plum, and raw red round tomatoes while the agency investigates the source of 145 recent cases of "Saintpaul" salmonella in 16 states that appear linked to uncooked tomatoes, the Associated Press reported.

At least 23 people have been hospitalized since April. The FDA says it doesn't know the exact source of the salmonella outbreak. But it has said that cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes and tomatoes sold with the vine attached are believed safe to eat.

McDonald's said it stopped serving tomatoes on all of its sandwiches in the United States, while Burger King said it halted use of raw tomatoes at most of its domestic locations, except for certain restaurants in California that are serviced by growers known to be safe, the AP said.

In addition, the Chipotle Mexican Grill chain said it would stop serving its tomato salsa, and Texas Roadhouse locations and Cracker Barrel Old Country stores said they also would stop dispensing tomatoes with salads and other foods.

Regional grocer Winn-Dixie said it would remove affected tomatoes from its more than 500 stores in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi, the AP said.

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Kennedy Leaves Hospital After Brain Surgery

One week after he underwent surgery for brain cancer, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was released Monday from Duke University Medical Center and returned to his home in Hyannisport on Cape Cod, the Associated Press reported.

"It's good to be home, good to be here," the wire service quoted him as saying.

Last month, Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant glioma brain tumor after he suffered a seizure. Last Monday, he had a 3.5-hour operation to remove as much of the tumor as possible to improve the success of chemotherapy and radiation treatment that he will undergo.

About 9,000 Americans have malignant gliomas diagnosed each year, the AP said. It's among the worst types of brain cancer.

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U.S. Supreme Court Takes Third Look at Judgment Against Cigarette Maker

The U.S. Supreme Court will review a $79.5 million punitive judgment against Marlboro-maker Philip Morris for a third time, the Associated Press reported Monday.

On two previous occasions, the Supreme Court has struck down the award to the family of a Portland, Ore. man who died of lung cancer in 1997 after smoking Marlboro cigarettes since the 1950s.

But Oregon courts have repeatedly upheld the judgment against cigarette maker Philip Morris USA.

In its first decision, the Supreme Court rejected the $79.5 million judgment. In its second decision, the high court ruled that jurors may punish a defendant only for harm done to someone who is suing, not other smokers who could make similar claims.

In the upcoming review, scheduled to take place in the fall, the high court will consider whether the Oregon Supreme Court ignored the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling, but not whether the amount of the judgment is constitutionally permissible, the AP reported.

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Law Hasn't Reduced Teen Drivers' Cell Phone Use

A North Carolina ban on cell phone use while driving hasn't reduced the use of cell phones by young drivers, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In fact, there's been a slight increase in cell phone usage by drivers under 18.

Five months after the law went into effect, nearly 12 percent of teen drivers were observed using cell phones, compared to 11 percent prior to the ban, United Press International reported.

Girls were much more likely than boys to use cell phones while driving, as were teens driving alone in vehicles, compared to those driving with friends.

Lack of enforcement may be the reason why the ban appears ineffective.

"Drivers with phones to their ears aren't hard to spot, but it's nearly impossible for police officers to see hands-free devices or correctly guess how old drivers are," said study author Anne McCartt, vice president of the institute, UPI reported.

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Debt Stress May Be Affecting Health of Millions of Americans

Debt-related stress may be causing health problems for millions of Americans, suggests an Associated Press-AOL poll. An index tied to the survey showed that debt stress is 14 percent higher this year than in 2004.

Among respondents who reported high levels of debt stress:

• 51 percent had muscle tension, including, pain the lower back, compared with 31 percent of those with low levels of debt stress.
• 44 percent of high-stress respondents had migraines or other headaches, compared with 15 percent with lower debt stress.
• 29 percent suffered severe anxiety, compared with 4 percent with lower stress.
• 27 percent had ulcers or digestive tract problems, compared with 8 percent with lower stress.
• 23 percent had severe depression, compared with 4 percent with lower stress.
• 6 percent reported heart attacks, compared with 3 percent of those with lower stress.

The survey also found that people with high levels of debt stress were much more likely to have problems with concentration and sleep, and were more likely to get upset for no apparent reason, the AP reported.

Most Americans are managing their debts adequately, but as many as 10 million to 16 million are "suffering terribly due to their debts, and their health is likely to be negatively impacted," said Paul J. Lavrakas, a research psychologist and AP consultant who analyzed the survey results.

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Researchers Failed to Disclose Drug Company Funding: Report

A team of doctors who helped pioneer the use of psychiatric drugs in children are being investigated after they failed to properly disclose at least $3.2 million in funding from several drug companies.

Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital are looking into the disclosure and conflict of interest forms of Drs. Joseph Beiderman, Timothy Wilens and Thomas Spencer, who conducted research into how children are affected by psychiatric drugs, Bloomberg news reported.

The researchers filed yearly disclosure forms showing they received a total of $120,000 from several drug companies. But they admitted to receiving more after Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) sought added documentation in March.

"Obviously, if a researcher is taking money from a drug company while also receiving federal dollars to research that company's product, then there is a conflict of interest," Grassley said in a statement.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health requires researchers to disclose when they receive at least $10,000 from companies whose products are being used in studies. When researchers fail to do so, institutions can lose their federal funding, Bloomberg reported.

Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital don't allow researchers to work on a company's product if the researchers get more than $20,000 a year from the company.

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Scientists Identify Gene Linked to Enlarged Heart

A new genetic cause of enlarged heart has been identified by an international team of scientists, who said their finding could lead to new treatments.

In research with rodents and humans, the scientists found that the gene osteoglycin (Ogn) regulates the growth of the heart's left ventricle, it's main pumping chamber. When Ogn behaves abnormally, the heart can become enlarged, BBC News reported.

The study appears in the journal Nature Genetics.

It was already known that irregular heart growth can be caused by obesity, high blood pressure and strenuous exercise, but the influence of genes is largely unknown, BBC News reported.

"But, now that we are unraveling how genes control heart growth, we can gain a better understanding of common forms of heart disease. This could lead to new and more effective ways of treating people," said researcher Dr. Stuart Cook.

Health Tips for June 10

Health Tip: Prevent Mold in the Home

Mold is a tiny fungus that can grow inside the home and cause allergies and other health problems.

The University of Virginia Health System offers these suggestions to help keep mold out of your home:

* Keep humidity at low levels -- between 40 percent and 60 percent, and use an air conditioner or dehumidifier when it's humid outside.
* Use exhaust fans to keep areas such as kitchens and bathrooms well ventilated.
* Keep carpet out of areas where moisture may collect, such as bathrooms or basements.
* Promptly and thoroughly dry any furnishings that get wet, especially carpets or upholstered furniture.
* Fix any leaky plumbing, roofs, or walls.
* Use cleaners that kill mold.
* If you're painting, add a mold inhibitor to the paint.

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 Headlines - June 9

Stem Cell Treatment May Have Cured Child With Rare Skin Disease

University of Minnesota doctors believe they have hit a "home run" in using stem cell therapy in a 2-year-old boy's bone marrow by curing him of a rare disease that had been described as incurable.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that doctors performed a bone marrow transplant on 2-year-old Nate Liao, who had been suffering from recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), a genetic condition that literally causes skin to peel off at the slightest touch.

The stem cell procedure, previously done only in laboratory animals, was successful, the newspaper reports, so successful in fact, that University of Minnesota bone marrow specialist Dr. John Wagner said, "Maybe we can take one more disorder off the incurable list. It's not often that it feels like you hit a home run in medical research, but this one feels like it."

Nate's older brother Jake, who also has the disorder, was given a bone marrow transplant late last week, and 30 patients will be part of an upcoming clinical trial to continue the research, the Star Tribune reports.

RDEB falls into the category of orphan diseases -- very rare maladies. In this case, the skin disorder affects about 10 people per million.

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Tainted Salmonella Tomatoes 'Distributed Throughout the Country,' CDC Suggests

Salmonella food poisoning from raw tomatoes has spread to 16 states, causing U.S. health officials to speculate that the outbreak might be nationwide, the Associated Press reports.

The infestation first began in Texas and New Mexico in mid-April, the wire service said. The latest statistics from those two states' health departments put the number of cases at 56 in Texas and 55 in New Mexico to raw, uncooked, tomatoes.

And an additional 50 people are suspected to have been poisoned with the Saintpaul strain of salmonella bacterium, the A.P. said, leading a spokesperson from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to tell the wire service that the rarity of that strain and the number of illnesses "suggest that implicated tomatoes are distributed throughout the country."

At least 23 people have been hospitalized but there have been no deaths among the patients who range in age between 1 and 82, CDC spokesperson Arleen Porcell told the A.P.

In addition to Texas and New Mexico, the Saintpaul salmonella infection has been reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, according to the CDC.

Consumers are warned not to buy any raw tomatoes except cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached and homegrown tomatoes, the wire service reported.

Salmonella bacteria are usually transmitted to humans when they eat food contaminated with animal feces. Symptoms include fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Most people recover without treatment, but salmonella infection can cause serious health problems or death in infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

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Many Americans Stressed About Money: Survey

Three-quarters of American adults are stressed about money and worried about their financial future, according to a new survey released by the American Psychological Association.

The survey of 2,529 adults, conducted between April 7 and 15, found that more than 50 percent reported that they're experiencing stress over housing costs and 48 percent said job stability is a source of stress, United Press International reported.

In addition, 61 percent said family responsibilities are causing them stress, and 57 percent said they have health-related concerns.

"With higher prices, the rising cost of gas and constant media coverage of the state of the economy, many Americans are stressed about the state of their finances," psychologist Katherine Nordal of the APA said in a prepared statement, UPI reported.

She suggested people "analyze their priorities and figure out new ways to manage your stress, and take control of your finances. Pause but don't panic -- remain calm, stay focused and avoid getting caught up in the doom-and-gloom hype in the media."

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Cereal Recalled Due to Undeclared Tree Nuts

About 12,553 cases of Post LiveAction Mixed Berry Crunch Cereal are being recalled because some of the boxes may contain undeclared tree nuts (almonds, pecans and/or walnuts).

People with an allergy or severe sensitivity to these nuts may suffer a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they eat the cereal, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

The recall includes 13-ounce boxes with the UPC code 0043000023890, which were distributed across the United States. People who allergic to tree nuts should not eat this cereal and can call Kraft Foods at 1-866-771-1511 for a full refund.

Kraft confirmed the presence of tree nuts in the cereal after it received a consumer report of an allergic reaction. The company is investigating the situation and believes it was caused by a supplier error.

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Regranex Diabetic Foot Gel Carries Cancer Death Warning

A strong "black box" warning about the risk of cancer death has been added to Johnson & Johnson's Regranex Gel, a topical cream used to treat diabetes patients with leg and foot ulcers that aren't healing.

A study found that patients who used three or more tubes of Regranex had a fivefold increased risk of cancer death, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

"In announcing this label change, FDA still cautions health care professionals to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of treating patients with Regranex," Dr. Susan Walker, director of the agency's Division of Dermatological and Dental Products, said in a prepared statement. "Regranex is not recommended for patients with known malignancies."

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High-Protein, Low-Fat Dairy Diet Prevents Bone Loss

A high-protein, low-fat dairy diet can help prevent bone loss in people trying to lose weight, according to a U.S. study.

Many people lose bone mass when they lose weight and this can become an issue for middle-aged people, particularly women, said Ellen Evans, an associate professor of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois, CBC News reported.

The study included 130 middle-aged people divided into two groups. One group ate a high-protein weight loss diet that included cheese, yogurt and low-fat milk, while the other group ate a high-carbohydrate weight loss diet. They stayed on these diets for four months of weight loss, followed by eight months of weight maintenance.

At the end of the year, the high-protein diet group had 1.2 percent higher whole body bone density, 2.1 percent higher lumbar spine bone density, and 1.4 percent higher hip bone density than the carbohydrate group, CBC News reported.

The study was published in the June issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

Health Tips for June 9

Health Tip: Kids Get Indigestion, Too

Indigestion often is caused by eating too much greasy, fatty or spicy food. It can affect adults and children, too.

Here are suggestions to help save your child's tummy from indigestion, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Eat several smaller meals or snacks throughout the day, rather than eating large amounts of food at once.
* Eat healthy, lighter foods, and avoid greasy products such as cheeseburgers and french fries.
* If acidic foods like citrus fruits or some sodas upset the stomach, stay away from them.
* Eat slowly -- don't rush through meals. Relax for a while after eating, rather than immediately exercising or running and playing.
* Don't eat too much chocolate.

Health Tip: When Babies Spit Up

Spitting up, medically called reflux, is common in babies after a feeding.

It's not vomiting, and occurs when food or liquid from the baby's stomach comes back up through the esophagus. It tends to happens after they've eaten too much, or when being burped.

Here are suggestions to help reduce spitting up, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Feed your baby in an upright position.
* When bottle feeding, stop to burp the infant every three to five minutes.
* Don't lay your baby down right after a feeding.
* Try feeding less milk more often.

Health Headlines - June 8

Tainted Salmonella Tomatoes 'Distributed Throughout the Country,' CDC Suggests

Salmonella food poisoning from raw tomatoes has spread to 16 states, causing U.S. health officials to speculate that the outbreak might be nationwide, the Associated Press reports.

The infestation first began in Texas and New Mexico in mid-April, the wire service said. The latest statistics from those two states' health departments put the number of cases at 56 in Texas and 55 in New Mexico to raw, uncooked, tomatoes.

And an additional 50 people are suspected to have been poisoned with the Saintpaul strain of salmonella bacterium, the A.P. said, leading a spokesperson from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to tell the wire service that the rarity of that strain and the number of illnesses "suggest that implicated tomatoes are distributed throughout the country."

At least 23 people have been hospitalized but there have been no deaths among the patients who range in age between 1 and 82, CDC spokesperson Arleen Porcell told the A.P.

In addition to Texas and New Mexico, the Saintpaul salmonella infection has been reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, according to the CDC.

Consumers are warned not to buy any raw tomatoes except cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached and homegrown tomatoes, the wire service reported.

Salmonella bacteria are usually transmitted to humans when they eat food contaminated with animal feces. Symptoms include fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Most people recover without treatment, but salmonella infection can cause serious health problems or death in infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

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Many Americans Stressed About Money: Survey

Three-quarters of American adults are stressed about money and worried about their financial future, according to a new survey released by the American Psychological Association.

The survey of 2,529 adults, conducted between April 7 and 15, found that more than 50 percent reported that they're experiencing stress over housing costs and 48 percent said job stability is a source of stress, United Press International reported.

In addition, 61 percent said family responsibilities are causing them stress, and 57 percent said they have health-related concerns.

"With higher prices, the rising cost of gas and constant media coverage of the state of the economy, many Americans are stressed about the state of their finances," psychologist Katherine Nordal of the APA said in a prepared statement, UPI reported.

She suggested people "analyze their priorities and figure out new ways to manage your stress, and take control of your finances. Pause but don't panic -- remain calm, stay focused and avoid getting caught up in the doom-and-gloom hype in the media."

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Cereal Recalled Due to Undeclared Tree Nuts

About 12,553 cases of Post LiveAction Mixed Berry Crunch Cereal are being recalled because some of the boxes may contain undeclared tree nuts (almonds, pecans and/or walnuts).

People with an allergy or severe sensitivity to these nuts may suffer a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they eat the cereal, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

The recall includes 13-ounce boxes with the UPC code 0043000023890, which were distributed across the United States. People who allergic to tree nuts should not eat this cereal and can call Kraft Foods at 1-866-771-1511 for a full refund.

Kraft confirmed the presence of tree nuts in the cereal after it received a consumer report of an allergic reaction. The company is investigating the situation and believes it was caused by a supplier error.

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Regranex Diabetic Foot Gel Carries Cancer Death Warning

A strong "black box" warning about the risk of cancer death has been added to Johnson & Johnson's Regranex Gel, a topical cream used to treat diabetes patients with leg and foot ulcers that aren't healing.

A study found that patients who used three or more tubes of Regranex had a fivefold increased risk of cancer death, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

"In announcing this label change, FDA still cautions health care professionals to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of treating patients with Regranex," Dr. Susan Walker, director of the agency's Division of Dermatological and Dental Products, said in a prepared statement. "Regranex is not recommended for patients with known malignancies."

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High-Protein, Low-Fat Dairy Diet Prevents Bone Loss

A high-protein, low-fat dairy diet can help prevent bone loss in people trying to lose weight, according to a U.S. study.

Many people lose bone mass when they lose weight and this can become an issue for middle-aged people, particularly women, said Ellen Evans, an associate professor of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois, CBC News reported.

The study included 130 middle-aged people divided into two groups. One group ate a high-protein weight loss diet that included cheese, yogurt and low-fat milk, while the other group ate a high-carbohydrate weight loss diet. They stayed on these diets for four months of weight loss, followed by eight months of weight maintenance.

At the end of the year, the high-protein diet group had 1.2 percent higher whole body bone density, 2.1 percent higher lumbar spine bone density, and 1.4 percent higher hip bone density than the carbohydrate group, CBC News reported.

The study was published in the June issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

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College Teens Less Likely to Have Risky Sex

American teens who attend college are less likely to have risky sex than teens who aren't in college, say researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle.

They found that teen college students were more likely to always use a condom and less likely to engage in high-risk sex than teens who weren't in college, United Press International reported.

According to the study:

• 23 percent of teen college students and 35 percent of non-college teens reported inconsistent condom use.
• 15 percent of college students and 29 percent of non-college teens engaged in casual sex.
• 5 percent of college students and 16 percent of non-college teens had high-risk sex, which included casual sex, inconsistent condom use, having sex with a man who had sex with other men, or having a sex partner who was HIV positive or was an intravenous drug user.
• 53 percent of college students and 70 percent of non-college teens engaged in sex in the previous month.

The study was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Health Tips for June 8

Health Tip: Taking a Mental Status Test

Mental status tests are given to determine the state of a person's mental health. The test, for example, can help gauge the mental progression of a physical illness such as Alzheimer's disease.

Here's what may comprise a mental status test, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* An examination of physical appearance, including dress and grooming.
* Orientation and awareness -- knowing one's own name, address, and phone, as well as the current date and season.
* Length of attention span, and short-term and long-term memory.
* Tests to determine abilities including problem solving and judgment.
* Ability to identify objects and recall words.

Health Tip: Giving Your Child Medicine

Giving medicine to your child can be a challenge, especially if it tastes bad or is difficult to swallow.

Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago offers these suggestions:

* If the medicine has an unpleasant taste, see if your pharmacist can add flavor to it, or advise on how you can do so.
* Only with your doctor or pharmacist's approval, crumble a pill into a powder and sprinkle it into foods such as applesauce or pudding. Some medications shouldn't be crushed in this way, so be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
* Have your child suck on an ice cube or Popsicle before and after taking the medicine.
* Keep the child from spitting out liquid by lightly squeezing the cheeks, putting the lips in a "fish kiss" position.

Health Headlines - June 7

Many Americans Stressed About Money: Survey

Three-quarters of American adults are stressed about money and worried about their financial future, according to a new survey released by the American Psychological Association.

The survey of 2,529 adults, conducted between April 7 and 15, found that more than 50 percent reported that they're experiencing stress over housing costs and 48 percent said job stability is a source of stress, United Press International reported.

In addition, 61 percent said family responsibilities are causing them stress, and 57 percent said they have health-related concerns.

"With higher prices, the rising cost of gas and constant media coverage of the state of the economy, many Americans are stressed about the state of their finances," psychologist Katherine Nordal of the APA said in a prepared statement, UPI reported.

She suggested people "analyze their priorities and figure out new ways to manage your stress, and take control of your finances. Pause but don't panic -- remain calm, stay focused and avoid getting caught up in the doom-and-gloom hype in the media."

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Cereal Recalled Due to Undeclared Tree Nuts

About 12,553 cases of Post LiveAction Mixed Berry Crunch Cereal are being recalled because some of the boxes may contain undeclared tree nuts (almonds, pecans and/or walnuts).

People with an allergy or severe sensitivity to these nuts may suffer a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they eat the cereal, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

The recall includes 13-ounce boxes with the UPC code 0043000023890, which were distributed across the United States. People who allergic to tree nuts should not eat this cereal and can call Kraft Foods at 1-866-771-1511 for a full refund.

Kraft confirmed the presence of tree nuts in the cereal after it received a consumer report of an allergic reaction. The company is investigating the situation and believes it was caused by a supplier error.

-----

Regranex Diabetic Foot Gel Carries Cancer Death Warning

A strong "black box" warning about the risk of cancer death has been added to Johnson & Johnson's Regranex Gel, a topical cream used to treat diabetes patients with leg and foot ulcers that aren't healing.

A study found that patients who used three or more tubes of Regranex had a fivefold increased risk of cancer death, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

"In announcing this label change, FDA still cautions health care professionals to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of treating patients with Regranex," Dr. Susan Walker, director of the agency's Division of Dermatological and Dental Products, said in a prepared statement. "Regranex is not recommended for patients with known malignancies."

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High-Protein, Low-Fat Dairy Diet Prevents Bone Loss

A high-protein, low-fat dairy diet can help prevent bone loss in people trying to lose weight, according to a U.S. study.

Many people lose bone mass when they lose weight and this can become an issue for middle-aged people, particularly women, said Ellen Evans, an associate professor of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois, CBC News reported.

The study included 130 middle-aged people divided into two groups. One group ate a high-protein weight loss diet that included cheese, yogurt and low-fat milk, while the other group ate a high-carbohydrate weight loss diet. They stayed on these diets for four months of weight loss, followed by eight months of weight maintenance.

At the end of the year, the high-protein diet group had 1.2 percent higher whole body bone density, 2.1 percent higher lumbar spine bone density, and 1.4 percent higher hip bone density than the carbohydrate group, CBC News reported.

The study was published in the June issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

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College Teens Less Likely to Have Risky Sex

American teens who attend college are less likely to have risky sex than teens who aren't in college, say researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle.

They found that teen college students were more likely to always use a condom and less likely to engage in high-risk sex than teens who weren't in college, United Press International reported.

According to the study:

• 23 percent of teen college students and 35 percent of non-college teens reported inconsistent condom use.
• 15 percent of college students and 29 percent of non-college teens engaged in casual sex.
• 5 percent of college students and 16 percent of non-college teens had high-risk sex, which included casual sex, inconsistent condom use, having sex with a man who had sex with other men, or having a sex partner who was HIV positive or was an intravenous drug user.
• 53 percent of college students and 70 percent of non-college teens engaged in sex in the previous month.

The study was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

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Admiration of Celebrities May Boost Self-Esteem

Admiration of celebrities may help people with low self-esteem feel better about themselves, suggest University at Buffalo researchers.

The scientists assessed the self-esteem of hundreds of undergraduate students, who identified their favorite celebrity, then described that celebrity in an open-ended essay, United Press International reported.

Based on the results, the researchers concluded connections to celebrities (parasocial relationships) can offer people with low self-esteem benefits they don't receive in real relationships.

The researchers said parasocial relationships, which have a very low risk of rejection, provide people with low self-esteem the chance to feel closer to their ideal selves, UPI reported.

The study was published in the journal Personal Relationships.

Health Tips for June 7

Health Tip: Keep GERD Under Control

Gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when a valve in the esophagus opens spontaneously, and stomach contents rise up into the esophagus. It can be controlled with a doctor's treatment plan, which is likely to include medication.

Serious complications can result if the condition is left untreated. Here's a partial list, courtesy of the U.S. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse:

* Ulcers of the esophagus from lining damaged by stomach acid.
* Narrowing of the esophagus, which can make it difficult to swallow.
* A condition called Barrett's esophagus, in which cells in the esophageal lining take on an unusual shape and color.
* Esophageal cancer.
* Exacerbated symptoms of other conditions, including asthma, chronic cough or pulmonary fibrosis.

Health Tip: Foods That Can Aggravate Heartburn

That burning, uncomfortable feeling in the chest after a big meal, lying down or eating certain foods is known as heartburn. Heartburn occurs when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus.

The American Academy of Family Physicians says the following foods can trigger or aggravate heartburn:

* Coffee and other products with caffeine, carbonated drinks and alcohol.
* Citrus fruits, onions and chocolate.
* Tomato-based foods.
* Peppermints and other mint-flavored products.
* Fattening or spicy foods.

Health Headlines - June 6

Anxiety More Important Than Looks in Teen Eating Disorders

In teens with eating disorders, anxiety plays a bigger role than dissatisfaction with appearance, says a study by Finnish researchers.

They conducted two surveys, a year apart, of 372 students, ages 15 to 17, and found that 13 percent reported eating disorders in either the first or second survey and 5 percent reported eating disorders in both surveys, United Press International reported.

The researchers also found that students who reported suffering from anxiety earlier in adolescence were 20 times more likely to report ongoing eating disorders. Teens who said they were dissatisfied with their appearance only had recurring eating disorders if they also reported anxiety earlier in adolescence.

Teens with eating disorders were more likely than those without eating disorders (70 percent vs. 40 percent) to report one or more health problems such as insomnia, fatigue, headache, abdominal pain or dizziness, UPI reported.

The study was published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing.

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Dental Fillings With Mercury Pose Threat to Children, Fetuses: FDA

Dental fillings that contain mercury may be harmful to children and fetuses, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a warning posted on its Web site Wednesday.

The agency agreed to post the warning as part of a lawsuit settlement reached with several consumer advocates. The FDA also agreed that by July 2009, it would issue a more specific rule for fillings that contain mercury, FOXNews reported.

"Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses," says the warning on the FDA Web site.

"Pregnant women and persons who may have a health condition that makes them more sensitive to mercury exposure, including individuals with existing high levels of mercury bioburden, should not avoid seeking dental care but should discuss options with their health practitioner," the FDA advises.

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Crib Mattresses Recalled Due to Entrapment Hazard

About 20,000 Simmons Kids Crib mattresses are being recalled because they may pose an entrapment hazard to infants. Some of the mattresses can measure smaller than the 27 1/4-inch minimum width requirement for cribs, leaving a gap between the mattress and side rails, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

There's been one report involving a six-month-old baby becoming wedged between the mattress and the crib's frame. The baby was unharmed.

The recall covers open coil mattresses made between July 1, 2006, and March 23, 2008, with the following model names: Pottery Barn Kids by Simmons Kids Lullaby; Simmons Kids Slumber Time Evening Star Luxury Firm; Simmons Kids Baby Mattress Series 400; Simmons Kids Baby Mattress 234 Coil Count.

They were sold at Pottery Barn Kids and nursery furniture stores across the United States for between $100 and $150.

Consumers should measure the width of their crib mattresses. If the mattress measures less than 27 1/4 inches wide, they should contact Simmons Kids at 1-800-810-8611 to receive a free replacement mattress.

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Race, Region Affect Patient Care in U.S.: Report

In the United States, a person's race and where they live can have a huge influence on the course and quality of medial treatment they receive, says a new study by researchers at Dartmouth College.

Their analysis of Medicare claims data identified a number of racial and geographic disparities, The New York Times reported.

"In U.S. health care, it's not only who you are that matters; it's also where you live," wrote study leader Dr. Elliott S. Fisher and colleagues.

Among their findings:

• The rate of leg amputations for blacks was about six per 1,000 in Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina, compared with less than two per 1,000 in Colorado and Nevada. The rates for whites in the southern states were about 1.3 per 1,000, double the rates for whites in the two western states.
• The mammogram rate for black women in California was 48 percent, compared to 72 percent in Massachusetts. California and Illinois had the widest racial gaps in mammogram rates -- a 12 percent difference between black and white women.
• In all but two states, blacks with diabetes were less likely than whites to receive annual hemoglobin testing. Blacks in Colorado were far less likely to receive this screening than blacks in Massachusetts -- 66 percent vs. 88 percent.
• There was wide variation in the percentage of patients who'd seen a primary care doctor within a two-year period, ranging from 65 percent in New Jersey to 86 percent in Nebraska.
• Hawaii, Utah, and Washington had far higher rates of unnecessary hospitalization than Kentucky, Louisiana, and West Virginia.

The study was commissioned by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which on Thursday is expected to announce a three-year, $300 million project to reduce racial- and geographic-related health disparities, the Times reported.

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Pesticides Increase Diabetes Risk

Exposure to pesticides increases a person's risk of diabetes, say U.S. researchers who analyzed data from 31,787 licensed pesticide applicators in North Carolina and Iowa. Of those, 1,171 reported a diagnosis of diabetes over five years.

The study found that applicators in the highest category of use (more than 100 lifetime days) of any pesticide had a 17 percent higher risk of diabetes compared to those in the lowest pesticide use category of zero to 64 lifetime days, United Press International reported.

When the researchers looked at specific pesticides, the increased risk of diabetes ranged from 20 percent to 200 percent. The study appears in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

"The results suggest that pesticides may be a contributing factor for diabetes along with known risk factors such as obesity, lack of exercise and having a family history of diabetes," study co-author Dale Sandler, of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, said in a prepared statement, UPI reported.

"Although the amount of diabetes explained by pesticides is small, these new findings may extend beyond the pesticide applicators in this study," Sandler said.

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Pop Star's Breast Cancer Boosted Screening Among Young Women

Publicity about pop star Kylie Minogue's breast cancer diagnosis in April 2005 led to a large increase in mammography and ultrasound procedures among low-risk women, says an Australian study.

In the six months following Minogue's diagnosis, mammography and ultrasound procedures increased 30 percent among women ages 25 to 44, who are considered to be at low risk for breast cancer. Breast biopsies in this age group increased 46 percent, CBC News reported.

In women ages 35 to 44, breast imaging increased 25 percent and breast biopsies increased 37 percent, the University of Melbourne study found.

There was no overall increase in rates of surgery to remove breast tumors. The study appears in the International Journal of Epidemiology.

"Raising women's awareness of the need to get screened is generally a good thing," study leader Margaret Kelaher said in a prepared statement, CBC News reported. "But these findings suggest that thousands of additional imaging procedures and biopsies did not improve breast cancer detection among young women. It appears there has been a situation where publicity has led to many low-risk women using -- and probably overusing -- screening services."

Health Tips for June 6

Health Tip: Prevent Urinary Tract Infections in Women

A urinary tract infection may have symptoms including painful and frequent urination, cloudy urine, pressure in the lower belly and fever.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers these suggestions for women to help prevent these infections:

* Always urinate when you feel the urge. Don't wait too long.
* Always urinate before and after sex.
* After urinating, always wipe from front to back.
* Thoroughly clean the genitals every day.
* Avoid douching or using a feminine spray.
* Wear underwear with a cotton crotch.
* If you tend to get UTIs, talk to your doctor about what's causing them.

Health Tip: Painful Urination

Pain while urinating often indicates an infection -- usually in the urinary tract. However, it can also be caused by other conditions, and should always be diagnosed and treated by a doctor.

Here are possible causes of painful urination, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* A urinary tract infection (UTI).
* Gonorrhea or chlamydia, both of which can cause inflammation of the urethra.
* An inflamed prostate.
* Chronic inflammation of the wall of the bladder.
* Inflammation of the vagina.
* Inflammation of the vulva.

Health Headlines - June 5

FDA Data Notes Possible Link Between Suicidal Behavior and Epilepsy Drugs: Report

A group of 11 popular epilepsy drugs may be linked to suicidal behavior among users, according to an unpublished analysis from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cited by a Wall Street Journal reporter in the newspaper's online "Health Blog."

Clinical data that may spur the FDA to add warnings to the medicines' labels were summarized last week to scientists meeting in Phoenix and New York City, reporter Alicia Mundy wrote in Wednesday's blog entry.

Attendees at the New York City meeting told Mundy that the FDA appeared ready to lump the drugs together as a "class," she wrote.

Mundy's entry mentioned the Pfizer drugs Lyrica and Neurontin (now generically called gabapentin), Johnson & Johnson's Topamax, Abbott Labs' Depakote, and UBC's Keppra.

The reporter cited an email from an unspecified FDA spokeswoman, who said the agency "is working on finding the most appropriate ways to convey to the public the risks of suicidality that were seen in trials."

Experts advising the FDA on the drugs are set to meet early next month, Mundy wrote.

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Cigarette Decline Outpaces Marijuana Drop Among Teens

Cigarette use among high school students fell markedly in 2007 to 20 percent from 23 percent two years earlier, a new federal report shows. But marijuana use among these teens over the same span dropped only slightly, to 19.7 percent in 2007 from 20.2 percent in 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance report.

"Efforts to curb cigarette sales to teens have been wildly successful, and it's past time that we applied those lessons to marijuana," Aaron Houston, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) in Washington, D.C., said in a prepared statement.

A second analysis released this week, the 2007 Annual Synar Report on tobacco sales to youth, showed a decline in illegal tobacco sales to underage kids for the 10th straight year, the MPP statement said. In 2007, 10.5 percent of retailers violated laws against tobacco sales to minors, compared to 40.1 percent in 1997, the report found.

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Merck Won't Have to Monitor Uninjured Vioxx Users: Court

Merck & Co., maker of the now defunct painkiller Vioxx, won't have to monitor former users of the drug who aren't claiming injury, the New Jersey Supreme Court said Wednesday.

Ruling 5-1, the court dismissed a lawsuit brought by users of the painkiller, who said they didn't have current symptoms but were more prone to health problems for having used the drug, the Associated Press reported.

Late last year, Merck agreed to settle for $4.85 billion thousands of lawsuits alleging that users' cardiovascular problems were caused by Vioxx. The drug was withdrawn from the market in September 2004 after a company study found that Vioxx doubled users' risks of heart attack or stroke.

In its ruling on Wednesday, the New Jersey court said that since these users weren't claiming injury, they "cannot satisfy the definition of harm" in seeking to get Merck to pay for monitoring their conditions, the AP reported.

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Asian-Pacific Islanders at Greater Risk of Hospital Complications

People of Asian-Pacific Island ancestry are 16 percent more likely than whites to die from deadly complications acquired in U.S. hospitals, a new federal report finds.

The 12.5 million Asian-Pacific Islanders in the United States include native Hawaiians, Samoans, and people who trace their ancestry to nations including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and India.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality study cited possible reasons for the disparity in preventable complications, including Asians being treated at hospitals that provided lower-quality care, receiving inferior care compared with people in the same hospital, cultural or language barriers that affected quality of care, and being more vulnerable to complications than people of other origins.

The study found that Asian-Pacific Islanders having surgery were:

• 42 percent more likely to acquire a blood infection (sepsis).
• 35 percent more likely to develop kidney failure.
• 21 percent more likely to develop internal bleeding or a blood clot.
• 14 percent more likely to need a breathing ventilator.

The report analyzed race and ethnicity data from 23 states.

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Estrogen Cream Could Protect Men Against HIV

A once-a-week application of the female hormone estrogen to the penis may act as a "natural condom" that helps protect men against HIV infection, suggest Australian researchers.

They said an estrogen cream could quadruple the thin layer of the protein keratin on the skin, providing a natural defensive layer, Agence France-Presse reported.

"You create what you could call a natural condom. You create a biological membrane which (HIV) can't get through," Professor Roger Short, of the University of Melbourne, said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting System.

He said this method wouldn't protect against other types of sexually transmitted diseases and wouldn't prevent pregnancy, but could offer a safe and simple method of reducing HIV infection around the world, AFP reported.

Clinical trials are expected to be conducted in Africa. The research was outlined in the journal PLoS One.

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Scientists Block Sexual Development of Malaria Parasite

U.K. scientists have found a way to block the sexual development of the malaria parasite, a finding that could lead to the development of a drug that greatly reduces the spread of the disease.

The researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine identified an enzyme critical to the parasite's sex cycle and developed a way of halting it. The finding was published in the journal PLoS Biology.

"It acts as an inhibitor that stops the parasite from developing sexually," team leader David Baker told Agence France-Presse. "If we could develop a drug for patients, it would enable us to block malaria transmission from individual to individual," via the mosquitoes that carry the disease.

Such a drug may even have a curative effect, Baker said.

Each year, half a billion people worldwide are made severely ill by malaria, and more than a million die of the disease, AFP reported.

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Simple Infection Control Steps Reduce Student Absenteeism

Student absenteeism can be reduced through a few simple infection control measures such as daily disinfection of desktops and other often-touched surfaces, and having children use alcohol-based hand sanitizers before and after lunch, say Children's Hospital Boston researchers.

Their study of children in Avon, Ohio, found that these measures did not affect levels of respiratory illness in third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders, but did reduce absenteeism for gastrointestinal problems by 9 percent, United Press International reported.

The findings were published in the journal Pediatrics.

"The best ways to avoid common infections are cleaning your hands and preventing exposure to the germs that cause these illnesses," study leader Dr. Thomas Sandora, pediatric infectious diseases specialist, said in a prepared statement. "Our research indicates that elementary schools should consider a few simple infection control practices to help keep students healthier."

Health Tips for June 5

Health Tip: Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop on a woman's ovaries.

In some cases, they may be difficult to detect and pose no obvious warning signs. But they also may have noticeable symptoms, some of which are listed below, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

* Pain or pressure in the abdomen, or a feeling of fullness.
* Dull pain in the lower back and thighs.
* Difficulty urinating.
* Painful sexual intercourse.
* Unexplained weight gain.
* Soreness of the breasts, nausea or vomiting.
* Abnormal pain or bleeding during menstruation.

These symptoms should be checked by a doctor without delay. Seek immediate help if you have any of these symptoms.

* Pain with fever and vomiting.
* Sudden, severe abdominal pain.
* Faintness, dizziness or weakness.
* Unexplained rapid breathing.

Health Tip: Recovering From an Injury

When an injury forces you to take a break from sports or exercise, it's important to give your body enough time to heal. Returning too soon can lead to re-injury -- and even longer time away from the game.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions for your recovery:

* Have your injury treated and monitored by a doctor and/or physical therapist.
* Just after injury, use ice/heat therapy as prescribed. Treatment may also involve a brace or cast.
* If possible, continue overall body conditioning, but be careful not to aggravate your injury.
* Join a rehabilitation program to help your body recover.
* Keep a positive attitude.
* When you are able to practice without difficulty, and your doctor has determined that the likelihood of re-injury is low, you are ready to return to play.

Health Headlines - June 4

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Tomatoes

An outbreak of salmonella poisoning linked to uncooked tomatoes has sickened 40 people in Texas and New Mexico, and tomatoes are being investigated as the cause of 30 illnesses in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Kansas, Idaho, Illinois and Indiana, the Associated Press reported.

In Texas and New Mexico, at least 17 people have been hospitalized, but there have been no deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of the victims in those two states said they ate raw tomatoes from stores or restaurants before they became ill between April 23 and May 27.

Lab tests confirmed that the 40 illnesses in Texas and New Mexico were caused by the same type of salmonella. Another 17 cases in New Mexico are under investigation. No farm, distributor or grocery chain has been pinpointed as the main source of the contamination, the AP reported.

Salmonella bacteria are usually transmitted to humans when they eat food contaminated with animal feces. Symptoms include fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Most people recover without treatment, but salmonella infection can cause serious health problems or death in infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

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Group Wants Food Colorings Banned

Eight artificial food colorings may cause hyperactivity and behavior problems in some children and should be banned, the consumer advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest said in a petition presented Tuesday to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The group said studies conducted over three decades have shown that some artificial food dyes can affect children's behavior and noted the British government is pressuring food makers to switch to safer coloring, the Associated Press reported.

"The purpose of these chemicals is often to mask the absence of real food, to increase the appeal of a low-nutrition product to children, or both. Who can tell parents of kids with behavioral problems that this is truly worth the risk?" said Michael F. Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The group wants the following colorings banned: Yellow 5; Red 40; Blue 1; Green 3; Orange B; Red 3; and Yellow 6.

The FDA insists food colorings used in the United States have been thoroughly studied and are safe and do not cause childhood hyperactivity, the AP reported.

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Massachusetts' Insurance Program Making Progress

Massachusetts' program to introduce near-universal health coverage is achieving key goals, says a study released Tuesday. It found the rate of uninsured adults has declined from 13 percent to 7 percent and that residents are paying less in out-of-pocket health expenses.

In addition, low-income adults are more likely to have regular checkups and dental visits, the Associated Press reported.

As of July 2007, everyone in the state had to have health insurance or face penalties, except for people who received a waiver showing they couldn't afford insurance.

Last year, about 5 percent of taxpayers didn't obtain health coverage, and more than half of those (97,000) had to forfeit their personal exemption of $219 after it was determined they could have afforded insurance, the AP reported.

Another 62,000 taxpayers (2 percent) were found to be unable to afford health insurance and weren't fined.

The fact that 95 percent of taxpayers were insured shows the law is making progress, said Gov. Deval Patrick.

The study was conducted by researchers at the Washington, D.C.-based Urban Institute. They interviewed 3,000 state residents in the fall of 2006 before the law took effect and interviewed them again a year later. The study was published in the journal Health Affairs.

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Tobacco Sales to U.S. Minors Reach All-Time Low

In the past 11 years, there's been a dramatic decline in illegal sales of tobacco products to underage youth in the United States, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced Tuesday.

The national average of illegal tobacco sales to minors in fiscal year 2007 reached an all-time low of 10.5 percent, compared to 40.1 percent in 1997. Officials credit the decline to the Synar Amendment program, a federal-state partnership program aimed at ending illegal tobacco sales to minors which was introduced in 1997.

SAMHSA said nearly all states and the District of Columbia have achieved the major Synar program goal of having 20 percent or less of their tobacco product retailers selling tobacco products to minors. In 1997, only four states met that goal.

In 2007, more than half of the states had illegal retail sales of tobacco to minors of 10 percent or less. Mississippi had the lowest level of illegal sales of tobacco products to minors (3.2 percent), while Massachusetts had the highest (22.7 percent).

"Although underage use of tobacco remains a serious public health problem, the Synar program's continued success confirms that decreasing illegal tobacco sales to minors is an important component of state tobacco control efforts," Terry Cline, Ph.D., SAMHSA administrator, said in a prepared statement.

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Chronic Hay Fever Leads to Nasal Obstruction

People who suffer seasonal allergies over many years may experience a reduction in nasal passage airflow, say Italian researchers who studied 50 people with short-term allergic rhinitis (two years or less) and 50 others with long-term (six years or more) allergic rhinitis.

Seventy-two percent of those with long-term rhinitis had severe nasal obstruction, which meant their nasal airflow was reduced so much that it interfered with daily activities or sleep, CBC News reported. This reduced airflow, which took an average of nine years to develop, is believed to be due to a chronic state of inflammation, the researchers said.

"There was a slight inverse correlation between rhinitis duration and nasal airflow, and disease duration was significantly lower in patients with moderate obstruction with respect to patients with severe obstruction," the researchers wrote. "Nasal airflow was, furthermore, significantly lower in patients with severe obstruction with respect to patients with moderate obstruction."

The study was published in the June issue of the journal Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery.

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Grape Juice May Protect Against Memory Decline

Drinking Concord grape juice may help protect against age-related memory problems, suggests a University of Cincinnati pilot study.

It included 12 adults with early memory decline who drank 15 to 21 ounces of grape juice or a placebo daily for 12 weeks, United Press International reported.

Both beverages were equal in calorie and sugar content, but only the grape juice had natural polyphenolic compounds that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, noted study author Robert Krikorian.

The people who drank the grape juice showed significant improvements in their ability to learn lists and showed signs of improved short-term retention and spatial memory, UPI reported.

The findings were presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American Aging Association, held May 30 to June 2 in Boulder, Colo.

Health Tips for June 4

Health Tip: Symptoms of Computer Strain

Frequent computer use -- especially when it involves poor posture or keystroke repetition -- can damage nerves, muscles, tendons or ligaments.

Here are common symptoms of computer-related injury, courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

* Numbness of the fingers.
* Pain or soreness in the lower back, neck, shoulders or wrists.
* Headache.
* Dryness, redness and soreness of the eyes, or blurred vision.

Health Tip: Good Shoes Can Prevent Falls

The shoes you wear can play a big part in how steady you are on your feet, which is a big concern for many seniors.

Here are guidelines for choosing safe shoes, and other ways to help reduce the risk of falls, courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

* Make sure your shoes fit correctly. Always measure your feet before you buy new footwear.
* Choose shoes that are comfortable and sturdy, avoiding those with very thick soles or high heels.
* Look for shoes with soles that won't skid or slip.
* Keep laces tied tightly all the times. If you have trouble tying laces, look for shoes with Velcro.
* Always wear well-fitted, non-skid slippers at home. Throw away slippers that have become too stretched. Avoid walking barefoot or in your socks.
* Don't let your toenails get too long.

Health Headlines - June 3

Bottling Up Feelings May Help Some in Trauma Recovery

For some people, bottling up feelings about traumatic events may be better than letting it all out, suggests a University at Buffalo study that compared the progress of 3,000 people who used different approaches in the two years after the 9/11 attacks.

The participants -- none of whom lost a loved one or friend in the terrorist attacks -- completed online surveys in the days immediately after 9/11 and over the next two years. After that time, those who kept their feelings to themselves appeared to be in better psychological condition than those who talked about their feelings, BBC News reported.

"We should be telling people there is likely nothing wrong if they do not want to express their thoughts and feelings after experiencing a collective trauma. In fact, they can cope quite successfully and, according to our results, are likely to be better off than someone who does want to express his or her feelings," said study leader Dr. Mark Seery.

The study appears in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

It's important not to generalize about the "right" approach for all patients, Professor Stephen Joseph, a U.K. specialist in post-disaster trauma, told BBC News. He noted that other studies have found that talking about traumatic experiences in combination with counseling was the correct path to recovery for many people.

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Abbott Recalls Infant Formula

Abbott has announced an international recall of certain lots of infant formula because air may have entered the cans, resulting in oxidation. Consumption of highly oxidized foods can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

The recall covers two lots of Calcilo XD Low-Calcium/Vitamin D-Free Infant Formula with Iron powder in 14.1-ounce (400g) cans. The cans have stock number 00378 and lot numbers 39973RB or 47239RB6 printed on the bottom.

The lots were distributed in the United States, Canada, Malaysia, Korea and Bahrain between June 6, 2006 and April 17, 2008. No other Calcilo XD powdered infant formulas are affected, the FDA said.

Consumers who bough the recalled formula should contact Abbott Nutrition at 1-800-638-6493.

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Paralyzed Man Makes Virtual Character Walk

Using only his brain waves, a paralyzed man was able to manipulate a virtual Internet character to walk on the popular Second Life Web site.

Researchers at Keio University in Japan called it a world first and said this kind of activity could help motivate patients with severe paralysis, who are often too depressed to undergo rehabilitation therapy, Agence France-Presse reported.

The 41-year-old man has suffered paralysis for more than 30 years and can barely bend his fingers, making it impossible for him to use a mouse or keyboard.

For this study, he wore a head device with three electrodes that monitored brain waves related to his hands and legs. Using his thoughts, he was able to make his virtual character walk and had a conversation with another character using an attached microphone, AFP reported.

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Fetal Screenings Have Major Limitations: Study

Current fetal screening tests detect only about half of potential chromosomal abnormalities, and women need to be given more information about test limitations and risks such as miscarriage, say Italian researchers.

They analyzed the findings of more than 100,000 prenatal diagnoses that involved invasive tests such as amniocentesis (in which a needle is used to take a sample of fluid from the womb) and found the tests identified only half of chromosomal abnormalities, BBC News reported.

The study was presented at a European Society of Human Genetics conference in Barcelona, Spain.

Researcher Dr. Francesca Grati, of the TOMA Laboratory in Busto Arsizio, said it's "fundamental" that doctors inform patients about the limitations of current fetal screening methods and potential risks so that patients can make an informed choice. For example, about one in 100 women who have amniocentesis will suffer a miscarriage.

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Millions of HIV/AIDS Patients Don't Have Access to Drugs

Only 31 percent of people with HIV/AIDs in low- and middle-income countries had access to antiretroviral drugs in 2007, which means that millions aren't receiving the potentially lifesaving treatment, says a new report from the World Health Organization, UNAIDS and UNICEF.

In 2007, about 950,000 more people received antiretroviral therapy (ART) than in 2006, but the agencies said they're two years behind their target. They aimed to have three million people on ART by the end of 2005, but, by the end of 2007, they were just short of that goal. That means that about 6.7 million people aren't receiving ART, BBC News reported.

There was significant progress made in certain areas. For example, the number of HIV-infected pregnant women who received ART increased from 350,000 in 2006 to 500,000 in 2007. The treatment prevents the women from passing HIV to their children.

There also were significant improvements in the availability of HIV testing and counseling services, and male circumcision (which reduces the risk of HIV transmission during sex) is now more effectively promoted in regions of sub-Saharan Africa heavily affected by HIV/AIDS, BBC News reported.

At the end of 2007, about 33.2 million people worldwide were living with HIV, including 2.5 million who were newly infected that year, said the WHO document.

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Laparoscopic Prostate Surgery Not Always Best Choice: Report

Minimally invasive surgery on prostate cancer patients has mixed results, a new study suggests.

The New York Times reports that a study examining the results of laparoscopic prostate cancer surgery on a sample of 2,702 patients who had undergone the procedure to remove a malignant prostate gland found that there was a 27 percent lower risk of complications immediately after surgery and a shorter hospital stay by an average of almost three days.

But the Times adds, the study also found that laparoscopy patients had a 40 percent greater chance of scarring, which could require additional surgery. And more than 25 percent of the patients also needed hormonal drug treatment within six months, more than double those who had conventional surgery.

The study was published in the May 10 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Health Tips for June 3

Health Tip: Don't Get Burned by Hot Water

Almost 2 million people in the United States are treated for burns every year, and about 112,000 of these burns are involve scalding water.

According to the Safe Kids Coalition, about 37,000 of burn victims are 14 or younger, and about 18,000 are age 5 or younger.

About half of hot water burns occur because parents put children in water that is too hot.

The National Ag Safety Database says parents can protect their children by turning the home water heater down to 120 degrees. And always test bath water before putting a child in it. If the water feels hot to you, it could easily burn a child.

You can also safeguard your child by putting him in the bath with his back to the faucet, so he can't turn the water on. Also try knob covers for the bathroom tub.

Health Tip: Keep a Meal Schedule

Not only do many diabetics need to monitor what they eat, they need to pay attention to what time they eat it.

The American Diabetes Association says it's important to keep a regular schedule for meals. It offers the following suggestions:

* Schedule dinner get-togethers at your normal meal time.
* Choose locations and times when you won't have to wait too long to eat.
* When possible, make a reservation.
* Avoid dishes that take an unusually long time to prepare.
* If you know that your meal will be much later than usual, have your bedtime snack at your usual mealtime, then eat a later dinner. Talk to your doctor about how to adjust your insulin when you do this.

Health Headlines - June 2

Laparoscopic Prostate Cancer Surgery Not Always Best Choice, Report Says

Minimally invasive surgery on prostate cancer patients has mixed results, a new study suggests.

The New York Times reports that a study examining the results of laparoscopic prostate cancer surgery on a sample of 2,702 patients who had undergone the procedure to remove a malignant prostate gland found that there was a 27 percent lower risk of complications immediately after surgery and a shorter hospital stay by an average of almost three days.

But the Times adds, the study also found that laparoscopy patients had a 40 percent greater chance of scarring, which could require additional surgery. And more than 25 percent of the patients also needed hormonal drug treatment within six months, more than double those who had conventional surgery.

The study was published May 10, 2008 in The Journal of Clinical Oncology,

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Baltimore Adopts First-Ever Limit on Single Cigar Sales

Move over, cigarettes. Make room for limitations on cigar sales... at least in Baltimore.

According to the Baltimore Sun, the city council has adopted a proposal that would make Baltimore, Md. the first city in the United States to limit sales of small, individual cigars known as "blunts" or "loosies" in neighborhood stores.

The law is specifically aimed at teenagers influenced by popular hip-hop singers, the Sun reports, and each cigar contains much more nicotine than a cigarette. In addition to packing more of a nicotine wallop, the newspaper says, the cigars are artificially sweetened, adding to their appeal to adolescents.

The sale limitation could be implemented by the city's health department within days, the Sun reported, and would prohibit selling the cigars individually, at about 50 cents each. Because the cigars would have to be sold in minimum packs of five, city officials theorize the increased cost could reduce the number of teenagers smoking cigars.

Cigars don't fall under U.S. government regulations against selling cigarettes to minors, the newspaper reports, and this may have led to a 2007 study by Johns Hopkins University researchers that found nearly 24 percent of Baltimore residents between 18 and 25-years-old had smoked a small cigar within the past 30 days.

While scientific studies on the impact of long-term cigar smoking aren't as comprehensive as those that looked at cigarette smoking, the U.S. government's National cancer Institute says that research "has shown that cancers of the oral cavity (lip, tongue, mouth, and throat), larynx, lung, and esophagus are associated with cigar smoking."

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Indian 'Laugh-In' Has its Serious, Scientific Side

Once again, an attempt is being made to find out if laughter is indeed the best medicine.

The Washington Post reports that participants in the International Laughter Yoga Conference in India are using as many different types of laughter as their collective imagination can create to replicate findings from 2006 that showed the cardio-pulmonary system was positively affected from a good laugh.

The idea, the Post says, is for the laughers to create enough energy to release endorphins -- hormones that elevate the mood and are often released from rigorous exercise.

In the 2006 study, published in the journal Heart, researchers at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore collected a total of 160 measurements of brachial artery flow from the participants a minute before and after phases of laughter or sadness. The brachial artery, which runs from the shoulder to the elbow, is a good indicator of blood flow throughout the body.

According to the researchers, brachial blood flow was reduced in 14 of the 20 participants after they watched segments from the sad movies. Blood flow was increased in 19 of the 20 participants after they watched clips from comedy movies.

Now, those promoting mirth at the Indian yoga conference are attempting to add to the original research.

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FDA Panel Recommends Drug for Rare Blood Disorder

Despite reservations by U.S. Food and Drug Administration scientists, a panel of experts advising the agency has recommended the full agency's approval of a drug to treat a rare immune system disorder that causes the body to destroy its own blood platelets.

The advisory panel voted unanimously Friday to recommend Promacta, produced by GlaxoSmithKline and Ligand Pharmaceuticals, the Associated Press reported. Earlier in the week, FDA scientists released data that they suggested found that Promacta was no better than a placebo in treating chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Some 60,000 people in the United States have the disorder, which leads to excessive bleeding and bruising.

While noting that the drug makers haven't provided long-term data on the drug's safety and effectiveness, the panel said a pair of six-week studies indicated Promacta was of significant benefit to people with the disorder, the AP reported.

The FDA has until June 19 to decide whether to approve the drug. While it isn't bound by the recommendations of its expert panels, it typically follows them.

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Facial Features Affect Perception of Mood

A person's facial expressions and mood can be misperceived due to differences in facial features such as eyebrow shape, eyelid position and wrinkles, according to a U.S. study.

It included 20 health care workers who viewed photos that were digitally altered to change a number of features. The participants were asked to rate, on a scale of 0 to 5, seven expressions or emotions conveyed in the photos: tiredness, happiness, surprise, anger, disgust, fear and sadness, United Press International reported.

Results for the altered photos were compared to the scores from the original photos. Overall, eyebrow shape was deemed to be the greatest indicator of mood, drooping of the eyelids was considered the biggest indicator of tiredness, and raising the lower eyelid and the presence of crow's feet were associated with happiness.

The study appears in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

"A key complaint of those seeking facial plastic surgery is that people always tell them they look tired, even when they do not feel tired," study co-author Dr. John Persing said in a prepared statement cited by UPI. "We found that variations in eyebrow contour, drooping of the upper eyelid, and wrinkles may be conveying facial expressions that don't necessarily match how patients are feeling."

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Recalled Toy Helicopters Pose Fire, Burn Hazards

About 152,000 Sky Champion wireless indoor helicopters are being recalled because the rechargeable battery inside the toy can ignite and pose fire or burn hazards to consumers, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. There have been two reports of the Chinese-made toy helicopters catching fire but no reports of injuries or property damage, according to importer/distributor Tradewinds International Enterprises Inc. (TWIE), of San Francisco, Calif.

The recalled helicopters have the code BH26047 printed on the tail. The code WIC 551777 and the UPC code 630990006005 are printed on the packaging. The toys were sold at Walgreens stores across the United States from June 2007 through November 2007 for about $20.

Consumers should stop using the toys and contact TWIE at 888-583-4908 for a refund. Walgreens will not accept returns or provide refunds, the CPSC said.

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Most Children's Caregivers Ignorant About Household Poisons

Less than one-third of people who cared for children younger than age six knew the toxicity of common household products, a new U.S. study found.

"Young children are at risk of household chemical ingestion and their caretakers often do not have a good understanding of how toxic those chemical are. Parental education needs to be focused more on younger caretakers with more children," study leader Dr. Rika N. O'Malley, of the Albert Einstein Medical Center, said in a prepared statement.

The researchers screened primary caregivers who visited emergency departments, asking them to identify toxic items from a list of common household products. People with a higher level of education, responsibility for fewer children, and those more than 23 years old were more likely to have knowledge of household poisons.

The study was presented Friday at a meeting of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

The researchers said doctors needed to boost efforts to educate primary caregivers about the risks of household toxins.

Health Tips for June 2

Health Tip: Taming a Sweet Tooth

Dieting doesn't mean that you have to completely give up desserts. It just means that you should opt for healthier alternatives.

The American Diabetes Association offers these dessert options when you're dieting or trying to watch your sugar and fat intake:

* Try fresh or dried fruits to soothe your sweet tooth.
* Have only a small portion of one of your favorite desserts.
* When ordering at a restaurant, choose a dessert to share with the people accompanying you.
* When baking, reduce the amount of fat and sugar you use in your recipes.
* Choose low-fat and low-sugar alternatives to your favorite desserts.

Health Tip: Pack a Healthier Lunch

Packing a lunch made at home may seem like a good way to save money and calories, but even homemade sandwiches can contribute to a bulging waistline.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to limit calories when making sandwiches:

* Choose low-fat or fat-free lunch meats and cheeses, or stick to lean meats such as chicken or turkey. Try using veggie patties or veggie hot dogs.
* Make a sandwich or a pita stuffed with fresh vegetables, low-fat cheese, and a fat-free condiment such as mustard.
* Try using all-natural or reduced-fat peanut butter.
* Instead of chips, pack carrot sticks, celery or other crunchy veggies to go with your sandwich.
* Use low-fat or fat-free mayonnaise when making chicken or tuna salad sandwiches.

Health Headlines - June 1

Baltimore Adopts First-Ever Limit on Single Cigar Sales

Move over, cigarettes. Make room for limitations on cigar sales... at least in Baltimore.

According to the Baltimore Sun, the city council has adopted a proposal that would make Baltimore, Md. the first city in the United States to limit sales of small, individual cigars known as "blunts" or "loosies" in neighborhood stores.

The law is specifically aimed at teenagers influenced by popular hip-hop singers, the Sun reports, and each cigar contains much more nicotine than a cigarette. In addition to packing more of a nicotine wallop, the newspaper says, the cigars are artificially sweetened, adding to their appeal to adolescents.

The sale limitation could be implemented by the city's health department within days, the Sun reported, and would prohibit selling the cigars individually, at about 50 cents each. Because the cigars would have to be sold in minimum packs of five, city officials theorize the increased cost could reduce the number of teenagers smoking cigars.

Cigars don't fall under U.S. government regulations against selling cigarettes to minors, the newspaper reports, and this may have led to a 2007 study by Johns Hopkins University researchers that found nearly 24 percent of Baltimore residents between 18 and 25-years-old had smoked a small cigar within the past 30 days.

While scientific studies on the impact of long-term cigar smoking aren't as comprehensive as those that looked at cigarette smoking, the U.S. government's National cancer Institute says that research "has shown that cancers of the oral cavity (lip, tongue, mouth, and throat), larynx, lung, and esophagus are associated with cigar smoking."

-----

Indian 'Laugh-In' Has its Serious, Scientific Side

Once again, an attempt is being made to find out if laughter is indeed the best medicine.

The Washington Post reports that participants in the International Laughter Yoga Conference in India are using as many different types of laughter as their collective imagination can create to replicate findings from 2006 that showed the cardio-pulmonary system was positively affected from a good laugh.

The idea, the Post says, is for the laughers to create enough energy to release endorphins -- hormones that elevate the mood and are often released from rigorous exercise.

In the 2006 study, published in the journal Heart, researchers at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore collected a total of 160 measurements of brachial artery flow from the participants a minute before and after phases of laughter or sadness. The brachial artery, which runs from the shoulder to the elbow, is a good indicator of blood flow throughout the body.

According to the researchers, brachial blood flow was reduced in 14 of the 20 participants after they watched segments from the sad movies. Blood flow was increased in 19 of the 20 participants after they watched clips from comedy movies.

Now, those promoting mirth at the Indian yoga conference are attempting to add to the original research.

-----

FDA Panel Recommends Drug for Rare Blood Disorder

Despite reservations by U.S. Food and Drug Administration scientists, a panel of experts advising the agency has recommended the full agency's approval of a drug to treat a rare immune system disorder that causes the body to destroy its own blood platelets.

The advisory panel voted unanimously Friday to recommend Promacta, produced by GlaxoSmithKline and Ligand Pharmaceuticals, the Associated Press reported. Earlier in the week, FDA scientists released data that they suggested found that Promacta was no better than a placebo in treating chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Some 60,000 people in the United States have the disorder, which leads to excessive bleeding and bruising.

While noting that the drug makers haven't provided long-term data on the drug's safety and effectiveness, the panel said a pair of six-week studies indicated Promacta was of significant benefit to people with the disorder, the AP reported.

The FDA has until June 19 to decide whether to approve the drug. While it isn't bound by the recommendations of its expert panels, it typically follows them.

-----

Facial Features Affect Perception of Mood

A person's facial expressions and mood can be misperceived due to differences in facial features such as eyebrow shape, eyelid position and wrinkles, according to a U.S. study.

It included 20 health care workers who viewed photos that were digitally altered to change a number of features. The participants were asked to rate, on a scale of 0 to 5, seven expressions or emotions conveyed in the photos: tiredness, happiness, surprise, anger, disgust, fear and sadness, United Press International reported.

Results for the altered photos were compared to the scores from the original photos. Overall, eyebrow shape was deemed to be the greatest indicator of mood, drooping of the eyelids was considered the biggest indicator of tiredness, and raising the lower eyelid and the presence of crow's feet were associated with happiness.

The study appears in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

"A key complaint of those seeking facial plastic surgery is that people always tell them they look tired, even when they do not feel tired," study co-author Dr. John Persing said in a prepared statement cited by UPI. "We found that variations in eyebrow contour, drooping of the upper eyelid, and wrinkles may be conveying facial expressions that don't necessarily match how patients are feeling."

-----

Recalled Toy Helicopters Pose Fire, Burn Hazards

About 152,000 Sky Champion wireless indoor helicopters are being recalled because the rechargeable battery inside the toy can ignite and pose fire or burn hazards to consumers, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. There have been two reports of the Chinese-made toy helicopters catching fire but no reports of injuries or property damage, according to importer/distributor Tradewinds International Enterprises Inc. (TWIE), of San Francisco, Calif.

The recalled helicopters have the code BH26047 printed on the tail. The code WIC 551777 and the UPC code 630990006005 are printed on the packaging. The toys were sold at Walgreens stores across the United States from June 2007 through November 2007 for about $20.

Consumers should stop using the toys and contact TWIE at 888-583-4908 for a refund. Walgreens will not accept returns or provide refunds, the CPSC said.

-----

Most Children's Caregivers Ignorant About Household Poisons

Less than one-third of people who cared for children younger than age six knew the toxicity of common household products, a new U.S. study found.

"Young children are at risk of household chemical ingestion and their caretakers often do not have a good understanding of how toxic those chemical are. Parental education needs to be focused more on younger caretakers with more children," study leader Dr. Rika N. O'Malley, of the Albert Einstein Medical Center, said in a prepared statement.

The researchers screened primary caregivers who visited emergency departments, asking them to identify toxic items from a list of common household products. People with a higher level of education, responsibility for fewer children, and those more than 23 years old were more likely to have knowledge of household poisons.

The study was presented Friday at a meeting of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

The researchers said doctors needed to boost efforts to educate primary caregivers about the risks of household toxins.

Health Tips for June 1

Health Tip: Having High Blood Pressure

Having high blood pressure puts you at higher-than-normal risk of heart disease and stroke, among other medical problems.

Here are risk factors that may make you more likely to develop high blood pressure, courtesy of the American Heart Association:

* Being significantly overweight or obese.
* Eating a diet that's too high in sodium (salt).
* Drinking alcohol to excess, or too frequently.
* Getting insufficient exercise.
* Feeling too much stress or anxiety.
* Having a family history of high blood pressure.
* Being African-American.
* Being age 35 or older.

Health Tip: Low-Sodium Meals

Sodium (salt) is a contributing factor to high blood pressure, and too much in one's diet can be dangerous, especially for those with heart disease.

Here are suggestions on how to prepare meals with less sodium, courtesy of the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute:

* Avoid adding extra salt to your food when you eat it.
* Reduce the amount of salt that you use when you cook. Use fresh herbs instead.
* Don't salt the water used to boil rice or pasta.
* Avoid using packets of sauce or seasoning. They are usually high in sodium.
* Use fresh foods and ingredients when you can. Prepackaged or processed foods often contain a lot of sodium.