Health Headlines - May 31

Scientists Turn Skin Cells Into Stem Cells

Scientists who found a safe way to transform skin cells into stem cells say their achievement is an important step forward in making grow-in-a-dish transplant tissue available to patients.

The researchers used four introduced genes to reprogram skin cells to become indistinguishable from stem cells, Agence France Presse reported. The results, published online in the journal Cell Stem Cell, are so promising that the scientists hope to begin clinical trials by the middle of 2010.

"This is the first safe method of generating patient-specific stem cells," study author Robert Lanza, chief scientific officer at Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine International, told AFP. "This technology will soon allow us to expand the range of possible stem cell therapies for the entire human body."

He added that this method "allows us to generate the raw material to solve the problem of rejection (by the immune system) so this is really going to accelerate the field of regenerative medicine."

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Malaria Showing Signs of Drug Resistance

There's evidence that malaria in some parts of Cambodia is becoming resistant to front-line artemesinin drugs, a situation that needs to be contained because full-blown resistance would pose a serious worldwide health crisis, scientists warn.

Until now, these drugs cleared all the malaria parasites from a patient's blood within two or three days. But two teams of scientists conducting research in western Cambodia have found this process can now take four or five days, BBC News reported.

It's not clear why this resistance appears to be developing in this region of Cambodia, but the use of anti-malaria drugs isn't properly controlled and the local public health system is weak. Currently, malaria kills about a million people a year. About half the world's population faces exposure to malaria, BBC News reported.

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Deadly New Virus Identified in Africa

A deadly new hemorrhagic virus has been identified in Africa after it infected five people, killing four of them. The so-called "Lujo" virus causes bleeding like the Ebola virus.

The outbreak of the new virus began last September when a women in Zambia became ill with a fever-like illness that quickly became much more serious. She was taken to a hospital in South Africa, where she died, the Associated Press reported.

A paramedic who treated the woman and three health-care workers also became infected and three of them died. It's believed the virus spreads from person to person through contact with infected body fluids, investigators said.

"This (virus) is really, really aggressive," Dr. Ian Lipkin, a Columbia University epidemiologist involved in the discovery of the new virus, told the AP. He and his colleagues reported on the virus in a paper published online in the journal PLoS Pathogens.

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Genes Main Cause of Premature Ejaculation: Study

Genes, not nerves, are the main cause of premature ejaculation, according to a Finnish study that included more than 3,000 men.

The men, all pairs of male twins and their younger or older brothers, were interviewed about the first time they had sex. Many of them said they experienced erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, United Press International reported.

The researchers concluded that premature ejaculation appears to be strongly associated with genetic factors, but not with external factors such as nervousness or intoxication. However, external factors can cause erectile dysfunction.

The study was published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy.

Health Tips for May 31

Health Tip: Eating Out With a Diabetic Child

It's easy to monitor what your diabetic child eats at home when you're the one preparing the meals. But it gets trickier when the family eats at a restaurant.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions for dining out with a diabetic child:

• Ask questions about what's in a particular menu item, and how it's cooked.
• Ask for healthier substitutions. For example, swap out fries for a salad or vegetable.
• Look for dishes that are grilled, steamed, broiled or baked instead of fried.
• Skip high-fat salad dressings, sauces and gravies.
• Split a large dish with your child to limit portion size, or box up half and take it home.
• Teach your child how to make healthy decisions by involving the child in the ordering process.

Health Tip: Help Your Child Cope With Diabetes

Diabetes will change a child's life, and the lives of close family members.

The American Diabetes Association offers these suggestions to help your child cope with his or her condition:

• Learn as much as you can about diabetes -- together.
• Encourage your child to disclose the condition to family members and close friends, whenever the time feels right.
• Promote your child's participation in managing his or her own diabetes care.
• Have your child speak with other children who have diabetes.
• Talk together about what emotions your child is dealing with. Allow both positive and negative comments, but assure your child that everything will be OK.
• Don't let diabetes take over your child's life. Encourage participation in sports, hobbies and other activities.
• Acknowledge that habits and behaviors may change over the years to better manage diabetes.
• Help your child learn how to deal with stress.

Health Headlines - May 30

Scientists Turn Skin Cells Into Stem Cells

Scientists who found a safe way to transform skin cells into stem cells say their achievement is an important step forward in making grow-in-a-dish transplant tissue available to patients.

The researchers used four introduced genes to reprogram skin cells to become indistinguishable from stem cells, Agence France Presse reported. The results, published online in the journal Cell Stem Cell, are so promising that the scientists hope to begin clinical trials by the middle of 2010.

"This is the first safe method of generating patient-specific stem cells," study author Robert Lanza, chief scientific officer at Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine International, told AFP. "This technology will soon allow us to expand the range of possible stem cell therapies for the entire human body."

He added that this method "allows us to generate the raw material to solve the problem of rejection (by the immune system) so this is really going to accelerate the field of regenerative medicine."

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Malaria Showing Signs of Drug Resistance

There's evidence that malaria in some parts of Cambodia is becoming resistant to front-line artemesinin drugs, a situation that needs to be contained because full-blown resistance would pose a serious worldwide health crisis, scientists warn.

Until now, these drugs cleared all the malaria parasites from a patient's blood within two or three days. But two teams of scientists conducting research in western Cambodia have found this process can now take four or five days, BBC News reported.

It's not clear why this resistance appears to be developing in this region of Cambodia, but the use of anti-malaria drugs isn't properly controlled and the local public health system is weak. Currently, malaria kills about a million people a year. About half the world's population faces exposure to malaria, BBC News reported.

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Deadly New Virus Identified in Africa

A deadly new hemorrhagic virus has been identified in Africa after it infected five people, killing four of them. The so-called "Lujo" virus causes bleeding like the Ebola virus.

The outbreak of the new virus began last September when a women in Zambia became ill with a fever-like illness that quickly became much more serious. She was taken to a hospital in South Africa, where she died, the Associated Press reported.

A paramedic who treated the woman and three health-care workers also became infected and three of them died. It's believed the virus spreads from person to person through contact with infected body fluids, investigators said.

"This (virus) is really, really aggressive," Dr. Ian Lipkin, a Columbia University epidemiologist involved in the discovery of the new virus, told the AP. He and his colleagues reported on the virus in a paper published online in the journal PLoS Pathogens.

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Genes Main Cause of Premature Ejaculation: Study

Genes, not nerves, are the main cause of premature ejaculation, according to a Finnish study that included more than 3,000 men.

The men, all pairs of male twins and their younger or older brothers, were interviewed about the first time they had sex. Many of them said they experienced erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, United Press International reported.

The researchers concluded that premature ejaculation appears to be strongly associated with genetic factors, but not with external factors such as nervousness or intoxication. However, external factors can cause erectile dysfunction.

The study was published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy.

Health Tips for May 30

Health Tip: How a Caregiver Can Help

If a loved one has become ill and needs your help, you may be overwhelmed by the responsibilities that now become yours.

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension offers this list of common tasks that caregivers can help with:

• Personal care activities including bathing and getting dressed.
• House cleaning and laundry.
• Cooking and preparing meals.
• Taking care of financial responsibilities.
• Scheduling and transporting the person to medical appointments.
• Taking care of grocery shopping and errands.
• Administering medications, shots or other treatments.
• Changing tubes or dressings.
• Keeping other loved ones updated on the patient's condition.

Health Tip: Helping a Loved One Heal

When a loved one is recovering from a major illness, he or she may need a lot of help and support.

The American Heart Association offers these suggestions:

• Offer plenty of support and encouragement, and look for support groups for both of you to join.
• Go along for doctor appointments. Ask questions and take notes, in case there are questions later.
• Give an honest report to the doctor about how your loved one is feeling, and how well he or she is following instructions.
• Help track and record information, such as when and how to take medicines, which foods to avoid, and which forms of exercise are safe.
• Offer to make healthy changes together. If your loved has to stop smoking, start exercising or change diet, make the same changes yourself.

Health Headlines - May 29

Illinois Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Bill

A bill to allow Illinois residents to use medical marijuana if they have serious diseases such as AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis was passed by the Illinois Senate in a 30-28 vote, the Associated Press reported.

The Illinois House will now consider the bill. Earlier this year, a House committee passed a medical marijuana measure.

If the bill is eventually signed into law, Illinois would become the 14th state to have such measures in place, Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, told the AP.

Opponents say that legalizing medical marijuana would make it difficult for police to enforce other marijuana laws and would be a move toward general legalization of the drug.

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Wisconsin County Eliminates Black Infant Mortality Gap: CDC

The elimination of a large disparity in black and white infant deaths in a Wisconsin county suggests that this type of achievement is possible across the United States, a new U.S. report concludes.

Between 2002 and 2007, the death rate among black infants in Dane County decreased by 67 percent, resulting in the elimination of the 3:1 black-white infant mortality gap that existed for all of the 1990s in the county, according to the study, published Thursday in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The researchers noted that a disparity in black and white infant death rates exists in most, if not all, of the United States.

The large reduction in black infant deaths in Dane County was due to a sharp decline in the number of premature births and fetal deaths that occur during the sixth and seventh month of pregnancy, the study said.

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Insured Americans Pay to Cover Uninsured: Report

Americans with health insurance pay a substantial "hidden health tax" that covers health care for those without insurance, according to a report released Thursday by the advocacy group Families USA.

Each year, the average family with health insurance pays out an extra $1,000 a year and the average person with private coverage forks out an extra $370 in premiums to pay for health care for the uninsured, the Associated Press reported.

In 2008, uninsured people received $116 billion in health care from doctors, hospitals and other providers, Families USA said. About 37 percent of that amount was paid for by uninsured patients, and another 26 percent was paid for by government programs and charities. The remainder, about $43 billion, was covered by private insurance premiums paid by individuals and businesses.

"As more people join the ranks of the uninsured, the hidden health tax is growing," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, the AP reported. "That tax hits America's businesses and insured families hard in the pocketbook, and they therefore have a clear financial stake in expanding health care coverage."

The findings support the group's push to extend coverage to all 50 million uninsured Americans.

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Group Seeks Broader Coverage of Substance Abuse Treatments

In 2005, $468 billion was spent to deal with smoking and drug and alcohol abuse in the United States -- an amount that represents more than 10 percent of combined federal, state and local spending for all purposes, says a study released Thursday by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

Most of that spending was for direct health care costs for conditions caused by smoking and drug and alcohol abuse, or for law enforcement. Just over 2 percent of the $468 billion was spent on prevention, treatment and addiction research, The New York Times reported.

The lack of spending on prevention is a "stunning misallocation of resources," said Joseph A. Califano Jr., chairman of the Columbia University-based center. "It's a commentary on the stigma attached to addictions and the failure of governments to make investments in the short run that would pay enormous dividends to taxpayers over time."

The group said efforts focused on prevention of addictions and substance abuse reduce related medical and criminal costs, as well as expensive social problems such as homelessness, domestic violence and child abuse, The Times reported.

Califano and colleagues called for federal legislation to require health insurers to provide broader coverage of substance abuse treatment.

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Poorer Hospitalized More Often for Preventable Conditions: Report

In 2006, hospital admissions for asthma and diabetes were 87 percent and 77 percent higher, respectively, for the poorest Americans than for wealthier people, according to a federal government report.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality said that, compared to people from wealthier communities, those from the poorest areas had higher hospitalization rates for other potentially preventable conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (69 percent), congestive heart failure (51 percent), skin infections (49 percent), and dehydration (38 percent).

Patients from the poorest communities were also more likely to be hospitalized for severe blood infections, stroke and depression, said the AHRQ's latest News and Numbers.

The report also said hospitalized patients from the poorest areas were 80 percent more likely to receive hemodialysis for kidney failure, and were more likely to undergo procedures often done on an outpatient basis, such as eye and ear procedures (81 percent more likely).

Health Tips for May 29

Health Tip: Alleviate Caregiver Stress

When you're a caregiver, you have a lot of responsibilities in managing someone else's health and personal matters. But it's very important not to neglect your own well being.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help prevent caregiver stress:

• Accept that you can't do everything.
• Stay organized in your personal life. Set schedules to take care of your personal priorities and responsibilities.
• Don't neglect your health. Get regular medical checkups.
• Make sure you get enough sleep and regular exercise.
• Eat healthy, and don't load up on junk food.
• Give yourself a break. Call on friends and family members who are willing to help when needed.

Health Tip: Lifting Safety for Caregivers

If you are caring for an ill or injured loved one, you could be at risk for serious injury yourself if your daily routine includes a lot of heavy lifting.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions for caregivers to help prevent injury:

When lifting a person or heavy object:

• Keep your head and neck in line with your spine.
• Don't force your spine into awkward positions, and avoid bending at the waist.
• Don't twist yourself when lifting or carrying.
• Hold the loved one or object close to your body.
• Don't stand with your feet too close together. Keep them about the width of your shoulders apart.
• Lift with your legs, not your back.
• If the person or object is too heavy to lift, ask someone else for help.

Health Headlines - May 28

Poorer Hospitalized More Often for Preventable Conditions: Report

In 2006, hospital admissions for asthma and diabetes were 87 percent and 77 percent higher, respectively, for the poorest Americans than for wealthier people, according to a federal government report released Wednesday.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality said that, compared to people from wealthier communities, those from the poorest areas had higher hospitalization rates for other potentially preventable conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (69 percent), congestive heart failure (51 percent), skin infections (49 percent), and dehydration (38 percent).

Patients from the poorest communities were also more likely to be hospitalized for severe blood infections, stroke and depression, said the AHRQ's latest News and Numbers.

The report also said hospitalized patients from the poorest areas were 80 percent more likely to receive hemodialysis for kidney failure, and were more likely to undergo procedures often done on an outpatient basis, such as eye and ear procedures (81 percent more likely).

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FDA Issues TV Drug Ad Guidelines

Drug and medical device ads on TV shouldn't overstate drugs' benefits while downplaying their risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a new draft guidance.

In issuing the guidelines, the FDA noted that the omission or minimization of risk information was the most common violation cited in enforcement or warning letters, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The proposed advertising guidelines offer several suggestions on how drug and medical device makers can avoid breaking FDA rules. For example, the agency said that a product that requires monthly blood tests to check for liver damage should clearly state that fact, instead of telling patients and health-care professionals there is a need for "certain monitoring." The FDA also advised companies against the use of distracting music and images and music that may affect consumers' ability to learn about potential side effects.

The draft guidelines were posted Tuesday on the FDA Web site. The agency is accepting comments for 90 days before issuing final guidelines, the Journal reported.

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Test for Early Alzheimer's Moving Forward: Report

If all goes according to plan, the first test to detect Alzheimer's disease in its early stages could be available within 12 to 18 months, according to U.S. researchers. They said early diagnosis could help slow progression of the disease.

The test, which detects abnormal function of a protein involved in memory storage, has been tested on hundreds of patients and proved highly accurate, but the scientists want to use it on thousands more people before the test is marketed, the Associated Press reported.

"This may be a way of monitoring how effective a treatment is for Alzheimer's disease," said Dr Daniel Alkon, scientific director of the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute.

The West Virginia University-based institute on Wednesday was to announce a contract with Inverness Medical Innovations Inc. of Massachusetts, under which Inverness would bankroll development of the new diagnostic test for at least three years, the AP reported.

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Minnesota Boy to Undergo Chemotherapy

A 13-year-old Minnesota boy with cancer who fled with his mother to avoid chemotherapy will undergo the treatment Thursday.

Daniel Hauser, who has Hodgkin's Lymphoma, was scheduled to be examined Wednesday by a pediatric oncologist at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. His parents have agreed to allow him to receive a round of chemotherapy on Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

Colleen and Anthony Hauser had opposed chemotherapy for Daniel because the family prefers natural healing practices advocated by a religious group that says it follows American Indian beliefs. Colleen and Daniel returned home Monday after spending six days on the run in violation of a court order.

A judge allowed the parents to keep custody of Daniel in exchange for agreeing to the hospital treatment for their son, even though an attorney for family services in Brown County opposed the move, the AP reported.

Health Tips for May 28

Health Tip: Taking Care of a Tick Bite

If you or your child has been bitten by a tick, there's probably little risk of disease, but it's still important to remove the tick properly and protect the area from infection.

The Lucile Packard Children's Hospital offers these suggestions for taking care of a tick bite:

• To remove a wood tick, use a pair of tweezers, pull straight up, and pull the tick out. You can use a needle, some thread, or your fingers if you don't have tweezers.
• To remove a deer tick, use your fingernail or the edge of a credit card to scrape the tick from the skin.
• Make sure the tick's head is removed. Wash the skin with rubbing alcohol and uncover the tick's head with a sterile needle. Then use the needle to remove the head.
• Thoroughly wash the area with soap and water, then apply an antibiotic ointment.
• Call the doctor if you can't get the tick out, a fever or rash develop, or you notice signs of infection including significant redness or yellow drainage.

Health Tip: When Another Person Bites You

A human bite can lead to a dangerous infection, just as an animal bite can.

About one-third of hand infections are caused by human bite wounds, which can be loaded with bacteria, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons warns.

The academy offers these guidelines for treating a human bite wound, even one that doesn't look serious:

• Never put your mouth on the bite, as you can expose the wound to more bacteria.
• If the skin has not been broken, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, or an antiseptic cleanser.
• Rub an antibiotic ointment on the area and cover it with a bandage.
• Any wound that appears to have caused internal damage should be examined by a doctor. For bites that are bleeding, apply steady pressure, elevate the area, and immediately seek medical attention.

Health Headlines - May 27

13-Year-Old Cancer Patient, Mother Return Home to Minnesota

Thirteen-year-old Daniel Hauser and his mother Colleen returned home to Minnesota Monday a week after they fled to California in an attempt to avoid chemotherapy for Daniel, who has Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Daniel and his parents have refused chemotherapy because they believe it's toxic and want to use alternative treatments. An attorney said Colleen Hauser will now abide by court-ordered medical treatment for Daniel, the Associated Press reported.

The boy and his mother arrived back in Minnesota about 3 a.m. Monday and Daniel was examined by a doctor after his return. Daniel, who is in the protective custody of Brown County, was allowed to spend the night at home with a deputy on duty.

Daniel had one round of chemotherapy in February, but then said he didn't want to continue the treatment. A judge ruled that Daniel was medically neglected by his parents and ordered an updated chest X-ray for Daniel and a re-evaluation by an oncologist. Daniel and his mother fled after the X-ray showed a tumor in Daniel's chest had grown.

Children with Hodgkin's lymphoma have a 90 percent cure rate if they're treated with chemotherapy and radiation. Doctors said Daniel was likely to die without those treatments, the AP reported.

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Court Rules 'Light' Cigarettes Duped Smokers

By labeling some cigarettes as "light," the tobacco industry deceived smokers into believing these brands were less harmful than others, a U.S. Federal Appeals Court ruled Friday.

The court confirmed an August 2006 ruling by a lower court that found tobacco makers lied for years about the dangers of such cigarettes. The ruling also upholds an earlier decision ordering tobacco companies to remove statements such as "light" or "natural" from product packaging, the Agence France Presse reported.

The case pitted the U.S. government against big tobacco manufacturers including Philip Morris and Reynolds, who, the AFP reported, will likely appeal the decision before the U.S. Supreme Court.

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BPA From Bottles Shows Up in Urine: Study

People who drink from plastic bottles that contain bisphenol A (BPA) have elevated levels of the chemical in their urine, says a Harvard School of Public Health study that confirms what health experts have long suspected, the Boston Globe reported.

The chemical is used in hundreds of products, including baby bottles.

The Harvard team found a 69 percent increase in BPA levels in the urine of people who drank for one week from clear plastic polycarbonate bottles. The study, published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, is the first to definitively show that BPA from plastic bottles leaches into people's bodies, according to the team.

"If you heat those bottles, as is the case with baby bottles, we would expect the levels to be considerably higher. This would be of concern since infants may be particularly susceptible to BPA's endocrine-disrupting potential," said senior author Karin B. Michels, an associate professor at the School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School, the Globe reported.

An American Chemical Council official said the Harvard study doesn't show that products with BPA pose a health risk.

Health Tips for May 27

Health Tip: Install Smoke Alarms at Home

Smoke alarms are an inexpensive, yet vital, way to alert you and your family in the event of a fire.

The Home Safety Council offers these guidelines to help you install smoke alarms:

• Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home, even in the basement.
• Install a smoke alarm inside each bedroom, and outside sleeping areas.
• Affix smoke alarms in the middle of the ceiling or high up on the wall, a few inches away from the ceiling.
• Don't install smoke alarms close to doors or windows, where drafts could hamper their performance. Also, avoid putting them in bathrooms, where steam could set them off, or in the kitchen, where cooking odors could set off "nuisance" alarms.
• Test smoke alarms frequently, and replace the batteries once a year.

Health Tip: Safe Use of Candles

Many people enjoy burning candles to enhance their home's cozy atmosphere. But candles can be a fire hazard if not used correctly.

The City of Fairfax, Virginia, offers these candle safety tips:

• Never leave a room with a candle still burning.
• Light a candle in an area far from flammable materials, such as drapes, bedding, furniture, paper or wallpaper.
• Make sure that a burning candle can't be reached by children or pets.
• Only burn a candle that is in a sturdy, non-flammable base.
• Keep the candle wick trimmed to about one-quarter of an inch.
• Don't burn candles right next to each other, near doors or windows, or on a surface that may catch fire or melt from the heat.
• Throw a candle away when the wax is down to about 2 inches from the base.
• Don't use a candle that has flammable materials (such as twigs or pinecones) inside the wax.

Household Safety: Preventing Strangulation and Entrapment

The 4-year-old daughter of boxer Mike Tyson died at a hospital Tuesday, a day after her neck apparently got caught in a treadmill cord at her Phoenix home, police said.

Kids can strangle or become entrapped in the most unexpected ways — even cords, strings on clothing, and infant furniture and accessories can be dangerous.

Avoiding Potential Hazards

You can protect your child from strangulation and entrapment by avoiding potential hazards and modifying certain household items:

• Don't put necklaces or headbands on your baby.
• Don't dress your child in clothes with drawstrings, which can get caught on play equipment and furniture and strangle your child. Cut all drawstrings out of hoods, jackets, and waistbands in your child's wardrobe. Cut strings off mittens.
• Don't leave a child alone in a stroller — a child could slide down and trap his or her head.
• Don't use cribs with cutouts in the headboard or footboard.
• Bunk beds should have only a narrow space between the guardrail and the mattress.
• Don't tie a pacifier around your baby's neck or tether it to your baby's clothing with a ribbon or piece of string.
• Don't hang diaper bags or purses on cribs — a baby can become entangled in the straps or strings.
• Remove your infant's bib before naptime and bedtime.
• Don't let long telephone cords dangle to the floor.
• Don't use old accordion-style gates — these can trap a child's head.
• Tie all window blind and drapery cords, or cut the ends and attach safety tassels.
• Fit the inner cords of blinds with cord stops.
• Remove mobiles from cribs once the child is able to stand or sit up without help. Clip strings or ribbons off other crib toys.
• Make sure strings on crib bumpers are no longer than 6 inches (15 centimeters).
• Make sure crib slats are no more than 2 3/8 inches (6 centimeters) apart; anything wider can trap a child's head.
• Choose a toy chest without a lid.
  

Health Headlines - May 26

Court Rules 'Light' Cigarettes Duped Smokers

By labeling some cigarettes as "light," the tobacco industry deceived smokers into believing these brands were less harmful than others, a U.S. Federal Appeals Court ruled Friday.

The court confirmed an August 2006 ruling by a lower court that found tobacco makers lied for years about the dangers of such cigarettes. The ruling also upholds an earlier decision ordering tobacco companies to remove statements such as "light" or "natural" from product packaging, the Agence France Presse reported.

The case pitted the U.S. government against big tobacco manufacturers including Philip Morris and Reynolds, who, the AFP reported, will likely appeal the decision before the U.S. Supreme Court.

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BPA From Bottles Shows Up in Urine: Study

People who drink from plastic bottles that contain bisphenol A (BPA) have elevated levels of the chemical in their urine, says a Harvard School of Public Health study that confirms what health experts have long suspected, the Boston Globe reported.

The chemical is used in hundreds of products, including baby bottles.

The Harvard team found a 69 percent increase in BPA levels in the urine of people who drank for one week from clear plastic polycarbonate bottles. The study, published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, is the first to definitively show that BPA from plastic bottles leaches into people's bodies, according to the team.

"If you heat those bottles, as is the case with baby bottles, we would expect the levels to be considerably higher. This would be of concern since infants may be particularly susceptible to BPA's endocrine-disrupting potential," said senior author Karin B. Michels, an associate professor at the School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School, the Globe reported.

An American Chemical Council official said the Harvard study doesn't show that products with BPA pose a health risk.

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Illinois Company Recalls Ground Beef

Nearly 96,000 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with the potentially deadly bacterium E. coli 0157:H7 have been recalled by Valley Meats LLC of Coal Valley, Ill., the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Thursday.

Federal officials classified the recall as "Class One," which means that eating the meat poses a high health risk, CNN reported.

An outbreak of illness linked to the meat was first reported by the Ohio Department of Health on May 13. Illnesses have also been reported in Illinois and Pennsylvania.

The recalled products were produced on March 10 and packaged under a variety of labels. A list of recalled products is posted at www.fsis.usda.gov, CNN reported.

E. coli 0157:H7 -- which can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and kidney failure -- poses the greatest danger to the very young, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, says the USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service.

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No Decline in Pregnant Women's Alcohol Use: CDC

The number of American women who drink alcohol while pregnant didn't decrease between 1991 and 2005, despite warnings from the Surgeon General about the dangers of drinking while pregnant, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study has concluded.

During that 15-year period, about 1 in 8 women drank any amount of alcohol while pregnant and about 1 in 50 pregnant women engaged in binge drinking. Rates of alcohol use and binge drinking among women of childbearing age remained steady.

The study was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication of the CDC.

Alcohol use during pregnancy continues to be an important public health concern, said the study authors. They added that health care professionals play an important role in education women about this issue and should routinely ask all women who are pregnant or of childbearing age about their alcohol use, inform them of the risks of alcohol use while pregnant, and advise them not to consume alcohol while pregnant.

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Chronic Ills Common Among Adults With Public Insurance: Study

Nearly two-thirds of adult Americans under age 65 covered by public insurance in 2005-06 had at least one chronic illness, such as heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease, says a U.S. government study.

About 57 percent of people with private insurance and 36 percent of those without insurance had at least one chronic condition, said the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Among the other findings:

• 45 percent of the those with public insurance, 32 percent of those with private insurance, and 17 percent of the uninsured had at least two chronic illnesses.
• Health expenditures for treatment of adults with two or more chronic illnesses averaged $6,455 for those with public insurance, $1,987 for the uninsured, and $3,598 for people with private insurance.
• People with public insurance with two or more chronic illnesses had lower average annual out-of-pocket expenses than those without insurance -- $708 vs. $1,040.
• Among adults with public insurance, chronic diseases accounted for 57 percent of medical care spending, compared with 46 percent for the privately insured, and 47 percent for the uninsured.

Health Tips for May 26

Health Tip: Help Protect Young Athletes

Participating in sports is a great way for kids to get exercise and to be involved in school and community, but precautions must be taken to help avoid injury.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these recommendations to help young athletes stay safe:

• Make sure your child is fit enough to play his or her chosen sport.
• Your child should understand and follow the rules of the sport.
• Your child should always wear protective equipment, -- including a helmet, shin guards, etc. -- as appropriate for the sport.
• Teach your child how to properly use and adjust the equipment.
• Teach your child to always warm up appropriately.
• Your child should never be allowed to play sports when he or she is extremely tired or in some kind of pain.

Health Tip: Too Much Exercise Isn't Good Either

Getting regular exercise is great for your body and can help relieve stress. But as with any beneficial activity, you can overdo it.

The American Council on Exercise offers these warning signs of over-exercise:

• Difficulty exercising to your normal level.
• Feeling uncoordinated.
• Taking longer than usual to recover.
• Faster heart rate (in the morning) and blood pressure levels at rest.
• Lack of appetite.
• Headache and muscle aches.
• Digestive or stomach problems.
• More frequent illness, bone injuries or muscular injuries.
• Problems sleeping.

Health Headlines - May 25

Happy Memorial Day!

Court Rules 'Light' Cigarettes Duped Smokers

By labeling some cigarettes as "light," the tobacco industry deceived smokers into believing these brands were less harmful than others, a U.S. Federal Appeals Court ruled Friday.

The court confirmed an August 2006 ruling by a lower court that found tobacco makers lied for years about the dangers of such cigarettes. The ruling also upholds an earlier decision ordering tobacco companies to remove statements such as "light" or "natural" from product packaging, the Agence France Presse reported.

The case pitted the U.S. government against big tobacco manufacturers including Philip Morris and Reynolds, who, the AFP reported, will likely appeal the decision before the U.S. Supreme Court.

-----

BPA From Bottles Shows Up in Urine: Study

People who drink from plastic bottles that contain bisphenol A (BPA) have elevated levels of the chemical in their urine, says a Harvard School of Public Health study that confirms what health experts have long suspected, the Boston Globe reported.

The chemical is used in hundreds of products, including baby bottles.

The Harvard team found a 69 percent increase in BPA levels in the urine of people who drank for one week from clear plastic polycarbonate bottles. The study, published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, is the first to definitively show that BPA from plastic bottles leaches into people's bodies, according to the team.

"If you heat those bottles, as is the case with baby bottles, we would expect the levels to be considerably higher. This would be of concern since infants may be particularly susceptible to BPA's endocrine-disrupting potential," said senior author Karin B. Michels, an associate professor at the School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School, the Globe reported.

An American Chemical Council official said the Harvard study doesn't show that products with BPA pose a health risk.

-----

Illinois Company Recalls Ground Beef

Nearly 96,000 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with the potentially deadly bacterium E. coli 0157:H7 have been recalled by Valley Meats LLC of Coal Valley, Ill., the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Thursday.

Federal officials classified the recall as "Class One," which means that eating the meat poses a high health risk, CNN reported.

An outbreak of illness linked to the meat was first reported by the Ohio Department of Health on May 13. Illnesses have also been reported in Illinois and Pennsylvania.

The recalled products were produced on March 10 and packaged under a variety of labels. A list of recalled products is posted at www.fsis.usda.gov, CNN reported.

E. coli 0157:H7 -- which can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and kidney failure -- poses the greatest danger to the very young, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, says the USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service.

-----

No Decline in Pregnant Women's Alcohol Use: CDC

The number of American women who drink alcohol while pregnant didn't decrease between 1991 and 2005, despite warnings from the Surgeon General about the dangers of drinking while pregnant, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study has concluded.

During that 15-year period, about 1 in 8 women drank any amount of alcohol while pregnant and about 1 in 50 pregnant women engaged in binge drinking. Rates of alcohol use and binge drinking among women of childbearing age remained steady.

The study was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication of the CDC.

Alcohol use during pregnancy continues to be an important public health concern, said the study authors. They added that health care professionals play an important role in education women about this issue and should routinely ask all women who are pregnant or of childbearing age about their alcohol use, inform them of the risks of alcohol use while pregnant, and advise them not to consume alcohol while pregnant.

-----

Chronic Ills Common Among Adults With Public Insurance: Study

Nearly two-thirds of adult Americans under age 65 covered by public insurance in 2005-06 had at least one chronic illness, such as heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease, says a U.S. government study.

About 57 percent of people with private insurance and 36 percent of those without insurance had at least one chronic condition, said the latest News and Numbersfrom the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Among the other findings:

• 45 percent of the those with public insurance, 32 percent of those with private insurance, and 17 percent of the uninsured had at least two chronic illnesses.
• Health expenditures for treatment of adults with two or more chronic illnesses averaged $6,455 for those with public insurance, $1,987 for the uninsured, and $3,598 for people with private insurance.
• People with public insurance with two or more chronic illnesses had lower average annual out-of-pocket expenses than those without insurance -- $708 vs. $1,040.
• Among adults with public insurance, chronic diseases accounted for 57 percent of medical care spending, compared with 46 percent for the privately insured, and 47 percent for the uninsured.

Health Tips for May 25

Happy Memorial Day!

Health Tip: Have a Safe Barbecue

Safety is one of the most important ingredients for a successful barbecue season.

"Over-feeding your charcoal fire with starter fluid that then flares up is a common mistake people make," Dr. Brent King, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, said in a university news release.

Burns are the most common type of barbecue-related injury, King said. And common sense is the best way to prevent them, said Lon Babcock, a board member of the International Barbeque Cookers Association and a founder of the Texas Gulf Coast Barbeque Association.

He offered the following safety tips:

• Use a charcoal starter chimney or tube, which starts a charcoal fire by burning paper rather than lighter fluid.
• Don't spray charcoal lighter fluid on an open flame or hot coals.
• Avoid big fires. Burn just enough fuel to cook the food.
• Place the grill away from the house.
• Use hot pads or insulated gloves when touching hot metal.
• Don't drink alcohol while cooking on an outdoor grill.

"Finish the cooking before drinking," Babcock said. "It's like drinking and driving -- your decision-making gets real slow."

When using propane barbecues, always make sure that the propane tank is attached correctly to prevent leaks at connection points, advised Robert Emery, assistant vice president for safety, health, environment and risk management at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

Other tips for safe barbecuing with propane include:

• Follow all of the manufacturer's instructions and keep written materials and manuals in an accessible location.
• When the barbecue isn't being used, make sure all burners are turned off and the valve cylinder is closed.
• Keep the barbecue covered when not in use. Make sure it's turned off and cool before being covered.
• Always use and store propane cylinders outdoors and in an upright position. When filling or exchanging the cylinder, have the supplier check for dents, damage, rust and leaks.
• Before lighting a propane barbecue, use a leak detection solution to check all connections for tightness.
• If there's an uncontrollable release of propane or a fire, call the fire department immediately and move all people and pets away from the barbecue.
• Don't smoke while handling the propane cylinder.
• Don't expose the propane cylinder to high temperatures in storage or when transporting it.

Health Headlines - May 24

Court Rules 'Light' Cigarettes Duped Smokers

By labeling some cigarettes as "light," the tobacco industry deceived smokers into believing these brands were less harmful than others, a U.S. Federal Appeals Court ruled Friday.

The court confirmed an August 2006 ruling by a lower court that found tobacco makers lied for years about the dangers of such cigarettes. The ruling also upholds an earlier decision ordering tobacco companies to remove statements such as "light" or "natural" from product packaging, the Agence France Presse reported.

The case pitted the U.S. government against big tobacco manufacturers including Philip Morris and Reynolds, who, the AFP reported, will likely appeal the decision before the U.S. Supreme Court.

-----

BPA From Bottles Shows Up in Urine: Study

People who drink from plastic bottles that contain bisphenol A (BPA) have elevated levels of the chemical in their urine, says a Harvard School of Public Health study that confirms what health experts have long suspected, the Boston Globe reported.

The chemical is used in hundreds of products, including baby bottles.

The Harvard team found a 69 percent increase in BPA levels in the urine of people who drank for one week from clear plastic polycarbonate bottles. The study, published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, is the first to definitively show that BPA from plastic bottles leaches into people's bodies, according to the team.

"If you heat those bottles, as is the case with baby bottles, we would expect the levels to be considerably higher. This would be of concern since infants may be particularly susceptible to BPA's endocrine-disrupting potential," said senior author Karin B. Michels, an associate professor at the School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School, the Globe reported.

An American Chemical Council official said the Harvard study doesn't show that products with BPA pose a health risk.

-----

Illinois Company Recalls Ground Beef

Nearly 96,000 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with the potentially deadly bacterium E. coli 0157:H7 have been recalled by Valley Meats LLC of Coal Valley, Ill., the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Thursday.

Federal officials classified the recall as "Class One," which means that eating the meat poses a high health risk, CNN reported.

An outbreak of illness linked to the meat was first reported by the Ohio Department of Health on May 13. Illnesses have also been reported in Illinois and Pennsylvania.

The recalled products were produced on March 10 and packaged under a variety of labels. A list of recalled products is posted at www.fsis.usda.gov, CNN reported.

E. coli 0157:H7 -- which can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and kidney failure -- poses the greatest danger to the very young, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, says the USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service.

-----

No Decline in Pregnant Women's Alcohol Use: CDC

The number of American women who drink alcohol while pregnant didn't decrease between 1991 and 2005, despite warnings from the Surgeon General about the dangers of drinking while pregnant, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study has concluded.

During that 15-year period, about 1 in 8 women drank any amount of alcohol while pregnant and about 1 in 50 pregnant women engaged in binge drinking. Rates of alcohol use and binge drinking among women of childbearing age remained steady.

The study was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication of the CDC.

Alcohol use during pregnancy continues to be an important public health concern, said the study authors. They added that health care professionals play an important role in education women about this issue and should routinely ask all women who are pregnant or of childbearing age about their alcohol use, inform them of the risks of alcohol use while pregnant, and advise them not to consume alcohol while pregnant.

-----

Chronic Ills Common Among Adults With Public Insurance: Study

Nearly two-thirds of adult Americans under age 65 covered by public insurance in 2005-06 had at least one chronic illness, such as heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease, says a U.S. government study.

About 57 percent of people with private insurance and 36 percent of those without insurance had at least one chronic condition, said the latest News and Numbersfrom the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Among the other findings:

• 45 percent of the those with public insurance, 32 percent of those with private insurance, and 17 percent of the uninsured had at least two chronic illnesses.
• Health expenditures for treatment of adults with two or more chronic illnesses averaged $6,455 for those with public insurance, $1,987 for the uninsured, and $3,598 for people with private insurance.
• People with public insurance with two or more chronic illnesses had lower average annual out-of-pocket expenses than those without insurance -- $708 vs. $1,040.
• Among adults with public insurance, chronic diseases accounted for 57 percent of medical care spending, compared with 46 percent for the privately insured, and 47 percent for the uninsured.

Health Tips for May 24

Health Tip: Wear Your Seat Belt During Pregnancy

As a mom-to-be who is driving a car or a passenger, you're buckling up for two.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers these suggestions about using a safety belt during pregnancy:

• Always use both the shoulder and lap portions of the belt.
• Fasten the lap belt beneath your stomach -- never across.
• Fasten the belt so that there is a snug fit across your body.
• Never slip the shoulder belt under your arm; always make sure it is placed across your chest and fits between your breasts.
• Let the top part of the shoulder belt rest across your shoulder, but don't let it rub against your neck.

Health Tip: Be More Comfortable During Childbirth

Few women would say childbirth is easy. The amount and type of pain depends on the woman herself, her baby's size and its position, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says.

The college offers these general suggestions for how to stay more comfortable during childbirth:

• Well before the birth, take childbirth classes that will teach you breathing techniques and relaxation methods to use in the delivery room.
• Ask your partner to apply pressure and massage your lower back. Tennis balls or your partner's hands will do fine.
• Apply an ice pack to your lower back.
• Change positions as often as is necessary to get more comfortable.
• Ask your doctor or nurse if you can take a shower.
• Use a damp, cool washcloth to wipe down your body if you get too hot.

Health Headlines - May 23

Court Rules 'Light' Cigarettes Duped Smokers

By labeling some cigarettes as "light," the tobacco industry deceived smokers into believing these brands were less harmful than others, a U.S. Federal Appeals Court ruled Friday.

The court confirmed an August 2006 ruling by a lower court that found tobacco makers lied for years about the dangers of such cigarettes. The ruling also upholds an earlier decision ordering tobacco companies to remove statements such as "light" or "natural" from product packaging, the Agence France Presse reported.

The case pitted the U.S. government against big tobacco manufacturers including Philip Morris and Reynolds, who, the AFP reported, will likely appeal the decision before the U.S. Supreme Court.

-----

BPA From Bottles Shows Up in Urine: Study

People who drink from plastic bottles that contain bisphenol A (BPA) have elevated levels of the chemical in their urine, says a Harvard School of Public Health study that confirms what health experts have long suspected, the Boston Globe reported.

The chemical is used in hundreds of products, including baby bottles.

The Harvard team found a 69 percent increase in BPA levels in the urine of people who drank for one week from clear plastic polycarbonate bottles. The study, published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, is the first to definitively show that BPA from plastic bottles leaches into people's bodies, according to the team.

"If you heat those bottles, as is the case with baby bottles, we would expect the levels to be considerably higher. This would be of concern since infants may be particularly susceptible to BPA's endocrine-disrupting potential," said senior author Karin B. Michels, an associate professor at the School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School, the Globe reported.

An American Chemical Council official said the Harvard study doesn't show that products with BPA pose a health risk.

-----

Illinois Company Recalls Ground Beef

Nearly 96,000 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with the potentially deadly bacterium E. coli 0157:H7 have been recalled by Valley Meats LLC of Coal Valley, Ill., the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Thursday.

Federal officials classified the recall as "Class One," which means that eating the meat poses a high health risk, CNN reported.

An outbreak of illness linked to the meat was first reported by the Ohio Department of Health on May 13. Illnesses have also been reported in Illinois and Pennsylvania.

The recalled products were produced on March 10 and packaged under a variety of labels. A list of recalled products is posted at www.fsis.usda.gov, CNN reported.

E. coli 0157:H7 -- which can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and kidney failure -- poses the greatest danger to the very young, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, says the USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service.

-----

No Decline in Pregnant Women's Alcohol Use: CDC

The number of American women who drink alcohol while pregnant didn't decrease between 1991 and 2005, despite warnings from the Surgeon General about the dangers of drinking while pregnant, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study has concluded.

During that 15-year period, about 1 in 8 women drank any amount of alcohol while pregnant and about 1 in 50 pregnant women engaged in binge drinking. Rates of alcohol use and binge drinking among women of childbearing age remained steady.

The study was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication of the CDC.

Alcohol use during pregnancy continues to be an important public health concern, said the study authors. They added that health care professionals play an important role in education women about this issue and should routinely ask all women who are pregnant or of childbearing age about their alcohol use, inform them of the risks of alcohol use while pregnant, and advise them not to consume alcohol while pregnant.

-----

Chronic Ills Common Among Adults With Public Insurance: Study

Nearly two-thirds of adult Americans under age 65 covered by public insurance in 2005-06 had at least one chronic illness, such as heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease, says a U.S. government study.

About 57 percent of people with private insurance and 36 percent of those without insurance had at least one chronic condition, said the latest News and Numbersfrom the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Among the other findings:

• 45 percent of the those with public insurance, 32 percent of those with private insurance, and 17 percent of the uninsured had at least two chronic illnesses.
• Health expenditures for treatment of adults with two or more chronic illnesses averaged $6,455 for those with public insurance, $1,987 for the uninsured, and $3,598 for people with private insurance.
• People with public insurance with two or more chronic illnesses had lower average annual out-of-pocket expenses than those without insurance -- $708 vs. $1,040.
• Among adults with public insurance, chronic diseases accounted for 57 percent of medical care spending, compared with 46 percent for the privately insured, and 47 percent for the uninsured.

Health Tips for May 23

Health Tip: Choosing Baby's Playpen

A playpen can help parents get things done with the knowledge that baby can't wander off. But it's no substitute for parental oversight.

Here are suggestions to help you find a safe playpen, courtesy of the Nemours Foundation:

• If you choose a playpen with mesh sides, protect baby's fingers by making sure the holes are small -- 1/4 of an inch or less. The mesh must also be sturdy and properly attached to the device's edges.
• The sides of the playpen must extend at least 20 inches above the floor.
• The rails on each side should be well-padded to protect baby from a head injury.
• Make sure that your infant can't reach any of the playpen's locks.
• All hinges and supports should be enforced and protected.
• If acquiring a used playpen, make sure its floor is in good shape, with no tears or worn spots.

Health Tip: When Children Stutter

Children who stutter can become embarrassed and anxious about speaking, which can make the situation even worse.

While speech therapy can help, a proper response from parents, friends and teachers also is very important, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says.

The agency offers these suggestions:

• Try to keep the child away from stressful situations. Also, teach the child how to help manage stress.
• Make sure you allow the child plenty of time to speak.
• When you talk to the child, speak slowly and stay relaxed to encourage a similar slow, relaxed response.
• When the child starts to stutter and gets frustrated, acknowledge it and say that it's OK.

Wash. state has first death under new suicide law

OLYMPIA, Wash. – A 66-year-old woman with terminal cancer has become the first person to die under Washington state's new assisted suicide law, an advocacy group said Friday. Linda Fleming, of Sequim, died Thursday night after taking drugs prescribed under the "Death with Dignity" law that took effect in March, said Compassion & Choices of Washington.

The organization said Fleming was diagnosed last month with advanced pancreatic cancer. She would have had to have been diagnosed by two doctors as terminal in order to qualify for assisted suicide.

The group said Fleming died at home with her family, her dog and her physician at her bedside.

"The pain became unbearable, and it was only going to get worse," Fleming said in a statement released by the organization.

A physician prescribed the medication, but under the law, patients must administer the drugs themselves.

The new law was approved in November with nearly 60 percent of the vote. It is based on a 1997 Oregon measure, under which about 400 people have ended their lives.

Under both states' laws, physicians and pharmacists are not required to write or fill lethal prescriptions if they are opposed to the law. Some hospitals have opted out of the law, which precludes their doctors from participating on hospital property.

In December, a Montana district judge ruled that doctor-assisted suicides are legal. That decision, based on an individual lawsuit rather than a state law or voter initiative, is before the Montana Supreme Court.

In Washington, any patient requesting fatal medication must be at least 18, declared competent and be a state resident.

Two doctors would have to certify that the patient has a terminal condition and six months or less to live. The patient must also make two oral requests, 15 days apart, and make a written request witnessed by two people.

As of Friday, the state Department of Health has received six forms from pharmacists saying they have dispensed the life-ending drugs.

The state has also received five forms from an individual declaring a request for medication to "end my life in a humane and dignified manner."

The Health Department will report annually on the ages, genders and illnesses of the people who file forms with the state, but the individual forms people complete are exempt from state open records laws.
___

On the Net:

Center for Health Statistics, Death with Dignity Act: http://www.doh.wa.gov/dwda/formsreceived.htm

Compassion & Choices of Washington: http://www.candcofwa.org

Health Headlines - May 22

No Decline in Pregnant Women's Alcohol Use: CDC

The number of American women who drink alcohol while pregnant didn't decrease between 1991 and 2005, despite warnings from the Surgeon General about the dangers of drinking while pregnant, says a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released Thursday.

During that 15-year period, about 1 in 8 women drank any amount of alcohol while pregnant and about 1 in 50 pregnant women engaged in binge drinking. Rates of alcohol use and binge drinking among women of childbearing age remained steady.

The study was published Thursday in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Alcohol use during pregnancy continues to be an important public health concern, said the study authors. They added that health care professionals play an important role in education women about this issue and should routinely ask all women who are pregnant or of childbearing age about their alcohol use, inform them of the risks of alcohol use while pregnant, and advise them not to consume alcohol while pregnant.

-----

Japanese Women Have Longest Life Expectancy: WHO

Women in Japan and men in San Marino have the longest life expectancies in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

Life expectancies are 86 years for Japanese women and 81 years for men in San Marino. On the other end of the scale, men in Sierra Leone are expected to live only 39 years, while women in Afghanistan live to an average age of 42 years, the Associated Press reported.

The figures are based on statistics from 2007. While some countries, such as Angola, Eritrea and Liberia have made great progress in increasing life expectancy, countries such as Botswana, Kenya and Lesotho have experienced a decrease in life expectancy since 1990, the WHO said.

The life expectancy statistics were among more than 100 health trends released Thursday by the Geneva-based body, the AP reported.

-----

Chronic Ills Common Among Adults With Public Insurance: Study

Nearly two-thirds of adult Americans under age 65 covered by public insurance in 2005-06 had at least one chronic illness, such as heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease, says a U.S. government study.

About 57 percent of people with private insurance and 36 percent of those without insurance had at least one chronic condition, said the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Among the other findings:

• 45 percent of the those with public insurance, 32 percent of those with private insurance, and 17 percent of the uninsured had at least two chronic illnesses.
• Health expenditures for treatment of adults with two or more chronic illnesses averaged $6,455 for those with public insurance, $1,987 for the uninsured, and $3,598 for people with private insurance.
• People with public insurance with two or more chronic illnesses had lower average annual out-of-pocket expenses than those without insurance -- $708 vs. $1,040.
• Among adults with public insurance, chronic diseases accounted for 57 percent of medical care spending, compared with 46 percent for the privately insured, and 47 percent for the uninsured.

-----

Many U.S. College Students Feel Stressed: Survey

A new survey of American college students found that 85 percent said they've felt stressed in their daily lives in recent months, 42 percent said they felt down, depressed or hopeless several days during the previous two weeks, and 13 percent appeared to be at risk for at least mild depression.

Major causes of stress included concerns about school work, grades, relationships and money, according to the Associated Press-mtvU poll of 2,240 undergraduate students, ages 18 to 24, at 40 colleges.

Among the other findings:

• 11 percent of respondents said they'd had thoughts about hurting themselves or that they'd be better off dead.
• 9 percent of students were at risk of moderate to severe depression.
• Among students with a parent who had lost a job during the school year, almost a quarter showed signs of at least mild depression -- more than twice the percentage of students who didn't have a parent who'd lost a job. The survey also found that 13 percent of students with a parent who'd lost a job had seriously considered suicide, compared with 5 percent of students who didn't have a parent who'd lost a job.
• More than 50 percent of students who said they'd seriously considered suicide at some point in the previous year hadn't received any counseling or treatment.
• Nearly half of students diagnosed with at least moderate symptoms of depression weren't familiar with counseling resources on campus.
• 84 percent of respondents said they'd know where to turn for help if they experienced serious emotional distress or had thoughts about hurting themselves. Most said they'd go first to friends or family, while 20 percent said they'd use school counseling.

-----

Costly Hospital Care Doesn't Guarantee Better-Quality Care: Study

Patients treated at hospitals that provide more intensive and costly care don't necessarily receive better-quality care, according to a U.S. study that looked at care given to Medicare beneficiaries with heart attack, pneumonia and congestive heart failure.

The researchers looked at end-of-life (EOL) spending at 2,172 hospitals and found that average EOL spending per patient was $16,059 for the lowest-spending quintile (or fifth) of hospitals, compared to $34,742 at hospitals in the highest-spending quintile.

"We found no evidence that hospitals with higher spending provided better care, whether we looked at all hospitals across the country or limited our study to academic medical centers, or hospitals within a single region. In fact, in some cases, hospitals that spent more provided worse care," Laura Yasaitis, a joint M.D./Ph.D. student at Dartmouth Medical School and a researcher at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, said in a news release.

"The fact that some hospitals in the same region are able to provide exemplary care at lower costs points to the need for better reporting of both costs and quality, and for a greater understanding of what processes lead to this improvement in performance," Amitabh Chandra, professor of public policy at Harvard Kennedy School, said in the release.

The study appears online in the journal Health Affairs.

-----

Young Children's Deaths Decline 27%: WHO

Nearly one-third fewer young children died in 2007 than in 1990, the World Health Organization said Thursday.

The Geneva-based body said that about 9 million children under 5 years old died in 2007, compared with 12.5 million in 1990, the Associated Press reported.

The WHO said the 27 percent decline shows progress is being made toward the goal of a two-thirds reduction in deaths by 2015, which is one of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals.

The data on young children's deaths were included in more than 100 health trends published this week by the WHO, the AP reported.

Health Tips for May 22

Health Tip: Why is My Nose Bleeding?

Nosebleeds are common in many people, often because of a respiratory illness or dry conditions.

The University of Maryland Medical Center offers this list of typical reasons for nosebleeds:

• Nasal allergies.
• Blowing your nose too hard or trying to remove something from inside the nose.
• A result of "popping" the ear.
• Nasal exposure to chemicals.
• Frequent sneezing or having an upper respiratory infection.
• Use of nasal spray or a blood-thinning drug, such as aspirin.
• Inhaling air that is extremely dry or cold.
• Having recent surgery on the nose or elsewhere on the face.
• Breaking the nose or a similar injury.

Health Tip: Help Prevent Nosebleeds

If your child has regular nosebleeds, there are precautions you can take to help prevent the problem.

The University of Virginia Health System offers these suggestions:

• The air in your home may be dry. Use a cool mist humidifier, especially at night, in your child's room.
• Don't allow your child to blow the nose too hard, or pick the nose.
• Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to the inside of the child's nose several times a day, and always at bedtime.
• Apply saline drops or nasal spray to the nose, as recommended by your pediatrician.
• If your child has allergies, seek regular treatment from the child's doctor.

Health Headlines - May 21

Arrest Warrant Issued for Mother of Cancer Patient

An arrest warrant has been issued for a Minnesota woman and her 13-year-old cancer-stricken son who fled after a court ordered the boy to undergo chemotherapy, the Associated Press reported.

Daniel Hauser has Hodgkin's lymphoma, but his family belongs to a religious group that believes in natural healing. Last week, a court ruled that Colleen and Anthony Hauser were medically neglecting their son.

On Monday, Colleen and Daniel left their home after an X-ray showed the boy's tumor had grown. Anthony Hauser said he doesn't know where his wife and son are and has made no attempt to find them. His wife told him Monday evening that she was leaving "for a time," the AP reported.

-----

EPA Finds Suspect Materials in Chinese-Made Drywall

Suspect materials found in a small sampling of drywall made in China may be causing corrosion in homes and possibly sickening people in several states, according to an Environmental Protection Agency report.

The EPA said it tested the wallboard in two Florida homes and found sulfur and two organic compounds associated with acrylic paint. Testing also found higher traces of strontium -- compounds used in ceramics, pyrotechnics, paint pigments, fluorescent lights and medicine -- in the Chinese products compared to tests on U.S.-made wallboard, the Associated Press reported.

More than 500 million pounds of the Chinese drywall were imported into the United States during a four-year period of soaring home prices, peaking in 2006, the AP found in a review of shipping records. The Chinese products may have been used in more than 100,000 homes in the Southeast, including some houses rebuilt after 2005's Hurricane Katrina, the AP said. Heat and humidity apparently cause a chemical reaction in the boards that gives off a rotten-egg stench and corrodes metal.

-----

Green Tea Chemical Thwarts HIV Transmission: Study

A chemical in green tea that inhibits HIV transmission should be used in vaginal creams to help protect women, say German scientists. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

The researchers found that a green tea polyphenol called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is able to neutralize a protein in sperm that serves as a vector for HIV transmission during sex, Agence France Presse reported.

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

The University of Heidelberg team said using EGCG in vaginal creams could offer a low-cost method of reducing sexual transmission of HIV in poor and developing nations, AFP reported.

-----

New MRSA Strain Can Be Lethal to Flu Patients: Report

Scientists are warning about a new strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that can cause a deadly form of pneumonia in people with the flu. Death rates may be higher than 50 percent.

The new form of the antibiotic resistant superbug is called community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) because, unlike most forms of MRSA, this one poses a significant risk to people outside of hospitals, BBC News reported.

Although exact figures aren't available, CA-MRSA is becoming more widespread, said researchers at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta who analyzed cases of CA-MRSA.

"Community-acquired MRSA infections are no longer restricted to certain risk groups or to the geographic areas where outbreaks first occurred," they wrote in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases. "They now occur widely both in the community as well as health care facilities and have been reported on every continent."

They warned that the current swine flu outbreak could increase the risk posed by CA-MRSA, which appears to strike people who are already ill with flu, BBC News reported.

-----

Recession Affecting Access to Health Care: Survey

Many Americans are worried about their ability to pay for health care and are suffering health problems because they're doing without needed preventive care, according to a survey that looks at the impact the recession is having on access to health care.

The American Academy of Family Physicians' poll of members found that almost 90 percent reported their "patients have expressed concerns recently over their ability to pay for their health care needs." The survey also found that 58 percent of respondents said they'd seen an increase in appointment cancellations, and 54 percent said they were seeing fewer total patients since January 2008.

Among the other findings:

• 60 percent of family doctors reported they'd "seen more health problems caused by their patients forgoing needed preventive care."
• 73 percent said they'd seen an increase in uninsured patients visiting their offices.
• 64 percent reported a decrease in the number of employer-sponsored/privately insured patients.
• 87 percent said they'd seen a significant increase in patients with major stress symptoms since the beginning of the recession.
• 66 percent said they were taking actions to help their patients manage health care needs during the recession, including discounting fees, increasing charity care, providing free screenings, and moving patients to generic prescriptions.

"The survey found that patients are cancelling or deferring important preventive screenings such as pap smears, mammograms and colonoscopies," Dr. Ted Epperly, AAFP president, said in a news release. "They also are failing to return for recommended follow-up visits or refill medications that are vital to managing their chronic conditions. Rather than forgoing needed medication altogether, some patients opt to cut their prescriptions, without their physician's knowledge, to make them last longer."

Health Tips for May 21

Health Tip: Drugs That May Lead to Diarrhea

Certain medications are more likely than others to aggravate the digestive tract and result in loose stools, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says.

The agency says they include:

• Antibiotics, which often cause diarrhea because they kill bacteria -- even the good bacteria -- found in the intestines.
• Chemotherapy drugs, used to treat cancer.
• Immune system-suppressing drugs, such as mycophenolate.
• Some herbal teas that contain senna or other substances that are natural laxatives.
• A laxative is meant to relieve constipation. But taking too much of a laxative can lead to problem diarrhea.

Health Tip: Dealing With Diarrhea

Most cases of diarrhea clear up on their own, unless there's a more serious cause such as food or water contamination.

Dehydration often is your biggest concern. Here are suggestions for dealing with diarrhea, from the U.S. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse:

• Keep yourself well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water, unless you're traveling to another country. In that case, avoid tap water, ice, and foods washed in tap water at all costs. Drink and eat from sources that you know are safe for travelers.
• Avoid foods and drinks that contain caffeine, as well as dairy products.
• Avoid foods that are high in fiber.
• Don't eat foods that are very greasy or sweet.
• As you start to feel better, try eating bland foods such as rice, toast, crackers, bananas or boiled potatoes.

Health Headlines - May 20

Recession Affecting Access to Health Care: Survey

Many Americans are worried about their ability to pay for health care and are suffering health problems because they're doing without needed preventive care, according to a survey that looks at the impact the recession is having on access to health care.

The American Academy of Family Physicians' poll of members found that almost 90 percent reported their "patients have expressed concerns recently over their ability to pay for their health care needs." The survey also found that 58 percent of respondents said they'd seen an increase in appointment cancellations, and 54 percent said they were seeing fewer total patients since January 2008.

Among the other findings:

• 60 percent of family doctors reported they'd "seen more health problems caused by their patients forgoing needed preventive care."
• 73 percent said they'd seen an increase in uninsured patients visiting their offices.
• 64 percent reported a decrease in the number of employer-sponsored/privately insured patients.
• 87 percent said they'd seen a significant increase in patients with major stress symptoms since the beginning of the recession.
• 66 percent said they were taking actions to help their patients manage health care needs during the recession, including discounting fees, increasing charity care, providing free screenings, and moving patients to generic prescriptions.

"The survey found that patients are cancelling or deferring important preventive screenings such as pap smears, mammograms and colonoscopies," Dr. Ted Epperly, AAFP president, said in a news release. "They also are failing to return for recommended follow-up visits or refill medications that are vital to managing their chronic conditions. Rather than forgoing needed medication altogether, some patients opt to cut their prescriptions, without their physician's knowledge, to make them last longer."

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Federal, State Governments Join Lawsuits Against Wyeth

The U.S. government and more than a dozen states are seeking hundreds of millions of dollars from New Jersey-based drug maker Wyeth, which is accused of overcharging Medicaid programs for the stomach acid drug Protonix.

The Justice Department and the states have joined two whistleblower lawsuits filed in federal court in Massachusetts, the Associated Press reported. The lawsuits charge that between 2000 and 2006, Wyeth offered thousands of hospitals large discounts on two versions of Protonix, but did not offer the same deal to state Medicaid programs. Brand name drug makers are required to offer the same rebates to state Medicaid programs that they give to other customers.

"By offering massive discounts to hospitals, but then hiding that information from the Medicaid program, we believe Wyeth caused Medicaid programs throughout the country to pay much more for these drugs than they should have," Assistant Attorney General Tony West said in a news release.

The government wants the court to force Wyeth to pay penalties of up to three times the amount lost by Medicaid, the AP reported.

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Erectile Drugs Similarly Effective: Report

There isn't enough evidence to determine which erectile dysfunction drugs work best or cause the least harm, according to a report released Tuesday by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Erectile dysfunction -- a sexual disorder that prevents men from getting or keeping an erection -- affects between 15 million and 30 million men in the United States.

Men who take oral PDE-5 inhibitors have improved erectile function compared to men who don't take the drugs. But head-to-head comparisons of the effectiveness of three drugs -- sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), and tadalafil (Cialis) -- were inconclusive, the report said.

Headache, flushing, abdominal pain and runny nose were the most common short-term side effects reported by men taking the drugs. There were no significant differences in side effects associated with either Viagra, Levitra or Cialis.

Further studies are needed to clarify the best treatment management options for different groups of patients, the report authors said. They also called for more clinical trials to compare PDE-5 inhibitors to hormonal, injection, and creams or other topical treatments for erectile dysfunction.

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Little Progress Made in Preventing Medical Errors: Report

Over the last 10 years, little progress has been made in reducing medical errors in the United States, according to a report released Tuesday by Consumers Union.

In 1999, an Institute of Medicine report said as many as 98,000 Americans die every year from preventable medical errors. The report triggered congressional hearings and promises of reform, but little progress has been made in implementing key reforms recommend by the IOM, Consumers Union said.

The nonprofit group's report was released as Congress works on ways to tackle the rising cost of health care and to expand access to coverage. Reducing medical harm -- such as medication errors and hospital-acquired infections -- would improve patient care and reduce health costs, according to Consumers Union.

"There is little evidence to suggest that the number of people dying from medical harm has dropped since the IOM first warned about these deadly mistakes a decade ago," Lisa McGiffert, director of Consumers Union's Safe Patient Project, said in a news release. "That means a million lives and billions of dollars have been lost over the past 10 years because our health care system failed to adopt key reforms recommended by the IOM to protect patients. As the debate over health care heats up in Washington, Congress should make sure that improving patient safety is a central part of any reform legislation it adopts."

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California Counties Lose Medical Marijuana Fight

An attempt by two California counties to ban the use of medical marijuana has been rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, which refused to hear a case brought by San Diego and San Bernardo counties.

They argued that the federal law outlawing marijuana should take priority over a California law that allows the use, cultivation and possession of marijuana for medical purposes, Agence France Presse reported.

The California law was adopted by referendum in 1996. Twelve other states have similar laws.

San Diego and San Bernardo lost twice in lower courts and again on appeal. The California Supreme Court refused to take up an appeal. The U.S. Supreme Court's rejection means the case is now closed, AFP reported.