Health Headlines - February 28

Drug Maker Suppressed Data on Antipsychotic: Report

Unfavorable studies on the antipsychotic drug Seroquel were "buried" by U.K.-based drug maker AstraZeneca Plc, according to a December 1999 e-mail unsealed Thursday as part of legal action over the drug, the Bloomberg news service reported.

AstraZeneca faces about 9,000 lawsuits claiming the company failed to properly warn patients that the drug can cause diabetes and other health problems.

In the e-mail, AstraZeneca publications manager John Tumas said the company failed to publicize results of at least three clinical trials of Seroquel and selectively chose data from one of the studies for use in a presentation, Bloomberg reported.

"The larger issue is how we face the outside world when they begin to criticize us for suppressing data," Tumas wrote in the e-mail.

Seroquel is approved in the United States for treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

In an e-mailed statement, company spokesman Tony Jewell said: "AstraZeneca has studied Seroquel extensively and shared all relevant and required data with the FDA -- both before and after the agency approved it as safe and effective," Bloomberg reported.

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White House to Rescind Health Worker Conscience Rule

A Bush administration rule that gave broad protection to health workers who refuse to take part in abortions or other health care procedures that conflict with their beliefs will be rescinded by the Obama administration, The New York Times reported.

The last-minute Bush law was announced on Dec. 19 and took effect the day President Obama took office last month. On Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services served notice that it will repeal the regulation, the Times reported.

The official notice of the Obama administration's intent is expected to be officially published next week. After that, there will be a 30-day period for public comment.

Opponents of the Bush rule welcomed the decision.

"Today's action by the Obama administration demonstrates that this president is not going to stand by and let women's health be placed in jeopardy," Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, said Friday.

The group and the attorneys general of several states had filed legal challenges against the Bush regulation, which was also opposed by the American Medical Association and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the Times said.

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Black Box Warning Ordered For Heartburn Drug

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's most serious warning will be added to the heartburn drug metoclopramide (brand name Reglan), which has been shown to cause muscle spasms and tics when used for long periods or at high doses, the FDA said.

These problems, including uncontrollable movement of the limbs, face and tongue, are usually irreversible even after patients stop taking the drug, according to the warning, cited by the Associated Press.

The drug is marketed by Schwarz Pharma (tablet form), Baxter International (injectable form) and by a number of generic drug makers. In addition to the black box warning, all manufacturers will be required to provide medication safety guides to users.

More than 2 million people in the United States use metoclopramide, which works by speeding up the muscles used in digestion and relieving painful stomach acid reflux, the AP reported.

"The chronic use of metoclopramide therapy should be avoided in all but rare cases where the benefit is believed to outweigh the risk," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

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Economy Pushing Americans to Cut Needed Health Care

A Kaiser Family Foundation poll released Wednesday found that more than half of Americans cut back on some kind of health care to save money in the past year, the Associated Press reported.

One in four put off general health care needs, including 16 percent who postponed surgery or doctor visits for chronic illnesses. To care for themselves, respondents said they relied instead on home remedies or over-the-counter drugs rather than seeing a doctor or a dentist.

Other findings in the poll, conducted by telephone with 1,204 adults from Feb. 3-12:

• Overall, 53 percent of Americans cut back on health needs in the past 12 months because of the declining economy.
• 10 percent delayed seeing a doctor for a chronic illness like diabetes or asthma.
• 6 percent postponed minor surgery in the doctor's office, while 5 percent delayed major surgery that would have required an overnight hospital stay.
• 19 percent skipped a doctor's visit for temporary illness or preventive care.

Health Tips for February 28

Health Tip: Prevent Your Children From Choking

For small children, even the most seemingly harmless objects can pose a choking threat.

The U.S. National Safety Council offers these suggestions to reduce your youngsters' risk of choking:

• Never allow a baby or young child to play with a toy that has a cord or string attached.
• Don't feed your baby foods that could get stuck in the throat, such as bites of hot dogs, hard candy, uncooked vegetables, nuts, raisins, fruits or vegetables with pits, popcorn or grapes.
• Never allow your child to eat while lying down.
• Keep anything that can fit in your child's mouth out of reach, including coins, batteries, jewelry, nails or thumbtacks.

Health Tip: Keeping Your Children Warm in Winter

In bitter winter weather, it's important to make sure children are dressed appropriately.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these recommendations:

• When babies and children will be outside in bitterly cold weather, dress them up in many light, thin layers, including long underwear, pants, a turtleneck, a few shirts, warm socks, coat, hat and mittens.
• When dressing your child, add one additional layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same weather.
• Inside the home, covering your baby with blankets, quilts and pillows in the crib could contribute to sudden infant death syndrome. So dress your baby in a warm one-piece sleep suit, instead of piling on blankets.
• If you must use a blanket to keep your baby warm, tuck the blanket under the mattress of the crib. Keep the blanket tucked only up to the baby's chest, so that the face can't be covered by the blanket.

Health Headlines - February 27

Economy Pushing Americans to Cut Needed Health Care

A Kaiser Family Foundation poll released Wednesday found that more than half of Americans cut back on some kind of health care to save money in the past year, the Associated Press reported.

One in four put off general health care needs, including 16 percent who postponed surgery or doctor visits for chronic illnesses. To care for themselves, respondents said they relied instead on home remedies or over-the-counter drugs rather than seeing a doctor or a dentist.

Other findings in the poll, conducted by telephone with 1,204 adults from Feb. 3-12:

• Overall, 53 percent of Americans cut back on health needs in the past 12 months because of the declining economy.
• 10 percent delayed seeing a doctor for a chronic illness like diabetes or asthma.
• 6 percent postponed minor surgery in the doctor's office, while 5 percent delayed major surgery that would have required an overnight hospital stay.
• 19 percent skipped a doctor's visit for temporary illness or preventive care.

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Smarter Living Could Cut World's Cancer Cases, Report Says

A simpler diet, more exercise and better weight control could prevent more than 40 percent of breast and bowel cancers in developed countries, a World Cancer Research Fund report released Wednesday says.

According to the report, almost a third of the 12 most common cancers in the United States, including throat and lung cancers, could be prevented by adopting lifestyle changes. It estimated that 45 percent of colon cancer cases and 38 percent of breast cancer cases were preventable by adopting the small changes. The figures do not, however, account for the impact of cigarette smoking, which is responsible for about a third of all cancers, BBC News reported.

A panel of 23 experts made 48 recommendations for governments, households and schools to curb an expected uptick in cancer cases worldwide in the coming years. "The good news is that this is not inevitable," project chairman Dr. Martin Wiseman, a physician in clinical practice focusing on diabetes and a visiting professor in human nutrition at Southampton University, told the BBC.

Among the panel's recommendations were for governments to plan more walking and cycling routes, and for schools, workplaces and institutions to cut unhealthy foods from vending machines. The food and drinks industry should make public health its top priority in all stages of production, and household shoppers should be more diligent in their purchases, carefully examining labels to ensure they are choosing the healthiest products.

The report was published by the World Cancer Research Fund in conjunction with the American Institute for Cancer Research.

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China to Create Central Food Safety Commission

A central food safety commission will be established in China as part of the nation's efforts to reduce the number of scandals involving dangerous food products, the state news agency Xinhua said Wednesday.

The news agency said the commission will be set out under a new food safety law to be introduced at the annual parliamentary session next month and the commission's mandate will be to strengthen China's food monitoring system, Agence France Presse reported.

Scandals have plagued China's huge and poorly regulated food industry, resulting in public health emergencies and recalls at home and abroad. One of the worst occurred last year when about 300,000 infants were sickened and at least six died after consuming baby formula tainted with the industrial chemical melamine.

Experts say one major reason for the problems is that too many different agencies have jurisdiction over China's food industry, AFP reported.

Health Tips for February 27

Health Tip: Understanding Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a group of factors that combine to increase a person's risk of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other diseases, including stroke.

The American Heart Association offers this list of criteria for metabolic syndrome:

• Excess fat around the abdomen.
• High triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol.
• High blood pressure.
• Difficulty processing insulin.
• High levels of fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in the blood.
• High blood levels of C-reactive protein.

Health Tip: Preparing for a Stress Test

If your doctor has prescribed an exercise stress test to monitor how your heart performs during activity, there are a few things you should do before the test.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions to help you prepare:

• For at least three hours prior to the stress test, don't eat or smoke. And don't drink anything that contains alcohol or caffeine.
• Do not use Viagra within 24 hours of the test. Nitroglycerin (sometimes given during a stress test) may interact with Viagra, resulting in a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
• Unless your doctor has instructed otherwise, take all of your other medications as you normally would.
• You'll be exercising during the test, so wear appropriate clothing, including comfortable shoes or sneakers and loose workout clothes.
• For the test itself, electrodes that monitor your heart's activity will be applied to your chest, and you will pedal, walk or run on a machine while your heart rate is monitored.

Health Tips for February 26

Health Tip: Lift Weights to Boost Your Health

Lifting weights is a great way to build up or tone your muscles. But if you're not careful, you can cause permanent injury.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions for safe weight lifting:

• Remember to always wear sturdy shoes that provide traction when lifting weights. Also make sure that any weight machines are in good working order.
• Keep your back straight when lifting. Also remember to be careful when carrying weights around the weight room.
• Always ask someone to spot you when lifting very heavy weights.
• Always exhale while you lift the weights upward.
• Limit each set of muscles to only three workouts each week.
• If your muscles start to hurt, stop lifting.

Health Tip: Helping a Broken Toe Heal

A small toe can be a big pain if it's fractured.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions to help ease the pain and speed healing of a broken toe:

• Any fracture, confirmed or suspected, should be evaluated by a physician.
• Try not to walk on the toe, and keep your weight off the foot as much as you can.
• Place an ice pack on the toe to minimize swelling and pain. Make sure the ice isn't directly on the skin, and that you don't leave the ice on for more than 20 minutes at a time.
• Take an over-the-counter painkiller, such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
• Choose a wide shoe with a firm, supportive sole.
• No exercise, sports or activities until the toe heals, especially the activity that caused the break. Swimming is a good alternative until your toe is feeling better.

Health Headlines - February 26

China to Create Central Food Safety Commission

A central food safety commission will be established in China as part of the nation's efforts to reduce the number of scandals involving dangerous food products, the state news agency Xinhua said Wednesday.

The news agency said the commission will be set out under a new food safety law to be introduced at the annual parliamentary session next month and the commission's mandate will be to strengthen China's food monitoring system, Agence France Presse reported.

Scandals have plagued China's huge and poorly regulated food industry, resulting in public health emergencies and recalls at home and abroad. One of the worst occurred last year when about 300,000 infants were sickened and at least six died after consuming baby formula tainted with the industrial chemical melamine.

Experts say one major reason for the problems is that too many different agencies have jurisdiction over China's food industry, AFP reported.

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Gene May Determine Life Attitude

A single, hormone-delivery gene may determine whether a person is naturally happy or gloomy, say British researchers who conducted a series of psychological and genetic tests on 97 volunteers.

The results showed that participants with the long variant of the 5-HTTLPR gene paid attention to pleasant pictures and screened out distressing images, while those with a short variant of the gene had opposite preferences, Agence France Presse reported.

"The results indicated that a genetically driven tendency to look on the bright side of life is core cognitive mechanism underlying resilience to general life stress," wrote the University of Essex researchers.

The study appears in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

The 5-HTTLPR gene plays a key role in determining how the neurotransmitter serotonin functions within the brain. Serotonin transmits chemical messages between nerve cells and has been closely linked to mood, AFP reported.

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Texas Peanut Plant Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

Peanut butter made from peanuts processed at the Peanut Corp. of America's plant in Plainview, Texas contains the same salmonella strain that caused a nationwide outbreak, federal officials said Tuesday.

The test results suggest that Peanut Corp.'s plant in Blakely, Ga., may not have been the only source of the outbreak, which sickened more than 600 and may have contributed to nine deaths, the Associated Press reported.

Colorado health officials traced salmonella cases in that state to peanut butter sold by the Vitamin Cottage grocery chain. The peanuts used in that peanut butter came from Peanut Corp.'s Texas plant. Two samples of Vitamin Cottage peanut butter from two different consumers tested positive for the salmonella strain that caused the nationwide outbreak.

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Video Game Overuse Causes Skin Disorder

Skin specialists have identified a new skin disorder linked to overuse of video game consoles. The condition -- PlayStation palmar hidradenitis -- is described in a case study by doctors at Geneva University Hospital in Switzerland.

They treated a 12-year-old girl who had intensely painful sores on her hands. She couldn't recall any recent trauma to her hands and hadn't done any sports or physical exercise recently, BBC News reported.

However, her parents said she had recently started to play a video game on a PlayStation console for several hours a day, and continued playing even after she developed the sores on her hands.

The doctors cited a combination of factors: tight and continuous grasping of the console's hand grips, repeated pushing of the buttons, and sweating caused by game-related tension, BBC News reported.

The girl made a full recovery after 10 days of not using the game console. The study appears in the British Journal of Dermatology.

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Huge Increase in U.K. Diabetes Rate

From 1997 to 2003, there was a 74 percent rise in the number of new cases of diabetes in the U.K., an alarming increase linked to growing obesity rates, say researchers who analyzed data from nearly five million medical records.

By 2005, more than 4 percent of the U.K. population had diabetes, nearly double the rate of a decade earlier, BBC News reported.

Of the more than 42,000 people newly diagnosed with diabetes between 1996 and 2005, more than 41,000 had later-onset type 2 diabetes, which is associated with unhealthy lifestyle habits.

The findings suggest that diabetes rates in the U.K. are rising faster than in the United States, which has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world, BBC News reported.

The study appears in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Health Headlines - February 25

Video Game Overuse Causes Skin Disorder

Skin specialists have identified a new skin disorder linked to overuse of video game consoles. The condition -- PlayStation palmar hidradenitis -- is described in a case study by doctors at Geneva University Hospital in Switzerland.

They treated a 12-year-old girl who had intensely painful sores on her hands. She couldn't recall any recent trauma to her hands and hadn't done any sports or physical exercise recently, BBC News reported.

However, her parents said she had recently started to play a video game on a PlayStation console for several hours a day, and continued playing even after she developed the sores on her hands.

The doctors cited a combination of factors: tight and continuous grasping of the console's hand grips, repeated pushing of the buttons, and sweating caused by game-related tension, BBC News reported.

The girl made a full recovery after 10 days of not using the game console. The study appears in the British Journal of Dermatology.

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Huge Increase in U.K. Diabetes Rate

From 1997 to 2003, there was a 74 percent rise in the number of new cases of diabetes in the U.K., an alarming increase linked to growing obesity rates, say researchers who analyzed data from nearly five million medical records.

By 2005, more than 4 percent of the U.K. population had diabetes, nearly double the rate of a decade earlier, BBC News reported.

Of the more than 42,000 people newly diagnosed with diabetes between 1996 and 2005, more than 41,000 had later-onset type 2 diabetes, which is associated with unhealthy lifestyle habits.

The findings suggest that diabetes rates in the U.K. are rising faster than in the United States, which has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world, BBC News reported.

The study appears in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

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Baby Milk Powder Safe: Wyeth

A U.S. company says its baby milk powder is safe and did not cause kidney stones in Chinese babies.

A Chinese newspaper had reported that at least 20 families claimed their infants developed kidney stones after consuming Wyeth products, Agence France Presse reported.

"At this point, there is no clear evidence showing that these ailments have any link to Wyeth products," the company said in a statement posted on its China Web site Monday. The company said its products have been cleared by Chinese inspectors and said it would cooperate in finding the cause of the kidney stones in the babies.

Similar allegations prompted Chinese authorities to investigate the domestically produced milk powder of Danone Dumex, a unit of French food giant Danone. The company was cleared by China's product-quality regulator, AFP reported.

Last year, milk products contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine sickened about 300,000 infants and killed six.

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Fish Pedicure Banned in Florida

Florida regulators have banned a pedicure treatment in which fish nibble dead skin from the feet or other parts of the body, a procedure that's popular in Asia and has spread to some U.S. cities, the Associated Press reported.

It's not even known if the treatment is offered anywhere in the state, but the Florida Board of Cosmetology said salons have been asking about the legality of the procedure. That prompted the board to take action before the issue became a problem.

A spokeswoman for the Florida board said there were concerns because there's no way to disinfect a pool of fish in between use by different patients, the AP reported.

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Texas and Washington have also banned the treatment, in which clients put their feet, hands or other parts of the body in a bowl or pool so that small fish can consume soft decaying skin.

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Mental Fatigue Affects Exercise Duration

Being mentally fatigued can make people feel more exhausted when they exercise, according to researchers at Bangor University in Wales, U.K.

Their small study included 16 volunteers who twice rode a stationary bike until they were exhausted -- once when they were mentally rested and once when they were mentally fatigued, United Press International reported.

On average, the participants stopped exercising about 15 percent earlier when they were mentally fatigued. But the researchers found that mental fatigue didn't affect the performance of the heart or muscles. It was the participants' "perceived effort" that determined when they reached physical exhaustion while exercising.

The researchers suggested that mental fatigue may lower the brain's inhibition against quitting exercise, or may affect the brain chemical dopamine, which plays a role in motivation and effort, UPI reported.

The study appears in the March issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Health Tips for February 25

Health Tip: At Risk for Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a disease of the mouth that can damage the gums, ligaments and sockets that surround the teeth.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, people with these risk factors should be extra careful about preventing gingivitis:

• People with poor dental health or dental hygiene practices.
• Pregnant women, as certain hormonal changes can increase gum sensitivity.
• Diabetics who can't manage or control their disease.
• People with teeth that are poorly aligned, or with braces or fillings with rough edges.
• People taking certain medications, including birth control pills and phenytoin.

Health Tip: Tobacco and Oral Health

You know that tobacco is bad for your health, and your mouth is no exception.

The American Dental Association says smoking or chewing tobacco can cause or contribute to:

• Cancers of the mouth.
• Gum (periodontal) disease, which can lead to lost or sensitive teeth.
• Bad breath, stained teeth, and even a stained tongue.
• Reduced ability to taste and smell.
• Slower healing after oral surgery.

Health Headlines - February 24

White House to Send $15 Billion to States for Medicaid

The Obama administration intends to distribute $15 billion within two days to help cash-strapped states cope with Medicaid payments to the poor.

The $15 billion is part of the newly passed $787 billion economic stimulus program, President Barack Obama told governors during a White House meeting Monday, the Associated Press reported.

Medicaid is underwritten jointly by states and the federal government.

"By the time most of you get home, money will be waiting to help 20 million vulnerable Americans in your states keep their health care coverage," Obama told the governors.

"Children with asthma will be able to breathe easier, seniors won't need to fear losing their doctors, and pregnant women with limited means won't have to worry about the health of their babies," the President said.

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New Blood Thinner Approved by EU

A new blood thinner called prasugrel has just been approved by European Union regulators.

The drug will be launched in Europe in the coming weeks under the brand name Efient, Eli Lilly & Co. spokeswoman Carole Copland told the Associated Press.

Prasugrel is designed to prevent blood clots in heart disease patients who've have stents implanted to keep their arteries open.

Earlier this month, an FDA advisory panel recommended that the agency approve prasugrel, the AP reported. The FDA has twice delayed making a decision on the drug but usually follows the advice of its advisory panels.

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Potato Items Pulled From Store Shelves

Several potato products that may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes have been pulled from the shelves of Giant Food and Stop & Shop supermarkets, the Associated Press reported.

The products are 20 oz. bags of Simply Potatoes Shredded Hash Browns, Simply Potatoes Homestyle Slices and Simply Potatoes Red Potato Wedges. The products, which have "use by" dates ranging from March 29 to April 3, 2009, were recalled by Northern Star Co., a subsidiary of food processor Michael Foods Inc.

Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can cause flu-like symptoms and can be especially dangerous for pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

No reports of illness or injuries related to the recalled potato products have been received by Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop or by Landover, Md.-based Giant Food, the AP reported.

Customers who bought the products should throw out any unused portions and bring the receipts to their stores for a full refund, the companies said.

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Job Affects Obesity Risk

Obesity rates are higher among blue- collar workers and those who work shifts and long hours than among white collar workers and those with regular hours and shorter hours, according to a Statistics Canada study.

The analysis of data from two national surveys conducted in 2005 found that men working more than 40 hours a week were more likely to be obese than those who worked 30 to 40 hours a week, and that male and female shift workers were more likely to be obese than those with regularly scheduled work hours, CBC News reported.

Stress caused by long and irregular work hours may be one cause of the higher obesity levels, said study author Jungwee Park, who added that irregular work schedules may also make it more difficult for people to eat a healthy diet.

Park also found a significant link between low education levels and increased risk of obesity in workers ages 35 to 54. Those with less than a high school diploma were 1.6 times more likely to be obese than those with a post-secondary education. However, this kind of association between education and obesity wasn't seen in workers ages 18 to 34, CBC News reported.

The study also found that overall rates of obesity are increasing.

"In 2005, 15.7 percent of employed Canadians aged 18 to 64, or more than two million people, were obese, up from 12.5 percent in the mid-1990s," Park said.

Health Tips for February 24

Health Tip: Causes of Corns

Corns are small bumps that develop on the top or sides of the toes, often because you've worn shoes that rub those toes the wrong way.

Corns are not a serious condition, but they can be painful.

Here are common causes of corns, courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

• Having a deformity of the toe, such as a hammer toe.
• Wearing high heels that pinch the toes or put pressure on the ball of the foot.
• A seam inside a shoe rubbing on the toes.
• Poorly fitting socks that allow pressure or friction on the toes.
• Shoes that are too tight or too loose.

Health Tip: If the Shoe Fits

Making sure that your shoes fit properly can significantly reduce your risk of foot problems.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions when trying on and buying shoes:

• Before you try on a new pair, have both of your feet measured at the store. Your feet can vary in size, and change over time.
• Stand up while your feet are measured, and do it at the end of the day, when feet are likely to be a bit larger.
• Make sure that your shoes aren't so tight that they pinch your toes, but they shouldn't be so big that they slide around on your feet.
• Before you buy, walk around in the shoes to be sure they are comfortable. You should not have to "break them in."
• Sizes vary between shoes and brands, so go with what fits, not necessarily the size you are used to buying.

Health Headlines - February 23

Peanut Company Recalls All Products in Salmonella Outbreak

The peanut company at the heart of the nationwide salmonella outbreak has now recalled all products made at its Georgia and Texas production plants.

In a statement posted on the Web site of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Peanut Corp., of Lynchburg, Va., said all customers should "not distribute or further use" any food products received from its now-closed Blakely, Ga., and Plainview, Texas, production facilities.

The recall notice expands greatly the company's voluntary actions last month, which covered peanut butter and peanut paste products processed since Jan. 1, 2007.

More than 2,100 products in 17 categories have so far been recalled by more than 200 companies, according to the FDA's Web site. The breadth of the recall -- covering everything from cookies, candies and ice cream to snack bars, prepared meals and dog treats -- makes this one of the largest recalls in U.S. history.

Meanwhile, the outbreak is continuing. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of last Thursday, 654 people in 44 states had been sickened by Salmonella Typhimurium, with the most recent reported illness on Feb. 3. There have also been nine deaths in five states linked to the outbreak.

The new statement by Peanut Corp., which declared bankruptcy two weeks ago, also said the company can no longer take action on recalled products and customers should now contact the FDA on all matters related to the recall.

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Unhealthy Lifestyle Boosts Stroke Risk

The risk of stroke is more than doubled by an unhealthy lifestyle that includes smoking, drinking too much alcohol, lack of exercise, and poor eating habits, according to a British study that included 20,000 adults, ages 40 to 79.

The participants were given one point for each of the following healthy habits: not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption to one to 14 units per week, consuming five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, and being physically active. More women than men achieved the maximum four points, BBC News reported.

Participants who scored zero points were 2.3 times more likely to have a stroke in the 11 years of follow-up than those who scored four points. For every point decrease in participants' scores, there was an increased risk of stroke, according to the study, published in the British Medical Journal.

Fifteen (5.8 percent) of the 259 people who didn't score any points suffered a stroke, compared to 186 (2.4 percent) of the 7,822 who achieved a score of three, and 1.7 percent of the 5,000 who had a score of four, BBC News reported.

"Together with the substantial existing body of evidence about modifiable behaviors and stroke risk, this may provide further encouragement to make entirely feasible changes which have the potential to have a major impact on stroke," said study leader Dr. Phyo Myint of the University of East Anglia.

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Allergic Children Able to Build-Up Tolerance to Peanuts: Study

British scientists say they've successfully built up tolerance in children with severe peanut allergies.

The study included four children who were given small daily doses of peanut flour mixed into yogurt. Over six months, the doses were increased to the equivalent of five whole peanuts. By the end of the trial, the children could eat at least 10 peanuts without suffering any allergic reaction, Agence France Presse reported.

The findings appear in the journal Allergy.

The researchers at Addenbroke's Hospital in Cambridge are continuing the trial, which now includes 20 children ages seven to 17. Some of them can now eat 12 peanuts a day, AFP reported.

"At the moment we know that if they continue to eat five peanuts a day, their tolerance is maintained. If they were to stop, then there is some evidence that tolerance would be lost and they may have a reaction," said research leader Andrew Clark, a consultant in pediatric allergy.

Health Tips for February 23

Health Tip: Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction

Allergic reactions can range from very mild to life-threatening. Severe allergic reactions require immediate medical attention, but even reactions that are milder should be checked out by a doctor.

Here are warning signs of a mild allergic reaction, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

• Skin rash.
• Hives, especially on the neck or the face.
• Itchy skin.
• Red or watery eyes.
• Nasal congestion.

If you have more serious symptoms of an allergic reaction, including difficulty breathing, swelling, dizziness, chest discomfort, abdominal pain, or feelings of apprehension and anxiety, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Health Tip: Allergies to the Flu Shot

The flu vaccine is safe for most people, but some people could experience dangerous complications from the flu vaccine, including an allergic reaction.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the following people should not get a flu shot without first speaking to their doctor:

• Anyone with an egg allergy.
• Anyone who has had a previous severe reaction to a flu shot.
• Children younger than 6 months old.
• Anyone who developed a condition called Guillain-Barré Syndrome within six weeks of receiving a previous flu shot.
• Anyone who is ill with a fever should wait until they are healthy again to have the flu shot.

Health Headlines - February 22

Allergic Children Able to Build-Up Tolerance to Peanuts: Study

British scientists say they've successfully built up tolerance in children with severe peanut allergies.

The study included four children who were given small daily doses of peanut flour mixed into yogurt. Over six months, the doses were increased to the equivalent of five whole peanuts. By the end of the trial, the children could eat at least 10 peanuts without suffering any allergic reaction, Agence France Presse reported.

The findings appear in the journal Allergy.

The researchers at Addenbroke's Hospital in Cambridge are continuing the trial, which now includes 20 children ages seven to 17. Some of them can now eat 12 peanuts a day, AFP reported.

"At the moment we know that if they continue to eat five peanuts a day, their tolerance is maintained. If they were to stop, then there is some evidence that tolerance would be lost and they may have a reaction," said research leader Andrew Clark, a consultant in pediatric allergy.

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Unhealthy Lifestyle Boosts Stroke Risk

The risk of stroke is more than doubled by an unhealthy lifestyle that includes smoking, drinking too much alcohol, lack of exercise, and poor eating habits, according to a British study that included 20,000 adults, ages 40 to 79.

The participants were given one point for each of the following healthy habits: not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption to one to 14 units per week, consuming five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, and being physically active. More women than men achieved the maximum four points, BBC News reported.

Participants who scored zero points were 2.3 times more likely to have a stroke in the 11 years of follow-up than those who scored four points. For every point decrease in participants' scores, there was an increased risk of stroke, according to the study, published in the British Medical Journal.

Fifteen (5.8 percent) of the 259 people who didn't score any points suffered a stroke, compared to 186 (2.4 percent) of the 7,822 who achieved a score of three, and 1.7 percent of the 5,000 who had a score of four, BBC News reported.

"Together with the substantial existing body of evidence about modifiable behaviors and stroke risk, this may provide further encouragement to make entirely feasible changes which have the potential to have a major impact on stroke," said study leader Dr. Phyo Myint of the University of East Anglia.

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Sensory Changes Ease Children's Dental Visit Anxiety

Playing soothing music, altering the lighting, and other sensory changes can help ease children's anxiety during a dental appointment, suggests an Israeli study that included 35 youngsters, ages six to 11. Their anxiety levels were monitored during two routine cleaning visits.

The first was a normal visit, with fluorescent lighting and an overhead dental lamp. For the second visit, the researchers removed the overhead lighting, added a slow moving, repetitive color lamp, and the dental hygienist wore an LED headlamp that shone into the child' mouth, CBC News reported.

In addition, the dental chair was modified to vibrate, the children listened to soothing music and they wore a heavy vest designed to feel like a hug.

The changes reduced children's anxious behavior from an average of 3.69 minutes to 1.48 minutes. The reduction was even greater among children with developmental disabilities -- from 23.44 minutes to 9.04 minutes, CBC News reported.

The study will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Pediatrics.

Health Tips for February 22

Health Tip: Living With Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease is characterized by abnormally shaped red blood cells. This can cause the cells to become lodged in blood vessels -- a painful result called a sickle cell crisis.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these recommendations to help prevent a sickle cell crisis:

• Avoid alcohol or drink only very little, and don't smoke.
• Drink at least eight glasses of water every day.
• Keep illnesses and health conditions, such as a simple infection or diseases such as diabetes, treated and under control.
• Avoid stress whenever possible.
• Make time to exercise -- but moderate exercise only.
• Don't let yourself get too cold. Dress warmly in winter or when in air conditioning, and avoid swimming in cold water.
• Talk to your doctor if you snore, or if you have sleep apnea.

Health Tip: Coping With Pet Allergies

If being near a pet makes you sniffle, sneeze, and your eyes water, you may not have to live a pet-free life.

The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology offers these suggestions:

• Always wash your hands after you touch a pet. And avoid kissing or hugging your furry friend.
• Keep cat litter boxes away from vents, and try to limit your exposure to them.
• Give your pet a bath each week to reduce dander. And try to have a person who isn't allergic regularly brush your pet outdoors.
• Don't allow pets on upholstered furniture. If necessary, cover the furniture in plastic.
• Make sure your pet is on a healthy diet to help reduce shedding.
• Try to eliminate rugs and carpets from your home, and use a double filter or micro-filter bag in your vacuum.
• Ask your doctor about getting allergy shots to control symptoms.

Health Headlines - February 21

Allergic Children Able to Build-Up Tolerance to Peanuts: Study

British scientists say they've successfully built up tolerance in children with severe peanut allergies.

The study included four children who were given small daily doses of peanut flour mixed into yogurt. Over six months, the doses were increased to the equivalent of five whole peanuts. By the end of the trial, the children could eat at least 10 peanuts without suffering any allergic reaction, Agence France Presse reported.

The findings appear in the journal Allergy.

The researchers at Addenbroke's Hospital in Cambridge are continuing the trial, which now includes 20 children ages seven to 17. Some of them can now eat 12 peanuts a day, AFP reported.

"At the moment we know that if they continue to eat five peanuts a day, their tolerance is maintained. If they were to stop, then there is some evidence that tolerance would be lost and they may have a reaction," said research leader Andrew Clark, a consultant in pediatric allergy.

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Unhealthy Lifestyle Boosts Stroke Risk

The risk of stroke is more than doubled by an unhealthy lifestyle that includes smoking, drinking too much alcohol, lack of exercise, and poor eating habits, according to a British study that included 20,000 adults, ages 40 to 79.

The participants were given one point for each of the following healthy habits: not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption to one to 14 units per week, consuming five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, and being physically active. More women than men achieved the maximum four points, BBC News reported.

Participants who scored zero points were 2.3 times more likely to have a stroke in the 11 years of follow-up than those who scored four points. For every point decrease in participants' scores, there was an increased risk of stroke, according to the study, published in the British Medical Journal.

Fifteen (5.8 percent) of the 259 people who didn't score any points suffered a stroke, compared to 186 (2.4 percent) of the 7,822 who achieved a score of three, and 1.7 percent of the 5,000 who had a score of four, BBC News reported.

"Together with the substantial existing body of evidence about modifiable behaviors and stroke risk, this may provide further encouragement to make entirely feasible changes which have the potential to have a major impact on stroke," said study leader Dr. Phyo Myint of the University of East Anglia.

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Sensory Changes Ease Children's Dental Visit Anxiety

Playing soothing music, altering the lighting, and other sensory changes can help ease children's anxiety during a dental appointment, suggests an Israeli study that included 35 youngsters, ages six to 11. Their anxiety levels were monitored during two routine cleaning visits.

The first was a normal visit, with fluorescent lighting and an overhead dental lamp. For the second visit, the researchers removed the overhead lighting, added a slow moving, repetitive color lamp, and the dental hygienist wore an LED headlamp that shone into the child' mouth, CBC News reported.

In addition, the dental chair was modified to vibrate, the children listened to soothing music and they wore a heavy vest designed to feel like a hug.

The changes reduced children's anxious behavior from an average of 3.69 minutes to 1.48 minutes. The reduction was even greater among children with developmental disabilities -- from 23.44 minutes to 9.04 minutes, CBC News reported.

The study will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Pediatrics.

Health Tips for February 21

Health Tip: If You Have a Food Allergy

A food allergy is an immune system response to a food that the body mistakenly believes is harmful, according to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network.

Once the immune system decides to treat a particular food this way, eating that food can prompt the massive release of chemicals known as histamines. These chemicals, in turn, trigger allergic reactions that can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and cardiovascular system.

Avoiding these foods altogether is the only sure way to prevent a reaction.

Although someone can be allergic to just about any food, the following edibles account for 90 percent of all reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (including walnuts and cashews), fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.

Health Tip: Living With Latex Allergy

Latex is found in a number of common objects -- ranging from dishwashing gloves to rubber toys. The sanitary gloves that doctors and nurses use also are frequently made of latex.

If you've got a latex allergy, the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to prevent a reaction:

• Figure out which items at home and work are made from latex, and find non-latex items as replacements.
• Be careful around powdered latex gloves and similar products. Even breathing in the powder can be harmful.
• In a medical situation -- whether you're a worker or patient -- make sure that you or others than you come in contact with wear non-latex gloves.
• Carry a medical alert bracelet, necklace, or key chain that notes your allergy.
• Ask your doctor if you should carry an emergency epinephrine injection with you.

Health Headlines - February 20

Kansas Gov. Leading Candidate for U.S. Health Secretary

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is a leading candidate for the post of U.S. health and human services secretary, according to White House advisers, The New York Times reported.

Along with her eight years of experience as her state's insurance commissioner and six years experience as a governor running a state Medicaid program, Sibelius is seen as someone who can work across party lines. She's a Democrat in one of the nation's most Republican states.

This could prove vital to President Barack Obama as he turns his attention to health care next week with a plan designed to advance his ideas about covering the uninsured, the Times reported.

If she is appointed health secretary, Sibelius would be welcomed by health advocates.

She "knows health care as well as any governor in the United States," Ronald F. Pollack, executive director of the consumer group Families USA, told the Times.

Former Senator Tom Daschle was Obama's first pick for health and human services secretary, but Daschle withdrew over his failure to pay $128,000 in taxes.

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14,000 Americans Lose Health Insurance Daily: Report

As many as 14,000 Americans a day lose their health insurance and two million have become uninsured since jobs began disappearing in the recession, adding to the 46 million who were already without insurance, according to a report released Thursday.

As jobs continue to vanish, the rate of coverage loss is accelerating, warned the Washington, D.C.-based Center for American Progress Action Fund.

The number of newly uninsured Americans would be much higher if it werent for people enrolling in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, the group said in a news release.

The growing number of uninsured Americans is one of the major economic challenges facing the country, said the report, which called on politicians to support health care reform that provides coverage for everyone and slows the growth of health care costs.

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China Probing New Kidney Stone Illness in Babies

Chinese parents are blaming a growing number of cases of kidney stones in babies on dairy products made by Dumex Baby Food Co., a subsidiary of France's Groupe Danone SA, the Associated Press reported.

But the company says its products are safe and health officials said tests showed the products do not contain the industrial chemical melamine, which was found in tainted formula that caused kidney problems in hundreds of thousands of children and killed at least six babies last year.

China's Health Ministry has launched an investigation and told all local health bureaus to start monitoring kidney problems in children and to look at their eating habits and living environment, the China Daily newspaper said Thursday, the AP reported.

It's not known how many children have become sick, when they became ill, or what pushed the Health Ministry to launch an investigation into the latest outbreak.

"We're trying to find out why the number of kidney ailments among babies has risen drastically," Ma Yangchen of the ministry's press office, was quoted in the China Daily, according to AP.

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FDA Experts Suggest Change for Next Season's Flu Vaccine

A panel of experts advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recommended changing one of the three strains of flu included in this season's influenza vaccine for next season's version, the Dow Jones news service reported Wednesday.

Each annual vaccine typically has two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B that are most likely to strike during the upcoming season. But the decision about which strains to include is made months in advance.

The FDA panel said next season's vaccine should include the same strains of influenza A as this season's shot, but that a newer "B" strain be included in the upcoming vaccine, Dow Jones said.

In a typical season, one or two of the three strains included in the annual vaccine are changed from the prior season, although all three changed in the 2008-2009 flu shot from the year-earlier vaccine, the news service said.

The strains used in the vaccine are grown in chicken eggs. The process of creating the next season's vaccine typically starts in January or February. It takes about eight months to create the 130 million doses needed, Dow Jones said.

Health Tips for February 20

Health Tip: Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes a person to stop breathing temporarily during sleep. When a person isn't breathing, even for brief periods, it can deprive the blood of oxygen and lead to serious complications.

Here are some common warning signs of sleep apnea that should be evaluated by your doctor. They're provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

• A partner notices that you've stopped breathing for brief periods (often 10 seconds or more) during sleep.
• Feeling tired and lethargic during the day.
• Having headaches first thing in the morning.
• Poor quality of sleep, and waking often.
• Feeling depressed, having problems with concentration and noticing differences in your personality.
• Snoring loudly, especially as soon as you fall asleep.

Health Tip: Keeping Your Children Warm in Winter

In bitter winter weather, it's important to make sure children are dressed appropriately.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these recommendations:

• When babies and children will be outside in bitterly cold weather, dress them up in many light, thin layers, including long underwear, pants, a turtleneck, a few shirts, warm socks, coat, hat and mittens.
• When dressing your child, add one additional layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same weather.
• Inside the home, covering your baby with blankets, quilts and pillows in the crib could contribute to sudden infant death syndrome. So dress your baby in a warm one-piece sleep suit, instead of piling on blankets.
• If you must use a blanket to keep your baby warm, tuck the blanket under the mattress of the crib. Keep the blanket tucked only up to the baby's chest, so that the face can't be covered by the blanket.

Health Headlines - February 19

FDA Experts Suggest Change for Next Season's Flu Vaccine

A panel of experts advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recommended changing one of the three strains of flu included in this season's influenza vaccine for next season's version, the Dow Jones news service reported Wednesday.

Each annual vaccine typically has two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B that are most likely to strike during the upcoming season. But the decision about which strains to include is made months in advance.

The FDA panel said next season's vaccine should include the same strains of influenza A as this season's shot, but that a newer "B" strain be included in the upcoming vaccine, Dow Jones said.

In a typical season, one or two of the three strains included in the annual vaccine are changed from the prior season, although all three changed in the 2008-2009 flu shot from the year-earlier vaccine, the news service said.

The strains used in the vaccine are grown in chicken eggs. The process of creating the next season's vaccine typically starts in January or February. It takes about eight months to create the 130 million doses needed, Dow Jones said.

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FDA Cuts Inspections of Labs Testing Medical Devices

Enforcement of federal quality regulations at labs that develop medical devices has been scaled back by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to a Project on Government Oversight report.

The independent watchdog group found that FDA inspections of "good laboratory practices" at facilities that do early testing of medical devices such as pacemakers, stents and imaging machines declined from 33 in 2005, to seven in 2007, to one in 2008, the Associated Press reported. No FDA inspections are planned for this year.

"The decision ... to not enforce [lab standards] is stunning in its contempt for the protection of patients," the group said in its report.

By focusing its enforcement on clinical trials that involve people, and not on early medical device testing in labs, the FDA says it can make better use of scarce resources and still protect the public, the AP reported.

Critics disagree. "This decision ... may result in an irreversible cascade of adverse consequences to the protection of the public," the Society of Quality Assurance said in a letter to Congress.

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HIV/AIDS Deadliest Infectious Disease in China

HIV/AIDS is now the leading infectious disease-related cause of death in China, according to the state news agency Xinhua .

Between January and September 2008, AIDS killed 6,897 people. Since China reported its the first AIDS death in 1985, 34,864 people have died of the disease, caused by HIV infection. Previously the third deadliest infectious disease in the country, HIV/AIDS is now followed by tuberculosis, rabies, hepatitis and infant tetanus, according to a Xinhua reported cited by the Associated Press.

The Chinese news agency said Ministry of Health figures show that the number of confirmed HIV infections increased from 135,630 in 2005 to 264,302 from January to September 2008.

The actual number of HIV-infected people in China may actually be about 700,000, according to government and outside estimates, the AP reported. The discrepancy between official and estimated numbers is due in part to people's reluctance to be tested for HIV. The government estimates that 85,000 of those 700,000 people have full-blown AIDS.

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Food Banks Throwing Out Thousands of Pounds of Recalled Food

U.S. food banks are throwing out thousands of pounds of food products recalled in the nationwide salmonella outbreak linked to Peanut Corp. of America.

The discarded products include peanut butter, cereals, cookies, nut mixes and granola bars, items which are vital to food banks because of their long shelf life and durability, the Associated Press reported.

The Houston Food Bank has thrown out 3,000 pounds of recalled products. The Cleveland Food Clinic has tossed out 1,000 pounds of food and has put another several thousands pounds of food on snacks on hold until the recall list is finalized. More than 1,300 pounds of food has been discarded or quarantined at the Food Finders Food Bank Inc. in Lafayette, Ind.

"At a time when food banks are struggling, everything inevitably has an impact," Karen Ponza, spokeswoman for the Cleveland Food Clinic, told the AP.

So far, more than 1,900 products have been recalled due to the salmonella outbreak, which has sickened nearly 600 people and caused nine deaths.

Health Tips for February 19

Health Tip: Storing Breast Milk

If you want to store breast milk for when you're not available to breast-feed, the Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions for doing it safely:

• Breast milk can be refrigerated for about two or three days, as long as the temperature is between 32 and 39 degrees Fahrenheit (0 C to 3.9 C).
• Breast milk can be frozen for three to four months in many freezers, as long as the temperature is 0 F (-18 C). But lengths may vary based on the type of freezer.
• Breast milk can be kept at room temperature for four to eight hours, as long as the room is kept at 77 F (25 C) or cooler.
• Always store breast milk in sterile bottles that have a screw cap, a sterilized nursing bag, or tightly-capped hard plastic cups. Always label the bottles with the date that the milk was pumped.
• You can let milk thaw in a refrigerator for up to 24 hours, but never refreeze milk that has been thawed.

Health Tip: Wean Your Child From Breast-Feeding

When you feel the time is right to wean your baby from breast milk, the Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions to help make the process easier:

• Substitute a bottle or cup at nursing time. Slightly older children can have a healthy snack or a cup as a substitute.
• At the typical times that you'd nurse, schedule a special and fun activity instead.
• Don't wear the same nursing clothes, and change rooms for the substitute activity.
• Schedule the weaning for a time when your baby isn't dealing with other major changes, such as starting day care or teething.
• Don't discourage your child if he or she begins a substitute habit -- such as sucking the thumb or carrying a stuffed animal. It's just your child's way of dealing with the change.

Health Headlines - February 18

Food Banks Throwing Out Thousands of Pounds of Recalled Food

U.S. food banks are throwing out thousands of pounds of food products recalled in the nationwide salmonella outbreak linked to Peanut Corp. of America.

The discarded products include peanut butter, cereals, cookies, nut mixes and granola bars, items which are vital to food banks because of their long shelf life and durability, the Associated Press reported.

The Houston Food Bank has thrown out 3,000 pounds of recalled products. The Cleveland Food Clinic has tossed out 1,000 pounds of food and has put another several thousands pounds of food on snacks on hold until the recall list is finalized. More than 1,300 pounds of food has been discarded or quarantined at the Food Finders Food Bank Inc. in Lafayette, Ind.

"At a time when food banks are struggling, everything inevitably has an impact," Karen Ponza, spokeswoman for the Cleveland Food Clinic, told the AP.

So far, more than 1,900 products have been recalled due to the salmonella outbreak, which has sickened nearly 600 people and caused nine deaths.

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Counterfeit Toothbrushes Pose Choking Hazard

Counterfeit toothbrushes that pose a choking hazard have been distributed across Canada and consumers should check their toothbrushes to make sure they're authentic, says Health Canada.

The agency said it has received at least one report of a counterfeit product's bristles becoming dislodged and caught in a person's throat, CBC News reported.

The counterfeit toothbrushes are labeled as Colgate Navigator, Colgate Massager, Colgate 360, the Oral B Classic 40 and Oral B Contura.

Authentic Colgate toothbrushes can be identified by the packaging, labeled in English and French only, that states "Distr. by/par: Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc." They also have a lot code molded into the brush handle just under the brush head, CBC News reported.

Genuine Oral B brushes can be identified by the Oral B logo manufactured as part of the handle, while the fake versions may have the logo printed in silver test across a peel-away label.

Consumers who suspect they have a counterfeit brush should stop using it immediately, Health Canada said.

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U.K. Confirms First Case of Human Mad Cow Disease in Hemophilia Patient

The first case of the human form of mad cow disease in a hemophilia patient has been confirmed by the U.K.'s Health Protection Agency (HPA).

The male victim, who was over 70 years old, received plasma products before rules were introduced to limit contagion. A post-mortem showed he had variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), but he showed no symptoms of the disease while alive and died of other causes, BBC News reported.

This is the first confirmed case of vCJD in up to 4,000 hemophiliac patients in the U.K. who received blood plasma transfusions between 1980 and 2001. They've been told they have a low risk of developing the disease.

"This new finding may indicate that what was until now a theoretical risk may be an actual risk to certain individuals who have received blood plasma products, although the risk could still be quite low," Prof. Mike Catchpole of the HPA's Centre for Infections told BBC News. "We recognize that this finding will be of concern for persons with hemophilia who will be awaiting the completion of the ongoing investigations and their interpretation."

This is the first case of vCJD involving plasma products, but blood transfusions have been linked to three vCJD deaths in the U.K. Most of the 164 vCJD deaths in the U.K. are believed to have been caused by eating meat infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

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Many Factors Can Contribute to PTSD Risk

Stress hormones, genetics and childhood events are among the factors that could influence a person's risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

One study of U.S. military personnel who were exposed to highly stressful situations found differences in stress hormone levels.

"Interestingly, there are some individuals who, when confronted with extreme stress, their hormone profile is rather unique," said Yale University psychiatrist Deane Aikins, Agence France Presse reported. "It doesn't reach the same peak as the rest of us. So we are ready to scream in our chair, and there are certain individuals who just don't get as stressed. Their stress hormones are actually lower and the peptides that down regulate that stress are quite higher."

Low IQ as early as age 5, difficult temperament at age 3, and family factors such as growing up in poverty, having a depressed mother or being separated from parents at a young age could all increase a person's risk of developing PTSD, found Harvard University public health professor Karestan Koenen and colleagues, AFP reported.

Also, "some people have genetic variants that make them more vulnerable to the effects of trauma," Koenen said.

Another study found that Vietnam veterans who suffered injuries in a certain area of the brain didn't develop PTSD.

Health Tips for February 18

Health Tip: Tobacco and Oral Health

You know that tobacco is bad for your health, and your mouth is no exception.

The American Dental Association says smoking or chewing tobacco can cause or contribute to:

• Cancers of the mouth.
• Gum (periodontal) disease, which can lead to lost or sensitive teeth.
• Bad breath, stained teeth, and even a stained tongue.
• Reduced ability to taste and smell.
• Slower healing after oral surgery.

Health Tip: Smoking and Diabetes

Smoking is harmful for everyone, but it can be particularly dangerous for diabetics, who are already at risk of complications such as cardiovascular disease.

If you're a diabetic who has smoked, no matter how long, you can improve your health by quitting. The American Diabetes Association offers this list of potential dangers for diabetics who smoke:

• Smoking decreases oxygen in the tissues, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
• Smoking increases cholesterol and blood pressure, which raises your risk of heart attack.
• Smoking constricts and damages blood vessels, which can make foot ulcers worse.
• Smoking increases your risk of damage to the nerves and kidneys.
• Smoking increases your risk of colds and other respiratory illnesses.
• Smoking increases blood sugar levels.
• Smoking triples your risk of death from cardiovascular disease, compared to diabetics who don't smoke.

Health Headlines - February 17

Many Factors Can Contribute to PTSD Risk

Stress hormones, genetics and childhood events are among the factors that could influence a person's risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

One study of U.S. military personnel who were exposed to highly stressful situations found differences in stress hormone levels.

"Interestingly, there are some individuals who, when confronted with extreme stress, their hormone profile is rather unique," said Yale University psychiatrist Deane Aikins, Agence France Presse reported. "It doesn't reach the same peak as the rest of us. So we are ready to scream in our chair, and there are certain individuals who just don't get as stressed. Their stress hormones are actually lower and the peptides that down regulate that stress are quite higher."

Low IQ as early as age 5, difficult temperament at age 3, and family factors such as growing up in poverty, having a depressed mother or being separated from parents at a young age could all increase a person's risk of developing PTSD, found Harvard University public health professor Karestan Koenen and colleagues, AFP reported.

Also, "some people have genetic variants that make them more vulnerable to the effects of trauma," Koenen said.

Another study found that Vietnam veterans who suffered injuries in a certain area of the brain didn't develop PTSD.

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Acrylamide May Increase Heart Disease Risk: Study

Acrylamide, a chemical found in foods such as potato chips and french fries, may increase a person's risk of heart disease, according to a Polish study. Previous research has linked acrylamide to nervous system disorders and, possibly, cancer.

Participants in this new study ate large amounts of potato chips for four weeks, resulting in a daily acrylamide intake of 157 micrograms. The volunteers showed negative changes in oxidized low-density lipoprotein ("bad" cholesterol), inflammatory markers and antioxidants. The researchers said these changes could increase the risk of heart disease, United Press International reported.

The findings appear in the March issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The study authors noted the need for long-term studies of people consuming typical amounts of acrylamide -- about 20 micrograms a day, UPI reported.

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FDA Approves New Gout Drug

The first new gout treatment in four decades has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after more than four years of review due to concerns about dosing and a potential increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

The FDA approved febuxostat (brand name Uloric) to control excess uric acid in the blood that can build up in joints or soft tissues, Bloomberg news reported. About six million Americans have gout.

Japanese drug maker Takeda Pharmaceuticals Co. initially sought approval for 80-milligram and 120-milligram oral doses of the drug. However, regulators were concerned about a higher number of cardiovascular side effects in patients taking the drug and requested a new study using only 80-milligram and 40-milligram doses.

Both lower doses proved effective and weren't linked to a higher rate of heart attack or stroke in patients taking the drug, Bloomberg reported.

Febuxostat was approved by European regulators last May.

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DNA Decoys Prompt Cancer Cell Suicide

A molecular "decoy" that mimics DNA damage and triggers cancer cells to kill themselves could help treat tumors that are resistant to conventional therapy, say French researchers.

They developed tiny fragments of DNA that mimic the two broken ends of the double-helix genetic code. These "Dbaits" fool cancer cells that have survived chemotherapy or radiation into believing they're more damaged than they actually are, prompting them to self-destruct, Agence France Presse reported.

When Dbaits were injected into mice a few hours before they received radiotherapy, 75 percent to 100 percent of cancer cells in the rodents were destroyed, compared with 30 percent to 50 percent using radiotherapy alone. There was no damage to healthy tissue when Dbaits were used.

The study appears in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.

If further tests are successful, clinical trials on humans could begin by the end of 2010, said Marie Dutreix of the Curie Institute in Paris, AFP reported.

Health Tips for February 17

Health Tip: When Arthritis Affects the Hands

Arthritis in the hands can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks. While the condition can be managed with proper medical care, first you must recognize its common warning signs.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers this list:

• Dull or burning pain in the fingers and hands, especially after you've been holding tightly to an object for an extended period.
• Swelling and warmth in and around the joints.
• A feeling of being able to move the joints less easily.
• A feeling that the joints in your hand are grinding together.
• A feeling that your joints are loose, or not as stable as they once were.
• Cysts, or small bumps that appear around the joints of the fingers.

Health Tip: Alleviating Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the joints. Remedies may include lifestyle changes, medication and surgery designed to help control pain and minimize joint damage.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers this list of possible treatments for rheumatoid arthritis:

• Range-of-motion exercises and other exercise routines devised by a physical therapist can help prevent or delay joint damage.
• Splints, braces and other supportive devices can help protect the joints.
• Heat or cold treatments can help ease pain and inflammation.
• Working with a physical therapist can help you learn how to protect your joints during daily activities and tasks, and how to use your joints when your arthritis is causing pain.
• Getting at least eight hours sleep at night and taking frequent rests during strenuous activities are recommended to ease joint stress.

Health Headlines - February 16

Bad Colonoscopy Equipment May Have Exposed Thousands of Veterans to Infection

A bad connection between a hose and a valve on an instrument used for colonoscopies at a Tennessee Veteran's Administration clinic may have exposed thousands of veterans to infection.

According to the Associated Press, the problem was just recently discovered at the Alvin C. York VA clinic in Murfreesboro, Tenn., but the bad connection, which could have exposed almost 6,400 colonoscopy patients to infectious bodily fluids may have been in operation for at least five years.

The improper valve connection wasn't discovered until late in 2008, so the VA had to send letters to 6,378 patients who had colonoscopies between April 23, 2003 and Dec. 1, 2008.

While saying there had been no reports of infections or illness directly related to the defective equipment, a VA spokesman told the wire service that every step was being taken to screen any veterans who might have been exposed to infection.

Additionally, the A.P. reported, another 1,800 patients may have been exposed to infection in Augusta, Ga., between January and November 2008 because of improper disinfecting methods on an ear, nose and throat instrument.

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Supreme Court Says Ginsburg's Cancer Has Not Spread

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's cancer has not spread beyond her pancreas, and the 75-year-old justice returned to her Washington, D.C., home on Friday after being released from New York City's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the court said.

Ginsburg's spleen and a portion of her pancreas were removed on Feb. 5 at the center after doctors had spotted a 1-centimeter growth during a CT scan in late January that later was found to be benign. A second, smaller tumor found by her surgeon, Dr. Murray Brennan, during the operation was malignant, however, the court said. Tests on Ginsburg's lymph nodes revealed no cancer, and doctors found no spread of it elsewhere, the Associated Press reported.

Since doctors caught the cancer as early Stage 1 disease, Ginsburg may be able to avoid chemotherapy because of the tumor's small size and the absence of cancer in her lymph nodes, cancer specialists told the AP. In fact, Ginsburg has indicated that she expects to be back at the Supreme Court on Feb. 23, when the justices will hear arguments.

As a colon cancer survivor, Ginsburg underwent regular checkups for growths, and it was the quick identification of the pancreatic tumor that enabled doctors to move quickly, AP reported.

Just 5 percent of pancreatic cancer patients live five years after their diagnosis, since most cases are found in late stage when the disease is harder to treat. For those whose cancer is diagnosed early, surgery, followed by chemotherapy, is the usual course, according to the American Cancer Society, and five-year survival rates grow to 20 percent to 24 percent.

"She couldn't have asked for a better way of picking this up," Dr. Chandra Are, a surgeon at the University of Nebraska Medical Center who said he trained under Brennan, told the AP. "She was very lucky."

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Peanut Corp. of America Files for Bankruptcy: Report

Peanut Corp. of America, the peanut processing company implicated in the nationwide salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 600 people and may have led to nine deaths, filed for bankruptcy protection Friday, the Associated Press reported.

The salmonella outbreak has been traced to the company's plant in Blakely, Ga., where inspectors found roaches, mold and a leaking roof. A second plant in Texas was closed this week after initial tests revealed possible salmonella contamination, the news service said.

The Virginia-based company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection; a Chapter 7 filing allows for an orderly sale of a company's assets to pay creditors, the AP said.

The federal government has launched a criminal investigation into the case, and more than a dozen civil lawsuits have been filed. Peanut Corp.'s president, Stewart Parnell, was subpoenaed to testify Wednesday before a Congressional committee investigating the outbreak, but he refused to answer questions, invoking his constitutional right not to incriminate himself. Company e-mails have surfaced, showing he ordered tainted products to be shipped anyway, the AP said.

Despite the headlines generated by the outbreak, many Americans aren't clear about which 1,900 products have been recalled in the nationwide outbreak, a Harvard survey of 1,300 adults released Friday has found.

About one in four respondents mistakenly believes that major peanut butter brands are included in the recall, while fewer than half know that snack bars, baked goods, ice cream and dry-roasted peanuts are among the products being recalled, the AP said.

"A lot of people have taken some precautions but they're not looking at the ingredients in products not related to peanut butter," said survey director Robert Blendon, a health policy professor.

The survey, taken last week, also found that:

• About 93 percent know about the outbreak and most know that it was caused by salmonella bacteria.
• Only one in three has a good or great amount of confidence in food makers or government inspectors to keep food safe.

-----

Many Parents Reject Prenatal Tests: Study

Two-thirds of parents who have a child with a genetic problem avoid pregnancy rather than have tests to identify, or avoid the birth of, another affected child, according to a study that included clients of a state-wide rural genetic outreach program in the United States.

Of the parents who decided to have more children, most decided not to have prenatal screening or testing, United Press International reported. The findings appear in the journal Sociology of Health and Illness.

"Prenatal testing procedures -- to detect genetic conditions or fetal anomalies -- were perceived by many parents as presenting rather than resolving risks," researcher Dr. Susan Kelly, of the University of Exeter in the U.K., said in a news release.

The widespread ambivalence about such testing isn't a simple rejection of medical intervention, opposition to abortion, or the result of parents' positive experience with a child with a genetic problem, Kelly said. It also a wish for more control among parents with more awareness about the limitations of new reproductive technologies, UPI reported.

Health Tips for February 16

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: Reduce Pesticide Exposure

Pesticides can help keep your home free of insects, rodents and other unwanted visitors, but exposure to these products can pose serious health risks.

The National Safety Council offers these suggestions when working with pesticides:

• Only use pesticides that have been legally purchased, and are approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or similar government agency.
• Carefully read directions on the pesticide label, and follow them exactly.
• When you can, use non-chemical pesticides.
• Keep the work area well-ventilated.
• Make sure you safely dispose of any excess product.

Health Headlines - February 15

Bad Colonoscopy Equipment May Have Exposed Thousands of Veterans to Infection

A bad connection between a hose and a valve on an instrument used for colonoscopies at a Tennessee Veteran's Administration clinic may have exposed thousands of veterans to infection.

According to the Associated Press, the problem was just recently discovered at the Alvin C. York VA clinic in Murfreesboro, Tenn., but the bad connection, which could have exposed almost 6,400 colonoscopy patients to infectious bodily fluids may have been in operation for at least five years.

The improper valve connection wasn't discovered until late in 2008, so the VA had to send letters to 6,378 patients who had colonoscopies between April 23, 2003 and Dec. 1, 2008.

While saying there had been no reports of infections or illness directly related to the defective equipment, a VA spokesman told the wire service that every step was being taken to screen any veterans who might have been exposed to infection.

Additionally, the A.P. reported, another 1,800 patients may have been exposed to infection in Augusta, Ga., between January and November 2008 because of improper disinfecting methods on an ear, nose and throat instrument.

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Supreme Court Says Ginsburg's Cancer Has Not Spread

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's cancer has not spread beyond her pancreas, and the 75-year-old justice returned to her Washington, D.C., home on Friday after being released from New York City's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the court said.

Ginsburg's spleen and a portion of her pancreas were removed on Feb. 5 at the center after doctors had spotted a 1-centimeter growth during a CT scan in late January that later was found to be benign. A second, smaller tumor found by her surgeon, Dr. Murray Brennan, during the operation was malignant, however, the court said. Tests on Ginsburg's lymph nodes revealed no cancer, and doctors found no spread of it elsewhere, the Associated Press reported.

Since doctors caught the cancer as early Stage 1 disease, Ginsburg may be able to avoid chemotherapy because of the tumor's small size and the absence of cancer in her lymph nodes, cancer specialists told the AP. In fact, Ginsburg has indicated that she expects to be back at the Supreme Court on Feb. 23, when the justices will hear arguments.

As a colon cancer survivor, Ginsburg underwent regular checkups for growths, and it was the quick identification of the pancreatic tumor that enabled doctors to move quickly, AP reported.

Just 5 percent of pancreatic cancer patients live five years after their diagnosis, since most cases are found in late stage when the disease is harder to treat. For those whose cancer is diagnosed early, surgery, followed by chemotherapy, is the usual course, according to the American Cancer Society, and five-year survival rates grow to 20 percent to 24 percent.

"She couldn't have asked for a better way of picking this up," Dr. Chandra Are, a surgeon at the University of Nebraska Medical Center who said he trained under Brennan, told the AP. "She was very lucky."

-----

Peanut Corp. of America Files for Bankruptcy: Report

Peanut Corp. of America, the peanut processing company implicated in the nationwide salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 600 people and may have led to nine deaths, filed for bankruptcy protection Friday, the Associated Press reported.

The salmonella outbreak has been traced to the company's plant in Blakely, Ga., where inspectors found roaches, mold and a leaking roof. A second plant in Texas was closed this week after initial tests revealed possible salmonella contamination, the news service said.

The Virginia-based company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection; a Chapter 7 filing allows for an orderly sale of a company's assets to pay creditors, the AP said.

The federal government has launched a criminal investigation into the case, and more than a dozen civil lawsuits have been filed. Peanut Corp.'s president, Stewart Parnell, was subpoenaed to testify Wednesday before a Congressional committee investigating the outbreak, but he refused to answer questions, invoking his constitutional right not to incriminate himself. Company e-mails have surfaced, showing he ordered tainted products to be shipped anyway, the AP said.

Despite the headlines generated by the outbreak, many Americans aren't clear about which 1,900 products have been recalled in the nationwide outbreak, a Harvard survey of 1,300 adults released Friday has found.

About one in four respondents mistakenly believes that major peanut butter brands are included in the recall, while fewer than half know that snack bars, baked goods, ice cream and dry-roasted peanuts are among the products being recalled, the AP said.

"A lot of people have taken some precautions but they're not looking at the ingredients in products not related to peanut butter," said survey director Robert Blendon, a health policy professor.

The survey, taken last week, also found that:

• About 93 percent know about the outbreak and most know that it was caused by salmonella bacteria.
• Only one in three has a good or great amount of confidence in food makers or government inspectors to keep food safe.

-----

Many Parents Reject Prenatal Tests: Study

Two-thirds of parents who have a child with a genetic problem avoid pregnancy rather than have tests to identify, or avoid the birth of, another affected child, according to a study that included clients of a state-wide rural genetic outreach program in the United States.

Of the parents who decided to have more children, most decided not to have prenatal screening or testing, United Press International reported. The findings appear in the journal Sociology of Health and Illness.

"Prenatal testing procedures -- to detect genetic conditions or fetal anomalies -- were perceived by many parents as presenting rather than resolving risks," researcher Dr. Susan Kelly, of the University of Exeter in the U.K., said in a news release.

The widespread ambivalence about such testing isn't a simple rejection of medical intervention, opposition to abortion, or the result of parents' positive experience with a child with a genetic problem, Kelly said. It also a wish for more control among parents with more awareness about the limitations of new reproductive technologies, UPI reported.

Health Tips for February 15

Health Tip: Take Care of Your Teeth

If you've been diagnosed with periodontal disease, you're not alone. Some 80 percent of American adults currently have some form of the gum disease, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Our mouths are full of bacteria, which along with mucus and food particles form a sticky, colorless "plaque" on teeth. Brushing and flossing help get rid of plaque.

Plaque that is not removed can harden and form bacteria-laden "tartar." The longer plaque and tartar are on teeth, the more harmful they become. The bacteria cause inflammation of the gums, which is known as gingivitis.

When gingivitis is not treated, it can advance to periodontitis, characterized by the gums pulling away from the teeth and forming infected pockets. Bacterial toxins and the body's enzymes fighting the infection start to break down the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place.

If periodontitis isn't treated, the bones, gums and connective tissue that support the teeth are destroyed. At that point, the teeth may have to be removed.

Health Tip: Fluoride Use by Children

Fluoride is a natural substance found in water, and is added to many municipal water supplies to help prevent cavities.

The Nemours Foundation offers these guidelines about the use of fluoride in children::

• Children should only use fluoride supplements if they live in areas with non-fluoridated water, or if they drink only non-fluoridated bottled water.
• Children under age 6 should never use a fluoride mouth rinse.
• Children under 6 months don't need fluoride supplements and shouldn't been given them.
• Fluoride toothpaste should not be used on children younger than 2 unless recommended by a doctor or dentist.
• Children should use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
• Watch children up to age 6 when they brush their teeth to make sure that they spit out the toothpaste, and that not too much is swallowed.

Health Headlines - February 14

Happy Valentine's Day!

Supreme Court Says Ginsburg's Cancer Has Not Spread

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's cancer has not spread beyond her pancreas, and the 75-year-old justice returned to her Washington, D.C., home on Friday after being released from New York City's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the court said.

Ginsburg's spleen and a portion of her pancreas were removed on Feb. 5 at the center after doctors had spotted a 1-centimeter growth during a CT scan in late January that later was found to be benign. A second, smaller tumor found by her surgeon, Dr. Murray Brennan, during the operation was malignant, however, the court said. Tests on Ginsburg's lymph nodes revealed no cancer, and doctors found no spread of it elsewhere, the Associated Press reported.

Since doctors caught the cancer as early Stage 1 disease, Ginsburg may be able to avoid chemotherapy because of the tumor's small size and the absence of cancer in her lymph nodes, cancer specialists told the AP. In fact, Ginsburg has indicated that she expects to be back at the Supreme Court on Feb. 23, when the justices will hear arguments.

As a colon cancer survivor, Ginsburg underwent regular checkups for growths, and it was the quick identification of the pancreatic tumor that enabled doctors to move quickly, AP reported.

Just 5 percent of pancreatic cancer patients live five years after their diagnosis, since most cases are found in late stage when the disease is harder to treat. For those whose cancer is diagnosed early, surgery, followed by chemotherapy, is the usual course, according to the American Cancer Society, and five-year survival rates grow to 20 percent to 24 percent.

"She couldn't have asked for a better way of picking this up," Dr. Chandra Are, a surgeon at the University of Nebraska Medical Center who said he trained under Brennan, told the AP. "She was very lucky."

-----

Peanut Corp. of America Files for Bankruptcy: Report

Peanut Corp. of America, the peanut processing company implicated in the nationwide salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 600 people and may have led to nine deaths, filed for bankruptcy protection Friday, the Associated Press reported.

The salmonella outbreak has been traced to the company's plant in Blakely, Ga., where inspectors found roaches, mold and a leaking roof. A second plant in Texas was closed this week after initial tests revealed possible salmonella contamination, the news service said.

The Virginia-based company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection; a Chapter 7 filing allows for an orderly sale of a company's assets to pay creditors, the AP said.

The federal government has launched a criminal investigation into the case, and more than a dozen civil lawsuits have been filed. Peanut Corp.'s president, Stewart Parnell, was subpoenaed to testify Wednesday before a Congressional committee investigating the outbreak, but he refused to answer questions, invoking his constitutional right not to incriminate himself. Company e-mails have surfaced, showing he ordered tainted products to be shipped anyway, the AP said.

Despite the headlines generated by the outbreak, many Americans aren't clear about which 1,900 products have been recalled in the nationwide outbreak, a Harvard survey of 1,300 adults released Friday has found.

About one in four respondents mistakenly believes that major peanut butter brands are included in the recall, while fewer than half know that snack bars, baked goods, ice cream and dry-roasted peanuts are among the products being recalled, the AP said.

"A lot of people have taken some precautions but they're not looking at the ingredients in products not related to peanut butter," said survey director Robert Blendon, a health policy professor.

The survey, taken last week, also found that:

• About 93 percent know about the outbreak and most know that it was caused by salmonella bacteria.
• Only one in three has a good or great amount of confidence in food makers or government inspectors to keep food safe.

-----

Many Parents Reject Prenatal Tests: Study

Two-thirds of parents who have a child with a genetic problem avoid pregnancy rather than have tests to identify, or avoid the birth of, another affected child, according to a study that included clients of a state-wide rural genetic outreach program in the United States.

Of the parents who decided to have more children, most decided not to have prenatal screening or testing, United Press International reported. The findings appear in the journal Sociology of Health and Illness.

"Prenatal testing procedures -- to detect genetic conditions or fetal anomalies -- were perceived by many parents as presenting rather than resolving risks," researcher Dr. Susan Kelly, of the University of Exeter in the U.K., said in a news release.

The widespread ambivalence about such testing isn't a simple rejection of medical intervention, opposition to abortion, or the result of parents' positive experience with a child with a genetic problem, Kelly said. It also a wish for more control among parents with more awareness about the limitations of new reproductive technologies, UPI reported.

Health Tips for February 14

Happy Valentine's Day!

Health Tip: Help Reduce Your Risk of Lung Disease

By keeping your lungs healthy, you may be able to help prevent conditions including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The National Women's Health Information Center offers these suggestions for good lung health:

• Quit smoking, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Avoid exposure to environmental pollutants such as asbestos and radon gas.
• If you work around dust or chemical fumes, make sure the area is well-ventilated and that you wear a mask.
• If you are at a high risk of lung disease, test your breathing function regularly.
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, which may help reduce your risk of cancer.
• If you have a persistent cough that doesn't appear related to a cold or allergy, see your doctor.

Health Tip: Breathing Polluted Air

When the air you breathe is polluted, it can cause symptoms such as labored breathing; irritated eyes, nose and throat; burning of the eyes; cough; and tightness in the chest.

To minimize these side effects of air pollution -- especially if you have heart or lung disease -- the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions:

• When pollution levels are high, stay inside as much as possible.
• If you must engage in outdoor activities, try to schedule them first thing in the morning or in the evening, after sunset.
• When air quality is poor, don't exercise outdoors.
• Avoid any outdoor activities that require you to exert yourself. Taking in more air also means breathing in additional pollutants.

Health Headlines - February 13

Gum Disease Activates HIV, Study Says

Gum disease produces an acid that may push HIV-infected people to develop full-blown AIDS, a Japanese study says.

Butyric acid hinders an enzyme called HDAC that prevents the proliferation of HIV, Kuniyasu Ochiai, chair of the microbiology department at Nihon University in Tokyo, told Agence France Presse.

"Serious periodontal disease could lead to the development (of AIDS) among HIV-positive people ... although the probability largely depends on individual physical strength," Ochiai said.

Previous studies have linked gum disease to heart disease and diabetes, but this is the first to find that gum disease activates HIV, Ochiai told AFP.

The study is scheduled to appear in the March issue of the Journal of Immunology.

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Exercise May Reduce Colon Cancer Risk

Exercise can reduce the risk of colon cancer, according to U.S. researchers who reviewed 52 studies and concluded that the most active people are 24 percent less likely than the least active to develop the disease.

The studies included in the review included many different types of physical activity, ranging from going to the gym and running to doing manual labor, BBC News reported.

The findings were published in the British Journal of Cancer.

"These results give us a very reliable calculation of the positive effect that exercise can have on reducing colon cancer risk," said lead researcher Dr. Kathleen Wolin, of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, BBC News reported.

"It's very positive to see that exercise has such a clear benefit in reducing cancer risk and we hope it will encourage people to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle as well as treating it as a way to minimize their colon cancer risk," Wolin added.

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Peanut Plant Owner Had Tainted Products Shipped: Report

The owner of Peanut Corp. of America, the company suspected of causing the nationwide salmonella outbreak, told his employees to ship products tainted with the bacteria even after receiving test results identifying the presence of salmonella, according to company e-mails disclosed Wednesday by U.S. lawmakers, the Associated Press reported.

The e-mails, obtained by a House of Representatives' panel investigating the outbreak, revealed that company owner Stewart Parnell ordered the tainted products to be shipped anyway because he was worried about lost sales, the news service reported.

Parnell was subpoenaed to appear before Congress on Wednesday for questioning on the salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 600 people, been linked to eight deaths, and prompted one of the largest recalls in U.S. history -- more than 1,800 products. His plant in Blakely, Ga., is blamed for the outbreak, the AP reported.

Parnell showed up for the Congressional hearinng, but refused to answer questions, invoking his constitutional right not to incriminate himself, the AP said.

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., revealed the company e-mails during a House Energy and Commerce hearing.

In prepared testimony, a laboratory owner told the lawmakers that Peanut Corp.'s disregard for tests identifying salmonella was "virtually unheard of" in the nation's food industry and should prompt efforts to increase federal oversight of product safety.

Charles Deibel, president of Deibel Laboratories Inc., said his company was among those that tested Peanut Corp.'s products and notified the Georgia plant that salmonella was found in some of its peanut stock. Peanut Corp. sold the products anyway, according to an U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspection report, the AP said.

The company, which is now under investigation by the FBI, makes only about 1 percent of U.S. peanut products, but its ingredients are used by dozens of other food companies.

Federal law bans producing or shipping foods that could be harmful to consumers, the news service said.

On Tuesday, a peanut processing plant in Texas owned by Peanut Corp. was closed after state health officials reported that products there might be tainted with salmonella, according to CNN.

Health Tips for February 13

Health Tip: Women and High Blood Pressure

In women, the risk factors for high blood pressure can be different than those for men.

The American Heart Association lists these factors that may increase the risk of high blood pressure in women:

• Taking birth control pills.
• Being pregnant.
• Being postmenopausal.
• Being black.
• Being overweight.
• Having a family history of high blood pressure.

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 Headlines - February 12

Doctor Who Fueled Vaccine-Autism Link Altered Data: Report

The British doctor whose 1998 paper fueled international fears of a link between childhood vaccines and autism manipulated and changed data to make his case, the Sunday Times of London reported.

An investigation by the newspaper found that Dr. Andrew Wakefield and his colleagues altered confidential and public records to support their claim that eight of 12 autistic children attending a routine clinic at Wakefield's hospital had developed symptoms of autism only days after they were given the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Wakefield's original findings, published in The Lancet, have since been refuted by many subsequent epidemiological studies.

According to the Los Angeles Times Brian Deer, an investigative reporter for the Sunday Times who had been following the MMR controversy since the beginning, said a review of hospital and other records showed that almost all of the children had developed symptoms of autism well before receiving the shot. While Wakefield claimed that measles virus found in the intestines of the children caused an inflammatory bowel disease linked to autism after they were given the shot, Deer found that hospital pathologists examining the children for signs of inflammatory bowel disease were unable to confirm its presence in most of the cases, and concluded that Wakefield or someone on his team altered the data to make it appear the condition was found, the Los Angeles Times said.

Deer also reported that at least one parent of a child in whose intestines the measles virus was said to have been found took samples to three other labs, which were unable to confirm Wakefield's findings. Deer also found that Wakefield had been retained as an expert witness two years before his study by a lawyer planning to sue vaccine makers on behalf of parents who thought the MMR shot caused their children's problems. Deer said the parents cited in The Lancet article came to Wakefield's clinic after responding to an advertisement by the lawyer's group, called Jabs, and not for routine screening, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Meanwhile, Wakefield and two co-authors, Dr. John Walker-Smith and Dr. Simon Murch, face allegations of professional misconduct brought by England's General Medical Council, which oversees physicians. Those charges, according to the Sunday Times of London, are not related to the newspaper's investigation, but rather to the researchers' ethics in using the children. The newspaper said it was forwarding all its data to the medical council for review.

Through a lawyer, Wakefield has denied the newspaper's allegations and continues to stand by his original conclusions. In 2004, however, 10 of the 13 original authors on The Lancet paper asked that it be withdrawn, saying that "no causal link was established between MMR vaccine and autism because the data was insufficient," the Sunday Times of London said.

Since Wakefield's original claims, the newspaper reported that vaccination rates in Great Britain have fallen from 92 percent to less than 80 percent. As a result, two children have died of measles, and 1,348 cases of the disease were reported in England and Wales in 2008, where only 56 were reported in 1998, when Wakefield's study was first released.

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Peanut Plant Owner Had Tainted Products Shipped: Report

The owner of Peanut Corp. of America, the company suspected of causing the nationwide salmonella outbreak, told his employees to ship products tainted with the bacteria even after receiving test results identifying the presence of salmonella, according to company e-mails disclosed Wednesday by U.S. lawmakers, the Associated Press reported.

The e-mails, obtained by a House of Representatives' panel investigating the outbreak, revealed that company owner Stewart Parnell ordered the tainted products to be shipped anyway because he was worried about lost sales, the news service reported.

Parnell was subpoenaed to appear before Congress on Wednesday for questioning on the salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 600 people, been linked to eight deaths, and prompted one of the largest recalls in U.S. history -- more than 1,800 products. His plant in Blakely, Ga., is blamed for the outbreak, the AP reported.

Parnell showed up for the Congressional hearinng, but refused to answer questions, invoking his constitutional right not to incriminate himself, the AP said.

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., revealed the company e-mails during a House Energy and Commerce hearing.

In prepared testimony, a laboratory owner told the lawmakers that Peanut Corp.'s disregard for tests identifying salmonella was "virtually unheard of" in the nation's food industry and should prompt efforts to increase federal oversight of product safety.

Charles Deibel, president of Deibel Laboratories Inc., said his company was among those that tested Peanut Corp.'s products and notified the Georgia plant that salmonella was found in some of its peanut stock. Peanut Corp. sold the products anyway, according to an U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspection report, the AP said.

The company, which is now under investigation by the FBI, makes only about 1 percent of U.S. peanut products, but its ingredients are used by dozens of other food companies.

Federal law bans producing or shipping foods that could be harmful to consumers, the news service said.

On Tuesday, a peanut processing plant in Texas owned by Peanut Corp. was closed after state health officials reported that products there might be tainted with salmonella, according to CNN.

-----

Smokers Likelier to Change Habits After Health Scare: Study

Health scares convince many smokers to kick the habit but do little to push overweight and obese people to lose weight, according to U.S. researchers.

Their analysis of data from 20,221 overweight or obese people under age 75 and about 7,764 smokers showed that smokers are three times more likely to quit if they suffer a heart attack or stroke or are diagnosed with lung disease or cancer, The New York Times reported.

But overweight and obese people diagnosed with a serious condition such as heart disease or diabetes lose only two to three pounds, said the study published Monday in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.

The researchers said they're not sure why health scares push smokers to change their ways but have little effect on overweight and obese patients. They did note that many health plans don't cover weight-loss programs (other than bariatric surgery), while free or low-cost smoking cessation programs are offered by many local health departments and businesses, the Times reported.

"People really are open to changing their behaviors after a health event, and this could really be a window of opportunity," study author Patricia S. Keenan, assistant professor of health policy at the Yale University School of Medicine, told the newspaper. "I'm not sure the health care system is capitalizing on it, in terms of giving people the support they need to make these changes as they go forward."

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Overweight/Obesity Rates Increase in U.S. Military

Stress and return from deployment may be among the reasons why the number of overweight and obese U.S. military personnel has doubled since the start of the Iraq War in 2003, says a Pentagon study.

The number of overweight and obese personnel increased from 34,333 (2.1 percent) in 2003 to 68,786 (4.4 percent) in 2008. The number was 25,652 (1.6 percent) in 1998, Agence France Presse reported.

The Pentagon said a 2005 poll of U.S. military personnel revealed that "stress and return from deployment were the most frequently cited reasons for recent weight gain."

The increase of weight problems among servicemen and women reflects that of the general U.S. population, where 20 percent of those ages 18 to 34 are obese, AFP reported. As in the civilian population, fast food and a sedentary lifestyle play a role in weight gain among members of the military.

"Overweight/obesity is a significant military medical concern because it is associated with decreased military operational effectiveness ... and both acute and chronic adverse health effects," the Pentagon study said.

Health Tips for February 12

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 Tip: Diabetes and Gum Disease

Diabetes can make it more difficult to fight off gum disease, and in some cases, can make gum disease worse.

The American Diabetes Association says you should see if your dentist if you have any of these warning signs of gum disease.

• Gums that bleed when you floss or brush.
• Soreness, swelling or redness of the gums, or persistent bad breath.
• Gums that have receded from the teeth.
• Pus forming between the teeth and gums.
• Teeth that seem loose or like you are able to move them.
• Any change in your bite, or the way that dentures fit.

Health Headlines - February 11

Salmonella Suspected at Second Peanut Plant

A peanut processing plant in Texas owned by the company blamed for the salmonella outbreak was closed Tuesday after state health officials reported that products there might be tainted with salmonella, according to a CNN report.

The plant, in Plainview, is owned by the Peanut Corporation of America, which has been the focus of a nationwide recall of more than 1,000 peanut products. Its plant in Blakely, Ga., also is closed after its products were linked to eight deaths and the sickening of 600 people nationwide, the news network reported.

According to CNN, Texas officials said, "It is not yet known if the salmonella possibly found in the product testing is the same strain of the bacterium implicated in a 43-state outbreak of salmonellosis." Peanut products such as peanut meal and granulated peanuts had not left the facility, authorities said, and dry roasted peanuts that were shipped to a distributor were stopped from being sent further.

The plant was closed after product samples tested by a private lab came back Monday night, indicating the possible presence of salmonella, CNN reported. Results from testing by a state lab were expected to be returned Tuesday.

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Postpartum Psychosis Risk Increases With Age: Study

Women who have their first baby after age 35 are 2.4 times more likely than mothers younger than 19 to develop postpartum psychosis that could put their newborn at risk, say Swedish researchers who analyzed data from nearly 750,000 first-time mothers.

"The risk of developing psychosis during the first 90 days (after childbirth) increased with age," wrote the researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Agence France Presse reported.

Postpartum psychosis is a serious mental disorder that involves delusions, hallucinations, severe eating or sleeping disturbances, and suicidal tendencies. Immediate medical attention is required, including anti-psychotic drugs and hospitalization, the researchers said.

About 80 percent of new mothers experience some form of mental disturbance or mild depression, but only about one in 1,000 develops actual psychosis in the first months after they give birth, according to the study, published in the Public Library of Science medical journal.

The researchers noted that most women who develop postpartum psychosis have prior psychotic histories, AFP reported.

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Rodriguez Hopes Baseball Fans Forgive Use of Banned Drugs

Baseball star Alex Rodriguez said he hopes fans will forgive him after he admitted using banned substances while playing with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03. Rodriguez said he hasn't used banned drugs since he was traded to the New York Yankees before the 2004 season.

On the weekend, Sports Illustrated reported that Rodriguez was one of 104 players on a list who had tested positive for steroids in 2003. Baseball's highest-paid player confessed to use of performance-enhancing drugs in an interview with ESPN on Monday, the Associated Press reported.

In the interview, Rodriguez dodged a question about how he obtained banned drugs and said he didn't even know what substance was detected by the drug test, the AP said.

The 2003 drug tests were conducted to determine the extent of steroid use in baseball. Players who tested positive weren't subject to discipline and their identities were supposed to be kept secret. But the results were seized by the federal government in 2004 and remain under seal, the AP reported.

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Vaginal Gel Shows Promise Against HIV Infection

An experimental vaginal gel shows promise in reducing women's risk of HIV infection, according to results of a preliminary study that included about 3,100 women in Africa and the United States.

Women who used the gel had a 30 percent lower risk of HIV infection, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health-funded study presented Monday at a medical conference on retroviruses in Montreal, the Associated Press reported.

However, the researchers noted this difference wasn't statistically significant, which means the reduced risk could have occurred by chance.

The true effectiveness of the gel, made by Massachusetts-based Indevus Pharmaceuticals Inc., needs to be assessed in larger studies, such as one involving 9,400 women that's scheduled to conclude in August, the AP reported.

Health Tips for February 11

Health Tip: Use Less Salt in Your Diet

Sodium can contribute to high blood pressure, which raises your risk for heart attack and stroke.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers these suggestions for a lower-sodium diet:

• Choose fresh, lean meats, poultry, and fish instead of processed versions.
• Skip the salt and use fresh herbs, spices, and low- or no-salt seasonings.
• Stick to fresh or frozen vegetables instead of canned. If you do choose canned, look for "no salt added" versions, or rinse vegetables before use.
• Don't add salt to the water when cooking rice or pasta. Also, avoid instant versions of these foods.
• Stay away from pre-packaged foods that are often high in sodium, such as frozen meals, pizzas, canned soups and foods, and packed food mixes.

Health Tip: Preparing for an Ultrasound

If your doctor has prescribed an ultrasound, there are certain steps you'll need to take to prepare for the procedure.

The Radiological Society of North America offers these suggestions for what to do before your appointment:

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing. You may have to change into a gown during the procedure.
• Take off all jewelry near the part of your body that will be examined during the ultrasound.
• For some tests, you may be asked to avoid food and drink for up to 12 hours before the test.
• For other types of ultrasound, you may have to drink several glasses of water a few hours before the test, so that you have a full bladder.
• A clear gel will be applied to the skin near the study area, then the images are taken. After an ultrasound, you can go back to your normal activities and shouldn't have any side effects.

Health Headlines - February 10

Vaginal Gel Shows Promise Against HIV Infection

An experimental vaginal gel shows promise in reducing women's risk of HIV infection, according to results of a preliminary study that included about 3,100 women in Africa and the United States.

Women who used the gel had a 30 percent lower risk of HIV infection, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health-funded study presented Monday at a medical conference on retroviruses in Montreal, the Associated Press reported.

However, the researchers noted this difference wasn't statistically significant, which means the reduced risk could have occurred by chance.

The true effectiveness of the gel, made by Massachusetts-based Indevus Pharmaceuticals Inc., needs to be assessed in larger studies, such as one involving 9,400 women that's scheduled to conclude in August, the AP reported.

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Mentally-Ill More Sensitive to Narcotics: Report

Narcotics have a much greater effect on the brains of mentally-ill people, according to a University of Montreal researcher.

Mentally-ill people are more sensitive to the effects of addictive drugs, which may cause irreversible deterioration of the cerebral structures, said Dr. Stephane Potvin, United Press International reported.

"They become dependent more quickly and they tend to abuse drugs more easily. It is evident that drug use can worsen the symptoms of mental disease," Potvin said in a news release. "The odds that a mental disorder manifests itself in an individual can increase if he or she consumes drugs."

Integrated treatment is required for patients with mental disease and drug abuse, according to Potvin, who noted that people with mental illness and those with drug dependence often receive different types of treatment, UPI reported.

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1st U.S. Case of Marburg Fever Confirmed: CDC

The first confirmed case of deadly Marburg hemorrhagic fever in the United States occurred last year and the patient has since recovered, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The Colorado patient contracted the dangerous, rare illness while traveling in Uganda and was treated at Lutheran Medical Center in January 2008 and had follow-up care in July, the Associated Press reported.

None of the doctors and staffers who cared for the patient developed symptoms of Marburg hemorrhagic fever, said medical center spokeswoman Kim Kobel. The CDC is testing hospital staff to determine if any cases of illness weren't detected at the time.

Marburg fever spreads through contact with infected animals or the bodily fluids of infected humans. The disease has an incubation period of five to 10 days. Initial symptoms include fever, chills and headaches, but symptoms become much worse after the fifth day of illness, the AP said.

Fewer than 500 cases of the disease, which has an 80 percent death rate, have been reported since it was first recognized in 1967, according to the CDC. The Marburg virus is indigenous to Africa.

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Economy Having Little Impact on Americans' Sex Lives: Survey

The economic turmoil hasn't caused a major downturn in Americans' sex lives, suggests a new survey of 1,000 adults, ages 18 to 75, conducted in January.

The survey found that 79 percent of sexually active respondents said the nation's financial problems haven't spilled into the bedroom, United Press International reported.

Among the other findings from the Consumer Reports National Research Center survey:

• Nearly 60 percent of men, but only 19 percent of women, said they thought about sex at least once a day. While 64 percent of men said sex was very important to them, that was true for only 47 percent of women.
• Taking care of children was given by 34 percent of women and 27 percent of men as an excuse for not having sex, while 30 percent of men and 28 percent of women said work got in the way of sex.
• Nearly half of the respondents said they schedule sex, including 7 percent who said they do so using a calendar, smart phone or personal digital assistant.

Health Tips for February 10

Health Tip: Control Risk Factors for Stroke

Among the best ways to protect yourself if you're at risk for stroke is to treat and manage related health problems.

While some risk factors are beyond your control, the American Heart Association says certain risk factors are manageable. Among them:

• Artery conditions, such as atherosclerosis or peripheral artery disease.
• High blood pressure and high cholesterol.
• Cigarette smoking.
• Diabetes.
• Heart disease.
• Atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm.
• Obesity.
• Poor diet.
• Inactivity.

Health Tip: Unexplained Swelling

If you have swelling of the ankles, legs or feet, the cause isn't always obvious.

Here, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, are some common causes of unusual swelling in these areas:

• Standing up for long periods.
• A side effect of your menstrual period.
• Being overweight.
• Being pregnant.
• Prolonged plane or car travel.
• An injury to the foot or ankle.
• Certain medications.

Swelling in the legs may also indicate serious conditions including failure of the heart, kidneys, or liver. So if you have unexplained swelling, see your doctor without delay.

Health Headlines - February 9

FDA OKs 1st Drug From Genetically Altered Animals

The first drug made with materials from genetically engineered animals gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval Friday, potentially paving the way for a new class of medical therapies.

GTC Biotherapeutics said federal regulators approved its drug, ATryn, which includes milk from goats that have been genetically altered to produce an extra protein that acts as a natural blood thinner, the Associated Press reported.

The drug will be used to treat the estimated one in 5,000 people with a rare hereditary disorder -- hereditary antithrombin deficiency -- that leads to a lack of the protein, leaving them vulnerable to potentially deadly blood clots, the news service said.

Patients with hereditary antithrombin deficiency are currently treated with conventional blood thinners, such as Plavix. That approach won't change with the approval of ATryn. The new drug is only approved for intravenous use when patients are undergoing surgery or having a baby, when the risk of blood clots is particularly high, the AP said.

European regulators approved the drug in 2006.

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First U.S. Face Transplant Patient Leaves Hospital

The woman who received the first face transplant in the United States has left the Cleveland hospital where she has been since her 22-hour surgery in early December, the Associated Press reported Friday.

Officials at the Cleveland Clinic said the woman left Thursday night, but would not say where she went. The patient, whose identity has not been revealed, and her family have declined requests for comment, the wire service reported.

According to the woman's surgeon, she is able to eat solid foods and breathe on her own for the first time since her disfiguring injury several years ago that left her with no nose, palate, or way to eat or breathe normally, the AP said.

This was the fourth partial face transplant in the world, although the others weren't as extensive, the news service said.

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U.S. Soldier Suicides Spiked in January

There was a sharp increase in U.S. soldier suicides in January, with seven confirmed and 17 suspected suicides, Army officials said Thursday.

If all 24 cases are confirmed as suicide, the toll would be greater than the number of U.S. troops killed in action in January in both Iraq (four deaths) and Afghanistan (12 deaths), Agence France Presse reported.

Last week, the Army revealed that suicides among active duty soldiers reached a record high in 2008 for the second year in a row. There were as many as 143 suicides last year and 115 in 2007.

"The trend and trajectory seen in January further heightens the seriousness and urgency that all of us must have in preventing suicides," Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff, said in a statement, AFP reported.

Last week, Chiarelli said special army-wide training sessions to boost suicide awareness among soldiers and their leaders would begin Feb. 15.

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Traffic Deaths Decline in 40 States

Road deaths declined in 40 states and the District of Columbia in 2008, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association survey released Wednesday.

The average decline was 10.7 percent, according to the survey of 44 states. It did not include several large states, such as California, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania, the Associated Press reported.

Declines of 20 percent or more were seen in Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Among other states included in the survey, declines were: 18 percent in New Jersey, 16 percent in Illinois, 12 percent in Georgia, 7.7 percent in Michigan, 6.8 percent in Florida, and 4 percent in Ohio.

Vehicle deaths increased in Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming.

Higher gas prices and economic worries meant that Americans drove less in 2008, which reduced the number of road fatalities, Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, told the AP. But she also noted that seat belt use reached a record high of 83 percent in 2008.

Health Tips for February 9

Health Tip: Relief From Carpal Tunnel

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The result may be pain, weakness or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm.

Some patients are born with an unusually narrow carpal tunnel, which means they're at higher risk. Other contributing factors include trauma or injury to the wrist, an overactive pituitary gland, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, work stress or repeated use of vibrating hand tools.

Anti-inflammatory drugs can ease the pain and swelling, while stretching and strengthening exercises can be helpful in people whose symptoms have abated. Surgery may be necessary if symptoms last for six months.

Health Tip: Sit Properly at the Computer

Stretching your neck and working your wrists at a computer for hours at a time can strain much of the body.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions to help reduce computer pain and discomfort:

• Sit up straight, with your ears lined up with the top of your shoulders, and your shoulders lined up with the hips.
• Relax your upper arms, and hold them close to your body. Keep your hands and wrists straight in front of your arms.
• Keep your hands and fingers relaxed when typing or clicking on the mouse.
• Take regular breaks and relax your hands and fingers.
• Give your eyes a rest and look away from the computer every so often. Also, try to position your screen to reflect the least glare.
• Place your computer monitor about an arm's length in front of you, and right at eye level so you don't have to look up or down to view the monitor.

Health Headlines - February 8

FDA OKs 1st Drug From Genetically Altered Animals

The first drug made with materials from genetically engineered animals gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval Friday, potentially paving the way for a new class of medical therapies.

GTC Biotherapeutics said federal regulators approved its drug, ATryn, which includes milk from goats that have been genetically altered to produce an extra protein that acts as a natural blood thinner, the Associated Press reported.

The drug will be used to treat the estimated one in 5,000 people with a rare hereditary disorder -- hereditary antithrombin deficiency -- that leads to a lack of the protein, leaving them vulnerable to potentially deadly blood clots, the news service said.

Patients with hereditary antithrombin deficiency are currently treated with conventional blood thinners, such as Plavix. That approach won't change with the approval of ATryn. The new drug is only approved for intravenous use when patients are undergoing surgery or having a baby, when the risk of blood clots is particularly high, the AP said.

European regulators approved the drug in 2006.

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First U.S. Face Transplant Patient Leaves Hospital

The woman who received the first face transplant in the United States has left the Cleveland hospital where she has been since her 22-hour surgery in early December, the Associated Press reported Friday.

Officials at the Cleveland Clinic said the woman left Thursday night, but would not say where she went. The patient, whose identity has not been revealed, and her family have declined requests for comment, the wire service reported.

According to the woman's surgeon, she is able to eat solid foods and breathe on her own for the first time since her disfiguring injury several years ago that left her with no nose, palate, or way to eat or breathe normally, the AP said.

This was the fourth partial face transplant in the world, although the others weren't as extensive, the news service said.

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U.S. Soldier Suicides Spiked in January

There was a sharp increase in U.S. soldier suicides in January, with seven confirmed and 17 suspected suicides, Army officials said Thursday.

If all 24 cases are confirmed as suicide, the toll would be greater than the number of U.S. troops killed in action in January in both Iraq (four deaths) and Afghanistan (12 deaths), Agence France Presse reported.

Last week, the Army revealed that suicides among active duty soldiers reached a record high in 2008 for the second year in a row. There were as many as 143 suicides last year and 115 in 2007.

"The trend and trajectory seen in January further heightens the seriousness and urgency that all of us must have in preventing suicides," Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff, said in a statement, AFP reported.

Last week, Chiarelli said special army-wide training sessions to boost suicide awareness among soldiers and their leaders would begin Feb. 15.

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Traffic Deaths Decline in 40 States

Road deaths declined in 40 states and the District of Columbia in 2008, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association survey released Wednesday.

The average decline was 10.7 percent, according to the survey of 44 states. It did not include several large states, such as California, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania, the Associated Press reported.

Declines of 20 percent or more were seen in Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Among other states included in the survey, declines were: 18 percent in New Jersey, 16 percent in Illinois, 12 percent in Georgia, 7.7 percent in Michigan, 6.8 percent in Florida, and 4 percent in Ohio.

Vehicle deaths increased in Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming.

Higher gas prices and economic worries meant that Americans drove less in 2008, which reduced the number of road fatalities, Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, told the AP. But she also noted that seat belt use reached a record high of 83 percent in 2008.

Health Tips for February 8

Health Tip: Caught a Cold?

'Tis the season for a runny nose, cough, sore throat and other symptoms of the common cold.

You shouldn't treat a cold -- always caused by a virus -- with antibiotics, since these medicines are meant to treat bacterial infections. But there are things you can do to feel better while the cold runs its course.

The University of Virginia Health System offers these suggestions:

• Try over-the-counter medications, such as an antihistamine, decongestant or cough medicine.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• Increase the amount of fluids you drink.
• Take a pain reliever to control headache and fever.
• Soothe a sore throat by gargling with warm salt water.
• Apply petroleum jelly to sore, dry skin around the nose and lips.
• Use a warm steam to ease congestion.

Health Tip: Taking Cough Medicine?

An over-the-counter cough medicine may offer some relief for a simple cough or cold, but cough medicine probably won't alleviate symptoms of more serious conditions.

Here are warning signs that your cough requires a call to your doctor, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• A "productive cough," characterized by coughing up phlegm or mucus.
• A wheezing sound when you cough or breathe.
• A persistent cough caused by smoking, chronic bronchitis or emphysema.
• A cough that has lasted for longer than a week.
• A cough accompanied by a fever, rash, or persistent headache.

Health Headlines - February 7

FDA OKs 1st Drug From Genetically Altered Animals

The first drug made with materials from genetically engineered animals gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval Friday, potentially paving the way for a new class of medical therapies.

GTC Biotherapeutics said federal regulators approved its drug, ATryn, which includes milk from goats that have been genetically altered to produce an extra protein that acts as a natural blood thinner, the Associated Press reported.

The drug will be used to treat the estimated one in 5,000 people with a rare hereditary disorder -- hereditary antithrombin deficiency -- that leads to a lack of the protein, leaving them vulnerable to potentially deadly blood clots, the news service said.

Patients with hereditary antithrombin deficiency are currently treated with conventional blood thinners, such as Plavix. That approach won't change with the approval of ATryn. The new drug is only approved for intravenous use when patients are undergoing surgery or having a baby, when the risk of blood clots is particularly high, the AP said.

European regulators approved the drug in 2006.

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First U.S. Face Transplant Patient Leaves Hospital

The woman who received the first face transplant in the United States has left the Cleveland hospital where she has been since her 22-hour surgery in early December, the Associated Press reported Friday.

Officials at the Cleveland Clinic said the woman left Thursday night, but would not say where she went. The patient, whose identity has not been revealed, and her family have declined requests for comment, the wire service reported.

According to the woman's surgeon, she is able to eat solid foods and breathe on her own for the first time since her disfiguring injury several years ago that left her with no nose, palate, or way to eat or breathe normally, the AP said.

This was the fourth partial face transplant in the world, although the others weren't as extensive, the news service said.

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U.S. Soldier Suicides Spiked in January

There was a sharp increase in U.S. soldier suicides in January, with seven confirmed and 17 suspected suicides, Army officials said Thursday.

If all 24 cases are confirmed as suicide, the toll would be greater than the number of U.S. troops killed in action in January in both Iraq (four deaths) and Afghanistan (12 deaths), Agence France Presse reported.

Last week, the Army revealed that suicides among active duty soldiers reached a record high in 2008 for the second year in a row. There were as many as 143 suicides last year and 115 in 2007.

"The trend and trajectory seen in January further heightens the seriousness and urgency that all of us must have in preventing suicides," Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff, said in a statement, AFP reported.

Last week, Chiarelli said special army-wide training sessions to boost suicide awareness among soldiers and their leaders would begin Feb. 15.

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Traffic Deaths Decline in 40 States

Road deaths declined in 40 states and the District of Columbia in 2008, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association survey released Wednesday.

The average decline was 10.7 percent, according to the survey of 44 states. It did not include several large states, such as California, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania, the Associated Press reported.

Declines of 20 percent or more were seen in Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Among other states included in the survey, declines were: 18 percent in New Jersey, 16 percent in Illinois, 12 percent in Georgia, 7.7 percent in Michigan, 6.8 percent in Florida, and 4 percent in Ohio.

Vehicle deaths increased in Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming.

Higher gas prices and economic worries meant that Americans drove less in 2008, which reduced the number of road fatalities, Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, told the AP. But she also noted that seat belt use reached a record high of 83 percent in 2008.

Health Tips for February 7

Health Tip: Do I Have a Cold or Flu?

If you're sneezing, coughing and have a fever, do you know how to tell whether you've caught a cold or have the flu?

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this list of cold symptoms, and how to tell them apart from symptoms of the flu:

• In general, cold symptoms are milder and come on slowly, while symptoms of the flu tend to occur very suddenly.
• It's probably a cold if you have a fever no higher than 102 degrees. The flu usually causes fevers higher than that.
• It's probably a cold if you have symptoms including a congested or runny nose, sneezing and coughing, watery eyes, and a sore throat.
• Symptoms of the flu often include nausea, chills, sweats, vomiting, muscle aches, and loss of appetite.

Health Tip: Caring for a Canker Sore

If you have a canker sore, it may be painful to chew until it goes away, which usually happens on its own over time.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help relieve the pain of a canker sore:

• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
• Try a topical pain-relieving ointment for canker sores, such as Anbesol, Zilactin-B, Orabase or Orajel.
• Rinse your mouth with a solution of equal parts Milk of Magnesia and Benadryl liquid allergy medication. Rinse with, but don't swallow the solution, every few hours.
• Take vitamin C or a vitamin B complex.
• Take zinc lozenges, or an herbal mouthwash that contains sage and chamomile.

Health Headlines - February 6

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsburg Has Pancreatic Cancer Surgery

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had surgery for pancreatic cancer at a New York City hospital on Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

Ginsburg, 75, had the operation at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where she's expected to remain for seven to 10 days, according to a news release from the Supreme Court cited by the AP.

The cancer appears to be in its early stages, the release said. It was found during a routine checkup last month.

Ginsburg has been a justice since 1993, and is the only woman on the court. A decade ago, she had colon cancer surgery and received follow-up chemotherapy and radiation, the AP said.

Pancreatic cancer is among the most lethal forms of the disease. Some 38,000 cases are diagnosed annually, and fewer than 5 percent survive five years, the wire service said.

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Disaster Relief Food Kits May Contain Tainted Peanut Butter: FEMA

Salmonella-tainted peanut butter may be included in disaster relief food kits distributed in Kentucky and Arkansas after the states were hammered last week with rain, ice and snow. People who received the food kits should inspect them and discard the peanut butter packets, said the Federal Emergency Management Association, CNN reported.

The food kits were made by Red Cloud Food Services Inc., under the Standing Rock label.

"We just received this information from FEMA. Tonight, out of an abundance of caution, we are in the process of finding alternative sources of food for people in shelters. The Kentucky National Guard is starting to notify people who've already received the (meal kits) or might be getting one," Jay Blanton, spokesman for Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, told CNN.

In related news, more peanut products are being added to a recall list that now includes more than 1,000 items that may be contaminated with salmonella. Experts say it may be a record for a recall involving food products for humans, the Associated Press reported.

The salmonella outbreak, which has sickened at least 550 people and caused eight deaths, is being blamed on a Peanut Corp. of America plant in Blakely, Ga. Federal lawmakers are investigating the outbreak and promising stronger food safety laws and more money for inspections.

"It's time to find the gaps in the system and remedy them," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, which is holding a hearing Thursday on the outbreak.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been criticized for its handling of the salmonella outbreak. But in testimony prepared for the Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, FDA Food Safety Center chief Stephen Sundlof said the agency started to investigate the salmonella outbreak even before there was a scientific link to a particular food, the AP reported.

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Traffic Deaths Decline in 40 States

Road deaths declined in 40 states and the District of Columbia in 2008, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association survey released Wednesday.

The average decline was 10.7 percent, according to the survey of 44 states. It did not include several large states, such as California, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania, the Associated Press reported.

Declines of 20 percent or more were seen in Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Among other states included in the survey, declines were: 18 percent in New Jersey, 16 percent in Illinois, 12 percent in Georgia, 7.7 percent in Michigan, 6.8 percent in Florida, and 4 percent in Ohio.

Vehicle deaths increased in Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming.

Higher gas prices and economic worries meant that Americans drove less in 2008, which reduced the number of road fatalities, Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, told the AP. But she also noted that seat belt use reached a record high of 83 percent in 2008.

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Drug for Hereditary Angioedema Gets FDA Panel Approval

A new drug to treat a genetic condition that can lead to dangerous swelling should be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, an agency advisory panel recommended Wednesday.

The panel voted 6-5 in favor of recommending approval of DX-88, which targets hereditary angioedema. There were two abstentions, the Associated Press reported.

While the FDA doesn't have to approve the drug, it usually follows the advice of its advisory panels.

Dyax Corp.'s DX-88 was given priority review by the FDA in November, with an action date of March 23. A priority review shortens the review time to 6 months from the standard 10 months, the AP reported.

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Obama Signs Children's Health Bill

President Barack Obama signed into law late Wednesday afternoon new legislation that will allow four million more U.S. children to get government-sponsored health coverage.

Obama acted right after the House, by a vote of 290-135, approved spending an additional $32.8 billion for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the Associated Press reported. The program, with about 7 million children now enrolled, includes children whose family income is too high for Medicaid but whose families have difficulty affording private insurance.

And, for the first time, the new law also permits states to cover legal immigrants -- among them, children under 21 and pregnant women.

Previously, legal immigrants had been barred from Medicaid and SCHIP for five years after arriving in the United States. The states may now cover those immigrants without the five-year delay, according to The New York Times.

The U.S. Senate passed the SCHIP measure last week. To cover adding the additional children, the measure raises federal excise taxes on cigarettes by 62 cents, to $1.01 a pack, the wire service said.

Former President George W. Bush twice vetoed similar legislation.

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FDA Reviews Sepsis Drug Xigris

U.S. health officials are reviewing cases of serious bleeding in patients taking the drug Xigris, which is used to treat severe sepsis (bloodstream infection).

A recently published study showed that the injectable drug increased the risk of dangerous internal bleeding when taken by patients with a recent history of hemorrhages, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.

The study of 73 patients treated with the Eli Lilly drug found that serious bleeding occurred in 35 percent of patients with a history of bleeding problems, compared with 3.8 percent of other patients.

Xigris already carries a warning that internal bleeding is a serious effect, but the FDA plans to work with Eli Lilly to reassess the drug's risks, the AP reported.

Patients taking Xigris should not stop taking the drug, the FDA said.

Health Tips for February 6

Health Tip: Wean Your Child From Breast-Feeding

When you feel the time is right to wean your baby from breast milk, the Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions to help make the process easier:

• Substitute a bottle or cup at nursing time. Slightly older children can have a healthy snack or a cup as a substitute.
• At the typical times that you'd nurse, schedule a special and fun activity instead.
• Don't wear the same nursing clothes, and change rooms for the substitute activity.
• Schedule the weaning for a time when your baby isn't dealing with other major changes, such as starting day care or teething.
• Don't discourage your child if he or she begins a substitute habit -- such as sucking the thumb or carrying a stuffed animal. It's just your child's way of dealing with the change.

Health Tip: Feeding Your Baby

It's important for new parents to understand what and how often your baby needs to eat, and how that schedule should change as your baby matures.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these guidelines to help plan your baby's feeding:

• Babies who breast-feed typically need to be fed once every one to three hours.
• Babies on a diet of formula need to be fed every two to four hours, as formula takes longer to digest.
• You should never give a baby younger than 1 cow's milk, since it is difficult for an infant to digest.
• Don't attempt to give baby any solid food until at least 4 months of age, preferably 6 months of age.
• Begin introducing solid foods between 6 months and 12 months of age, starting with pureed or mashed foods, and graduating to more solid foods.
• Introduce new foods one at a time, and monitor closely for signs of allergic reaction. New foods should be introduced only when an infant is hungry.

Health Benefits of POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice

Years of research offer compelling reasons to drink pomegranate juice. With incredibly high levels of naturally occurring polyphenol antioxidants, POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice may help guard the body against free radicals, nasty little molecules that emerging science shows may be linked to disease.

Promising preliminary research examines the potential links between pomegranate juice consumption and health. There are a total of 10 published peer-reviewed pilot medical studies that demonstrate the effects of these antioxidants. And the clinical studies are ongoing.

• Preliminary research was based on consumption of 8 oz. of 100% POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice daily.
• You can find POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice in the refrigerated produce or premium juice section of major supermarkets and health food stores nationwide, where it is available in 8, 16, 24 and 46 oz. sizes.
• POM Wonderful is all-natural: that means there are no added sugars or preservatives, and no artificial colors or flavors.

For Special Patient Populations

• According to the American Dietetic Association, 3.5 oz of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice equals one fruit serving for diabetics.
• Because the juice contains high levels of potassium, patients who must avoid potassium should not drink pomegranate juice.

Click here to visit POM Wonderful on the Web.

Health Headlines - February 5

Children's Health Bill Gets House Approval

Four million more U.S. children will be eligible for government-sponsored health coverage under legislation approved Wednesday by the House of Representatives. President Barack Obama signed the measure into law late Wednesday afternoon.

Voting 290-135, the House approved spending an additional $32.8 billion for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the Associated Press reported. The program, with about 7 million children now enrolled, includes children whose family income is too high for Medicaid but whose families have difficulty affording private insurance.

According to The New York Times, the new law permits states to cover legal immigrants -- among them, children under 21 and pregnant women.

Previously, legal immigrants had been barred from Medicaid and SCHIP for five years after arriving in the United States. The states may now cover those immigrants without the five-year delay, the newspaper said.

The U.S. Senate passed the SCHIP measure last week. To cover adding the additional children, the measure raises federal excise taxes on cigarettes by 62 cents, to $1.01 a pack, the wire service said.

Former President George W. Bush twice vetoed similar legislation.

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FDA Reviews Sepsis Drug Xigris

U.S. health officials are reviewing cases of serious bleeding in patients taking the drug Xigris, which is used to treat severe sepsis (bloodstream infection).

A recently published study showed that the injectable drug increased the risk of dangerous internal bleeding when taken by patients with a recent history of hemorrhages, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.

The study of 73 patients treated with the Eli Lilly drug found that serious bleeding occurred in 35 percent of patients with a history of bleeding problems, compared with 3.8 percent of other patients.

Xigris already carries a warning that internal bleeding is a serious effect, but the FDA plans to work with Eli Lilly to reassess the drug's risks, the AP reported.

Patients taking Xigris should not stop taking the drug, the FDA said.

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Ancient Snake Longer Than City Bus

The biggest snake ever discovered was 42 to 45 feet long and weighed more than 2,500 pounds, say scientists who pulled the creature's fossil remains from an open-pit coal mine in the Cerrejon region of Columbia.

"This thing weighs more than a bison and is longer than a city bus," Jack Conrad, a snake expert at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, told the Associated Press. "It could easily eat something the size of a cow. A human would just be toast immediately."

Conrad wasn't involved in the find but was familiar with the discovery.

The snake, Titanoboa cerrejonensis, lived 58 million to 60 million years ago and likely hunted ancient relatives of crocodiles. The fossil specimen is about 11 feet longer than the previous snake record holder, which lived in Egypt about 40 million years ago.

Titanoboa cerrejonensis is related to modern boa constrictors but behaved more like an anaconda and spent most of its time in the water, the AP reported.

An article about the discovery was published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature.

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Ethex Expands Drug Recall

Prescription prenatal vitamin and iron supplements have been added to previous recalls of a large number of generic drug products distributed by Ethex Corporation, a subsidiary of KV Pharmaceutical.

In total, more than 60 generic drug products have been recalled to wholesalers and two generic drug products, Hydromorphone HCI and Metoprolol Succinate, recalled to retailer level, according to a company news release.

The products are being recalled, because they may have been made under conditions that didn't comply with good manufacturing practices.

Patients taking these drug products should continue taking them in accordance with their prescriptions, because the risk of suddenly stopping needed medication may endanger their health, Ethex said.

People who've experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using the recalled products should contact their physician or health care provider. More information is available at www.kvpharmaceutical.com.

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Zimbabwe Cholera Cases Surpass 65,000

The number of recorded cholera cases in Zimbabwe is now 65,739 and more than 3,323 people have died since the start of the outbreak in August 2008, the World Health Organization said in its daily update Wednesday.

About 1,038 new cases and 28 deaths were added since Tuesday's update, Agence France Presse reported.

The cholera epidemic is being blamed on poor health, water and sanitary services.

Earlier this week, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said President Robert Mugabe had agreed to allow a high-level UN team to visit Zimbabwe in an attempt to identify ways to deal with the cholera epidemic and a hunger crises, AFP reported.

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Divorce Causes Face to Age: Study

Divorce can add years to your face, according to U.S. researchers who studied 186 pairs of identical twins.

Twins who'd been divorced looked two years older than their siblings who were married, single or even widowed, United Press International reported.

Antidepressant use also contributed to an older appearance, the researchers reported. Weight was another major factor. Among twins younger than 40, the heavier twin was perceived as looking older. But among twins older than 40, the heavier twin was judged to look younger.

"The presence of stress could be one of the common denominators in those twins who appeared older," study author Dr. Bahaman Guyuron, of the University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, said in a news release, UPI reported.

The study was published online in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Health Tips for February 5

Health Tip: Safe Use of a Generator

If your electricity goes out and you use a generator to power your home, you must read the manufacturer's instructions and take certain precautions. Engines release carbon monoxide, which can be deadly if the devices are used improperly.

The U.S. National Safety Council offers these suggestions when using a portable generator:

• Always keep the generator outside. Never put one inside your home, garage or any enclosed area.
• Even outside, keep your generator away from your home's windows and vents.
• Use a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector at the spot in your home nearest the generator.
• To prevent fire, let your generator cool for at least two minutes before you add gasoline. Make sure the gasoline is fresh.
• Never run your generator next to anything that could explode or catch fire.
• Don't plug a generator directly into one of your home's A/C outlets. Instead, have a licensed electrician install a power transfer switch.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions and maintenance guide to make sure your generator runs properly.

Health Tip: Prevent Painful Chapped Hands

Hands can become so dry and chapped -- especially during winter -- that they can become very painful.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions to help prevent chapped hands:

• Keep them covered, avoiding exposure to sun, cold or wind.
• Don't wash your hands with water that's too hot.
• Wash your hands when necessary to prevent the spread of germs, but don't overdo it.
• Use a humidifier at home.
• Stay away from harsh soaps.
• Moisturize your hands frequently.

Health Headlines - February 4

FDA Panel Backs New Blood Thinner

A new blood thinner called prasugrel marks a significant advance over older treatments, an advisory panel of U.S. cardiologists said Tuesday.

The nine members on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's panel unanimously voted in favor of approval for Eli Lilly's anticlotting drug, which, if OK'd by the FDA itself, would be marketed under the brand name Effient, according to the Associated Press.

The approval followed an FDA review, released last week, that found prasugrel appeared more effective than the current leading blood thinner Plavix.

Since prasugrel, which was developed by Lilly and Japanese drugmaker Daiichi Sankyo, was submitted for approval last January, the FDA has twice put off making a decision because of concerns about its safety. While the drug reduces life-threatening heart problems, it increases the risk of internal bleeding.

But the new FDA review, and the advisory panel's endorsement, indicate the drug's lifesaving benefits clearly outweigh its risks, the AP reported.

The agency is not required to follow the recommendations of its expert panels, but it usually does.

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Cancer Leading Killer in Developing Nations: Report

Cancer now claims more lives in developing countries each year than malaria, tuberculosis or AIDS, according to a report issued in advance of World Cancer Day on Wednesday.

In 2008, more than 12 million new cancer cases were diagnosed worldwide and 7.6 million people died of cancer, Agence France Presse reported.

Developing nations accounted for more than half of all new global cancer cases and about 60 percent of cancer deaths, according to the report from health foundation and consultancy Axios International.

"Cancer in the developing world is a hidden crisis that goes largely unreported, undiagnosed and untreated," said study co-author David Kerr, a professor of clinical pharmacology and cancer therapeutics at the University of Oxford in the U.K., AFP reported.

"Cancer survival rates in developing countries are exceptionally poor. Lack of awareness, stigma and reliance on traditional healers mean most people do not seek medical help until their disease is advanced, and often incurable," Kerr said.

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Nine More Canadian Poultry Farms Quarantined

Nine more poultry farms in British Columbia's Fraser Valley are under quarantine as Canadian officials try to contain an avian flu outbreak in the region.

Although a total of 36 farms are now under quarantine, the disease has been confirmed on only one farm, although testing and monitoring continue, CBC News reported.

The nine new farms were quarantined by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency because they received products or equipment from the Abbotsford farm where an H5 strain of avian flu has been confirmed.

About 60,000 turkeys at the affected farm have been destroyed, CBC News reported.

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Europeans and Japanese Have Same Longevity Gene: Study

German researchers have discovered that a gene linked to longevity in Japanese people is also found in Europeans, which means this gene probably helps people around the world live longer.

The Kiel University team compared the genetic make-up of 388 Germans over 100 years old with 731 younger people and found that the older people were more likely to have a variant of the gene FOXO3A, Agence France Presse reported.

The same finding was reported in a previous study that included 3,741 Japanese men over 95 years old.

"This discovery is of particular importance because Japanese and Europeans are relatively different genetically. Now we can assume that this gene plays a role worldwide in living longer," said Prof. Almut Nebel, head of the Kiel University group, AFP reported.

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

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Peanut Corp. Ran Unlicensed Plant in Texas: Report

The company blamed for the nationwide salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 500 people has a peanut processing plant in Texas that operated for years without being inspected or licensed by government health officials, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

State health records obtained by the news service show Peanut Corp. of America's plant in Plainview wasn't inspected until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration linked the salmonella outbreak to the company's plant in Blakely, Ga.

The Plainview plant, which hadn't been inspected since it opened in March 2005, was found to be salmonella-free by state and federal health officials who checked out the facility a few weeks ago.

Even so, the case raises questions about the adequacy of government oversight of food safety, according to the AP.

Health Tips for February 4

Health Tip: Taking Your Temperature

If you're taking your temperature, you should take steps to ensure that you're getting an accurate reading.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these guidelines:

• If using a thermometer by mouth, put it directly under the tongue and keep your mouth closed, holding the thermometer in place with your lips. Keep it in about three minutes if it's a glass thermometer, or until a digital thermometer beeps.
• If measuring temperature underneath the arm, place the thermometer under the armpit, and hold your arm against your body for five minutes. This is not the best method for a glass thermometer.
• If measuring a baby's temperature by rectum, place the baby on the stomach, and insert the thermometer with a small amount of petroleum jelly. Keep the child still, and remove the thermometer after about 3 minutes (or until it beeps).
• Don't take your temperature within an hour of taking a bath or shower, or exercising strenuously.
• If you've just had something to eat or drink, wait at least 20 minutes before taking your temperature.

Health Tip: Easing a Croupy Cough

Croup occurs when the larynx (voicebox) is infected by a virus. It is most commonly identified by a hoarse voice, tight breathing, and a low-pitched cough that sounds like a seal's bark.

The Lucile Packard Children's Hospital offers these suggestions to help soothe your child's croupy cough:

• Let your child stand in a hot shower and absorb the steam (be careful that the water is not hot enough to burn).
• While the child is in the shower, hold a wet washcloth near your child's face, and have the child breathe in.
• Add warm water to a humidifier in your child's room.
• To avoid pneumonia, it is important that your child cough up mucus that has built up in the lungs. So the idea is to promote a "productive" cough, the hospital says, not prevent a cough entirely.

Health Headlines - February 3

Donor's Kidney Removed Through Vagina

A kidney from a female donor was removed through her vagina by surgeons at Johns Hopkins University, the Associated Press reported. It's believed to be a world-first in kidney transplantation.

This technique meant the 48-year-old donor didn't require an abdominal incision, which normally leaves a 5- to 6-inch scar. The kidney was given to the woman's niece and both patients are doing well, hospital officials said.

They said this type of transvaginal kidney removal has been done before to remove cancerous or other nonfunctioning kidneys, but has never been used for healthy kidney donation, the AP reported.

The Jan. 29 operation left the donor with three pea-sized scars on her abdomen. The surgeons said they're hopeful this kind of procedure will persuade more people to become organ donors.

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Human-Animal Embryos Won't Produce Stem Cells: Study

Placing human DNA into cow or rabbit eggs in order to make hybrid cloned embryos to produce stem cells for research doesn't work because the animal eggs don't reprogram human DNA in the correct way to generate stem cells, U.S. researchers say.

"Instead of turning on the right genes, it turns out the animal eggs actually turn them off," senior study author Dr. Robert Lanza, of Advanced Cell Technology in Worcester, Mass., told the Associated Press.

The findings were published online Monday in the journal Cloning and Stem Cells.

Scientists would like to find a way to use animal eggs because it's difficult to get human eggs for research. While some scientists have managed to create human-animal hybrid embryos, there's no widely accepted report of harvesting stem cells from them, the AP said.

The U.S. researchers' conclusions were disputed by a British scientist who has government permission to attempt to create hybrid embryos.

"The idea that this is the nail in the coffin for hybrids is grossly overstated," said Stephen Minger of King's College, London, the AP reported.

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Manganese, Defective Genes Linked to Parkinson's Disease: Study

The metal manganese may contribute to Parkinson's disease when defective genes interact to boost its toxicity, a study suggests.

Manganese, which is naturally present in the human body, is stored mainly in the liver and kidneys. It's an essential trace nutrient in nearly all forms of life but is also a known risk factor for Parkinson's.

The researchers conducted experiments on yeast cells and found that manganese toxicity caused by excessive levels of a protein called alpha-synuclein was greatly reduced in the presence of another protein called ATP13A2, Agence France Pressereported.

Yeast cells that lacked ATP13A2 were more sensitive to manganese. It's believed that ATP13A2 plays a role in transporting metal molecules, especially manganese. The researchers duplicated their findings in laboratory-grown rat neurons. The study was published in the journal Nature Genetics.

Susan Lindquist, of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Cambridge, Mass., and colleagues said their findings suggest that people with mutations in the genes that encode these two proteins may be particularly vulnerable to manganese poisoning, AFP reported.

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New Technique May Provide Early Osteoarthritis Diagnosis

A minimally invasive microscopic technique could provide an early diagnosis of osteoarthritis so that patients can take steps to protect their cartilage, Swiss researchers say.

Their experimental "atomic force microscope" involves tapping on the surface of a joint with a tiny tip that responds to stiffness. This technique could give up to six months of warning to people prone to the disease, Agence France Presse reported.

The research was published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

There are no treatments to slow or stop cartilage loss in people with osteoarthritis, caused by an erosion of the cartilage between joints and a decrease in the fluid that lubricates joints. But the researchers said an early diagnosis of the disease would enable patients to begin cartilage-conserving measures such as exercising or losing weight, AFP reported.

Health Tips for February 3

Health Tip: Check Your Child's Car Seat

Use of a car seat can save a child's life, but it must be installed correctly.

The U.S. National Safety Council offers this checklist for making sure that a car seat is properly located and secured:

• Make sure the car seat is installed in the backseat -- never in the front.
• Children less than 1 year old or less than 20 pounds should ride facing the back of the car; older or heavier children can ride facing the front.
• Make sure the safety belt is securely holding the seat. Ensure that the seat is snugly strapped in and that the belt has been placed correctly.
• The harness must fit snugly, too. The clip should fit at about the level of your child's armpits.
• If your child is 40 pounds or under, continue using the car seat. Switch to a booster seat once your child weighs more than 40 pounds. The child probably will need a booster seat until he or she is about 4'9" tall and weighs about 80 pounds.

Health Tip: Caring for a Deep Cut

If you or someone else has gotten a deep cut, it's important to stay calm and administer first aid.

The American College of Emergency Physicians offers these suggestions for treating a deep cut:

• Hold a clean cloth or bandage against the wound, and apply steady pressure.
• At the same time, hold the injured area above your heart (unless a limb is broken).
• If your bandage becomes soaked, leave it there and apply a fresh bandage on top of the old one.
• Try to gently rinse the cut with tap water only -- no antiseptics or soap.
• If after five minutes the cut continues to bleed, if the cut is very deep or wide, if it's located on the head, or otherwise looks serious, seek immediate medical attention.

Health Headlines - February 2

Driving While Having a Cold or the Flu Can Be Hazardous

It's long been established that drinking and driving don't mix, but a study by a British insurance company shows that it's almost as bad to drive if you have a severe cold or the flu.

According to BBC News, Lloyds TBS Insurance conducted a study, using 50 healthy adults and 50 with colds, stress and headaches. The subjects were put through a driving hazard simulator. BBC News reports, and the results showed that drivers with colds were 11 percent slower in their reaction time, about the same as drinking a double shot of hard liquor.

An additional study indicated that those with colds and flu had to add 3.3 feet to their stopping distance if traveling at 30 MPH.

Duncan Vernon, road safety manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, told BBC News, "People need to be honest with themselves about their ability to drive safely.

"A heavy cold, for example, can have symptoms that include a headache, blocked sinuses, sneezing and tiredness, and these can impair a driver's mood, concentration, reactions and judgment."

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FDA Experts Recommend Banning Darvon

Darvon, a decades-old painkiller chiefly marketed as Darvocet, should be banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, an expert panel advising the agency recommended Friday.

The advisory panel voted 14-12 to recommend withdrawing Darvon, first approved in 1957. Earlier Friday, the agency said it was reviewing the drug after critics charged it provided little relief and posed a risk for overdose and suicide, the Associated Press reported. The full FDA usually follows the recommendations of its expert panels, but isn't bound to do so.

Darvon, which includes a dose of acetaminophen, is among the top prescribed medications. More than 20 million prescriptions were written in 2007, the wire service said. Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals and Qualitest/Vintage Pharmaceuticals, two firms that market Darvocet, called the medication safe and effective when used as directed.

But critics complained that the government review was too long in coming. "[The drug] has unique risks and no unique advantages," Dr. Sidney Wolfe, a drug safety expert with the consumer group Public Citizen, told the AP. "It has been a big drug of abuse for quite a long time." Public Citizen first sought a ban on Darvon in the 1970s, and the United Kingdom banned its version in 2005, the AP said.

Besides an outright ban, the FDA's other options include requiring stiffer warnings, additional studies or education efforts to alert doctors and patients of potential misuses, the AP reported.

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Most Patients Can't Name Hospital Doctors Who treat Them, Survey Says

You may know the name of your family doctor, but if you've had hospital care, can you name any of the physicians who treated you?

Most likely you can't, the New York Times reports.

The Times cites a recent University of Chicago study that surveyed almost 3,000 patients admitted to that school's hospital during a 15-month period.

The study group was asked a series of questions about the various professionals who treated them, including names and medical specialties. Only 25 percent were able to come up with a name, and only 40 percent of those got the name right, the newspaper reports.

With all the hustle and bustle of hospital life, the results weren't all that surprising, the Times says. But Carol Levine, director of the families and health care project of the United Hospital Fund in New York, told the newspaper that sometimes, family members and caregivers are the people who keep track of the hospital professionals.

"In a way, the patient is in the worst position possible to make notes and jot down names," Levine is quoted as saying, "but family members are often involved, and theyre the ones running down the hallway to track down a doctor."

The survey is published in the current edition of Archives of Internal Medicine.

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Octuplets' Mom has 6 Other Children, Family Says

The woman who gave birth to octuplets this week in Southern California already has six other young children at home, her family told the Associated Press on Friday.

On Thursday, Angela Suleman, the woman's mother, told The Los Angeles Times that her daughter took fertility treatments but did not expect to give birth to eight babies. She and the children's grandfather told the AP that the mother, who has requested her name be kept confidential, now has a total of 14 children, the wire service reported.

Meanwhile, the babies, who are expected to remain in the hospital for at least seven more weeks, are doing fine and are receiving nutrition and fluids intravenously, the AP said. The woman gave birth on Monday.

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U.S. Senate Passes Children's Health Insurance Bill

A bill to provide health insurance to more than four million uninsured children in the United States was passed by the Senate in a 66 to 32 vote Thursday. It's expected that President Barack Obama will be quick to sign the bill, which advances the goal of providing insurance for all children and eventually all Americans, The New York Times reported.

Two weeks ago, the House passed a nearly identical bill, by a vote of 289 to 139.

Under the bill, states would be able to provide coverage for more than four million uninsured children by 2013, while continuing coverage for seven million children. The increased spending, estimated at more than $32 billion over four and a half years, would be offset by higher tobacco taxes.

The bill is "needed now more than ever," because tens of thousands of children are losing health insurance as their parents lose their jobs, Cindy Mann, executive director of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, told The Times.

While Democrats support the expansion of the child health program, many Republicans say they're concerned it's part of a long-term campaign to replace private health insurance with government insurance.

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New Blood Thinner Appears Closer to FDA Approval

A new blood thinner called prasugrel appears more effective than the current leading blood thinner Plavix, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration review that suggests the agency may be moving closer to approving the new drug.

Next week, an FDA panel of independent cardiology experts is scheduled to give their opinion about the benefits and risks of prasugrel, which was developed by Eli Lilly and Japanese drugmaker Daiichi Sankyo, the Associated Press reported.

Since prasugrel was submitted for approval last January, the FDA has twice put off making a decision due to concerns about its safety. While the drug reduces life-threatening heart problems, it increases the risk of internal bleeding. One study showed that for every 24 serious heart problems it prevented, prasugrel caused 10 bleeding side effects.

But the new FDA document, posted online, seems to indicate the agency believes the drug's lifesaving benefits clearly outweigh its risks, the AP reported. The agency will ask experts whether the bleeding side effects of prasugrel could be minimized by restricting its use in certain patients.

Health Tips for February 2

Health Tip: Take Care of a Blister

Blisters are fluid-filled sacs on the skin that can be caused by friction from clothing or shoes, burns, or certain disorders and conditions.

The University of Virginia Health System offers these suggestions for how to take care of a blister and prevent infection:

• Gently wash the blister with soap and water.
• Apply an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling.
• Never burst or puncture the blister.
• If the blister bursts on its own, cover it with a bandage or dressing to keep it clean and dry.
• Check the blister frequently for signs of infection, which could include warmth, redness, swelling, drainage, pus or pain. If you have any of these signs, contact your doctor without delay.

Health Tip: Risk Factors for Age Spots

Age spots, sometimes called liver spots, are darker patches of skin that can appear on the back of the hands, the face, shoulders and arms. Caused by an increase in skin pigmentation, they are most common in people aged 40 or older.

Here are some common risk factors for age spots, courtesy of Epigee Women's Health:

• Getting older.
• Too much exposure to the sun.
• Using a tanning bed or sun lamp.
• A family history of age spots.
• A side effect of diuretics and certain antibiotics, including tetracycline.
• Chemicals found in certain foods, including parsnips, parsley and limes.

Health Headlines - February 1

FDA Experts Recommend Banning Darvon

Darvon, a decades-old painkiller chiefly marketed as Darvocet, should be banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, an expert panel advising the agency recommended Friday.

The advisory panel voted 14-12 to recommend withdrawing Darvon, first approved in 1957. Earlier Friday, the agency said it was reviewing the drug after critics charged it provided little relief and posed a risk for overdose and suicide, the Associated Press reported. The full FDA usually follows the recommendations of its expert panels, but isn't bound to do so.

Darvon, which includes a dose of acetaminophen, is among the top prescribed medications. More than 20 million prescriptions were written in 2007, the wire service said. Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals and Qualitest/Vintage Pharmaceuticals, two firms that market Darvocet, called the medication safe and effective when used as directed.

But critics complained that the government review was too long in coming. "[The drug] has unique risks and no unique advantages," Dr. Sidney Wolfe, a drug safety expert with the consumer group Public Citizen, told the AP. "It has been a big drug of abuse for quite a long time." Public Citizen first sought a ban on Darvon in the 1970s, and the United Kingdom banned its version in 2005, the AP said.

Besides an outright ban, the FDA's other options include requiring stiffer warnings, additional studies or education efforts to alert doctors and patients of potential misuses, the AP reported.

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Most Patients Can't Name Hospital Doctors Who treat Them, Survey Says

You may know the name of your family doctor, but if you've had hospital care, can you name any of the physicians who treated you?

Most likely you can't, the New York Times reports.

The Times cites a recent University of Chicago study that surveyed almost 3,000 patients admitted to that school's hospital during a 15-month period.

The study group was asked a series of questions about the various professionals who treated them, including names and medical specialties. Only 25 percent were able to come up with a name, and only 40 percent of those got the name right, the newspaper reports.

With all the hustle and bustle of hospital life, the results weren't all that surprising, the Times says. But Carol Levine, director of the families and health care project of the United Hospital Fund in New York, told the newspaper that sometimes, family members and caregivers are the people who keep track of the hospital professionals.

"In a way, the patient is in the worst position possible to make notes and jot down names," Levine is quoted as saying, "but family members are often involved, and theyre the ones running down the hallway to track down a doctor."

The survey is published in the current edition of Archives of Internal Medicine.

-----

Octuplets' Mom has 6 Other Children, Family Says

The woman who gave birth to octuplets this week in Southern California already has six other young children at home, her family told the Associated Press on Friday.

On Thursday, Angela Suleman, the woman's mother, told The Los Angeles Times that her daughter took fertility treatments but did not expect to give birth to eight babies. She and the children's grandfather told the AP that the mother, who has requested her name be kept confidential, now has a total of 14 children, the wire service reported.

Meanwhile, the babies, who are expected to remain in the hospital for at least seven more weeks, are doing fine and are receiving nutrition and fluids intravenously, the AP said. The woman gave birth on Monday.

-----

U.S. Senate Passes Children's Health Insurance Bill

A bill to provide health insurance to more than four million uninsured children in the United States was passed by the Senate in a 66 to 32 vote Thursday. It's expected that President Barack Obama will be quick to sign the bill, which advances the goal of providing insurance for all children and eventually all Americans, The New York Times reported.

Two weeks ago, the House passed a nearly identical bill, by a vote of 289 to 139.

Under the bill, states would be able to provide coverage for more than four million uninsured children by 2013, while continuing coverage for seven million children. The increased spending, estimated at more than $32 billion over four and a half years, would be offset by higher tobacco taxes.

The bill is "needed now more than ever," because tens of thousands of children are losing health insurance as their parents lose their jobs, Cindy Mann, executive director of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, told The Times.

While Democrats support the expansion of the child health program, many Republicans say they're concerned it's part of a long-term campaign to replace private health insurance with government insurance.

-----

New Blood Thinner Appears Closer to FDA Approval

A new blood thinner called prasugrel appears more effective than the current leading blood thinner Plavix, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration review that suggests the agency may be moving closer to approving the new drug.

Next week, an FDA panel of independent cardiology experts is scheduled to give their opinion about the benefits and risks of prasugrel, which was developed by Eli Lilly and Japanese drugmaker Daiichi Sankyo, the Associated Press reported.

Since prasugrel was submitted for approval last January, the FDA has twice put off making a decision due to concerns about its safety. While the drug reduces life-threatening heart problems, it increases the risk of internal bleeding. One study showed that for every 24 serious heart problems it prevented, prasugrel caused 10 bleeding side effects.

But the new FDA document, posted online, seems to indicate the agency believes the drug's lifesaving benefits clearly outweigh its risks, the AP reported. The agency will ask experts whether the bleeding side effects of prasugrel could be minimized by restricting its use in certain patients.

Health Tips for February 1

Health Tip: Living With Latex Allergy

Latex is found in a number of common objects -- ranging from dishwashing gloves to rubber toys. The sanitary gloves that doctors and nurses use also are frequently made of latex.

If you've got a latex allergy, the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to prevent a reaction:

• Figure out which items at home and work are made from latex, and find non-latex items as replacements.
• Be careful around powdered latex gloves and similar products. Even breathing in the powder can be harmful.
• In a medical situation -- whether you're a worker or patient -- make sure that you or others than you come in contact with wear non-latex gloves.
• Carry a medical alert bracelet, necklace, or key chain that notes your allergy.
• Ask your doctor if you should carry an emergency epinephrine injection with you.

Health Tip: Allergies to the Flu Shot

The flu vaccine is safe for most people, but some people could experience dangerous complications from the flu vaccine, including an allergic reaction.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the following people should not get a flu shot without first speaking to their doctor:

• Anyone with an egg allergy.
• Anyone who has had a previous severe reaction to a flu shot.
• Children younger than 6 months old.
• Anyone who developed a condition called Guillain-Barré Syndrome within six weeks of receiving a previous flu shot.
• Anyone who is ill with a fever should wait until they are healthy again to have the flu shot.