Health Headlines - March 31

Diabetes Drug Candidate Appears Safe: FDA

A potentially important diabetes medication called Onglyza appears to be free from heart-related side effects seen in similar treatments, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration briefing documents posted online.

An FDA panel of outside experts will meet Wednesday to review safety data on the drug, the Associated Press reported. The panel will then make a recommendation on whether the drug should be approved for use in the United States.

The FDA, which generally follows the advice of its expert panels, could make a decision about Onglyza by the end of April.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and partner AstraZeneca are seeking approval to market Onglyza to reduce blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, the APreported.

Studies conducted by the companies indicate the level of heart attacks, deaths and other cardiovascular problems appeared well within new FDA safety limits, the agency said in the briefing documents.

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U.S. Task Force Urges Docs to Screen for Depression in Teens

Primary care doctors should routinely screen adolescents, ages 12 to 18, for major depression, says the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The benefits of screening outweigh any risks if doctors can assure accurate diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, according to the task force.

That's a change from 2002, when the task force concluded there wasn't sufficient evidence to recommend or oppose screening for adolescents. The task force said there's still not enough evidence to make a recommendation about depression screening for children ages 7 to 11, USA Today reported.

In an article in the journal Pediatrics, the task force noted that questionnaires can accurately identify depression in adolescents, and that there's new evidence that therapy and/or some antidepressants can help depressed teens. They emphasized the need for careful monitoring, because it's been shown that antidepressants can increase suicidal behavior in teens.

About 1 in 20 teens suffers depression, which is associated with lower grades, more physical illness, increased drug use, and early pregnancy, USA Todayreported.

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Triathlons Can Pose Deadly Heart Risks for the Unprepared: Study

Triathletes take note: A new study finds that participants in these swim-bike-run athletic events face at least twice the risk of sudden death as marathoners do, theAssociated Press reported. And, it's the swimming section of the race that's the riskiest.

About 1,000 triathlons are held each year, and several hundred thousand Americans try one, often without adequate preparation or check-up to see if they have any hidden physical problems, the study suggested. "It's something someone just signs up to do," often without proper training or a medical checkup to rule out heart problems, Dr. Kevin Harris, lead author and a cardiologist at the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, told the AP. Harris presented his study over the weekend at the American College of Cardiology annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.

While the risk for sudden death is low -- about 15 out of a million participants, according to Harris, -- it's not inconsequential because of the numbers of people who take part in triathlons. Stress and cold water for the swimming section -- often the first of the three events in the competitions -- can constrict blood vessels and make the heart work harder or aggravate pre-existing problems, Harris told the AP.

Doctors offered these tips for would-be triathletes, the AP said:

• Get a checkup to make sure you don't have any hidden heart problems.
• Start training long before the event and include open-water swims, not just laps in a pool. Acclimate to the water temperature before a race and wear a wetsuit if the water is too cold.
• Check that race officials have medical staff and defibrillators on site.

Health Tips for March 31

Health Tip: Breathe Fresh Air at Home

If the air inside your home is dirty, you and your housemates can have symptoms including headache, dizziness, asthma and allergy symptoms, and fatigue.

The National Women's Health Information Center offers these suggestions to keep the air in your home clean:

• When using chemicals such as paint or paint thinner, open the windows and keep the area well-ventilated.
• Use a humidifier or dehumidifier to keep humidity levels between 30 percent and 50 percent.
• If you use a humidifier, clean it and replace the water daily to prevent the growth of mold and mildew in the appliance.
• Use an exhaust fan in the kitchen and bathroom, and vent clothes dryers outside.
• If rugs or carpets get wet, quickly have them cleaned to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.
• Clean your home regularly, being careful to remove dust and any other allergens.

Health Tip: Protect Aging Feet

Foot problems that develop as people age restrict mobility and limit seniors' ability to enjoy life.

The American Podiatric Medical Association offers these suggestions to help seniors keep their feet healthy:

• Keep walking. Feet need exercise, and walking is the best kind.
• Make sure you wear shoes that fit properly and are comfortable. Shoes should offer a sturdy sole and a soft upper area.
• If you have a foot problem such as a corn or callus, see a podiatrist. Never try to remove a corn or callus yourself.
• Wash your feet each day in warm water (never too hot) and gentle soap. Carefully dry and moisturize the feet afterward.
• Cut your toenails regularly, and always straight across, not at an angle.
• Get a foot exam by a podiatrist twice yearly. More frequently, perform a self-inspection to look for any redness, swelling or injuries.

FDA Investigating Salmonella-Tainted Pistachios

U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials said Monday night that the agency is investigating a salmonella contamination that could involve 1 million pounds of pistachios that were sold in at least 31 states.

The current contamination is not connected to the recent salmonella scare involving peanuts, the officials said.

"We are not dealing with an outbreak here," Dr. David Acheson, associate commissioner for foods at the FDA, said during a teleconference Monday evening. "This is a proactive move by the firm to recall contaminated product, and it is very distinctly not linked to an outbreak. This recall is being undertaken by sampling by part of the food industry."

The California Department of Public Health is also involved in the investigation.

The company in question, Setton Farms, is recalling certain pistachio nuts based on these findings, Acheson said. Investigators are honing in on pistachios packaged in a plant in Terra Bella, Calif.

"These findings came to light because of testing that another company was doing as part of routine analysis in which they found a variety of different types of salmonella. Based on this, they contacted the FDA," he said.

On March 24, Kraft Foods alerted the FDA and started a recall of its Back to Nature Nantucket Blend trail mix, Acheson said.

Setton Farms supplies pistachios in large quantities to 36 wholesalers who repackage them or resell them, Acheson said.

"The number of products that are going to be recalled over the coming days will grow simply because these pistachios have been repackaged to consumer level containers," Acheson said.

Setton Farms also supplied pistachios to grocer Kroger Co., which has already issued a recall, Acheson said. Those nuts were sold in 31 states, the Associated Press reported.

There have been some consumer complaints about these products, Acheson said. "That does mean definitively that they caused illness. Some consumers developed gastrointestinal illness, and called [the] FDA," he said.

The agency is recommending that people avoid eating any pistachio products. However, they should hold on to these products until it's clear which ones are affected, Acheson added.

This is not the first time this year that nut products have been found to be tainted with salmonella.

In January, U.S. officials launched a criminal investigation into a salmonella outbreak tied to tainted peanut products that sickened almost 700 people and may have contributed to at least nine deaths. The probe will focus on possible criminal violations at the Georgia processing plant owned by Peanut Corp. of America (PCA), which knowingly shipped peanut butter and peanut paste products that had tested positive for salmonella, officials said at the time.

And just last month, FDA officials issued a warning that consumers shouldn't eat any peanuts or peanut products sold by Westco Fruit and Nuts Inc. because they may be contaminated with salmonella. Peanuts used in the Westco products may have come from PCA, officials said.

Health Headlines - March 30

Transit Users More Likely to Meet Exercise Guidelines: Study

Transit users are three times more likely to achieve fitness guidelines than those who don't use transit, say Canadian researchers who interviewed 18,326 people in Atlanta, Ga., who kept diaries of their modes of travel over two consecutive days.

The study used the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's suggested daily minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, five days a week, CBC News reported.

The more people in the study used their cars, they less likely they were to meet the minimum activity guideline, said the University of British Columbia study.

"The idea of needing to go to the gym to get your daily dose of exercise is a misperception," associate professor Lawrence Frank, who teaches community and regional planning, said in a news release, CBC News reported.

"These short walks throughout our day are historically how we have gotten our activity," he noted. "Unfortunately, we've engineered this activity out of our daily lives."

The study was published in the Journal of Public Health Policy.

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VA Says 10 Patients Test Positive for Hepatitis

Ten people have tested positive for hepatitis after they were exposed to contaminated colonoscopy equipment, the U.S. Veterans Affairs department said Friday.

The 10 are among thousands of patients told to get blood tests after having colonoscopies at VA facilities in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Miami and Augusta, Ga. The equipment at those facilities wasn't properly sterilized between procedures, theAssociated Press reported.

Four patients have tested positive for hepatitis B, and six have tested positive for hepatitis C, which can cause permanent liver damage and is potentially life-threatening.

The patients will receive treatment from the VA even though it hasn't been confirmed that their infections were the result of the unclean colonoscopy equipment, said VA spokeswoman Katie Roberts, the AP reported.

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China Reports More Cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

So far this year, 41,000 people in China have been sickened by hand, foot and mouth disease, and 18 children have died, Chinese health officials said Friday.

Based on previously release data, about twice as many people have been infected so far this year compared with the same time period last year, the Associated Pressreported.

May through July is the normal peak season for the spread of the disease, so this early spike suggests this year's toll will be higher than average, said Li Xinwang, a doctor at Beijing's Ditan Hospital.

He suggested the high number of cases so far this year may be due to "dramatic temperature fluctuations" which helped spread the virus, especially in rural areas where sanitation and health care are substandard, the AP reported.

Hand, foot and mouth disease typically strikes infants and children. It can be deadly, but most cases are mild, and children recover quickly after suffering little more than a fever and rash.

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Hot Tea May Increase Throat Cancer Risk: Study

Drinking hot tea may increase the risk of throat cancer, according to Iranian researchers.

They studied people in Golestan province, which has one of the highest rates of esophageal cancer in the world. Tea consumption in the province averages 1.8 pints per person per day, but there are low levels of tobacco and alcohol use,Agence France Presse reported.

The study of 300 throat cancer patients and 571 healthy people found that those who drank hot tea (65-69 degrees Celsius, 149-156 degrees Fahrenheit) were twice as likely to develop throat cancer as those who drank warm or lukewarm tea. Those who drank very hot tea (at least 70 C, 158 F) were eight times more likely to develop throat cancer than those who drank warm or lukewarm tea.

The findings were published Friday in the BMJ.

The team from the Digestive Disease Research Center at Tehran University of Medical Sciences found no association between the amount of tea consumption and cancer risk. The study didn't look at coffee or other hot beverages, AFPreported.

In an accompanying editorial, David Whiteman from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Australia, said the study contributes to evidence that scorching fluids may cause damage to the throat's epithelial lining and lead to cancer. How this may occur remains unclear.

But the editorial also said there's no reason for panic, because most people drink tea at a warm temperature. It recommended tea drinkers wait at least four minutes before drinking from a freshly boiled cup, AFP reported.

Health Tips for March 30

Health Tip: Getting Older and Weakened Immunity

As you age, your body often isn't able to protect you against disease as effectively as when you were younger.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine lists these changes to the immune system that may occur as part of the aging process:

• Decreased ability to protect against infection.
• Decreased effectiveness and duration of vaccinations.
• Increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease.
• Decreased ability to heal from wounds and other injuries.
• Decreased ability to detect and correct cell defects, which could raise the risk of certain cancers.

Health Tip: Bones, Muscles and Aging

Getting older means changes throughout your body, and the bones and muscles are no exception. So get them into shape, and help ward off certain effects of aging.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers this advice:

• Do lots of stretches. Stretching will help your muscles stay flexible.
• Try some lightweight training to build up and strengthen your muscles.
• Over time, getting regular exercise can help you retain muscle mass and help prevent weight gain.
• Even occasional exercise can benefit blood pressure, heart health, and some studies indicate it might reduce your risk of cancer.
• Getting just 30 minutes of exercise can boost your overall health. Try fun activities such as dancing and swimming.

If you haven't exercised before, talk to your doctor before you start.

Health Headlines - March 29

Transit Users More Likely to Meet Exercise Guidelines: Study

Transit users are three times more likely to achieve fitness guidelines than those who don't use transit, say Canadian researchers who interviewed 18,326 people in Atlanta, Ga., who kept diaries of their modes of travel over two consecutive days.

The study used the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's suggested daily minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, five days a week, CBC News reported.

The more people in the study used their cars, they less likely they were to meet the minimum activity guideline, said the University of British Columbia study.

"The idea of needing to go to the gym to get your daily dose of exercise is a misperception," associate professor Lawrence Frank, who teaches community and regional planning, said in a news release, CBC News reported.

"These short walks throughout our day are historically how we have gotten our activity," he noted. "Unfortunately, we've engineered this activity out of our daily lives."

The study was published in the Journal of Public Health Policy.

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VA Says 10 Patients Test Positive for Hepatitis

Ten people have tested positive for hepatitis after they were exposed to contaminated colonoscopy equipment, the U.S. Veterans Affairs department said Friday.

The 10 are among thousands of patients told to get blood tests after having colonoscopies at VA facilities in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Miami and Augusta, Ga. The equipment at those facilities wasn't properly sterilized between procedures, the Associated Press reported.

Four patients have tested positive for hepatitis B, and six have tested positive for hepatitis C, which can cause permanent liver damage and is potentially life-threatening.

The patients will receive treatment from the VA even though it hasn't been confirmed that their infections were the result of the unclean colonoscopy equipment, said VA spokeswoman Katie Roberts, the AP reported.

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China Reports More Cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

So far this year, 41,000 people in China have been sickened by hand, foot and mouth disease, and 18 children have died, Chinese health officials said Friday.

Based on previously release data, about twice as many people have been infected so far this year compared with the same time period last year, the Associated Press reported.

May through July is the normal peak season for the spread of the disease, so this early spike suggests this year's toll will be higher than average, said Li Xinwang, a doctor at Beijing's Ditan Hospital.

He suggested the high number of cases so far this year may be due to "dramatic temperature fluctuations" which helped spread the virus, especially in rural areas where sanitation and health care are substandard, the AP reported.

Hand, foot and mouth disease typically strikes infants and children. It can be deadly, but most cases are mild, and children recover quickly after suffering little more than a fever and rash.

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Hot Tea May Increase Throat Cancer Risk: Study

Drinking hot tea may increase the risk of throat cancer, according to Iranian researchers.

They studied people in Golestan province, which has one of the highest rates of esophageal cancer in the world. Tea consumption in the province averages 1.8 pints per person per day, but there are low levels of tobacco and alcohol use, Agence France Presse reported.

The study of 300 throat cancer patients and 571 healthy people found that those who drank hot tea (65-69 degrees Celsius, 149-156 degrees Fahrenheit) were twice as likely to develop throat cancer as those who drank warm or lukewarm tea. Those who drank very hot tea (at least 70 C, 158 F) were eight times more likely to develop throat cancer than those who drank warm or lukewarm tea.

The findings were published Friday in the BMJ.

The team from the Digestive Disease Research Center at Tehran University of Medical Sciences found no association between the amount of tea consumption and cancer risk. The study didn't look at coffee or other hot beverages, AFP reported.

In an accompanying editorial, David Whiteman from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Australia, said the study contributes to evidence that scorching fluids may cause damage to the throat's epithelial lining and lead to cancer. How this may occur remains unclear.

But the editorial also said there's no reason for panic, because most people drink tea at a warm temperature. It recommended tea drinkers wait at least four minutes before drinking from a freshly boiled cup, AFP reported.

Health Tips for March 29

Health Tip: Warning Signs of Peptic Ulcer

A peptic ulcer is a sore that occurs in the lining of the stomach or small intestine.

A bacterium, called H. pylori, causes the sore to form. While the foods you eat don't cause peptic ulcers, foods can aggravate these sores.

Peptic ulcers can be treated with antibiotics and acid-reducing medications.

The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse lists these common warning signs of a peptic ulcer:

• Dull pain in the abdomen.
• Abdominal pain that fluctuates, but often occurs on an empty stomach or several hours after a meal.
• Abdominal pain that subsides after eating or taking antacid medications.
• Loss of weight and lack of appetite.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Feeling bloated or frequent burping.

Health Tip: Treating an Ulcer

Ulcers are sores that occur in the lining of the digestive tract. They can be triggered by factors such as bacteria, medication or excess production of stomach acid.

If you have an ulcer, here are things you should discuss with your doctor to promote healing, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• Medications can help ulcers heal. Antibiotics are prescribed to thwart bacteria, and other medications may be taken to help reduce stomach acid.
• Avoid smoking.
• Don't take anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol in your diet. If you do have some, try to make sure it's after you've eaten a meal or snack.
• Don't eat foods that seem to aggravate your ulcer. Examples may include chocolate, coffee, certain herbs and spices, and some spicy foods.
• Eat several small meals throughout the day, rather than one big meal.

Health Headlines - March 28

Transit Users More Likely to Meet Exercise Guidelines: Study

Transit users are three times more likely to achieve fitness guidelines than those who don't use transit, say Canadian researchers who interviewed 18,326 people in Atlanta, Ga., who kept diaries of their modes of travel over two consecutive days.

The study used the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's suggested daily minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, five days a week, CBC News reported.

The more people in the study used their cars, they less likely they were to meet the minimum activity guideline, said the University of British Columbia study.

"The idea of needing to go to the gym to get your daily dose of exercise is a misperception," associate professor Lawrence Frank, who teaches community and regional planning, said in a news release, CBC News reported.

"These short walks throughout our day are historically how we have gotten our activity," he noted. "Unfortunately, we've engineered this activity out of our daily lives."

The study was published in the Journal of Public Health Policy.

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VA Says 10 Patients Test Positive for Hepatitis

Ten people have tested positive for hepatitis after they were exposed to contaminated colonoscopy equipment, the U.S. Veterans Affairs department said Friday.

The 10 are among thousands of patients told to get blood tests after having colonoscopies at VA facilities in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Miami and Augusta, Ga. The equipment at those facilities wasn't properly sterilized between procedures, the Associated Press reported.

Four patients have tested positive for hepatitis B, and six have tested positive for hepatitis C, which can cause permanent liver damage and is potentially life-threatening.

The patients will receive treatment from the VA even though it hasn't been confirmed that their infections were the result of the unclean colonoscopy equipment, said VA spokeswoman Katie Roberts, the AP reported.

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China Reports More Cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

So far this year, 41,000 people in China have been sickened by hand, foot and mouth disease, and 18 children have died, Chinese health officials said Friday.

Based on previously release data, about twice as many people have been infected so far this year compared with the same time period last year, the Associated Press reported.

May through July is the normal peak season for the spread of the disease, so this early spike suggests this year's toll will be higher than average, said Li Xinwang, a doctor at Beijing's Ditan Hospital.

He suggested the high number of cases so far this year may be due to "dramatic temperature fluctuations" which helped spread the virus, especially in rural areas where sanitation and health care are substandard, the AP reported.

Hand, foot and mouth disease typically strikes infants and children. It can be deadly, but most cases are mild, and children recover quickly after suffering little more than a fever and rash.

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Hot Tea May Increase Throat Cancer Risk: Study

Drinking hot tea may increase the risk of throat cancer, according to Iranian researchers.

They studied people in Golestan province, which has one of the highest rates of esophageal cancer in the world. Tea consumption in the province averages 1.8 pints per person per day, but there are low levels of tobacco and alcohol use, Agence France Presse reported.

The study of 300 throat cancer patients and 571 healthy people found that those who drank hot tea (65-69 degrees Celsius, 149-156 degrees Fahrenheit) were twice as likely to develop throat cancer as those who drank warm or lukewarm tea. Those who drank very hot tea (at least 70 C, 158 F) were eight times more likely to develop throat cancer than those who drank warm or lukewarm tea.

The findings were published Friday in the BMJ.

The team from the Digestive Disease Research Center at Tehran University of Medical Sciences found no association between the amount of tea consumption and cancer risk. The study didn't look at coffee or other hot beverages, AFP reported.

In an accompanying editorial, David Whiteman from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Australia, said the study contributes to evidence that scorching fluids may cause damage to the throat's epithelial lining and lead to cancer. How this may occur remains unclear.

But the editorial also said there's no reason for panic, because most people drink tea at a warm temperature. It recommended tea drinkers wait at least four minutes before drinking from a freshly boiled cup, AFP reported.

Health Tips for March 28

Health Tip: Depression Among Seniors

Depression affects more than 6 million people aged 65 or older in the United States, but only about 10 percent of them are treated, the Cleveland Clinic says.

The clinic offers this list of risk factors for depression in seniors:

• Living alone without much social interaction.
• Having persistent pain or illness.
• Being overly afraid of dying.
• Having a family history or personal history of depression or suicide attempts.
• Having had a recent bereavement, such as the death of a close family member.
• Having problems with drugs or alcohol.
• Taking certain medications, alone or combined with other medications.
• Problems with body image after a surgery or major illness, such as cancer or heart disease.

Health Tip: What Seniors Eat

Nutrition is an important part of a healthy lifestyle at any age, a requirement that doesn't change as you get older.

Here are some dietary guidelines for older people, courtesy of the Cleveland Clinic:

• Seniors should get 1- to 1.2-grams of protein each day per kilogram of their weight. For instance, a 150-pound person (70 kg) should get 70 to 100 grams of protein daily. Those with chronic kidney disease should ask their doctor about how much protein is safe.
• Seniors need 1,000 milligrams of calcium each day, and 1,000 units of vitamin D daily.
• Seniors should take special care to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Seniors should take a multivitamin if their diet isn't balanced, they've been sick, or are losing weight. Vitamins don't include protein, however.

Health Headlines - March 27

Experts Put Worldwide Cost of Dementia at $315.4 Billion

Worldwide prevalence of dementia may be much higher than previously thought, costing societies around the globe an estimated $315.4 billion, say scientists attending the Alzheimer's Disease International conference this week in Singapore.

Health-care and social services systems in developed and developing countries are under strain dealing with what the experts said was a "greying of the world." Projections indicate as many as 29.4 million people suffer from Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, the scientists reported in a news release about the conference issued Thursday. And, worldwide prevalence of dementia may quadruple to almost 120 million people by 2050, they added.

Treating worldwide dementia includes $105 billion for informal care -- non-professional care usually provided by families -- that makes up 37 percent of the total dollars. Seventy-seven percent of dementia treament costs occurred in the world's more developed regions, according to the news release.

"In light of the rapidly growing future prevalence estimates, in particular in less developed regions, the economic impact of dementia is a great challenge for every society," Dr. Anders Wimo, of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Karolinska Institutet, in Stockholm, said in the news release.

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U.S. Halts Trial of Concentrated Saline Solution for Shock

A clinical trial studying the use of concentrated saline solution in trauma patients suffering from severe shock due to severe bleeding has been halted early by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute because there was no benefit to patients.

In the study, the solution was given to patients as they rode in ambulances to hospital. But patients who received the concentrated saline solution were no more likely to survive than those who received a normal saline solution.

Saline solution is widely used in trauma patients to compensate for blood loss and buy time until they can receive blood transfusions in the hospital. It's believed concentrated saline solution compensates for blood loss more effectively, lessens excessive inflammatory responses, and prevents brain swelling, the NHLBI said.

A parallel study of concentrated saline for traumatic brain injury without shock continues.

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Energy Drinks Increase Blood Pressure, Heart Rate: Study

Energy drinks can boost blood pressure and should not be consumed by people with high blood pressure or heart disease, say U.S. researchers.

They found that drinking two cans of an energy drink a day increased blood pressure and heart rate in healthy adults, United Press International reported.

These increases were insignificant for healthy people but could prove harmful to those with a heart-related condition, said lead author James Kalus, senior manager of Patient Care Services at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

"Based on our findings, we recommend that people who have hypertension or heart disease and are taking medication for them to avoid consuming energy drinks because of a potential risk to their health," Kalus said in a news release,UPI reported.

Caffeine and taurine levels in energy drinks could cause the increases in blood pressure and heart rate, the researchers said. The study was published in theAnnals of Pharmacotherapy.

Health Tips for March 27

Health Tip: Asthmatics Don't Have to Stop Exercising

Exercise is good for most people, even asthmatics who have their doctor's approval.

The American Council on Exercise offers these suggestions to help reduce your risk of an asthma attack while exercising:

• Keep your inhaler or other asthma medication nearby, in case you become short of breath during exercise.
• Warm up for at least 15 minutes before exercise.
• Take plenty of time to cool down, and slowly decrease your activity.
• Drink plenty of water before exercise.
• Don't exercise outdoors when air quality is compromised by allergens or pollution.
• Don't overexert yourself.
• Breathe deeply, in through your nose and out through your mouth.
• Don't push yourself too much. Give yourself a break, especially if it feels like you're on the verge of an asthma attack.

Health Tip: Exercise for Bone Health

As you age, your bones tend to lose density, become weaker and are more likely to fracture. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to help keep bones strong.

Besides recommending that you get enough bone-building vitamin D and calcium in your diet, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these exercise recommendations:

• Walking and jogging.
• Hiking.
• Cross-country skiing.
• Stair-climbing machines, or climbing stationary stairs.
• Dancing and jumping rope.
• Sports such as soccer, volleyball, basketball, field hockey and softball.

Health Headlines - March 26

Treating Heart Ailments Costs $78 Billion: Survey

Treating heart ailments -- from opening blocked arteries to keeping heart patients alive and caring for them -- cost an estimated $78 billion in 2006, or about 8 percent of the more than $1 trillion spent on all medical care for the community population, a U.S. survey says.

The analysis was based on data in a nationally representative sampling from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, according to an agency news release issued Wednesday. The figures represent the costs for hospital admissions, emergency department visits, visits to doctors' offices and hospital outpatient departments, as well as money spent on home health care and prescription drugs. Among the survey's findings:

• Hospital admissions took up $43.9 billion, or 56 percent.
• Visits to doctors and hospital outpatient departments absorbed $15.3 billion, or 20 percent.
• Outpatient prescription drugs cost $7.9 billion, almost 10 percent.
• Home nursing and other home care services ran $6.7 billion, or 9 percent.
• Emergency room care costs were $4.3 billion, or 6 percent.

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Overactive Nerves Cause Tinnitus: Study

Australian scientists believe they've identified the root cause of tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, a finding that could boost efforts to find a cure for the condition, which is often associated with hearing loss.

The study, conducted in guinea pigs, found that uncontrolled nerve activity within brain areas that process sound results in the noises experienced by people with tinnitus. This increased nerve activity was linked to changes in genes that regulate the activity of nerve cells, BBC News reported.

The finding suggests it may be possible to treat tinnitus by silencing nerve activity.

"Identifying genes associated with spontaneous nerve cell activity is crucial. It means it may be possible to use drugs to block this activity and treat conditions such as tinnitus in the future," said lead researcher Professor Don Robertson, BBC News reported.

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Single Embryo Transplant More Effective, Cheaper: Study

It's more effective and less costly to implant single embryos instead of two embryos at a time, says a study that challenges the belief that implanting multiple embryos during in-vitro fertilization (IVF) improves a woman's chances of becoming pregnant and is more cost-effective.

Finnish researchers looked at more than 1,500 women who went through more than 3,600 assisted reproduction cycles. They found the live birth rate was 5 percent higher for women who had a single embryo implanted at a time, compared to double embryo transplants, Agence France Presse reported.

The single embryo method was also less costly, especially when the researchers factored in health complications due to multiple pregnancies.

The study was published in the journal Human Reproduction.

"At a time when there is an intense debate in many countries about how to reduce multiple pregnancy rates and provide affordable fertility treatment, policy makers should be made aware of our results," study lead researcher Hannu Martikainen, of the University of Oulu, said in a news release, AFP reported.

"These data should also encourage clinics to evaluate their embryo transfer policy and adopt elective single embryo transfer as their everyday practice for women younger than 40," Martikainen said.

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Many Chronically Ill Patients Report Medical Errors: Survey

A new survey finds that 23 percent of chronically ill U.S. patients and their caregivers report they've been victims of a medical error.

The AARP survey found that 21 percent of chronically ill patients said their healthcare providers didn't communicate well with one another, and 20 percent of patients said their health suffered as a result, United Press International reported.

Among the other findings:

• 26 percent of chronically ill patients say they lack confidence in the healthcare system.
• 30 percent say their healthcare provider did not have all the necessary information when they arrived.
• 24 percent received conflicting information from two or more healthcare providers.
• 16 percent say they received unnecessary medical tests.

"Health spending for an older person with just one chronic disease is more than twice that of a healthy person," John Rother, AARP executive vice president, said in a news release, UPI reported.

"Chronic conditions are often preventable, and they take a terrible toll on millions of Americans. Our fragmented healthcare system makes it incredibly difficult for chronically ill patients and their caregivers to get the appropriate care they so desperately need," Rother said.

Health Tips for March 26

Health Tip: Remember to Take Your Medicine

Many medications should be taken at the same time every day, both to ensure their effectiveness and so that you remember to take them.

The American Heart Association offers these suggestions to help keep you on schedule:

• Make taking your medication a part of your daily routine, as you would brushing your teeth.
• Take your medicine while performing another daily activity, such as having breakfast.
• Use a daily pill box to organize and track when you've taken your medication.
• Track taking your medication on a calendar, and mark off the day afterward.
• Use a white board to keep track of when you've taken your medication.
• Ask a family member or friend to remind you each day.

Health Tip: Medications and Pregnancy

You may take certain over-the-counter supplements and medications without thinking twice. But when you're pregnant, even drugs that you can buy without a prescription can affect the developing fetus.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these safety guidelines about medications and pregnancy:

• Don't take any medicine or herbal supplement without checking with your doctor.
• Try not to take any medicine during your first trimester of pregnancy, when your baby is most likely to be affected.
• If you are having pain, acetaminophen is usually safe for pregnant women to take for a short period. But you should first check with your doctor.
• Don't take aspirin while you're pregnant.
• Don't take an NSAID -- such as Advil, Motrin or Aleve -- while you're pregnant, particularly during your third trimester.

Health Headlines - March 25

Insurers Say They May Drop Higher Premiums for Sick Patients

America's health insurers are offering to drop their controversial practice of charging higher premiums to sick people, the Associated Press reported.

In a letter to key senators charged with reforming the U.S. health care system, America's Health Insurance Plans and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association said they are willing to "phase out the practice of varying premiums based on health status in the individual market" if all Americans are required to get coverage.

There are an estimated 48 million uninsured people in the United States, according to the AP. The insurance industry is trying to head off creation of a government insurance plan that could compete with them to provide those people services, the wire service reported.

HIV Contributes to a Quarter of TB Deaths: WHO

One in four tuberculosis deaths worldwide is HIV-related, a rate twice as high as previously believed, says the World Health Organization.

There were an estimated 1.37 million new cases of TB among HIV-infected people and 456,000 deaths worldwide in 2007. Despite the fact that TB kills more people with HIV than any other disease, only 1 percent of people with HIV had a TB screen in 2008, BBC News reported.

HIV has caused a tripling of TB incidence in Sub-Saharan Africa since the 1990s. In some countries, 80 percent of TB patients are also infected with HIV, the WHO said.

"These findings point to an urgent need to find, prevent and treat TB in people living with HIV and to test for HIV in all patients with TB. Countries can only do that through stronger collaborative programs and stronger health systems that address both diseases," said Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO director-general, BBC News reported.

VA Hospital Warns Colonoscopy Patients About Unclean Equipment

Improperly sterilized colonoscopy equipment was used on more than 3,000 patients at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Miami. The patients have been told they should be tested for HIV and other diseases.

The incident involved tubing on equipment, not any device that touched a patient, and the risk of infection is minimal, according to the VA, the Associated Press reported.

This have been similar problems recently. In February, more than 6,000 colonoscopy patients at a VA clinic in Tennessee were told they may have been exposed to infectious body fluids.

And 1,800 veterans treated at an ear, nose and throat clinic in Augusta, Ga., were warned they may have been exposed to an infection due to improper disinfection of an instrument, the AP reported.

Real Doctors Learn Poor Technique From TV Doctors: Study

Television doctors can have a bad influence on how real doctors perform some medical procedures, according to a Canadian study of 80 medical students and residents.

The University of Alberta Hospital researchers conducted the study to find out why so many medical students and residents were using an improper technique to insert breathing tubes in patients, United Press International reported.

Many of the participants said they learned through trial and error, but a large number admitted they learned their technique from watching doctors and nurses on television shows, with "ER" cited as the most popular show.

When the researchers analyzed a full season of "ER," they found that some feature of the head positioning for inserting a breathing tube was incorrect in all 22 intubations they were able to fully view on screen, UPI reported.

The study was published in the journal Resuscitation.

Robin Williams Recovering After Heart Surgery

Actor Robin Williams, 57, was recovering after he had heart surgery to replace an aortic valve on March 13, his publicists said Monday. He's expected to make a complete recovery in the next eight weeks.

Earlier this month, Williams was in Florida when he suffered shortness of breath and had to cancel the remainder of his one-man comedy show, "Weapons of Self-Destruction," the Associated Press reported. He was initially treated at the University of Miami Hospital before being transferred to the Cleveland Clinic, where he had the heart surgery.

"His heart is strong, and he will have normal heart function in the coming weeks with no limitations on what he'll be able to do. A couple of hours after surgery, he was entertaining the medical team and making us all laugh," said Dr. A. Marc Gillinov, a cardiothoracic surgeon, the AP reported.

In a prepared statement, Williams thanked staff at both hospitals and said the experience gave him fresh fodder for his act.

"I got some great new material for the tour and can't wait to get back on the road. I'm thinking the next leg of the tour will be "Weapons of Self-Destruction and Reconstruction!"

Health Tips for March 25

Health Tip: Taking a Daily Aspirin

A daily low-dose aspirin can help reduce the risk of heart attack in people with higher-risk conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

While aspirin is generally safe, there are some people who shouldn't take it, since the drug can irritate the stomach lining.

The American Diabetes Association says the following people should talk to their doctor before beginning daily aspirin therapy:

• People younger than age 21.
• People who bleed often or easily.
• People who are allergic to aspirin.
• People who have had recent bleeding in the digestive tract.
• People with current liver disease.

Health Tip: Taking an NSAID

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are pain relievers, many of which are available without a doctor's prescription. They include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen.

While NSAIDs are safe for most people in recommended doses, the American Academy of Family Physicians says the following people shouldn't take these drugs unless they've consulted a doctor first:

• Anyone who takes a blood-thinning medication.
• Anyone with bleeding in the stomach, intestines or any type of bleeding disorder.
• Anyone who has stomach ulcers.
• Anyone who has liver or kidney disease.
• Anyone who consumes three or more alcoholic drinks per day.

Health Headlines - March 24

FDA Ordered to Re-examine Limits on 'Morning-After' Pill

A U.S. District Court judge has ordered the Food and Drug Administration to rethink its plan to limit the non-prescription "morning-after" pill to women who are at least 18 years old, the Washington Post reported Monday.

In 2005, the agency announced that it would limit over-the-counter access to the pill, also known as Plan B, to women 18 and older. U.S. District Judge Edward R. Korman said the FDA must reconsider whether to make the drug available to all women, regardless of age, without a prescription.

The "record is clear that the FDA's course of conduct regarding Plan B departed in significant ways from the agency's normal procedures regarding similar applications to switch a drug from prescription to non-prescription use," the newspaper quoted from Korman's 52-page ruling.

The plan B pill is intended to prevent pregnancy up to 72 hours after a woman has unprotected sex.

Groups critical of the FDA's original decision praised the judge's ruling.

"The message is clear: The FDA has to put science first and leave politics at the door. We are encouraged that the FDA under new leadership, when they look at the evidence, will remove the unique barriers that have been in place and [Plan B] will finally be available to all women without any barriers," the Post quoted Suzanne Novak, senior staff attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights, as saying.

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Symbyax Approved for Treatment-Resistant Depression

The bipolar depression drug Symbyax has received U.S. approval as a therapy for patients with treatment-resistant depression, Eli Lilly & Co. announced Monday.

The FDA approval applies to use in adult patients who haven't responded to two separate rounds of therapy with different antidepressants, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported.

"Living with major depressive disorder is difficult and distressing for anyone, but even more so for patients whose symptoms continue despite treatment," Lilly medical director Dr. Sara Corya said in a company news release. "Now, after two failed attempts with other antidepressants, doctors and patients have a new treatment option."

To get this FDA approval, Lilly had to change the drug label information to include stronger language about the risk of weight gain and diabetes.

Symbyax, a combination of Lillys drugs Zyprexa and Prozac in one pill, was approved by the FDA to treat bipolar depression in 2003, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported.

In related news, the FDA approved the use of Zyprexa and Prozac, in separate pills, to treat bipolar depression and treatment-resistant depression.

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Westco Peanut Products Recalled

Consumers shouldn't eat any peanuts or peanut products sold by Westco Fruit and Nuts Inc. (Westco/Westcott), because they may be contaminated with salmonella, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Monday.

Peanuts used in the Westco products may have come from the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). The PCA plant in Blakely, Ga., has been identified as the source of a nationwide salmonella outbreak that's sickened 691 people and may have contributed to nine deaths.

The FDA told Irvington, N.J.-based Westco/Westcott to voluntarily recall all its products containing peanuts from PCA. Westco/Westcott sold these peanuts in various sizes and packaging configurations, and also used them as an ingredient in a variety of mixed nut products and trail mix produced between Nov. 19, 2008, and mid-Feb. 2009.

Consumers who have Westco/Westcott peanuts or peanut products in their homes should dispose of the products by placing them in a plastic bag with bleach. Seal the bag properly and place it in a trash bin. Consumers should then was their hands, the FDA said.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

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J&J Baby Products Safe: Chinese Officials

Cancer-causing agents were not used as additives in Johnson & Johnson baby products, China's State Food and Drug Administration announced on its Web site.

The officials launched an investigation after a U.S. activist group said dozens of the products contained formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, the Associated Press reported. The products were also declared safe by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

Last week, the report by Campaign for Safe Cosmetics prompted Shanghai-based Nonggongshan Supermarkets Corp. to pull J&J's baby products from its 3,500 stores in China. The supermarket chain resumed sales of the products after they were cleared by government officials.

J&J denies the allegations by Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a coalition of nonprofit organizations. The company says all its products are in compliance with safety laws in the countries were they're sold, the AP reported.

Health Tips for March 24

Health Tip: Get Needed Vitamins and Minerals

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

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

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

Health Tip: The Signs of Hunger

When you have a desire to eat, are you really hungry? Other factors can make you feel like you want to eat, including feeling sad or lonely, the time of day, craving certain foods, or being thirsty.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this list of actual hunger signs:

• Your stomach growls or rumbles.
• You feel hunger pangs in your stomach.
• You have a slight headache, or difficulty concentrating.
• You feel grumpy or irritable.

Health Headlines - March 23

Children's Taste for Sweets Linked to Growth

A high growth rate is the reason why many children like sweets so much, say U.S. researchers who studied sweet preference, biological measures of growth and physical maturation in 143 children, ages 11 to 15.

Sensory taste tests were used to determine whether the children had a high or low sweet taste preference. Children with a low preference were found to have lower levels of a biomarker associated with bone growth, United Press Internationalreported.

The researchers said it appears that children's taste for sweets is related to their high growth rate and that sweet preferences decrease as their growth slows and eventually stops.

"The relationship between sweet preference and growth makes intuitive sense, because when growth is rapid, caloric demands increase. Children are programmed to like a sweet taste, because it fills a biological need by pushing them towards energy sources," Danielle Reed, a geneticist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, said in a news release, UPI reported.

The study is published in the journal Physiology & Behavior.

DDT Exposure Increases Women's Obesity Risk: Study

Females exposed to the insecticide DDT while in the womb are more likely to be obese, says a Michigan State University study.

The researchers checked levels of DDE (a breakdown of DDT) in the adult daughters of 250 women who eat fish from Lake Michigan and were recruited for a large study in the early 1970s, United Press International reported.

Compared to daughters with the lowest levels of DDE, those with intermediate levels had an average of 13 pounds more weight, and those with higher levels were more than 20 pounds heavier, said lead author Janet Osuch.

"What we have found for the first time is exposure to certain toxins by eating fish from polluted waters may contribute to the obesity epidemic in women," Osuch said in news release, UPI reported. "These findings not only apply to the offspring of women in our cohort but to any woman who has been exposed to high levels of DDE when she was growing in her mother's womb -- mothers with the highest DDE levels are women who have consumed a lot of fish or high-fat meats."

The findings were published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The U.S. banned DDT in 1973, but the chemical and its by-products persist in the environment, the study reported.

Children's Exercise Sessions Often Too Short to Prevent Obesity

Too few children and teens engage in exercise sessions that last long enough to reduce their risk of obesity, say Canadian researchers.

They analyzed data on 2,498 young people, ages 8 to 17, who took part in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Motion sensors were used to measure the participants' levels of physical activity. The results showed that two-thirds of their physical activity involved short, sporadic sessions that lasted less than five minutes, United Press International reported.

"Even in 60-minute physical education classes or team practices, children are inactive for a large portion of the time, and this would not necessarily count as sustained exercise," study author Ian Janssen, of Queen's University, said in a news release. "When children engage in longer periods of sustained physical activity, there is a smaller likelihood that they will be overweight or obese."

The study is in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Health Tips for March 23

Health Tip: Coping With Juvenile Arthritis

Arthritis isn't just a disease of the elderly. Children may be affected by a disease called juvenile arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation offers these suggestions to help families cope with the condition:

* Family members should openly discuss what each person is feeling, including concerns, anger and fears.
* The child with juvenile arthritis should not be allowed to shirk responsibilities, as long as he or she is physically able to fulfill them.
* Teach your child about the disease, including information about management and treatment, in an age-appropriate way.
* Don't be overbearing or overprotective. Encourage independence and responsibility.
* Spend time with each other -- as a family, and one-on-one with your child.

Health Tip: Have Your Child's Hearing Checked

Children need regular hearing tests to help identify any hearing problems before they worsen.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has issued guidelines for when school-age children should have their hearing examined.

A hearing test should be performed:

* Before children start school, and each year beginning with kindergarten through the third grade. The test should be repeated when children are in the seventh and 11th grades.
* If concerns arise about a child's language, speech, learning or hearing capabilities.
* If a family history of hereditary hearing loss exists, particularly later in life.
* If there are persistent ear infections.
* If there are problems with the skull or face that may affect hearing, or an injury to the head that rendered the child unconscious.
* If there are other factors that could lead to hearing loss, such as being exposed repeatedly to very loud noise.

Health Headlines - March 22

Children's Taste for Sweets Linked to Growth

A high growth rate is the reason why many children like sweets so much, say U.S. researchers who studied sweet preference, biological measures of growth and physical maturation in 143 children, ages 11 to 15.

Sensory taste tests were used to determine whether the children had a high or low sweet taste preference. Children with a low preference were found to have lower levels of a biomarker associated with bone growth, United Press Internationalreported.

The researchers said it appears that children's taste for sweets is related to their high growth rate and that sweet preferences decrease as their growth slows and eventually stops.

"The relationship between sweet preference and growth makes intuitive sense, because when growth is rapid, caloric demands increase. Children are programmed to like a sweet taste, because it fills a biological need by pushing them towards energy sources," Danielle Reed, a geneticist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, said in a news release, UPI reported.

The study is published in the journal Physiology & Behavior.

DDT Exposure Increases Women's Obesity Risk: Study

Females exposed to the insecticide DDT while in the womb are more likely to be obese, says a Michigan State University study.

The researchers checked levels of DDE (a breakdown of DDT) in the adult daughters of 250 women who eat fish from Lake Michigan and were recruited for a large study in the early 1970s, United Press International reported.

Compared to daughters with the lowest levels of DDE, those with intermediate levels had an average of 13 pounds more weight, and those with higher levels were more than 20 pounds heavier, said lead author Janet Osuch.

"What we have found for the first time is exposure to certain toxins by eating fish from polluted waters may contribute to the obesity epidemic in women," Osuch said in news release, UPI reported. "These findings not only apply to the offspring of women in our cohort but to any woman who has been exposed to high levels of DDE when she was growing in her mother's womb -- mothers with the highest DDE levels are women who have consumed a lot of fish or high-fat meats."

The findings were published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The U.S. banned DDT in 1973, but the chemical and its by-products persist in the environment, the study reported.

Children's Exercise Sessions Often Too Short to Prevent Obesity

Too few children and teens engage in exercise sessions that last long enough to reduce their risk of obesity, say Canadian researchers.

They analyzed data on 2,498 young people, ages 8 to 17, who took part in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Motion sensors were used to measure the participants' levels of physical activity. The results showed that two-thirds of their physical activity involved short, sporadic sessions that lasted less than five minutes, United Press International reported.

"Even in 60-minute physical education classes or team practices, children are inactive for a large portion of the time, and this would not necessarily count as sustained exercise," study author Ian Janssen, of Queen's University, said in a news release. "When children engage in longer periods of sustained physical activity, there is a smaller likelihood that they will be overweight or obese."

The study is in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Health Tips for March 22

Health Tip: Potassium-Rich Foods

Potassium is a mineral that plays an important role in regulating blood pressure. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that most people get 4,044 milligrams of potassium each day.

Here are some good food sources of potassium, says the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Potatoes, both sweet and regular.
* Beans; especially lima beans, soybeans, white beans and kidney beans.
* Yogurt and skim milk.
* Bananas, peaches, cantaloupes and honeydew melons.
* Fish, such as halibut, yellowfin tuna, rockfish and cod.
* Tomato products, such as tomato sauce, juice, puree and paste.

Health Tip: Taking Folic Acid

Folic acid is an important B vitamin for women -- especially for those who are pregnant or who are planning to become pregnant. It can help prevent serious birth defects of the baby's brain and spine.

Folic acid may also benefit men and women of any age, the U.S. National Institutes of Health says. Some studies show that it may help prevent heart disease, stroke, some cancers and Alzheimer's disease.

You should always talk to your doctor about what's an appropriate amount for you. The NIH site womenshealth.gov offers these general guidelines about folic acid:

* Women who are able to become pregnant should take 400 micrograms of folic acid each day.
* Pregnant women need 600 micrograms daily.
* Breast-feeding women need 500 micrograms daily.
* Women who have had a baby with certain birth defects -- such as spina bifida or anencephaly -- and who want to have another baby should check with their doctor. These women may need as much as 4,000 micrograms of folic acid per day.
* Women who have had a baby with these birth defects and who do not plan to have another baby should take 400 micrograms daily.

Health Headlines - March 21

DDT Exposure Increases Women's Obesity Risk: Study

Females exposed to the insecticide DDT while in the womb are more likely to be obese, says a Michigan State University study.

The researchers checked levels of DDE (a breakdown of DDT) in the adult daughters of 250 women who eat fish from Lake Michigan and were recruited for a large study in the early 1970s, United Press International reported.

Compared to daughters with the lowest levels of DDE, those with intermediate levels had an average of 13 pounds more weight, and those with higher levels were more than 20 pounds heavier, said lead author Janet Osuch.

"What we have found for the first time is exposure to certain toxins by eating fish from polluted waters may contribute to the obesity epidemic in women," Osuch said in news release, UPI reported. "These findings not only apply to the offspring of women in our cohort but to any woman who has been exposed to high levels of DDE when she was growing in her mother's womb -- mothers with the highest DDE levels are women who have consumed a lot of fish or high-fat meats."

The findings were published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The U.S. banned DDT in 1973, but the chemical and its by-products persist in the environment, the study reported.

Children's Exercise Sessions Often Too Short to Prevent Obesity

Too few children and teens engage in exercise sessions that last long enough to reduce their risk of obesity, say Canadian researchers.

They analyzed data on 2,498 young people, ages 8 to 17, who took part in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Motion sensors were used to measure the participants' levels of physical activity. The results showed that two-thirds of their physical activity involved short, sporadic sessions that lasted less than five minutes, United Press International reported.

"Even in 60-minute physical education classes or team practices, children are inactive for a large portion of the time, and this would not necessarily count as sustained exercise," study author Ian Janssen, of Queen's University, said in a news release. "When children engage in longer periods of sustained physical activity, there is a smaller likelihood that they will be overweight or obese."

The study is in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Food Industry Safety Checks Under Fire

A House Energy and Commerce Investigations subcommittee released new pictures and documents it says show the food industry's self-policing policies failed to catch unsanitary conditions at the peanut processing plant responsible for a nationwide salmonella outbreak. The incident sickened almost 700 people and is being blamed for at least nine deaths, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

Dozens of companies that bought peanut paste and other ingredients from Peanut Corp., which is under criminal investigation in connection with the outbreak, failed to pick up the problems because they relied on safety audits by inspectors hired by Peanut Corp. "There is an obvious and inherent conflict of interest when an auditor works for the same supplier it is evaluating," said Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), chairman of the subcommittee, calling it a "cozy relationship," the AP reported.

Thursday's hearing was held as calls for major changes in the U.S. food safety system grew louder, from consumer groups, politicians, and even the head of Kellogg Co. He called for an overhaul of policing policies after the cereal maker lost $70 million in the salmonella outbreak when it had to recall millions of products, the AP reported. David Mackay, Kellogg's chief executive, said companies should be required to have written safety plans and submit to annual inspections.

Last week, President Barack Obama launched a special review of food safety programs, and lawmakers have introduced legislation to take safety oversight away from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and create a new agency with stronger powers and more funding, the AP reported.

Health Tips for March 21

Health Tip: Your Body Needs Zinc

Zinc is an important mineral found in almost every cell in the human body.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health says that zinc stimulates the activity of approximately 100 enzymes, which are substances that promote biochemical reactions in your body.

Zinc supports a healthy immune system, is needed for wound healing, helps maintain your sense of taste and smell and is needed for DNA synthesis. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood and adolescence.

Zinc is found in lots of foods, and oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other. But if you can't get your hands on oysters or don't like them, there many alternatives.

Red meat and poultry provide the majority of zinc in the American diet. Other good food sources include beans, nuts, certain seafood, whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals and dairy products.

Zinc absorption is greater from a diet high in animal protein than a diet rich in plant proteins.

Health Tip: Coping With Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a painful, tiring condition that affects about five million adults in the United States, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) says.

While the condition's cause is poorly understood, NIAMS offers these suggestions to help you manage symptoms:

* Even if exercise sounds painful, physical activity is recommended for people with fibromyalgia. Some light and regular exercise -- even just walking -- can help boost energy and ease pain.
* Eat a healthy diet, and stay away from any foods that seem to trigger fibromyalgia symptoms.
* Make sure you get enough sleep each night.
* Stay comfortable at work. When possible, make sure your chair and desk are set up comfortably, limit the hours you work, and try to adjust your responsibilities (if they include standing, lifting, etc.)

Health Headlines - March 20

Food Industry Safety Checks Under Fire

A House Energy and Commerce Investigations subcommittee released new pictures and documents it says show the food industry's self-policing policies failed to catch unsanitary conditions at the peanut processing plant responsible for a nationwide salmonella outbreak. The incident sickened almost 700 people and is being blamed for at least nine deaths, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

Dozens of companies that bought peanut paste and other ingredients from Peanut Corp., which is under criminal investigation in connection with the outbreak, failed to pick up the problems because they relied on safety audits by inspectors hired by Peanut Corp. "There is an obvious and inherent conflict of interest when an auditor works for the same supplier it is evaluating," said Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), chairman of the subcommittee, calling it a "cozy relationship," the AP reported.

Thursday's hearing was held as calls for major changes in the U.S. food safety system grew louder, from consumer groups, politicians, and even the head of Kellogg Co. He called for an overhaul of policing policies after the cereal maker lost $70 million in the salmonella outbreak when it had to recall millions of products, the AP reported. David Mackay, Kellogg's chief executive, said companies should be required to have written safety plans and submit to annual inspections.

Last week, President Barack Obama launched a special review of food safety programs, and lawmakers have introduced legislation to take safety oversight away from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and create a new agency with stronger powers and more funding, the AP reported.

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Study Offers Clues to Epilepsy in Some Alzheimer's Patients

Tests in mice show why about a third of Alzheimer's patients develop epilepsy, say researchers at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

They found that Alzheimer's-related amyloid clumps that form in the brain increase the sensitivity of nerve cells, making them prone to seizures, BBC News reported.

The study was published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

If the same thing is found in humans, some Alzheimer's patients will need different types of drugs. Currently, a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors are widely used to treat Alzheimer's patients, BBC News reported.

The drugs halt the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter associated with memory. However, these drugs also increase the risk of seizure. To complicate matters, drugs that control seizures can worsen Alzheimer's symptoms.

New drugs that can treat both problems need to be developed, said researcher Professor Tibor Harkany, BBC News reported.

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FDA Panel Backs Heart Drug Multaq

The drug Multaq should be approved for sale in the United States to treat the common heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation, a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel recommended Wednesday.

In 2006, the FDA rejected Multaq due to a study that found the drug increased the risk of death and cardiovascular problems. Drug maker Sanofi-Aventis SA was told to conduct an additional study, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The new study found that patients taking Multaq had a 24 percent decrease in the combined risk of hospitalization for heart problems and death from any cause. Last year, Sanofi resubmitted its application for FDA approval of the drug.

In a 10-3 vote, the panel of outside medical experts recommended FDA approval of Multaq, the newspaper reported. The FDA isn't required to approve the drug, but generally follows its advisory panels' recommendations.

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U.S. Won't Prosecute Legal Medical Marijuana Distributors

The U.S. Justice Department won't prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries operating legally in more than a dozen states, a decision that represents a major shift from the Bush administration.

Medical marijuana advocates and civil libertarians welcomed the change in federal drug policy, announced Wednesday by Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., the Los Angeles Times reported. There had been great speculation about how the Obama administration would handle the issue.

"Whatever questions are left, today's comments clearly represent a change in policy out of Washington. (Holder is) sending a clear message to the DEA," said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance.

The Bush administration went after medical marijuana distributors even in states where medical marijuana use was legal for cancer patients and those with chronic pain or other serious conditions.

Holder said the Obama administration will still target people and organizations operating in violation of both federal and state law, the Times reported.

Health Tips for March 20

Health Tip: Managing Urinary Incontinence

Many women have urinary incontinence, notably after having a baby or after beginning menopause.

The National Women's Health Information Center says there are many treatment options for urinary incontinence in women, among them:

• Performing Kegel exercises can help strengthen the muscles in your pelvis. This may help prevent stress leakage.
• Losing extra pounds can help relieve pressure on your bladder.
• Eliminating from your diet certain foods and liquids -- such as alcohol, tea, coffee and other caffeinated products -- can help reduce incontinence.
• Scheduling certain times each day to go to the bathroom, instead of waiting until you need to go, can help you regain bladder control.
• Taking medications prescribed by your doctor can help reduce certain types of leakage.

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.

Natasha Richardson Died From Head Trauma

Epidural hematoma is a blood clot between the brain and the skull

Actress Natasha Richardson died from a blunt impact to the head after falling Monday on a beginner's ski slope in Canada, the New York City medical examiner said Thursday.

The cause of death, which was ruled an accident, was "epidural hematoma due to blunt impact to the head," said medical examiner spokeswoman Ellen Borakove, the Associated Press reported. An epidural hematoma is a blood clot that pools between the brain and the skull.

The 45-year-old, award-winning Richardson, who died Wednesday at a hospital in New York City, reportedly suffered the head injury after falling during a private lesson at a resort in Quebec.

Richardson seemed fine after she fell, but about an hour later, she complained she didn't feel well. She was hospitalized Tuesday in Montreal and later flown to Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, where she died, the AP reported.

Until the autopsy results were released Thursday, many were wondering how Richardson suffered a devastating brain injury after an apparently minor fall on a beginner's ski slope.

"If you take the name Natasha Richardson out of the picture and ask how a neurosurgeon would think of a case where someone has a fall which seems fairly minor and then deteriorates a few hours later, quite a few things would go through the surgeon's differential thinking," Dr. Arno Fried, chairman of neurosurgery at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, said Wednesday. "It's not an uncommon scenario."

A worse-case scenario would be bleeding either on the surface or deep inside the brain, Fried said.

According to news reports, Richardson fell during a beginner skiing lesson at the Mont Tremblant ski resort north of Montreal. She was not wearing a helmet.

Richardson suffered no immediately apparent injuries and was able to walk and talk right after the accident. "She was awake and alive and laughing and breathing," Catherine Lacasse, the public relations supervisor for Mont Tremblant Resorts, told Bloomberg News. "She refused to see a doctor. She said she was fine, and everything was OK."

But, Richardson complained of a headache about an hour after the mishap and her condition deteriorated. She was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, then transferred to Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal and then flown Tuesday afternoon to New York City, where she reportedly received care at Lenox Hill Hospital before passing away on Wednesday.

Dr. Steven R. Flanagan, director of the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University's Langone Medical Center in New York City, said Wednesday that a diagnosis of hemorrhage would account for the headache that surfaced after the accident.

"It's not terribly common, but someone can be perfectly lucid [after hitting their head], then go rapidly downhill," Flanagan said. "It's not a major surprise. It's clearly reported in the literature."

Fried said that "slow bleeding [could] take a few hours to make itself known."

"The brain is contained within the skull, and the skull is a rigid box. There is no movement [possible]," he added. "Any pressure that builds up will put pressure on the brain, which is very unforgiving and sensitive to pressure."

Dr. Eugene Flamm, chairman of neurosurgery at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, agreed. He stressed that the low-velocity, low-impact type of accident that Richardson experienced would typically not result in a grave outcome.

Such outcomes are "pretty rare," Flamm said. However, he added that it was certainly a possibility that physicians hold in their mind when seeing patients.

"It's quite unusual, but we see a lot of people in the emergency room, and if they have a head injury, and the scan is OK, we send them home but with instructions to 'look out,' " Flamm said. "I don't think any neurologist would say they had never heard of this scenario."

Richardson, who had appeared in several movies and won a 1998 Tony Award for her performance in Cabaret, was married to the actor Liam Neeson. The couple's two sons were reportedly with Richardson on the ski holiday.

Richardson was born into one of the most lauded acting families in Great Britain. She was the daughter of the actress Vanessa Redgrave and film director Tony Richardson, who died in 1991, the niece of the actress Lynn Redgrave, and the granddaughter of Sir Michael Redgrave.

Health Headlines - March 19

Stimulus Money to Aid Senior Nutrition Programs

Tens of thousands of low-income older Americans will get to eat better with $100 million in Recovery Act funding that is expected to provide some 14 million meals to community programs serving the needy, the Associated Press reported.

"Today, more senior citizens are in need, but the programs they depend on are on the brink of reducing their services or closing down," Vice President Joseph Biden said Wednesday in announcing the award at a Washington, D.C., conference of local officials who are overseeing stimulus spending in their communities. "The Recovery Act will help ensure older Americans are not forced to choose between paying bills and buying food."

The funding is to be awarded to 56 states and territories and 246 tribes and native Hawaiian organizations. States will then award the funds to groups providing nutrition services in their communities, AP said. Of the outlay, $65 million is expected to go for nutrition services at senior centers and other community sites, $32 million to home-delivered food services, and $3 million for Native American nutrition programs.

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Frankincense Kills Bladder Cancer Cells: Study

Frankincense oil killed human bladder cancer cells in laboratory tests, say U.S. researchers.

They tested normal bladder cells and human bladder cancer cells and found that frankincense oil could discriminate between the two types of cells, United Press International reported.

Genetic analysis revealed that frankincense oil suppresses bladder cancer cell growth by stopping cell cycle progression and kills the cancer cells by activating numerous cell death pathways, said researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and Oklahoma City VA Medical Center.

"Frankincense oil may represent an inexpensive alternative therapy for patients currently suffering from bladder cancer," researcher H.K. Lin said in a statement, UPI reported.

The study appears in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

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Some Mental Abilities Begin Decline in Late 20s: Study

Certain kinds of mental skills hit their peak at age 22 and then begin to decline at age 27, according to U.S. researchers who followed 2,000 healthy people, ages 18 to 60, for an average of seven years.

The study found that age 22 is when the brain reaches the high point in terms of speed of thoughts, ability to reason and visual problem-solving ability, CBC News reported. Test scores in these areas begin to decline at age 27.

University of Virginia psychology professor Timothy Salthouse and colleagues concluded that some "aspects of age-related cognitive decline begin in healthy educated adults when they are in their 20s and 30s."

But the researchers also found that vocabulary skills and general knowledge improved until age 60, CBC News reported.

The study was published in the April issue of the journal Neurobiology of Aging.

Health Tips for March 19

Health Tip: Lifting Safety for Caregivers

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

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

When lifting a person or heavy object:

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

Health Tip: Protect Your Muscles

It's important to stretch and warm up your muscles before exercise.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons lists these common risk factors for muscle strains and injury:

• Tired muscles that have been worked too hard.
• Tight muscles that haven't been properly stretched.
• Weak muscles that haven't been strengthened through training and exercise.
• Muscles that haven't been warmed up before exercise, sports or other activities.
• Muscle groups that work together that don't have properly balanced strength. For example, a stronger hamstring than quadriceps, or vice versa.

Health Headlines - March 18

Some Mental Abilities Begin Decline in Late 20s: Study

Certain kinds of mental skills hit their peak at age 22 and then begin to decline at age 27, according to U.S. researchers who followed 2,000 healthy people, ages 18 to 60, for an average of seven years.

The study found that age 22 is when the brain reaches the high point in terms of speed of thoughts, ability to reason and visual problem-solving ability, CBC News reported. Test scores in these areas begin to decline at age 27.

University of Virginia psychology professor Timothy Salthouse and colleagues concluded that some "aspects of age-related cognitive decline begin in healthy educated adults when they are in their 20s and 30s."

But the researchers also found that vocabulary skills and general knowledge improved until age 60, CBC News reported.

The study was published in the April issue of the journal Neurobiology of Aging.

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Fish Health Benefits Overstated: Analysis

The health benefits of eating fish have been overstated, according to Canadian researchers who conducted an analysis of available scientific data, the Globe and Mail reported.

Fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, a nutrient touted to help protect cardiovascular health. There's also widespread interest in the use of the oils for a number of other conditions, including dementia, cancer, multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease.

But analysis lead author David Jenkins, a nutrition professor at the University of Toronto, said studies showing better heart health among people who eat fish regularly could be tilted by other factors. For example, people who eat fish generally have healthier lifestyles than other people.

Jenkins noted that vegetarians don't appear to have a higher risk of heart disease, even though don't consume animal proteins, the Globe and Mail reported.

The analysis was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

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Actress Natasha Richardson Hospitalized After Ski Accident

British actress Natasha Richardson is in critical condition after a skiing accident in Quebec. It's believed the 45-year-old Tony Award-winning actress suffered a head injury Monday at the Mont Tremblant ski resort north of Montreal, according to IrishCentral.com. and reported by the Associated Press.

She was taken to an emergency room at a local hospital and then transferred to Sacre-Coeur Hospital in Montreal. Her husband, actor Liam Neeson, reportedly left the set of a film in Toronto to be with Richardson, CBC News said.

Hospital officials refused to confirm whether Richardson was a patient there and said the hospital would have no comment until the actress' family releases more details, CBC News reported.

Richardson's aunt, actress Kika Markham, confirmed to BBC News that Richardson was in the hospital following a ski accident.

"We know that she has had an accident, but we really do not know any more details. We are very concerned," Markham said.

Richardson is the oldest daughter of Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave and the late director Tony Richardson.

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Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg to Have Chemotherapy

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who had surgery in February for pancreatic cancer, says she will begin chemotherapy later this month.

She said the treatment is precautionary and doesn't expect to miss any court sessions, the Associated Press reported.

Ginsburg, 76, had surgery last month to remove a small cancerous growth from her pancreas. The cancer had not spread beyond the organ, test results showed. After she completes her chemotherapy, Ginsburg said she'll require only routines exams.

She had surgery for colorectal cancer in 1999 and underwent follow-up chemotherapy and radiation treatment, the AP reported.

Health Tips for March 18

Health Tip: Have Your Child's Hearing Checked

Children need regular hearing tests to help identify any hearing problems before they worsen.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has issued guidelines for when school-age children should have their hearing examined.

A hearing test should be performed:

• Before children start school, and each year beginning with kindergarten through the third grade. The test should be repeated when children are in the seventh and 11th grades.
• If concerns arise about a child's language, speech, learning or hearing capabilities.
• If a family history of hereditary hearing loss exists, particularly later in life.
• If there are persistent ear infections.
• If there are problems with the skull or face that may affect hearing, or an injury to the head that rendered the child unconscious.
• If there are other factors that could lead to hearing loss, such as being exposed repeatedly to very loud noise.

Health Tip: When Earwax Builds Up

Earwax isn't a sign that your ears aren't clean or healthy. It actually helps to protect your ears.

But if there's a significant buildup of earwax, it can impair your hearing. Fairview Health Services offers these suggestions:

• Soften earwax with a few drops of baby oil, mineral oil, or special ear drops, then wipe the outer ear gently with a cloth.
• Don't try to soften earwax if your ear hurts, if you have cold symptoms, or if your eardrum has ever been punctured.
• Never insert objects such as a pencil or cotton swab into your ear.
• If you have trouble hearing or have pain in one or both ears, see your doctor at once.

Health Headlines - March 17

Firm Announces Defibrillator Recall

Beaverton, Ore.-based Welch Allyn and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have issued a recall of some 14,000 external defibrillators, saying the devices may produce low-energy shocks or be susceptible to unexpected shutdowns or electromagnetic interference, the Associated Press reports.

In a statement, the company cited 39 reported incidents, including two that involved patient deaths, with 14,054 AED 10 and MRL JumpStart external defibrillators made between Oct. 3, 2002, and Jan. 25, 2007, that might prevent defibrillation of a patient in cardiac arrest. Spokesman Jamie Arnold told the AP, however, that to the company's knowledge, the reported defects did not contribute to the two deaths, but rather were the result of human error, either damage to the device or failure to follow directions.

The company issued the recall last Tuesday after it said it had received 20 reports of low-energy shock, eight instances of electromagnetic noise interference, and 11 instances of unexpected device shutting down, the AP reported. The company said customers should keep using the units until they receive replacements, because the chance of malfunction is low, the wire service said. Defibrillators deliver an electric shock to prevent sudden death when a heart stops beating properly.

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Mushrooms, Green Tea May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

Consuming mushrooms and green tea may greatly reduce the risk of breast cancer, suggests a study that included more than 2,000 Chinese women.

Women who ate at least a third of an ounce of fresh mushrooms every day were 64 percent less likely to develop breast cancer, while those who ate dried mushrooms had about a 50 percent reduced risk. Women who ate mushrooms and drank green tea were nearly 90 percent less likely to develop the disease, reported the Telegraph newspaper in the United Kingdom.

The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, doesn't prove that eating mushrooms will stop cancer, and more research is needed to confirm these findings, said the researchers at the University of Western Australia in Perth.

Laboratory tests on animals have shown that fungi have anti-tumor properties and can stimulate the immune system's defenses, the Telegraph reported. There is evidence to suggest that mushrooms act in a similar way to aromatase inhibitors -- breast cancer drugs that block production of the hormone estrogen.

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Shoppers Get More Information About Food Origins

American shoppers will be given more information about the source of some of their foods under a new policy that took effect Monday.

It requires labels on most fresh meats -- along with some fruits, vegetables and other foods -- to list the origin of the products, the Associated Press reported.

The policy, enacted last year by Congress as part of a wide-ranging farm bill, was demanded by food safety groups and welcomed by ranchers in the northern United States who compete with Canadian cattle producers.

The new policy was written by the Bush administration. Last month, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asked the meat industry to go beyond what was included in the policy and provide even more specific information about where an animal was born, raised and slaughtered, the AP reported.

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Radio Host Imus Says He Has Prostate Cancer

Controversial radio host Don Imus has revealed that he has stage 2 prostate cancer.

He made the announcement on his radio show Monday, but didn't reveal any details about his prognosis, Fox News reported. Imus did say he had full confidence "his doctors will beat it."

"The day you find out is fine. But the next morning when you get up, your knees are shaking. I didn't think I could make it to work," he told listeners.

Imus suggested that his prostate cancer could be the result of stress, Fox News reported. After a 2007 scandal in which he used a racially insensitive comment to describe the championship-winning Rutger's Women's Basketball Team, Imus was fired from CBS. He was hired by ABC later that year.

Health Tips for March 17

Health Tip: Eating in a Strange Land

If you're traveling abroad, you're going to be tempted to try local dishes.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these suggestions for what to eat while in a foreign country:

• Avoid all raw foods -- even fruits and vegetables.
• Make sure food is served very hot and cooked thoroughly. Avoid all foods that have been sitting at room temperature for a long period.
• Don't buy food from street vendors. Eat only at restaurants.
• If you do eat fruits, only consume those on which you can peel the skin before eating.
• Stay away from unpasteurized dairy products.

Health Tip: Safer Sushi Eating

Sushi is becoming more and more popular, but there can be health risks associated with eating some kinds of sushi, especially those that contain raw fish.

The Colorado State University Extension offers these suggestions for when you plan to eat sushi:

• When making sushi from scratch, look for fish at the grocery store labeled "sushi-grade" or "sashimi-grade."
• Keep the fish refrigerated at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below until it's time to eat.
• Prepare rice for sushi rolls with vinegar to slow bacterial growth.
• Separate raw and cooked fish during preparation -- and ideally -- use different utensils, cutting boards and surfaces to prepare each.
• People with a weakened immune system (pregnant women, children, people with chronic conditions) should not eat sushi.

Health Headlines - March 16

Obama Names New FDA Chief

Calling the U.S. food safety system a "hazard to public health," President Barack Obama on Saturday named a new head of the Food and Drug Administration to start overhauling it.

Obama, in his weekly radio address, nominated former New York City Health Commissioner Margaret Hamburg as FDA commissioner and Baltimore Health Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein as her deputy, the Associated Press reported.

The president said he would also create a Food Safety Working Group to coordinate food safety laws throughout government and advise him on how to update them. Many of these laws have been untouched since President Theodore Roosevelt's era, he added.

Obama called the current food safety system too spread out, and noted that recent underfunding and understaffing has left the FDA unable to inspect more than a fraction of the 150,000 food processing plants and warehouses in the country.

"That is a hazard to public health. It is unacceptable. And it will change under the leadership of Dr. Margaret Hamburg," Obama said, according to AP.

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USDA Approves Conditional License for E. Coli Cattle Vaccine

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted a conditional license to a Minnesota company to market an E. coli vaccine for cattle to prevent a common source of beef contamination that has led to several large meat recalls in recent years, the Associated Press reports.

James Sandstrom, general manager of Willmar-based Epitopix, told the wire service the vaccine takes proteins that the bacteria use to absorb iron from the host animal and then injects them back into cows to generate an immune response against those proteins, without which the bacteria can't grow. The target is a strain of E. coli bacteria called O157 that sickens some 70,000 people in the United States each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infection from contaminated beef can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration, and in severe cases, kidney failure. Children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of serious infection.

How the beef industry will respond to the vaccine remains to be seen, however. "That's the $64 million question," Sandstrom told the AP, which said many beef producers already face slim profit margins and may need incentives to use the shot. But Michelle Rossman, director of beef safety research for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, told the AP that support will come, since the industry has already spent millions of dollars to fight E. coli and is eager for strategies that work before slaughter.

The conditional license, the AP said, allows Epitopix to market the vaccine immediately, but it must continue potency and efficacy studies to get full licensure. Sandstrom told the wire service that the vaccine will enter commercial use this month, but it will be several months before it's widely available.

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Report Questions Value of U.S. Health Spending

U.S. health spending is too high and delivers too little benefit, according to a report released Thursday by a group called the Business Roundtable, which represents the CEOs of major companies.

The United States spent $2.4 trillion on health care, or $1,928 per person in 2006. That's at least 2.5 times more per person than any other developed country, yet the health of Americans lags behind those nations, said the Associated Press.

The report factored health measures and costs into a 100-point "value" scale and found that the United States is 23 points behind five leading economic competitors: Canada, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. All those nations have public health coverage for their citizens.

The U.S. lags even further behind (46 points) when compared with emerging economic competitors China, Brazil and India, according to the report.

"Spending more would not be a problem if our health scores were proportionately higher," Dr. Arnold Milstein, one of the authors of the study, told the AP. "But what this study shows is that the U.S. is not getting higher levels of health and quality of care."

Health Tips for March 16

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: 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 Headlines - March 15

Obama Names New FDA Chief

Calling the U.S. food safety system a "hazard to public health," President Barack Obama on Saturday named a new head of the Food and Drug Administration to start overhauling it.

Obama, in his weekly radio address, nominated former New York City Health Commissioner Margaret Hamburg as FDA commissioner and Baltimore Health Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein as her deputy, the Associated Press reported.

The president said he would also create a Food Safety Working Group to coordinate food safety laws throughout government and advise him on how to update them. Many of these laws have been untouched since President Theodore Roosevelt's era, he added.

Obama called the current food safety system too spread out, and noted that recent underfunding and understaffing has left the FDA unable to inspect more than a fraction of the 150,000 food processing plants and warehouses in the country.

"That is a hazard to public health. It is unacceptable. And it will change under the leadership of Dr. Margaret Hamburg," Obama said, according to AP.

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USDA Approves Conditional License for E. Coli Cattle Vaccine

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted a conditional license to a Minnesota company to market an E. coli vaccine for cattle to prevent a common source of beef contamination that has led to several large meat recalls in recent years, the Associated Press reports.

James Sandstrom, general manager of Willmar-based Epitopix, told the wire service the vaccine takes proteins that the bacteria use to absorb iron from the host animal and then injects them back into cows to generate an immune response against those proteins, without which the bacteria can't grow. The target is a strain of E. coli bacteria called O157 that sickens some 70,000 people in the United States each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infection from contaminated beef can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration, and in severe cases, kidney failure. Children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of serious infection.

How the beef industry will respond to the vaccine remains to be seen, however. "That's the $64 million question," Sandstrom told the AP, which said many beef producers already face slim profit margins and may need incentives to use the shot. But Michelle Rossman, director of beef safety research for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, told the AP that support will come, since the industry has already spent millions of dollars to fight E. coli and is eager for strategies that work before slaughter.

The conditional license, the AP said, allows Epitopix to market the vaccine immediately, but it must continue potency and efficacy studies to get full licensure. Sandstrom told the wire service that the vaccine will enter commercial use this month, but it will be several months before it's widely available.

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Report Questions Value of U.S. Health Spending

U.S. health spending is too high and delivers too little benefit, according to a report released Thursday by a group called the Business Roundtable, which represents the CEOs of major companies.

The United States spent $2.4 trillion on health care, or $1,928 per person in 2006. That's at least 2.5 times more per person than any other developed country, yet the health of Americans lags behind those nations, said the Associated Press.

The report factored health measures and costs into a 100-point "value" scale and found that the United States is 23 points behind five leading economic competitors: Canada, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. All those nations have public health coverage for their citizens.

The U.S. lags even further behind (46 points) when compared with emerging economic competitors China, Brazil and India, according to the report.

"Spending more would not be a problem if our health scores were proportionately higher," Dr. Arnold Milstein, one of the authors of the study, told the AP. "But what this study shows is that the U.S. is not getting higher levels of health and quality of care."

Health Tips for March 15

Health Tip: Does Your Child Have an Ear Infection?

Ear infections are common in babies and young children. Unfortunately, youngsters who can't talk yet aren't able to tell you when something is wrong.

Here are signs, courtesy of the American College of Emergency Physicians Foundation, that your young child has an ear infection:

• Pain, which your baby may indicate by acting fussy, pulling on the ear, being irritable during feeding, or crying when lying down.
• A white or yellow drainage from the ear that may have an unpleasant odor.
• Difficulty hearing.
• A fever, usually between 100 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. (37.78 to 40 degrees Celsius).

Health Tip: Is Your Child More Prone to Ear Infections?

Ear infections are common in children, and may occur for a variety of reasons.

But certain factors -- both environmental and beyond anyone's control -- may increase your child's risk.

The American Academy of Family Physicians lists these common risk factors for ear infections in children:

• Being around cigarette smoking.
• Having had ear infections before, frequent colds, or having a family history of ear infections.
• Going to a day-care center.
• Being born premature or at low birth weight.
• Going to bed with a bottle or using a pacifier.
• Being male.
• Having allergies that cause congestion.

Health Headlines - March 14

USDA Approves Conditional License for E. Coli Cattle Vaccine

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted a conditional license to a Minnesota company to market an E. coli vaccine for cattle to prevent a common source of beef contamination that has led to several large meat recalls in recent years, the Associated Press reports.

James Sandstrom, general manager of Willmar-based Epitopix, told the wire service the vaccine takes proteins that the bacteria use to absorb iron from the host animal and then injects them back into cows to generate an immune response against those proteins, without which the bacteria can't grow. The target is a strain of E. coli bacteria called O157 that sickens some 70,000 people in the United States each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infection from contaminated beef can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration, and in severe cases, kidney failure. Children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of serious infection.

How the beef industry will respond to the vaccine remains to be seen, however. "That's the $64 million question," Sandstrom told the AP, which said many beef producers already face slim profit margins and may need incentives to use the shot. But Michelle Rossman, director of beef safety research for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, told the AP that support will come, since the industry has already spent millions of dollars to fight E. coli and is eager for strategies that work before slaughter.

The conditional license, the AP said, allows Epitopix to market the vaccine immediately, but it must continue potency and efficacy studies to get full licensure. Sandstrom told the wire service that the vaccine will enter commercial use this month, but it will be several months before it's widely available.

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Report Questions Value of U.S. Health Spending

U.S. health spending is too high and delivers too little benefit, according to a report released Thursday by a group called the Business Roundtable, which represents the CEOs of major companies.

The United States spent $2.4 trillion on health care, or $1,928 per person in 2006. That's at least 2.5 times more per person than any other developed country, yet the health of Americans lags behind those nations, said the Associated Press.

The report factored health measures and costs into a 100-point "value" scale and found that the United States is 23 points behind five leading economic competitors: Canada, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. All those nations have public health coverage for their citizens.

The U.S. lags even further behind (46 points) when compared with emerging economic competitors China, Brazil and India, according to the report.

"Spending more would not be a problem if our health scores were proportionately higher," Dr. Arnold Milstein, one of the authors of the study, told the AP. "But what this study shows is that the U.S. is not getting higher levels of health and quality of care."

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Former NYC Health Chief Likely to Be Named as FDA Leader

Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, a former New York City health commissioner, is likely to be nominated this week as President Barack Obama's choice to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, The New York Times reports.

Hamburg, 53, would succeed Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, who led the agency from 2005 until last January. The Obama administration was also expected to name Baltimore's health commissioner, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, as Hamburg's chief deputy. Sharfstein led Obama's transition team for the FDA, the Times said.

Hamburg was appointed by former Mayor David N. Dinkins as acting city health commissioner in 1991 and became commissioner the following year. When former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani took office in 1994, she was asked to stay on the job. Under Hamburg's lead, a tuberculosis control program produced sharp declines in the incidence of the disease in New York, and child immunizations also rose, the paper reported.

Hamburg's selection was first reported Wednesday on the The Wall Street Journal's Web site, the Times said. "Peggy has a deep commitment to the public health and, while she appreciates the vital role of industry, will surely focus on what is best for the public," Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg, president of the Institute of Medicine, the medical arm of the National Academy of Sciences, told the Times.

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Doctor May Have Faked Data in Many Studies

A highly influential Massachusetts anesthesiologist may have fabricated results in at least 21 published studies, according to officials at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Dr. Scott S. Reuben has published dozens of studies on the use of more than one type of drug to relieve post-surgical pain and speed recovery. This method, multimodal analgesia, is an important and emerging field of anesthesiology, the Boston Globe reported.

Last year, hospital officials launched an investigation of Reuben's work and identified 21 published papers over 13 years in which all or some of the data were fabricated. In many cases, "there was no clinical trial, because there were no patients," said Dr. Hal Jenson, Baystate's chief academic officer.

Several medical journals were notified about the investigation results, and they are in the process of retracting Reuben's papers, Jenson told the Globe.

If proven true, this may be among the largest and longest-running medical fraud cases, according to experts.

"This would be the largest research fraud in anesthesia," said Dr. Steven Shafer, editor of the journal Anesthesia & Analgesia.

"Doctors have been using [his] findings very widely. His findings had a huge impact on the field. The act of fabricating data is so difficult for me to comprehend. It's beyond my ability to imagine," Shafer told the Globe.

Health Tips for March 14

Health Tip: Minor Reaction to Childhood Immunizations

When children have a severe reaction to an immunization -- with symptoms such as high fever, breathing problems, continuous crying for several hours, weakness, or red streaks near the injection site -- it requires immediate medical attention.

The Lucile Packard Children's Hospital offers these suggestions for much milder post-injection discomfort:

• For soreness at or near the injection site, apply a cool, damp cloth or an ice pack.
• Administer an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen. Do not give the child aspirin.
• For minor cases of hives, apply hydrocortisone cream.
• Any fever that develops should not last more than three days. Administer acetaminophen and lots of fluids. If the fever lasts more than three days, seek medical attention at once.
• Your child may be cranky or fussy after the immunization, and may sleep a lot. If these symptoms don't improve after three days, call your doctor.

Health Tip: If You Have Bad Breath

Everyone's had a bout with bad breath, but when it becomes chronic, it's time to see your dentist.

Some sources of bad breath include: what you eat; not brushing and flossing daily; tobacco products; or a medical disorder such as a respiratory tract infection, sinusitis, postnasal drip, bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment, the American Dental Association (ADA) says.

The ADA says you should brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque, remembering to brush your tongue, too. Once a day, use floss to clean between teeth.

If you must constantly use a breath freshener to hide unpleasant mouth odor, see your dentist.

Health Headlines - March 13

Report Questions Value of U.S. Health Spending

U.S. health spending is too high and delivers too little benefit, according to a report released Thursday by a group called the Business Roundtable, which represents the CEOs of major companies.

The United States spent $2.4 trillion on health care, or $1,928 per person in 2006. That's at least 2.5 times more per person than any other developed country, yet the health of Americans lags behind those nations, said the Associated Press.

The report factored health measures and costs into a 100-point "value" scale and found that the United States is 23 points behind five leading economic competitors: Canada, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. All those nations have public health coverage for their citizens.

The U.S. lags even further behind (46 points) when compared with emerging economic competitors China, Brazil and India, according to the report.

"Spending more would not be a problem if our health scores were proportionately higher," Dr. Arnold Milstein, one of the authors of the study, told the AP. "But what this study shows is that the U.S. is not getting higher levels of health and quality of care."

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Former NYC Health Chief Likely to Be Named as FDA Leader

Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, a former New York City health commissioner, is likely to be nominated this week as President Barack Obama's choice to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, The New York Times reports.

Hamburg, 53, would succeed Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, who led the agency from 2005 until last January. The Obama administration was also expected to name Baltimore's health commissioner, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, as Hamburg's chief deputy. Sharfstein led Obama's transition team for the FDA, the Times said.

Hamburg was appointed by former Mayor David N. Dinkins as acting city health commissioner in 1991 and became commissioner the following year. When former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani took office in 1994, she was asked to stay on the job. Under Hamburg's lead, a tuberculosis control program produced sharp declines in the incidence of the disease in New York, and child immunizations also rose, the paper reported.

Hamburg's selection was first reported Wednesday on the The Wall Street Journal's Web site, the Times said. "Peggy has a deep commitment to the public health and, while she appreciates the vital role of industry, will surely focus on what is best for the public," Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg, president of the Institute of Medicine, the medical arm of the National Academy of Sciences, told the Times.

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Doctor May Have Faked Data in Many Studies

A highly influential Massachusetts anesthesiologist may have fabricated results in at least 21 published studies, according to officials at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Dr. Scott S. Reuben has published dozens of studies on the use of more than one type of drug to relieve post-surgical pain and speed recovery. This method, multimodal analgesia, is an important and emerging field of anesthesiology, the Boston Globe reported.

Last year, hospital officials launched an investigation of Reuben's work and identified 21 published papers over 13 years in which all or some of the data were fabricated. In many cases, "there was no clinical trial, because there were no patients," said Dr. Hal Jenson, Baystate's chief academic officer.

Several medical journals were notified about the investigation results, and they are in the process of retracting Reuben's papers, Jenson told the Globe.

If proven true, this may be among the largest and longest-running medical fraud cases, according to experts.

"This would be the largest research fraud in anesthesia," said Dr. Steven Shafer, editor of the journal Anesthesia & Analgesia.

"Doctors have been using [his] findings very widely. His findings had a huge impact on the field. The act of fabricating data is so difficult for me to comprehend. It's beyond my ability to imagine," Shafer told the Globe.

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Health Surveys May Be Skewed by Excluding Cell Phones

More than one in six American homes -- 17.5 percent of them -- had only wireless phones as of a year ago and that could be skewing telephone survey results for everything from political polls to product marketing and health surveys, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

Major survey organizations, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), do not include wireless numbers when they conduct random-digit telephone surveys. In a 2007 survey using Census updates, the CDC found that cell-only households varied widely by state, sometimes within regions and between neighboring states, according to Stephen Blumberg, a senior scientist at the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics.

"We would expect that today, in 2009, the prevalence rates in every state have increased, perhaps by 5 percentage points or more. What we don't know is whether the rate of growth is the same in every state," Blumberg told the AP in an interview. The issue is important, because the NHIS updates and releases estimates for 15 key adult health indicators every three months, according to a CDC news release issued Wednesday about cell phone usage in the United States.

Blumberg told the AP that health surveys omitting cell-only respondents could, among other things, underestimate not only the number of smokers and binge drinkers, but also those who exercise regularly.

Oklahoma and Utah -- at 26 percent -- lead the country in going wireless, according to federal estimates released Wednesday, and that rate was at least 20 percent in nine other states Nebraska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, New Mexico, Texas, South Carolina and Tennessee and the District of Columbia., the AP reported.

Health Tips for March 13

Health Tip: Exercise for Bone Health

As you age, your bones tend to lose density, become weaker and are more likely to fracture. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to help keep bones strong.

Besides recommending that you get enough bone-building vitamin D and calcium in your diet, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these exercise recommendations:

• Walking and jogging.
• Hiking.
• Cross-country skiing.
• Stair-climbing machines, or climbing stationary stairs.
• Dancing and jumping rope.
• Sports such as soccer, volleyball, basketball, field hockey and softball.

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 - March 12

Former NYC Health Chief Likely to Be Named as FDA Leader

Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, a former New York City health commissioner, is likely to be nominated this week as President Barack Obama's choice to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, The New York Times reports.

Hamburg, 53, would succeed Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, who led the agency from 2005 until last January. The Obama administration was also expected to name Baltimore's health commissioner, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, as Hamburg's chief deputy. Sharfstein led Obama's transition team for the FDA, the Times said.

Hamburg was appointed by former Mayor David N. Dinkins as acting city health commissioner in 1991 and became commissioner the following year. When former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani took office in 1994, she was asked to stay on the job. Under Hamburg's lead, a tuberculosis control program produced sharp declines in the incidence of the disease in New York, and child immunizations also rose, the paper reported.

Hamburg's selection was first reported Wednesday on the The Wall Street Journal's Web site, the Times said. "Peggy has a deep commitment to the public health and, while she appreciates the vital role of industry, will surely focus on what is best for the public," Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg, president of the Institute of Medicine, the medical arm of the National Academy of Sciences, told the Times.

-----

Doctor May Have Faked Data in Many Studies

A highly influential Massachusetts anesthesiologist may have fabricated results in at least 21 published studies, according to officials at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Dr. Scott S. Reuben has published dozens of studies on the use of more than one type of drug to relieve post-surgical pain and speed recovery. This method, multimodal analgesia, is an important and emerging field of anesthesiology, the Boston Globe reported.

Last year, hospital officials launched an investigation of Reuben's work and identified 21 published papers over 13 years in which all or some of the data were fabricated. In many cases, "there was no clinical trial, because there were no patients," said Dr. Hal Jenson, Baystate's chief academic officer.

Several medical journals were notified about the investigation results, and they are in the process of retracting Reuben's papers, Jenson told the Globe.

If proven true, this may be among the largest and longest-running medical fraud cases, according to experts.

"This would be the largest research fraud in anesthesia," said Dr. Steven Shafer, editor of the journal Anesthesia & Analgesia.

"Doctors have been using [his] findings very widely. His findings had a huge impact on the field. The act of fabricating data is so difficult for me to comprehend. It's beyond my ability to imagine," Shafer told the Globe.

-----

Health Surveys May Be Skewed by Excluding Cell Phones

More than one in six American homes -- 17.5 percent of them -- had only wireless phones as of a year ago and that could be skewing telephone survey results for everything from political polls to product marketing and health surveys, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

Major survey organizations, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), do not include wireless numbers when they conduct random-digit telephone surveys. In a 2007 survey using Census updates, the CDC found that cell-only households varied widely by state, sometimes within regions and between neighboring states, according to Stephen Blumberg, a senior scientist at the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics.

"We would expect that today, in 2009, the prevalence rates in every state have increased, perhaps by 5 percentage points or more. What we don't know is whether the rate of growth is the same in every state," Blumberg told the AP in an interview. The issue is important, because the NHIS updates and releases estimates for 15 key adult health indicators every three months, according to a CDC news release issued Wednesday about cell phone usage in the United States.

Blumberg told the AP that health surveys omitting cell-only respondents could, among other things, underestimate not only the number of smokers and binge drinkers, but also those who exercise regularly.

Oklahoma and Utah -- at 26 percent -- lead the country in going wireless, according to federal estimates released Wednesday, and that rate was at least 20 percent in nine other states Nebraska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, New Mexico, Texas, South Carolina and Tennessee and the District of Columbia., the AP reported.

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Prostate Cancer Overdiagnosed in U.S.: Study

Overdiagnosis of prostate cancer is a problem in the United States, according to a study that found as many as 42 percent of prostate cancer tumors detected through prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening tests are too slow-growing to ever be a threat.

Researchers used three different models to analyze prostate cancer diagnosed in U.S. men ages 54 to 80 between 1985 and 2000. They found that between 23 percent and 42 percent of PSA-detected prostate cancers would otherwise not have been detected in the patient's lifetime, the Associated Press reported.

The study was published online Tuesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Overdiagnosis of prostate cancer is a concern, because detecting an early tumor forces men to decide between watchful waiting, radiation, surgery, or hormone therapy. Some treatments cause side effects such as impotence and incontinence, which means that men with tumors that pose no threat may needlessly suffer treatment-related complications, the AP reported.

The study "reinforces the message that we are overdiagnosing prostate cancer," said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld of the American Cancer Society.

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U.S. Mental Health Care Gets Low Score

Mental health care services for adults in the United States received a D in a report card issued Wednesday by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

The advocacy group issued the same grade three years ago and said there hasn't been enough improvement to warrant a better score, CNN reported. In addition, state budget cuts threaten to further reduce mental health care.

"Ironically, state budget cuts occur during a time of economic crisis, when mental health services are needed even more urgently than before," Michael Fitzpatrick, NAMI's executive director, said in a statement. "It's a vicious cycle that can lead to ruin."

Since the last report card, 14 states improved their grade, and 12 states lost ground. Oklahoma improved from a D to a B, while South Carolina had the largest drop, from a B to a D, CNN reported.

About 25 percent of Americans suffer mental illness at some point in their lives, and mental illness is the greatest cause of disability in the United States, according to NAMI.

Health Tips for March 12

Health Tip: Getting Back to Sleep

After you wake up during the night, do you generally go right back to sleep? If not, the University of Maryland Medical Center offers some suggestions.

The center's experts say it's OK to lie in bed for about 15 or 20 minutes. Beyond that, you're probably not going to have an easy time getting back to sleep. They say you should get out of bed.

Read a book or a magazine, soak in a warm bath or do something else relaxing. You should not do anything that would tend to make you even more awake, such as office work, cleaning or watching TV.

After about 20 minutes of your relaxing activity, head back to bed, advises the center. Getting back to sleep should now be a lot easier.

Health Tip: Does Your Child Need a Nap?

Children need plenty of sleep to keep them healthy and happy.

Take note of these warning signs that your child may need a daily nap, courtesy of the Nemours Foundation:

• Acting sleepy during the day.
• Acting cranky or fussy late in the afternoon.
• Difficulty getting out of bed in the morning.
• Difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity, impatience or aggression.
• Problems concentrating on school work or other tasks.

Health Headlines - March 11

Diarrhea Kills 2 Million Children Each Year: WHO

Although relatively simple to treat, diarrhea kills nearly 2 million children worldwide each year, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.

The agency noted that research into childhood diarrhea has declined since the 1980s, Agence France Presse reported.

"Funds available for research into diarrhea are much lower than those devoted to other diseases that cause comparatively few deaths," the WHO said in a statement.

It's essential that all children with diarrhea have access to treatment consisting of zinc tablets and a mixture called Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), said Dr. Olivier Fontaine, a WHO medical officer specializing in child health, AFP reported.

"ORS is essentially a pinch of salt and a handful of sugar mixed with clean water," Fontaine explained.

The mixture, which costs about 30 cents per child, has saved about 50 million children over the years, the WHO estimates.

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Well-Being Highest in U.S. West: Survey

States in the West tend to have the highest levels of well-being, while those in the South and Midwest tend to have the lowest levels, according to a survey that included more than 350,000 adults.

Utah, Hawaii and Wyoming topped the United States in well-being, while West Virginia, Kentucky and Mississippi were at the bottom, United Press International reported.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, released Tuesday, asked respondents about six categories of well-being, including health behaviors, physical health, emotional health, work environment, and access to basic necessities.

According to the survey, the economic crisis caused the lives of more than 24 million Americans to shift from "thriving" to "struggling" in 2008.

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Minorities Have Higher End-of-Life Costs

Dying Hispanics and black Americans have much higher treatment costs than whites, because they get more costly, intensive treatments as they near death, say researchers who analyzed data from the last six months of life of almost 160,000 Medicare patients.

The average cost for Hispanic patients in those final months of life was $31,702, compared with $26,704 for blacks and $20,166 for whites. Compared to white patients, costs were about 30 percent higher for blacks and almost 60 percent more for Hispanics, the Associated Press reported.

The study was published Monday in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.

The researchers noted that throughout their lives, minorities are less likely than whites to get aggressive medical care. So these findings suggest medical resources for minority patients may be "misallocated over a lifetime," with minority patients receiving more treatment when there's little chance of improving or extending their lives, the AP reported.

The study didn't look at why minorities receive more expensive end-of-life care.

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Daytime Naps May Boost Diabetes Risk

Regular daytime naps may increase a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a study of more than 16,000 people.

The Chinese and U.K. researchers found that people who took daytime naps were 26 percent more likely to develop the disease than those who didn't have regular siestas, BBC News reported.

Napping during the day may cause nighttime sleep disruption, which has been shown to be associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, the researchers said.

They also noted that waking up from a nap activates hormones and mechanisms in the body that prevent insulin from working effectively, which could predispose people to type 2 diabetes, BBC News reported.

The study was expected to be presented at Diabetes U.K.'s annual professional conference in Glasgow.

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Rise in Women's Smoking May Cause Global Health Disaster: Study

Increasing rates of smoking by women around the world could lead to a "global public health disaster," according to the third edition of the Tobacco Atlas, released Monday by the American Cancer Society and the World Lung Foundation.

About six million people will die from tobacco-related diseases in 2010, and that toll will rise to seven million by 2020 and to eight million by 2030, said the study. Death rates are rising fastest in developing countries. In 2007, almost 72 percent of global tobacco-related deaths will be in low- and middle-income nations, and that figure will rise to 83 percent in 2030, Agence France Presse reported.

Experts are particularly concerned about increased smoking among women in developing countries.

"If the women of the world begin smoking at the same rate as men, it will be an unmitigated global public health disaster," the study authors wrote. "Preventing increases in smoking prevalence among women, especially in low- and middle-income resourced countries, will have a greater impact on global health than any other single intervention."

Worldwide, an estimated one billion men and 250 million women use tobacco every day, said the study. China (311 million men and 14 million women) and India (229 million men and 12 million women) are the world's biggest tobacco users, AFP reported.

Health Tips for March 11

Health Tip: Help Keep Anxiety Under Control

Everyone is anxious now and then, but for some people, anxiety can completely interfere with their daily lives.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions to help control anxiety and stay calmer:

• Try to figure out what's causing your anxiety.
• Create a diary or journal detailing your anxious thoughts, and what you think triggers them.
• Talk to a friend, therapist or family member about what's concerning you.
• Get plenty of sleep and frequent exercise.
• Stick to a healthy diet, avoiding caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and illicit drugs.
• Make time for fun.
• Try relaxation techniques.

Health Tip: Triggers for PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a severe anxiety condition that can follow a life-threatening or very frightening experience.

The American Academy of Family Physicians says these people are at greater risk of developing PTSD:

• People who are victims of rape, other physical assault or terrorism.
• People who have been in a car accident, natural disaster, flood or fire.
• People who have participated in war or other combat.
• People who have lost a family member or other loved one.
• People who have been diagnosed with a fatal disease.
• People who are rescue workers, such as firefighters or police officers.

Health Headlines - March 10

Oily Fish May Not Protect Against Dementia: Study

Eating oily fish may not help prevent dementia in old age, say U.K. researchers who studied data from a trial of more than 800 older people.

Initially, the researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found a significant association between eating a couple of portions of oily fish per week and higher scores on tests of cognitive function, BBC News reported.

However, that association almost vanished when the researchers factored in education and psychological health. The finding, published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, challenges previous research suggesting that oily fish may help prevent dementia.

"The evidence on this has always been sporadic," said study leader Dr. Alan Dangour, BBC News reported. "What this shows is there is a link between people who eat oily fish and better cognitive function, but if you adjust for education and mood, this relationship goes, so it's not at all clear that healthy older people get any benefit from eating fish oil."

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Scientists Identify Genes Linked to Childhood Brain Cancer

Genetic malfunctions linked to one of the leading types of childhood brain cancer have been identified by a Canadian-led team of researchers, who said their findings may lead to new treatments for medulloblastoma.

In the largest-ever genetic study of childhood brain cancer, the scientists sequenced the DNA of brain tumors taken from 800 children worldwide, the Globe and Mail reported.

They identified a family of eight genes capable of causing the deadly form of brain cancer, which occurs when primitive brain cells develop into tumors at the back of the brain. When the genes work properly, they instruct neurons in that area of the brain to stop growing. But a malfunction in any of the eight genes leads to medulloblastoma, which kills 40 percent of patients within five years.

Scientists are racing to test compounds already known to affect these eight genes, the Globe and Mail reported.

The study was published online Sunday in the journal Nature Genetics.

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CNN's Gupta Won't Be U.S. Surgeon General

Citing family and work considerations, CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has withdrawn his name as a candidate for U.S. Surgeon General, White House officials said Thursday.

Gupta had been under "serious consideration" for the post but decided he wants to focus on his medical career and spend more time with his family, an administration official told the Associated Press.

There were no problems that would have disqualified Gupta from becoming surgeon general, the official added.

In an interview with CNN's Larry King, Gupta noted he had two young daughters and a third child on the way.

"My wife is imminent with our third child. You know, this job ... takes us away from our children for so many years at once, and I sort of came to grips with the fact that I'd probably be away at least the first several years. ... And I just didn't feel like I should do that now," Gupta said in the interview.

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Optimism Boosts Health, Life Span: Study

Optimists live longer and healthier lives than pessimists, according to a U.S. study of 100,000 women who were surveyed about their personality traits and then followed for eight years.

Those who said they were optimists were less likely to die from any cause and 30 percent less likely to die from heart disease. Women who were more pessimistic had a higher overall death rate and were 23 percent more likely to die from a cancer-related condition, ABC News reported.

The findings were presented Thursday in Chicago at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society.

Optimistic people may have less physical reaction to stress, or may be more likely to follow a doctor's advice and, therefore, maintain their health, suggested lead author Hilary Tindle, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, the AP reported.

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Companies Halt U.S. Sales of Baby Bottles With BPA

Baby bottles made with the controversial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) will no longer be sold in the United States by the six largest manufacturers of the products.

The companies made the announcement after Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and other colleagues asked them to voluntarily halt their use of the chemical, which has been linked to numerous health effects, the Washington Post reported.

"The evidence seems too clear and emphatic and unequivocal to say we should simply permit this stuff to go into children on a massive scale," Blumenthal said Thursday. "And there's no reason for it, because there are substitutes available."

BPA, which is found in a wide range of products, mimics the hormone estrogen and may disrupt the body's endocrine system. The chemical poses a particular threat to fetuses, infants and children because it can interfere with cell function when their bodies are still developing, public health experts say.

Last year, the National Toxicology Program, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, warned there was "some concern" BPA may affect the brain and behavioral development of fetuses, infants and young children, the Post reported.

Blumenthal is working to gain support from other attorneys general to demand that manufacturers stop using BPA to make infant formula cans and all other food and beverage containers.

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Viruses May Cause Diabetes: Study

Common viruses that cause vomiting and diarrhea may trigger many cases of diabetes, according to British researchers, who said their findings raise the possibility of a vaccine.

They found evidence of enteroviruses in the insulin-producing pancreatic cells of 60 percent of children with type 1 diabetes and of 40 percent of adults with type 2 diabetes, BBC News reported.

The study was published in the journal Diabetologia.

It's known that genetics play a major role in diabetes risk, but the idea of a viral cause of diabetes has been considered for decades, BBC News reported.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. In children with a genetic predisposition to this form of diabetes, enterovirus infection may trigger the immune reaction that results in the disease, the researchers suggested.

Type 2 diabetes is often linked to obesity in adults. Enterovirus infection may harm the ability of beta cells in the pancreas to produce insulin. The researchers said this, in combination with the greater demand for insulin in obese people, may trigger diabetes, BBC News reported.

Health Tips for March 10

Health Tip: Safe Use of Contact Lenses

It can be difficult to see that cosmetics and contact lenses may not mix, especially if the cosmetics are misapplied. The University of Virginia Health System offers these suggestions for contact lens wearers who use makeup: Always wash your hands before putting contact lenses in or taking them out. Keep cosmetic brushes and other tools clean. Invest in hypoallergenic cosmetics without fragrance, sparkle, glitter or anything else that may contain irritants such as crushed oyster shell or tinsel. Put lenses in first, then put on your cosmetics. Never wear someone else's makeup, or let anyone else borrow yours. Never re-use an old mascara applicator. Be careful to keep creams and powders out of your eyes. Skip makeup when your eyes are irritated, infected, swollen or red. Health Tip: Eye Health for Diabetics Fluctuating blood sugar levels can affect diabetics' vision and eye health, so it's important to heed any warning signs of eye problems. If you're diabetic and have any of these symptoms, the American Diabetes Association says it's time to get them checked by your eye doctor: Blurred or double vision. Pain in one or both eyes. Difficulty reading. Persistent redness of the eyes. Difficulty seeing from the sides of your eyes. A sensation of pressure in one or both eyes. Seeing spots or floaters. If straight lines or objects look crooked.

Health Headlines - March 9

CNN's Gupta Won't Be U.S. Surgeon General

Citing family and work considerations, CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has withdrawn his name as a candidate for U.S. Surgeon General, White House officials said Thursday.

Gupta had been under "serious consideration" for the post but decided he wants to focus on his medical career and spend more time with his family, an administration official told the Associated Press.

There were no problems that would have disqualified Gupta from becoming surgeon general, the official added.

In an interview with CNN's Larry King, Gupta noted he had two young daughters and a third child on the way.

"My wife is imminent with our third child. You know, this job ... takes us away from our children for so many years at once, and I sort of came to grips with the fact that I'd probably be away at least the first several years. ... And I just didn't feel like I should do that now," Gupta said in the interview.

-----

Optimism Boosts Health, Life Span: Study

Optimists live longer and healthier lives than pessimists, according to a U.S. study of 100,000 women who were surveyed about their personality traits and then followed for eight years.

Those who said they were optimists were less likely to die from any cause and 30 percent less likely to die from heart disease. Women who were more pessimistic had a higher overall death rate and were 23 percent more likely to die from a cancer-related condition, ABC News reported.

The findings were presented Thursday in Chicago at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society.

Optimistic people may have less physical reaction to stress, or may be more likely to follow a doctor's advice and, therefore, maintain their health, suggested lead author Hilary Tindle, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, the AP reported.

-----

Companies Halt U.S. Sales of Baby Bottles With BPA

Baby bottles made with the controversial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) will no longer be sold in the United States by the six largest manufacturers of the products.

The companies made the announcement after Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and other colleagues asked them to voluntarily halt their use of the chemical, which has been linked to numerous health effects, the Washington Post reported.

"The evidence seems too clear and emphatic and unequivocal to say we should simply permit this stuff to go into children on a massive scale," Blumenthal said Thursday. "And there's no reason for it, because there are substitutes available."

BPA, which is found in a wide range of products, mimics the hormone estrogen and may disrupt the body's endocrine system. The chemical poses a particular threat to fetuses, infants and children because it can interfere with cell function when their bodies are still developing, public health experts say.

Last year, the National Toxicology Program, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, warned there was "some concern" BPA may affect the brain and behavioral development of fetuses, infants and young children, the Post reported.

Blumenthal is working to gain support from other attorneys general to demand that manufacturers stop using BPA to make infant formula cans and all other food and beverage containers.

-----

Viruses May Cause Diabetes: Study

Common viruses that cause vomiting and diarrhea may trigger many cases of diabetes, according to British researchers, who said their findings raise the possibility of a vaccine.

They found evidence of enteroviruses in the insulin-producing pancreatic cells of 60 percent of children with type 1 diabetes and of 40 percent of adults with type 2 diabetes, BBC News reported.

The study was published in the journal Diabetologia.

It's known that genetics play a major role in diabetes risk, but the idea of a viral cause of diabetes has been considered for decades, BBC News reported.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. In children with a genetic predisposition to this form of diabetes, enterovirus infection may trigger the immune reaction that results in the disease, the researchers suggested.

Type 2 diabetes is often linked to obesity in adults. Enterovirus infection may harm the ability of beta cells in the pancreas to produce insulin. The researchers said this, in combination with the greater demand for insulin in obese people, may trigger diabetes, BBC News reported.

-----

Religion May Ease Anxiety, Research Finds

Religious belief may help control stress-related anxiety, a University of Toronto study suggests.

Volunteers did a stressful task while researchers monitored activity in an area of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which is involved in emotion, CTV.ca reported. Participants with strong religious belief had less ACC activity than non-believers, suggesting they experienced less anxiety while doing the task and when they made mistakes.

The study was published in the journal Psychological Science.

Religious belief may offer peace of mind that helps people control their anxiety, suggested study leader Michael Inzlicht, an assistant professor of psychology, CTV.ca reported.

"Religion provides meaning to many people. It helps people to understand what to do, where to go next, what decision to make. It may be that having this sense of meaning reduces their anxiety," he said.

Health Tips for March 9

Health Tip: Coping With Juvenile Arthritis

Arthritis isn't just a disease of the elderly. Children may be affected by a disease called juvenile arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation offers these suggestions to help families cope with the condition:

• Family members should openly discuss what each person is feeling, including concerns, anger and fears.
• The child with juvenile arthritis should not be allowed to shirk responsibilities, as long as he or she is physically able to fulfill them.
• Teach your child about the disease, including information about management and treatment, in an age-appropriate way.
• Don't be overbearing or overprotective. Encourage independence and responsibility.
• Spend time with each other -- as a family, and one-on-one with your child.

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 Headlines - March 8

CNN's Gupta Won't Be U.S. Surgeon General

Citing family and work considerations, CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has withdrawn his name as a candidate for U.S. Surgeon General, White House officials said Thursday.

Gupta had been under "serious consideration" for the post but decided he wants to focus on his medical career and spend more time with his family, an administration official told the Associated Press.

There were no problems that would have disqualified Gupta from becoming surgeon general, the official added.

In an interview with CNN's Larry King, Gupta noted he had two young daughters and a third child on the way.

"My wife is imminent with our third child. You know, this job ... takes us away from our children for so many years at once, and I sort of came to grips with the fact that I'd probably be away at least the first several years. ... And I just didn't feel like I should do that now," Gupta said in the interview.

-----

Optimism Boosts Health, Life Span: Study

Optimists live longer and healthier lives than pessimists, according to a U.S. study of 100,000 women who were surveyed about their personality traits and then followed for eight years.

Those who said they were optimists were less likely to die from any cause and 30 percent less likely to die from heart disease. Women who were more pessimistic had a higher overall death rate and were 23 percent more likely to die from a cancer-related condition, ABC News reported.

The findings were presented Thursday in Chicago at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society.

Optimistic people may have less physical reaction to stress, or may be more likely to follow a doctor's advice and, therefore, maintain their health, suggested lead author Hilary Tindle, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, the AP reported.

-----

Companies Halt U.S. Sales of Baby Bottles With BPA

Baby bottles made with the controversial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) will no longer be sold in the United States by the six largest manufacturers of the products.

The companies made the announcement after Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and other colleagues asked them to voluntarily halt their use of the chemical, which has been linked to numerous health effects, the Washington Post reported.

"The evidence seems too clear and emphatic and unequivocal to say we should simply permit this stuff to go into children on a massive scale," Blumenthal said Thursday. "And there's no reason for it, because there are substitutes available."

BPA, which is found in a wide range of products, mimics the hormone estrogen and may disrupt the body's endocrine system. The chemical poses a particular threat to fetuses, infants and children because it can interfere with cell function when their bodies are still developing, public health experts say.

Last year, the National Toxicology Program, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, warned there was "some concern" BPA may affect the brain and behavioral development of fetuses, infants and young children, the Post reported.

Blumenthal is working to gain support from other attorneys general to demand that manufacturers stop using BPA to make infant formula cans and all other food and beverage containers.

-----

Viruses May Cause Diabetes: Study

Common viruses that cause vomiting and diarrhea may trigger many cases of diabetes, according to British researchers, who said their findings raise the possibility of a vaccine.

They found evidence of enteroviruses in the insulin-producing pancreatic cells of 60 percent of children with type 1 diabetes and of 40 percent of adults with type 2 diabetes, BBC News reported.

The study was published in the journal Diabetologia.

It's known that genetics play a major role in diabetes risk, but the idea of a viral cause of diabetes has been considered for decades, BBC News reported.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. In children with a genetic predisposition to this form of diabetes, enterovirus infection may trigger the immune reaction that results in the disease, the researchers suggested.

Type 2 diabetes is often linked to obesity in adults. Enterovirus infection may harm the ability of beta cells in the pancreas to produce insulin. The researchers said this, in combination with the greater demand for insulin in obese people, may trigger diabetes, BBC News reported.

-----

Religion May Ease Anxiety, Research Finds

Religious belief may help control stress-related anxiety, a University of Toronto study suggests.

Volunteers did a stressful task while researchers monitored activity in an area of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which is involved in emotion, CTV.ca reported. Participants with strong religious belief had less ACC activity than non-believers, suggesting they experienced less anxiety while doing the task and when they made mistakes.

The study was published in the journal Psychological Science.

Religious belief may offer peace of mind that helps people control their anxiety, suggested study leader Michael Inzlicht, an assistant professor of psychology, CTV.ca reported.

"Religion provides meaning to many people. It helps people to understand what to do, where to go next, what decision to make. It may be that having this sense of meaning reduces their anxiety," he said.

Health Tips for March 8

Health Tip: Learning About Ectopic Pregnancy

When the fertilized egg doesn't make it to the uterus and begins to grow elsewhere in the reproductive system -- in the fallopian tube, abdomen, ovary or cervix -- it's called an ectopic pregnancy.

This is a serious condition that requires a doctor's diagnosis and treatment.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this list of common risk factors for ectopic pregnancy:

• Having endometriosis.
• Having had a pelvic infection (such as pelvic inflammatory disease) or surgery around the pelvis.
• Being a smoker.
• Being older than 35.
• Infertility problems or treatment.
• Fallopian tube abnormalities or inflammation.
• Having had a previous ectopic pregnancy.

Health Tip: Dizziness During Pregnancy

Many women feel dizzy during pregnancy, a condition caused by hormones that help increase blood flow to the baby, but may restrict blood flow to you.

The American Pregnancy Association offers these suggestions to help relieve dizziness during pregnancy:

• Try not to stand up for long periods. When you do have to stand, move your feet frequently to help maintain your circulation.
• When you start to stand up, do so slowly.
• Keep a cool body temperature. Avoid very hot baths or showers.
• Don't go too long without eating.
• Make sure clothing is loose and not so tight that it can reduce blood circulation.
• Ask your doctor about other factors that could cause dizziness. In some women, lying on their back may impede blood flow as the weight of the fetus presses on certain blood vessels.

Health Headlines - March 7

CNN's Gupta Won't Be U.S. Surgeon General

Citing family and work considerations, CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has withdrawn his name as a candidate for U.S. Surgeon General, White House officials said Thursday.

Gupta had been under "serious consideration" for the post but decided he wants to focus on his medical career and spend more time with his family, an administration official told the Associated Press.

There were no problems that would have disqualified Gupta from becoming surgeon general, the official added.

In an interview with CNN's Larry King, Gupta noted he had two young daughters and a third child on the way.

"My wife is imminent with our third child. You know, this job ... takes us away from our children for so many years at once, and I sort of came to grips with the fact that I'd probably be away at least the first several years. ... And I just didn't feel like I should do that now," Gupta said in the interview.

-----

Optimism Boosts Health, Life Span: Study

Optimists live longer and healthier lives than pessimists, according to a U.S. study of 100,000 women who were surveyed about their personality traits and then followed for eight years.

Those who said they were optimists were less likely to die from any cause and 30 percent less likely to die from heart disease. Women who were more pessimistic had a higher overall death rate and were 23 percent more likely to die from a cancer-related condition, ABC News reported.

The findings were presented Thursday in Chicago at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society.

Optimistic people may have less physical reaction to stress, or may be more likely to follow a doctor's advice and, therefore, maintain their health, suggested lead author Hilary Tindle, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, the AP reported.

-----

Companies Halt U.S. Sales of Baby Bottles With BPA

Baby bottles made with the controversial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) will no longer be sold in the United States by the six largest manufacturers of the products.

The companies made the announcement after Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and other colleagues asked them to voluntarily halt their use of the chemical, which has been linked to numerous health effects, the Washington Post reported.

"The evidence seems too clear and emphatic and unequivocal to say we should simply permit this stuff to go into children on a massive scale," Blumenthal said Thursday. "And there's no reason for it, because there are substitutes available."

BPA, which is found in a wide range of products, mimics the hormone estrogen and may disrupt the body's endocrine system. The chemical poses a particular threat to fetuses, infants and children because it can interfere with cell function when their bodies are still developing, public health experts say.

Last year, the National Toxicology Program, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, warned there was "some concern" BPA may affect the brain and behavioral development of fetuses, infants and young children, the Post reported.

Blumenthal is working to gain support from other attorneys general to demand that manufacturers stop using BPA to make infant formula cans and all other food and beverage containers.

-----

Viruses May Cause Diabetes: Study

Common viruses that cause vomiting and diarrhea may trigger many cases of diabetes, according to British researchers, who said their findings raise the possibility of a vaccine.

They found evidence of enteroviruses in the insulin-producing pancreatic cells of 60 percent of children with type 1 diabetes and of 40 percent of adults with type 2 diabetes, BBC News reported.

The study was published in the journal Diabetologia.

It's known that genetics play a major role in diabetes risk, but the idea of a viral cause of diabetes has been considered for decades, BBC News reported.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. In children with a genetic predisposition to this form of diabetes, enterovirus infection may trigger the immune reaction that results in the disease, the researchers suggested.

Type 2 diabetes is often linked to obesity in adults. Enterovirus infection may harm the ability of beta cells in the pancreas to produce insulin. The researchers said this, in combination with the greater demand for insulin in obese people, may trigger diabetes, BBC News reported.

-----

Religion May Ease Anxiety, Research Finds

Religious belief may help control stress-related anxiety, a University of Toronto study suggests.

Volunteers did a stressful task while researchers monitored activity in an area of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which is involved in emotion, CTV.ca reported. Participants with strong religious belief had less ACC activity than non-believers, suggesting they experienced less anxiety while doing the task and when they made mistakes.

The study was published in the journal Psychological Science.

Religious belief may offer peace of mind that helps people control their anxiety, suggested study leader Michael Inzlicht, an assistant professor of psychology, CTV.ca reported.

"Religion provides meaning to many people. It helps people to understand what to do, where to go next, what decision to make. It may be that having this sense of meaning reduces their anxiety," he said.

Health Tips for March 7

Health Tip: Caring for Mouth Sores From Cancer Treatment

Chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer can lead to small, painful mouth sores.

The American Cancer Society offers these suggestions to help ease the pain and make it easier to eat:

• Since brushing teeth can be painful, switch to a softer brush. And soften it with hot water before you brush.
• Use a gentle toothpaste that doesn't contain hydrogen peroxide.
• Rinse your mouth before and after you eat with a solution of baking soda, salt and water. Don't use commercial mouthwashes, which may irritate the sores.
• Moisturize your lips with lotion or balm.
• Swab the sores with Maalox or Milk of Magnesia -- if your doctor recommends it.
• Drink beverages and liquid foods with a straw.
• Stick to foods that are soft, moist and cold.

Health Tip: Joining a Cancer Support Group

Support groups can be a great resource for people with cancer, their families, and other loved ones.

The National Cancer Institute lists these potential benefits of joining a support group:

• They allow patients and loved ones to express their feelings, challenges and problems to others with similar experiences.
• They can provide an opportunity to share tips and advice on dealing with cancer and the side effects of treatment.
• They can help patients cope with the emotional effects of cancer, which is an important part of treatment.
• They can help friends and family deal with the stress and other emotions associated with caring for someone with cancer.

Health Headlines - March 6

87M Americans Under 65 Uninsured During Last 2 Years: Report

President Barack Obama has made reducing the number of Americans without health insurance a centerpiece of his health reform efforts, and a new poll highlights those concerns: 86.7 million people under 65 went without coverage at some time during the past two years, according to an advocacy group's report released Wednesday.

Gleaning data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey and its Survey of Income and Program Participation as well as from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Families USA, a nonprofit health care reform group, said that the figure represents one of every three Americans under age 65, according to United Press International. Of all those uninsured, 60.2 percent were without coverage for nine months or more, and almost 74.5 percent were uninsured for six months or more, the group found. And, more than half of families with incomes between $21,200 and $42,400 a year -- 52 percent of them -- went without insurance in 2007-2008, the report said.

The report also warned that four of every five uninsured Americans are from working families and face even greater risks in a slumping economy: As more and more workers get laid off, they may lose their ability to keep health coverage.

-----

FDA Control Over Dietary Supplements Inadequate: GAO

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has too little control over dietary supplements, according to a report released this week by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

The GAO, which conducted the evaluation at the request of Congress, found that the FDA lacks the information, resources or recall ability it needs to adequately regulate dietary supplements, which are taken by 79 percent of American adults, USA Today reported.

As one example, the GAO noted that supplement companies aren't required to tell the FDA what products they sell or ingredients they use.

A number of groups have long demanded the FDA increase its regulation of supplements.

"It's like the Wild West, and the bad guys know they don't have to take the sheriff seriously," Bruce Silverglade, legal director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, told USA Today.

-----

Egg Protein Boosts Muscles and Energy Levels: Study

The high-quality protein in eggs makes an important contribution to muscle strength, energy and a sense of fullness, according to U.S. researchers who reviewed more than 25 protein studies.

One egg provides 13 percent of the recommended daily value of high-quality protein that helps preserve muscle mass and prevent muscle loss in older adults, said review co-author Donald K. Layman, professor emeritus at the University of Illinois, United Press International reported.

"While many Americans may be getting enough protein, they need to focus on consuming sources of higher-quality protein," Layman said in a news release.

Along with benefiting muscle strength, the high-quality protein in eggs provides steady and sustained energy, the researchers said. That's because egg protein doesn't cause a surge in blood sugar or insulin levels, which can lead to a rebound effect or energy "crash" as levels drop, UPI reported.

The review was published in the journal Nutrition Today.

-----

HIV Infection Among People 50 and Older Concerns WHO

A "surprisingly high" number of people over age 50 worldwide are infected with HIV and the number of cases in older adults may be growing, says a World Health Organization study released Tuesday.

For example, between 2003 and 2006, the rate of HIV infection among Americans 50 and older increased from 20 percent to 25 percent. Between 1996 and 2006, the rate of HIV infection among people 50 or older in Brazil increased from 7.5 to 15.7 per 100,000, Agence France Presse reported.

"The frequency of infection with HIV in older people is worrying. We need to understand why and when these people are becoming infected so that public health campaigns can be better targeted to prevent such infections," said WHO scientist George Schmid.

One problem is that HIV is widely regarded as a young people's disease, the WHO said. This leads to less HIV screening among older people, which results in delayed diagnosis. In addition, older people are less likely than younger people to practice safe sex, AFP reported.

-----

Scientists Identify Cause of Gray Hair

British and German scientists say they've identified the root cause of gray hair, a finding that may lead to new methods of treatment.

In experiments with hair and follicle cells, the researchers found that gray hair is caused by a large build-up of hydrogen peroxide due to wear and tear of hair follicles. This build-up blocks hair's natural pigment, BBC News reported.

"This discovery is a major breakthrough in the understanding of hair graying and opens up some novel ideas to combat this scenario. These are being followed up at the current time in our laboratory," said lead researcher Karin Schallreuter.

The study was published in The FASEB Journal, published by the Federation of the American Societies for Experimental Biology.

-----

Doctor's Plan for Custom-Made Babies Condemned

Bioethicists and other critics are condemning an American doctor's offer to let parents pick the color of their children's eyes and hair. Dr. Jeff Steinberg says the service will be available at the New York City and Los Angeles offices of his Fertility Institutes within six months.

Doctors will examine the genetic character of embryos created in a lab and implant the ones that have the best chance of giving parents a baby with the desired traits, the New York Daily News reported.

The announcement triggered widespread criticism.

"We're crossing the line into eugenics, the theory of trying to give people enhanced characteristics -- genetic engineering to make sort of the superman or superwomen," Dr. Daniel Sulmasy, director of ethics at New York Medical College and St. Vincent's Hospital, told the Daily News.

Some say Steinberg doesn't have the ability to give parents what they want.

"He's the only one offering this, because you can't yet do it. Nobody can do this right now," said Sean Tipton of the American Society for Reproductive Technology.

Health Tips for March 6

Health Tip: Taking an Antibiotic

Antibiotics can help you recover from a bacterial infection, but they offer no medical benefit against viruses.

Prescribing an antibiotic for an viral illness, in fact, isn't a good idea. Overuse of these medicines can make the bacteria in your body resistant to the drugs. The medicines then lose their effectiveness, making a bacterial illness harder to treat.

The American Academy of Family Physicians lists these illnesses that are often treated with an antibiotic, and a few that don't need the medication:

• Colds and flu are caused by viruses, and won't respond to antibiotics.
• Cough and bronchitis are usually caused by viruses. However, people with chronic lung problems or those who have a cough that lasts a long time may need antibiotics.
• While a regular sore throat is caused by a virus, strep throat is a bacterial infection that requires antibiotic treatment.
• Ear and sinus infections should be evaluated by a doctor, since many are caused by bacteria, while others are viral.

Health Tip: Understanding Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria mutate and make certain medications ineffective in preventing bacterial infections.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers these suggestions for preventing antibiotic-resistant infections:

• Talk to your doctor about whether you actually need an antibiotic to treat a particular illness.
• Don't take antibiotics when they are not helpful. For example, antibiotics will not treat infections caused by viruses, including the common cold and the flu.
• Always take antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. Don't skip any dose, and don't stop taking them early, even if you feel better.
• Never "save" antibiotics to take later. Never re-use them for a different illness.
• Never take an antibiotic that was prescribed to another person.

Health Headlines - March 5

87M Americans Under 65 Uninsured During Last 2 Years: Report

President Barack Obama has made reducing the number of Americans without health insurance a centerpiece of his health reform efforts, and a new poll highlights those concerns: 86.7 million people under 65 went without coverage at some time during the past two years, according to an advocacy group's report released Wednesday.

Gleaning data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey and its Survey of Income and Program Participation as well as from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Families USA, a nonprofit health care reform group, said that the figure represents one of every three Americans under age 65, according to United Press International. Of all those uninsured, 60.2 percent were without coverage for nine months or more, and almost 74.5 percent were uninsured for six months or more, the group found. And, more than half of families with incomes between $21,200 and $42,400 a year -- 52 percent of them -- went without insurance in 2007-2008, the report said.

The report also warned that four of every five uninsured Americans are from working families and face even greater risks in a slumping economy: As more and more workers get laid off, they may lose their ability to keep health coverage.

-----

FDA Control Over Dietary Supplements Inadequate: GAO

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has too little control over dietary supplements, according to a report released this week by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

The GAO, which conducted the evaluation at the request of Congress, found that the FDA lacks the information, resources or recall ability it needs to adequately regulate dietary supplements, which are taken by 79 percent of American adults, USA Today reported.

As one example, the GAO noted that supplement companies aren't required to tell the FDA what products they sell or ingredients they use.

A number of groups have long demanded the FDA increase its regulation of supplements.

"It's like the Wild West, and the bad guys know they don't have to take the sheriff seriously," Bruce Silverglade, legal director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, told USA Today.

-----

Egg Protein Boosts Muscles and Energy Levels: Study

The high-quality protein in eggs makes an important contribution to muscle strength, energy and a sense of fullness, according to U.S. researchers who reviewed more than 25 protein studies.

One egg provides 13 percent of the recommended daily value of high-quality protein that helps preserve muscle mass and prevent muscle loss in older adults, said review co-author Donald K. Layman, professor emeritus at the University of Illinois, United Press International reported.

"While many Americans may be getting enough protein, they need to focus on consuming sources of higher-quality protein," Layman said in a news release.

Along with benefiting muscle strength, the high-quality protein in eggs provides steady and sustained energy, the researchers said. That's because egg protein doesn't cause a surge in blood sugar or insulin levels, which can lead to a rebound effect or energy "crash" as levels drop, UPI reported.

The review was published in the journal Nutrition Today.

-----

HIV Infection Among People 50 and Older Concerns WHO

A "surprisingly high" number of people over age 50 worldwide are infected with HIV and the number of cases in older adults may be growing, says a World Health Organization study released Tuesday.

For example, between 2003 and 2006, the rate of HIV infection among Americans 50 and older increased from 20 percent to 25 percent. Between 1996 and 2006, the rate of HIV infection among people 50 or older in Brazil increased from 7.5 to 15.7 per 100,000, Agence France Presse reported.

"The frequency of infection with HIV in older people is worrying. We need to understand why and when these people are becoming infected so that public health campaigns can be better targeted to prevent such infections," said WHO scientist George Schmid.

One problem is that HIV is widely regarded as a young people's disease, the WHO said. This leads to less HIV screening among older people, which results in delayed diagnosis. In addition, older people are less likely than younger people to practice safe sex, AFP reported.

-----

Scientists Identify Cause of Gray Hair

British and German scientists say they've identified the root cause of gray hair, a finding that may lead to new methods of treatment.

In experiments with hair and follicle cells, the researchers found that gray hair is caused by a large build-up of hydrogen peroxide due to wear and tear of hair follicles. This build-up blocks hair's natural pigment, BBC News reported.

"This discovery is a major breakthrough in the understanding of hair graying and opens up some novel ideas to combat this scenario. These are being followed up at the current time in our laboratory," said lead researcher Karin Schallreuter.

The study was published in The FASEB Journal, published by the Federation of the American Societies for Experimental Biology.

-----

Doctor's Plan for Custom-Made Babies Condemned

Bioethicists and other critics are condemning an American doctor's offer to let parents pick the color of their children's eyes and hair. Dr. Jeff Steinberg says the service will be available at the New York City and Los Angeles offices of his Fertility Institutes within six months.

Doctors will examine the genetic character of embryos created in a lab and implant the ones that have the best chance of giving parents a baby with the desired traits, the New York Daily News reported.

The announcement triggered widespread criticism.

"We're crossing the line into eugenics, the theory of trying to give people enhanced characteristics -- genetic engineering to make sort of the superman or superwomen," Dr. Daniel Sulmasy, director of ethics at New York Medical College and St. Vincent's Hospital, told the Daily News.

Some say Steinberg doesn't have the ability to give parents what they want.

"He's the only one offering this, because you can't yet do it. Nobody can do this right now," said Sean Tipton of the American Society for Reproductive Technology.

Health Tips for March 5

Health Tip: Use Household Chemicals Safely

Common chemicals stored throughout the home could pose health risks if not stored properly and used correctly.

The Cleveland Clinic offers these safety suggestions when working with household chemicals:

• When using all-purpose cleaners in the kitchen or bathroom, always wear gloves, and open a window or turn on a fan to minimize inhalation of fumes.
• Be careful to avoid letting bleach touch your skin or splash in your eyes. Also, avoid breathing in the fumes.
• Never mix bleach with any other cleaner, especially anything that contains ammonia.
• When using an oven-cleaning product, fully protect yourself with goggles, gloves and long sleeves. Look for cleaners without lye, and make sure the area is well-ventilated.
• Antibacterial cleaning products can burn the skin, so make sure you wear gloves.

Health Tip: Enjoy Sledding Safely

Sledding is a fun way to enjoy the winter weather. But it can be dangerous if done recklessly and without precautions.

The U.S. National Safety Council offers these safety tips for sledders of any age:

• Stay away from steep and dangerous slopes that end on the road. Look for more level hills.
• Make sure the hills are clear before you sled down them -- check for holes and anything else that may obstruct the sledder's path -- including trees, fences, telephone poles or rocks.
• Stay away from hills near lakes, streams or ponds. Even if these bodies of water look frozen, they may not be frozen all the way through.
• Never sled near streets or traffic.
• Never sled down a hill head-first.
• Sledders should wear gloves and boots to protect against frostbite and injury.

Health Headlines - March 4

HIV Infection Among People 50 and Older Concerns WHO

A "surprisingly high" number of people over age 50 worldwide are infected with HIV and the number of cases in older adults may be growing, says a World Health Organization study released Tuesday.

For example, between 2003 and 2006, the rate of HIV infection among Americans 50 and older increased from 20 percent to 25 percent. Between 1996 and 2006, the rate of HIV infection among people 50 or older in Brazil increased from 7.5 to 15.7 per 100,000, Agence France Presse reported.

"The frequency of infection with HIV in older people is worrying. We need to understand why and when these people are becoming infected so that public health campaigns can be better targeted to prevent such infections," said WHO scientist George Schmid.

One problem is that HIV is widely regarded as a young people's disease, the WHO said. This leads to less HIV screening among older people, which results in delayed diagnosis. In addition, older people are less likely than younger people to practice safe sex, AFP reported.

-----

Scientists Identify Cause of Gray Hair

British and German scientists say they've identified the root cause of gray hair, a finding that may lead to new methods of treatment.

In experiments with hair and follicle cells, the researchers found that gray hair is caused by a large build-up of hydrogen peroxide due to wear and tear of hair follicles. This build-up blocks hair's natural pigment, BBC News reported.

"This discovery is a major breakthrough in the understanding of hair graying and opens up some novel ideas to combat this scenario. These are being followed up at the current time in our laboratory," said lead researcher Karin Schallreuter.

The study appears in The FASEB Journal, published by the Federation of the American Societies for Experimental Biology.

-----

Doctor's Plan for Custom-Made Babies Condemned

Bioethicists and other critics are condemning an American doctor's offer to let parents pick the color of their children's eyes and hair. Dr. Jeff Steinberg says the service will be available at the New York City and Los Angeles offices of his Fertility Institutes within six months.

Doctors will examine the genetic character of embryos created in a lab and implant the ones that have the best chance of giving parents a baby with the desired traits, the New York Daily News reported.

The announcement triggered widespread criticism.

"We're crossing the line into eugenics, the theory of trying to give people enhanced characteristics -- genetic engineering to make sort of the superman or superwomen," Dr. Daniel Sulmasy, director of ethics at New York Medical College and St. Vincent's Hospital, told the Daily News.

Some say Steinberg doesn't have the ability to give parents what they want.

"He's the only one offering this because you can't yet do it. Nobody can do this right now," said Sean Tipton of the American Society for Reproductive Technology.

-----

Vaccine Said to Trigger Instant Immune Response

A method of vaccination that provides instant immunity could give people spontaneous protection against diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, toxins and even cancerous cells, according to scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in California.

Current vaccines can take days or weeks before they offer protection. But the two-stage method developed by the Scripps team targets specific cells and creates a "universal" immune reaction, Agence France Presse reported.

"The antibodies in our vaccine are designed to circulate inertly until they receive instructions from tailor-made small molecules to become active against a specific target," explained team leader Carlos Barbas.

"The advantage of this method is that it opens up the possibility of having antibodies primed and ready to go in the time it takes to receive an injection or swallow a pill," he told AFP. "This would apply whether the target is a cancer cell, flu virus, or a toxin like anthrax that soldiers or even civilian populations might have to face during a bioterrorism attack."

The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

-----

Chinese Doctors Urged to Quit Smoking

The large number of male Chinese doctors who smoke are being urged to quit in order to set a good example for their patients, say government officials. More than 56 percent of male doctors in China smoke, the highest rate in the world, according to state media, Agence France Presse reported.

No figures were given for the smoking rate among all doctors in China.

"Medical workers and those who make decisions regarding people's health should take the lead in quitting smoking and completely banning indoor smoking," said Health Minister Chen Zhu, reported the China Daily. "International experience has it that when doctors give up smoking, it encourages a lot of others to kick the habit."

There are about 350 million smokers in China and one million die of smoking-related diseases every year.

Health Tips for March 4

Health Tip: Protect Your Muscles

It's important to stretch and warm up your muscles before exercise.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons lists these common risk factors for muscle strains and injury:

• Tired muscles that have been worked too hard.
• Tight muscles that haven't been properly stretched.
• Weak muscles that haven't been strengthened through training and exercise.
• Muscles that haven't been warmed up before exercise, sports or other activities.
• Muscle groups that work together that don't have properly balanced strength. For example, a stronger hamstring than quadriceps, or vice versa.

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 - March 3

Obama Nominates Kansas Gov. Sebelius to Lead HHS

President Obama announced Monday that Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is his choice for health and human services secretary, the Associated Press reported.

He also named Nancy-Ann DeParle as the director of the newly created White House Office for Health Reform.

The announcement comes just days before a White House summit on health care that will include lawmakers from both parties and representatives of major interest groups, including consumers, insurers and drug companies.

If the 60-year-old Sebelius wins confirmation, she faces a number of major challenges, including being the public face of White House plans for health care reform and dealing with the fallout from a long list of food and drug safety lapses that have tarnished the reputation of the Food and Drug Administration.

Sebelius is considered an experienced public official with a steady hand who can work across political lines, the AP reported.

She is actually Obama's second choice. Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle was the president's first choice, but Daschle withdrew his nomination after disclosing he had tax problems.

DeParle served in the Clinton administration as head of the agency that oversees Medicare and Medicaid, and also worked in Clinton's budget office.

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Huge Decline in U.S. Children With High Lead Levels

Between 1988 and 2004, the number of U.S. children with high lead levels decreased 84 percent, from almost 9 percent to 1.4 percent, according to a federal government study released Monday.

Researchers said the large decline was due to aggressive efforts to reduce children's exposure to lead in old house paints, water, soil and other sources, the Associated Press reported.

"It has been a remarkable decline. It's a public health success story," said study co-author Mary Jean Brown of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

She and her colleagues analyzed data on nearly 5,000 children, ages 1 to 5, who took part in a periodic government health survey, the AP reported. The findings were published in the March issue of the journal Pediatrics.

In children, lead can harm the developing nervous system and cause permanent learning, memory and behavior difficulties. A level of at least 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood is considered elevated, but research has shown that lower levels can still cause problems for children, including attention and reading difficulties. There is no known "safe" level, said Brown and her colleagues.

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Washington State Assisted Suicide Law Takes Effect This Week

Starting later this week, Washington state patients with less than six months to live will be able to ask their doctors to prescribe them lethal medication. But under the "Death with Dignity" law, which takes effect Thursday, doctors and pharmacists aren't required to write or fill lethal prescriptions.

"There are a lot of doctors, who in principle, would approve or don't mind this, but for a lot of social or professional reasons, they don't want to be involved," Dr. Tom Preston, a retired cardiologist and board member of Compassion & Choices, told the Associated Press.

The aid-in-dying advocacy group campaigned for and supports the new law, which was approved by nearly 60 percent of state voters in November, making Washington the second state, behind Oregon, to legalize assisted suicide.

Compassion & Choices is compiling a directory of doctors and pharmacies willing to write and fill prescriptions for lethal drugs, executive director Robb Miller told the AP.

A terminally-ill patient in Washington who wants life-ending medication must be at least 18 years old, declared competent and a state resident. Patients must make two oral requests, 15 days apart, and submit a written request witnessed by two people. One of those witnesses must not be a relative, heir, attending physician, or connected with a health facility where the patient lives.

In addition, two doctors must certify that the patient has six months or less to live. Doctors and pharmacists who write and fill prescriptions for lethal medications must file a copy of the record with the state health department, which is mandated to prepare an annual report on how the assisted suicide law is used, the AP reported.

Health Tips for March 3

Health Tip: How Serious is Your Asthma Attack?

If you have an asthma attack, it's important to be able to judge its severity.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this information to evaluate the seriousness of your asthma flare-up:

• A little bit of wheezing and mild difficulty breathing during activity indicates a mild asthma attack. When you sit, you should be able to breathe normally and speak in full sentences.
• If you have trouble speaking, whether walking or sitting still, you're having a moderate attack. You may need to pause to take a breath just to finish a sentence. Loud wheezing when you exhale also is common.
• If you are having a very hard time breathing, that's a sign of a more serious attack. You may also have trouble speaking just a few words without stopping to catch your breath, or feel tense or anxious.
• Symptoms of extreme fatigue and confusion indicate a serious attack that needs more than just quick-acting asthma medicine. It requires a trip to the emergency room.

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 - March 2

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 March 2

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: Help Prevent Toy Injuries

Toys are associated with thousands of injuries every year, mostly because of misuse or because the toys are too advanced for the children playing with them.

The Lucile Packard Children's Hospital offers these suggestions to help reduce your child's risk of injury when playing with toys:

• Never let your child play with a toy that is not safe or appropriate for his or her age. Before your child plays with a new toy, always read the label and safety instructions.
• Watch your child to make sure toys are used appropriately.
• Make sure your child uses toys in appropriate settings. For example, keep bikes and wheeled toys away from stairs.
• If you have an older child, keep those toys away from younger children.
• Inspect your child's toys frequently for damage that may injure your child, and be aware of toy recalls.
• Check your young child's toys with a "small parts tester," which can evaluate possible choking hazards.

Health Headlines - March 1

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 March 1

Health Tip: Depression in Seniors

Depression isn't a normal part of aging. But it is common in people older than age 65, and symptoms of depression can be different for seniors than for younger people.

The American Academy of Family Physicians lists these common symptoms of depression in seniors:

• Losing interest in activities that were once enjoyed.
• Feelings of sadness, numbness, worthlessness or guilt.
• Suddenly crying for no reason, or crying frequently.
• Feeling tired, slow, restless or irritable.
• A sudden change in appetite, or unexplained change in weight.
• Changes in sleep patterns, including sleeping too much or difficulty sleeping.
• Difficulty remembering or concentrating, and making decisions.
• Having frequent headaches, back pain or digestive problems.
• Thoughts about death or suicide.

Health Tip: Signs of Depression

About 15 of every 100 adults suffer from depression, according to AARP.

Depression is more than just a case of the blues. AARP offers this list of common warning signs:

• Difficulty concentrating, problems with memory, and difficulty making decisions.
• Becoming irritable, angry, worried, agitated, anxious, pessimistic, or indifferent.
• Over an extended period, being sad or unexplained bouts of crying.
• Changes in sleep habits, as well as appetite.
• Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
• Feelings of hopelessness.
• Unexplained aches and pains.