Health Headlines - July 31

Many Americans Take Naps: Survey

About one-third of American adults regularly take a daytime nap, according to a new national survey.

The rate of napping was even higher among people who'd exercised in the past 24 hours, those who had trouble sleeping the night before, blacks, men older than 50, men and women over 80, people who aren't happy, and poorer people, The New York Times reported.

Unemployed people were more likely to nap during the week than on weekends and employed people were only slightly more likely to have a nap on weekends, according to the Pew Research Center Social and Demographics Trends survey.

It also found that women were more likely than men to have trouble sleeping at night, along with people whose annual income is less than $20,000, and those dissatisfied with their personal financial situation, regardless of their income, the Times reported.

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Major Medicare Fraud Bust Targets 'Arthritis Kits'

Doctors were among the more than 30 suspects arrested in a major Medicare fraud bust by more than 200 federal agents in New York, Louisiana, Boston and Houston.

Some of the businesses targeted in the raids gave patients "arthritis kits" that included heating pads and expensive knee and shoulder braces, the Associated Press reported. Even though the kits were unnecessary and many patients never received them, clinic owners billed Medicare between $3,000 and $4,000 for each kit.

Another scam targeted by federal authorities involved false billing for liquid food for patients who can't eat solid food. Clinic owners involved in the fraud never distributed the liquid food products to patients and, in some cases, billed Medicare for patients who were dead when they supposedly received the products, the AP reported.

This is the third major Medicare fraud action since May, when the U.S. Health and Human Services Department added millions of dollars and dozens of agents to deal with a problem that costs the country billions of dollars a year.

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Mexico City May Offer 'Free' Medical Care to Tourists

Tourists to Mexico City may soon be eligible for free medical care should they encounter an accident or illness, courtesy of the local government.

The proposed plan is an effort to win back tourists after this year's H1N1 swine flu outbreak, and it will cover a range of conditions, including dental care and flu treatment, the New York Times reported.

"We want to send the message that Mexico City is a secure place that will protect its visitors," Alejandro Rojas Diaz, Mexico City's tourism secretary, told the Times. The details of the proposal note that treatment will be provided at "authorized establishments" and that in certain cases an unspecified deductible will be charged.

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Study Examines Causes of Cattle-Related Deaths

Each year, about 20 people are killed by cattle on U.S. farms and working with cattle in enclosed spaces is the leading cause of such fatalities, says a new study.

Researchers studied media reports of cattle-related deaths in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska during 2003-08 and found that 33 percent of deaths occurred while the victims were working with cattle in enclosed spaces. Other circumstances included moving or herding cattle (24 percent), loading cattle (14 percent), and feeding (14 percent).

One-third of deaths were caused by animals that had previously exhibited aggressive behavior, said Wayne T. Sanderson, an associate professor of occupational and environmental health at the University of Iowa.

He said farmers need to take precautions to prevent close contact with cattle, especially those that are aggressive.

The study appears in the current Weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report, published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Dietary Supplements Recalled

The dietary supplements STEAM and S-DROL are being recalled because they may contain ingredients not listed on the label, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The products are distributed by Nutracoastal Trading of Freeport, N.Y.

The FDA said STEAM may contain an ingredient found in erectile dysfunction drugs and S-DROL may contain a steroid. Both ingredients could interact with nitrates found in some prescription medicines and possibly cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure, the Associated Press reported.

In addition, the products may cause side effects such as flushing and headaches. There haven't been any reports of health problems suffered by people using the products.

Included in the recall are 60-tablet bottles of S-DROL, lot No. 810481, and five-capsule bottles of STEAM, lot No. 80214. They were sold in retail stores across the United States, the AP reported.

Consumers can call 866-803-2434 to get more information.

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Perfume Sickens 144 People

Almost 150 people were sickened and 34 hospitalized after a worker sprayed perfume at bank call center in Fort Worth, Texas.

After receiving reports of dizziness and shortness of breath at the Bank of America call center, fire officials thought that carbon monoxide or another type of toxic fumes might be to blame, the Associated Press reported.

While 110 people were treated at the scene, 34 others were taken to hospital, including 12 who were transported by ambulance.

Investigators said they don't know what type of perfume was sprayed.

Health Tips for July 31

Health Tip: Understanding Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are often painful swollen veins near the anus, the U.S. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) says.

They commonly are triggered by straining during bowel movements, the effects of pregnancy or childbirth, or constipation.

To relieve the pain of hemorrhoids, the NDDIC suggests soaking in a bathtub of warm water for about 10 minutes, several times daily. Use of a hemorrhoid cream or a suppository also can help relieve symptoms.

You can help lower your risk of hemorrhoids by drinking plenty of water and eating lots of fiber. Regular exercise can also help soften stools and make bowel movements easier.

Health Tip: Easing Hemorrhoid Pain

Hemorrhoids are painful, swollen veins on the anus or rectum, and may occur from straining to have a bowel movement.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these tips to help soothe hemorrhoid pain and discomfort:

• Take a warm bath.
• Use moistened toilet paper or a moist towelette to clean yourself after a bowel movement.
• Apply an ice pack.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
• Try a topical cream -- when recommended by your doctor. Creams that help numb the area may contain witch hazel, or those that soothe itching may contain hydrocortisone.
• Don't use a hemorrhoid medicine unless you've spoken to your doctor about it first.

Health Headlines - July 30

Pollution Closed Many U.S. Beaches In 2008: Report

Storm water and sewage runoff are the main reasons why there were 20,341 beach closing days reported in the United States in 2008, the fourth year in a row that the number has been higher than 20,000, says a Natural Resources Defense Council report released Wednesday.

Delaware, New Hampshire and Virginia had the best beach water quality while Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois had the worst, USA Today reported.

"The waters along the Great Lakes coastline appear to the dirtiest, while the waters along the Southeast and DelMarVa (Delaware, New Hampshire and Virginia) coasts are relatively cleaner," the NRDC report said.

Rain is the main reason for polluted beaches because it carries pollutants from dirty storm water and overflowing sewage into streams and rivers, which eventually empty into oceans and lakes, Nancy Stoner, the council's water program co-director, told USA Today.

Many Great Lakes states had a wetter-than-normal summer in 2008, while Mid-Atlantic states were unusually dry, according to the National Climatic Data Center.

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FDA Warns About Body Building Products

Consumers should stop using body-building products that claim to contain steroids or steroid-like substances, many of which are sold as dietary supplements, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned in a public health advisory issued late Tuesday.

Over two years, the agency has received five reports of adverse events, including serious liver injury, among people taking 21 of these products, the Associated Press reported. Eight of the products are made by American Cellular Laboratories Inc., which received a warning letter from the FDA.

"Products marketed for body building and claiming to contain steroids or steroid-like substances are illegal and potentially quite dangerous," Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, commissioner of food and drugs, said in an FDA news release.

The products are believed to be popular among high school athletes, especially football players "because they work, they're relatively cheap, and you assume they're safe because you can buy them at your local shopping center," Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, told the AP.

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Recession Will Affect Kids' Well-Being: Report

There were modest improvements in the well-being of American children during the good economic times earlier this decade, but things will get worse in the current recession, according to a new report released Tuesday.

The Kids Count evaluation of 10 key indicators in federal government statistics, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, found slight improvements in six areas since 2000, including infant death rates, the Washington Post reported. Teen pregnancies are lower than they were in 2000 but are on the rise again in all but nine states and the District of Columbia.

However, even before the official start of the recession in December 2007, more children were living in poverty, in homes with single parents, or with parents who were unemployed, said the report.

Since the most recent data are from 2007, the report doesn't include the effects of recession-related job losses.

"Our take-away is that even going into the recession, the economic outlook for a lot of families was dire," Laura Beavers, the national Kids Count coordinator, told the Post. "There was a flattening of the median income, and the poverty level was creeping up year after year."

The Kids Count report has been issued annually for 20 years.

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Texting Greatly Increases Crash Risk

Texting while driving increased truckers' risk of collision 23-fold, according to new U.S. research.

The analysis of images recorded by video cameras in the cabs of more than 100 long-haul truckers over 18 months also revealed that in the moments before a crash or near-crash, drivers spent about five seconds looking at their texting devices, the New York Times reported. At highway speeds, a vehicle travels more than the length of a football field in five seconds.

In terms of driver distraction, not just in trucks, "texting is in its own universe of risk," Rich Hanowski, who oversaw the study, told the Times.

The findings, released Tuesday, deliver a clear message about texting while driving, said Tom Dingus, director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, which did the research. "You should never do this," he told the newspaper. "It should be illegal."

Currently, only 14 states ban texting while driving.

In a related study, University of Utah researchers found that college students using a driving simulator were eight times more likely to crash when texting, the Times reported.

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Fast-Track Program Doesn't Speed Approval Of New Cancer Drugs

New cancer drugs in a fast-track approval program aren't getting to the U.S. market quicker than other cancer drugs, says a new study.

It found that all cancer drugs took about seven years to get approved, whether they were part of the Food and Drug Administration's "accelerated approval" program or not. The researchers looked at 19 drugs that had received accelerated approval since 1995 and 32 drugs given regular approval, USA Today reported.

The findings are a "disappointment," said study author Charles Bennett, a professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. The study appears online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The accelerated approval program was created in 1992 in order to speed availability of promising drugs to patients with little time to live.

Bennett noted that patients with advanced cancer are often willing to accept a higher level of risk and the potential for serious side effects associated with new drugs if they offer hope for extending their lives, USA Today reported.

"We're not talking about people with skin conditions. These people are going to die," Bennett said.

Health Tips for July 30

Health Tip: Nightmares Keeping You Up?

While nightmares mostly affect children, even adults have an occasional bad dream.

Why do nightmares happen? The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers this list of possible causes:

• Being stressed or anxious, often resulting from a significant life event.
• Withdrawing too quickly from alcohol use, or drinking too much alcohol.
• Having a sleep disorder, such as narcolepsy.
• Being sick with a fever.
• Having a side effect or reaction to a drug.
• Eating too close to bedtime, which raises your metabolism and increases brain activity.

Health Tip: Suggestions for Better Sleep

If you're struggling to get a good night's sleep, your sleep environment and bedtime habits may need changing.

The National Sleep Foundation offers these suggestions that may help you sleep better:

• Go to bed and try to wake at the same time each day.
• Prepare for bed with a relaxing routine, such as taking a bath or reading.
• Make sure your bedroom is quiet and dark.
• Use a firm but comfortable mattress, and lots of plush pillows.
• Never perform work-related duties in your bedroom.
• Don't eat for at least two hours before you go to bed.
• Exercise each day, but never just before bedtime.
• Skip caffeine, alcohol and nicotine in the hours before bedtime.

Health Headlines - July 29

Recession Will Affect Kids' Well-Being: Report

There were modest improvements in the well-being of American children during the good economic times earlier this decade, but things will get worse in the current recession, according to a new report released Tuesday.

The Kids Count evaluation of 10 key indicators in federal government statistics, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, found slight improvements in six areas since 2000, including infant death rates, the Washington Post reported. Teen pregnancies are lower than they were in 2000 but are on the rise again in all but nine states and the District of Columbia.

However, even before the official start of the recession in December 2007, more children were living in poverty, in homes with single parents, or with parents who were unemployed, said the report.

Since the most recent data are from 2007, the report doesn't include the effects of recession-related job losses.

"Our take-away is that even going into the recession, the economic outlook for a lot of families was dire," Laura Beavers, the national Kids Count coordinator, told the Post. "There was a flattening of the median income, and the poverty level was creeping up year after year."

The Kids Count report has been issued annually for 20 years.

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Texting Greatly Increases Crash Risk

Texting while driving increased truckers' risk of collision 23-fold, according to new U.S. research.

The analysis of images recorded by video cameras in the cabs of more than 100 long-haul truckers over 18 months also revealed that in the moments before a crash or near-crash, drivers spent about five seconds looking at their texting devices, the New York Times reported. At highway speeds, a vehicle travels more than the length of a football field in five seconds.

In terms of driver distraction, not just in trucks, "texting is in its own universe of risk," Rich Hanowski, who oversaw the study, told the Times.

The findings, released Tuesday, deliver a clear message about texting while driving, said Tom Dingus, director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, which did the research. "You should never do this," he told the newspaper. "It should be illegal."

Currently, only 14 states ban texting while driving.

In a related study, University of Utah researchers found that college students using a driving simulator were eight times more likely to crash when texting, the Times reported.

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Fast-Track Program Doesn't Speed Approval Of New Cancer Drugs

New cancer drugs in a fast-track approval program aren't getting to the U.S. market quicker than other cancer drugs, says a new study.

It found that all cancer drugs took about seven years to get approved, whether they were part of the Food and Drug Administration's "accelerated approval" program or not. The researchers looked at 19 drugs that had received accelerated approval since 1995 and 32 drugs given regular approval, USA Today reported.

The findings are a "disappointment," said study author Charles Bennett, a professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. The study appears online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The accelerated approval program was created in 1992 in order to speed availability of promising drugs to patients with little time to live.

Bennett noted that patients with advanced cancer are often willing to accept a higher level of risk and the potential for serious side effects associated with new drugs if they offer hope for extending their lives, USA Today reported.

"We're not talking about people with skin conditions. These people are going to die," Bennett said.

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Probiotics May Help Fight Flu in Children: Study

Probiotics may help prevent flu symptoms and reduce their duration in children, according to a study sponsored by a company that makes probiotics products. But some experts are skeptical about the findings.

The study of nearly 250 Chinese children, ages 3 to 5 years old, found that taking probiotics for six months reduced fever incidence by up to 72.7 percent, decreased coughing by up to 62.1 percent, and reduced runny noses by up to 58.5 percent, ABC News reported.

The Danish nutritional supplement company Danisco funded the study, which was published in the journal Pediatrics.

"It is a surprising result and one that is hard to reconcile with traditional medical wisdom," Dr. Julie Gerberding, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told ABC News. "I would take (the findings) as 'interesting but still very preliminary.'"

"Most practitioners will feel more confident when these results are replicated in trials sponsored by government or other parties without a potential conflict of interest," noted Dr. Kathi Kemper of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.

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Swine Flu Death Toll 816: WHO

The worldwide swine flu death toll now stands at 816, according to a bulletin released Monday by the World Health Organization.

Most of the victims (707) have been in the Americas, followed by the Asia-Pacific region (74) and Europe (34). There has been one death in the eastern Mediterranean region, which includes the Middle East and parts of northern Africa, Agence France Presse reported.

The WHO bulletin also said that several countries and territories have reported their first cases of swine flu since the previous bulletin on July 6.

So far, 134,503 cases of infection with the H1N1 swine flu virus have been reported to the agency, AFP
reported. However, countries are no longer required to test and report individual cases, which means that latest figure "understates" the actual number of infections, the WHO said.

Health Tips for July 29

Health Tip: Why Do My Muscles Twitch?

Muscle twitches, especially involving the eyelids, calf or thumb -- are fairly common.

Rarely, they can be a sign of a nervous system disorder, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says. Signals of a serious muscle problem include a change in muscle sensation, size, and a feeling of muscle weakness.

On the other hand, most muscle twitches aren't anything to worry about and only last for a few days or less. The NLM offers this list of common causes:

• Having a dietary deficiency.
• Getting too much caffeine.
• Taking certain medications, such as steroids, estrogen hormones or diuretics.
• Exercising.
• Having anxiety or stress.

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 - July 28

Swine Flu Death Toll 816: WHO

The worldwide swine flu death toll now stands at 816, according to a bulletin released Monday by the World Health Organization.

Most of the victims (707) have been in the Americas, followed by the Asia-Pacific region (74) and Europe (34). There has been one death in the eastern Mediterranean region, which includes the Middle East and parts of northern Africa, Agence France Presse reported.

The WHO bulletin also said that several countries and territories have reported their first cases of swine flu since the previous bulletin on July 6.

So far, 134,503 cases of infection with the H1N1 swine flu virus have been reported to the agency, AFP reported. However, countries are no longer required to test and report individual cases, which means that latest figure "understates" the actual number of infections, the WHO said.

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Chemical In Some IV Bags May Cause Infant Liver Damage: Study

The chemical phthalate may increase the risk of liver damage in premature babies, say German researchers who looked at DEHP, a type of phthalate used to make some intravenous feeding bags and tubing.

The study found that liver problems developed in 50 percent of infants fed with tubes containing DEHP, compared with 13 percent of infants fed with tubes that didn't contain the chemical, the Associated Press reported.

The researchers said their findings show that hospitals treating preemies and other newborns should use IV feeding equipment that doesn't contain DEHP. The study appears in the journal Pediatrics.

"This is a pretty strong damnation of" the chemical, Deborah Cory-Slechta, an environmental medicine professor at the University of Rochester medical school, told the AP. "It needs to be replicated. But I still think this makes a very strong case for getting rid of these compounds" in intensive care units that treat infants.

Some U.S. hospitals have already taken action.

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Trans Fats Eliminated From Unilever Soft-Spread Margarines

All partially hydrogenated oils will be removed from Unilever's four brands of soft-spread margarine by the second quarter of 2010, says the company, which sells the bulk of soft margarine spread in the United States.

Replacing partially hydrogenated oils with a mixture of palm oil and plant oil means that the spreads will have only 0.05 grams per serving of trans fat, the same amount that occurs naturally in vegetable oils, USA Today reported.

Unilever makes half the soft spreads sold in the United States and could claim the products had "zero grams" of trans fat in the products. That's because the Food and Drug Administration allows foods with fewwer than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving to be labeled "0 grams of trans fat."

However, consumer pressure convinced Unilever to further reduce levels of trans fat in its soft spread margarines, USA Today reported.

Health Tips for July 28

Health Tip: Stretch Your Hamstrings

The hamstring is a muscle that runs along the back of the thigh. Pulling this muscle can be quite painful.

A simple stretch can help prevent a pulled hamstring if done before and after exercise, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

• Sit down on the floor and straighten out one leg, and bend your other leg.
• Place the sole of your foot of your bent leg against the inside of your straight leg.
• Leaning forward a little bit, extend your arms and touch the toes of your straight leg.
• Keep your toes pointing upward and your foot and ankle relaxed.
• Hold that position for 30 seconds.
• Switch and perform the stretch on the other leg.

Health Tip: Straining the Hamstring

A hamstring injury can sideline an athlete or exercise buff for quite a while.

While anyone can pull a hamstring, some people are at greater risk of the injury. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers this list:

• Young athletes who are still maturing.
• Many professional athletes, including runners, football players, skaters and soccer players.
• People who run or sprint for exercise.
• Dancers.
• Seniors who play sports or who take frequent walks.

Health Headlines - July 27

Senate Puts Off Vote on Health-Care Legislation

Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate have postponed a vote on health-care reform until after Congress returns from its August break, despite President Barack Obama's push to tackle the country's $2.4 trillion medical-care system before the traditional summertime recess.

"It's better to have a product based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than try to jam something through," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who made the announcement Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

The rush to enact the complex legislation had riled Republicans, and Reid said the delay would provide time for a possible compromise, the AP said.

Reid said that the Senate Finance Committee would finalize its version of the bill before adjourning. Separate legislation already approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, known as HELP, would be merged with the Finance bill, according to the AP.

But some lawmakers predict difficulty in merging the bills because the Finance Committee is seeking bipartisan approval for its measure, whereas Democratic votes secured passage of the HELP bill.

Reid said that senior Republicans working on the Finance bill had asked for more time to work out a compromise, the AP noted. "The decision was made to give them more time, and I don't think it's unreasonable," he said.

Obama appeared on prime-time television Wednesday night to make another appeal for health-care reform.

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Poll Still Finds Public Support for Health-Care Reform

While a majority of Americans still think health-care reform is needed now, some of that support has wavered slightly as Congress wrestles with the details of producing a reform package, according to the July Kaiser Health Tracking Poll.

Fifty-six percent of Americans continue to believe that health reform is more important than ever, despite the country's economic problems. And by a better than two-to-one margin (51 percent to 23 percent), Americans think the country would be better off if Congress and President Barack Obama enacted health reform, the poll found.

But concerns raised during the Congressional debate appear to be influencing some people's views. For instance, a larger share of the public is more worried that Congress and the president will pass a bill that's bad for their family (54 percent) than that health-care reform won't happen this year (39 percent). And while a majority of Americans still favor reform now, the percentage of people who hold that view has dropped from 61 percent to 56 percent since June, the poll found.

The proportion of people who say passage of health-care reform would make things worse for their own family, although relatively small, has doubled since February (from 11 percent to 21 percent), as has the proportion of Americans who say the country would be worse off if health-care reform passed -- from 12 percent to 23 percent, according to the poll.

And while the estimated $1 trillion price tag over 10 years for health-care reform has been a sticking point for many in Congress, it seems to be a little less worrisome for those polled. When asked if $1 trillion was too high, too little, or about right, 42 percent said it was too high, 36 percent said it was the right amount, and 9 percent said it was too little.

The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit foundation, based in Menlo Park, Calif., that produces analysis and information on health issues.

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Study Looks at Implanted Pig Cells to Treat Type 1 Diabetes

In a trial that could one day lead to a way to slow the ravages of type 1 diabetes, a New Zealand company announced Thursday that it plans to implant newborn pig cells into eight people with the blood sugar disease.

The Associated Press reported that these cells produce insulin that the researchers are hoping can be used to lower blood sugar levels in these volunteers. However, a company official told the wire service that such a treatment will not eliminate all the symptoms of type 1 diabetes indefinitely, which include blindness, premature heart disease and poor blood circulation that can lead to the amputation of limbs.

Critics have also expressed concern that putting these pig cells into humans might introduce a new virus into the human population, a fear that company officials said is unfounded.

"There is no evidence of a risk of retrovirus infection," Bob Elliott, medical director of Living Cell Technologies, told AP. "Nobody has developed a retrovirus."

Elliott stressed that the pigs being used in this trial come from isolated islands south of New Zealand, and are being kept in a sterile environment. He also noted that he has run two previous trials, the first with six patients in New Zealand in 1995-1996. A Russian trial with 10 patients began two years ago. In those trials, the cells that weren't rejected produced insulin for roughly a year, although the cells in one patient continued generating the hormone for 12 years.

The pig cells that will be implanted in this latest trial are coated in a membrane made from seaweed, which will eliminate the need for immunosuppressant drugs, according to company officials.

With type 1 diabetes, the body mistakenly attacks the pancreas to the point where the organ stops producing the insulin needed to break down sugars in the blood and convert it to energy.

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Swine Flu Fears Prompt Arab States to Limit Pilgrimage

died from swine flu after returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca, the AP reported.

Health Tips for July 27

Health Tip: What's an APGAR Test?

As soon as your baby is delivered at a hospital or other medical facility, it's commonly whisked away to be evaluated by the waiting team of professionals.

The medical team probably is giving your baby what's known as an APGAR test to check how well baby handled birth, and how the infant is adjusting to life outside the womb. It's given at one minute after birth, and a second time five minutes after birth. The score ranges from 1 to 10, 10 being healthiest.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says the test evaluates:

• Breathing effort
• Heart rate
• Muscle tone
• Reflexes
• Skin color

A score of less than five indicates that baby needs help adjusting to the new environment.

Health Tip: Caring for Your Newborn

Most first-time parents are at a loss when they bring baby home from the hospital.

The Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions for parental novices:

• Support baby's head with a gentle hand whenever you hold, carry or lay baby down.
• Treat baby gently. Never shake the baby for any reason, including to wake him or her up. Instead, tickle the feet or blow on the cheek to rouse your little one.
• Make sure you're using the baby car seat and stroller correctly, and that baby is safely secured.
• Newborns just need to be held and cuddled. It's too soon for games such as bouncing on the knee or lifting in the air.

Health Headlines - July 26

Senate Puts Off Vote on Health-Care Legislation

Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate have postponed a vote on health-care reform until after Congress returns from its August break, despite President Barack Obama's push to tackle the country's $2.4 trillion medical-care system before the traditional summertime recess.

"It's better to have a product based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than try to jam something through," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who made the announcement Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

The rush to enact the complex legislation had riled Republicans, and Reid said the delay would provide time for a possible compromise, the AP said.

Reid said that the Senate Finance Committee would finalize its version of the bill before adjourning. Separate legislation already approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, known as HELP, would be merged with the Finance bill, according to the AP.

But some lawmakers predict difficulty in merging the bills because the Finance Committee is seeking bipartisan approval for its measure, whereas Democratic votes secured passage of the HELP bill.

Reid said that senior Republicans working on the Finance bill had asked for more time to work out a compromise, the AP noted. "The decision was made to give them more time, and I don't think it's unreasonable," he said.

Obama appeared on prime-time television Wednesday night to make another appeal for health-care reform.

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Poll Still Finds Public Support for Health-Care Reform

While a majority of Americans still think health-care reform is needed now, some of that support has wavered slightly as Congress wrestles with the details of producing a reform package, according to the July Kaiser Health Tracking Poll.

Fifty-six percent of Americans continue to believe that health reform is more important than ever, despite the country's economic problems. And by a better than two-to-one margin (51 percent to 23 percent), Americans think the country would be better off if Congress and President Barack Obama enacted health reform, the poll found.

But concerns raised during the Congressional debate appear to be influencing some people's views. For instance, a larger share of the public is more worried that Congress and the president will pass a bill that's bad for their family (54 percent) than that health-care reform won't happen this year (39 percent). And while a majority of Americans still favor reform now, the percentage of people who hold that view has dropped from 61 percent to 56 percent since June, the poll found.

The proportion of people who say passage of health-care reform would make things worse for their own family, although relatively small, has doubled since February (from 11 percent to 21 percent), as has the proportion of Americans who say the country would be worse off if health-care reform passed -- from 12 percent to 23 percent, according to the poll.

And while the estimated $1 trillion price tag over 10 years for health-care reform has been a sticking point for many in Congress, it seems to be a little less worrisome for those polled. When asked if $1 trillion was too high, too little, or about right, 42 percent said it was too high, 36 percent said it was the right amount, and 9 percent said it was too little.

The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit foundation, based in Menlo Park, Calif., that produces analysis and information on health issues.

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Study Looks at Implanted Pig Cells to Treat Type 1 Diabetes

In a trial that could one day lead to a way to slow the ravages of type 1 diabetes, a New Zealand company announced Thursday that it plans to implant newborn pig cells into eight people with the blood sugar disease.

The Associated Press reported that these cells produce insulin that the researchers are hoping can be used to lower blood sugar levels in these volunteers. However, a company official told the wire service that such a treatment will not eliminate all the symptoms of type 1 diabetes indefinitely, which include blindness, premature heart disease and poor blood circulation that can lead to the amputation of limbs.

Critics have also expressed concern that putting these pig cells into humans might introduce a new virus into the human population, a fear that company officials said is unfounded.

"There is no evidence of a risk of retrovirus infection," Bob Elliott, medical director of Living Cell Technologies, told AP. "Nobody has developed a retrovirus."

Elliott stressed that the pigs being used in this trial come from isolated islands south of New Zealand, and are being kept in a sterile environment. He also noted that he has run two previous trials, the first with six patients in New Zealand in 1995-1996. A Russian trial with 10 patients began two years ago. In those trials, the cells that weren't rejected produced insulin for roughly a year, although the cells in one patient continued generating the hormone for 12 years.

The pig cells that will be implanted in this latest trial are coated in a membrane made from seaweed, which will eliminate the need for immunosuppressant drugs, according to company officials.

With type 1 diabetes, the body mistakenly attacks the pancreas to the point where the organ stops producing the insulin needed to break down sugars in the blood and convert it to energy.

-----

Swine Flu Fears Prompt Arab States to Limit Pilgrimage

Swine flu fears have led health officials in Arab states to decree that the very young, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions may not attend this year's hajj, the pilgrimage devout Muslims can take to Saudi Arabia each year, the Associated Press reported.

In a meeting held Wednesday, the ministers decided against an outright cancellation of the annual hajj, which draws millions of Muslims to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in late November. Instead, the ministers hope that by excluding those most vulnerable to infection they can minimize the impact of H1N1 infections that might arise with so many people coming into close contact at one time.

If an H1N1 vaccine becomes available before the start of the hajj, pilgrims will be required to provide proof of immunization before they receive a visa for the pilgrimage, the health ministers added.

Debate has raged throughout the Muslim world on the advisability of cancelling this year's hajj due to the swine flu outbreak. According to the World Health Organization, there are 952 reported cases of swine flu in the eastern Mediterranean region, which includes the Middle East and Afghanistan. One Egyptian woman has died from swine flu after returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca, the AP reported.

Health Tips for July 26

Health Tip: How New Dads Can Prepare for Birth

Sure, expecting women have to carry most of the responsibility when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth. But that doesn't mean there's nothing for dads-to-be to do.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers this list of possible activities for new fathers:

• Discuss with the mother whether you want to be the one to cut the umbilical cord after birth.
• Help your partner figure out her choice for pain relief during labor. Be supportive of her decision, and understand that she may change her mind during labor.
• Decide if you're going to stay at the hospital with your partner. Take care of assigning someone to watch the house, pets, other children, etc.
• Determine how you and the mother are getting to the hospital. If you're driving, map out your route, and have a backup route, just in case.
• Make sure the car is in good shape and filled with gas as you approach the due date.
• Make sure your partner can reach you at all times, so you're prepared when labor begins.

Health Tip: Help Prevent Birth Defects

While the cause of many birth defects remains a mystery, doctors do understand what causes many others -- and how to prevent them.

The Minnesota Department of Health says before and during pregnancy, you should:

• Eat foods with a high folate content, or foods enriched with folic acid. A folic acid deficiency can lead to a type of birth defect called a neural tube defect. To prevent this, good dietary choices are green leafy veggies, dried beans, oranges and orange juice, and fortified breads, pastas and cereals.
• Before pregnancy and while you're pregnant, take a daily multivitamin that includes at least 400 micrograms of folic acid.
• See your doctor for a checkup before you are pregnant, and get regular pre-natal care throughout your pregnancy.
• Stop drinking alcohol while you're trying to conceive, and never drink alcohol during pregnancy.
• Make sure the medicines you take are safe during pregnancy. Check with your doctor.

Health Headlines - July 25

Senate Puts Off Vote on Health-Care Legislation

Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate have postponed a vote on health-care reform until after Congress returns from its August break, despite President Barack Obama's push to tackle the country's $2.4 trillion medical-care system before the traditional summertime recess.

"It's better to have a product based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than try to jam something through," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who made the announcement Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

The rush to enact the complex legislation had riled Republicans, and Reid said the delay would provide time for a possible compromise, the AP said.

Reid said that the Senate Finance Committee would finalize its version of the bill before adjourning. Separate legislation already approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, known as HELP, would be merged with the Finance bill, according to the AP.

But some lawmakers predict difficulty in merging the bills because the Finance Committee is seeking bipartisan approval for its measure, whereas Democratic votes secured passage of the HELP bill.

Reid said that senior Republicans working on the Finance bill had asked for more time to work out a compromise, the AP noted. "The decision was made to give them more time, and I don't think it's unreasonable," he said.

Obama appeared on prime-time television Wednesday night to make another appeal for health-care reform.

-----

Poll Still Finds Public Support for Health-Care Reform

While a majority of Americans still think health-care reform is needed now, some of that support has wavered slightly as Congress wrestles with the details of producing a reform package, according to the July Kaiser Health Tracking Poll.

Fifty-six percent of Americans continue to believe that health reform is more important than ever, despite the country's economic problems. And by a better than two-to-one margin (51 percent to 23 percent), Americans think the country would be better off if Congress and President Barack Obama enacted health reform, the poll found.

But concerns raised during the Congressional debate appear to be influencing some people's views. For instance, a larger share of the public is more worried that Congress and the president will pass a bill that's bad for their family (54 percent) than that health-care reform won't happen this year (39 percent). And while a majority of Americans still favor reform now, the percentage of people who hold that view has dropped from 61 percent to 56 percent since June, the poll found.

The proportion of people who say passage of health-care reform would make things worse for their own family, although relatively small, has doubled since February (from 11 percent to 21 percent), as has the proportion of Americans who say the country would be worse off if health-care reform passed -- from 12 percent to 23 percent, according to the poll.

And while the estimated $1 trillion price tag over 10 years for health-care reform has been a sticking point for many in Congress, it seems to be a little less worrisome for those polled. When asked if $1 trillion was too high, too little, or about right, 42 percent said it was too high, 36 percent said it was the right amount, and 9 percent said it was too little.

The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit foundation, based in Menlo Park, Calif., that produces analysis and information on health issues.

-----

Study Looks at Implanted Pig Cells to Treat Type 1 Diabetes

In a trial that could one day lead to a way to slow the ravages of type 1 diabetes, a New Zealand company announced Thursday that it plans to implant newborn pig cells into eight people with the blood sugar disease.

The Associated Press reported that these cells produce insulin that the researchers are hoping can be used to lower blood sugar levels in these volunteers. However, a company official told the wire service that such a treatment will not eliminate all the symptoms of type 1 diabetes indefinitely, which include blindness, premature heart disease and poor blood circulation that can lead to the amputation of limbs.

Critics have also expressed concern that putting these pig cells into humans might introduce a new virus into the human population, a fear that company officials said is unfounded.

"There is no evidence of a risk of retrovirus infection," Bob Elliott, medical director of Living Cell Technologies, told AP. "Nobody has developed a retrovirus."

Elliott stressed that the pigs being used in this trial come from isolated islands south of New Zealand, and are being kept in a sterile environment. He also noted that he has run two previous trials, the first with six patients in New Zealand in 1995-1996. A Russian trial with 10 patients began two years ago. In those trials, the cells that weren't rejected produced insulin for roughly a year, although the cells in one patient continued generating the hormone for 12 years.

The pig cells that will be implanted in this latest trial are coated in a membrane made from seaweed, which will eliminate the need for immunosuppressant drugs, according to company officials.

With type 1 diabetes, the body mistakenly attacks the pancreas to the point where the organ stops producing the insulin needed to break down sugars in the blood and convert it to energy.

-----

Swine Flu Fears Prompt Arab States to Limit Pilgrimage

Swine flu fears have led health officials in Arab states to decree that the very young, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions may not attend this year's hajj, the pilgrimage devout Muslims can take to Saudi Arabia each year, the Associated Press reported.

In a meeting held Wednesday, the ministers decided against an outright cancellation of the annual hajj, which draws millions of Muslims to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in late November. Instead, the ministers hope that by excluding those most vulnerable to infection they can minimize the impact of H1N1 infections that might arise with so many people coming into close contact at one time.

If an H1N1 vaccine becomes available before the start of the hajj, pilgrims will be required to provide proof of immunization before they receive a visa for the pilgrimage, the health ministers added.

Debate has raged throughout the Muslim world on the advisability of cancelling this year's hajj due to the swine flu outbreak. According to the World Health Organization, there are 952 reported cases of swine flu in the eastern Mediterranean region, which includes the Middle East and Afghanistan. One Egyptian woman has died from swine flu after returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca, the AP reported.

Health Tips for July 25

Health Tip: Caring for Skin With Rosacea

Rosacea is a facial skin condition that causes red areas on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead. Cosmetics, properly applied, can do wonders for improving your appearance and self-confidence, the National Rosacea Society says.

The society offers these suggestions.

• Start by gently cleaning and moisturizing your skin with products recommended for skin with rosacea. Never rub, pull or irritate your skin.
• Don't use a lot of cosmetics. Instead, use just a few that work well for you.
• Look for products that are multi-use, such as a foundation with sunscreen. Also, use a foundation or base with a green tint that will counter rosacea's redness.
• If you use foundation and concealer, look for oil-free options. Concealer should be about one shade lighter than the color of your skin.
• Gently apply foundation with an antibacterial brush and smooth it across the face, starting in the center.
• If using a powder, look for a mineral-based product to mask redness (look for a yellow tone) and reduce irritation.

Health Tip: Exercising If You Have Rosacea

Exercise is an important way to keep your mind and body healthy. But for people with rosacea -- a skin condition typically characterized by a redness of the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead -- exercise could cause the condition to flare.

The National Rosacea Society offers these suggestions for the best ways to exercise while avoiding a flare-up:

• Try low-intensity exercises that keep your body temperature lower and reduce the flush on your face.
• Perform several shorter workouts during the day, instead of one long workout.
• Take advantage of cooler times of day to exercise. Especially during the warm summer months, exercise early in the morning or in the evening, when it isn't so hot.
• Exercise with a fan or air conditioning on, or the window open.
• Exercise with a cold cloth or towel around your neck, spray your face with cool water, or suck on ice chips.

Health Headlines - July 24

Senate Puts Off Vote on Health-Care Legislation

Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate have postponed a vote on health-care reform until after Congress returns from its August break, despite President Barack Obama's push to tackle the country's $2.4 trillion medical-care system before the traditional summertime recess.

"It's better to have a product based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than try to jam something through," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who made the announcement Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

The rush to enact the complex legislation had riled Republicans, and Reid said the delay would provide time for a possible compromise, the AP said.

Reid said that the Senate Finance Committee would finalize its version of the bill before adjourning. Separate legislation already approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, known as HELP, would be merged with the Finance bill, according to the AP.

But some lawmakers predict difficulty in merging the bills because the Finance Committee is seeking bipartisan approval for its measure, whereas Democratic votes secured passage of the HELP bill.

Reid said that senior Republicans working on the Finance bill had asked for more time to work out a compromise, the AP noted. "The decision was made to give them more time, and I don't think it's unreasonable," he said.

Obama appeared on prime-time television Wednesday night to make another appeal for health-care reform.

-----

Poll Still Finds Public Support for Health-Care Reform

While a majority of Americans still think health-care reform is needed now, some of that support has wavered slightly as Congress wrestles with the details of producing a reform package, according to the July Kaiser Health Tracking Poll.

Fifty-six percent of Americans continue to believe that health reform is more important than ever, despite the country's economic problems. And by a better than two-to-one margin (51 percent to 23 percent), Americans think the country would be better off if Congress and President Barack Obama enacted health reform, the poll found.

But concerns raised during the Congressional debate appear to be influencing some people's views. For instance, a larger share of the public is more worried that Congress and the president will pass a bill that's bad for their family (54 percent) than that health-care reform won't happen this year (39 percent). And while a majority of Americans still favor reform now, the percentage of people who hold that view has dropped from 61 percent to 56 percent since June, the poll found.

The proportion of people who say passage of health-care reform would make things worse for their own family, although relatively small, has doubled since February (from 11 percent to 21 percent), as has the proportion of Americans who say the country would be worse off if health-care reform passed -- from 12 percent to 23 percent, according to the poll.

And while the estimated $1 trillion price tag over 10 years for health-care reform has been a sticking point for many in Congress, it seems to be a little less worrisome for those polled. When asked if $1 trillion was too high, too little, or about right, 42 percent said it was too high, 36 percent said it was the right amount, and 9 percent said it was too little.

The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit foundation, based in Menlo Park, Calif., that produces analysis and information on health issues.

-----

Study Looks at Implanted Pig Cells to Treat Type 1 Diabetes

In a trial that could one day lead to a way to slow the ravages of type 1 diabetes, a New Zealand company announced Thursday that it plans to implant newborn pig cells into eight people with the blood sugar disease.

The Associated Press reported that these cells produce insulin that the researchers are hoping can be used to lower blood sugar levels in these volunteers. However, a company official told the wire service that such a treatment will not eliminate all the symptoms of type 1 diabetes indefinitely, which include blindness, premature heart disease and poor blood circulation that can lead to the amputation of limbs.

Critics have also expressed concern that putting these pig cells into humans might introduce a new virus into the human population, a fear that company officials said is unfounded.

"There is no evidence of a risk of retrovirus infection," Bob Elliott, medical director of Living Cell Technologies, told AP. "Nobody has developed a retrovirus."

Elliott stressed that the pigs being used in this trial come from isolated islands south of New Zealand, and are being kept in a sterile environment. He also noted that he has run two previous trials, the first with six patients in New Zealand in 1995-1996. A Russian trial with 10 patients began two years ago. In those trials, the cells that weren't rejected produced insulin for roughly a year, although the cells in one patient continued generating the hormone for 12 years.

The pig cells that will be implanted in this latest trial are coated in a membrane made from seaweed, which will eliminate the need for immunosuppressant drugs, according to company officials.

With type 1 diabetes, the body mistakenly attacks the pancreas to the point where the organ stops producing the insulin needed to break down sugars in the blood and convert it to energy.

-----

Swine Flu Fears Prompt Arab States to Limit Pilgrimage

Swine flu fears have led health officials in Arab states to decree that the very young, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions may not attend this year's hajj, the pilgrimage devout Muslims can take to Saudi Arabia each year, the Associated Press reported.

In a meeting held Wednesday, the ministers decided against an outright cancellation of the annual hajj, which draws millions of Muslims to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in late November. Instead, the ministers hope that by excluding those most vulnerable to infection they can minimize the impact of H1N1 infections that might arise with so many people coming into close contact at one time.

If an H1N1 vaccine becomes available before the start of the hajj, pilgrims will be required to provide proof of immunization before they receive a visa for the pilgrimage, the health ministers added.

Debate has raged throughout the Muslim world on the advisability of cancelling this year's hajj due to the swine flu outbreak. According to the World Health Organization, there are 952 reported cases of swine flu in the eastern Mediterranean region, which includes the Middle East and Afghanistan. One Egyptian woman has died from swine flu after returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca, the AP reported.

Health Tips for July 24

Health Tip: Avoiding Shin Splints

Shin splints are fairly common among athletes and people engaging in other forms of strenuous exercise. The injury is characterized by pain and soreness running down the large bone in the lower leg.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers this list of common risk factors for shin splints:

• Having foot abnormalities, such as flat feet or rigid arches.
• Jogging or running for exercise.
• Dancing strenuously.
• Training for the military.
• Suddenly increasing exercise, including intensity and duration.

Health Tip: Clogged Ears On a Plane?

Changes in altitude, such as those you experience when flying, can cause an uncomfortable "clogged" feeling in your ears.

If you try to relieve the pressure by blowing your nose too hard, you could perforate the eardrum or force bacteria into the deeper parts of the ear.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions to help you safely relieve pressure in the ears when flying:

• About an hour before your flight is scheduled to leave, take a decongestant.
• Try yawning to gently relieve pressure as altitude changes.
• Keep swallowing to help unclog ears.
• Chew a piece of gum while the plane ascends and descends.
• If your ears still feel clogged, inhale, hold your nose, and very gently exhale with your mouth closed until you feel relief. Be very careful not to do this with too much force.

Health Headlines - July 23

Employers' Family Health Insurance Cost $12,000-Plus in 2008

Employer-paid health insurance coverage for a family of four in the United States cost an average of $12,298 last year, according to a new U.S. government report.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality also said Wednesday that the annual premium to cover an employee and one family member averaged $8,535 in 2008. The annual premium for coverage of one employee averaged $4,386.

Nearly one-third of the nation's 62.5 million workers with employer-sponsored health insurance had family plans, according to the report. Eleven million workers had employee-plus-one plans, and 31.5 million employees were enrolled in single-coverage plans.

On average, workers with family-care coverage contributed $3,394 toward the premium payment, the report noted. Those with employee-plus-one plans averaged $2,303, and the single-coverage employees contributed an average of $882.

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Swine Flu Vaccine Could Get Scarce: Experts

The United States could find itself short of swine flu vaccine if the virus becomes much more lethal and countries start to scramble for more of the vaccine, experts warn.

They noted that the United States makes only 20 percent of the flu vaccines it uses. The situation is even worse in Britain, which imports all its flu vaccines. Only a few countries are self-sufficient in vaccines.

"This isn't rocket science. If there is more severe disease, countries will want to hang onto the vaccine for their own citizens," Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told the Associated Press.

Leaders of countries with adequate supplies of swine flu vaccine won't be willing to share with other nations, experts predict.

"Pandemic vaccine will be a valuable and scarce resource, like oil or food during a famine," David Fidler, an Indiana University law professor who has consulted for the World Health Organization, told the AP. "We've seen how countries behave in those situations, and it's not encouraging."

-----

Experimental Lupus Drug Shows Some Promise: Report

An experimental drug for the autoimmune disease lupus has produced favorable results in a company-sponsored study. It could potentially become the first new drug for lupus in 50 years, USA Today reported.

The drug, Benlysta, helps to limit the immune system response that attacks lupus patients' tissues, often damaging vital organs.

Each of the 865 patients in the preliminary study were given standard therapy for lupus, which consists primarily of treatment with steroids. The researchers found that 52 percent of patients on a low dose of Benlysta and 58 percent of those receiving a high dose of the drug, in tandem with the standard therapy, experienced significant improvement, compared with 43 percent of those taking standard therapy and a placebo, USA Today reported.

Also, more Benlysta patients were able to reduce their dose of steroid, and with it the bloating and other side effects of steroid use, company officials said.

"All of the investigators we've shown [these results to] are just thrilled. They haven't had a good clinical trials result in years. Lupus patients should have some hope, too," said David Stump of Human Genome Sciences Inc., which developed the drug with GlaxoSmithKline.

Stump said the company plans to release the study results at a scientific meeting later this year, USA Today said.

Health Tips for July 23

Health Tip: Stay Safe on Slick Roads

It's easier to lose control of the wheel when roads are wet and slippery.

Always slow down and be particularly careful when driving in the rain, says the U.S. National Safety Council. Never hit the brakes hard to slow down; instead apply gentle pressure to the breaks to prevent locking and skidding. Also, take all corners slowly.

Keep your car in good shape to prevent skids and hydroplaning. The NSC recommends making sure tires are in good shape, with good tread and proper inflation. Get new tires when old ones wear, and steer clear of standing water on the roads.

Health Tip: Safe Driving at Night

Driving at night is more difficult and dangerous, no matter how old you are.

In addition to the obvious visual decline during darkness, there are also the factors of fatigue and more people driving under the influence of alcohol.

Here are suggestions for driving at night, courtesy of the National Safety Council:

• Make sure your headlights and all windows are regularly cleaned, so it's easier for you to see at night.
• Turn headlights on when the skies start to darken. Make sure they're properly aimed and on low beams, so as not to blind other drivers.
• Drive slower, and allow more space between your car and others at night.
• If another car approaches you with high beams on, focus on the right edge of the road. This will help you avoid be blinded by glare.
• Avoid fatigue. If need be, take frequent breaks to stretch out, have a rest or grab a snack.
• Don't drink alcohol, which can impair vision and reflexes, and make you tired.
• Avoid smoking, which can hamper night vision.
• If your car develops trouble, pull as far off the road as possible.

Health Headlines - July 22

Worldwide Death Toll From Swine Flu Surpasses 700: WHO

The global death toll from the H1N1 swine flu outbreak has now surpassed 700, according to the World Health Organization, an increase of some 300 deaths since the start of the month, the Associated Press reported.

But the WHO says it doesn't know how many cases there are worldwide because it stopped asking countries to report infections last week. Instead, the agency is focusing on countries reporting infection outbreaks for the first time.

WHO spokeswoman Aphaluck Bhatiasevi said the Geneva, Switzerland-based agency is examining various measures that countries can take to slow the spread of the disease. School closures could be among the recommendations, but it's up to each country to consider appropriate steps for their situations, the AP said.

Health officials worldwide say that infections with H1N1 swine flu continue to be mild for the most part, with patients recovering quickly.

In the United States, there have been 40,617 cases of infection and 263 deaths, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which now updates its figures once a week, on Fridays.

-----

Swine Flu Vaccine Could Get Scarce: Experts

The United States could find itself short of swine flu vaccine if the virus becomes much more lethal and countries start to scramble for more of the vaccine, experts warn.

They noted that the United States makes only 20 percent of the flu vaccines it uses. The situation is even worse in Britain, which imports all its flu vaccines. Only a few countries are self-sufficient in vaccines.

"This isn't rocket science. If there is more severe disease, countries will want to hang onto the vaccine for their own citizens," Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told the Associated Press.

Leaders of countries with adequate supplies of swine flu vaccine won't be willing to share with other nations, experts predict.

"Pandemic vaccine will be a valuable and scarce resource, like oil or food during a famine," David Fidler, an Indiana University law professor who has consulted for the World Health Organization, told the AP. "We've seen how countries behave in those situations, and it's not encouraging."

-----

Experimental Lupus Drug Shows Some Promise: Report

An experimental drug for the autoimmune disease lupus has produced favorable results in a company-sponsored study. It could potentially become the first new drug for lupus in 50 years, USA Today reported.

The drug, Benlysta, helps to limit the immune system response that attacks lupus patients' tissues, often damaging vital organs.

Each of the 865 patients in the preliminary study were given standard therapy for lupus, which consists primarily of treatment with steroids. The researchers found that 52 percent of patients on a low dose of Benlysta and 58 percent of those receiving a high dose of the drug, in tandem with the standard therapy, experienced significant improvement, compared with 43 percent of those taking standard therapy and a placebo, USA Today reported.

Also, more Benlysta patients were able to reduce their dose of steroid, and with it the bloating and other side effects of steroid use, company officials said.

"All of the investigators we've shown [these results to] are just thrilled. They haven't had a good clinical trials result in years. Lupus patients should have some hope, too," said David Stump of Human Genome Sciences Inc., which developed the drug with GlaxoSmithKline.

Stump said the company plans to release the study results at a scientific meeting later this year, USA Today said.

-----

Praise for NIH Pick Widespread, But Not Unanimous

Dr. Francis S. Collins, nominated to lead the U.S. National Institutes of Health, is respected by top scientists and research organizations, but praise for President Barack Obama's choice to direct the mammoth health agency isn't universal, The New York Times reported.

While Dr. Otis W. Brawley, the American Cancer Society's chief medical officer, called Collins "an extraordinary scientist and one of the nicest guys you could ever meet," others privately told the newspaper that they're worried about Collins' near-evangelistic embrace of religion.

Numerous times, he has publicly recounted his conversion to Christianity as a medical student in his late 20s, the Times reported. More recently, Collins penned a book called "The Language of God."

Others take issue with his leadership of the NIH's Human Genome Project. While Collins was lauded in 2003 when the program succeeded in its goal to map the billions of base pairs that comprise human DNA, some have soured on the accomplishment, saying it hasn't led to "an array of promising medical interventions," the Times reported.

Collins shouldn't shoulder blame for the genetic research industry's failure to come up with quick medical breakthroughs, the newspaper said, adding, "He played an important role in raising expectations impossibly high." Other critics cited the "extraordinary" cost of the project, the Times reported.

Collins has a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Yale and a medical degree from the University of North Carolina. His confirmation by the U.S. Senate appears likely, the Times said.

The NIH, the world's primary source of medical research funding, is slated to distribute some $37 billion in research grants and spend $4 billion on its own research programs over the next 14 months, the newspaper said.

Health Tips for July 22

Health Tip: Saying Yes to Yoga?

Yoga has become a very popular form of relaxation and exercise. But as with any physical activity, you can still injure yourself if you don't prepare and practice properly.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions to reduce your risk of injury from yoga:

• Check with your doctor before beginning yoga to be sure it's safe for you.
• Make sure your yoga studio offers qualified instructors. Always ask questions of your instructor if you're not sure how to perform a pose.
• Be sure to warm up before yoga to prevent strains and injuries.
• Wear yoga-appropriate clothing that won't restrict your movement.
• Start out slowly learning the basics. Never push yourself to the point of pain.
• Drink lots of fluids, particularly if you try Bikram ("hot") yoga.

Health Tip: If You're Tired of Walking

Walking is a great form of exercise -- you can burn calories, yet it's fairly easy on your feet and joints.

But if you're bored with your walking routine, the American Podiatric Medical Association offers these low-impact alternatives:

• Take a swim, or sign up for a water aerobics class.
• Take a dance class.
• Sign up for an aerobics, Pilates or yoga class.
• Hop on a bike and start pedaling, whether it's outdoors or on a stationary bike.
• Use an elliptical machine.
• Work out with some light weight lifting.
• Remember the fun of childhood; exercise with a hula-hoop or jump rope.

Health Headlines - July 21

Experimental Lupus Drug Shows Some Promise: Report

An experimental drug for the autoimmune disease lupus has produced favorable results in a company-sponsored study. It could potentially become the first new drug for lupus in 50 years, USA Today reported.

The drug, Benlysta, helps to limit the immune system response that attacks lupus patients' tissues, often damaging vital organs.

Each of the 865 patients in the preliminary study were given standard therapy for lupus, which consists primarily of treatment with steroids. The researchers found that 52 percent of patients on a low dose of Benlysta and 58 percent of those receiving a high dose of the drug, in tandem with the standard therapy, experienced significant improvement, compared with 43 percent of those taking standard therapy and a placebo, USA Today reported.

Also, more Benlysta patients were able to reduce their dose of steroid, and with it the bloating and other side effects of steroid use, company officials said.

"All of the investigators we've shown [these results to] are just thrilled. They haven't had a good clinical trials result in years. Lupus patients should have some hope, too," said David Stump of Human Genome Sciences Inc., which developed the drug with GlaxoSmithKline.

Stump said the company plans to release the study results at a scientific meeting later this year, USA Today said.

-----

Walter Cronkite, Legendary TV Journalist, Dead at 92

Walter Cronkite, the iconic television journalist often referred to as "the most trusted man in America" during a tumultuous era that included the Kennedy assassination, the civil rights movement, the U.S. lunar landing, the Vietnam War and Watergate, died Friday evening at his New York City home after a long illness. He was 92.

As a reporter and eventually the anchorman of the CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981, Cronkite -- with his signature sign-off line, "That's the way it is" -- came to dominate television news like few before him and no one since.

"It's hard to imagine a man for whom I had more admiration," Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes said on CNN. "He was a superb reporter and honorable man."

Cronkite was the one who broke the news to Americans that President John F. Kennedy had been shot Nov. 22, 1963, interrupting a live CBS broadcast of a soap opera.

Five years later, Cronkite returned from a trip to report on the war in Vietnam and declared on television: "It seems now more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is a stalemate." Then-President Lyndon Johnson, hearing that comment, reportedly said, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost America." Soon afterward, Johnson announced he would not seek re-election, CBS News reported.

Cronkite, who also had a passion for the U.S. space program of the 1960s, died just three days before the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, another historic moment linked with his reporting.

"For decades, Walter Cronkite was the most trusted voice in America," said President Barack Obama in a statement. "His rich baritone reached millions of living rooms every night, and in an industry of icons, Walter set the standard by which all others have been judged."

-----

Hepatitis C Investigation Is Widened

An investigation into the spread of the hepatitis C virus by a Colorado hospital worker has been expanded to two other states -- New York and Texas -- where the woman previously worked, the Associated Press reported.

According to Colorado officials, the woman, reportedly addicted to painkillers, took syringes filled with fentanyl, a powerful narcotic painkiller, from operating room carts and replaced them with used syringes filled with saline solution. The action is believed to have contaminated not only the swapped syringes but the containers of saline solution, the AP said.

Because of this, the AP said, as many as 6,000 people who had surgery at two medical centers in Denver and Colorado Springs might have been exposed to hepatitis C, and surgical patients at hospitals in Mount Kisco, N.Y., and Houston might have been similarly exposed. The woman reportedly worked in those communities from 2005 to 2008, though it is unclear whether she was infected with hepatitis C at that time.

The woman is being held without bond in Colorado, where a federal grand jury is investigating the claim that she switched the needles despite knowing that she had hepatitis C, the news service said.

-----

Praise for NIH Pick Widespread, But Not Unanimous

Dr. Francis S. Collins, nominated to lead the U.S. National Institutes of Health, is respected by top scientists and research organizations, but praise for President Barack Obama's choice to direct the mammoth health agency isn't universal, The New York Times reported.

While Dr. Otis W. Brawley, the American Cancer Society's chief medical officer, called Collins "an extraordinary scientist and one of the nicest guys you could ever meet," others privately told the newspaper that they're worried about Collins' near-evangelistic embrace of religion.

Numerous times, he has publicly recounted his conversion to Christianity as a medical student in his late 20s, the Times reported. More recently, Collins penned a book called "The Language of God."

Others take issue with his leadership of the NIH's Human Genome Project. While Collins was lauded in 2003 when the program succeeded in its goal to map the billions of base pairs that comprise human DNA, some have soured on the accomplishment, saying it hasn't led to "an array of promising medical interventions," the Times reported.

Collins shouldn't shoulder blame for the genetic research industry's failure to come up with quick medical breakthroughs, the newspaper said, adding, "He played an important role in raising expectations impossibly high." Other critics cited the "extraordinary" cost of the project, the Times reported.

Collins has a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Yale and a medical degree from the University of North Carolina. His confirmation by the U.S. Senate appears likely, the Times said.

The NIH, the world's primary source of medical research funding, is slated to distribute some $37 billion in research grants and spend $4 billion on its own research programs over the next 14 months, the newspaper said.

-----

Swine Flu Vaccine Could Get Scarce: Experts

The United States could find itself short of swine flu vaccine if the virus becomes much more lethal and countries start to scramble for more of the vaccine, experts warn.

They noted that the United States makes only 20 percent of the flu vaccines it uses. The situation is even worse in Britain, which imports all its flu vaccines. Only a few countries are self-sufficient in vaccines.

"This isn't rocket science. If there is more severe disease, countries will want to hang onto the vaccine for their own citizens," Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told the Associated Press.

Leaders of countries with adequate supplies of swine flu vaccine won't be willing to share with other nations, experts predict.

"Pandemic vaccine will be a valuable and scarce resource, like oil or food during a famine," David Fidler, an Indiana University law professor who has consulted for the World Health Organization, told the AP. "We've seen how countries behave in those situations, and it's not encouraging."

Health Tips for July 21

Health Tip: Keep Kids Safe Around Pets

Pets can be adored members of a loving family. But it's important to keep youngsters safe and healthy when playing with their furry friends.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these suggestions:

• Never allow children age 5 or younger to play with pets without adult supervision.
• Avoid having children kiss family pets. Also try to keep baby's unwashed hands out of the mouth after the infant has touched an animal.
• Always wash a child's hands carefully with soap and water after he or she touches an animal.
• Parents should always wash hands after touching pets too, particularly before feeding baby.

Health Tip: Avoid Germs From a Petting Zoo

Petting zoos are a fun attraction for children, but it can expose you and the youngsters to germs.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that you take these precautions:

• Make use of any hand-washing stations set up around the petting zoo.
• Always wash hands immediately after petting the animals, after touching gates or fences, and always before you eat.
• Try to wash hands with soap and water; hand-sanitizing gel will suffice if no running water is present.
• Never take food or drink into the petting zoo area.
• Carefully watch young children, especially those aged 5 or younger. Make sure that while petting the animals, they don't put anything into their mouths -- including fingers, pacifiers or toys.

Health Headlines - July 20

Walter Cronkite, Legendary TV Journalist, Dead at 92

Walter Cronkite, the iconic television journalist often referred to as "the most trusted man in America" during a tumultuous era that included the Kennedy assassination, the civil rights movement, the U.S. lunar landing, the Vietnam War and Watergate, died Friday evening at his New York City home after a long illness. He was 92.

As a reporter and eventually the anchorman of the CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981, Cronkite -- with his signature sign-off line, "That's the way it is" -- came to dominate television news like few before him and no one since.

"It's hard to imagine a man for whom I had more admiration," Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes said on CNN. "He was a superb reporter and honorable man."

Cronkite was the one who broke the news to Americans that President John F. Kennedy had been shot Nov. 22, 1963, interrupting a live CBS broadcast of a soap opera.

Five years later, Cronkite returned from a trip to report on the war in Vietnam and declared on television: "It seems now more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is a stalemate." Then-President Lyndon Johnson, hearing that comment, reportedly said, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost America." Soon afterward, Johnson announced he would not seek re-election, CBS News reported.

Cronkite, who also had a passion for the U.S. space program of the 1960s, died just three days before the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, another historic moment linked with his reporting.

"For decades, Walter Cronkite was the most trusted voice in America," said President Barack Obama in a statement. "His rich baritone reached millions of living rooms every night, and in an industry of icons, Walter set the standard by which all others have been judged."

-----

Hepatitis C Investigation Is Widened

An investigation into the spread of the hepatitis C virus by a Colorado hospital worker has been expanded to two other states -- New York and Texas -- where the woman previously worked, the Associated Press reported.

According to Colorado officials, the woman, reportedly addicted to painkillers, took syringes filled with fentanyl, a powerful narcotic painkiller, from operating room carts and replaced them with used syringes filled with saline solution. The action is believed to have contaminated not only the swapped syringes but the containers of saline solution, the AP said.

Because of this, the AP said, as many as 6,000 people who had surgery at two medical centers in Denver and Colorado Springs might have been exposed to hepatitis C, and surgical patients at hospitals in Mount Kisco, N.Y., and Houston might have been similarly exposed. The woman reportedly worked in those communities from 2005 to 2008, though it is unclear whether she was infected with hepatitis C at that time.

The woman is being held without bond in Colorado, where a federal grand jury is investigating the claim that she switched the needles despite knowing that she had hepatitis C, the news service said.

-----

Pope Breaks Wrist in a Fall

Pope Benedict XVI broke his right wrist when he fell Friday while on vacation in northern Italy.

According to the Vatican, the Pope, who is 82, fell during the night but ate breakfast and celebrated Mass before going to a local hospital, the BBC News reported. There, under local anesthesia, he had an operation to repair the break.

The Pope has been vacationing in the Valle d'Aosta region and staying at a chalet in the village of Les Combes, the news service said.

-----

Praise for NIH Pick Widespread, But Not Unanimous

Dr. Francis S. Collins, nominated to lead the U.S. National Institutes of Health, is respected by top scientists and research organizations, but praise for President Barack Obama's choice to direct the mammoth health agency isn't universal, The New York Times reported.

While Dr. Otis W. Brawley, the American Cancer Society's chief medical officer, called Collins "an extraordinary scientist and one of the nicest guys you could ever meet," others privately told the newspaper that they're worried about Collins' near-evangelistic embrace of religion.

Numerous times, he has publicly recounted his conversion to Christianity as a medical student in his late 20s, the Times reported. More recently, Collins penned a book called "The Language of God."

Others take issue with his leadership of the NIH's Human Genome Project. While Collins was lauded in 2003 when the program succeeded in its goal to map the billions of base pairs that comprise human DNA, some have soured on the accomplishment, saying it hasn't led to "an array of promising medical interventions," the Times reported.

Collins shouldn't shoulder blame for the genetic research industry's failure to come up with quick medical breakthroughs, the newspaper said, adding, "He played an important role in raising expectations impossibly high." Other critics cited the "extraordinary" cost of the project, the Times reported.

Collins has a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Yale and a medical degree from the University of North Carolina. His confirmation by the U.S. Senate appears likely, the Times said.

The NIH, the world's primary source of medical research funding, is slated to distribute some $37 billion in research grants and spend $4 billion on its own research programs over the next 14 months, the newspaper said.

-----

Swine Flu Vaccine Could Get Scarce: Experts

The United States could find itself short of swine flu vaccine if the virus becomes much more lethal and countries start to scramble for more of the vaccine, experts warn.

They noted that the United States makes only 20 percent of the flu vaccines it uses. The situation is even worse in Britain, which imports all its flu vaccines. Only a few countries are self-sufficient in vaccines.

"This isn't rocket science. If there is more severe disease, countries will want to hang onto the vaccine for their own citizens," Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told the Associated Press.

Leaders of countries with adequate supplies of swine flu vaccine won't be willing to share with other nations, experts predict.

"Pandemic vaccine will be a valuable and scarce resource, like oil or food during a famine," David Fidler, an Indiana University law professor who has consulted for the World Health Organization, told the AP. "We've seen how countries behave in those situations, and it's not encouraging."

Health Tips for July 20

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: Understanding Hay Fever

Hay fever -- an allergic reaction to pollen -- is what causes the runny eyes, sneezing, swelling and itching that makes you miserable when you head outside.

Hay fever worsens when outdoor trees, shrubs and other plants are pollinating, says the American Lung Association.

While anyone can have hay fever, it does tend to run in families, the association says. People who have been exposed to the pollens that trigger hay fever may quickly become more sensitive to these allergens.

The best thing you can do to prevent hay fever is to avoid the pollens that trigger it. Try to stay inside with an air conditioner and an air purifier running, and take an antihistamine to help manage symptoms. People with severe hay fever, if they need to be outdoors for long periods, should consider wearing a dust mask, the association says.

Health Headlines - July 19

Walter Cronkite, Legendary TV Journalist, Dead at 92

Walter Cronkite, the iconic television journalist often referred to as "the most trusted man in America" during a tumultuous era that included the Kennedy assassination, the civil rights movement, the U.S. lunar landing, the Vietnam War and Watergate, died Friday evening at his New York City home after a long illness. He was 92.

As a reporter and eventually the anchorman of the CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981, Cronkite -- with his signature sign-off line, "That's the way it is" -- came to dominate television news like few before him and no one since.

"It's hard to imagine a man for whom I had more admiration," Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes said on CNN. "He was a superb reporter and honorable man."

Cronkite was the one who broke the news to Americans that President John F. Kennedy had been shot Nov. 22, 1963, interrupting a live CBS broadcast of a soap opera.

Five years later, Cronkite returned from a trip to report on the war in Vietnam and declared on television: "It seems now more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is a stalemate." Then-President Lyndon Johnson, hearing that comment, reportedly said, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost America." Soon afterward, Johnson announced he would not seek re-election, CBS News reported.

Cronkite, who also had a passion for the U.S. space program of the 1960s, died just three days before the 40th anniversary of the moon landing, another historic moment linked with his reporting.

"For decades, Walter Cronkite was the most trusted voice in America," said President Barack Obama in a statement. "His rich baritone reached millions of living rooms every night, and in an industry of icons, Walter set the standard by which all others have been judged."

-----

Hepatitis C Investigation Is Widened

An investigation into the spread of the hepatitis C virus by a Colorado hospital worker has been expanded to two other states -- New York and Texas -- where the woman previously worked, the Associated Press reported.

According to Colorado officials, the woman, reportedly addicted to painkillers, took syringes filled with fentanyl, a powerful narcotic painkiller, from operating room carts and replaced them with used syringes filled with saline solution. The action is believed to have contaminated not only the swapped syringes but the containers of saline solution, the AP said.

Because of this, the AP said, as many as 6,000 people who had surgery at two medical centers in Denver and Colorado Springs might have been exposed to hepatitis C, and surgical patients at hospitals in Mount Kisco, N.Y., and Houston might have been similarly exposed. The woman reportedly worked in those communities from 2005 to 2008, though it is unclear whether she was infected with hepatitis C at that time.

The woman is being held without bond in Colorado, where a federal grand jury is investigating the claim that she switched the needles despite knowing that she had hepatitis C, the news service said.

-----

Pope Breaks Wrist in a Fall

Pope Benedict XVI broke his right wrist when he fell Friday while on vacation in northern Italy.

According to the Vatican, the Pope, who is 82, fell during the night but ate breakfast and celebrated Mass before going to a local hospital, the BBC News reported. There, under local anesthesia, he had an operation to repair the break.

The Pope has been vacationing in the Valle d'Aosta region and staying at a chalet in the village of Les Combes, the news service said.

-----

Praise for NIH Pick Widespread, But Not Unanimous

Dr. Francis S. Collins, nominated to lead the U.S. National Institutes of Health, is respected by top scientists and research organizations, but praise for President Barack Obama's choice to direct the mammoth health agency isn't universal, The New York Times reported.

While Dr. Otis W. Brawley, the American Cancer Society's chief medical officer, called Collins "an extraordinary scientist and one of the nicest guys you could ever meet," others privately told the newspaper that they're worried about Collins' near-evangelistic embrace of religion.

Numerous times, he has publicly recounted his conversion to Christianity as a medical student in his late 20s, the Times reported. More recently, Collins penned a book called "The Language of God."

Others take issue with his leadership of the NIH's Human Genome Project. While Collins was lauded in 2003 when the program succeeded in its goal to map the billions of base pairs that comprise human DNA, some have soured on the accomplishment, saying it hasn't led to "an array of promising medical interventions," the Times reported.

Collins shouldn't shoulder blame for the genetic research industry's failure to come up with quick medical breakthroughs, the newspaper said, adding, "He played an important role in raising expectations impossibly high." Other critics cited the "extraordinary" cost of the project, the Times reported.

Collins has a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Yale and a medical degree from the University of North Carolina. His confirmation by the U.S. Senate appears likely, the Times said.

The NIH, the world's primary source of medical research funding, is slated to distribute some $37 billion in research grants and spend $4 billion on its own research programs over the next 14 months, the newspaper said.

-----

Swine Flu Vaccine Could Get Scarce: Experts

The United States could find itself short of swine flu vaccine if the virus becomes much more lethal and countries start to scramble for more of the vaccine, experts warn.

They noted that the United States makes only 20 percent of the flu vaccines it uses. The situation is even worse in Britain, which imports all its flu vaccines. Only a few countries are self-sufficient in vaccines.

"This isn't rocket science. If there is more severe disease, countries will want to hang onto the vaccine for their own citizens," Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told the Associated Press.

Leaders of countries with adequate supplies of swine flu vaccine won't be willing to share with other nations, experts predict.

"Pandemic vaccine will be a valuable and scarce resource, like oil or food during a famine," David Fidler, an Indiana University law professor who has consulted for the World Health Organization, told the AP. "We've seen how countries behave in those situations, and it's not encouraging."

Health Tips for July 19

Health Tip: Managing Your Child's Asthma

It's difficult to prevent your child's asthma symptoms entirely, but you can help control them so they don't interfere with your youngster's daily life.

The American Lung Association offers this advice about controlling asthma:

• Avoid any triggers, which commonly include allergens, cigarette smoke and strenuous exercise.
• Talk to your child's pediatrician about asthma-controlling medications.
• Consider allergy shots. Although research is still being done on their effectiveness against asthma, they are proven in preventing allergic reactions that can be associated with asthma symptoms.
• Both you and your child should be well-educated about ways to manage asthma, including the use of an asthma inhaler and how to evaluate breathing with a peak flow monitor.

Health Tip: Easing Earache Pain

Earaches are common in young children, and can be quite painful.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this advice when your child complains of an earache:

• Take your child to see the pediatrician to diagnose an earache, and a possible cause.
• If a bacterial infection is behind the earache, an antibiotic may be prescribed. Make sure you administer the drug to the child exactly as ordered by the doctor. An antibiotic won't work if a virus is causing the earache.
• The doctor may prescribe pain-relieving ear drops.
• Apply a warm heating pad to the ear. Don't let the pad get too hot.
• Give your child an over-the-counter pain reliever such as children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Don't give the child aspirin.

Health Headlines - July 18

Hepatitis C Investigation Is Widened

An investigation into the spread of the hepatitis C virus by a Colorado hospital worker has been expanded to two other states -- New York and Texas -- where the woman previously worked, the Associated Press reported.

According to Colorado officials, the woman, reportedly addicted to painkillers, took syringes filled with fentanyl, a powerful narcotic painkiller, from operating room carts and replaced them with used syringes filled with saline solution. The action is believed to have contaminated not only the swapped syringes but the containers of saline solution, the AP said.

Because of this, the AP said, as many as 6,000 people who had surgery at two medical centers in Denver and Colorado Springs might have been exposed to hepatitis C, and surgical patients at hospitals in Mount Kisco, N.Y., and Houston might have been similarly exposed. The woman reportedly worked in those communities from 2005 to 2008, though it is unclear whether she was infected with hepatitis C at that time.

The woman is being held without bond in Colorado, where a federal grand jury is investigating the claim that she switched the needles despite knowing that she had hepatitis C, the news service said.

-----

Pope Breaks Wrist in a Fall

Pope Benedict XVI broke his right wrist when he fell Friday while on vacation in northern Italy.

According to the Vatican, the Pope, who is 82, fell during the night but ate breakfast and celebrated Mass before going to a local hospital, the BBC News reported. There, under local anesthesia, he had an operation to repair the break.

The Pope has been vacationing in the Valle d'Aosta region and staying at a chalet in the village of Les Combes, the news service said.

-----

Praise for NIH Pick Widespread, But Not Unanimous

Dr. Francis S. Collins, nominated to lead the U.S. National Institutes of Health, is respected by top scientists and research organizations, but praise for President Barack Obama's choice to direct the mammoth health agency isn't universal, The New York Times reported.

While Dr. Otis W. Brawley, the American Cancer Society's chief medical officer, called Collins "an extraordinary scientist and one of the nicest guys you could ever meet," others privately told the newspaper that they're worried about Collins' near-evangelistic embrace of religion.

Numerous times, he has publicly recounted his conversion to Christianity as a medical student in his late 20s, the Times reported. More recently, Collins penned a book called "The Language of God."

Others take issue with his leadership of the NIH's Human Genome Project. While Collins was lauded in 2003 when the program succeeded in its goal to map the billions of base pairs that comprise human DNA, some have soured on the accomplishment, saying it hasn't led to "an array of promising medical interventions," the Times reported.

Collins shouldn't shoulder blame for the genetic research industry's failure to come up with quick medical breakthroughs, the newspaper said, adding, "He played an important role in raising expectations impossibly high." Other critics cited the "extraordinary" cost of the project, the Times reported.

Collins has a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Yale and a medical degree from the University of North Carolina. His confirmation by the U.S. Senate appears likely, the Times said.

The NIH, the world's primary source of medical research funding, is slated to distribute some $37 billion in research grants and spend $4 billion on its own research programs over the next 14 months, the newspaper said.

-----

Swine Flu Vaccine Could Get Scarce: Experts

The United States could find itself short of swine flu vaccine if the virus becomes much more lethal and countries start to scramble for more of the vaccine, experts warn.

They noted that the United States makes only 20 percent of the flu vaccines it uses. The situation is even worse in Britain, which imports all its flu vaccines. Only a few countries are self-sufficient in vaccines.

"This isn't rocket science. If there is more severe disease, countries will want to hang onto the vaccine for their own citizens," Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told the Associated Press.

Leaders of countries with adequate supplies of swine flu vaccine won't be willing to share with other nations, experts predict.

"Pandemic vaccine will be a valuable and scarce resource, like oil or food during a famine," David Fidler, an Indiana University law professor who has consulted for the World Health Organization, told the AP. "We've seen how countries behave in those situations, and it's not encouraging."

Health Tips for July 18

Health Tip: Help Prevent Birth Defects

While the cause of many birth defects remains a mystery, doctors do understand what causes many others -- and how to prevent them.

The Minnesota Department of Health says before and during pregnancy, you should:

• Eat foods with a high folate content, or foods enriched with folic acid. A folic acid deficiency can lead to a type of birth defect called a neural tube defect. To prevent this, good dietary choices are green leafy veggies, dried beans, oranges and orange juice, and fortified breads, pastas and cereals.
• Before pregnancy and while you're pregnant, take a daily multivitamin that includes at least 400 micrograms of folic acid.
• See your doctor for a checkup before you are pregnant, and get regular pre-natal care throughout your pregnancy.
• Stop drinking alcohol while you're trying to conceive, and never drink alcohol during pregnancy.
• Make sure the medicines you take are safe during pregnancy. Check with your doctor.

Health Tip: High Blood Pressure While You're Pregnant

High blood pressure during pregnancy may develop into a dangerous condition called preeclampsia -- putting both mom and baby at risk.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers these suggestions to help make your pregnancy safer:

• Before you become pregnant, work with your doctor to get your blood pressure within a normal range.
• Help manage high blood pressure with a healthy diet, regular exercise and weight loss.
• Always take your blood pressure medicines as your doctor prescribes.
• Talk to your doctor about taking high blood pressure medication during pregnancy.
• Once you are pregnant, visit your doctor regularly to closely monitor your blood pressure, both at the doctor's office and at home.
• Talk to your doctor about kidney disease or any other health conditions that may impact your blood pressure.
• If you develop symptoms of preeclampsia -- including headaches, rapid weight gain, visual problems or swelling of the hands or face -- contact your doctor immediately.

Health Headlines - July 17

Swine Flu Vaccine Could Get Scarce: Experts

The United States could find itself short of swine flu vaccine if the virus becomes much more lethal and countries start to scramble for more of the vaccine, experts warn.

They noted that the United States makes only 20 percent of the flu vaccines it uses. The situation is even worse in Britain, which imports all its flu vaccines. Only a few countries are self-sufficient in vaccines.

"This isn't rocket science. If there is more severe disease, countries will want to hang onto the vaccine for their own citizens," Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told the Associated Press.

Leaders of countries with adequate supplies of swine flu vaccine won't be willing to share with other nations, experts predict.

"Pandemic vaccine will be a valuable and scarce resource, like oil or food during a famine," David Fidler, an Indiana University law professor who has consulted for the World Health Organization, told the AP. "We've seen how countries behave in those situations, and it's not encouraging."

-----

Male Enhancement Products Recalled

Six male enhancement products made by Nature & Health Co. are being recalled because they contain drug ingredients that aren't declared on their labeling.

The recall includes: LibieXtreme; Y-4ever; Libimax X Liquid; Powermania Liquid; Powermania Capsule and Herbal Disiac, the Associated Press reported.

The undeclared ingredients in the products may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, such as nitroglycerin, and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels, the company said. The products may also cause side effects, such as flushing and headaches.

No illnesses related to the products have been reported, the AP said.

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Female Veterans Lack Privacy at VA Facilities: Report

Female veterans aren't assured of privacy when they bathe and undergo physical examinations at Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics, federal government auditors say.

No VA facility under review is complying fully with federal privacy regulations, said the Government Accountability Office, the Associated Press reported.

In many VA facilities, gynecological tables face the door. At four hospitals, female patients weren't guaranteed access to private bathing facilities. In two cases, there were no locks on bathing room doors, the GAO investigators found.

Privacy isn't the only issue for female veterans. VA hospitals lack child care and it can be difficult to find diaper-changing tables, the AP reported.

The VA knows that services for women need improvement, but changes are being made to "build the system that will provide care equal to the health care needs of all America's veterans, regardless of gender," said Patricia Hayes, chief consultant of the veterans strategic health care group at the VA.

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World's Oldest Mother Dies

A Spanish woman who was the oldest ever to become a new mother died Saturday at the age of 69, according to her family, BBC News reported.

Maria del Carmen Bousada was 66 when she gave birth to twin boys in 2006. She said she received fertility treatments at a California clinic after telling doctors she was 55. A Spanish newspaper said she was diagnosed with cancer shortly after giving birth to sons Christian and Pau, who are now 2 years old.

Bousada had said there was no reason to believe she would not live as long as her mother, who was 101 when she died. Even if she died prematurely, she said, her sons would never be alone, BBC News reported.

"There are lots of young people in our family," Bousada said.

Health Tips for July 17

Health Tip: Talking to Loved Ones With Cancer

When a dear friend or family member has been diagnosed with cancer, you'll want to offer your love, support and sympathy.

Though it may be very difficult, the American Cancer Society says you should be supportive, honest and a good listener.

The Society offers these suggestions:

• Be honest. Concede that you don't quite know what to say, but let your loved one know how much you care and that he or she is in your thoughts.
• It's alright to express sympathy about the diagnosis.
• Ask how he or she is holding up and handling everything.
• Lend an ear, and offer to be a willing listener when your loved one needs to talk.
• Offer to help in any way that's needed.
• Respect the way the person has decided to treat his or her cancer, even if you don't agree.
• Avoid giving too much advice or judging every aspect of the situation.

Health Tip: Your Diet After Cancer Treatment

Once you've completed treatment for cancer, it's not the time to stop planning healthy meals.

The American Cancer Society offers these suggestions for maintaining a healthy diet after cancer treatment:

• Ask you doctor if there are any foods that you should avoid.
• Work with a dietitian to develop a healthy and nutritious meal plan.
• Continue to eat at least five to seven servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Each time you shop, select a fruit or veggie that you haven't had before.
• Eat whole grain breads and cereals, which are high in fiber.
• Bake or broil, instead of frying.
• Stay away from smoked, pickled and salt-cured foods.
• Select low-fat milk and dairy products.
• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.

Health Headlines - July 16

House Bill Would Make Health Care a Right

As part of the overhaul of the U.S. health-care system, Democrats in the House of Representatives want to make health care a right and a responsibility for all Americans.

Under the $1.5 trillion proposal, the federal government would be responsible for ensuring that all people have access to an affordable health insurance plan. Employers and individuals would have new obligations to obtain coverage or be hit with major penalties, the Associated Press reported.

The House and Senate are under pressure from the White House to pass health-care reform bills before the August recess. President Barack Obama wants legislation that would slow rising health-care costs and extend coverage to about 50 million uninsured Americans.

"There's going to be a major debate over the next three weeks," Obama said during a speech in Warren, Mich., the AP reported. "And don't be fooled by folks trying to scare you saying we can't change the health-care system. We have no choice but to change the health-care system because right now it's broken for too many Americans."

On Wednesday, the Senate health committee chaired by Sen. Edward Kennedy, (D.-Mass.), passed a bill to overhaul health care, becoming the first congressional committee to act on Obama's goal of reforming the system this year.

The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted 13-10 along party lines to pass a $600-billion measure that would expand coverage to nearly all Americans by requiring individuals to get insurance and employers to contribute to the cost, the AP reported.

Kennedy, who is being treated for brain cancer, wasn't on hand for the vote.

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Air Force Academy Cadets Hit by Swine Flu

Swine flu has been confirmed in 67 cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and test results are pending for dozens of others, an academy spokesman said Tuesday. Cadets with confirmed or suspected swine flu have been isolated in a dormitory.

All of the cases were described as "moderate" and none of the sick cadets has been hospitalized, said spokesman John Van Winkle, The New York Times reported.

"Our priority right now is treating those that are ill, limiting the spread and educating our entire base population about what we have done and will continue to do," Van Winkle said.

The Air Force Academy outbreak is the single largest in Colorado. State health officials said that up until last week, there were 146 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus, the Times reported.

About 37,000 cases of swine flu have been confirmed so far in the United States and its territories.

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Girl's Heart Heals Itself

If doctors can determine how a British girl's heart healed itself, it may lead to new ways to treat cardiac patients.

In 1995, Hannah Clark had a donor heart implanted directly onto her own failing heart. After 10 years, her original heart had healed itself to the point that doctors could remove the donated heart, the Associated Press reported.

Since her donor heart was removed in 2006, the 16-year-old has started playing sports, taken a part-time job, and plans to return to school in the fall. Her case history was published online Tuesday in The Lancet medical journal.

"This just shows that the heart can indeed repair itself given the opportunity," Dr. Douglas Zipes, past president of the American College of Cardiology, told the AP. "The heart apparently has major regenerative powers, and it is now key to find out how they work."

Another expert said Clark's case offers encouragement to both patients and doctors.

"It reminds us that not all heart failure is lethal," Dr. Ileana Pina, a heart failure expert at Case Western Reserve University, told the AP. "Some heart failure patients have a greater chance of recovery than we thought."

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Kidney Transplant Drugs Must Carry Infections Warning: FDA

Certain drugs used to prevent rejection of transplanted kidneys must carry a warning about the risk of serious infections, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday.

The drugs include CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil) and generics, Myfortic (mycophenolic acid), Rapamune (sirolimus), Sandimmune (cyclosporine) and generics, and Neoral (cyclosporine modified) and generics.

The drugs, which already carry the FDA's most serious boxed warning outlining their various risks, must now also mention the increased risk of "opportunistic infections," including activation of dormant viral infections such as one caused by the BK virus, the Dow Jones news service reported.

Infections associated with the immunosuppressive drugs may lead to serious problems, including kidney graft loss, said the FDA. The agency noted that a warning about the increased risk for opportunistic infections already is included in the labeling of the immunosuppressive drug Prograf (tacrolimus).

Health Tips for July 16

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: How a Caregiver Can Help

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

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

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

Health Headlines - July 15

Girl's Heart Heals Itself

If doctors can determine how a British girl's heart healed itself, it may lead to new ways to treat cardiac patients.

In 1995, Hannah Clark had a donor heart implanted directly onto her own failing heart. After 10 years, her original heart had healed itself to the point that doctors could remove the donated heart, the Associated Press reported.

Since her donor heart was removed in 2006, the 16-year-old has started playing sports, taken a part-time job, and plans to return to school in the fall. Her case history was published online Tuesday in The Lancet medical journal.

"This just shows that the heart can indeed repair itself given the opportunity," Dr. Douglas Zipes, past president of the American College of Cardiology, told the AP. "The heart apparently has major regenerative powers, and it is now key to find out how they work."

Another expert said Clark's case offers encouragement to both patients and doctors.

"It reminds us that not all heart failure is lethal," Dr. Ileana Pina, a heart failure expert at Case Western Reserve University, told the AP. "Some heart failure patients have a greater chance of recovery than we thought."

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Kidney Transplant Drugs Must Carry Infections Warning: FDA

Certain drugs used to prevent rejection of transplanted kidneys must carry a warning about the risk of serious infections, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday.

The drugs include CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil) and generics, Myfortic (mycophenolic acid), Rapamune (sirolimus), Sandimmune (cyclosporine) and generics, and Neoral (cyclosporine modified) and generics.

The drugs, which already carry the FDA's most serious boxed warning outlining their various risks, must now also mention the increased risk of "opportunistic infections," including activation of dormant viral infections such as one caused by the BK virus, the Dow Jones news service reported.

Infections associated with the immunosuppressive drugs may lead to serious problems, including kidney graft loss, said the FDA. The agency noted that a warning about the increased risk for opportunistic infections already is included in the labeling of the immunosuppressive drug Prograf (tacrolimus).

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Stop Routine Use Of Antibiotics in Farm Animals: White House

In an effort to reduce the spread of dangerous bacteria in humans, the Obama administration wants to ban routine use of antibiotics in farm animals.

Feeding antibiotics to healthy cattle, pigs and chickens in order to encourage rapid growth should be stopped and farmers should no longer be allowed to use antibiotics in farm animals without the supervision of a veterinarian, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, principal deputy commissioner of food and drugs, said in written testimony to the House Rules Committee.

He said such routine use of antibiotics in farm animals leads to the development of bacteria that are immune to many treatments, The New York Times reported.

The House hearing was held to discuss a proposed measure to ban the use in animals of seven classes of antibiotics important to human health. It would also limit other antibiotics to therapeutic and some preventive uses in animals.

The measure is supported by the American Medical Association but opposed by farm groups, which means the measure is likely to fail. However, supporters hope the measure will be included in legislation to overhaul the U.S. health system, The Times reported.

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Fewer Drunks on U.S. Roads: Survey

Tougher laws, tighter enforcement and a shift in social attitudes may be among the reasons why there's been a major decrease in the number of drunk drivers on U.S. roads in the past 30 years, the Associated Press reported.

In 2007, 2.2 percent of drivers had blood-alcohol levels of 0.08 or higher, compared with 7.5 percent in 1973, 5.4 percent in 1986, and 4.3 percent in 1996, says a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration roadside survey.

The new survey also found that the highest number of drunk drivers (4.8 percent) were on the road between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Saturday and that 1.2 percent of drivers were drunk between 10 p.m. to midnight on Friday night, the AP reported.

Researchers conducting the survey of weekend nighttime drivers used breath samples to measure blood alcohol concentrations, and also collected oral fluid and blood samples to check for drugs.

While 16.3 percent of the drivers tested positive for drugs, researchers noted that drugs can remain in a person's system for weeks, which makes it difficult to determine whether the drivers are impaired, the AP reported.

Health Tips for July 15

Health Tip: Help Prevent Lawn Mowing Accidents

The next time you cut the grass, think about your safety before you drag out the lawnmower, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons advises.

Here's the academy's list of mowing safety suggestions:

• Make sure mower blades are always sharp, and parts are working correctly. It's a good idea to have the mower serviced at the start of the lawn-cutting season.
• Never inspect or work on your mower with the motor running.
• Never use hands or feet to knock debris from the mower, even when the engine is off.
• Make sure all safety shields and guards are in place.
• If you need to step away from the mower, turn off the engine.
• Wear protective gear, including goggles, shoes (not sandals), gloves and long pants.
• Clear the lawn of any hazardous objects -- including toys, rocks and large sticks -- before you turn on the mower.

Health Tip: Wear a Helmet

Wearing a helmet during certain sports or recreational activities can protect you against a serious head injury, including brain damage.

The U.S. National Safety Council recommends wearing a helmet if you participate in:

• Riding horses or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
• Baseball, softball or football.
• Biking.
• In-line skating or skateboarding.
• Snowboarding.
• Rock climbing.

Health Headlines - July 14

Rural Alabama Doctor Picked For U.S. Surgeon General

A rural Alabama family physician was nominated Monday to be the United States' next surgeon general. President Barack Obama made the announcement.

Dr. Regina Benjamin, the nominee, made headlines for her resolve to rebuild her nonprofit medical clinic after it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, the Associated Press reported. A few months after it was rebuilt, it burned down. She started rebuilding it again.

Benjamin, 51, the first black woman and youngest doctor elected to the American Medical Association's board, received the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights in 1998. She was also awarded the distinguished service medal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice by Pope Benedict XVI.

The Senate must confirm Benjamin's nomination for surgeon general, who acts as the people's health advocate, the AP reported.

The American Medical Association said it is "delighted" with Benjamin's nomination.

"Dr. Benjamin's most important qualification for surgeon general is her deep commitment to her patients. We are particularly gratified to see her recognized for her work caring for patients in rural Alabama, and for her commitment to rebuilding her rural health clinic in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. She is a true professional who puts her patients first," the AMA said in a news release.

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1918 Flu Pandemic Survivors Immune to Swine Flu: Study

Many survivors of the 1918 flu pandemic appear to be immune to the current swine flu, but not to seasonal flu, says a University of Wisconsin researcher.

Yoshihiro Kawaoka also found that swine flu multiplies more severely in the respiratory system than seasonal flu, the Associated Press reported. In tests on mice, ferrets and monkeys, he found that the swine flu is present in greater numbers throughout the respiratory system instead of staying in the head, like common winter flu.

Kawaoka said the findings make him more concerned about the potential threat posed by swine flu, the AP reported.

The research was published Monday in the journal Nature.

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Congress Won't Finish Health-Care Reform by Summer Recess

The massive overhaul of the U.S. health-care system will be put on hold when members of Congress leave for their August recess, lawmakers say.

While that's likely to disappoint President Barack Obama, who made health-care reform a key part of his presidential campaign, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said the White House should be pleased with the progress so far. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said "there really is plenty of time," the Associated Press reported.

"Well, we don't expect (a bill) to be signed into law by the August recess. But we expect the House and Senate to have passed bills, yes," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the AP reported.

But it's unlikely it would be the same bill because the House of Representatives and the Senate have been working on sometimes contradictory versions. House Democrats have proposed raising taxes on wealthy Americans to pay for the plan. Democratic leaders, meanwhile, have tried to calm moderate and conservative lawmakers about a proposal that could guarantee tough re-election bids, AP reported.

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Family Obesity Follows Gender Lines: Study

Obesity appears to follow gender lines in families, say British researchers who found that obese mothers were 10 times more likely to have obese daughters and obese fathers were six times more likely to have obese sons.

But the study of 226 families found that obese mothers and fathers didn't have an effect on children of the opposite sex, BBC News reported.

The findings suggest that the link is behavioral rather than genetic, which means that policies on fighting obesity may need to be reconsidered, the researchers said.

"It is the reverse of what we have thought and this has fundamental implications for policy," said study leader Professor Terry Wilkin of the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth, BBC News reported. "We should be targeting the parents and that is not something we have really done to date."

The study was published in the International Journal of Obesity.

Health Tips for July 14

Health Tip: Who Gets Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis affects many women and men as they age, reducing bone density and increasing the risk of bone fractures.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation offers this list of risk factors for osteoporosis:

• Being older or female.
• Having osteoporosis in the family.
• Having a small stature or thin frame.
• Being white, Asian or Hispanic.
• Having a prior bone fracture.
• Having low sex hormones.
• Getting insufficient exercise.
• Getting insufficient dietary calcium and vitamin D.
• Eating a diet that's high in caffeine, sodium and protein.
• Using alcohol or tobacco.
• Having eating disorders or rheumatoid arthritis.
• Using certain drugs, such as steroids.

Health Tip: Smoking and the Musculoskeletal System

Damage to the lungs is one of the first things people think about when it comes to the health detriments of smoking. But smoking can affect much of your body, right down to your bones and muscles.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says smoking can have the following effects on the musculoskeletal system:

• Increases risk of osteoporosis.
• Reduces bone density.
• Reduces blood supply to bones, causes bone cells to form more slowly, and impairs calcium absorption.
• Reduces the effectiveness of estrogen therapy.
• Raises your risk of hip fracture.
• Raises your risk of rotator cuff injuries.
• May contribute to low back pain and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Extends healing time after bone fractures.

Ever Thought About Becoming a Travel Nurse?

As a travel nurse, you would be in great demand. You'd have an opportunity to travel and work anywhere you choose. Nervousness, excitement and curiosity are the three common emotions among applicants considering a traveling nurse job or allied travel position. Money, adventure and freedom tend to be the number one reasons people choose to keep traveling. What other career offers you excellent money, free housing & insurance, temporary work from Hawaii to Alaska, Florida to New York while meeting new people, experiencing various cultures and seeing the entire country? Why not give it a try?

Health Headlines - July 13

Scrub tech causes major hepatitis scare in Colo.

Kimberly Spencer's 9-year-old son went to Audubon Ambulatory Surgery Center last month for what was supposed to be a routine surgery. The rambunctious child stuck a BB in his ear and doctors had to operate to remove it.

What happened next shocked the family. They were notified that their son is one of 6,000 patients who may have been exposed to hepatitis C by a painkiller-addicted technician who had the disease and allegedly passed on dirty syringes to patients.

The technician has been jailed, thousands of rattled patients have been getting hepatitis C tests, and two medical facilities where she worked have been bombarded with questions about how they let it happen. Ten cases of hepatitis C have been linked to Rose Medical Center, where Kristen Diane Parker worked until April.

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House boosts funding for veterans programs

The House has passed a bill giving a big budget boost to provide health care to injured soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan and other veterans.

The 415-3 vote again demonstrated sweeping bipartisan support for veterans on Capitol Hill. It came as the House approved a $132.4 billion funding bill for the upcoming budget year.

The 12 percent increase for veterans medical services follows a string of increases.

The veterans funding measure would pay to hire about 1,200 additional claims processors to relieve backlogs and provides money to cover more veterans whose health problems are not related to their service.

The bill also boosts funding for military construction projects, including new barracks, day care centers and fitness facilities.

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Tests reveal some pet supplements skimp on meds

Arthritis supplements bought by millions of pet owners for their dogs, cats and horses sometimes skimp on the ingredients the makers claim can help aching paws and aging joints, and some contain high amounts of lead, an independent laboratory found.

Four of the six joint supplements for animals tested by ConsumerLab.com lacked the amounts of glucosamine or chondroitin promised on their labels or had other flaws, such as lead. Wider testing by a trade group of 87 brands found that one-quarter fell short.

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Bayer says Alzheimer test shown to work in study

Bayer's Alzheimer's disease (AD) marker florbetaben was shown to help detect the illness in eight out of 10 cases in a Phase II study, possibly offering a way to diagnose early onset.

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Omega-3 Fatty Acid Falls Short in Alzheimer's Trials

Two trials that looked at whether the omega-3 fatty acid DHA might treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease have produced mixed results.

Health Tips for July 13

Health Tip: When Your Child Needs Glasses

Some children may resist wearing eyeglasses, despite the resulting improvement in vision, school work and even extracurricular sports.

The Cleveland Clinic offers these suggestions to help your child accept a new pair of glasses:

• Choose frames that fit well, and don't pinch, slip or feel too heavy.
• Ensure that your child's lenses are the right prescription.
• Encourage your child to wear the new glasses a little bit at a time, gradually wearing them for longer periods.
• Ultimately, make putting on and taking off glasses a part of your child's daily morning and bedtime routines.
• Encourage your child with praise every time he or she is wearing the glasses.

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 Headlines - July 12

Obesity a risk factor in swine flu?

Some swine flu cases in Michigan are raising questions about obesity's role in why some people with infections become seriously ill.

A high proportion of those who have gotten severely ill from swine flu have been obese or extremely obese, but health officials have said that might be due to the fact that heavy people tend to have asthma and other conditions that make them more susceptible. Obesity alone has never been seen as a risk factor for seasonal flu.

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FDA clears Eli Lilly's blood thinner Effient

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a highly anticipated blood thinner from Eli Lilly, though the drug must carry the agency's sternest warning because of its bleeding risks.

The approval makes Lilly's Effient the first real competition to the blood thinner Plavix, the world's second-best selling medication made by Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

The FDA delayed its decision on Effient multiple times during an 18-month review, as agency staffers weighed the drug's benefits versus its risks.

A study of over 13,000 patients conducted by Lilly found that Effient prevents more heart attacks than Plavix, but also causes more internal bleeding.

The FDA said Effient will carry a boxed warning to alert physicians to the risks of "significant, sometimes fatal, bleeding." The boxed warning is reserved for issues that can cause serious injury or death.

The drug should not be taken by patients with a history of bleeding, stroke or who are undergoing surgery, the FDA said.

"Physicians must carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks of Effient as they decide which patients should receive the drug," said Dr. John Jenkins, FDA's director of new drugs.

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House Dems want to tax the rich for health care

Key House Democrats decided Friday to raise taxes on the wealthy to help pay for health care legislation, capping an up-and-down week for President Barack Obama's top domestic priority. At the same time, Democratic leaders tried to quell concerns among moderate and conservative lawmakers about other elements of the bill.

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Study: 1 in 3 breast cancer patients overtreated

One in three breast cancer patients identified in public screening programs may be treated unnecessarily, a new study says. Karsten Jorgensen and Peter Gotzsche of the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Copenhagen analyzed breast cancer trends at least seven years before and after government-run screening programs for breast cancer started in parts of Australia, Britain, Canada, Norway and Sweden.

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FDA: Dough's E. coli strain differs from illness

The Food and Drug Administration said Saturday the strain of E. coli found in a sample of raw cookie dough collected at a Nestle USA manufacturing plant does not match the strain that has been linked to a 30-state outbreak, and they aren't sure how the dough was contaminated.

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Monkeys live longer on low-cal diet; would humans?

Eat less, live longer? It seems to work for monkeys: A 20-year study found cutting calories by almost a third slowed their aging and fended off death. This is not about a quick diet to shed a few pounds. Scientists have long known they could increase the lifespan of mice and more primitive creatures — worms, flies — with deep, long-term cuts from normal consumption.

Health Tips for July 12

Health Tip: Understanding ADHD

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral condition that can affect both social interaction and academics.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers the following information about ADHD:

• Most children won't outgrow ADHD. But with early treatment, ADHD can be managed so that it doesn't interfere with a person's adult life.
• More and more people are now being treated for ADHD, although it's unclear why. Experts aren't sure whether there are more cases of ADHD now, or if more cases are simply being recognized.
• While ADHD medications are effective in helping many children focus and learn, the medications have the potential for abuse and should be carefully administered, the academy says.
• There is no cure for ADHD, but researchers continue to explore the long-term effects of the condition and new methods to help manage symptoms.

Health Tip: Taking ADHD Medications

Medications prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may effectively manage symptoms, but they can also cause a number of side effects.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to minimize side effects caused by ADHD drugs:

• Take only the minimal dose necessary to control your symptoms. Speak with your doctor about determining the right dose for you.
• If you have stomach upset, take your ADHD meds with food.
• As long as your doctor says it's OK, consider the weekend "drug-free days" when you can skip your medication.
• If ADHD meds cause undesired weight loss, add healthy snacks to the day's menu.

Health Headlines - July 11

Another Recall Linked to Milk Products Cooperative

Instant oatmeal is the latest in a string of nationwide product recalls linked to salmonella-tainted ingredients distributed by Milk Products Cooperative of Plainview, Minn., USA Today reported.

The recall of the maple-and-brown-sugar oatmeal packets, sold under a variety of brands, was announced by Minneapolis-based Malt-O-Meal. Other recalls include Meijer hot chocolate mix and some Kroger popcorn toppings.

In June, federal officials detected salmonella in milkshake powder and traced the contamination back to the Milk Products Cooperative plant. Inspectors found salmonella in the plant, which led the cooperative to voluntarily recall whey protein, fruit stabilizers, non-fat dried milk and thickening agents made over the past two years, USA Today reported.

The cooperative only sells its products to food manufacturers and distributors.

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Ebola Virus Found in Pigs

The discovery of a form of ebola virus in pigs has experts worried that it may mutate and threaten humans, the Associated Press reported.

Reston ebolavirus (REBOV), which is not known to cause illness in humans, has previously only been found in people and monkeys. But in an article published Friday in the journal Science, researchers said they found the virus in pigs in the Philippines.

It's theoretically possible for REBOV to mutate in pigs into a form that could cause sickness in humans, the scientists said. But they added that some farm workers who tend the pigs were also infected with the virus but showed no signs of illness, the AP reported.

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Cookie Dough E. Coli Doesn't Match Outbreak Strain: FDA

The strain of E. coli that sickened at least 69 people in 30 states doesn't match the strain found in a sample of raw cookie dough from the Nestlé USA plant in Danville, Va., says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Associated Press reported.

Nestlé last month recalled all Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products made at the plant after the FDA told the company it suspected people had become sick after eating raw cookie dough contaminated with E. coli.

The finding that the strain found in the cookie dough and the strain that caused the 30-state outbreak are different could mean the dough was contaminated with multiple strains, the AP reported.

The company is working with the FDA on the ongoing investigation.

More than 1,000 tests have been done at the Danville plant, according to Nestlé, including thorough inspections of production lines, equipment and ingredients tests, and reviews of quality and safety procedures, the AP reported.

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Pentagon Looks to Crack Down on Tobacco Use

Tobacco use among U.S. troops should be forbidden and the sale of tobacco on military property banned, Pentagon health experts say.

They want Defense Secretary Robert Gates to adopt proposals from a federal Institute of Medicine study that calls for a phased-in ban over a number of years, perhaps as long as two decades, USA Today reported.

Tobacco use among U.S. troops is rising, leading to higher costs for the federal government, said the study, released late last month.

Tobacco-related costs for the Pentagon total $846 million a year in medical care and lost productivity, and the Department of Veterans Affairs spends up to $6 billion treating tobacco-related illnesses, according to the study, USA Today reported.

Health Tips for July 11

Health Tip: Easing Earache Pain

Earaches are common in young children, and can be quite painful.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this advice when your child complains of an earache:

• Take your child to see the pediatrician to diagnose an earache, and a possible cause.
• If a bacterial infection is behind the earache, an antibiotic may be prescribed. Make sure you administer the drug to the child exactly as ordered by the doctor. An antibiotic won't work if a virus is causing the earache.
• The doctor may prescribe pain-relieving ear drops.
• Apply a warm heating pad to the ear. Don't let the pad get too hot.
• Give your child an over-the-counter pain reliever such as children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Don't give the child aspirin.

Health Tip: Clogged Ears On a Plane?

Changes in altitude, such as those you experience when flying, can cause an uncomfortable "clogged" feeling in your ears.

If you try to relieve the pressure by blowing your nose too hard, you could perforate the eardrum or force bacteria into the deeper parts of the ear.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions to help you safely relieve pressure in the ears when flying:

• About an hour before your flight is scheduled to leave, take a decongestant.
• Try yawning to gently relieve pressure as altitude changes.
• Keep swallowing to help unclog ears.
• Chew a piece of gum while the plane ascends and descends.
• If your ears still feel clogged, inhale, hold your nose, and very gently exhale with your mouth closed until you feel relief. Be very careful not to do this with too much force.

Health Headlines - July 10

Heart Patient Death Rates Vary Widely in U.S.: Study

Hospitals in Arkansas, Oklahoma and California have the highest death rates for patients with heart attack or heart failure, while hospitals in northeastern states such as New Jersey and Massachusetts have the lowest rates, says a Yale University School of Medicine study.

Among hospitals across the United States, 25 percent of patients hospitalized for heart failure and 20 percent of heart attack survivors were readmitted within 30 days, which indicates "uniformly poor performance," said the researchers, Bloomberg news reported.

The study authors analyzed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data on almost 600,000 hospital admissions for heart attack and more than one million admissions for heart failure between July 2005 and June 2008.

They found that a median of 16.6 percent of heart attack patients died within 30 days of being admitted to a hospital. Rates ranged from 10.9 percent in the best-performing hospitals to 24.9 percent in the worst.

The findings indicate "that patients' outcomes are dependent, at least in part, on the hospital that provides their care," study leader Dr. Harlan Krumholz said in an e-mailed statement to Bloomberg. "If we could better understand how the best hospitals achieve their results and help the hospitals that are not doing as well improve, we could save many more lives."

The study appears in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

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Michael Jackson's Use of White Glove Linked to Lupus: Report

Pop star Michael Jackson's famous white glove and his occasional use of a surgical mask and umbrella to avoid sun exposure may have been connected to the chronic autoimmune disorder lupus.

The singer's physician, Dr. Arnie Klein, on Wednesday told "Good Morning America" that he'd diagnosed Jackson with lupus, a disease in which the immune system attacks the body, causing inflammation, pain and damage to certain tissues, ABC News reported.

What's known about Jackson's other medical conditions may also point to lupus, Dr. Robert Lahita, an autoimmune disease expert and a professor of medicine at Mount Sinai Medical School, told "Good Morning America."

"He had a form of skin lupus, called discoid lupus, which affects about 40 percent of the patients with lupus," Lahita said. Discoid lupus can lead to depigmentation of the skin, among other problems.

"Michael Jackson acknowledged having vitiligo, having splotches of the skin," Lahita said, ABC News reported. Vitiligo is common with autoimmune disease. Patients with vitiligo are normally advised to avoid sun expsoure, which may explain Jackson's use of an umbrella on sunny days.

The white glove and surgical masks may have been used to camouflage the white skin patches caused by vitligo, he said.

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Nicotine Patch Before Quitting Smoking Ups Chances of Success: Study

The use of nicotine patches before quitting can double smokers success rates, says a Duke University Medical Center study. The researchers said their findings suggest that changes should be made to nicotine patch labeling, which currently recommends their use only after a person quits smoking.

The study included 400 people who smoked an average of slightly more than one pack of cigarettes a day. Twenty-two percent of those who used nicotine patches for two weeks before quitting abstained from smoking continuously for at least 10 weeks, compared to 11 percent of those who used a placebo patch, the study found.

"People who use the patch before quitting are likely to spontaneously reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke because the patch satisfies their need for nicotine and makes the act of smoking less enjoyable," lead author Jed Rose, director of the Duke Center for Nicotine and Smoking Research, said in a news release. Nicotine patches also decrease withdrawal symptoms.

The study was published online in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

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WHO Approves 2nd Cervical Cancer Vaccine

A second cervical cancer vaccine has been approved by the World Health Organization, a decision that opens the way for United Nations agencies and partners to purchase millions of doses of the vaccine, Cervarix, for use in developing nations, where most deaths from cervical cancer occur.

Cervarix is made by GlaxoSmithKline. The WHO had previously approved the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil, made by Merck & Co.

Health officials say the availability of two vaccines could save tens of thousands of lives a year, the Associated Press reported.

Of the estimated 280,000 cervical cancer deaths worldwide each year, more than 80 percent occur in developing countries. Early diagnosis and treatment have greatly reduced the disease's impact in Western nations.

Cervarix is available in 97 countries but has not been approved for use in the United States or Japan. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to make a decision on Cervarix in the next few months.

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Kolcraft Recalls Children's Play Yards

About a million play yards distributed by Kolcraft Enterprises of Chicago have been recalled because a side rail with a faulty latch can open if a child pushes against it, resulting in a fall.

The company says it has received 347 reports of side rail collapses, resulting in 21 injuries from falls, including one concussion, as well as bumps, scrapes and bruises, MSNBC.com reported.

The recalled play yards -- under the brand names of Kolcraft, Carter's, Sesame Street, Jeep, Contours, Care Bear and Eric Carle -- were sold online and at Babies R Us, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Sears, Target and other stores across the United States between January 2000 and January 2009. Prices ranged from $49 to $160.

According to the company, retrofit kits are available.

For details on the recall, call 866-594-4208 or go to www.kolcraft.com.

Health Tips for July 10

Health Tip: The Lactose-Intolerant Diet

If you're lactose-intolerant, you can eliminate all dairy products from your diet, but then you might be concerned about getting enough calcium.

Some people can tolerate small amounts of dairy without symptoms. The U.S. National Library of Medicine lists these milk products that may be easier to digest among people with lactose intolerance:

• Soy milk (soy formulas for young babies), assuming there are no allergies to soy.
• Dairy products that are lactose-free.
• Lactase-treated milk.
• Milkshakes and ice cream.
• Hard or aged cheeses.
• Goat's milk.
• Buttermilk.
• Yogurt and other fermented-milk products.

Health Tip: Finding Hidden Lactose

If you are lactose-intolerant, you know you need to monitor your diet to prevent uncomfortable gas and bloating.

But dairy products aren't the only culprits. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse lists these non-dairy foods that may also contain lactose:

• Margarine and different types of salad dressing.
• Deli meats (except kosher meats).
• Snack foods, including candy.
• Breads, baked products and processed cereals.
• Soups, meal-replacement supplements, instant potato products and instant breakfast drinks.
• Cookie, pancake and biscuit mixes.

Health Headlines - July 9

U.S. Hospitals Agree to Help Defray Health Reform Costs

To help pay for the health-care reform plan put forth by the Obama administration, hospitals across the country have agreed to a cut in Medicare and Medicaid payments, Vice President Joseph Biden announced Wednesday.

Terms of the agreement, which should save an estimated $155 billion in federal spending, include reducing payments for treating uninsured and low-income patients and slowing scheduled increases in Medicare payments, the Associated Press reported.

In return, hospitals would be reimbursed at rates higher than now allowed by Medicare and Medicaid if a public health insurance plan becomes part of the reform legislation, according to the AP.

Although Biden repeated the administration's vow to have health-care reform bills passed by Congress by the end of August and signed into law by October, the legislation remains mired on Capitol Hill. Partisan discussion and debate this week has centered on a proposed tax on certain health insurance benefits provided by employers.

Appearing with the vice president for announcement of the hospital deal were representatives of the American Hospital Association, Hospital Corporation of America, Community Health Systems and the Catholic Health Association of the United States, the AP said.

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Report Contends Lack of Oversight for Bottled Water

The water in your tap is more rigorously regulated than the bottled water you buy in a store, according to a General Accounting Office (GAO) report delivered Wednesday to Congress.

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee heard that Environmental Protection Agency rules governing tap water are more thorough and require more disclosure than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules that govern bottled water, CBS News reported.

The GAO's John Stephenson said Americans spend more than $11 billion a year on bottled water -- equaling an estimated 200 bottles annually for every "man, woman and child." But the oversight of bottled water is "less stringent" than for tap water. For instance, there are no rules for a potentially dangerous chemical used in plastics, DEHP, that could seep from the bottles, Stephenson said.

Joseph Doss, president of the International Bottled Water Association, said bottled water is a "safe, healthy convenient food product that is comprehensively regulated." He suggested that consumers who want to know where the water comes from just call the manufacturer.

But Jane Houlihan, of the Environmental Working Group, said that information should be printed on the label. According to CBS News, she said that consumers have a "right to know where their bottled water comes from, how or if it's treated and the pollutants it contains."

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Wednesday Darkest Day for Suicides: Study

Forget what you've heard about the Monday morning blues. A new study shows that Americans are most likely to commit suicide on Wednesdays.

A five-year study, published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, found that nearly 25 percent of suicides take place on Wednesdays, followed by Mondays or Saturdays, which were tied with 14 percent, MSNBC reported.

Researchers had typically considered Monday the day of despair. But now they theorize that the Internet's ability to keep people feeling connected over the weekend may be responsible for the shift, making mid-week job stress more of a problem than weekend solitude.

"By Wednesday, the traffic has gotten to be too much, their co-workers are getting on their nerves and they can't figure out how they're going to make it to the end of the week," the report's lead author, Augustine J. Kposowa, a professor of sociology at the University of California, Riverside, told MSNBC.

Also, contrary to earlier research that showed more suicides in winter and spring, the new study found almost no seasonal differences -- a change that Kposowa also attributes to technological connectedness. Winter doesn't isolate folks the way it once did, he said.

He and his colleagues studied deaths among people age 18 and older from all 50 states from 2000 through 2004. About 30,000 people in that group took their lives each year on average, they found.

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U.S. Doctors Complete Largest Kidney Transplant Chain

In what's believed to be the largest chain of organ donations in history, U.S. doctors at four hospitals in four states completed eight kidney transplants over three weeks.

For this kidney swap, 10 doctors performed 16 surgeries on eight living donors and eight recipients at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, and INTEGRIS Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oklahoma, the Associated Press reported.

This type of kidney transplant chain is arranged when a number of people who need transplants have relatives or friends who are willing to donate kidneys but aren't compatible. Each donor in the chain is matched with a compatible recipient they don't know.

The kind of multistate exchange performed in recent weeks could greatly reduce the number of kidney patients waiting for eligible donors, said Dr. Robert Montgomery, chief transplant surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

"We hope this creates a movement that encourages other transplant centers to adopt the model we used," he said at a news conference held a few hours after the last transplant was performed Monday night, the AP reported.

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Sperm From Stem Cells Claim Challenged

Claims by British scientists that they used a new technique to create human sperm from embryonic stem cells are being challenged by other experts.

The technique would enable researchers to study sperm development and possibly lead to treatments for male infertility, Karim Nayernia, of Newcastle University, said in a statement Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. The NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute was also involved in the research.

However, other British scientists are skeptical about the research and note that the sperm cells created in the laboratory were abnormal.

Health Tips for July 9

Health Tip: Negative Body Image Can Affect Your Health

Your body image describes your appearance and the way you see yourself.

This isn't a superficial concept, warns Planned Parenthood. The group says a negative body image, if severe enough, can:

• Increase your risk of depression and anxiety.
• Trigger feelings of low self-esteem.
• Make it difficult for you to concentrate.
• Lead you to engage in risky behavior.
• Lead to social isolation.
• Spawn mental health issues, such as an eating disorder.
• Lead you to avoid a healthy lifestyle, including eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise.

Health Tip: Stretch Your Feet

Little else feels better than a good foot massage or stretch.

The American Podiatric Medical Association offers these suggestions for keeping your feet happy and healthy:

• Stretch your arch, either by placing a towel around the ball of your foot and gently pulling with your hands, or by standing in front of a wall and slightly leaning forward until you feel your arches stretch.
• Strengthen toes by placing a toe separator between them and squeezing toes together for five seconds; do it 10 times. Or, wrap toes with a rubber band and spread against the resistance.
• Grab a golf ball or other similar-sized ball, and place it on the floor under your bare feet. Gently roll it around under your feet.
• Stand up on the balls of your feet and hold for five seconds; do this 10 times.
• Stand with feet flat, then one at a time lift your heel from the floor and roll weight into the ball of your with your toes pointing down. Flex your foot, hold, and repeat on each foot.

Health Headlines - July 8

CDC's Internet Tool Combines Data on Pollutants/Health

A Internet-based tool that will enable members of the public, scientists and health professionals to track environmental exposures and chronic health conditions was unveiled Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Environmental Public Health Tracking Network offers environmental information from across the nation, including data on water and air pollutants, and details about chronic conditions such as asthma, cancer, heart disease, and childhood lead poisoning.

It's known that exposure to such things as lead and air particle pollution contribute to health problems, but many links between pollutants and illness can't be proven because detailed health and environmental data were kept separate until now, according to the CDC.

"The ability to examine many data sets together for the first time has already resulted in faster responses to environmental health issues. We believe the Tracking Network holds the potential to shed new light on some of our biggest environmental health questions," Dr. Howard Frumkin, director of the CDC's National Center for Environmental Health, said in a news release.

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Insomnia Patients May Benefit From Web-Based Therapy

Web-based therapy may be able to help people with insomnia, a small U.S. study suggests.

The study included 22 adults with moderate insomnia who used Internet software designed to change patterns that contribute to sleep problems. For example, the Sleep Healthy Using the Internet (SHUTi) software offers advice about specific bedtimes and teaches patients better sleep habits, such as avoiding daytime naps. No human therapist was involved, the Associated Press reported.

After nine weeks of using SHUTi, the 22 participants woke up fewer times and spent fewer minutes awake during the night, compared to a control group. The findings were published Monday in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry.

"This is a very interactive, tailored, personalized program," study co-author Frances Thorndike, of the University of Virginia Health System, told the AP. She helped design the software, which could offer a low-cost alternative to face-to-face behavioral therapy.

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Kroger Recalls Popcorn Seasoning, Sprinkles: Report

Kroger popcorn seasoning and butter-flavored sprinkles sold in some of the company's retail stores are being recalled because of possible salmonella contamination, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

The Cincinnati-based company said the contamination may have been caused by an ingredient produced by a supplier, United Press International reported.

The recall includes:

• Kroger Popcorn Seasoning Movie Theater Butter Flavored sold in 2.82-ounce jars with a sell-by date of "JUN 08 10."
• Kroger Fat Free Butter Flavored Sprinkles in 2-ounce jars with sell-by dates of "JUN 08 10" and JUN 09 10" sold at Kroger stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
• Kroger Popcorn Seasoning White Cheddar Flavored in 2.82-ounce jars with a sell-by date of "JUN 09 10" sold in Kroger stores in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia. The product was also sold at Dillons and Gerbes stores in Kansas and Missouri; Baker's stores in Nebraska; and Food 4 Less, Hilander, Jay C, Owen's, Pay Less and Scott's stores in Illinois and Indiana.

For more information, consumers can contact Kroger at 800-632-6900.

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FDA Approves Drug for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The chemotherapy drug Alimta can be used as a maintenance treatment for advanced cases of non-small cell lung cancer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Monday. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common form of the disease.

Drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co. said the drug will be used after an initial round of chemotherapy to prevent disease progression, the Associated Press reported.

The FDA's approval of this new use of Alimta was based on a study of 600 patients.

"This drug represents a new approach in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer," Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the Office of Oncology Drug Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a news release. "Typically, patients whose tumors respond to chemotherapy do not receive further treatment after four-to-six chemotherapy cycles. This study demonstrates an advantage in overall survival in certain patients who received Alimta for maintenance therapy."

Alimta (pemetrexed) was introduced in 2004 and was already approved for use alone or in combination with other chemotherapies to treat two other types of advanced lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos exposure, the AP reported.

Health Tips for July 8

Health Tip: Caring for a Diabetic's Skin

People with diabetes may be concerned with their heart, eyes and nerves. But don't forget the body's largest organ.

As many as one-third of diabetics develop a skin disorder, the American Diabetes Association says.

The association offers these skin care suggestions:

• Make sure your skin is always clean and dry. Sprinkle some talcum powder in areas where skin touches other skin, such as under the arms and in the groin area.
• Take lukewarm, not hot, showers and baths, and always use a gentle moisturizing soap.
• Moisturize your skin with a good lotion, just not between the toes, which can encourage fungal growth.
• Promptly wash any cuts or scrapes with water and soap, and protect them with a gauze pad.
• See your doctor about any skin wounds that appear serious or that don't seem to heal.

Health Tip: Diagnosing Joint Pain

Joint pain has many possible causes, ranging from injury to arthritis.

To help your doctor diagnose a cause, it's important to fully discuss the details of your condition.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers this checklist:

• Which joint hurts, and which parts of the body are affected.
• If the pain just began, and whether you've felt it before.
• If the pain started severely or slowly, and if it is persistent or fluctuates.
• Any recent injuries, fevers or illnesses.
• What makes the pain feel better, and what makes it feel worse.
• Any other symptoms, including numbness or stiffness.
• Times of day that the pain is better, and times that it feels worse.

Patients fret over proposed Tylenol restrictions

CHICAGO - Proposed limits on Tylenol, a painkiller as common as pain itself, have left many consumers fearful, confused and wondering where to turn for relief. The potential government crackdown on acetaminophen, Tylenol's main ingredient, would affect everyone from occasional pill poppers to chronic pain sufferers who rely on daily doses to make their lives more bearable.

If adopted by the Food and Drug Administration, the changes would lower the maximum over-the-counter Tylenol dose and would ban two narcotic painkillers, Vicodin and Percocet, which also contain acetaminophen.

Yet another painkiller, propoxyphene, was the target of FDA action on Tuesday. Also sold as Darvon and in an acetaminophen combination called Darvocet, it has been linked to accidental overdoses and suicides. The prescription medication will now come with a pamphlet describing the risk.

Sharon Waldrop, a mother of two young boys in Royal Oak, Mich., takes Tylenol regularly for severe muscle pain. She knows about liver damage risks but says she "could not get by" with the proposed lower doses.

Karen Palmer of Cincinnati takes Percocet for debilitating rheumatoid arthritis and says it took five years to find medicine that really helps. "I don't want to have to go through that all over again," said the 46-year-old hotel worker, on disability because of the disease.

Dr. Ronnie Mandal, an internist at Chicago's Swedish Covenant Hospital, says he's gotten calls from worried elderly patients who saw the news on TV last week.

"Most of them are wondering, is it safe for me to use," he said.

For those on Tylenol, the short answer — from Mandal and other physicians — is yes, if used judiciously. Doctors say there's no reason to switch to other pain relievers, which can cause different problems.

But avoiding an acetaminophen overdose requires reading medicine bottles scrupulously and doing a little math because acetaminophen is often a hidden ingredient. Popping a few extra pills or mixing Tylenol with other medicines can quickly add up to too much. So can taking any of these drugs while drinking alcohol, which aggravates effects on the liver.

For users of the proposed banned narcotic drugs, which one liver expert likened to candy mixed with poison, options would be more limited, particularly given other recent clampdowns on narcotic painkillers.

"If these drugs were not available to our patients, there would be a stampede toward the doctor to try to figure out an alternative treatment for them because they're such widely used drugs," said Dr. Gil Fanciullo of the American Pain Society.

The results could be undertreatment of pain, or putting patients on even stronger narcotics. Better labeling of medicines that have acetaminophen is the answer, rather than making them less available, said Fanciullo, a pain management specialist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.

Dave Duhrkoop, a retired marketing manager in Troutdale, Ore., has taken Vicodin and Percocet for severe back pain. He's now on a different drug but thinks banning the other two would be overkill. It could lead chronic pain sufferers to turn to street drugs "because people don't want to hurt."

According to the FDA, prescription acetaminophen combination drugs were prescribed 200 million times last year. Tylenol's maker says nearly 50 million U.S. adults and children take acetaminophen in any given week.

The panel's proposals, announced June 30, were prompted by concerns over acetaminophen overdoses, which are the leading cause of liver failure. They sicken more than 50,000 people and cause at least 200 deaths each year nationwide.

Poisoning is not believed to be a risk for long-term users of recommended Tylenol doses, and they do not need liver tests, said Dr. William M. Lee, a liver disease specialist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Liver problems associated with excessive use of Tylenol and other forms of the drug tend to occur suddenly. They typically show up within about three days of taking extra doses, Lee said, and even a few extra pills over a few days can cause problems.

That's why the FDA panel recommended making the current maximum single dose of Tylenol, 1,000 milligrams, available by prescription only. The new maximum single dose would be 650 mgs. The total daily limit would be cut from 4 grams, about 12 regular-strength Tylenol pills, to an unspecified lower dose.

Symptoms of liver problems include nausea, vomiting, upper abdominal pain and jaundice. With immediate treatment, permanent liver damage can be prevented.

The recommendations led Tylenol's manufacturer to run full-page ads in major newspapers Friday declaring the medicine is safe when used as directed. The ads also say never take more than recommend doses, and don't use two products containing acetaminophen at the same time. That includes over-the-counter cold medicines such as Nyquil and Theraflu, and prescription medicines also containing the drug.

The Arthritis Foundation issued a statement supporting the limits, saying that arthritis patients "must be made aware of potential side effects of drugs so they can decide about the level of risk they are willing to accept."

Lee, the Dallas liver specialist, also supports the proposed limits. He provided data on acetaminophen poisoning to the FDA advisory panel.

The full FDA is considering the recommendations, but any final decisions are months away.

The proposed ban on Vicodin and Percocet is justified because they're so easy to abuse, Lee said. The narcotics in these drugs are addictive and can lead users to take increasingly higher doses — but that also means increasingly higher amounts of acetaminophen.

Quoting a colleague, Lee said it makes no sense to combine a highly addictive drug with a "dose-related poison. It's like putting poison and candy together."

Oxycodone, the narcotic in Percocet, can be prescribed separately. But Vicodin's narcotic ingredient is hydrocodone, which isn't available alone.

The risks for liver failure justify the restrictions, Lee said.

Government tightening food safety standards

WASHINGTON - New safety standards aimed at reducing salmonella and E. coli outbreaks are part of a government effort to try to make food safer to eat.

A food safety panel established by President Barack Obama developed the new rules for eggs, poultry, beef, leafy greens, melons and tomatoes as well as for better coordination and communication among the agencies overseeing the nation's food supply.

The panel was to announce Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration and the Agriculture Department would adopt the standards, which follow a string of breakdowns in food safety.

Earlier this year a massive salmonella outbreak in peanut products sickened hundreds, was suspected of causing nine deaths and led to one of the largest product recalls in U.S. history. In the past month, Nestle Toll House cookie dough and 380,000 pounds of beef produced by the JBS Swift Beef Co. of Greeley, Colo., have been recalled due to connections with outbreaks of E. coli.

In March, Obama said he would create a special advisory group to coordinate antiquated food safety laws and recommend ways to update them. The FDA does not have enough money or workers to conduct annual inspections at more than a fraction of the 150,000 food processing plants and warehouses in the country, Obama said.

Under the new rules:

_The FDA will help the food industry establish better tracing systems to track the origins of a bacterial outbreak.

_A new network will be established to help the many agencies that regulate food safety to communicate better.

_Egg and poultry producers will have to follow new standards designed to reduce salmonella contamination.

_The Food Safety Inspection Service, the Agriculture Department agency that inspects meat, will increase sampling of ground beef ingredients in an effort to better find E. coli contamination.

_The FDA will recommend ways that producers of leafy greens, melons and tomatoes can reduce disease strains, and require stricter standards in those industries within two years.

_The FDA and the Agriculture Department also will create new positions to better oversee food safety.

The Agriculture Department inspects meat and poultry, and shares inspections of eggs with the FDA. The FDA inspects most other foods, but at least 15 government agencies are a part of the food safety system.

Health Headlines - July 7

FDA Approves Drug for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The chemotherapy drug Alimta can be used as a maintenance treatment for advanced cases of non-small cell lung cancer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Monday. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common form of the disease.

Drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co. said the drug will be used after an initial round of chemotherapy to prevent disease progression, the Associated Press reported.

The FDA's approval of this new use of Alimta was based on a study of 600 patients.

"This drug represents a new approach in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer," Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the Office of Oncology Drug Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a news release. "Typically, patients whose tumors respond to chemotherapy do not receive further treatment after four-to-six chemotherapy cycles. This study demonstrates an advantage in overall survival in certain patients who received Alimta for maintenance therapy."

Alimta (pemetrexed) was introduced in 2004 and was already approved for use alone or in combination with other chemotherapies to treat two other types of advanced lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos exposure, the AP reported.

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Laser Treatment Shows Promise Against Vision Loss

A new laser treatment may help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness among elderly people in the western world.

Improvements to sight were reported in about 50 people with diabetic eye disease who took part in early proof of concept trials, BBC News reported. Diabetic eye disease was used as a model in the tests because eye problems develop faster than in AMD, which affects central vision.

The painless laser treatment, developed by Professor John Marshall of King's College London, restores the back of the eye to a youthful condition. It does this by clearing away a build-up of natural waste materials produced by light-sensitive cells. As people age, the eyes' system for clearing away the waste materials can fail.

"If it is shown to work it is an extremely exciting development and potentially a real breakthrough," a spokeswoman for the Macular Disease Society in the U.K. told BBC News. "It will not sadly be useful in those who have already lost their sight to AMD, but it may have great hope for the future."

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Utility Knife Blades Found in Energy Drinks

Consumers should avoid Hardcore Energize Bullet drink and New Whey liquid products because utility knife blades were found in one container each of the energy drinks, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The apparent case of tampering has prompted a recall of the products, which are sold in test-tube like vials. No injuries have been reported, the Associated Press reported.

New Whey, which is made and sold in the United States by IDS of Oviedo, Fla., comes in two flavors -- blue raspberry and fruit punch. Hardcore Energize Bullet is made by Protica Inc., of Whitehall, Pa., and is sold in Canada in two flavors, Black Rush and Blue Rage.

Health Tips for July 7

Health Tip: Wear a Helmet

Wearing a helmet during certain sports or recreational activities can protect you against a serious head injury, including brain damage.

The U.S. National Safety Council recommends wearing a helmet if you participate in:

• Riding horses or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
• Baseball, softball or football.
• Biking.
• In-line skating or skateboarding.
• Snowboarding.
• Rock climbing.

Health Tip: Prevent Skateboarding Injuries

When skateboarding, falling is the last thing you want to do. But practicing how to fall safely can help you reduce your risk of injury.

The U.S. National Safety Council offers these suggestions:

• Practice crouching down low on the skateboard if you start to feel unbalanced. That way, you won't hit the ground from so far up.
• Try landing on the softer, fleshier parts of your body, not bones or joints that are more prone to injury.
• Practice rolling when you fall, instead of absorbing the impact with your arms.
• Practice relaxing your body instead of tensing up as you fall.

Health Headlines - July 6

Many More Kids Vaccinated For Hepatitis A

One-dose hepatitis A vaccination coverage among U.S. infants ages 24 months to 35 months increased from 26.3 percent in 2006 to 47.4 percent in 2007, says a federal government study released Thursday.

The increase followed a 2006 recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that all children ages 12 months to 23 months be immunized against hepatitis A. Previously, vaccination was recommended only for children who lived in areas where hepatitis A rates were consistently higher than the national average.

The 2006 recommendation also lowered the age for hepatitis vaccine from 24 months or older to 12 to 23 months.

Following the new recommendations, the largest increases in vaccination rates occurred in areas of the United States where hepatitis A vaccination wasn't previously recommended, said the CDC researchers.

The study appears in the current Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which is published by the CDC.

The analysis of one-dose vaccine coverage suggests efforts to implement the new recommendations are well under way, the researchers said. They added that future analysis of two or more vaccine doses will offer a better idea of how well children are being protected from hepatitis A.

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TB Vaccine May Be Fatal for Infants With HIV

Infants with HIV can die if they're given a standard tuberculosis vaccine, according to a three-year study conducted in South Africa.

The World Health Organization said the study found that babies born with HIV were more likely to contract a deadly form of TB if they were given the BCG, or bacille Calmette-Guerin, vaccine, the Associated Press reported.

Infants with HIV should not receive the vaccine, and vaccination should be delayed if a baby's HIV status is unknown, the researchers said.

The study appears in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

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Colon Cancer Study Is Stopped

A late-stage study of the cancer drug Sutent as a treatment for colon cancer has been halted because the drug is not effective enough, the drug's manufacturer, Pfizer, announced Tuesday.

The study was designed to compare the use of a combination treatment of Sutent and a type of chemotherapy with use of the chemotherapy alone. Researchers found that the combination treatment was not more effective at extending survival without cancer progression.

There were no safety issues, according to Pfizer.

Sutent is approved in the United States for treatment of advanced kidney cancer and gastrointestinal cancer, the Associated Press reported.

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U.S. Government to Seek Answers to Health-Care Questions

Should birth control pills be available over the counter? What's the best way to treat back pain? Should people with irregular heartbeats have surgery or take a drug?

The U.S. government plans to spend more than $1 billion to find the answers to questions such as those, according to an Associated Press report.

The money is part of the economic stimulus plan, specifically aimed at figuring out the so-called comparative effectiveness of various treatments, tests and strategies related to health care. The idea is to give doctors better information as to what's best for a particular patient and to give patients more ammunition to become active, informed participants in their health-care decisions, the AP said.

The questions released Tuesday came from the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, and included its top 100 priorities for study. The $1.1 billion set aside for the project would cover only a fraction of the research required to obtain answers, the AP reported.

Health Tips for July 6

Health Tip: Wax Buildup May Cause Hearing Loss

Inside your ear, there are glands that produce a waxy oil called cerumen. This helps protect your ear from dust, germs and other foreign substances, but too much wax buildup can trigger hearing loss. The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these warning signs of wax buildup in the ear: Pain in the ear. Hearing loss that tends to worsen over time. Ringing in the ear. A feeling that the ear is plugged or clogged. A feeling of fullness or pressure inside the ear. Contact your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. A blockage caused by ear wax generally is easy to treat, and full hearing usually is restored once the blockage is removed. Health Tip: Protect Your Hearing Ears are very sensitive to loud noises, and too much noise or prolonged exposure to loud noise can damage your hearing. Before you crank up the mp3 player, read these suggestions to prevent hearing loss, provided by the American Academy of Family Physicians: Wear protective ear coverings when working in a noisy area, such as around traffic or loud machinery. Wear earplugs when you know you'll be around loud noise for prolonged periods, especially when operating noisy tools and equipment. Use rubber mats under noisy electronics and appliances. Avoid too much noise at once, such as the TV and noisy appliances going at the same time. Don't use more noise to block out another noise. For example, don't turn up the music to drown out the sound of traffic or the vacuum cleaner.

Health Headlines - July 5

Calif. regulators warn of pot's cancer capability

It might take Californians a puff or two to get their heads around an apparent contradiction recently enshrined in state law. The same marijuana smoke that doctors can recommend to ease cancer patients' suffering must soon come with a warning saying it causes the disease.

State environmental regulators last month voted to place marijuana smoke on its list of hundreds of substances known to cause cancer. The decision could lead to warning signs in medical marijuana dispensaries and labels on packaged pot within a year.

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Europe's free, state-run health care has drawbacks

As President Barack Obama pushes to overhaul the American health care system, the role of government is at the heart of the debate. In Europe, free, state-run health care is a given.

The concept has been enshrined in Europe for generations. Health systems are built so inclusive that even illegal immigrants are entitled to free treatment beyond just emergency care. Europeans have some of the world's best hospitals and have made great strides in fighting problems like obesity and heart disease.

But the system is far from perfect.

In Britain, France, Switzerland and elsewhere, public health systems have become political punching bags for opposition parties, costs have skyrocketed and in some cases, patients have needlessly suffered and died.

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Scrub tech may have exposed thousands to hepatitis

A former surgery technician may have exposed thousands of Colorado patients to hepatitis C when she swapped her own dirty syringes for ones filled with a powerful narcotic, federal authorities said Thursday.

Kristen Diane Parker faces criminal charges for allegedly making the swaps while working at Audubon Ambulatory Surgery Center in Colorado Springs and Rose Medical Center in Denver.

Authorities say Parker admitted to changing out syringes containing a saline solution with ones filled with the painkiller Fentanyl. Parker injected herself with the drug, according to a complaint filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Denver.

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Why British Health Officials Say Swine Flu is Nothing to Party About

A month ago, Britain's Health Secretary Andy Burnham issued a statement urging British citizens not to panic despite a surge in cases of H1N1 influenza virus in the country. Now it seems health officials have the opposite problem, and are urging parents not to hold "swine flu parties" which some people believe will build up children's immunity by infecting them with the virus.

Parents in Britain have long held "chicken pox parties" at the beginning of summer so that children can catch the disease at a convenient time. But recent chatter on various internet sites has health officials worried that parents are planning similar events for swine flu in order to make their children immune to the virus should it mutate into a more lethal form. In a statement on Tuesday, Sir Liam Donaldson, Britain's Chief Medical Officer, said such parties were the result of "seriously flawed thinking". (See pictures of swine flu hitting Mexico.)

"We would never recommend intentionally exposing anyone to swine flu," Donaldson said. " We don't yet know enough about the risk profile of the virus, and while it has generally been mild in the U.K., in some parts of the world young previously healthy adults have died. Parents would never forgive themselves if they exposed a vulnerable child to serious illness."

Health Tips for July 5

Health Tip: Understanding Pre-Diabetes

Before some people develop full-blown diabetes, their blood sugar is above normal, but not high enough to qualify for a diagnosis of diabetes.

This condition is called pre-diabetes, the American Diabetes Association says.

Normally, a person's blood sugar (glucose) is 100 mg/dl or below. When it rises to between 100 mg/dl and 125 mg/dl, a person has pre-diabetes. Once a blood test determines that blood sugar is 126 mg/dl or higher, diabetes is diagnosed, the ADA says.

If you have pre-diabetes, you should discuss with your doctor making lifestyle changes including modest weight loss and getting regular exercise. This can help prevent pre-diabetes from turning into the full-blown disease.

Health Tip: What's Ketoacidosis?

Hyperglycemia, the medical name for high blood sugar, affects just about every person with diabetes at one time or another, the American Diabetes Association says.

Left untreated, hyperglycemia can trigger a condition called ketoacidosis, sometimes called diabetic coma. This occurs when there isn't enough insulin for the body to process blood sugar, so it begins to process fats for fuel instead.

That's when toxic waste products called ketones are produced. When the body can't expel ketones fast enough through the urine, they start to build up, possibly leading to ketoacidosis.

This condition needs immediate treatment. Symptoms include difficulty catching your breath, fruity scent to the breath, vomiting, nausea and dry mouth.

Exercise can help reduce blood sugar and prevent ketoacidosis. But if your blood sugar rises above 240 mg/dl, you should check your urine for ketones. If you detect ketones, do not exercise and seek immediate medical attention, the ADA warns.

Health Headlines - July 4

Happy Independence Day!

Vegetarian diet 'weakens bones'

People who live on vegetarian diets have slightly weaker bones than their meat-eating counterparts, Australian researchers said Friday.

A joint Australian-Vietnamese study of links between the bones and diet of more than 2,700 people found that vegetarians had bones five percent less dense than meat-eaters, said lead researcher Tuan Nguyen.

The issue was most pronounced in vegans, who excluded all animal products from their diet and whose bones were six percent weaker, Nguyen said.

There was "practically no difference" between the bones of meat-eaters and ovolactovegetarians, who excluded meat and seafood but ate eggs and dairy products, he said.

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Bedwetting, being overweight linked to sleep apnea

Children who are overweight and wet the bed at night may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), researchers report.

Both being overweight and wetting the bed are associated with the nighttime breathing disorder, they found. However, overweight and bedwetting are not associated with each other.

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Study: New flu inefficient in attacking people

With swine flu continuing to spread around the world, researchers say they have found the reason it is — so far — more a series of local blazes than a wide-raging wildfire. The new virus, H1N1, has a protein on its surface that is not very efficient at binding with receptors in people's respiratory tracts, researchers at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology report in Friday's edition of the journal Science.

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Uganda to outlaw female circumcision

Uganda will pass a law banning female genital mutilation, which is rampant among pastoralist tribes in the country's eastern region, the president said in a statement Friday.

Health Tips for July 4

Put Safety First on the 4th
Follow these tips to avoid fireworks hazards

Celebrations including fireworks cause almost 10,000 injuries every year in the United States, but taking certain precautions can help keep you and others safe while enjoying the key summer holiday tradition. The nonprofit MCG Health Inc. Corporation, which runs several Georgia-based medical facilities, offers this advice for fireworks safety: Obey all local laws regarding fireworks. If you are in an area where they are not allowed by law, do not use them. If they are legal, buy from known and licensed sellers. Never make your own fireworks. Before lighting any fireworks, make sure the launch area is open, away from homes and people, and not near flammable materials including dry leaves or grass. Have water on hand in case of emergencies. Take time to read the label and follow directions, and use the fireworks only as intended. Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers. Always wear eye protection and keep all body parts away from a firework while lighting. After lighting, get out of range and stay alert. Don't throw or point fireworks at other people. Never re-light a dud. Instead, wait at least 20 minutes and then soak it in water. Do not allow children to handle fireworks, even sparklers. These fireworks, which can reach temperatures above 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, are responsible for the greatest number of injuries in children aged 10 to 14, and can start fires if conditions are right. When attending public fireworks displays, stay behind designated safety barriers. Fireworks displays are usually best viewed from at least a quarter mile away.

CPSC Demonstrates Fireworks Hazards, Urges Consumers to Celebrate Legally and Safely on Independence Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. - With Independence Day near and American patriotism high, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges consumers to celebrate the occasion safely by not purchasing or using illegal fireworks and by adhering to safety guidelines if using legal ones.

At a press conference on the National Mall today, Chairman Hal Stratton demonstrated the explosive and destructive force of illegal fireworks. He also demonstrated the hazards young children risk when using legal fireworks and sparklers and the dangers consumers face when they use fireworks in an unsafe manner. "The consequences of fireworks misuse can be severe burns, loss of eyesight, amputation, and even death," Stratton said.

"Above all, never give fireworks, even sparklers, to young children," Stratton said. "Sparklers burn at temperatures of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That's hot enough to cause third degree burns."

Hospital emergency rooms in the U.S. treated about 8,800 people for fireworks-related injuries in 2002, according to a commission staff analysis. However, the number of injuries has decreased significantly from the highs of 1992 to 1994, when injuries averaged 12,500 a year. Stratton attributes the decrease to rigorous enforcement, more consumer awareness of the potential dangers fireworks pose, and the production of a higher quality product by reputable fireworks manufacturers.

Through undercover buys, online purchases, inspections and investigations, CPSC is tracking down and shutting down illegal roadside stands, warehouses and retail stores that sell professional grade explosives to consumers, and homes that serve as havens for the manufacture of dangerous fireworks devices.

As part of its fireworks enforcement program, CPSC actively works with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Justice Department's Office of Consumer Litigation, U.S. Attorney's Offices across the country, and the Bureau of Customs & Border Protection to prevent millions of hazardous and illegal fireworks from reaching consumers. For example, since 1988, CPSC and the Bureau of Customs & Border Protection have seized or detained more than 400 million hazardous fireworks at docks across the country.

CPSC and ATF have worked closely to build criminal cases against manufacturers and distributors in Seattle, a retailer in Indiana, and an importer/dealer in Kansas. These joint investigations led to the seizure of thousands of M-80s, M-100s, quarter sticks, and professional fireworks marked for consumers that could have caused serious injuries or death.

Highly explosive M-80's, cherry bombs, and quarter sticks have been banned under Federal law since 1966. Additionally, it is illegal to sell mail order kits that include the chemicals and components to make such large firecrackers.

If you do decide to set fireworks off on your own, be sure to follow these important safety tips:

• Make sure your fireworks are legal in your area.
  
  
• Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
  
  
• A responsible adult should closely supervise all fireworks activities.
  
  
• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
  
  
• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
  
  
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
  
  
• Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable materials.
  
  
• Light one item at a time, then move back quickly.
  
  
• Never try to re-light fireworks that have not fully functioned.
  
  
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them in metal or glass containers.
  
  
• Keep a bucket of water or a hose handy in case of a malfunction or fire.

Health Headlines - July 3

Many More Kids Vaccinated For Hepatitis A

One-dose hepatitis A vaccination coverage among U.S. infants ages 24 months to 35 months increased from 26.3 percent in 2006 to 47.4 percent in 2007, says a federal government study released Thursday.

The increase followed a 2006 recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that all children ages 12 months to 23 months be immunized against hepatitis A. Previously, vaccination was recommended only for children who lived in areas where hepatitis A rates were consistently higher than the national average.

The 2006 recommendation also lowered the age for hepatitis vaccine from 24 months or older to 12 to 23 months.

Following the new recommendations, the largest increases in vaccination rates occurred in areas of the United States where hepatitis A vaccination wasn't previously recommended, said the CDC researchers.

The study appears in the current Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which is published by the CDC.

The analysis of one-dose vaccine coverage suggests efforts to implement the new recommendations are well under way, the researchers said. They added that future analysis of two or more vaccine doses will offer a better idea of how well children are being protected from hepatitis A.

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TB Vaccine May Be Fatal for Infants With HIV

Infants with HIV can die if they're given a standard tuberculosis vaccine, according to a three-year study conducted in South Africa.

The World Health Organization said the study found that babies born with HIV were more likely to contract a deadly form of TB if they were given the BCG, or bacille Calmette-Guerin, vaccine, the Associated Press reported.

Infants with HIV should not receive the vaccine, and vaccination should be delayed if a baby's HIV status is unknown, the researchers said.

The study appears in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

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Colon Cancer Study Is Stopped

A late-stage study of the cancer drug Sutent as a treatment for colon cancer has been halted because the drug is not effective enough, the drug's manufacturer, Pfizer, announced Tuesday.

The study was designed to compare the use of a combination treatment of Sutent and a type of chemotherapy with use of the chemotherapy alone. Researchers found that the combination treatment was not more effective at extending survival without cancer progression.

There were no safety issues, according to Pfizer.

Sutent is approved in the United States for treatment of advanced kidney cancer and gastrointestinal cancer, the Associated Press reported.

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U.S. Government to Seek Answers to Health-Care Questions

Should birth control pills be available over the counter? What's the best way to treat back pain? Should people with irregular heartbeats have surgery or take a drug?

The U.S. government plans to spend more than $1 billion to find the answers to questions such as those, according to an Associated Press report.

The money is part of the economic stimulus plan, specifically aimed at figuring out the so-called comparative effectiveness of various treatments, tests and strategies related to health care. The idea is to give doctors better information as to what's best for a particular patient and to give patients more ammunition to become active, informed participants in their health-care decisions, the AP said.

The questions released Tuesday came from the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, and included its top 100 priorities for study. The $1.1 billion set aside for the project would cover only a fraction of the research required to obtain answers, the AP reported.

Health Tips for July 3

Health Tip: Straining the Hamstring

A hamstring injury can sideline an athlete or exercise buff for quite a while.

While anyone can pull a hamstring, some people are at greater risk of the injury. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers this list:

• Young athletes who are still maturing.
• Many professional athletes, including runners, football players, skaters and soccer players.
• People who run or sprint for exercise.
• Dancers.
• Seniors who play sports or who take frequent walks.

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 - July 2

TB Vaccine May Be Fatal for Infants With HIV

Infants with HIV can die if they're given a standard tuberculosis vaccine, according to a three-year study conducted in South Africa.

The World Health Organization said the study found that babies born with HIV were more likely to contract a deadly form of TB if they were given the BCG, or bacille Calmette-Guerin, vaccine, the Associated Press reported.

Infants with HIV should not receive the vaccine, and vaccination should be delayed if a baby's HIV status is unknown, the researchers said.

The study appears in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

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Colon Cancer Study Is Stopped

A late-stage study of the cancer drug Sutent as a treatment for colon cancer has been halted because the drug is not effective enough, the drug's manufacturer, Pfizer, announced Tuesday.

The study was designed to compare the use of a combination treatment of Sutent and a type of chemotherapy with use of the chemotherapy alone. Researchers found that the combination treatment was not more effective at extending survival without cancer progression.

There were no safety issues, according to Pfizer.

Sutent is approved in the United States for treatment of advanced kidney cancer and gastrointestinal cancer, the Associated Press reported.

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U.S. Government to Seek Answers to Health-Care Questions

Should birth control pills be available over the counter? What's the best way to treat back pain? Should people with irregular heartbeats have surgery or take a drug?

The U.S. government plans to spend more than $1 billion to find the answers to questions such as those, according to an Associated Press report.

The money is part of the economic stimulus plan, specifically aimed at figuring out the so-called comparative effectiveness of various treatments, tests and strategies related to health care. The idea is to give doctors better information as to what's best for a particular patient and to give patients more ammunition to become active, informed participants in their health-care decisions, the AP said.

The questions released Tuesday came from the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, and included its top 100 priorities for study. The $1.1 billion set aside for the project would cover only a fraction of the research required to obtain answers, the AP reported.

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Many Factors Contribute to AMD: Study

A wide range of genetic and environmental factors contribute to the risk of developing the eye disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD), says a U.S. study.

Researchers followed more than 1,400 people for an average of 6.3 years and identified a number of risk factors that were used to develop a predictive and possibly diagnostic model, United Press International reported.

The factors include gene variants, age, smoking, body mass index, and ocular and environmental factors. All were independently associated with AMD.

"The determinants of the model can be assessed by completing a questionnaire and taking a blood test, and it is a tool which could be used to help guide prevention and treatments," lead author Dr. Johanna M. Seddon, of Tufts University School of Medicine, and director of the Ophthalmic Epidemiology and Genetics Service and Tufts Medical Center, said in a news release, UPI reported.

The study was published in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

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Healthy Eating a Challenge at Work: Survey

A bounty of unhealthy snacks in American workplaces makes it difficult for employees to stick to a healthy diet, according to a new survey.

Sixty-three percent of respondents said they find it a challenge to eat healthy in their workplace and 47 percent said it's because there are too many unhealthy snack options available to them at work, United Press International reported.

Only 7 percent of respondents said they eat healthier at work than they do at home, said the survey, which was sponsored by Peapod Business Delivery.

Among the other findings:

• 28 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with the amount of healthy snack choices available to them at work.
• Fresh produce is the food that employees most want in the workplace, but only 36 percent of companies regularly provide vegetables and fruits.
• Candy is at the bottom of the list of foods that workers want, yet 1 in 3 businesses offer candy to employees.

Health Tips for July 2

Health Tip: Preventing a Kitchen Fire

A kitchen fire can flare at a moment's notice -- as soon as you turn your back on your broiling or baking dinner.

The fireSafety.gov Web site offers these suggestions for preventing a cooking fire:

• Never leave your kitchen while food is cooking. Always keep a watchful eye.
• Don't cook while wearing loose clothing. Choose short or tight sleeves to keep them from an open flame.
• Don't allow young children around the stove or oven.
• Keep your kitchen and stove clean and free of build-up that can ignite.
• Keep flammable items such as towels, pot holders and curtains from an open flame or heat.
• Turn the handles of your pan to the inside to prevent accidentally knocking a handle and causing a spill.

Health Tip: Install Smoke Alarms at Home

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

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

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

Health Headlines - July 1

Many Factors Contribute to AMD: Study

A wide range of genetic and environmental factors contribute to the risk of developing the eye disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD), says a U.S. study.

Researchers followed more than 1,400 people for an average of 6.3 years and identified a number of risk factors that were used to develop a predictive and possibly diagnostic model, United Press International reported.

The factors include gene variants, age, smoking, body mass index, and ocular and environmental factors. All were independently associated with AMD.

"The determinants of the model can be assessed by completing a questionnaire and taking a blood test, and it is a tool which could be used to help guide prevention and treatments," lead author Dr. Johanna M. Seddon, of Tufts University School of Medicine, and director of the Ophthalmic Epidemiology and Genetics Service and Tufts Medical Center, said in a news release, UPI reported.

The study was published in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

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Healthy Eating A Challenge At Work: Survey

A bounty of unhealthy snacks in American workplaces makes it difficult for employees to stick to a healthy diet, according to a new survey.

Sixty-three percent of respondents said they find it a challenge to eat healthy in their workplace and 47 percent said it's because there are too many unhealthy snack options available to them at work, United Press International reported.

Only 7 percent of respondents said they eat healthier at work than they do at home, said the survey, which was sponsored by Peapod Business Delivery.

Among the other findings:

• 28 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with the amount of healthy snack choices available to them at work.
• Fresh produce is the food that employees most want in the workplace, but only 36 percent of companies regularly provide vegetables and fruits.
• Candy is at the bottom of the list of foods that workers want, yet 1 in 3 businesses offer candy to employees.

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E. Coli Found in Nestlé Cookie Dough: FDA

A sample of Toll House refrigerated cookie dough made at a Nestlé USA plant in Virginia has tested positive for E. coli bacteria, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Monday.

The agency is waiting for test results to determine if the E. coli in the cookie dough from the plant in Danville is the same strain that sickened at least 69 people nationwide, the Wall Street Journal reported. The tests are expected to be completed later this week.

The E. coli was found in a sample from a 16-oz. chocolate chip cookie dough bar that had a production date of Feb. 10 and best-use date of June 10. The sample was collected when FDA investigators were inspecting the Danville plant.

"Nestlé continues to work closely and in full cooperation with the FDA on the ongoing investigation," said Laurie MacDonald, vice president of corporate and brand affairs at Nestlé USA, the Journal reported. "We are very concerned about those who have become ill from E. coli 0157:H7, and deeply regret that this has occurred."

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Daily Sex Improves Sperm Quality: Study

Having more sex helps men with fertility problems boost the quality of their sperm, says an Australian study that included 118 men with damaged sperm.

When the men had sex every day for a week, 81 percent of them had a 12 percent reduction in the amount of sperm with damaged DNA, the Associated Press reported.

The study was presented at a meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

Experts note that if sperm is in the body for too long, it's more likely to get damaged, the AP reported.

Other ways of improving sperm quality include not smoking, drinking in moderation, exercise, and consuming more antioxidants.

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Too Few Young Adults Treated for Alcohol, Drug Problems: Study

More than one in five young adults in the United States (7 million) need treatment for alcohol or illicit drug use, but only 7 percent of them receive treatment at a specialty facility, says a federal government study released Monday.

Those levels have remained relatively stable since 2002, said the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) study of 2007 data from a national survey of 22,187 adults ages 18 to 25.

"Substance use disorders are preventable and treatable yet we continue as a nation to allow the lives of 1 in 5 young people and their families be torn apart by substance abuse," SAMHSA Acting Adminstrator Eric Broderick said in a news release. "As a nation we must redouble our efforts to prevent substance abuse in the first place and ensure treatment is available to those in need."

The study also found that 96 percent of young adults who needed, but didn't receive, treatment for substance-use problems didn't believe they needed help.

Among the other findings from the 2007 data:

• Among young adults, 17.2 percent needed treatment for alcohol disorders in the past year, 8.4 percent for illicit drug disorders, and 4.4 percent for both alcohol and illicit drug disorders.
• Young adults covered by Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) were more than three times as likely as those with private insurance to receive treatment for alcohol or illicit drug use in a specialty facility -- 13.2 percent vs. 4 percent.

Health Tips for July 1

Health Tip: When Your Child Needs Glasses

Some children may resist wearing eyeglasses, despite the resulting improvement in vision, school work and even extracurricular sports.

The Cleveland Clinic offers these suggestions to help your child accept a new pair of glasses:

• Choose frames that fit well, and don't pinch, slip or feel too heavy.
• Ensure that your child's lenses are the right prescription.
• Encourage your child to wear the new glasses a little bit at a time, gradually wearing them for longer periods.
• Ultimately, make putting on and taking off glasses a part of your child's daily morning and bedtime routines.
• Encourage your child with praise every time he or she is wearing the glasses.

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.