Health Headlines - January 18

Apple CEO Steve Jobs Takes Medical Leave

Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs is taking his second medical leave of absence in two years in order to focus on his health.

He announced his intentions in a note Monday to company employees, but no further information was provided about his current condition, the Associated Pressreported.

In 2004, Jobs was treated for a rare form of pancreatic cancer and in 2009 he had a liver transplant.

Jobs said he will continue as CEO during his medical leave and will be involved in major decisions, but the company's chief operating officer will be responsible for day-to-day operations, the AP reported.

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Opposition to Health Care Law Decreases: Poll

The level of opposition to the U.S. health care law has decreased, according to a phone survey of 1,001 adults conducted Jan. 5-10.

The Associated Press-GfK poll found that 41 percent of respondents oppose the law, while 40 percent support it. Following November's congressional elections, opposition was 47 percent and support was 38 percent.

Opposition remains strongest among Republicans, with 71 percent against it, while 35 percent of independents and 19 percent of Democrats are oppose the law.

Overall, strong opposition to the law is 30 percent, which is close to the lowest level recorded in AP-GfK polls going back to September 2009.

Only about one in four respondents want the law repealed, 43 percent want it changed so that it does more to rework the health care system, and fewer than one in five want it left as it is, the AP reported.

Nearly six in 10 respondents are against the law's requirement that people must have health insurance or face penalties.

A Republican-led vote on repealing the health care law is expected to take place this week in the House.

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Large Recall of Tylenol, Sudafed

Nearly 47 million packages of Tylenol, Sudafed and other nonprescription drugs have been recalled due to insufficient cleaning procedures, says Johnson & Johnson.

The recall affects wholesalers in the United States, the Caribbean and Brazil, but consumers don't have to take any action, according to the company, the Associated Press reported.

The new recall is just the latest in a series of large recalls of products made at Johnson & Johnson's plant in Fort Washington, Pa., which was closed in April following a Food and Drug Administration investigation that revealed a number of problems. These included some equipment coated in thick layers of dust and duct tape holding together other pieces of equipment.

On Friday, the company also announced a recall of Rolaids tablets because they do not have certain labeling information, the AP reported.