Health Headlines - February 28

CDC Tracking Potential Measles Transmission at 3 U.S. Airports

A young woman who traveled from the U.K. to 3 different U.S. airports last Tuesday while infected with measles may have passed the virus on to others, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The agency is scrambling to track down other passengers and workers potentially exposed to the highly communicable virus, ABC News reported. "Public health authorities consider this a medical urgency, if not an emergency. They will do everything they can to track down everyone to see if they are indeed protected," William Schaffner, chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt Medical School, told ABC.

The 27-year-old woman in question landed in Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., after flying from the U.K. She then transited to Denver, where she spent 3 hours before flying to Albuquerque, N.M., the CDC said. Since the measles virus is highly transmittable via the air, anyone in her vicinity could potentially have been exposed to the bug.

Measles has been largely eradicated in the United States, and only about 60 cases are reported to the CDC each year. The agency says that children who did not get vaccinated against the virus, and adults who said no to immunization are at highest risk. The woman traveler in question had declined immunization on religious grounds, the CDC said.

Measles takes about 18 days to develop, so the actual extent of exposure remains to be seen. According to ABC, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued a warning Friday advising people who had been in Denver International Airport's concourse C to look for early symptoms of measles, such as runny nose, fever and cough, with onset expected between March 1 and March 12.

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Lift OTC Age Restrictions on Morning-After Pill: Company

A request to make the Plan B One-Step morning after birth control pill available to women of all ages without a prescription has been filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Currently, women 17 and older can buy the drug over-the-counter, but those younger than 17 require a prescription for the high-dose hormone pill that needs to be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, ABC News reported.

Drug maker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. says Plan B One-Step meets FDA scientific criteria for OTC products.

"Label comprehension and safety data show that all women are able to safely and effectively take this product. It is not typical for any women's health product to have age restrictions," said Denise Bradley, senior director of corporate communications at Teva Pharmaceuticals, ABC News reported.

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Transplant Patient Now Has Two Hearts

An American man with two beating hearts -- a transplanted one and his own -- is expected to be released from hospital Friday and should be able to resume normal activities within a few months, according to his doctors.

Tyson Smith, 36, underwent the "piggyback transplant" Feb. 13 at the University of California San Diego Center for Transplantation. The new heart helps his damaged heart keep beating, FoxNews.com reported.

"This is a very rare procedure, but one worth having in the tool kit of options in cardiac replacement. It's a safe operation with an average survival of 10 years," Dr. Jack Copeland, a professor of surgery and director of cardiac transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at UC San Diego Health System, said in a news release.

Smith's heart was enlarged to more than three times its normal size and he had just two options, FoxNews.com reported.

The choices were a "mechanical left ventricular assist device (LVAD), which would replace the function of his left heart and allow him to then go on to a standard heart transplant in a few months; or the so called piggyback transplant, which replaces the patient's left heart and allows the patient's right heart to continue the right-sided pumping through the lungs," Copeland said. "This way, Mr. Smith needed only one operation rather than two, which saves the patient time, inconvenience, and pain, and reduces medical costs."

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Kidney Transplant Changes Could Favor Younger Patients

Changes that would direct the best kidneys to younger healthier people instead of giving priority to patients who have been on the waiting list longest are being considered by U.S. organ transplant network officials.

The new guidelines would put more emphasis on matching recipients and organs based on factors such as age and health in order to maximize the number of years that a transplanted kidney would last.

"It's an effort to get the most out of a scarce resource," Kenneth Andreoni, an associate professor of surgery at Ohio State University, told the Washington Post. He chairs the committee that is reviewing the kidney donation system for the United Network for Organ Sharing.

Some experts worry that the changes could unfairly penalize middle-aged and elderly patients.

"The best kidneys are from young adults under age 35 years. Nobody over the age of 50 will ever see one of those," Lainie Friedman Ross, a University of Chicago bioethicist and physician, told the Post. "There are a lot of people in their 50s and 60s who, with a properly functioning kidney, could have 20 or more years of life. We're making it harder for them to get a kidney that will function for that length of time. It's age discrimination."

More than 87,000 Americans are on the waiting list for a kidney, but only 17,000 get kidneys each year. More than 4,600 die because they did not get a kidney in time.

Health Tips for February 28

Health Tip: When Sinusitis Affects Children

Sinusitis occurs when the air-filled cavities inside the skull become inflamed.

The University of Maryland Medical Center says these factors increase your child's risk of developing sinusitis:

• Having hay fever or allergic rhinitis (a stuffy or runny nose often accompanied by itchy eyes and post-nasal drip).
• Being in daycare.
• Having a condition that affects the cilia (small hairs in the sinuses).
• Undergoing altitude changes, such as those that occur during air travel or scuba diving.
• Having enlarged adenoids, or rarely, an infected tooth.
• Having a immune system that's compromised by chemotherapy, HIV infection or other conditions.
• Having cystic fibrosis, an inherited disease that results in thick, sticky mucus in the lungs and digestive tract.

Health Tip: Treating a Sinus Headache

A sinus headache usually is caused when the air-filled cavities around your nose, eyes and cheeks become congested and inflamed. Doctors call this condition sinusitis.

The University of Maryland Medical Association suggests how you can help ease sinus pain:

• Use a humidifier or saline nasal spray, as recommended by your doctor, to help ease sinus congestion.
• Ask your doctor how to keep allergies and asthma under control.
• Gently stretch the head and neck.
• Take prescription or over-the-counter medications as appropriate for your condition, such as antibiotics for bacterial infections, corticosteroids, antihistamines or decongestants.

Health Headlines - February 27

Lift OTC Age Restrictions on Morning-After Pill: Company

A request to make the Plan B One-Step morning after birth control pill available to women of all ages without a prescription has been filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Currently, women 17 and older can buy the drug over-the-counter, but those younger than 17 require a prescription for the high-dose hormone pill that needs to be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, ABC News reported.

Drug maker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. says Plan B One-Step meets FDA scientific criteria for OTC products.

"Lable comprehension and safety data show that all women are able to safely and effectively take this product. It is not typical for any women's health product to have age restrictions," said Denise Bradley, senior director of corporate communications at Teva Pharmaceuticals, ABC News reported.

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Transplant Patient Now Has Two Hearts

An American man with two beating hearts -- a transplanted one and his own -- is expected to be released from hospital Friday and should be able to resume normal activities within a few months, according to his doctors.

Tyson Smith, 36, underwent the "piggyback transplant" Feb. 13 at the University of California San Diego Center for Transplantation. The new heart helps his damaged heart keep beating, FoxNews.com reported.

"This is a very rare procedure, but one worth having in the tool kit of options in cardiac replacement. It's a safe operation with an average survival of 10 years," Dr. Jack Copeland, a professor of surgery and director of cardiac transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at UC San Diego Health System, said in a news release.

Smith's heart was enlarged to more than three times its normal size and he had just two options, FoxNews.com reported.

The choices were a "mechanical left ventricular assist device (LVAD), which would replace the function of his left heart and allow him to then go on to a standard heart transplant in a few months; or the so called piggyback transplant, which replaces the patient's left heart and allows the patient's right heart to continue the right-sided pumping through the lungs," Copeland said. "This way, Mr. Smith needed only one operation rather than two, which saves the patient time, inconvenience, and pain, and reduces medical costs."

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Kidney Transplant Changes Could Favor Younger Patients

Changes that would direct the best kidneys to younger healthier people instead of giving priority to patients who have been on the waiting list longest are being considered by U.S. organ transplant network officials.

The new guidelines would put more emphasis on matching recipients and organs based on factors such as age and health in order to maximize the number of years that a transplanted kidney would last.

"It's an effort to get the most out of a scarce resource," Kenneth Andreoni, an associate professor of surgery at Ohio State University, told the Washington Post. He chairs the committee that is reviewing the kidney donation system for the United Network for Organ Sharing.

Some experts worry that the changes could unfairly penalize middle-aged and elderly patients.

"The best kidneys are from young adults under age 35 years. Nobody over the age of 50 will ever see one of those," Lainie Friedman Ross, a University of Chicago bioethicist and physician, told the Post. "There are a lot of people in their 50s and 60s who, with a properly functioning kidney, could have 20 or more years of life. We're making it harder for them to get a kidney that will function for that length of time. It's age discrimination."

More than 87,000 Americans are on the waiting list for a kidney, but only 17,000 get kidneys each year. More than 4,600 die because they did not get a kidney in time.

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Toyota Announces Expanded Recall

About 2.1 million more Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the United States are included in an expanded recall of floor mats that can jam against cause accelerator pedals and cause unintended acceleration, Toyota announced Thursday.

The company claims the recalls are voluntary, but U.S. regulators say they requested them, USA Today reported.

The vehicles in the expanded recall include: Toyota RAV4, Lexus LX, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX, and Lexu GS.

Last year, Toyota recalled hundreds of thousands of vehicles to replace floor mats that can jam against accelerator pedals or to replace pedal mechanisms that can stick, USA Today reported.

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Blocking Enzyme Prevents Breast Cancer Spread: Study

U.K. researchers have found a way to prevent breast cancer from spreading to other organs in mice.

They achieved this by blocking an enzyme called LOXL2 and said their findings offer a "fantastic" target for the development of new drugs to prevent breast cancer metastasis in women, BBC News reported.

The study appears in the journal Cancer Research.

The "results are very exciting, as although currently we can treat breast cancer that has spread, we cannot cure it," Arlene Wilkie, director of research and policy at Breast Cancer Campaign in the U.K., told BBC News.

The campaign helped fund the study.

Health Tips for February 27

Health Tip: Help Prevent COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a general term for the narrowing of the small bronchi, the smaller airways that carry air to the lungs. The two prime diseases that make up COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

The American Lung Association suggests these steps to help protect you from COPD:

• Don't smoke, and quit if you currently smoke.
• Stay away from secondhand smoke, and don't allow other people to smoke in your home.
• Avoid exposure to lung-damaging chemicals.
• Take steps to help promote clean air in your community.
• Schedule a visit with your doctor if you suspect that you may have COPD, particularly if you are 45 or older and have a history of smoking.

Health Tip: Be Careful While Using Oxygen Therapy

While you're using at-home oxygen therapy, remember that you'll need to be very cautious around anything that has a flame or can ignite.

The ADAM Encyclopedia offers these safety suggestions:

• Make sure there are working smoke detectors throughout your home, and keep a fire extinguisher handy.
• Never smoke or allow smoking around the oxygen; stay a minimum of 6 feet from any smoker.
• Keep the oxygen at least 6 feet from any fireplace, stove or electric appliance such as a hairdryer, electric toothbrush or razor, electric blanket, electric toy, space heater or electric baseboard heater.
• Keep the oxygen as far away as possible from an oven or stove while cooking, and be very wary of grease splatters.
• Keep the oxygen away from any flammable liquid.

Health Headlines - February 26

Toyota Announces Expanded Recall

About 2.1 million more Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the United States are included in an expanded recall of floor mats that can jam against cause accelerator pedals and cause unintended acceleration, Toyota announced Thursday.

The company claims the recalls are voluntary, but U.S. regulators say they requested them, USA Today reported.

The vehicles in the expanded recall include: Toyota RAV4, Lexus LX, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX, and Lexu GS.

Last year, Toyota recalled hundreds of thousands of vehicles to replace floor mats that can jam against accelerator pedals or to replace pedal mechanisms that can stick, USA Today reported.

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Blocking Enzyme Prevents Breast Cancer Spread: Study

U.K. researchers have found a way to prevent breast cancer from spreading to other organs in mice.

They achieved this by blocking an enzyme called LOXL2 and said their findings offer a "fantastic" target for the development of new drugs to prevent breast cancer metastasis in women, BBC News reported.

The study appears in the journal Cancer Research.

The "results are very exciting, as although currently we can treat breast cancer that has spread, we cannot cure it," Arlene Wilkie, director of research and policy at Breast Cancer Campaign in the U.K., told BBC News.

The campaign helped fund the study.

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Feds Want Cigarette Companies to Make Public Confessions

The largest cigarette makers in the United States may be forced to run an ad campaign saying they lied to the public about the dangers of smoking.

On Wednesday, the Justice Department released 14 "corrective statements" it believes the companies should make as part of a 12-year-old lawsuit against the tobacco industry, the Associated Press reported.

The cigarette makers, who would have to establish and pay for the advertising campaign to acknowledge their past misbehavior, aren't happy about the idea.

The Justice Department's corrective statements for the tobacco industry include:

• "A federal court is requiring tobacco companies to tell the truth about cigarette smoking. Here's the truth: ... Smoking kills 1,200 Americans. Every day."
• "We falsely marketed low tar and light cigarettes as less harmful than regular cigarettes to keep people smoking and sustain our profits."
• "We told Congress under oath that we believed nicotine is not addictive. We told you that smoking is not an addiction and all it takes to quit is willpower. Here's the truth: Smoking is very addictive. And it's not easy to quit."
• "The surgeon general has concluded" that "children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, ear problems and more severe asthma."

The proposed statements were released after the Justice Department received permission from U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler to place them in the public record, the APreported.

The judge, who will meet with federal officials and tobacco industry representatives Thursday, has not made a final decision on what the statements will say, where they must be placed, or for how long.

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Spending on Drugs for Diabetes, Cholesterol Exceeds $52 Billion

Drugs to treat metabolic conditions such as diabetes and high cholesterol were the class of prescription drugs that accounted for the highest level of spending by U.S. insurers and consumers in 2008, according to a federal government report.

Purchases of metabolic drugs by adults age 18 and older accounted for $52.2 billion (22 percent) of the nearly $233 billion spent overall to buy outpatient prescription medicines in 2008, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Ranked by total spending, the other top four classes of drugs were:

• Central and nervous system drugs used to relieve chronic pain and control epileptic seizures and Parkinson's disease tremors -- $35 billion.
• Cardiovascular drugs, including calcium channel blockers and diuretics -- $29 billion.
• Antacids, antidiarrheals, and other medicines for gastrointestinal conditions -- $20 billion.
• Antidepressants, antipsychotics and other psychotherapeutic drugs -- $20 billion.

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U.S. Whooping Cough Cases Topped 21,000 in 2010

More than 21,000 people in the United States got whooping cough last year, the highest number since 2005 and one of the highest numbers in more than 50 years, federal health officials said.

The recent spike in cases, many of which involve children and teens, puzzles experts because the vaccine against whooping cough is highly effective in children and vaccination rates for children are considered good, the Associated Press reported.

The latest figures were released at a vaccine advisory committee meeting in Atlanta.

Whooping cough, which is very contagious, starts like a cold but leads to severe coughing that can last for weeks. The disease can be fatal in rare cases, especially for infants too young to receive the vaccine, the AP reported.

Health Tips for February 26

Health Tip: Take Control of Your Health

If you have a chronic illness -- such as diabetes, arthritis or heart disease -- you can take an active role in managing your health.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these self-management guidelines:

• Examine your unhealthy behaviors, and choose which ones you'd like to change.
• Create specific goals and an action plan for how you'll reach those goals.
• Create backup plans -- for example, what you'll do for exercise when the weather is bad.
• Feel confident in your ability to reach your goals; if they seem too tough, reconsider your goals.
• Check in frequently with your doctor to discuss your progress and any problems.

Health Tip: Infections May Strike Bones

Osteomyelitis is a bone infection usually caused by bacteria or, less often, a fungus.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says these factors increase your risk of developing osteomyelitis:

• Being diabetic.
• Undergoing hemodialysis.
• Injecting drugs.
• Having a poor supply of blood.
• Having had a recent trauma.

Health Headlines - February 25

Spending on Drugs for Diabetes, Cholesterol Exceeds $52 Billion

Drugs to treat metabolic conditions such as diabetes and high cholesterol were the class of prescription drugs that accounted for the highest level of spending by U.S. insurers and consumers in 2008, according to a federal government report.

Purchases of metabolic drugs by adults age 18 and older accounted for $52.2 billion (22 percent) of the nearly $233 billion spent overall to buy outpatient prescription medicines in 2008, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Ranked by total spending, the other top four classes of drugs were:

• Central and nervous system drugs used to relieve chronic pain and control epileptic seizures and Parkinson's disease tremors -- $35 billion.
• Cardiovascular drugs, including calcium channel blockers and diuretics -- $29 billion.
• Antacids, antidiarrheals, and other medicines for gastrointestinal conditions -- $20 billion.
• Antidepressants, antipsychotics and other psychotherapeutic drugs -- $20 billion.

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U.S. Whooping Cough Cases Topped 21,000 in 2010

More than 21,000 people in the United States got whooping cough last year, the highest number since 2005 and one of the highest numbers in more than 50 years, federal health officials said.

The recent spike in cases, many of which involve children and teens, puzzles experts because the vaccine against whooping cough is highly effective in children and vaccination rates for children are considered good, the Associated Press reported.

The latest figures were released at a vaccine advisory committee meeting in Atlanta.

Whooping cough, which is very contagious, starts like a cold but leads to severe coughing that can last for weeks. The disease can be fatal in rare cases, especially for infants too young to receive the vaccine, the AP reported.

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Law Officials Target Florida Pill Mills

Doctors and pain clinic operators were expected to be among those arrested as federal agents and local police moved to close down illegal pill mills in South Florida, theAssociated Press reported.

The arrests are part of a lengthy undercover operation targeting dozens of pain clinics in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties that ship large amounts of powerful prescription drugs across the country, the news service said.

South Florida is the nation's hotbed for illegal sales of prescription drugs. For example, 85 percent of all oxycodone pills sold in the United States come from Florida, state officials recently revealed, the AP reported. Oxycodone is a highly addictive painkiller.

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Third Judge Rules in Favor of New Health Care Law

The constitutionality of the Obama health care law has been upheld by a third federal judge.

Two other federal district judges, both appointed by Republican presidents, have ruled against the law's provision that requires most Americans to obtain health insurance starting in 2014.

On Tuesday, Judge Gladys Kessler of Federal District Court for the District of Columbia rejected a constitutional challenge that was filed by five people represented by the American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative Christian legal group, The New York Times reported.

She and the other two judges who upheld the constitutionality of the health care law were appointed by President Bill Clinton.

More than 20 legal challenges to the health care law have been filed around the country. Most experts believe the legality of the law will be determined by the Supreme Court, but each lower court ruling adds to the balance of legal opinion that will be considered by the justices, the Times reported.

Health Tips for February 25

Health Tip: Symptoms That May Signal Dandruff

Dandruff, medically called seborrheic dermatitis, typically causes flaky skin on the scalp. In infants, it's sometimes called cradle cap.

The ADAM Encylopedia says seborrheic dermatitis -- which isn't dangerous, contagious or caused by poor hygiene -- may have other symptoms:

• In addition to the scalp, flaky skin also may appear around the nose and lips, behind and inside the ears, on the trunk of the body, on the eyelids or the eyebrows.
• Large flat patches or a skin rash.
• Skin that appears oily.
• Scaly skin that may be white or yellow.
• Itchy skin.
• Loss of hair.
• Mild skin redness.

Health Tip: Treating Cradle Cap

Red, scaly skin on a new baby's scalp could be seborrheic dermatitis, also called cradle cap.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests how to help clear baby's flaky scalp:

• Wash baby's hair with a mild shampoo, and gently scrub the scalp.
• If your pediatrician says it's OK, use a medicated shampoo.
• Use a soft brush to gently brush baby's hair and remove scales from the scalp.
• Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the head. Avoid baby oil, which isn't effective for this purpose.
• Use 1 percent hydrocortisone cream on baby's scalp, if your pediatrician recommends it.
• Shampoo regularly to help prevent cradle cap from coming back.

Health Headlines - February 24

U.S. Weighs Changes to Long-Term Disability Insurance Program

Major changes are needed to ensure the financial viability of a program meant to help American workers who become chronically ill or disabled to continue living in their homes, the Obama administration says.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said she is considering changing eligibility criteria so that only active workers may enroll in the program. She is also in favor of adjusting premiums to rise with inflation, The New York Times reported.

The program, part of the new health-care law, allows workers 18 and older to purchase insurance from the federal government to cover the costs of long-term care if chronic illness or disability prevents them from performing basic activities of daily living.

Workers must pay premiums for at least five years before they are eligible for benefits.

The Obama administration should make any changes that might be required to keep the program in good financial health, so "no one with a disability will be forced to live in an institution," said Senate Health Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, the Timesreported.

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Drug Shortages Hitting Hospitals Across the U.S.

An undersupply of about 150 drugs -- due to federally mandated holdups in manufacturing -- is causing physicians at hospitals across the United States to turn to older drugs instead.

According to the Chicago Tribune, shortages of medicines used to treat cancer and other illnesses are also causing some hospitals to pay much higher prices as wholesalers stockpile needed drugs.

Much of the blame for the shortages is being directed at the federal government's new efforts to ensure that drugs are safe. In some cases, that involves the U.S. Food and Drug Administration demanding that manufacturing is halted while quality concerns are straightened out, the Tribune explained.

But this year, that's meant holdups in the availability of many drugs, about 60 of which are deemed "medically necessary" by federal health officials.

"These are the worst shortages I have ever seen," Thomas Wheeler, a long-time hospital pharmacist and director of pharmacy for Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, told the Tribune. "The most troubling aspect is that it is critical drugs for which there are limited alternatives. Many are involved in cancer care and surgery."

According to the Tribune, consolidation within the pharmaceutical industry also means there are now fewer companies making medicines. For example, when Teva Pharmaceuticals Ltd. -- a major maker of generic cancer drugs -- temporarily closed its plant in Irvine , Calif. last April due to quality concerns, that left doctors with a restricted supply of a wide range of cancer drugs.

The issue has come to the attention of Capitol Hill. Last week, Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., introduced a bill that would force drugmakers to provide early notification to the FDA "when a factor arises that may result in a shortage," according to a joint statement, the Tribune reported.

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Scientists ID Gene Helping to Drive Breast Cancer

British researchers report they've identified a gene that may help cause an aggressive form of breast cancer. The gene, dubbed ZNF703, is the first such "oncogene" to be identified in the past five years.

The scientists said that ZNF703 becomes overactive in one in every dozen breast cancers, the BBC reported. Oncogenes typically play a role in instructing cells to divide, but if something goes awry that function goes into overdrive, causing a proliferation of cells.

Scientists at Cancer Research UK's Cambridge Research Institute and the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Canada, looked at gene activity in almost 1,200 breast tumor samples, as well as breast cancer cells grown in lab cultures. They gradually eliminated genes until they pinpointed ZNF703 as the culprit behind overactivity. In two patients, the gene was the cause of cancer development.

"This is exciting because it's a prime candidate for the development of new breast cancer drugs designed specifically to target tumors in which this gene is overactive," Dr. Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, told the BBC. "Hopefully, this will lead to more effective cancer treatments in the future."

The findings were published in EMBO Molecular Medicine.

Health Tips for February 24

Health Tip: Unwind With Yoga

Yoga may be a great way to exercise, relax and even relieve pain.

But the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says you can do more harm than good if you practice yoga incorrectly. The academy offers these suggestions:

• Talk to your doctor before trying yoga if you have an injury or medical condition.
• Practice yoga with a qualified instructor who has plenty of experience.
• Always warm up before yoga.
• Wear clothing that allows you to move freely.
• Learn proper technique and the basics of yoga. If you're not sure of how to do something, ask questions.
• Don't push yourself too hard, and stop if you have pain.
• Drink enough water.

Health Tip: Reduce the Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Since you can't see, smell or taste deadly carbon monoxide gas, a special detector can help alert you to its presence in your home.

The Home Safety Council offers these recommendations to help protect against carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Place at least one carbon monoxide detector near areas where you sleep.
• Have a professional perform annual maintenance on your heating system and any fireplaces to properly clean and inspect them.
• Have any gas appliances serviced regularly, and make sure they're correctly adjusted.
• Gas or charcoal grills and portable generators should only be used outdoors -- never inside homes or garages.
• Never heat your home with your range or oven.

Health Headlines - February 23

Drug Shortages Hitting Hospitals Across the U.S.

An undersupply of about 150 drugs -- due to federally mandated holdups in manufacturing -- is causing physicians at hospitals across the United States to turn to older drugs instead.

According to the Chicago Tribune, shortages of medicines used to treat cancer and other illnesses are also causing some hospitals to pay much higher prices as wholesalers stockpile needed drugs.

Much of the blame for the shortages is being directed at the federal government's new efforts to ensure that drugs are safe. In some cases, that involves the U.S. Food and Drug Administration demanding that manufacturing is halted while quality concerns are straightened out, the Tribune explained.

But this year, that's meant holdups in the availability of many drugs, about 60 of which are deemed "medically necessary" by federal health officials.

"These are the worst shortages I have ever seen," Thomas Wheeler, a long-time hospital pharmacist and director of pharmacy for Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, told the Tribune. "The most troubling aspect is that it is critical drugs for which there are limited alternatives. Many are involved in cancer care and surgery."

According to the Tribune, consolidation within the pharmaceutical industry also means there are now fewer companies making medicines. For example, when Teva Pharmaceuticals Ltd. -- a major maker of generic cancer drugs -- temporarily closed its plant in Irvine , Calif. last April due to quality concerns, that left doctors with a restricted supply of a wide range of cancer drugs.

The issue has come to the attention of Capitol Hill. Last week, Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., introduced a bill that would force drugmakers to provide early notification to the FDA "when a factor arises that may result in a shortage," according to a joint statement, the Tribune reported.

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Scientists ID Gene Helping to Drive Breast Cancer

British researchers report they've identified a gene that may help cause an aggressive form of breast cancer. The gene, dubbed ZNF703, is the first such "oncogene" to be identified in the past five years.

The scientists said that ZNF703 becomes overactive in one in every dozen breast cancers, the BBC reported. Oncogenes typically play a role in instructing cells to divide, but if something goes awry that function goes into overdrive, causing a proliferation of cells.

Scientists at Cancer Research UK's Cambridge Research Institute and the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Canada, looked at gene activity in almost 1,200 breast tumor samples, as well as breast cancer cells grown in lab cultures. They gradually eliminated genes until they pinpointed ZNF703 as the culprit behind overactivity. In two patients, the gene was the cause of cancer development.

"This is exciting because it's a prime candidate for the development of new breast cancer drugs designed specifically to target tumors in which this gene is overactive," Dr. Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, told the BBC. "Hopefully, this will lead to more effective cancer treatments in the future."

The findings were published in EMBO Molecular Medicine.

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Obama Administration Rescinds Bush-Era Rule on Providers of Abortions

The Obama Administration has rescinded most of a 2008 rule that gave broad protections to health care workers whose religious or moral beliefs were in conflict with the provision of abortion, sterilization and other medical procedures.

According to The New York Times, Department of Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the rule could "negatively impact patient access to contraception and certain other medical services."

She stressed that federal laws already assert that health care providers do not have to perform or assist in abortions against their will. But the new rule -- put in place at the very end of the Bush administration -- extended beyond that, she said.

Reaction to the move on Friday was mixed.

"The administration's action today is cause for disappointment," Deirdre A. McQuade, a spokeswoman for the Pro-Life Secretariat at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, told the Times.

But Clare M. Coleman, president of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, which represents family planning clinics nationwide, told the Times that the Obama administration's move was peeling back "the most harmful elements" of the Bush rule.

Health Tips for February 23

Health Tip: Lichen Planus Triggers Skin Rash

Lichen planus is a disease that results in a rash on the skin or inside the mouth. While its exact cause isn't known, it's believed triggered by an allergic or immune system reaction.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says common symptoms of lichen planus include:

• Lesions on the tongue, cheek or gums.
• Bluish white bumps in the mouth.
• Mouth sores that may progress to painful ulcers.
• Lesions on the skin that can itch, look scaly or shiny, and may form an ulcer or blister.
• Dryness of the mouth.
• Loss of hair.
• Ridges that form in the nails.
• A metallic taste in the mouth.

Health Tip: Don't Ignore Fingernail Abnormalities

An abnormality in all or some of your fingernails can signal a potentially serious medical condition.

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

• Sunken areas on the fingernail can signal malnourishment.
• An abnormal shape to the fingernail, with ridges and an inward curve, can signal iron deficiency anemia.
• White flecks in the nail can indicate leukonychia, which could be caused by factors including zinc deficiency or heavy metal poisoning.
• An abnormal color or tenderness could indicate an infection, often caused by fungus or yeast.
• Streaks of blood in the nail can signal an infection, notably effecting heart valves.

Health Headlines - February 22

Health Care Law Battle Moves to Budget Debate

Republican efforts to fight the new health care law have become part of the budget debate, with a proposal to block funds to implement the measure.

The scheme was brought forward by Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., who said the health care law was a budget-breaking overreach by the federal government. Democrats countered by saying the law has helped families, will create health care jobs and reduce the federal deficit, the Associated Press reported.

"It's a law designed by those who wish to control every health care decision made by health care providers and patients, by every employer and employee, by every family and individual," Rehberg said.

Killing the health care law would "put insurance companies back in charge, further demonstrating the (Republican) majority's special-interest priorities and hypocrisy on job creation and deficit reduction," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the AP reported.

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Migraine Caused TV Reporter's Stroke-Like Symptoms

Doctors say a migraine caused the stroke-like symptoms experienced by a TV reporter as she was doing a live report outside the Grammys.

The incident involving KCBS-TV reporter Serene Branson led to Internet speculation that she suffered a stroke. But after conducting a brain scan and doing blood work, doctors at the University of California, Los Angeles concluded that Branson suffered a type of migraine that can mimic symptoms of a stroke, the Associated Press reported.

In an interview with her TV station, Branson said she developed " a really bad headache" and had trouble reading her notes before the incident, but assumed she was just tired.

"A migraine is not just a headache. It's a complicated brain event," UCLA neurologist Dr. Andrew Charles, who examine Branson, told the AP.

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Plastic Surgeons Downplaying Breast Implant Cancer Risk, Group Says

A U.S. advocacy group wants the Food and Drug Administration to stop what it calls a misinformation campaign meant to downplay the cancer-related risks of breast implants.

The Public Citizen's Health Research Group is upset about advice given by the president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons during an online seminar Feb. 3, The New York Times reported.

Dr. Phil Haeck said when talking with patients, plastic surgeons should refer to a rare type of cancer linked to breast implants as "a condition," and avoid using the words cancer, tumor, disease or malignancy.

On Jan. 26, the FDA announced that breast implants may be associated with a small but significant increase in anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALC).

Public Citizen took Haeck's remarks out of context and misconstrued them, according to a statement released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, The Times reported.

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Republicans Target Funding for Planned Parenthood

Members of Congress are fighting a battle over funding for Planned Parenthood, which offers contraception, medical services and abortions at 800 clinics across the United States.

A proposal to cut the entire $317 million program of aid for family planning is included in a spending bill expected to be passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, The New York Times reported.

A proposed amendment to the bill would also forbid Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal money for any purpose.

But it's unlikely the Democrat-controlled Senate will agree to cut all funding for Planned Parenthood or broader federal aid for birth control that helps five million low-income women, Susan Cohen, director of governmental affairs for the Guttmacher Institute research organization, told The Times.

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Judge Asked to Clarify Health Care Law Ruling

A federal judge has been asked by the White House to clarify whether his recent ruling against the new health care law was meant to halt its implementation while appeals are heard.

On Jan. 31, Roger Vinson of the Federal District Court in Pensacola, Fla. ruled that the health care law's provision that most Americans must obtain health insurance was unconstitutional, and that the entire health care law was invalid, The New York Timesreported.

Vinson suggestion that his ruling be regarded at the "functional equivalent" of an injunction has led to conflicting interpretations among federal government lawyers and those representing the 26 states challenging the health care law.

On Thursday, Justice Department lawyers asked Vinson to clarify that his ruling does not relieve states of their obligation to implement the requirements of the new health care law while appeals are filed and heard, The Times reported.

Health Tips for February 22

Health Tip: When You Sweat All the Time

Becoming drenched with sweat during an intense workout is to be expected. But what if you constantly sweat, even without exertion?

Excessive sweating, especially when accompanied by other symptoms, may signal that you should visit your doctor. The ADAM Encyclopedia cites these examples:

• Sweating heavily for an extended period without an identifiable cause.
• Feeling pressure or pain in the chest, along with sweating.
• Losing weight.
• Sweating that usually happens while you sleep.
• Any of these symptoms accompanied by difficulty breathing or a very fast, pounding heartbeat.

Health Tip: Why Am I Puffy?

Edema -- swelling that results from fluid build-up in your tissues -- is most common in the feet, ankles and legs. But it can occur anywhere in the body.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says common causes for edema include:

• Consuming too much salt.
• Getting a sunburn.
• Having health problems such as cirrhosis, kidney disease or heart failure.
• Being pregnant.
• Having lymph node problems.
• Having an adverse reaction to certain medications.
• Being on your feet for long periods, especially in warmer weather.

Health Tips for February 21

Health Tip: Using Your Blood Glucose Meter

A blood glucose meter is key to helping a diabetic person keep blood sugar under control.

But the meter is worthless if it doesn't function properly. The American Diabetes Association says the accuracy of these lifesaving gadgets can be compromised if:

• The meter is dirty.
• The meter or test strips aren't stored at room temperature.
• The test strips are too old.
• The meter isn't calibrated for the current set of test strips.
• The blood sample used is too small.

Health Tip: Your Diet's Role in Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is first diagnosed while a woman is pregnant.

The U.S. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse says dietary changes may be key to managing the disease. The agency offers these examples of what a gestational diabetes meal plan may include:

• Restricting sweets.
• Eating three small meals each day, with one-to-three snacks in between.
• Watching the amount of carbohydrates that you eat, and when you eat them.
• Increasing fiber intake by eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Health Headlines - February 21

Congresswoman Giffords Continues to Improve

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords continues her steady progress as she recovers from a gunshot to the head suffered during a Jan. 8 assassination attempt in Phoenix, a family friend says.

Tilman Fertitta told the Associated Press that Giffords laughs at jokes and recognizes visitors.

"There's lots of excitement as she continues to speak more and improve," he said. "She's in a great mood and working hard."

Giffords is undergoing intensive rehabilitation at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. She is in therapy from morning till night and sees her husband Mark Kelly every day, Fertitta told the AP.

Kelly is an astronaut who is training for the next space shuttle launch in April. Doctors say it's too early to say whether Giffords will be able to attend the launch.

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FDA Warns Pregnant Women About Asthma Drug

Certain uses of the asthma drug terbutaline to treat preterm labor in pregnant women can lead to heart problems and death, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday.

"Women should be aware that serious and sometimes fatal side effects have been reported after prolonged use of terbutaline in pregnant women," Dr. Scott Munroe, director of the FDA's Division of Reproductive and Urologic Products, said in an agency news release.

The drug is approved to prevent and treat narrowing of the airways caused by asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, but is also used for unapproved (off-label) obstetric purposes, including treating preterm labor.

The FDA said the drug's labeling will now have to carry a warning that "terbutaline administered by injection or through an infusion pump should not be used in pregnant women for prevention or prolonged (longer than 48 to 72 hours) treatment of preterm labor. In addition, oral terbutaline should not be used for prevention or treatment of preterm labor."

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Elephant Sanctuary Workers Caught TB From Pachyderm: CDC

An elephant named Liz was the cause of a tuberculosis outbreak that affected eight workers at a Tennessee elephant sanctuary in 2009, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Agency investigators said Liz had been diagnosed with the disease and TB bacteria could have spread through the air when the elephant sneezed, or through pressure washing or dust from cleaning the barn where Liz was kept, the Associated Press reported.

The eight workers received treatment but are not sick or hazardous to other people, according to officials at the sanctuary, located about 85 miles southwest of Nashville.

Liz received treatment and is still alive, the AP reported.

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Caramel Coloring in Colas Poses Cancer Risk: Consumer Group

Caramel coloring used in colas and some other drinks and foods may cause cancer and should be banned, says the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

"We're asking the FDA to ban the use of caramel coloring that's used in colas and certain other soft drinks and a variety of other foods," said Michael Jacobson, the consumer group's executive director, ABC News reported.

Several years ago, a U.S. government agency tested a contaminant in the coloring and found that it caused cancer in mice and possibly rats, he said.

The soft drink industry strongly objected to the claim, ABC News reported.

"CSPI's statement irresponsibly insinuates that the caramel used in our beverages is unsafe and maliciously raises cancer concerns among consumers," the Coca-Cola Company said in a statement. "This does a disservice to the very public for which CSPI purports to serve. In fact studies show that the caramel we use does not cause cancer."

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FDA Expands Eligibility for Weight Loss Surgery Device

New rules that make more Americans eligible for weight loss surgery were approved Wednesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Previously, the use of Allergan's Lap-Band stomach restricting device was limited to people with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 if they had no obesity-related health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and a BMI of at least 35 if they did have health issues.

Under the new rules, the device can be used on people with a BMI of at least 30 who have an obesity-related health condition. A BMI of at least 40 remains the threshold for otherwise healthy people, The New York Times reported.

"In order to target this therapy to patients who will benefit the most, the approved indication is limited to patients at the highest risk of obesity-related complications," said FDA spokeswoman Karen Riley.

Allergan estimated the changes will more than double the number of Americans eligible for the weight loss surgery (26 million instead of 15 to 18 million), the Times reported.

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Anti-Stress Chemical Triggers Hair Growth in Mice

Mice re-grew hair after being given a chemical compound that blocks a stress-related hormone, U.S. researchers say.

Their accidental discovery occurred when they gave astressin-B to mice that were genetically engineered to produce too much of the stress hormone corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF). The chronic stress experienced by the mice causes them to lose the hair on their backs, Agence France-Presse reported.

Within a few months of receiving astressin-B, the mice had regained all their hair, said the researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles and the Veterans Administration.

"This could open up new venues to treat hair loss in humans through the modulation of the stress hormone receptors, particularly hair loss related to chronic stress and aging," said Million Mulugeta, of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, AFP reported.

The study appears in the online journal PLoS One.