Health Headlines - March 31

Another Batch of Tylenol Recalled

Thousands more bottles of Tylenol are being recalled due to customer complaints about a strange, musty odor, says Johnson & Johnson's McNeil Consumer Health division.

The latest recall covers about 34,000 150-count bottles of Tylenol 8 Hour Extended Release Caplets, ABC News reported. The company believes the odor is caused by trace amounts of chemicals produced by the breakdown of a fungicide treatment on wooden pallets used to store the drugs.

The new recall follows a series of larger recalls in 2010 triggered by the same odor problem.

There was a recall last October of about 128,000 bottles of the same Tylenol caplets. Last July, McNeil recalled 21 different product lines, including Children's Tylenol, Benadryl and Motrin. In April, the company recalled more than 136 million bottles of Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl, ABC News reported.

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Fewer U.S. Adult Diabetics Having Annual Tests

The percentage of poor and middle-income adults age 40 and over with diabetes who are having their blood sugar, eyes and feet checked at least once a year is declining, says a U.S. government report.

The three tests are done to prevent diabetes-related complications such as kidney failure, blindness and amputation.

The proportion of poor adults who had the tests fell from 39 percent in 2002 to 23 percent in 2007, while the rate dropped from 41 percent to 33 percent among middle-income adults, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The rate of high-income adults who had all three tests remained steady at 52 percent.

The percentage of adults who had all three tests fell from 43 percent to 32 percent among those with a high school education, from 34 percent to 29 percent among those who didn't finish high school, and from 51 percent to 47 percent for those with at least some college education.

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Company Stops Production of Contaminated IV Bags

An Alabama company has stopped making intravenous feeding bags that were contaminated with Serratia marcescens bacteria and linked to infections in hospital patients.

Nine patients who were hooked up to contaminated bags have died and 10 more were sickened, state health officials reported. However, they added that they have not definitively connected the deaths to the bacterial outbreaks at six hospitals, theAssociated Press reported.

"There is nothing to suggest the deaths were directly related to the bacterial infections," according to State Health Officer Dr. Donald E. Williamson.

After receiving reports of increased cases of Serratia marcescens from two hospitals on March 16, the Alabama Department of Public Health linked the infections to the IV-delivered nutritional supplement TPN, the AP reported.

The IV bags were made by one pharmacy, Meds IV in Birmingham. The company has halted production of the IV bags.

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Expand Availability of Anti-Radiation Drug: U.S. Politicians

The drug potassium iodide should be made available to all people living within 20 miles of nuclear power plants in the United States, instead of the current 10-mile radius, say a number of politicians from both parties.

And the American Thyroid Association says the drug should be offered to everyone with 200 miles of a nuclear power plant, the Associated Press reported.

If taken within a few hours of radiation exposure, potassium iodide (also known as KI) helps reduce the risk of thyroid cancer. Currently, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission makes potassium iodide available to states for distribution to residents within 10 miles of a nuclear plant.

Expansion of the distribution radius to 20 miles was included in a 2002 bioterrorism law but the Bush administration waived the requirement in 2007. President Barack Obama has not reversed that decision, the AP reported.

In separate letters to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Reps. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Bill Young, R-Fla., have urged her to fully implement the 20-mile radius provision in the 2002 law.

"The exercise of presidential power to distribute KI is now long overdue, leaving many Americans living near these plants needlessly at risk, as sadly evidenced by the disaster in Japan," Markey wrote in his letter to Sebelius, the AP reported.

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Attractive People Happier: Study

Good-looking people are generally happier than less attractive people and a good measure of that happiness is due to the economic benefit of being beautiful or handsome, according to a new study.

Researchers analyzed data from five large surveys conducted between 1971 and 2009 in Britain, Canada, German and the United States and found that people in the top 15 percent of looks were more than 10 percent happier than those in the bottom 10 percent of looks, USA Today reported.

"The majority of beauty's effect on happiness works through its impact on economic outcomes," said lead author Daniel Hamermesh, an economist at the University of Texas-Austin.

He said better-looking people generally have higher incomes and marry people who are better looking and earn more money, USA Today reported.

The study was published by the German-based Institute for the Study of Labor.

Health Tips for March 31

Health Tip: Can't Catch Your Breath During a Workout?

If you're typically coughing, wheezing or feeling short of breath during exercise, experts say you could have a condition called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB).

The condition causes the tubes inside your lungs to narrow during exercise, triggering symptoms of asthma.

What's behind EIB? The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology says people with the condition are sensitive to cold and dry air. While the typical pattern of breathing through the nose will warm and moisten the air, during exercise, people tend to breathe more through the mouth. This allows cooler, drier air to reach the lungs.

What else can trigger EIB? Air pollution, allergens, respiratory infections and being out of shape are at the top of the list, the academy says.

Health Tip: Chronic Cough Could Signal Lung Disease

If all types of lung disease were combined, it would be the third-largest killer in the United States, the U.S. National Women's Health Information Center says.

It's important to recognize and treat symptoms of lung disease early. The American Lung Association offers this list of possible warning signs:

• Having a persistent cough that lasts at least a month.
• Having trouble catching your breath or finding it difficult to breathe.
• Producing mucus continually for at least a month.
• Making a noisy, wheezing sound when you breathe.
• Coughing up blood.
• Having persistent chest pain that lasts a month or more, particularly when you inhale or cough.

Health Headlines - March 30

Low Health Literacy Linked to Poorer Health: Report

Older Americans with low health literacy are more likely to have poor health and to have a higher risk of death, says a federal government report. Health literacy refers to the ability to understand and use basic health information.

The analysis of findings from more than 100 studies conducted in recent years also revealed that more than 75 million English-speaking adults in the United States have limited health literacy, and that there's an association between low health literacy in adults of all ages and more frequent use of hospital emergency rooms and inpatient care, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Among the other findings:

• Low health literacy is associated with a lower likelihood of getting flu shots and understanding medical labels and instructions, and an increased risk of taking medicines incorrectly.
• Poor health literacy among women is linked with underuse of mammograms.
• Differences in health literacy levels are related to ethnic and racial disparities in health care.

"Ensuring that people understand health care information is critical to a high-quality, safe health care system," AHRQ Director Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy, said in an agency news release. "Improving health literacy will be a major step in the nations efforts to enhance health care quality and safety."

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Disease Clusters Require More Research: Report

Since 1976, there have been at least 42 disease clusters in 13 U.S. states and more research is needed to learn more about the causes of these health problems, says a report released Monday by environmentalists.

"Communities all around the country struggle with unexplained epidemics of cancers, birth defects and neurological diseases," said report co-author Gina Solomon, a senior scientist at the National Resources Defense Council, USA Today reported. "The faster we can identify such clusters, and the sooner we can figure out the causes, the better we can protect residents living in the affected communities."

In their report, Solomon and her colleagues said the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 does not do enough to regulate toxic chemicals in industrial, commercial and consumer products.

An oversight hearing on the matter is scheduled to be held Tuesday by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. In January, Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, proposed legislation to fund research to examine whether there's a connection between environmental contaminants and clusters of health problems such as birth defects and cancer, USA Today reported.

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High Lead Levels Found in Philly Chinatown Ceramics

Ceramic cooking and eating utensils sold in Philadelphia's Chinatown contain high levels of lead and the problem likely exits in other Chinatowns across the United States, say researchers.

They analyzed 87 ceramic pieces purchased from stores in Philadelphia's Chinatown and nearby neighborhoods and found that more than a quarter of them tested positive for lead, The New York Times reported.

Further testing revealed that three plates and two spoons released lead in quantities far above limits set by the Food and Drug Administration.

"What we've demonstrated is that there's a problems in Philadelphia's Chinatown," Dr. Gerald F. O'Malley of Jefferson Medical College, told The Times. "We've conclusively shown that. If it's happening in Philadelphia, it's happening in other Chinatowns in other cities."

It's not known where the ceramics were made or the extent of their distribution. The researchers have sent their findings to the FDA.

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Radiation Detected in Massachusetts Rainwater

Small amounts of radiation have been detected in a sample of rainwater in Massachusetts, say state public health officials.

The very low concentrations of radioactive iodine in the rainwater likely originated in Japan but should have no impact on state drinking water supplies, Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach told the Boston Globe, according to United Press International.

"The drinking water supply in Massachusetts is unaffected by this short-term, slight elevation in radiation. However, we will carefully monitor the drinking water as we exercise an abundance of caution," Auerbach said.

No increase in radiation levels in the air has been detected, he said.

The Globe reported that Auerbach said similar levels of radiation in rainwater samples have been found in a number of other states, according to UPI.

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Mislabeled Citalopram and Finasteride Recalled

Certain batches of citalopram and finasteride are being recalled in the United States because they may have been incorrectly labeled by a third-party manufacturer, says Pfizer Inc.'s Greenstone LLC unit.

Citalopram is an antidepressant and finasteride is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate). Some bottles of citalopram may be labeled as finasteride and vice versa, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The voluntary recall includes citalopram 10 mg tablets (100-count bottle) and finasteride 5 mg tablets (90-count bottle) with lot number FI0510058-A on the label.

Consumers with these products should return them and patients who believe they may have taken the wrong medication should contact a doctor as soon as possible, the FDA said.

Health Tips for March 30

Health Tip: Feel Like You Have No Energy?

Fatigue describes the feeling that you have no energy or motivation.

The many possible physical and psychological causes of fatigue include exertion, stress, boredom and lack of sleep, the ADAM Encyclopedia says. Its suggestions for reducing fatigue include:

• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule.
• Drink lots of water every day, and eat a variety of nutritious foods.
• Get plenty of regular physical activity, and don't overbook yourself socially or at work.
• Try to change any situations that are causing stress.
• Consider meditation or yoga to help you ease stress.
• Discuss with your doctor taking a multivitamin.
• Avoid drugs, nicotine and alcohol.

Health Tip: Figure Out Why You Yawn Excessively

Everyone yawns.

But yawning too much could signal a larger medical issue.

To help your doctor pinpoint why you yawn so much, the University of Maryland Medical Center says you should track the following factors in a log:

• When you first noticed that you were yawning, and how often you yawn.
• The time of day that you yawn a lot, including after certain activities (such as eating or exercising).
• Any locations that seem to trigger your yawning.
• What seems to increase your yawning, such as insufficient sleep, changes in activity, medications or boredom.
• Anything that helps your yawning improve.
• Any other symptoms that accompany yawning.

Health Headlines - March 29

Radiation Detected in Massachusetts Rainwater

Small amounts of radiation have been detected in a sample of rainwater in Massachusetts, say state public health officials.

The very low concentrations of radioactive iodine in the rainwater likely originated in Japan but should have no impact on state drinking water supplies, Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach told the Boston Globe, according to United Press International.

"The drinking water supply in Massachusetts is unaffected by this short-term, slight elevation in radiation. However, we will carefully monitor the drinking water as we exercise an abundance of caution," Auerbach said.

No increase in radiation levels in the air has been detected, he said.

The Globe reported that Auerbach said similar levels of radiation in rainwater samples have been found in a number of other states, according to UPI.

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Mislabeled Citalopram and Finasteride Recalled

Certain batches of citalopram and finasteride are being recalled in the United States because they may have been incorrectly labeled by a third-party manufacturer, says Pfizer Inc.'s Greenstone LLC unit.

Citalopram is an antidepressant and finasteride is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate). Some bottles of citalopram may be labeled as finasteride and vice versa, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The voluntary recall includes citalopram 10 mg tablets (100-count bottle) and finasteride 5 mg tablets (90-count bottle) with lot number FI0510058-A on the label.

Consumers with these products should return them and patients who believe they may have taken the wrong medication should contact a doctor as soon as possible, the FDA said.

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FDA Panel Examines Food Dyes and Hyperactivity in Children

There may some truth to the widely held belief that synthetic food dyes can cause hyperactivity in children, suggests a U.S. Food and Drug Administration memo released this week.

The document says children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have a "unique tolerance" to artificial food colorings. The memo also said the dyes haven't been proven to cause hyperactivity in most children, nor have the man-made colorings been found to contain "any inherent neurotoxic properties," ABC Newsreported.

The research summary was distributed ahead of a two-day hearing in which an FDA advisory committee will examine any possible links between artificial food dyes and hyperactivity in children. The committee will recommend whether the FDA should take steps to protect consumers.

The FDA memo was prepared after the Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the agency to revoke approvals for eight certified synthetic food dyes: FD&C Blue 1 and 2; FD&C Green 3; Orange B; FD&C Red 3; FD&C Red 40; FD&C Yellow 5 and 6, ABC News reported.

Health Tips for March 29

Health Tip: Help Strengthen Your Bones

Weight-bearing exercises help strengthen bones and muscles by making them work against gravity.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these suggestions for weight-bearing exercise:

• Go for a walk, jog or run.
• Play tennis, racquetball or field hockey.
• Climb a few long flights of stairs.
• Play basketball, soccer or grab a jump rope.
• Turn up the music and start dancing.
• Kick a soccer ball around.
• Go for a hike.
• Lift some weights.

Health Tip: Get Some Exercise

If it's difficult to motivate yourself to exercise, a change of venue may be in order. How about the great outdoors?

With warmer weather on the way, the American Diabetes Association suggests these outdoor activities may get you moving:

• Go for a walk outside.
• Pull months' worth of weeds in the garden.
• Go for a hike on a wooded trail.
• Play a game of Frisbee.
• Try kayaking or canoeing.
• Head to the park for a walk or a game of tag with the kids or grandchildren.

Health Headlines - March 28

New Drug for Advanced Melanoma Approved by FDA

A new injectable drug touted as the first to prolong the lives of patients with melanoma has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The immune system-stimulating drug Yervoy (ipilimumab) from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. was approved to treat patients with late-stage or metastatic melanoma. Currently only two other drugs have FDA approval for treatment of advanced melanoma and neither of them has been shown to significantly extend patients' lives, the Associated Pressreported.

The FDA's approval of Yervoy was based on a Bristol-Myers study of 676 patients with advanced, inoperable melanoma who had failed to respond to two other treatments. They were randomly assigned to receive either: Yervoy alone, Yervoy and another immune-stimulating treatment; or the other immune-stimulating treatment alone.

Patients who received Yervoy alone lived an average of 10 months, compared to six months for those in the other groups. However, some of the patients who received the new drug survived longer than six years. This suggests that the drug could be targeted at patients most likely to respond, the AP reported.

While 85 percent of patients showed little response to Yervoy, the response rate should improve as the drug is used earlier in the disease process, according to researchers.

"Clearly this is not a home run, but it's a solid base hit," Tim Turnham, director of the Melanoma Research Foundation, told the AP. "And because we see other things in the pipeline, we think this the first in a series of important new therapies for melanoma."

"I think the direction this is headed is toward intervening earlier, when patients' immune systems are still intact, rather than waiting until they are so sick," Dr. Anna Pavlick, director of the New York University's melanoma program, told the AP.

She is a spokeswoman for the Skin Cancer Foundation, which helped conduct several early-stage trials of Yervoy.

Melanoma is the most deadly type of skin cancer and is the fastest growing type of cancer in the U.S. in terms of new diagnoses, the AP reported. Last year, about 68,000 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with melanoma and about 8,700 people died from the disease, says the American Cancer Society.

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Threat of Hunger Plagues Millions of Americans: Report

About 15 million American households (50 million people) believed they didn't have enough money or couldn't get enough money for food at some time during 2009, according to a new report.

The Map the Meal Gap document by the hunger relief charity Feeding America is based on food insecurity data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ABC News reported.

While it seems contradictory, there's a link between food insecurity and obesity, say nutrition experts.

"If people are food insecure, they can often place a priority on obtaining as much food as possible for the cheapest price," Keith Ayoob, an associate professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, N.Y., told ABC News.

That can lead them to so-called "value meals" at fast food restaurants or cheap, processed foods that have more calories than nutrients.

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Parents Need to Know Children's BMI: Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama says she is paying closer attention to her two daughters' body mass index (BMI) figures after learning that their numbers were "creeping upwards," and urged other parents to learn more about the important health statistic.

BMI combines weight and height measurements to calculate body fat and is considered a more reliable indicator of obesity than weight alone, Agence France-Presse reported.

Childhood obesity is the U.S. first lady's signature cause. But writing on yahoo.com'swebsite, she said she "didn't really know what BMI was."

"I certainly didn't know that even a small increase in BMI can have serious consequences for a child's health," she added, AFP reported.

The Obamas have two daughters, Malia 12, and Sasha, 9.

Health Tips for March 28

Health Tip: Everyone Should Wear a Bike Helmet

There should be no debate or argument in your home when it comes to wearing a bicycle helmet, experts say.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests how to encourage children to wear a helmet, avoiding a big battle:

• Make wearing a helmet a habit, starting with a child's first tricycle ride.
• Set an example for your child. Parents should always wear a helmet themselves.
• Explain to your child why it's so important to wear a bike helmet.
• Give your child plenty of praise, and maybe a little treat, for wearing a helmet.
• Speak to other parents so your child's friends all wear helmets, too.

Health Tip: Make Sure Your Helmet Fits

Whether you're rollerblading, biking or skiing, a helmet can protect you from a deadly head injury.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says a helmet won't offer full protection, however, if it doesn't fit properly. The group offers these helmet-fitting suggestions:

• Make sure you select a helmet that meets standards set by the Snell Memorial Foundation or the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
• Make sure the helmet fits snugly and doesn't slide in any direction.
• The helmet should sit squarely on your head and be level, without tilting.
• The helmet should include a chinstrap to hold it in place.

Health Headlines - March 27

New Drug for Advanced Melanoma Approved by FDA

A new injectable drug touted as the first to prolong the lives of patients with melanoma has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The immune system-stimulating drug Yervoy (ipilimumab) from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. was approved to treat patients with late-stage or metastatic melanoma. Currently only two other drugs have FDA approval for treatment of advanced melanoma and neither of them has been shown to significantly extend patients' lives, the Associated Pressreported.

The FDA's approval of Yervoy was based on a Bristol-Myers study of 676 patients with advanced, inoperable melanoma who had failed to respond to two other treatments. They were randomly assigned to receive either: Yervoy alone, Yervoy and another immune-stimulating treatment; or the other immune-stimulating treatment alone.

Patients who received Yervoy alone lived an average of 10 months, compared to six months for those in the other groups. However, some of the patients who received the new drug survived longer than six years. This suggests that the drug could be targeted at patients most likely to respond, the AP reported.

While 85 percent of patients showed little response to Yervoy, the response rate should improve as the drug is used earlier in the disease process, according to researchers.

"Clearly this is not a home run, but it's a solid base hit," Tim Turnham, director of the Melanoma Research Foundation, told the AP. "And because we see other things in the pipeline, we think this the first in a series of important new therapies for melanoma."

"I think the direction this is headed is toward intervening earlier, when patients' immune systems are still intact, rather than waiting until they are so sick," Dr. Anna Pavlick, director of the New York University's melanoma program, told the AP.

She is a spokeswoman for the Skin Cancer Foundation, which helped conduct several early-stage trials of Yervoy.

Melanoma is the most deadly type of skin cancer and is the fastest growing type of cancer in the U.S. in terms of new diagnoses, the AP reported. Last year, about 68,000 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with melanoma and about 8,700 people died from the disease, says the American Cancer Society.

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Threat of Hunger Plagues Millions of Americans: Report

About 15 million American households (50 million people) believed they didn't have enough money or couldn't get enough money for food at some time during 2009, according to a new report.

The Map the Meal Gap document by the hunger relief charity Feeding America is based on food insecurity data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ABC News reported.

While it seems contradictory, there's a link between food insecurity and obesity, say nutrition experts.

"If people are food insecure, they can often place a priority on obtaining as much food as possible for the cheapest price," Keith Ayoob, an associate professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, N.Y., told ABC News.

That can lead them to so-called "value meals" at fast food restaurants or cheap, processed foods that have more calories than nutrients.

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Parents Need to Know Children's BMI: Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama says she is paying closer attention to her two daughters' body mass index (BMI) figures after learning that their numbers were "creeping upwards," and urged other parents to learn more about the important health statistic.

BMI combines weight and height measurements to calculate body fat and is considered a more reliable indicator of obesity than weight alone, Agence France-Presse reported.

Childhood obesity is the U.S. first lady's signature cause. But writing on yahoo.com'swebsite, she said she "didn't really know what BMI was."

"I certainly didn't know that even a small increase in BMI can have serious consequences for a child's health," she added, AFP reported.

The Obamas have two daughters, Malia 12, and Sasha, 9.

Health Tips for March 27

Health Tip: Breast-Feeding When You Have Diabetes

Breast-feeding comes with its own set of challenges, but the task is a bit more daunting if you have diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association suggests how to help prevent low blood sugar for breast-feeding moms:

• Always have a snack before you nurse or while nursing.
• Drink a glass of water or a decaffeinated beverage while you nurse.
• Before you nurse, make sure there's a snack or medication nearby, in case your blood sugar drops too low.
• Work with your dietitian and doctor to make sure your meals contain enough calories for you to breast-feed.

Health Tip: If Your Child Has Diabetes

It can be stressful for any parent to leave a child in the care of a babysitter, particularly if your child is diabetic.

The American Diabetes Association says parents of diabetic children should ensure that babysitters know the basics about:

• Checking blood glucose levels and ketones. Practice with the sitter before you leave.
• The ideal range for your child's blood glucose, warning signs of a problem, and what to do if the levels are high or low.
• Giving your child insulin, when to give it and how much. Again, practice before you leave.
• What the sitter should do if there is an emergency, including administering medication, and how to reach you.

Health Headlines - March 26

New Drug for Advanced Melanoma Approved by FDA

A new injectable drug touted as the first to prolong the lives of patients with melanoma has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The immune system-stimulating drug Yervoy (ipilimumab) from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. was approved to treat patients with late-stage or metastatic melanoma. Currently only two other drugs have FDA approval for treatment of advanced melanoma and neither of them has been shown to significantly extend patients' lives, the Associated Pressreported.

The FDA's approval of Yervoy was based on a Bristol-Myers study of 676 patients with advanced, inoperable melanoma who had failed to respond to two other treatments. They were randomly assigned to receive either: Yervoy alone, Yervoy and another immune-stimulating treatment; or the other immune-stimulating treatment alone.

Patients who received Yervoy alone lived an average of 10 months, compared to six months for those in the other groups. However, some of the patients who received the new drug survived longer than six years. This suggests that the drug could be targeted at patients most likely to respond, the AP reported.

While 85 percent of patients showed little response to Yervoy, the response rate should improve as the drug is used earlier in the disease process, according to researchers.

"Clearly this is not a home run, but it's a solid base hit," Tim Turnham, director of the Melanoma Research Foundation, told the AP. "And because we see other things in the pipeline, we think this the first in a series of important new therapies for melanoma."

"I think the direction this is headed is toward intervening earlier, when patients' immune systems are still intact, rather than waiting until they are so sick," Dr. Anna Pavlick, director of the New York University's melanoma program, told the AP.

She is a spokeswoman for the Skin Cancer Foundation, which helped conduct several early-stage trials of Yervoy.

Melanoma is the most deadly type of skin cancer and is the fastest growing type of cancer in the U.S. in terms of new diagnoses, the AP reported. Last year, about 68,000 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with melanoma and about 8,700 people died from the disease, says the American Cancer Society.

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Threat of Hunger Plagues Millions of Americans: Report

About 15 million American households (50 million people) believed they didn't have enough money or couldn't get enough money for food at some time during 2009, according to a new report.

The Map the Meal Gap document by the hunger relief charity Feeding America is based on food insecurity data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ABC News reported.

While it seems contradictory, there's a link between food insecurity and obesity, say nutrition experts.

"If people are food insecure, they can often place a priority on obtaining as much food as possible for the cheapest price," Keith Ayoob, an associate professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, N.Y., told ABC News.

That can lead them to so-called "value meals" at fast food restaurants or cheap, processed foods that have more calories than nutrients.

-----

Parents Need to Know Children's BMI: Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama says she is paying closer attention to her two daughters' body mass index (BMI) figures after learning that their numbers were "creeping upwards," and urged other parents to learn more about the important health statistic.

BMI combines weight and height measurements to calculate body fat and is considered a more reliable indicator of obesity than weight alone, Agence France-Presse reported.

Childhood obesity is the U.S. first lady's signature cause. But writing on yahoo.com'swebsite, she said she "didn't really know what BMI was."

"I certainly didn't know that even a small increase in BMI can have serious consequences for a child's health," she added, AFP reported.

The Obamas have two daughters, Malia 12, and Sasha, 9.

Health Tips for March 26

Health Tip: Walking Helps You Stay Healthier

The American Podiatric Medical Association discusses a great form of exercise that requires no special skill, no membership at the local gym, and no special equipment: walking.

The group says the "anybody-can-do-this" activity offers these benefits:

• Better circulation and a stronger heart and lungs.
• Reduced risk of stroke and heart attack.
• Reduced likelihood of high blood pressure or obesity.
• Improved cholesterol numbers.
• Stronger muscles and better tone in the legs and abdominal area.
• Reduced tension and stress.
• Better management of arthritis pain, and improved prevention of bone decay.

Health Tip: Why Baby Gets Diaper Rash

A baby's sensitive bottom may develop a rash from sitting too long in a soiled diaper. But that's not the only trigger that can cause the problem.

The ADAM Encyclopedia offers these additional factors that may contribute to diaper rash:

• Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea.
• Use of an antibiotic.
• Irritation cause by ammonia, a byproduct of urine as it breaks down.
• Wearing diapers that don't fit properly and rub against the skin.
• Having a reaction to a cleaning product for cloth diapers.

Health Headlines - March 25

Most Americans Say They're in Good Health: Report

Rates of obesity and diabetes are rising and it's harder to afford health insurance, but 90 percent of Americans rate their health as good or better, according to a federal government report based on a national survey that looked at 15 health indicators.

Rates of obesity and diabetes were 28.2 percent and 8.4 percent, respectively, in 2010, according to the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics, said ABC News.

The report also said that the percentage of Americans who can't afford health insurance increased from 4.5 percent in 1997 to 7 percent in 2010.

The proportion of people who rated their health as very good or excellent decreased from 69 percent in 1997 to 66 percent in 2010, ABC News reported.

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Common Regrets Include Romance and Work: Study

Romance and work appear to be among the leading regrets American adults have about their lives, suggests a new study.

The telephone survey of 370 adults found that women have more regrets about romance then men (44 percent vs. 19 percent), while men have more regrets about work than women (34 percent vs. 27 percent), the Chicago Tribune reported.

The researchers at Northwest University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne also found that: people who were not currently in a relationship were most likely to have romance regrets; people with low levels of education regretted their lack of education; and people with high levels of education had the most career-related regrets.

The study appears in an upcoming issue of the journal Social Psychology and Personality Science.

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Colon Cancer Screening Rates Rise for Some Americans

Colorectal cancer screening rates for whites, blacks and Asian-Americans age 50 and older improved between 2000 and 2008, barely rose for Hispanics, and fell for American Indians and Alaska Natives, says a U.S. government study.

In 2008, about 60 percent of whites and 55 percent of blacks age 50 and older said they had undergone at least one colorectal cancer screening, compared with 51 percent and 44 percent, respectively, in 2000. The rates for Asian-Americans in 2000 and 2008 were about the same as those for blacks, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The proportion of Hispanics who reported every being screened for colorectal cancer increased from 35 percent to about 44 percent, while rates fell from 49 percent to 37 percent among American Indians and Alaska Natives.

The study also said that colorectal cancer screening rates increased from about 26 percent to about 30 percent among whites and blacks with no health insurance. But rates fell from 16 percent to 13 percent among Hispanics without health insurance.

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New Blood Test Improves Diagnosis of Heart Attack

A new blood test improves the ability to diagnose heart attacks that may otherwise go undetected.

The test measures a protein called troponin that's released when heart cells are damaged during a heart attack, BBC News reported.

In their study of more than 2,000 patients with suspected heart attack, U.K. researchers found that the test could detect troponin at levels four times lower than the standard blood test.

As a result, one-third more patients were diagnosed with heart attack, which halved their risk of dying of a heart attack within a year, BBC News reported.

The study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Health Tips for March 25

Health Tip: Avoid Contracting Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a bacterial or viral respiratory infection that's characterized by lung inflammation. It can be life-threatening, especially to the young, the elderly and to people with chronic health problems.

The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests how to help prevent pneumonia:

• Wash your hands often, especially after you use the toilet, change a diaper, prepare or eat food, or blow your nose.
• Don't smoke.
• Get vaccinated for pneumonia and flu.
• Children also should get an Hib vaccine.
• In some children younger than 24 months, the drug palivizumab may be prescribed to help avoid pneumonia as a complication from another respiratory condition.

Health Tip: Signs That You Might Have Pneumonia

Pneumonia's symptoms may appear to mimic those of other respiratory infections. But pneumonia can kill, and its warning signs shouldn't be dismissed.

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute mentions these possible warning signs of pneumonia:

• A high fever.
• Chills that cause you to shake.
• Worsening bouts of coughing up phlegm.
• Shortness of breath from performing everyday activities.
• Having chest pain when breathing or coughing.
• Suddenly feeling worse after you appeared to get over the flu or a cold.

Health Headlines - March 24

Elizabeth Taylor Dies at 79

Following six weeks of hospitalization for congestive heart failure, Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor died Wednesday at the age of 79.

The Oscar-winning actress recently suffered a number of complications but her condition had stabilized and it was hoped she would be able to return home, ABC News reported.

She was surrounded by her four children when she died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Along with her children, Taylor is survived by 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

In recent years, the two-time Academy Award winner experienced a number of health problems and appeared frail in public appearances, ABC News reported.

During her life, Taylor had between 30 to 40 surgeries, including lung, hip, brain and heart procedures, according to biographers. Her many health challenges included pneumonia, skin cancer, a tracheotomy, and treatment for alcohol and painkiller addictions.

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Colon Cancer Screening Rates Rise for Some Americans

Colorectal cancer screening rates for whites, blacks and Asian-Americans age 50 and older improved between 2000 and 2008, barely rose for Hispanics, and fell for American Indians and Alaska Natives, says a U.S. government study.

In 2008, about 60 percent of whites and 55 percent of blacks age 50 and older said they had undergone at least one colorectal cancer screening, compared with 51 percent and 44 percent, respectively, in 2000. The rates for Asian-Americans in 2000 and 2008 were about the same as those for blacks, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The proportion of Hispanics who reported every being screened for colorectal cancer increased from 35 percent to about 44 percent, while rates fell from 49 percent to 37 percent among American Indians and Alaska Natives.

The study also said that colorectal cancer screening rates increased from about 26 percent to about 30 percent among whites and blacks with no health insurance. But rates fell from 16 percent to 13 percent among Hispanics without health insurance.

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New Blood Test Improves Diagnosis of Heart Attack

A new blood test improves the ability to diagnose heart attacks that may otherwise go undetected.

The test measures a protein called troponin that's released when heart cells are damaged during a heart attack, BBC News reported.

In their study of more than 2,000 patients with suspected heart attack, U.K. researchers found that the test could detect troponin at levels four times lower than the standard blood test.

As a result, one-third more patients were diagnosed with heart attack, which halved their risk of dying of a heart attack within a year, BBC News reported.

The study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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U.S. Bans Imports of Some Japanese Food Products

Imports of dairy products and produce from the area around the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan will be stopped by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The agency said Tuesday that those food items will be intercepted on entry to the U.S. in order to prevent their sale to the public, the Associated Press reported. Previously, the FDA said it would boost screening of dairy products and produce from the area affected by radiation leaking from the nuclear plant.

The FDA said it will allow the sale of other imported Japanese foods, including seafood, but the products will be screened for radiation.

Less than four percent of the United States' food imports come from Japan. The most common Japanese food items sold in the U.S. are seafood, snack foods, and processed fruits and vegetables, the AP reported.

The FDA said it expects no radiation-related risk to the U.S. food supply. Doses of radiation in food products are low and don't pose a threat to human health unless a person consumes abnormally high amounts of radiation-tainted products, according to officials and health experts.

This week, the World Health Organization said Japan needs to act quickly to ensure that no radiation-contaminated foods are sold, the AP reported.

In related news, officials said that infants in Tokyo and surrounding areas should not drink tap water due to elevated levels of radioactive iodine.

Tests of the capital's water supply have found levels of iodine-131 to be 210 becquerels per liter. The recommended limit for infants is 100 becquerels per liter, while the limit for adults is 300 becquerels per liter, The New York Times reported.

While it's unlikely that infants would suffer health problems if they drink the tap water, it should be avoided if possible and the water should not be used to make infant formula, said Japan's Health Ministry.

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CPSC Reissues Drop-Side Crib Recall

The suffocation death of a 7-month-old girl has prompted U.S. officials to reissue a 2008 recall of more than 985,000 drop-side cribs by Delta Enterprise Corp.

Missing safety pins can cause the crib's side-rail to disengage from the track, creating a gap where an infant can become trapped and suffocate, says the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The cribs were sold at major retail stores in the U.S. between 1995 and 2005, the Associated Press reported.

The 2008 recall included information about the death of an 8-month-old girl. The reissue of the recall mentions the more recent death of a 7-month-old girl who became trapped and suffocated in her crib, which was purchased secondhand and re-assembled without safety pegs in the bottom tracks, the CPSC said.

For more information, consumers can phone Delta Enterprise Corp. at 800-816-5304 or visit the company's website, the AP reported.

Health Tips for March 24

Health Tip: Taking Baby's Temperature

Getting an accurate reading when taking a wiggling infant's temperature can be a challenge.

The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests how to determine if your little one has a fever:

• If you have a rectal thermometer, label it so it isn't used orally by mistake.
• Always wash the thermometer with rubbing alcohol or soap and warm water, then rinse with cool water before you take your child's temperature, and again after use.
• If taking your child's temperature orally, don't do so until at least 20 minutes after the child consumes anything hot or cold.
• Avoid tightly bundling up baby or giving baby a bath just before taking baby's temperature.
• Don't leave your child unattended when using a thermometer.

Health Tip: Reduce Your Baby's Risk of SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) occurs when an infant under the age of 1 year dies without an explainable cause.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these suggestions on how you can help reduce your baby's risk of SIDS:

• Make sure baby sleeps on his or her back, on a firm mattress in a crib that meets government safety standards.
• Ideally, only use a fitted sheet in baby's crib. If you use a blanket, carefully tuck it into the mattress. Also avoid crib bumpers (unless they are thin, tightly secured and firm), and pillows, quilts or comforters.
• Don't let baby sleep on a chair, couch, water bed, cushion or sheepskin.
• Set up baby's crib in your room, but don't let baby sleep in your bed.
• Make sure baby doesn't get too hot while sleeping. Keep the room at a temperature that's comfortable for you.
• Don't smoke or allow anyone else to smoke around baby.
• Avoid products that claim to reduce an infant's risk of SIDS. No product has been proven to do so, the academy says.

Health Headlines - March 23

Send Health Care Law Directly to Supreme Court: Va. Attorney General

Virginia's challenge of the new U.S. health care law should bypass an appellate court and proceed straight to the Supreme Court because a delay in resolving the case leads to "crippling uncertainty," according to Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

He makes the argument in a brief filed in response to the Obama administration's March 14 filing on the issue. The White House had argued that there was no reason to take the rare step of bypassing a lower court review of a Virginia judge's decision to strike down the part of the health care law requiring citizens to buy health insurance or pay a penalty, the Associated Press reported.

The Obama administration has asked the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse the Virginia judge's decision. A May hearing has been scheduled by the appeals court.

However, Cuccinelli said Virginia wants the case to go directly to the Supreme Court because of "the crippling uncertainty faced by the country until those issues are resolved," the AP reported.

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New South Dakota Law Puts 3-Day Wait on Women Seeking Abortion

A new South Dakota law requires women to wait three days after meeting with a doctor before having an abortion, and to undergo counseling at pregnancy help centers that discourage abortion.

The measure, which was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Dennis Daugaard and takes effect July 1, means women in South Dakota will have longest abortion waiting period in the nation, the Associated Press reported.

Abortion rights groups plan to file a lawsuit challenging the measure. They say the waiting period and counseling impose an undue burden on women who have a constitutional right to abortion.

Supporters of the law say it will ensure women are not being coerced into abortions, theAP reported.

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Overweight Passengers Force Bus Safety Rule Changes

Bus safety rules have to be rewritten due to the increasing number of overweight Americans using public transit, says the U.S. government.

The assumed average weight per bus passenger should be raised from 150 pounds to 175 pounds, says a Federal Transit Authority proposal, USA Today reported. The FTA also wants an additional quarter of a square foot of floor space per passenger.

The proposed rule modifications "acknowledge the expanding girth of the average passenger," the FTA said.

The changes could mean that fewer people will be allowed on city buses across the nation, USA Today reported.

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Tween Brands Will Limit Cadmium in Jewelry

The toxic metal cadmium will be removed from child, teen and adult jewelry sold by Tween Brands Inc. as part of a settlement that's the first of its kind in the United States.

Last summer, Tween recalled about 137,000 Chinese-made pieces of jewelry due to unspecified levels of cadmium. A case against the company was brought by the California-based Center for Environmental Health. The group has made extensive use of the state's Proposition 65 to force companies to reduce levels of harmful materials in consumer products, the Associated Press reported.

The agreement takes effect January 2012 and Tween will face fines if it sells jewelry that is more than 0.03 percent cadmium. A state judge still needs to approve the settlement.

The settlement covers jewelry sold in California but the state's market is so large that the elimination of cadmium will become national policy for Tween, the AP reported.

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U.S. Personnel in Japan Offered Potassium Iodide

U.S. government personnel and their dependents who are in the vicinity of the damaged Japanese nuclear power station are being offered potassium iodide (KI), the State Department said Monday.

Officials said the offer to Americans in Nagoya, Tokyo, Yokohama and 15 prefectures is being made "out of an abundance of caution," and added that no one should take KI at this time, Agence France-Presse reported.

"While there is no indication that it will become advisable to take KI, out of an abundance of caution the United States government is making it available to its personnel and family members to be used only upon direction if a change in circumstances were to warrant," the State Department said in a travel warning.

Earlier on Monday, a plume of smoke that rose from one of the reactors at the Fukushima nuclear facility led to the removal of workers trying to get the situation under control, AFP reported.

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Pelosi Released From Rome Hospital

Following a brief stay in a Rome hospital, U.S. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi was released Monday and is resuming her schedule in Italy, says her spokesman.

"After several flights yesterday in Afghanistan, and a long flight back to Italy that arrived early this morning, Leader Pelosi was not feeling well," Nadeam Elshami said in an e-mailed statement, Bloomberg News reported.

"This morning in Rome, the leader was advised to visit a clinic, and the closest medical facility was a hospital," the spokesman said.

Pelosi, 70, is on an official trip to Rome with a congressional delegation. Her health concerns forced her to cancel a meeting with the Italian defense minister, Bloomberg reported.

Health Tips for March 23

Health Tip: Take an Antibiotic Properly

It's important to take an antibiotic exactly as prescribed and to finish the entire prescription, experts say. To help prevent harmful bacteria from becoming resistant to your antibiotic, don't stop taking the medication just because you feel better.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers these guidelines to help you take an antibiotic properly:

• Finish your prescription without missing any dose -- even if you stop feeling sick. Don't stop taking it because you want to save some of the medication for a future illness.
• Only stop taking the antibiotic if your doctor tells you to do so.
• Avoid sharing your antibiotic with anyone else.

Health Tip: Help Prevent Antibiotic Resistance

Preventing or treating bacterial infections are what antibiotics were designed to do.

But colds and flu, most coughs and bronchitis, and the majority of runny noses are triggered by viruses, and antibiotics won't prevent these maladies or make you feel better, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns.

Unnecessary overuse of antibiotics allows bacteria to mutate and develop a resistance to these drugs, the CDC says. The agency offers these suggestions to help prevent development of resistant bacteria:

• Take your antibiotics exactly the way your doctor prescribed them. The same advice goes for your children.
• Don't ever stop antibiotics just because you begin to feel better. Always finish the entire prescription.
• Don't insist on an antibiotic to treat the flu or cold, bronchitis or a cough, a runny nose or a sore throat that isn't strep.