Health Tips for July 9

Health Tip: The Benefits of Meditation

Meditation is gaining attention as a potential way to maintain well-being and good health. It can calm your mind, relax your body, and soothe your spirit. In addition, it's inexpensive and its risks are minimal.

Meditation techniques aren't new. They've been around for thousands of years. Anyone can meditate, regardless of religious or cultural background.

Consider these suggestions from the Mayo Clinic to get you started:

• Select a meditation technique that fits your lifestyle and belief system. Many people build meditation into their daily routine.
• Set aside some time. Start with 5-minute meditation sessions once or twice a day and work up to 20 minutes each time.
• Keep trying. Be kind to yourself as you get started. If you're meditating and your attention wanders, slowly return to the object, sensation or movement you're focusing on.
• Make meditation part of your life. Many people prefer to start and end their day with a period of meditation. Others prefer to take meditation breaks during the day. Experiment and find out what works best for you.

Health Tip: Do You Have a Phobia?

While fear is a normal reaction to a perceived danger, a phobia may be diagnosed when a fear is exaggerated or irrational.

The American Psychiatric Association says these symptoms may indicate a phobia:

• Feelings of terror, horror, panic or dread.
• Self-understanding that the fear goes beyond the actual danger.
• Fear that is so extreme that it interferes with thoughts and actions.
• Physical symptoms such as feeling short of breath, a rapidly beating heart or trembling.
• Going out of the way to avoid situations that trigger the phobia, such as flying.

Landmark transplant uses stemcell-coated artificial windpipe

An international team of surgeons have successfully carried out the world's first transplant of a synthetic windpipe, the Swedish hospital where the groundbreaking operation took place said Thursday.

On June 9, a 36-year-old man suffering from late stage tracheal cancer, received a new trachea, or windpipe, made from a synthetic scaffold and covered with his own stem cells, the Karolinska University Hospital in the Stockholm suburb of Huddinge said in a statement.

The so-called regenerative medical procedure could, according to the hospital, revolutionise the field of trachea transplants, making them far more accessible.

"Transplantations of tissue engineered windpipes with synthetic scaffolds in combination with the patient's own stem cells as a standard procedure means that patients will not have to wait for a suitable donor organ," it pointed out.

This would be especially beneficial to children, "since the availability of donor tracheas is much lower than for adult patients," it said, stressing that having quick access to operations would in turn give patients a greater chance of recovery.

The transplant team was led by professor Paolo Macciarini of Karolinska and included professor Alexander Seifalian of theUniversity College London, who designed and built the artificial windpipe.

Researchers at Harvard Bioscience meanwhile made a specialbioreactor used to seed the scaffold with the patient's stem cells, which were allowed to grow on the synthetic windpipe for two days before the transplant took place.

"Because the cells used to regenerate the trachea were the patient's own, there has been no rejection of the transplant and the patient is not taking immunosuppressive drugs," Karolinska said, adding that the man was "well on the way to full recovery and will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow (Friday)."

The synthetic trachea had been used as a last possible option, according to the team, since the man's tumour had despite radiation treatment grown so large it was threatening to block his entire windpipe and there was no suitable donor available.

Macciarini had already performed successful transplants of stem cell engineered tracheas, but in those cases the windpipes were taken from donors and then seeded with the transplant patient's stem cells.

Health Headlines - July 8

Smokers Who Quit Can Have Normal-Weight Babies: Study

A female smoker who quits when she learns she's pregnant can have a baby with a normal birth weight, according to a new study.

The findings are based on data from more than 50,000 pregnant women in Southampton, England, from 2002 to 2010. The average weight of babies born to smokers who kicked the habit when they found out they were pregnant was 33 grams (10.6 ounces) more than babies born to women who kept smoking during their pregnancy, Agence France-Presse reported.

Birth weight is an important predictor of long-term health. The study was presented this week at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

"Once you find out you're pregnant, it's not too late to do something about your smoking," study author Nick Macklon, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Southampton, told AFP. "If you stop smoking, you can have a baby with the same birth weight as if you'd never smoked."

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Maker Seeks to Prevent Drug's Use in Lethal Injections

A Danish drug company says it will restrict distribution of its Nembutal drug to prevent it from being used in lethal injections to execute prisoners in some U.S. states.

Nembutal is the trade name for Lundbeck's pentobarbital sodium injection. It's used to treat severe epilepsy but is also used by a number of states in a three-drug mixture used to execute death row inmates, Agence France-Presse reported.

Lundbeck said Friday that Nembutal will now "be supplied exclusively through a specialty pharmacy drop ship program that will deny distribution of the product to prisons in U.S. states currently active in carrying out the death penalty by lethal injection."

Distributors were notified of the plan in late June, AFP reported.

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Paycheck Can Be Dangerous: Study

Payday can be life threatening, according to a new study.

A U.S. researcher looked at four major demographic groups -- military personnel, people receiving tax rebate checks, seniors on Social Security, and recipients of Alaska's Permanent Fund dividends -- and found a spike in death rates in the week after they received their checks, msnbc.com reported.

The largest increases occurred in deaths caused by substance abuse, external causes (accidents of various kinds), and heart attacks.

"After getting paid, people are just more active -- they go out to dinner, head to the store, drive more, go to bars, etc.," said University of Notre Dame economist William Evans, msnbc.com reported. "Some of this behavior is inherently risky, like drinking too much or driving drunk. Some of the activity will naturally increase risk -- if you drive more, the risk of being in a car accident has increased."

"Some of the links are not so obvious," he added. "For example, more activity may spur on a heart attack. And some of it is increased risk taking, as with substance abuse."

The study appears in the Journal of Public Economics.

Health Tips for July 8

Health Tip: Fears and Phobias

People with phobic anxieties, like fear of crowded places, fear of heights or fear of going outside, are at higher risk for heart disease than those with fewer or no anxieties.

Several studies have suggested that anxiety and anger are associated with an elevated risk of sudden cardiac death. This is when death occurs within one hour of the onset of symptoms; it's usually associated with a lethal heart rhythm disturbance.

The following questions, suggested by the American Heart Association, may help you determine if you need to see a mental health professional:

• Do you have an unreasonable fear of being in enclosed spaces like shops, elevators, etc.?
• Do you find yourself worrying about getting some incurable illness?
• Are you exceptionally afraid of heights?
• Do you feel panicky in crowds?
• Do you worry unduly when relatives are late in coming home?
• Do you feel more relaxed indoors?
• Do you dislike going out alone?
• Do you feel uneasy traveling on buses or trains even if they are not crowded?

Health Tip: Anxiety Disorders Can Cause Physical Problems

Anxiety disorders may be mental health conditions, but they can cause a number of physical problems.

The University of Maryland Medical Center lists these physical complications that can arise from anxiety disorders:

• Heart disease.
• Risk factors for heart disease, including thickened blood vessels, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.
• Irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal problems.
• Headaches.
• Respiratory conditions, including asthma.
• Obesity.
• Allergies, including food allergies, hay fever, eczema and other allergic conditions.

Health Headlines - July 7

Seeds Linked to E. Coli Outbreak Still Being Sold

European officials said Tuesday that fenugreek seeds linked to a huge and deadly E. coli outbreak centered in Germany are still being sold and were distributed to more countries than previously believed.

The European Union has now banned further imports of the seeds from Egypt until Oct. 31, and all seeds from one Egyptian exporter received between 2009 and 2011 must be destroyed, the Associated Press reported.

The lot of contaminated seeds from Egypt blamed for the E. coli outbreak was imported by one distributor in Germany, but the seeds were then sold to 54 different companies in Germany and 16 companies in 11 other European countries, according to the European Food Safety Authority.

Fenugreek seeds are often sold dried. If they are contaminated with E. coli, the bacteria can survive for years, the AP reported.

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Maker Seeks to Prevent Drug's Use in Lethal Injections

A Danish drug company says it will restrict distribution of its Nembutal drug to prevent it from being used in lethal injections to execute prisoners in some U.S. states.

Nembutal is the trade name for Lundbeck's pentobarbital sodium injection. It's used to treat severe epilepsy but is also used by a number of states in a three-drug mixture used to execute death row inmates, Agence France-Presse reported.

Lundbeck said Friday that Nembutal will now "be supplied exclusively through a specialty pharmacy drop ship program that will deny distribution of the product to prisons in U.S. states currently active in carrying out the death penalty by lethal injection."

Distributors were notified of the plan in late June, AFP reported.

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Paycheck Can Be Dangerous: Study

Payday can be life threatening, according to a new study.

A U.S. researcher looked at four major demographic groups -- military personnel, people receiving tax rebate checks, seniors on Social Security, and recipients of Alaska's Permanent Fund dividends -- and found a spike in death rates in the week after they received their checks, msnbc.com reported.

The largest increases occurred in deaths caused by substance abuse, external causes (accidents of various kinds), and heart attacks.

"After getting paid, people are just more active -- they go out to dinner, head to the store, drive more, go to bars, etc.," said University of Notre Dame economist William Evans, msnbc.com reported. "Some of this behavior is inherently risky, like drinking too much or driving drunk. Some of the activity will naturally increase risk -- if you drive more, the risk of being in a car accident has increased."

"Some of the links are not so obvious," he added. "For example, more activity may spur on a heart attack. And some of it is increased risk taking, as with substance abuse."

The study appears in the Journal of Public Economics.

Health Tips for July 7

Health Tip: Reduce Your Risk of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis occurs when plaque -- a combination of fat, cholesterol and calcium deposits -- builds up inside arteries.

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute suggests these lifestyle changes that can help reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis:

• Stick to a heart-healthy diet that is rich in whole grains, vegetables and fruits.
• Limit salt, saturated fats, sugar and cholesterol.
• If you're overweight, devise a plan to lose weight.
• Get plenty of exercise each day.
• If you smoke, quit.
• Tell your doctor about any family history of atherosclerosis.

Health Tip: Protect Your Heart

Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when fatty deposits known as plaque build up in the heart's arteries.

Whether you've never had CAD or have been diagnosed with the condition, the University of Maryland Medical Center offers these suggestions:

• Quit smoking.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet.
• Take medications or supplements exactly as your doctor prescribes them.
• Get regular exercise.
• Ask your doctor how to maintain normal blood pressure, or lower it if it's too high.
• Take a baby aspirin daily, assuming your doctor approves.
• Control health conditions such as kidney disease or diabetes.

Health Headlines - July 6

Seeds Linked to E. Coli Outbreak Still Being Sold

European officials said Tuesday that fenugreek seeds linked to a huge and deadly E. coli outbreak centered in Germany are still being sold and were distributed to more countries than previously believed.

The European Union has now banned further imports of the seeds from Egypt until Oct. 31, and all seeds from one Egyptian exporter received between 2009 and 2011 must be destroyed, the Associated Press reported.

The lot of contaminated seeds from Egypt blamed for the E. coli outbreak was imported by one distributor in Germany, but the seeds were then sold to 54 different companies in Germany and 16 companies in 11 other European countries, according to the European Food Safety Authority.

Fenugreek seeds are often sold dried. If they are contaminated with E. coli, the bacteria can survive for years, the AP reported.

-----

Maker Seeks to Prevent Drug's Use in Lethal Injections

A Danish drug company says it will restrict distribution of its Nembutal drug to prevent it from being used in lethal injections to execute prisoners in some U.S. states.

Nembutal is the trade name for Lundbeck's pentobarbital sodium injection. It's used to treat severe epilepsy but is also used by a number of states in a three-drug mixture used to execute death row inmates, Agence France-Presse reported.

Lundbeck said Friday that Nembutal will now "be supplied exclusively through a specialty pharmacy drop ship program that will deny distribution of the product to prisons in U.S. states currently active in carrying out the death penalty by lethal injection."

Distributors were notified of the plan in late June, AFP reported.

-----

Paycheck Can Be Dangerous: Study

Payday can be life threatening, according to a new study.

A U.S. researcher looked at four major demographic groups -- military personnel, people receiving tax rebate checks, seniors on Social Security, and recipients of Alaska's Permanent Fund dividends -- and found a spike in death rates in the week after they received their checks, msnbc.com reported.

The largest increases occurred in deaths caused by substance abuse, external causes (accidents of various kinds), and heart attacks.

"After getting paid, people are just more active -- they go out to dinner, head to the store, drive more, go to bars, etc.," said University of Notre Dame economist William Evans, msnbc.com reported. "Some of this behavior is inherently risky, like drinking too much or driving drunk. Some of the activity will naturally increase risk -- if you drive more, the risk of being in a car accident has increased."

"Some of the links are not so obvious," he added. "For example, more activity may spur on a heart attack. And some of it is increased risk taking, as with substance abuse."

The study appears in the Journal of Public Economics.

Health Tips for July 6

Health Tip: Some Prone to Losing Bone Mass

Some people are at risk for losing bone mass, but haven't progressed to full-blown osteoporosis. In other words, their bodies break down old bone faster than they can produce new bone. Doctors call this condition osteopenia.

The American Academy of Family Physicians says risk factors for osteopenia include:

• Getting older.
• Starting menopause before age 45.
• Having surgery to remove the ovaries before menopause.
• Getting insufficient physical activity.
• Drinking too much alcohol, smoking or other use of tobacco.
• Having an eating disorder.
• Having an overactive thyroid.

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 Headlines - July 5

Maker Seeks to Prevent Drug's Use in Lethal Injections

A Danish drug company says it will restrict distribution of its Nembutal drug to prevent it from being used in lethal injections to execute prisoners in some U.S. states.

Nembutal is the trade name for Lundbeck's pentobarbital sodium injection. It's used to treat severe epilepsy but is also used by a number of states in a three-drug mixture used to execute death row inmates, Agence France-Presse reported.

Lundbeck said Friday that Nembutal will now "be supplied exclusively through a specialty pharmacy drop ship program that will deny distribution of the product to prisons in U.S. states currently active in carrying out the death penalty by lethal injection."

Distributors were notified of the plan in late June, AFP reported.

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Paycheck Can be Dangerous: Study

Payday can be life threatening, according to a new study.

A U.S. researcher looked at four major demographic groups -- military personnel, people receiving tax rebate checks, seniors on Social Security, and recipients of Alaska's Permanent Fund dividends -- and found a spike in death rates in the week after they received their checks, msnbc.com reported.

The largest increases occurred in deaths caused by substance abuse, external causes (accidents of various kinds), and heart attacks.

"After getting paid, people are just more active -- they go out to dinner, head to the store, drive more, go to bars, etc.," said University of Notre Dame economist William Evans, msnbc.com reported. "Some of this behavior is inherently risky, like drinking too much or driving drunk. Some of the activity will naturally increase risk -- if you drive more, the risk of being in a car accident has increased."

"Some of the links are not so obvious," he added. "For example, more activity may spur on a heart attack. And some of it is increased risk taking, as with substance abuse."

The study appears in the Journal of Public Economics.

-----

Babies' Brains Respond to Others' Emotions at Early Age

A new study finds that babies can respond to emotions in other people's voices by the time they're three months old, earlier than previously believed.

Researchers used functional MRI to monitor brain activity in 21 babies as they heard emotional sounds, such as laughing and crying, and other sounds, such as water or toys,BBC News reported.

The scans showed activity in the babies' temporal cortex when they heard the emotional human voices, the same part of the brain that's activated in adults.

This finding about when human brains develop the ability to process voices and emotions "fundamentally advances our understanding of infant development," said Professor Declan Murphy of King's College London, BBC News reported.

This knowledge could be used to identify differences between the way that autistic and non-autistic brains develop, according to researchers.

-----

Canada to Fund Trials of Controversial MS Treatment

The Canadian government announced Wednesday that it will fund clinical trials for a controversial multiple sclerosis treatment that clears blocked neck veins.

A scientific working group established by the government last year recommended proceeding with the trials after a review of seven ongoing studies of the link between "chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency" and its connection to MS, Agence France-Presse reported.

The government will issue of call for applications to conduct the trials after the clinical trial terms are established by the Canadian Institute of Health Research.

The so-called "liberation treatment" is not offered in Canada and many Canadians with MS have gone to other countries for the treatment. Some said they had major improvements in their mobility after the procedure, while others reported little benefit, according to AFP.

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Number of U.S. Kids Living With Grandparents Rises

The number of children in the United States who live with at least one grandparent rose 64 percent between 1991 to 2009, from 4.7 million to 7.8 million, according to a Census report released Wednesday.

When examined by race and ethnicity, the number of children living with at least one grandparent increased from 5 percent to 9 percent for whites, from 15 percent to 17 percent for blacks, and from 12 percent to 14 percent for Hispanics, USA Today reported.

Three-quarters (76 percent) of all children living with a grandparent also had at least one parent in the household.

"There's absolutely no question it's been on the rise because of the recession," Gary Drevitch of New York, editor-in-chief of the website Grandparents.com, told USA Today.

"What's been interesting is that in the past, you imagine grandparents moving in with their adult children and grandchildren because they could no longer maintain their own home. The trend during the recession has been multigenerational households created because adult children have moved in with the grandparents. It's adult children struggling in the economy," he said.

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Seeds From Egypt Suspected Cause of Europe's E. Coli Outbreak

Fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt may have been the cause of the E. coli outbreak in Europe that's sickened more than 4,000 people and killed at least 47, according to officials.

While the fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt either in 2009 or 2010 are being fingered as a possible cause, further investigation is needed to confirm that suspicion, said the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Food Safety Authority, the Associated Press reported.

Fenugreek seeds are used to prepare pickles and curry powders as well as Ethiopian, Indian and Yemeni foods.

Germany was hardest hit by the E. coli outbreak, with 46 deaths reported there so far. One person had died in Sweden, the AP reported.

Health Tips for July 5

Health Tip: Before You Take a Decongestant

Though decongestant medications can offer much-needed relief when mucus plugs your nose, the drugs could be harmful to some people.

The American Academy of Family Physicians says you should speak to your doctor before taking a decongestant if you have:

• Heart problems or high blood pressure.
• Glaucoma.
• Problems with the thyroid.
• Diabetes.
• Problems with the prostate.

Health Tip: Can't Kick the Common Cold?

There's no cure for the common cold, but there are things you can do to help feel better while your immune system fights the virus.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases offers these suggestions:

• Rest in bed.
• Drink lots of fluids.
• To help a sore throat, suck on ice chips, use lozenges or a throat spray, or gargle with warm salt water.
• For a stuffy nose, use a saline nasal spray or decongestant.
• Apply petroleum jelly to a sore, raw nose.
• Take acetaminophen or aspirin to help manage fever and headache. Never give aspirin to children younger than 13, however.

Health Headlines - July 4

Happy 4th of July!

Maker Seeks to Prevent Drug's Use in Lethal Injections

A Danish drug company says it will restrict distribution of its Nembutal drug to prevent it from being used in lethal injections to execute prisoners in some U.S. states.

Nembutal is the trade name for Lundbeck's pentobarbital sodium injection. It's used to treat severe epilepsy but is also used by a number of states in a three-drug mixture used to execute death row inmates, Agence France-Presse reported.

Lundbeck said Friday that Nembutal will now "be supplied exclusively through a specialty pharmacy drop ship program that will deny distribution of the product to prisons in U.S. states currently active in carrying out the death penalty by lethal injection."

Distributors were notified of the plan in late June, AFP reported.

-----

Paycheck Can be Dangerous: Study

Payday can be life threatening, according to a new study.

A U.S. researcher looked at four major demographic groups -- military personnel, people receiving tax rebate checks, seniors on Social Security, and recipients of Alaska's Permanent Fund dividends -- and found a spike in death rates in the week after they received their checks, msnbc.com reported.

The largest increases occurred in deaths caused by substance abuse, external causes (accidents of various kinds), and heart attacks.

"After getting paid, people are just more active -- they go out to dinner, head to the store, drive more, go to bars, etc.," said University of Notre Dame economist William Evans, msnbc.com reported. "Some of this behavior is inherently risky, like drinking too much or driving drunk. Some of the activity will naturally increase risk -- if you drive more, the risk of being in a car accident has increased."

"Some of the links are not so obvious," he added. "For example, more activity may spur on a heart attack. And some of it is increased risk taking, as with substance abuse."

The study appears in the Journal of Public Economics.

-----

Babies' Brains Respond to Others' Emotions at Early Age

A new study finds that babies can respond to emotions in other people's voices by the time they're three months old, earlier than previously believed.

Researchers used functional MRI to monitor brain activity in 21 babies as they heard emotional sounds, such as laughing and crying, and other sounds, such as water or toys,BBC News reported.

The scans showed activity in the babies' temporal cortex when they heard the emotional human voices, the same part of the brain that's activated in adults.

This finding about when human brains develop the ability to process voices and emotions "fundamentally advances our understanding of infant development," said Professor Declan Murphy of King's College London, BBC News reported.

This knowledge could be used to identify differences between the way that autistic and non-autistic brains develop, according to researchers.

-----

Canada to Fund Trials of Controversial MS Treatment

The Canadian government announced Wednesday that it will fund clinical trials for a controversial multiple sclerosis treatment that clears blocked neck veins.

A scientific working group established by the government last year recommended proceeding with the trials after a review of seven ongoing studies of the link between "chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency" and its connection to MS, Agence France-Presse reported.

The government will issue of call for applications to conduct the trials after the clinical trial terms are established by the Canadian Institute of Health Research.

The so-called "liberation treatment" is not offered in Canada and many Canadians with MS have gone to other countries for the treatment. Some said they had major improvements in their mobility after the procedure, while others reported little benefit, according to AFP.

-----

Number of U.S. Kids Living With Grandparents Rises

The number of children in the United States who live with at least one grandparent rose 64 percent between 1991 to 2009, from 4.7 million to 7.8 million, according to a Census report released Wednesday.

When examined by race and ethnicity, the number of children living with at least one grandparent increased from 5 percent to 9 percent for whites, from 15 percent to 17 percent for blacks, and from 12 percent to 14 percent for Hispanics, USA Today reported.

Three-quarters (76 percent) of all children living with a grandparent also had at least one parent in the household.

"There's absolutely no question it's been on the rise because of the recession," Gary Drevitch of New York, editor-in-chief of the website Grandparents.com, told USA Today.

"What's been interesting is that in the past, you imagine grandparents moving in with their adult children and grandchildren because they could no longer maintain their own home. The trend during the recession has been multigenerational households created because adult children have moved in with the grandparents. It's adult children struggling in the economy," he said.

-----

Seeds From Egypt Suspected Cause of Europe's E. Coli Outbreak

Fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt may have been the cause of the E. coli outbreak in Europe that's sickened more than 4,000 people and killed at least 47, according to officials.

While the fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt either in 2009 or 2010 are being fingered as a possible cause, further investigation is needed to confirm that suspicion, said the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Food Safety Authority, the Associated Press reported.

Fenugreek seeds are used to prepare pickles and curry powders as well as Ethiopian, Indian and Yemeni foods.

Germany was hardest hit by the E. coli outbreak, with 46 deaths reported there so far. One person had died in Sweden, the AP reported.

Health Tips for July 4

Health Tips: Fireworks Safety

As you prepare for the 4th of July holiday please keep safety in mind. The best way to keep your family safe is to not use any fireworks at home. Public fireworks displays are held in most communities, and citizens and visitors are encouraged to attend these events.

If you do plan to use fireworks at home please follow these simple tips:

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks. The National Fire Protection Agency reports injuries to children 10-14 are twice as high as the general population.
• Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move back a safe distance immediately after lighting.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Keep a bucket of water, a water hose, and/or a fire extinguisher close in case of fire.
• Light one firework at a time and then move away.
• After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.

Often parents offer small children sparklers, thinking they are a safe alternative. Sparklers reach over 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, which can cause third degree burns.

Remember these tips when letting children play with sparklers:

• Never hold a child in your arms while using a sparkler.
• Never hold or light more than one sparkler at a time.
• Sparkler wire stays hot long after flames have gone out. Be sure to place used sparklers in a bucket of water.
• Stand at least 6 feet from another person while using sparklers.
• Never wave sparklers or run while holding them.

Health Headlines - July 3

Maker Seeks to Prevent Drug's Use in Lethal Injections

A Danish drug company says it will restrict distribution of its Nembutal drug to prevent it from being used in lethal injections to execute prisoners in some U.S. states.

Nembutal is the trade name for Lundbeck's pentobarbital sodium injection. It's used to treat severe epilepsy but is also used by a number of states in a three-drug mixture used to execute death row inmates, Agence France-Presse reported.

Lundbeck said Friday that Nembutal will now "be supplied exclusively through a specialty pharmacy drop ship program that will deny distribution of the product to prisons in U.S. states currently active in carrying out the death penalty by lethal injection."

Distributors were notified of the plan in late June, AFP reported.

-----

Paycheck Can be Dangerous: Study

Payday can be life threatening, according to a new study.

A U.S. researcher looked at four major demographic groups -- military personnel, people receiving tax rebate checks, seniors on Social Security, and recipients of Alaska's Permanent Fund dividends -- and found a spike in death rates in the week after they received their checks, msnbc.com reported.

The largest increases occurred in deaths caused by substance abuse, external causes (accidents of various kinds), and heart attacks.

"After getting paid, people are just more active -- they go out to dinner, head to the store, drive more, go to bars, etc.," said University of Notre Dame economist William Evans, msnbc.com reported. "Some of this behavior is inherently risky, like drinking too much or driving drunk. Some of the activity will naturally increase risk -- if you drive more, the risk of being in a car accident has increased."

"Some of the links are not so obvious," he added. "For example, more activity may spur on a heart attack. And some of it is increased risk taking, as with substance abuse."

The study appears in the Journal of Public Economics.

-----

Babies' Brains Respond to Others' Emotions at Early Age

A new study finds that babies can respond to emotions in other people's voices by the time they're three months old, earlier than previously believed.

Researchers used functional MRI to monitor brain activity in 21 babies as they heard emotional sounds, such as laughing and crying, and other sounds, such as water or toys,BBC News reported.

The scans showed activity in the babies' temporal cortex when they heard the emotional human voices, the same part of the brain that's activated in adults.

This finding about when human brains develop the ability to process voices and emotions "fundamentally advances our understanding of infant development," said Professor Declan Murphy of King's College London, BBC News reported.

This knowledge could be used to identify differences between the way that autistic and non-autistic brains develop, according to researchers.

-----

Canada to Fund Trials of Controversial MS Treatment

The Canadian government announced Wednesday that it will fund clinical trials for a controversial multiple sclerosis treatment that clears blocked neck veins.

A scientific working group established by the government last year recommended proceeding with the trials after a review of seven ongoing studies of the link between "chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency" and its connection to MS, Agence France-Presse reported.

The government will issue of call for applications to conduct the trials after the clinical trial terms are established by the Canadian Institute of Health Research.

The so-called "liberation treatment" is not offered in Canada and many Canadians with MS have gone to other countries for the treatment. Some said they had major improvements in their mobility after the procedure, while others reported little benefit, according to AFP.

-----

Number of U.S. Kids Living With Grandparents Rises

The number of children in the United States who live with at least one grandparent rose 64 percent between 1991 to 2009, from 4.7 million to 7.8 million, according to a Census report released Wednesday.

When examined by race and ethnicity, the number of children living with at least one grandparent increased from 5 percent to 9 percent for whites, from 15 percent to 17 percent for blacks, and from 12 percent to 14 percent for Hispanics, USA Today reported.

Three-quarters (76 percent) of all children living with a grandparent also had at least one parent in the household.

"There's absolutely no question it's been on the rise because of the recession," Gary Drevitch of New York, editor-in-chief of the website Grandparents.com, told USA Today.

"What's been interesting is that in the past, you imagine grandparents moving in with their adult children and grandchildren because they could no longer maintain their own home. The trend during the recession has been multigenerational households created because adult children have moved in with the grandparents. It's adult children struggling in the economy," he said.

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Seeds From Egypt Suspected Cause of Europe's E. Coli Outbreak

Fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt may have been the cause of the E. coli outbreak in Europe that's sickened more than 4,000 people and killed at least 47, according to officials.

While the fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt either in 2009 or 2010 are being fingered as a possible cause, further investigation is needed to confirm that suspicion, said the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Food Safety Authority, the Associated Press reported.

Fenugreek seeds are used to prepare pickles and curry powders as well as Ethiopian, Indian and Yemeni foods.

Germany was hardest hit by the E. coli outbreak, with 46 deaths reported there so far. One person had died in Sweden, the AP reported.

Health Tips for July 3

Health Tips: July 4th & summer safety

As we go into this holiday weekend, and with temperatures expected to soar, the staff at the West Penn Burn Center reminds our community of some simple but helpful precautions:

Sun and skin
The Burn Center treats many children and adults with severe sunburns during the summer season.

Many people doze off while lying in the sun at the lake, by the river or the pool. Severe sunburn can occur on gloomy days due to the intensity of the ultraviolet rays and sun reflected off the water, which is even more intense and can lead to more serious burns.

Our experts recommend wearing sunscreen with a UVA/UVB protection factor of at least 15. Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outside and re-apply every two hours. Wear a wide brim hat and tightly woven clothing. The American Association of Dermatologists (AAD) has approved certain brands, which are good for sun protection.

In general, children of all ages should stay out of strong, prolonged sunlight; however, sunscreen can be safely used from age six months forward. If for some reason it is unavoidable for an infant to be in the sunlight, sunscreen is probably safe at any age.

Sun and sight
Sunglasses are sunscreens for the eyes. They protect eyes from the harmful UV-A and UV-B rays of the sun. Sunglasses play a key role in saving your eyes from sight-ending diseases, such as macular degeneration, cataracts or skin cancer around the eyelids. Experts recommend comfortable sunglasses that reduce glare and filter out at least 99 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays.

Hot coals
Accidents involving hot coals can cause severe burns and a child can sustain life-threatening burns. Hot coals should always be disposed of in designated containers. Do not bury coals with sand. Hot coals covered by sand can retain an intense heat for up to 24 hours.

If a child is burned by hot coals, immediately cool the area but DO NOT use ice. Never apply ice to a burn. Experts recommend using cold water to cool the burn, and at the same time, wash away the sand and debris. If there is time, apply an antibiotic ointment but get right to the emergency room.

Fireworks
Fireworks are illegal and extremely dangerous. Each year, the Burn Center treats patients who have suffered fireworks-related injuries, including those from small fireworks called “poppers” that easily fit in a pocket, where they can explode, set clothing on fire and cause serious burn injuries.

Lamp oil and lighter fluid
Oil-filled lamps or torches on patios and backyards can cause severe burns if not properly secured, but there is another aspect of using these devices that often goes overlooked. The fluids involved can cause life-threatening pneumonia in young children and adults if the fuel is inhaled.

“Each year, the poison center receives an average of 400 calls regarding the ingestion of lamp oil and lighter fluid, the majority of which involve children under the age of five,” said Richard Clark, M.D., director of toxicology at UC San Diego Health System and medical director of the California Poison Control System (CPCS). “A common source of exposure occurs when lamp oil or lighter fluid is placed in a drinking cup or other container in order to transfer it to the lamp, torch or barbecue.”

Never transfer lamp oil or lighter fluid in a container normally used for eating or drinking. Lamp oil and lighter fluid should be stored in the original, child-resistant packaging and ensure the lid is securely tightened and out of the reach of children immediately after use.

Please remember: Burn injuries can be serious. In case of a serious burn injury, call 911 for an emergency response.

Health Headlines - July 2

Maker Seeks to Prevent Drug's Use in Lethal Injections

A Danish drug company says it will restrict distribution of its Nembutal drug to prevent it from being used in lethal injections to execute prisoners in some U.S. states.

Nembutal is the trade name for Lundbeck's pentobarbital sodium injection. It's used to treat severe epilepsy but is also used by a number of states in a three-drug mixture used to execute death row inmates, Agence France-Presse reported.

Lundbeck said Friday that Nembutal will now "be supplied exclusively through a specialty pharmacy drop ship program that will deny distribution of the product to prisons in U.S. states currently active in carrying out the death penalty by lethal injection."

Distributors were notified of the plan in late June, AFP reported.

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Paycheck Can be Dangerous: Study

Payday can be life threatening, according to a new study.

A U.S. researcher looked at four major demographic groups -- military personnel, people receiving tax rebate checks, seniors on Social Security, and recipients of Alaska's Permanent Fund dividends -- and found a spike in death rates in the week after they received their checks, msnbc.com reported.

The largest increases occurred in deaths caused by substance abuse, external causes (accidents of various kinds), and heart attacks.

"After getting paid, people are just more active -- they go out to dinner, head to the store, drive more, go to bars, etc.," said University of Notre Dame economist William Evans, msnbc.com reported. "Some of this behavior is inherently risky, like drinking too much or driving drunk. Some of the activity will naturally increase risk -- if you drive more, the risk of being in a car accident has increased."

"Some of the links are not so obvious," he added. "For example, more activity may spur on a heart attack. And some of it is increased risk taking, as with substance abuse."

The study appears in the Journal of Public Economics.

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Babies' Brains Respond to Others' Emotions at Early Age

A new study finds that babies can respond to emotions in other people's voices by the time they're three months old, earlier than previously believed.

Researchers used functional MRI to monitor brain activity in 21 babies as they heard emotional sounds, such as laughing and crying, and other sounds, such as water or toys,BBC News reported.

The scans showed activity in the babies' temporal cortex when they heard the emotional human voices, the same part of the brain that's activated in adults.

This finding about when human brains develop the ability to process voices and emotions "fundamentally advances our understanding of infant development," said Professor Declan Murphy of King's College London, BBC News reported.

This knowledge could be used to identify differences between the way that autistic and non-autistic brains develop, according to researchers.

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Canada to Fund Trials of Controversial MS Treatment

The Canadian government announced Wednesday that it will fund clinical trials for a controversial multiple sclerosis treatment that clears blocked neck veins.

A scientific working group established by the government last year recommended proceeding with the trials after a review of seven ongoing studies of the link between "chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency" and its connection to MS, Agence France-Presse reported.

The government will issue of call for applications to conduct the trials after the clinical trial terms are established by the Canadian Institute of Health Research.

The so-called "liberation treatment" is not offered in Canada and many Canadians with MS have gone to other countries for the treatment. Some said they had major improvements in their mobility after the procedure, while others reported little benefit, according to AFP.

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Number of U.S. Kids Living With Grandparents Rises

The number of children in the United States who live with at least one grandparent rose 64 percent between 1991 to 2009, from 4.7 million to 7.8 million, according to a Census report released Wednesday.

When examined by race and ethnicity, the number of children living with at least one grandparent increased from 5 percent to 9 percent for whites, from 15 percent to 17 percent for blacks, and from 12 percent to 14 percent for Hispanics, USA Today reported.

Three-quarters (76 percent) of all children living with a grandparent also had at least one parent in the household.

"There's absolutely no question it's been on the rise because of the recession," Gary Drevitch of New York, editor-in-chief of the website Grandparents.com, told USA Today.

"What's been interesting is that in the past, you imagine grandparents moving in with their adult children and grandchildren because they could no longer maintain their own home. The trend during the recession has been multigenerational households created because adult children have moved in with the grandparents. It's adult children struggling in the economy," he said.

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Seeds From Egypt Suspected Cause of Europe's E. Coli Outbreak

Fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt may have been the cause of the E. coli outbreak in Europe that's sickened more than 4,000 people and killed at least 47, according to officials.

While the fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt either in 2009 or 2010 are being fingered as a possible cause, further investigation is needed to confirm that suspicion, said the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Food Safety Authority, the Associated Press reported.

Fenugreek seeds are used to prepare pickles and curry powders as well as Ethiopian, Indian and Yemeni foods.

Germany was hardest hit by the E. coli outbreak, with 46 deaths reported there so far. One person had died in Sweden, the AP reported.

Health Tips for July 2

Health Tip: Picnic Safety

Picnics can take on many forms, such as the community picnic, friends and neighbors, tailgate parties, or ball games. There is also one sure thing at every picnic-lots of good food.

The important point is to have safe and healthy food, not food that can cause foodborne illness. Always prepare and store food properly:

• As always, wash hands and work areas before preparing food.
• Plan your menu with an eye to safe food handling. Cook foods in plenty of time to thoroughly chill them in shallow containers in the refrigerator.
• Have enough coolers with ice or frozen gel packs in which to store the perishable foods like meat, poultry, fish, eggs and salads. You want to keep the food at 40 degrees F. Pack foods right from the refrigerator into the coolers.
• Don't put the cooler in the car trunk. Carry it inside an air-conditioned car. At picnics, keep the cooler in the shade and keep the lid closed. Replenish the ice if it melts.
• Use a separate cooler for drinks so the one containing the food won't constantly be opened and closed.
• Find out if there's a source of safe drinking water at your destination. If not, bring water for preparation and cleaning; or pack clean, wet, disposable cloths or moist towelettes and paper towels for cleaning hands and surfaces. Cross-contamination during preparation, grilling, and serving food is a prime cause of foodborne illness.
• Pack raw meats, poultry, or seafood on the bottom of the cooler. This will reduce the risk of them dripping on other foods. Pack coolers until they are full. A full cooler will stay cold longer than one that is partially full.
• If you plan on getting takeout foods such as fried chicken, Eat them within an hour of pick up.
• Do not partially grill extra meat or poultry to use later. Once you begin, cook until completely done to assure bacteria are destroyed. Grill raw poultry until the juices run clear and there is no pink. Hamburger should not be pink in the center.
• When taking food off the grill, don't put the cooked items on the same platter which held the raw meat unless you have washed the platter in between uses.
• Two Hour Rule. Don't leave perishable food un-refrigerated for more than two hours. Put perishable foods back in the cooler or refrigerator as soon as you finish eating. Don't leave them out while you go for a swim or a hike, and don't leave them out all afternoon to nibble on.
• Chances are, picnic leftovers have been sitting out for more than an hour or two. Discard these leftovers. Cold food that were kept in a cooler that still has ice may be safe. If the ice has melted, the food should be discarded.

Health Headlines - July 1

Number of U.S. Kids Living With Grandparents Rises

The number of children in the United States who live with at least one grandparent rose 64 percent between 1991 to 2009, from 4.7 million to 7.8 million, according to a Census report released Wednesday.

When examined by race and ethnicity, the number of children living with at least one grandparent increased from 5 percent to 9 percent for whites, from 15 percent to 17 percent for blacks, and from 12 percent to 14 percent for Hispanics, USA Today reported.

Three-quarters (76 percent) of all children living with a grandparent also had at least one parent in the household.

"There's absolutely no question it's been on the rise because of the recession," Gary Drevitch of New York, editor-in-chief of the website Grandparents.com, told USA Today.

"What's been interesting is that in the past, you imagine grandparents moving in with their adult children and grandchildren because they could no longer maintain their own home. The trend during the recession has been multigenerational households created because adult children have moved in with the grandparents. It's adult children struggling in the economy," he said.

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Seeds From Egypt Suspected Cause of Europe's E. Coli Outbreak

Fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt may have been the cause of the E. coli outbreak in Europe that's sickened more than 4,000 people and killed at least 47, according to officials.

While the fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt either in 2009 or 2010 are being fingered as a possible cause, further investigation is needed to confirm that suspicion, said the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Food Safety Authority, the Associated Press reported.

Fenugreek seeds are used to prepare pickles and curry powders as well as Ethiopian, Indian and Yemeni foods.

Germany was hardest hit by the E. coli outbreak, with 46 deaths reported there so far. One person had died in Sweden, the AP reported.

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Fixes For Health Care Law Glitch Being Considered

The Obama administration is looking for ways to correct a glitch in the new health care law that would give some people who take early retirement a significant break on health insurance premiums.

This is because part or all of their Social Security benefits would not be counted as income in determining their eligibility for federal subsidies to help pay for coverage until they quality for Medicare at age 65, the Associated Press reported.

The glitch means that older adults of the same age and income with similar medical histories would pay much different rates for private health insurance.

"We are monitoring this issue and exploring options that would take into account the needs of Social Security beneficiaries, many of whom are disabled or individuals of limited means," Treasury Department policy official Emily McMahon said in a statement to AP.

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Scalia's Pro-Tobacco Decision Overturned by Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court this week overturned a member's decision last fall to let four major tobacco companies delay a $270 million payment to start a smoking cessation program in Louisiana.

The payment was awarded seven years ago in a class-action lawsuit filed by Louisiana smokers in 1996.

In making his solo decision, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a smoker, said he believed at least three other justices would want to hear the tobacco companies' appeal of the case and also predicted that the high court would strike down the verdict against the companies, the AP reported.

On Monday, the Supreme Court showed that Scalia's assumptions were wrong.

After the decision, Scalia said through a court spokeswoman that he had no comment on the matter, the AP reported.

Health Tips for July 1

Health Tip: Will Allergy Shots Work for Me?

Allergy shots can provide much-needed relief from watery eyes, runny nose and other allergy symptoms.

But the shots aren't for everyone. The American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology says they're not appropriate for food allergies.

Before deciding to begin allergy shots, the academy says you should consider these factors:

• The severity of your allergy symptoms.
• How long your allergy season lasts.
• The effectiveness of antihistamines in treating your allergy symptoms.
• Your desire and ability to take antihistamines and other medications over the long-term.
• Your ability to visit an allergist consistently to get allergy shots.
• Your ability to pay any costs associated with allergy shots.

Health Tip: Traveling Despite Asthma and Allergies

Traveling can expose you to new triggers for allergies and asthma, but planning ahead can help you breathe a bit easier while you're away.

The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology offers these travel suggestions:

• Pack your asthma and allergy meds in carry-on bags, and keep them in their original containers.
• Continue to take your medications on schedule as directed by your doctor.
• Prepare for potential problems, such as food allergies.
• Keep contact information for your allergist and an emergency contact handy.
• If possible, find an allergist at your travel destination.