Health Tips for February 14

Happy Valentine's Day!

Health Tip: Help Reduce Your Risk of Lung Disease

By keeping your lungs healthy, you may be able to help prevent conditions including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The National Women's Health Information Center offers these suggestions for good lung health:

• Quit smoking, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Avoid exposure to environmental pollutants such as asbestos and radon gas.
• If you work around dust or chemical fumes, make sure the area is well-ventilated and that you wear a mask.
• If you are at a high risk of lung disease, test your breathing function regularly.
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, which may help reduce your risk of cancer.
• If you have a persistent cough that doesn't appear related to a cold or allergy, see your doctor.

Health Tip: Breathing Polluted Air

When the air you breathe is polluted, it can cause symptoms such as labored breathing; irritated eyes, nose and throat; burning of the eyes; cough; and tightness in the chest.

To minimize these side effects of air pollution -- especially if you have heart or lung disease -- the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions:

• When pollution levels are high, stay inside as much as possible.
• If you must engage in outdoor activities, try to schedule them first thing in the morning or in the evening, after sunset.
• When air quality is poor, don't exercise outdoors.
• Avoid any outdoor activities that require you to exert yourself. Taking in more air also means breathing in additional pollutants.

Health Headlines - February 13

Gum Disease Activates HIV, Study Says

Gum disease produces an acid that may push HIV-infected people to develop full-blown AIDS, a Japanese study says.

Butyric acid hinders an enzyme called HDAC that prevents the proliferation of HIV, Kuniyasu Ochiai, chair of the microbiology department at Nihon University in Tokyo, told Agence France Presse.

"Serious periodontal disease could lead to the development (of AIDS) among HIV-positive people ... although the probability largely depends on individual physical strength," Ochiai said.

Previous studies have linked gum disease to heart disease and diabetes, but this is the first to find that gum disease activates HIV, Ochiai told AFP.

The study is scheduled to appear in the March issue of the Journal of Immunology.

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Exercise May Reduce Colon Cancer Risk

Exercise can reduce the risk of colon cancer, according to U.S. researchers who reviewed 52 studies and concluded that the most active people are 24 percent less likely than the least active to develop the disease.

The studies included in the review included many different types of physical activity, ranging from going to the gym and running to doing manual labor, BBC News reported.

The findings were published in the British Journal of Cancer.

"These results give us a very reliable calculation of the positive effect that exercise can have on reducing colon cancer risk," said lead researcher Dr. Kathleen Wolin, of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, BBC News reported.

"It's very positive to see that exercise has such a clear benefit in reducing cancer risk and we hope it will encourage people to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle as well as treating it as a way to minimize their colon cancer risk," Wolin added.

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Peanut Plant Owner Had Tainted Products Shipped: Report

The owner of Peanut Corp. of America, the company suspected of causing the nationwide salmonella outbreak, told his employees to ship products tainted with the bacteria even after receiving test results identifying the presence of salmonella, according to company e-mails disclosed Wednesday by U.S. lawmakers, the Associated Press reported.

The e-mails, obtained by a House of Representatives' panel investigating the outbreak, revealed that company owner Stewart Parnell ordered the tainted products to be shipped anyway because he was worried about lost sales, the news service reported.

Parnell was subpoenaed to appear before Congress on Wednesday for questioning on the salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 600 people, been linked to eight deaths, and prompted one of the largest recalls in U.S. history -- more than 1,800 products. His plant in Blakely, Ga., is blamed for the outbreak, the AP reported.

Parnell showed up for the Congressional hearinng, but refused to answer questions, invoking his constitutional right not to incriminate himself, the AP said.

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., revealed the company e-mails during a House Energy and Commerce hearing.

In prepared testimony, a laboratory owner told the lawmakers that Peanut Corp.'s disregard for tests identifying salmonella was "virtually unheard of" in the nation's food industry and should prompt efforts to increase federal oversight of product safety.

Charles Deibel, president of Deibel Laboratories Inc., said his company was among those that tested Peanut Corp.'s products and notified the Georgia plant that salmonella was found in some of its peanut stock. Peanut Corp. sold the products anyway, according to an U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspection report, the AP said.

The company, which is now under investigation by the FBI, makes only about 1 percent of U.S. peanut products, but its ingredients are used by dozens of other food companies.

Federal law bans producing or shipping foods that could be harmful to consumers, the news service said.

On Tuesday, a peanut processing plant in Texas owned by Peanut Corp. was closed after state health officials reported that products there might be tainted with salmonella, according to CNN.

Health Tips for February 13

Health Tip: Women and High Blood Pressure

In women, the risk factors for high blood pressure can be different than those for men.

The American Heart Association lists these factors that may increase the risk of high blood pressure in women:

• Taking birth control pills.
• Being pregnant.
• Being postmenopausal.
• Being black.
• Being overweight.
• Having a family history of high blood pressure.

Health Tip: Check Blood Pressure at Home

Blood pressure can change frequently based on recent exercise, foods you've eaten, or changes in stress levels.

Here are suggestions for monitoring your blood pressure at home, courtesy of the American Heart Association:

• Take a measurement of your upper arm, and buy a blood pressure cuff that's the right size.
• At least 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure, avoid smoking, caffeine and exercise.
• Sit in the proper position, with your back straight and supported, and your feet flat on the floor. Place your lower arm on a flat surface with your upper arm at the level of your heart.
• Read the instructions on how to apply and use the cuff. Or ask your doctor to show you how.
• Take two to three readings at the same time each day, and wait at least one minute between readings. Always record all results.

Health Headlines - February 12

Doctor Who Fueled Vaccine-Autism Link Altered Data: Report

The British doctor whose 1998 paper fueled international fears of a link between childhood vaccines and autism manipulated and changed data to make his case, the Sunday Times of London reported.

An investigation by the newspaper found that Dr. Andrew Wakefield and his colleagues altered confidential and public records to support their claim that eight of 12 autistic children attending a routine clinic at Wakefield's hospital had developed symptoms of autism only days after they were given the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Wakefield's original findings, published in The Lancet, have since been refuted by many subsequent epidemiological studies.

According to the Los Angeles Times Brian Deer, an investigative reporter for the Sunday Times who had been following the MMR controversy since the beginning, said a review of hospital and other records showed that almost all of the children had developed symptoms of autism well before receiving the shot. While Wakefield claimed that measles virus found in the intestines of the children caused an inflammatory bowel disease linked to autism after they were given the shot, Deer found that hospital pathologists examining the children for signs of inflammatory bowel disease were unable to confirm its presence in most of the cases, and concluded that Wakefield or someone on his team altered the data to make it appear the condition was found, the Los Angeles Times said.

Deer also reported that at least one parent of a child in whose intestines the measles virus was said to have been found took samples to three other labs, which were unable to confirm Wakefield's findings. Deer also found that Wakefield had been retained as an expert witness two years before his study by a lawyer planning to sue vaccine makers on behalf of parents who thought the MMR shot caused their children's problems. Deer said the parents cited in The Lancet article came to Wakefield's clinic after responding to an advertisement by the lawyer's group, called Jabs, and not for routine screening, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Meanwhile, Wakefield and two co-authors, Dr. John Walker-Smith and Dr. Simon Murch, face allegations of professional misconduct brought by England's General Medical Council, which oversees physicians. Those charges, according to the Sunday Times of London, are not related to the newspaper's investigation, but rather to the researchers' ethics in using the children. The newspaper said it was forwarding all its data to the medical council for review.

Through a lawyer, Wakefield has denied the newspaper's allegations and continues to stand by his original conclusions. In 2004, however, 10 of the 13 original authors on The Lancet paper asked that it be withdrawn, saying that "no causal link was established between MMR vaccine and autism because the data was insufficient," the Sunday Times of London said.

Since Wakefield's original claims, the newspaper reported that vaccination rates in Great Britain have fallen from 92 percent to less than 80 percent. As a result, two children have died of measles, and 1,348 cases of the disease were reported in England and Wales in 2008, where only 56 were reported in 1998, when Wakefield's study was first released.

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Peanut Plant Owner Had Tainted Products Shipped: Report

The owner of Peanut Corp. of America, the company suspected of causing the nationwide salmonella outbreak, told his employees to ship products tainted with the bacteria even after receiving test results identifying the presence of salmonella, according to company e-mails disclosed Wednesday by U.S. lawmakers, the Associated Press reported.

The e-mails, obtained by a House of Representatives' panel investigating the outbreak, revealed that company owner Stewart Parnell ordered the tainted products to be shipped anyway because he was worried about lost sales, the news service reported.

Parnell was subpoenaed to appear before Congress on Wednesday for questioning on the salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 600 people, been linked to eight deaths, and prompted one of the largest recalls in U.S. history -- more than 1,800 products. His plant in Blakely, Ga., is blamed for the outbreak, the AP reported.

Parnell showed up for the Congressional hearinng, but refused to answer questions, invoking his constitutional right not to incriminate himself, the AP said.

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., revealed the company e-mails during a House Energy and Commerce hearing.

In prepared testimony, a laboratory owner told the lawmakers that Peanut Corp.'s disregard for tests identifying salmonella was "virtually unheard of" in the nation's food industry and should prompt efforts to increase federal oversight of product safety.

Charles Deibel, president of Deibel Laboratories Inc., said his company was among those that tested Peanut Corp.'s products and notified the Georgia plant that salmonella was found in some of its peanut stock. Peanut Corp. sold the products anyway, according to an U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspection report, the AP said.

The company, which is now under investigation by the FBI, makes only about 1 percent of U.S. peanut products, but its ingredients are used by dozens of other food companies.

Federal law bans producing or shipping foods that could be harmful to consumers, the news service said.

On Tuesday, a peanut processing plant in Texas owned by Peanut Corp. was closed after state health officials reported that products there might be tainted with salmonella, according to CNN.

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Smokers Likelier to Change Habits After Health Scare: Study

Health scares convince many smokers to kick the habit but do little to push overweight and obese people to lose weight, according to U.S. researchers.

Their analysis of data from 20,221 overweight or obese people under age 75 and about 7,764 smokers showed that smokers are three times more likely to quit if they suffer a heart attack or stroke or are diagnosed with lung disease or cancer, The New York Times reported.

But overweight and obese people diagnosed with a serious condition such as heart disease or diabetes lose only two to three pounds, said the study published Monday in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.

The researchers said they're not sure why health scares push smokers to change their ways but have little effect on overweight and obese patients. They did note that many health plans don't cover weight-loss programs (other than bariatric surgery), while free or low-cost smoking cessation programs are offered by many local health departments and businesses, the Times reported.

"People really are open to changing their behaviors after a health event, and this could really be a window of opportunity," study author Patricia S. Keenan, assistant professor of health policy at the Yale University School of Medicine, told the newspaper. "I'm not sure the health care system is capitalizing on it, in terms of giving people the support they need to make these changes as they go forward."

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Overweight/Obesity Rates Increase in U.S. Military

Stress and return from deployment may be among the reasons why the number of overweight and obese U.S. military personnel has doubled since the start of the Iraq War in 2003, says a Pentagon study.

The number of overweight and obese personnel increased from 34,333 (2.1 percent) in 2003 to 68,786 (4.4 percent) in 2008. The number was 25,652 (1.6 percent) in 1998, Agence France Presse reported.

The Pentagon said a 2005 poll of U.S. military personnel revealed that "stress and return from deployment were the most frequently cited reasons for recent weight gain."

The increase of weight problems among servicemen and women reflects that of the general U.S. population, where 20 percent of those ages 18 to 34 are obese, AFP reported. As in the civilian population, fast food and a sedentary lifestyle play a role in weight gain among members of the military.

"Overweight/obesity is a significant military medical concern because it is associated with decreased military operational effectiveness ... and both acute and chronic adverse health effects," the Pentagon study said.

Health Tips for February 12

Health Tip: X-Rays at the Dentist

Healthy teeth require more than good dental hygiene and regular cleanings. Dental X-rays can show potential abnormalities that your dentist couldn't otherwise see, indicating how healthy your teeth really are.

Here's a list of what dental X-rays can be used to identify, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

• The number, size and position of all teeth.
• Teeth that are impacted or those that haven't emerged.
• Cavities.
• Damage to the bones surrounding the teeth.
• Abscesses.
• Fractures in the jaw.
• Other abnormalities of the teeth or jaw.

Health Tip: Diabetes and Gum Disease

Diabetes can make it more difficult to fight off gum disease, and in some cases, can make gum disease worse.

The American Diabetes Association says you should see if your dentist if you have any of these warning signs of gum disease.

• Gums that bleed when you floss or brush.
• Soreness, swelling or redness of the gums, or persistent bad breath.
• Gums that have receded from the teeth.
• Pus forming between the teeth and gums.
• Teeth that seem loose or like you are able to move them.
• Any change in your bite, or the way that dentures fit.

Health Headlines - February 11

Salmonella Suspected at Second Peanut Plant

A peanut processing plant in Texas owned by the company blamed for the salmonella outbreak was closed Tuesday after state health officials reported that products there might be tainted with salmonella, according to a CNN report.

The plant, in Plainview, is owned by the Peanut Corporation of America, which has been the focus of a nationwide recall of more than 1,000 peanut products. Its plant in Blakely, Ga., also is closed after its products were linked to eight deaths and the sickening of 600 people nationwide, the news network reported.

According to CNN, Texas officials said, "It is not yet known if the salmonella possibly found in the product testing is the same strain of the bacterium implicated in a 43-state outbreak of salmonellosis." Peanut products such as peanut meal and granulated peanuts had not left the facility, authorities said, and dry roasted peanuts that were shipped to a distributor were stopped from being sent further.

The plant was closed after product samples tested by a private lab came back Monday night, indicating the possible presence of salmonella, CNN reported. Results from testing by a state lab were expected to be returned Tuesday.

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Postpartum Psychosis Risk Increases With Age: Study

Women who have their first baby after age 35 are 2.4 times more likely than mothers younger than 19 to develop postpartum psychosis that could put their newborn at risk, say Swedish researchers who analyzed data from nearly 750,000 first-time mothers.

"The risk of developing psychosis during the first 90 days (after childbirth) increased with age," wrote the researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Agence France Presse reported.

Postpartum psychosis is a serious mental disorder that involves delusions, hallucinations, severe eating or sleeping disturbances, and suicidal tendencies. Immediate medical attention is required, including anti-psychotic drugs and hospitalization, the researchers said.

About 80 percent of new mothers experience some form of mental disturbance or mild depression, but only about one in 1,000 develops actual psychosis in the first months after they give birth, according to the study, published in the Public Library of Science medical journal.

The researchers noted that most women who develop postpartum psychosis have prior psychotic histories, AFP reported.

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Rodriguez Hopes Baseball Fans Forgive Use of Banned Drugs

Baseball star Alex Rodriguez said he hopes fans will forgive him after he admitted using banned substances while playing with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03. Rodriguez said he hasn't used banned drugs since he was traded to the New York Yankees before the 2004 season.

On the weekend, Sports Illustrated reported that Rodriguez was one of 104 players on a list who had tested positive for steroids in 2003. Baseball's highest-paid player confessed to use of performance-enhancing drugs in an interview with ESPN on Monday, the Associated Press reported.

In the interview, Rodriguez dodged a question about how he obtained banned drugs and said he didn't even know what substance was detected by the drug test, the AP said.

The 2003 drug tests were conducted to determine the extent of steroid use in baseball. Players who tested positive weren't subject to discipline and their identities were supposed to be kept secret. But the results were seized by the federal government in 2004 and remain under seal, the AP reported.

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Vaginal Gel Shows Promise Against HIV Infection

An experimental vaginal gel shows promise in reducing women's risk of HIV infection, according to results of a preliminary study that included about 3,100 women in Africa and the United States.

Women who used the gel had a 30 percent lower risk of HIV infection, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health-funded study presented Monday at a medical conference on retroviruses in Montreal, the Associated Press reported.

However, the researchers noted this difference wasn't statistically significant, which means the reduced risk could have occurred by chance.

The true effectiveness of the gel, made by Massachusetts-based Indevus Pharmaceuticals Inc., needs to be assessed in larger studies, such as one involving 9,400 women that's scheduled to conclude in August, the AP reported.

Health Tips for February 11

Health Tip: Use Less Salt in Your Diet

Sodium can contribute to high blood pressure, which raises your risk for heart attack and stroke.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers these suggestions for a lower-sodium diet:

• Choose fresh, lean meats, poultry, and fish instead of processed versions.
• Skip the salt and use fresh herbs, spices, and low- or no-salt seasonings.
• Stick to fresh or frozen vegetables instead of canned. If you do choose canned, look for "no salt added" versions, or rinse vegetables before use.
• Don't add salt to the water when cooking rice or pasta. Also, avoid instant versions of these foods.
• Stay away from pre-packaged foods that are often high in sodium, such as frozen meals, pizzas, canned soups and foods, and packed food mixes.

Health Tip: Preparing for an Ultrasound

If your doctor has prescribed an ultrasound, there are certain steps you'll need to take to prepare for the procedure.

The Radiological Society of North America offers these suggestions for what to do before your appointment:

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing. You may have to change into a gown during the procedure.
• Take off all jewelry near the part of your body that will be examined during the ultrasound.
• For some tests, you may be asked to avoid food and drink for up to 12 hours before the test.
• For other types of ultrasound, you may have to drink several glasses of water a few hours before the test, so that you have a full bladder.
• A clear gel will be applied to the skin near the study area, then the images are taken. After an ultrasound, you can go back to your normal activities and shouldn't have any side effects.

Health Headlines - February 10

Vaginal Gel Shows Promise Against HIV Infection

An experimental vaginal gel shows promise in reducing women's risk of HIV infection, according to results of a preliminary study that included about 3,100 women in Africa and the United States.

Women who used the gel had a 30 percent lower risk of HIV infection, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health-funded study presented Monday at a medical conference on retroviruses in Montreal, the Associated Press reported.

However, the researchers noted this difference wasn't statistically significant, which means the reduced risk could have occurred by chance.

The true effectiveness of the gel, made by Massachusetts-based Indevus Pharmaceuticals Inc., needs to be assessed in larger studies, such as one involving 9,400 women that's scheduled to conclude in August, the AP reported.

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Mentally-Ill More Sensitive to Narcotics: Report

Narcotics have a much greater effect on the brains of mentally-ill people, according to a University of Montreal researcher.

Mentally-ill people are more sensitive to the effects of addictive drugs, which may cause irreversible deterioration of the cerebral structures, said Dr. Stephane Potvin, United Press International reported.

"They become dependent more quickly and they tend to abuse drugs more easily. It is evident that drug use can worsen the symptoms of mental disease," Potvin said in a news release. "The odds that a mental disorder manifests itself in an individual can increase if he or she consumes drugs."

Integrated treatment is required for patients with mental disease and drug abuse, according to Potvin, who noted that people with mental illness and those with drug dependence often receive different types of treatment, UPI reported.

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1st U.S. Case of Marburg Fever Confirmed: CDC

The first confirmed case of deadly Marburg hemorrhagic fever in the United States occurred last year and the patient has since recovered, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The Colorado patient contracted the dangerous, rare illness while traveling in Uganda and was treated at Lutheran Medical Center in January 2008 and had follow-up care in July, the Associated Press reported.

None of the doctors and staffers who cared for the patient developed symptoms of Marburg hemorrhagic fever, said medical center spokeswoman Kim Kobel. The CDC is testing hospital staff to determine if any cases of illness weren't detected at the time.

Marburg fever spreads through contact with infected animals or the bodily fluids of infected humans. The disease has an incubation period of five to 10 days. Initial symptoms include fever, chills and headaches, but symptoms become much worse after the fifth day of illness, the AP said.

Fewer than 500 cases of the disease, which has an 80 percent death rate, have been reported since it was first recognized in 1967, according to the CDC. The Marburg virus is indigenous to Africa.

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Economy Having Little Impact on Americans' Sex Lives: Survey

The economic turmoil hasn't caused a major downturn in Americans' sex lives, suggests a new survey of 1,000 adults, ages 18 to 75, conducted in January.

The survey found that 79 percent of sexually active respondents said the nation's financial problems haven't spilled into the bedroom, United Press International reported.

Among the other findings from the Consumer Reports National Research Center survey:

• Nearly 60 percent of men, but only 19 percent of women, said they thought about sex at least once a day. While 64 percent of men said sex was very important to them, that was true for only 47 percent of women.
• Taking care of children was given by 34 percent of women and 27 percent of men as an excuse for not having sex, while 30 percent of men and 28 percent of women said work got in the way of sex.
• Nearly half of the respondents said they schedule sex, including 7 percent who said they do so using a calendar, smart phone or personal digital assistant.

Health Tips for February 10

Health Tip: Control Risk Factors for Stroke

Among the best ways to protect yourself if you're at risk for stroke is to treat and manage related health problems.

While some risk factors are beyond your control, the American Heart Association says certain risk factors are manageable. Among them:

• Artery conditions, such as atherosclerosis or peripheral artery disease.
• High blood pressure and high cholesterol.
• Cigarette smoking.
• Diabetes.
• Heart disease.
• Atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm.
• Obesity.
• Poor diet.
• Inactivity.

Health Tip: Unexplained Swelling

If you have swelling of the ankles, legs or feet, the cause isn't always obvious.

Here, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, are some common causes of unusual swelling in these areas:

• Standing up for long periods.
• A side effect of your menstrual period.
• Being overweight.
• Being pregnant.
• Prolonged plane or car travel.
• An injury to the foot or ankle.
• Certain medications.

Swelling in the legs may also indicate serious conditions including failure of the heart, kidneys, or liver. So if you have unexplained swelling, see your doctor without delay.

Health Headlines - February 9

FDA OKs 1st Drug From Genetically Altered Animals

The first drug made with materials from genetically engineered animals gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval Friday, potentially paving the way for a new class of medical therapies.

GTC Biotherapeutics said federal regulators approved its drug, ATryn, which includes milk from goats that have been genetically altered to produce an extra protein that acts as a natural blood thinner, the Associated Press reported.

The drug will be used to treat the estimated one in 5,000 people with a rare hereditary disorder -- hereditary antithrombin deficiency -- that leads to a lack of the protein, leaving them vulnerable to potentially deadly blood clots, the news service said.

Patients with hereditary antithrombin deficiency are currently treated with conventional blood thinners, such as Plavix. That approach won't change with the approval of ATryn. The new drug is only approved for intravenous use when patients are undergoing surgery or having a baby, when the risk of blood clots is particularly high, the AP said.

European regulators approved the drug in 2006.

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First U.S. Face Transplant Patient Leaves Hospital

The woman who received the first face transplant in the United States has left the Cleveland hospital where she has been since her 22-hour surgery in early December, the Associated Press reported Friday.

Officials at the Cleveland Clinic said the woman left Thursday night, but would not say where she went. The patient, whose identity has not been revealed, and her family have declined requests for comment, the wire service reported.

According to the woman's surgeon, she is able to eat solid foods and breathe on her own for the first time since her disfiguring injury several years ago that left her with no nose, palate, or way to eat or breathe normally, the AP said.

This was the fourth partial face transplant in the world, although the others weren't as extensive, the news service said.

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U.S. Soldier Suicides Spiked in January

There was a sharp increase in U.S. soldier suicides in January, with seven confirmed and 17 suspected suicides, Army officials said Thursday.

If all 24 cases are confirmed as suicide, the toll would be greater than the number of U.S. troops killed in action in January in both Iraq (four deaths) and Afghanistan (12 deaths), Agence France Presse reported.

Last week, the Army revealed that suicides among active duty soldiers reached a record high in 2008 for the second year in a row. There were as many as 143 suicides last year and 115 in 2007.

"The trend and trajectory seen in January further heightens the seriousness and urgency that all of us must have in preventing suicides," Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff, said in a statement, AFP reported.

Last week, Chiarelli said special army-wide training sessions to boost suicide awareness among soldiers and their leaders would begin Feb. 15.

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Traffic Deaths Decline in 40 States

Road deaths declined in 40 states and the District of Columbia in 2008, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association survey released Wednesday.

The average decline was 10.7 percent, according to the survey of 44 states. It did not include several large states, such as California, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania, the Associated Press reported.

Declines of 20 percent or more were seen in Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Among other states included in the survey, declines were: 18 percent in New Jersey, 16 percent in Illinois, 12 percent in Georgia, 7.7 percent in Michigan, 6.8 percent in Florida, and 4 percent in Ohio.

Vehicle deaths increased in Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming.

Higher gas prices and economic worries meant that Americans drove less in 2008, which reduced the number of road fatalities, Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, told the AP. But she also noted that seat belt use reached a record high of 83 percent in 2008.

Health Tips for February 9

Health Tip: Relief From Carpal Tunnel

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The result may be pain, weakness or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm.

Some patients are born with an unusually narrow carpal tunnel, which means they're at higher risk. Other contributing factors include trauma or injury to the wrist, an overactive pituitary gland, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, work stress or repeated use of vibrating hand tools.

Anti-inflammatory drugs can ease the pain and swelling, while stretching and strengthening exercises can be helpful in people whose symptoms have abated. Surgery may be necessary if symptoms last for six months.

Health Tip: Sit Properly at the Computer

Stretching your neck and working your wrists at a computer for hours at a time can strain much of the body.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions to help reduce computer pain and discomfort:

• Sit up straight, with your ears lined up with the top of your shoulders, and your shoulders lined up with the hips.
• Relax your upper arms, and hold them close to your body. Keep your hands and wrists straight in front of your arms.
• Keep your hands and fingers relaxed when typing or clicking on the mouse.
• Take regular breaks and relax your hands and fingers.
• Give your eyes a rest and look away from the computer every so often. Also, try to position your screen to reflect the least glare.
• Place your computer monitor about an arm's length in front of you, and right at eye level so you don't have to look up or down to view the monitor.

Health Headlines - February 8

FDA OKs 1st Drug From Genetically Altered Animals

The first drug made with materials from genetically engineered animals gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval Friday, potentially paving the way for a new class of medical therapies.

GTC Biotherapeutics said federal regulators approved its drug, ATryn, which includes milk from goats that have been genetically altered to produce an extra protein that acts as a natural blood thinner, the Associated Press reported.

The drug will be used to treat the estimated one in 5,000 people with a rare hereditary disorder -- hereditary antithrombin deficiency -- that leads to a lack of the protein, leaving them vulnerable to potentially deadly blood clots, the news service said.

Patients with hereditary antithrombin deficiency are currently treated with conventional blood thinners, such as Plavix. That approach won't change with the approval of ATryn. The new drug is only approved for intravenous use when patients are undergoing surgery or having a baby, when the risk of blood clots is particularly high, the AP said.

European regulators approved the drug in 2006.

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First U.S. Face Transplant Patient Leaves Hospital

The woman who received the first face transplant in the United States has left the Cleveland hospital where she has been since her 22-hour surgery in early December, the Associated Press reported Friday.

Officials at the Cleveland Clinic said the woman left Thursday night, but would not say where she went. The patient, whose identity has not been revealed, and her family have declined requests for comment, the wire service reported.

According to the woman's surgeon, she is able to eat solid foods and breathe on her own for the first time since her disfiguring injury several years ago that left her with no nose, palate, or way to eat or breathe normally, the AP said.

This was the fourth partial face transplant in the world, although the others weren't as extensive, the news service said.

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U.S. Soldier Suicides Spiked in January

There was a sharp increase in U.S. soldier suicides in January, with seven confirmed and 17 suspected suicides, Army officials said Thursday.

If all 24 cases are confirmed as suicide, the toll would be greater than the number of U.S. troops killed in action in January in both Iraq (four deaths) and Afghanistan (12 deaths), Agence France Presse reported.

Last week, the Army revealed that suicides among active duty soldiers reached a record high in 2008 for the second year in a row. There were as many as 143 suicides last year and 115 in 2007.

"The trend and trajectory seen in January further heightens the seriousness and urgency that all of us must have in preventing suicides," Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff, said in a statement, AFP reported.

Last week, Chiarelli said special army-wide training sessions to boost suicide awareness among soldiers and their leaders would begin Feb. 15.

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Traffic Deaths Decline in 40 States

Road deaths declined in 40 states and the District of Columbia in 2008, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association survey released Wednesday.

The average decline was 10.7 percent, according to the survey of 44 states. It did not include several large states, such as California, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania, the Associated Press reported.

Declines of 20 percent or more were seen in Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Among other states included in the survey, declines were: 18 percent in New Jersey, 16 percent in Illinois, 12 percent in Georgia, 7.7 percent in Michigan, 6.8 percent in Florida, and 4 percent in Ohio.

Vehicle deaths increased in Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming.

Higher gas prices and economic worries meant that Americans drove less in 2008, which reduced the number of road fatalities, Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, told the AP. But she also noted that seat belt use reached a record high of 83 percent in 2008.

Health Tips for February 8

Health Tip: Caught a Cold?

'Tis the season for a runny nose, cough, sore throat and other symptoms of the common cold.

You shouldn't treat a cold -- always caused by a virus -- with antibiotics, since these medicines are meant to treat bacterial infections. But there are things you can do to feel better while the cold runs its course.

The University of Virginia Health System offers these suggestions:

• Try over-the-counter medications, such as an antihistamine, decongestant or cough medicine.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• Increase the amount of fluids you drink.
• Take a pain reliever to control headache and fever.
• Soothe a sore throat by gargling with warm salt water.
• Apply petroleum jelly to sore, dry skin around the nose and lips.
• Use a warm steam to ease congestion.

Health Tip: Taking Cough Medicine?

An over-the-counter cough medicine may offer some relief for a simple cough or cold, but cough medicine probably won't alleviate symptoms of more serious conditions.

Here are warning signs that your cough requires a call to your doctor, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• A "productive cough," characterized by coughing up phlegm or mucus.
• A wheezing sound when you cough or breathe.
• A persistent cough caused by smoking, chronic bronchitis or emphysema.
• A cough that has lasted for longer than a week.
• A cough accompanied by a fever, rash, or persistent headache.

Health Headlines - February 7

FDA OKs 1st Drug From Genetically Altered Animals

The first drug made with materials from genetically engineered animals gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval Friday, potentially paving the way for a new class of medical therapies.

GTC Biotherapeutics said federal regulators approved its drug, ATryn, which includes milk from goats that have been genetically altered to produce an extra protein that acts as a natural blood thinner, the Associated Press reported.

The drug will be used to treat the estimated one in 5,000 people with a rare hereditary disorder -- hereditary antithrombin deficiency -- that leads to a lack of the protein, leaving them vulnerable to potentially deadly blood clots, the news service said.

Patients with hereditary antithrombin deficiency are currently treated with conventional blood thinners, such as Plavix. That approach won't change with the approval of ATryn. The new drug is only approved for intravenous use when patients are undergoing surgery or having a baby, when the risk of blood clots is particularly high, the AP said.

European regulators approved the drug in 2006.

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First U.S. Face Transplant Patient Leaves Hospital

The woman who received the first face transplant in the United States has left the Cleveland hospital where she has been since her 22-hour surgery in early December, the Associated Press reported Friday.

Officials at the Cleveland Clinic said the woman left Thursday night, but would not say where she went. The patient, whose identity has not been revealed, and her family have declined requests for comment, the wire service reported.

According to the woman's surgeon, she is able to eat solid foods and breathe on her own for the first time since her disfiguring injury several years ago that left her with no nose, palate, or way to eat or breathe normally, the AP said.

This was the fourth partial face transplant in the world, although the others weren't as extensive, the news service said.

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U.S. Soldier Suicides Spiked in January

There was a sharp increase in U.S. soldier suicides in January, with seven confirmed and 17 suspected suicides, Army officials said Thursday.

If all 24 cases are confirmed as suicide, the toll would be greater than the number of U.S. troops killed in action in January in both Iraq (four deaths) and Afghanistan (12 deaths), Agence France Presse reported.

Last week, the Army revealed that suicides among active duty soldiers reached a record high in 2008 for the second year in a row. There were as many as 143 suicides last year and 115 in 2007.

"The trend and trajectory seen in January further heightens the seriousness and urgency that all of us must have in preventing suicides," Gen. Peter Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff, said in a statement, AFP reported.

Last week, Chiarelli said special army-wide training sessions to boost suicide awareness among soldiers and their leaders would begin Feb. 15.

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Traffic Deaths Decline in 40 States

Road deaths declined in 40 states and the District of Columbia in 2008, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association survey released Wednesday.

The average decline was 10.7 percent, according to the survey of 44 states. It did not include several large states, such as California, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania, the Associated Press reported.

Declines of 20 percent or more were seen in Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Among other states included in the survey, declines were: 18 percent in New Jersey, 16 percent in Illinois, 12 percent in Georgia, 7.7 percent in Michigan, 6.8 percent in Florida, and 4 percent in Ohio.

Vehicle deaths increased in Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming.

Higher gas prices and economic worries meant that Americans drove less in 2008, which reduced the number of road fatalities, Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, told the AP. But she also noted that seat belt use reached a record high of 83 percent in 2008.

Health Tips for February 7

Health Tip: Do I Have a Cold or Flu?

If you're sneezing, coughing and have a fever, do you know how to tell whether you've caught a cold or have the flu?

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this list of cold symptoms, and how to tell them apart from symptoms of the flu:

• In general, cold symptoms are milder and come on slowly, while symptoms of the flu tend to occur very suddenly.
• It's probably a cold if you have a fever no higher than 102 degrees. The flu usually causes fevers higher than that.
• It's probably a cold if you have symptoms including a congested or runny nose, sneezing and coughing, watery eyes, and a sore throat.
• Symptoms of the flu often include nausea, chills, sweats, vomiting, muscle aches, and loss of appetite.

Health Tip: Caring for a Canker Sore

If you have a canker sore, it may be painful to chew until it goes away, which usually happens on its own over time.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help relieve the pain of a canker sore:

• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
• Try a topical pain-relieving ointment for canker sores, such as Anbesol, Zilactin-B, Orabase or Orajel.
• Rinse your mouth with a solution of equal parts Milk of Magnesia and Benadryl liquid allergy medication. Rinse with, but don't swallow the solution, every few hours.
• Take vitamin C or a vitamin B complex.
• Take zinc lozenges, or an herbal mouthwash that contains sage and chamomile.

Health Headlines - February 6

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsburg Has Pancreatic Cancer Surgery

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had surgery for pancreatic cancer at a New York City hospital on Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

Ginsburg, 75, had the operation at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where she's expected to remain for seven to 10 days, according to a news release from the Supreme Court cited by the AP.

The cancer appears to be in its early stages, the release said. It was found during a routine checkup last month.

Ginsburg has been a justice since 1993, and is the only woman on the court. A decade ago, she had colon cancer surgery and received follow-up chemotherapy and radiation, the AP said.

Pancreatic cancer is among the most lethal forms of the disease. Some 38,000 cases are diagnosed annually, and fewer than 5 percent survive five years, the wire service said.

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Disaster Relief Food Kits May Contain Tainted Peanut Butter: FEMA

Salmonella-tainted peanut butter may be included in disaster relief food kits distributed in Kentucky and Arkansas after the states were hammered last week with rain, ice and snow. People who received the food kits should inspect them and discard the peanut butter packets, said the Federal Emergency Management Association, CNN reported.

The food kits were made by Red Cloud Food Services Inc., under the Standing Rock label.

"We just received this information from FEMA. Tonight, out of an abundance of caution, we are in the process of finding alternative sources of food for people in shelters. The Kentucky National Guard is starting to notify people who've already received the (meal kits) or might be getting one," Jay Blanton, spokesman for Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, told CNN.

In related news, more peanut products are being added to a recall list that now includes more than 1,000 items that may be contaminated with salmonella. Experts say it may be a record for a recall involving food products for humans, the Associated Press reported.

The salmonella outbreak, which has sickened at least 550 people and caused eight deaths, is being blamed on a Peanut Corp. of America plant in Blakely, Ga. Federal lawmakers are investigating the outbreak and promising stronger food safety laws and more money for inspections.

"It's time to find the gaps in the system and remedy them," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, which is holding a hearing Thursday on the outbreak.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been criticized for its handling of the salmonella outbreak. But in testimony prepared for the Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, FDA Food Safety Center chief Stephen Sundlof said the agency started to investigate the salmonella outbreak even before there was a scientific link to a particular food, the AP reported.

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Traffic Deaths Decline in 40 States

Road deaths declined in 40 states and the District of Columbia in 2008, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association survey released Wednesday.

The average decline was 10.7 percent, according to the survey of 44 states. It did not include several large states, such as California, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania, the Associated Press reported.

Declines of 20 percent or more were seen in Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Among other states included in the survey, declines were: 18 percent in New Jersey, 16 percent in Illinois, 12 percent in Georgia, 7.7 percent in Michigan, 6.8 percent in Florida, and 4 percent in Ohio.

Vehicle deaths increased in Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming.

Higher gas prices and economic worries meant that Americans drove less in 2008, which reduced the number of road fatalities, Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, told the AP. But she also noted that seat belt use reached a record high of 83 percent in 2008.

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Drug for Hereditary Angioedema Gets FDA Panel Approval

A new drug to treat a genetic condition that can lead to dangerous swelling should be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, an agency advisory panel recommended Wednesday.

The panel voted 6-5 in favor of recommending approval of DX-88, which targets hereditary angioedema. There were two abstentions, the Associated Press reported.

While the FDA doesn't have to approve the drug, it usually follows the advice of its advisory panels.

Dyax Corp.'s DX-88 was given priority review by the FDA in November, with an action date of March 23. A priority review shortens the review time to 6 months from the standard 10 months, the AP reported.

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Obama Signs Children's Health Bill

President Barack Obama signed into law late Wednesday afternoon new legislation that will allow four million more U.S. children to get government-sponsored health coverage.

Obama acted right after the House, by a vote of 290-135, approved spending an additional $32.8 billion for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the Associated Press reported. The program, with about 7 million children now enrolled, includes children whose family income is too high for Medicaid but whose families have difficulty affording private insurance.

And, for the first time, the new law also permits states to cover legal immigrants -- among them, children under 21 and pregnant women.

Previously, legal immigrants had been barred from Medicaid and SCHIP for five years after arriving in the United States. The states may now cover those immigrants without the five-year delay, according to The New York Times.

The U.S. Senate passed the SCHIP measure last week. To cover adding the additional children, the measure raises federal excise taxes on cigarettes by 62 cents, to $1.01 a pack, the wire service said.

Former President George W. Bush twice vetoed similar legislation.

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FDA Reviews Sepsis Drug Xigris

U.S. health officials are reviewing cases of serious bleeding in patients taking the drug Xigris, which is used to treat severe sepsis (bloodstream infection).

A recently published study showed that the injectable drug increased the risk of dangerous internal bleeding when taken by patients with a recent history of hemorrhages, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.

The study of 73 patients treated with the Eli Lilly drug found that serious bleeding occurred in 35 percent of patients with a history of bleeding problems, compared with 3.8 percent of other patients.

Xigris already carries a warning that internal bleeding is a serious effect, but the FDA plans to work with Eli Lilly to reassess the drug's risks, the AP reported.

Patients taking Xigris should not stop taking the drug, the FDA said.

Health Tips for February 6

Health Tip: Wean Your Child From Breast-Feeding

When you feel the time is right to wean your baby from breast milk, the Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions to help make the process easier:

• Substitute a bottle or cup at nursing time. Slightly older children can have a healthy snack or a cup as a substitute.
• At the typical times that you'd nurse, schedule a special and fun activity instead.
• Don't wear the same nursing clothes, and change rooms for the substitute activity.
• Schedule the weaning for a time when your baby isn't dealing with other major changes, such as starting day care or teething.
• Don't discourage your child if he or she begins a substitute habit -- such as sucking the thumb or carrying a stuffed animal. It's just your child's way of dealing with the change.

Health Tip: Feeding Your Baby

It's important for new parents to understand what and how often your baby needs to eat, and how that schedule should change as your baby matures.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these guidelines to help plan your baby's feeding:

• Babies who breast-feed typically need to be fed once every one to three hours.
• Babies on a diet of formula need to be fed every two to four hours, as formula takes longer to digest.
• You should never give a baby younger than 1 cow's milk, since it is difficult for an infant to digest.
• Don't attempt to give baby any solid food until at least 4 months of age, preferably 6 months of age.
• Begin introducing solid foods between 6 months and 12 months of age, starting with pureed or mashed foods, and graduating to more solid foods.
• Introduce new foods one at a time, and monitor closely for signs of allergic reaction. New foods should be introduced only when an infant is hungry.

Health Benefits of POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice

Years of research offer compelling reasons to drink pomegranate juice. With incredibly high levels of naturally occurring polyphenol antioxidants, POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice may help guard the body against free radicals, nasty little molecules that emerging science shows may be linked to disease.

Promising preliminary research examines the potential links between pomegranate juice consumption and health. There are a total of 10 published peer-reviewed pilot medical studies that demonstrate the effects of these antioxidants. And the clinical studies are ongoing.

• Preliminary research was based on consumption of 8 oz. of 100% POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice daily.
• You can find POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice in the refrigerated produce or premium juice section of major supermarkets and health food stores nationwide, where it is available in 8, 16, 24 and 46 oz. sizes.
• POM Wonderful is all-natural: that means there are no added sugars or preservatives, and no artificial colors or flavors.

For Special Patient Populations

• According to the American Dietetic Association, 3.5 oz of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice equals one fruit serving for diabetics.
• Because the juice contains high levels of potassium, patients who must avoid potassium should not drink pomegranate juice.

Click here to visit POM Wonderful on the Web.

Health Headlines - February 5

Children's Health Bill Gets House Approval

Four million more U.S. children will be eligible for government-sponsored health coverage under legislation approved Wednesday by the House of Representatives. President Barack Obama signed the measure into law late Wednesday afternoon.

Voting 290-135, the House approved spending an additional $32.8 billion for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the Associated Press reported. The program, with about 7 million children now enrolled, includes children whose family income is too high for Medicaid but whose families have difficulty affording private insurance.

According to The New York Times, the new law permits states to cover legal immigrants -- among them, children under 21 and pregnant women.

Previously, legal immigrants had been barred from Medicaid and SCHIP for five years after arriving in the United States. The states may now cover those immigrants without the five-year delay, the newspaper said.

The U.S. Senate passed the SCHIP measure last week. To cover adding the additional children, the measure raises federal excise taxes on cigarettes by 62 cents, to $1.01 a pack, the wire service said.

Former President George W. Bush twice vetoed similar legislation.

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FDA Reviews Sepsis Drug Xigris

U.S. health officials are reviewing cases of serious bleeding in patients taking the drug Xigris, which is used to treat severe sepsis (bloodstream infection).

A recently published study showed that the injectable drug increased the risk of dangerous internal bleeding when taken by patients with a recent history of hemorrhages, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.

The study of 73 patients treated with the Eli Lilly drug found that serious bleeding occurred in 35 percent of patients with a history of bleeding problems, compared with 3.8 percent of other patients.

Xigris already carries a warning that internal bleeding is a serious effect, but the FDA plans to work with Eli Lilly to reassess the drug's risks, the AP reported.

Patients taking Xigris should not stop taking the drug, the FDA said.

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Ancient Snake Longer Than City Bus

The biggest snake ever discovered was 42 to 45 feet long and weighed more than 2,500 pounds, say scientists who pulled the creature's fossil remains from an open-pit coal mine in the Cerrejon region of Columbia.

"This thing weighs more than a bison and is longer than a city bus," Jack Conrad, a snake expert at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, told the Associated Press. "It could easily eat something the size of a cow. A human would just be toast immediately."

Conrad wasn't involved in the find but was familiar with the discovery.

The snake, Titanoboa cerrejonensis, lived 58 million to 60 million years ago and likely hunted ancient relatives of crocodiles. The fossil specimen is about 11 feet longer than the previous snake record holder, which lived in Egypt about 40 million years ago.

Titanoboa cerrejonensis is related to modern boa constrictors but behaved more like an anaconda and spent most of its time in the water, the AP reported.

An article about the discovery was published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature.

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Ethex Expands Drug Recall

Prescription prenatal vitamin and iron supplements have been added to previous recalls of a large number of generic drug products distributed by Ethex Corporation, a subsidiary of KV Pharmaceutical.

In total, more than 60 generic drug products have been recalled to wholesalers and two generic drug products, Hydromorphone HCI and Metoprolol Succinate, recalled to retailer level, according to a company news release.

The products are being recalled, because they may have been made under conditions that didn't comply with good manufacturing practices.

Patients taking these drug products should continue taking them in accordance with their prescriptions, because the risk of suddenly stopping needed medication may endanger their health, Ethex said.

People who've experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using the recalled products should contact their physician or health care provider. More information is available at www.kvpharmaceutical.com.

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Zimbabwe Cholera Cases Surpass 65,000

The number of recorded cholera cases in Zimbabwe is now 65,739 and more than 3,323 people have died since the start of the outbreak in August 2008, the World Health Organization said in its daily update Wednesday.

About 1,038 new cases and 28 deaths were added since Tuesday's update, Agence France Presse reported.

The cholera epidemic is being blamed on poor health, water and sanitary services.

Earlier this week, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said President Robert Mugabe had agreed to allow a high-level UN team to visit Zimbabwe in an attempt to identify ways to deal with the cholera epidemic and a hunger crises, AFP reported.

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Divorce Causes Face to Age: Study

Divorce can add years to your face, according to U.S. researchers who studied 186 pairs of identical twins.

Twins who'd been divorced looked two years older than their siblings who were married, single or even widowed, United Press International reported.

Antidepressant use also contributed to an older appearance, the researchers reported. Weight was another major factor. Among twins younger than 40, the heavier twin was perceived as looking older. But among twins older than 40, the heavier twin was judged to look younger.

"The presence of stress could be one of the common denominators in those twins who appeared older," study author Dr. Bahaman Guyuron, of the University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, said in a news release, UPI reported.

The study was published online in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Health Tips for February 5

Health Tip: Safe Use of a Generator

If your electricity goes out and you use a generator to power your home, you must read the manufacturer's instructions and take certain precautions. Engines release carbon monoxide, which can be deadly if the devices are used improperly.

The U.S. National Safety Council offers these suggestions when using a portable generator:

• Always keep the generator outside. Never put one inside your home, garage or any enclosed area.
• Even outside, keep your generator away from your home's windows and vents.
• Use a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector at the spot in your home nearest the generator.
• To prevent fire, let your generator cool for at least two minutes before you add gasoline. Make sure the gasoline is fresh.
• Never run your generator next to anything that could explode or catch fire.
• Don't plug a generator directly into one of your home's A/C outlets. Instead, have a licensed electrician install a power transfer switch.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions and maintenance guide to make sure your generator runs properly.

Health Tip: Prevent Painful Chapped Hands

Hands can become so dry and chapped -- especially during winter -- that they can become very painful.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions to help prevent chapped hands:

• Keep them covered, avoiding exposure to sun, cold or wind.
• Don't wash your hands with water that's too hot.
• Wash your hands when necessary to prevent the spread of germs, but don't overdo it.
• Use a humidifier at home.
• Stay away from harsh soaps.
• Moisturize your hands frequently.