Health Tips for June 23

Health Tip: Create a First Aid Kit

In case of emergency, a well-stocked first aid kit could be a lifesaver. Keep one in your home, in your car, and even at work. And keep one handy if you are hiking, biking, camping or boating.

Whether you buy a first aid kit or put one together, make sure it has all the items you may need. The American Red Cross suggests a first aid kit contain: antiseptic ointment, blanket, cold pack, disposable gloves, assorted band-aids, adhesive tape, gauze pads, roller gauze, triangular bandage, hand cleaner, plastic bags, scissors, tweezers, a small flashlight and extra batteries, and activated charcoal.

Remember to include any personal items, such as medications and emergency phone numbers, or other items suggested by your doctor. Check the kit regularly. Make sure the flashlight batteries work. Check expiration dates and replace any used or out-of-date contents. Store your first aid kit in a secure place out of the reach of young children.

Health Tip: Pack a First Aid Kit

A first aid kit may come in handy when you're traveling, so stash one in your car or bag before you leave home.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests what to include in your kit:

• A reference card that includes first aid instructions.
• A few basics, such as an ace bandage, gauze, tweezers, scissors, antiseptic and cotton-tipped swabs.
• Moleskin to put on blisters.
• Aloe vera gel for sunburn.
• A digital thermometer.
• Packets of oral rehydration solution.
• A copy of your health insurance card.

Health Headlines - June 22

Hospitalizations Linked to Blood Poisonings Rising: CDC

Hospitalizations for sepsis (blood poisoning) in the United States more than doubled between 2000 and 2008, a new study finds.

Two-thirds of the cases involved people 65 and older and the rate of sepsis increased with age. The hospitalization rate for sepsis among people 85 and older was 30 times higher than for those younger than 65, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers said, msnbc.com reported.

Among the other findings in the report released Tuesday:

• Patients with sepsis spent 75 percent longer in hospital than other patients.
• Sepsis patients were more than eight times as likely to die as other patients.
• The overall death rate for sepsis patients was 17 percent, but rose to 20 percent among sepsis patients 65 and over.

Sepsis patients who survive can be left with debilitating problems such as mental impairment, physical disabilities and organ damage, the researchers said, msnbc.comreported.

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Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor Discusses Her Diabetes

Having diabetes doesn't prevent you from doing anything you want, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said Tuesday when she met with a group of children who have diabetes.

"It's a disease you have to deal with, but you can," she told the 150 children, theAssociated Press reported.

Sotomayer, 56, learned she had diabetes when she was seven years old and coping with it has become second nature. She injects herself with insulin four to six times a day.

It's no secret that Sotomayor has diabetes, but this is the first time she's spoken so openly about managing the chronic condition, the AP reported. Her meeting with the children was part of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Children's Congress.

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Deaths From Cancer, Heart Disease Rising: U.N.

Deaths from noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart and lung disease are increasing and cause nearly two-thirds of all deaths in the world, a United Nations report says.

In 2008, the 36 million deaths from noncommunicable diseases accounted for 63 percent of the 57 million deaths worldwide. The U.N. said nearly 80 percent of deaths from noncommunicable diseases were in the developing world, and 9 million of the worldwide deaths from noncommunicable diseases involved people younger than 60, theAssociated Press reported.

By 2030, noncommunicable diseases will claim the lives of 52 million people, according to the U.N.

The document said risk factors such as unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, obesity and harmful alcohol use are contributing to the rise in deaths from noncommunicable diseases, the AP reported.

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FDA Performs Poorly on Imported Food Recalls: Audit

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration often fails to follow its own rules in recalling contaminated imported foods, according to federal government investigators who audited 17 of the recalls.

The cases reviewed by investigators included listeria-infected frozen mussel meat from New Zealand, salmonella-contaminated cantaloupes from Honduras, and frozen fish from Korea that contained botulism-causing bacteria, The New York Times reported.

In one case, a recall was launched more than three months after the FDA became aware of a contaminated food product. In another case, the delay was nearly a month, according to Daniel R. Levinson, inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services.

In 13 of the 17 audited cases, suppliers failed to give accurate or complete information to their customers so that the products could be withdrawn completely, The Times reported.

An FDA official said the new food safety law gives the agency more power to control food safety.

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Concussion Increases Young Athletes' Risk of Death: Study

Young athletes who suffer a concussion are at increased risk of death if they begin playing before they're fully recovered and suffer a head blow, a new study warns.

Researchers analyzed the National Registry of Sudden Death in Young Athletes in order to assess the risk of death from blunt trauma among athletes 21 and younger in the United States, the Associated Press reported.

Between 1980 and 2009, there were 261 trauma injury-related deaths among young athletes. Most of them (148) involved football players, including 17 high school players who died of head or neck injuries a few days to four weeks after they had suffered a concussion.

Those 17 deaths are a worrisome number and a key finding that comes when there is growing awareness about concussions, including the threat of "second-impact syndrome," study author Dr. Barry Maron told the AP.

The study was published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

Health Tips for June 22

Health Tip: Why Some Women Can't Sleep

Insomnia is more common in women than in men, the Womenshealth.gov website says of the common sleep disorder.

According to the site, here's what may trigger more sleepless nights among women:

• Hot flashes, night sweats and other symptoms of perimenopause.
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy.
• Physical changes during pregnancy, including discomfort and increased frequency of urination.
• Depression and anxiety, which tend to be more common in women.
• Physical conditions that tend to affect women, such as fibromyalgia and restless leg syndrome.

Health Tip: Dealing With Hot Flashes

What middle-aged woman hasn't begged the question: Is it warm in here or is it me?

That hot, hot feeling that seems to come over you at the most inopportune times is a natural part of life: hot flashes. But they can be avoided.

The first step is figuring out what brings them on. Personal triggers could include stress, alcohol, caffeine, diet pills, spicy or hot food, hot tubs, saunas, hot showers, hot beds, hot rooms, hot weather and smoking.

Even if you can't avoid hot flashes, you can survive them. Here are some tips from breastcancer.org:

• Dress in layers, so you can peel off one layer after another as you get warmer.
• Don't wear wool or synthetics, and be wary of silk. That leaves cotton, linen, rayon, and more cotton.
• Avoid turtlenecks. Stick to open-neck shirts.
• Keep ice water at hand that you can sip to cool down.
• Whenever possible, lower the thermostat. Maybe it's time for a decent air conditioner, or a ceiling fan or portable one.
• Wear cotton pajamas or nightgown. If you perspire a lot at night, your nightclothes are easier to change than the sheets, which should be cotton and not synthetic.
• Take a cool shower before bed.

Health Headlines - June 21

Chemical Suicides Increasing in U.S.

The use of chemical suicide by Americans is increasing and this trend could put emergency responders at risk.

Chemical suicide is popular in Japan, where it is called detergent suicide. It involves mixing common household chemicals to create a poisonous cloud of gas in an enclosed space. It's believed that more than 2,000 people in Japan have used this method to kill themselves, The New York Times reported.

There have been 72 documented cases of chemical suicide in the United States since 2008. There were 36 such suicides in the country last year, but there have been at least 27 so far this year.

Of the 72 documented cases, at least 80 percent resulted in injuries to firefighters, police officers, emergency workers or civilians, Deputy Chief Jacob Oreshan, of the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, told The Times.

These injuries have occurred despite efforts by victims of chemical suicide to protect others by placing warning signs on car windows or closet doors, said Oreshan, who has been tracking the cases.

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U.S. to Help Vietnam With Agent Orange Cleanup

The first phase of a joint U.S.-Vietnam plan to clean up environmental damage from the chemical Agent Orange began Friday at a former U.S. military base in central Vietnam.

The herbicide, which was used sprayed by U.S. aircraft to destroy North Vietnamese guerilla fighter's jungle cover, was stored at the base during the Vietnam War, theAssociated Press reported.

The first step of the cleanup plan involves checking areas around the Danang airport for unexploded ordnance. Once that's done, dioxin will be removed from soil and sediment at the site.

Dioxin, a chemical used in Agent Orange, has been linked to birth defects and cancers.

As many as 3 million people in Vietnam have suffered health problems due to Agent Orange exposure, according to the country's Red Cross. But the U.S. has said the number is far lower, the AP reported.

Health Tips for June 21

Health Tip: Prevent Heat-Related Illness

As the weather heats up, illnesses ranging from heat exhaustion to heatstroke become more common.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests how to help prevent heat-related medical emergencies:

• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
• If working outdoors, take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors.
• When weather is particularly hot or humid, avoid heavy exercise or physical activity.
• Increase your fluid intake.
• Avoid becoming overheated, especially if you're elderly, overweight or taking a medication that affects your body's heat regulation.
• Let your car cool down before you get inside.

Health Tip: If You Have Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion may affect people who spend hours in the sun or very hot weather without drinking enough fluids.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include heavy sweating, pale skin, muscle cramps, fatigue and weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or fainting.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests how to cool down when you have symptoms of heat exhaustion:

• Drink plenty cool, non-alcoholic beverages.
• Get enough rest.
• In cool water, take a sponge bath or shower.
• Stay inside in an air conditioned building.
• Wear lightweight clothing.

Health Headlines - June 20

U.S. to Help Vietnam With Agent Orange Cleanup

The first phase of a joint U.S.-Vietnam plan to clean up environmental damage from the chemical Agent Orange began Friday at a former U.S. military base in central Vietnam.

The herbicide, which was used sprayed by U.S. aircraft to destroy North Vietnamese guerilla fighter's jungle cover, was stored at the base during the Vietnam War, theAssociated Press reported.

The first step of the cleanup plan involves checking areas around the Danang airport for unexploded ordnance. Once that's done, dioxin will be removed from soil and sediment at the site.

Dioxin, a chemical used in Agent Orange, has been linked to birth defects and cancers.

As many as 3 million people in Vietnam have suffered health problems due to Agent Orange exposure, according to the country's Red Cross. But the U.S. has said the number is far lower, the AP reported.

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Poor Adults Account for Most Rural ER Visits

Low-income adults accounted for 56 percent of the 8 million visits to emergency departments at rural hospitals in the United States in 2008, a federal government study says.

Of all the adult visits made to rural emergency departments, about 44 percent were either paid by Medicaid (28 percent) or were uncompensated or billed to uninsured patients (16.5 percent), according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Private health plans paid for 31 percent of the visits and 25 percent were covered by Medicare.

Leading reasons for adult visits to rural emergency departments in 2008 included abdominal pain (233,064), back pain (223,248), chest pain from unknown causes (220,647), open wounds (211,587), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis (159,002), which can cause breathing problems.

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House Takes Action Against Genetically Modified Salmon

An amendment forbidding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from approving genetically modified salmon for human consumption was passed Wednesday by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The amendment to the farm spending bill, introduced by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska and approved by voice vote, would prohibit the FDA from spending money to approve an application by Massachusetts-based AquaBounty to sell genetically modified salmon that grow twice as fast as normal, the Associated Press reported.

Young said the modified salmon would compete with wild salmon from his state, and other detractors have called the modified salmon "frankenfish" that may cause allergies in humans and could eventually destroy the wild salmon population.

The FDA is scheduled to decide this year whether to approve the modified salmon. The Senate hasn't dealt with the issue, the AP reported.

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Syphilis Screening Could Save Many Babies: Study

Screening all pregnant women for syphilis and treatment with antibiotics could save hundreds of thousands of babies' lives worldwide each year, according to a new study.

Researchers at University College London analyzed 10 previous studies that included more than 41,000 women in total and found that syphilis screening achieved a 58 percent decrease in stillbirths and a similar reduction in deaths in the first few weeks of life, BBC News reported.

The study appears in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Syphilis in pregnant women causes 500,000 stillbirths and newborn deaths a year, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Even though screening is cheap and effective, it's done in fewer than one in eight women worldwide, BBC News reported.

Screening for syphilis should be done at the same time that pregnant women are tested for HIV, study author Dr. Sarah Hawkes said.

Health Tips for June 20

Health Tip: Protect Your Feet From Corns

Corns are calluses on the toes that develop when the toes rub against the inside of shoes.

Causes include poorly fitted shoes, deformities of the toes and socks that don't fit properly.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests how you can help prevent corns:

• Make sure shoes aren't too tight or too loose.
• Kick off the high-heeled shoes, in favor of those that put less pressure on the front of the foot.
• Make sure stitches and seams inside the shoes don't rub against your toes.
• Wear socks that fit well.

Health Tip: Protect Feet From Fungus

Fungal toenail infections can linger for years without causing pain or another reason to seek treatment. But infected nails can turn thick, discolored or brittle, which could be embarrassing.

The American Podiatric Medical Association suggests how to help prevent a fungal foot infection in the first place:

• Wash your feet with water and soap, then dry them thoroughly.
• Inspect the feet and toes regularly, looking for cracked or itchy skin.
• Don't go barefoot in a public shower or sauna. Wear a pair of flip flops or sandals.
• Change your socks and shoes more than once daily.
• Keep toenails trimmed straight across.
• Wear properly-fitting shoes that are made of breathable materials, and skip very tight hosiery.
• Wear socks made of synthetic materials, rather than cotton or wool, to help draw moisture away from the skin.
• Regularly disinfect any clippers or scissors used to care for the feet.
• Don't use nail polish if you suspect a possible fungal nail infection.

Health Headlines - June 19

U.S. to Help Vietnam With Agent Orange Cleanup

The first phase of a joint U.S.-Vietnam plan to clean up environmental damage from the chemical Agent Orange began Friday at a former U.S. military base in central Vietnam.

The herbicide, which was used sprayed by U.S. aircraft to destroy North Vietnamese guerilla fighter's jungle cover, was stored at the base during the Vietnam War, theAssociated Press reported.

The first step of the cleanup plan involves checking areas around the Danang airport for unexploded ordnance. Once that's done, dioxin will be removed from soil and sediment at the site.

Dioxin, a chemical used in Agent Orange, has been linked to birth defects and cancers.

As many as 3 million people in Vietnam have suffered health problems due to Agent Orange exposure, according to the country's Red Cross. But the U.S. has said the number is far lower, the AP reported.

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Poor Adults Account for Most Rural ER Visits

Low-income adults accounted for 56 percent of the 8 million visits to emergency departments at rural hospitals in the United States in 2008, a federal government study says.

Of all the adult visits made to rural emergency departments, about 44 percent were either paid by Medicaid (28 percent) or were uncompensated or billed to uninsured patients (16.5 percent), according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Private health plans paid for 31 percent of the visits and 25 percent were covered by Medicare.

Leading reasons for adult visits to rural emergency departments in 2008 included abdominal pain (233,064), back pain (223,248), chest pain from unknown causes (220,647), open wounds (211,587), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis (159,002), which can cause breathing problems.

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House Takes Action Against Genetically Modified Salmon

An amendment forbidding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from approving genetically modified salmon for human consumption was passed Wednesday by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The amendment to the farm spending bill, introduced by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska and approved by voice vote, would prohibit the FDA from spending money to approve an application by Massachusetts-based AquaBounty to sell genetically modified salmon that grow twice as fast as normal, the Associated Press reported.

Young said the modified salmon would compete with wild salmon from his state, and other detractors have called the modified salmon "frankenfish" that may cause allergies in humans and could eventually destroy the wild salmon population.

The FDA is scheduled to decide this year whether to approve the modified salmon. The Senate hasn't dealt with the issue, the AP reported.

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Syphilis Screening Could Save Many Babies: Study

Screening all pregnant women for syphilis and treatment with antibiotics could save hundreds of thousands of babies' lives worldwide each year, according to a new study.

Researchers at University College London analyzed 10 previous studies that included more than 41,000 women in total and found that syphilis screening achieved a 58 percent decrease in stillbirths and a similar reduction in deaths in the first few weeks of life, BBC News reported.

The study appears in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Syphilis in pregnant women causes 500,000 stillbirths and newborn deaths a year, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Even though screening is cheap and effective, it's done in fewer than one in eight women worldwide, BBC News reported.

Screening for syphilis should be done at the same time that pregnant women are tested for HIV, study author Dr. Sarah Hawkes said.

Health Tips for June 19

Health Tip: Make Sure Your Child's Shoes Fit

Your little one is growing faster than you expected, and his or her feet are no exception.

As children's shoe buying becomes a frequent ritual, the American Podiatric Medical Association offers this advice:

• Make sure the shoes have firm heel support, a flexible sole where the feet bend, cushioning in the insoles, and good arch support.
• Size the feet when the child is standing and bearing weight on the feet.
• Allow for a thumb's width between the tip of the toes and the end of the shoe -- enough so the child can comfortably wiggle the toes.
• Ask the child to walk around in the shoes (make sure socks are on, too). Ask about fit and comfort, and check to see if the feet are irritated afterward.
• Make sure the shoes don't slip off at the heel.
• Measure both feet, and buy shoes in the size that fit the larger foot.

Health Tip: Are You at Risk for Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the thick tissue that connects the heel to the toes becomes irritated, inflamed and painful.

The ADAM Encyclopedia mentions these potential risk factors for plantar fasciitis:

• Having either high arches or flat feet.
• Being obese.
• Exposing the feet to repetitive stress, from activities such as running long distances, running on an uneven surfaces or running downhill.
• Gaining weight rapidly.
• Having tightness in the Achilles tendon.
• Wearing shoes that don't offer good arch support or have soft soles.

Health Headlines - June 18

U.S. to Help Vietnam With Agent Orange Cleanup

The first phase of a joint U.S.-Vietnam plan to clean up environmental damage from the chemical Agent Orange began Friday at a former U.S. military base in central Vietnam.

The herbicide, which was used sprayed by U.S. aircraft to destroy North Vietnamese guerilla fighter's jungle cover, was stored at the base during the Vietnam War, theAssociated Press reported.

The first step of the cleanup plan involves checking areas around the Danang airport for unexploded ordnance. Once that's done, dioxin will be removed from soil and sediment at the site.

Dioxin, a chemical used in Agent Orange, has been linked to birth defects and cancers.

As many as 3 million people in Vietnam have suffered health problems due to Agent Orange exposure, according to the country's Red Cross. But the U.S. has said the number is far lower, the AP reported.

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Poor Adults Account for Most Rural ER Visits

Low-income adults accounted for 56 percent of the 8 million visits to emergency departments at rural hospitals in the United States in 2008, a federal government study says.

Of all the adult visits made to rural emergency departments, about 44 percent were either paid by Medicaid (28 percent) or were uncompensated or billed to uninsured patients (16.5 percent), according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Private health plans paid for 31 percent of the visits and 25 percent were covered by Medicare.

Leading reasons for adult visits to rural emergency departments in 2008 included abdominal pain (233,064), back pain (223,248), chest pain from unknown causes (220,647), open wounds (211,587), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis (159,002), which can cause breathing problems.

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House Takes Action Against Genetically Modified Salmon

An amendment forbidding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from approving genetically modified salmon for human consumption was passed Wednesday by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The amendment to the farm spending bill, introduced by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska and approved by voice vote, would prohibit the FDA from spending money to approve an application by Massachusetts-based AquaBounty to sell genetically modified salmon that grow twice as fast as normal, the Associated Press reported.

Young said the modified salmon would compete with wild salmon from his state, and other detractors have called the modified salmon "frankenfish" that may cause allergies in humans and could eventually destroy the wild salmon population.

The FDA is scheduled to decide this year whether to approve the modified salmon. The Senate hasn't dealt with the issue, the AP reported.

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Syphilis Screening Could Save Many Babies: Study

Screening all pregnant women for syphilis and treatment with antibiotics could save hundreds of thousands of babies' lives worldwide each year, according to a new study.

Researchers at University College London analyzed 10 previous studies that included more than 41,000 women in total and found that syphilis screening achieved a 58 percent decrease in stillbirths and a similar reduction in deaths in the first few weeks of life, BBC News reported.

The study appears in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Syphilis in pregnant women causes 500,000 stillbirths and newborn deaths a year, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Even though screening is cheap and effective, it's done in fewer than one in eight women worldwide, BBC News reported.

Screening for syphilis should be done at the same time that pregnant women are tested for HIV, study author Dr. Sarah Hawkes said.

Health Tips for June 18

Health Tip: Prevent Heat-Related Illness

As the weather heats up, illnesses ranging from heat exhaustion to heatstroke become more common.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests how to help prevent heat-related medical emergencies:

• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
• If working outdoors, take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors.
• When weather is particularly hot or humid, avoid heavy exercise or physical activity.
• Increase your fluid intake.
• Avoid becoming overheated, especially if you're elderly, overweight or taking a medication that affects your body's heat regulation.
• Let your car cool down before you get inside.

Health Tip: If You Have Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion may affect people who spend hours in the sun or very hot weather without drinking enough fluids.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include heavy sweating, pale skin, muscle cramps, fatigue and weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or fainting.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests how to cool down when you have symptoms of heat exhaustion:

• Drink plenty cool, non-alcoholic beverages.
• Get enough rest.
• In cool water, take a sponge bath or shower.
• Stay inside in an air conditioned building.
• Wear lightweight clothing.

Health Headlines - June 17

Syphilis Screening Could Save Many Babies: Study

Screening all pregnant women for syphilis and treatment with antibiotics could save hundreds of thousands of babies' lives worldwide each year, according to a new study.

Researchers at University College London analyzed 10 previous studies that included more than 41,000 women in total and found that syphilis screening achieved a 58 percent decrease in stillbirths and a similar reduction in deaths in the first few weeks of life, BBC News reported.

The study appears in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Syphilis in pregnant women causes 500,000 stillbirths and newborn deaths a year, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. Even though screening is cheap and effective, it's done in fewer than one in eight women worldwide, BBC News reported.

Screening for syphilis should be done at the same time that pregnant women are tested for HIV, study author Dr. Sarah Hawkes said.

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Medicaid Patients Face Benefits Cuts: Report

More than $90 billion in special U.S. government funding for Medicaid will end in a few weeks, leading to cuts in benefits for millions of low-income people.

The money began flowing from the Obama administration in February 2009 as the recession deepened. But neither the White House nor Congress has made any move to extend that extra funding for Medicaid, even though there are more beneficiaries now than two years ago, The New York Times reported.

Federal Medicaid spending will decline next year for only the second time in the program's 46-year history, the Congressional Budget Office estimates.

"Medicaid is very much on the chopping block," Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W. Va., and chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, told the Times. "Seniors vote. But if you are poor and disabled, you might not vote, and if you are a child, you do not vote -- that's a lot of Medicaid's population. They don't have money to do lobbying."

To cope with the loss of the extra federal money, states plan to cut costs by limiting benefits for Medicaid recipients, reducing the number of covered services, cutting Medicaid payments to hospitals and doctors, forcing beneficiaries to pay larger co-payments, and increasing the use of managed care, the Times reported.

These measures are expected to increase costs in other parts of the health-care system, the newspaper said.

For example, doctors may be less likely to accept Medicaid patients, forcing them to seek care in hospital emergency departments. And hospitals may attempt to make up for the loss of Medicaid revenue by boosting what they charge other patients, according to experts.

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Rep. Giffords Released From Hospital

Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was released from a Houston rehabilitation hospital Wednesday, more than five months after being shot in the head during an assassination attempt.

Giffords, 41, will live with her astronaut husband in a Houston suburb and will receive care from a 24-hour home health provider, hospital officials said. She will go to the Memorial Hermann Hospital each weekday for physical therapy, the Los Angeles Timesreported.

"Congresswoman Giffords has shown clear, continuous improvement from the moment she arrived at TIRR [Memorial Hermann Hospital] five months ago," Dr. Gerald Francisco, the hospital's chief medical officer, said in a statement. "We are very excited that she has reached the next phase of her rehabilitation and can begin outpatient treatment."

"Anyone who knows Gabby knows that she loves being outside," Gifford's husband, Mark E. Kelly, said in a statement, the Times reported. "Living and working in a rehab facility for five months straight has been especially challenging for her. She will still go to TIRR each day but, from now on, when she finishes rehab, she will be with her family."

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FDA Warns About Drugs With Similar Names

Confusion about the names of two medicines is leading to medication errors that have resulted in the hospitalization of some patients, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

The problem involves risperidone (Risperdal) -- an antipsychotic medication used to treat mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and irritability in people with autism -- and ropinirole (Requip), a dopamine agonist used to treat Parkinson's disease and Restless Legs Syndrome.

Factors contributing to the confusion between the two drugs include: similarities of both the brand and generic names; similarities in container labels and carton packaging; illegible handwriting on prescriptions; and similar drug characteristics, such as drug strengths, dosage forms and dosing intervals.

Doctors need to clearly print or spell out the medication name on prescriptions and ensure their patients know the name of their prescribed medication and their reason for taking it, the FDA said.

Health Tips for June 17

Health Tip: Factors That Contribute to Skin Cancer

People who have had severe blistering sunburns or frequent exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays are at greater risk of developing skin cancer, the U.S. National Cancer Institute reminds us.

Here the agency's list of additional factors that increase your risk of getting the disease:

• Using tanning beds on a regular basis.
• Having had skin cancer before.
• Having a close family member with a history of skin cancer.
• Having fair skin that burns easily.
• Taking medication that increases sensitivity to sunlight.
• Having a medical condition that compromises the immune system, or taking a medication that suppresses the immune system.

Health Tip: Apply Sunscreen Properly

Sunscreen helps protect your skin from sunburn and damage, but it must be applied properly.

The Skin Cancer Foundation offers these guidelines:

• Choose a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15.
• Apply sunscreen to children's skin, as long as they are at least 6 months old. Children younger than 6 months should not be exposed to the sun.
• Make sure you choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays,
• Use about 1 ounce of sunscreen for good coverage.
• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply every two hours.
• Reapply sunscreen after swimming, sweating or towel drying.
• Be aware of how much time you spend in the sun. Your skin doesn't have to turn red to be damaged by the sun's rays.

Health Headlines - June 16

U.S. Births Decline Again in 2010: CDC

The weak economy may have contributed to a decline in U.S. births for the third year in a row, experts suggest.

The country's birth rate fell 3 percent to slightly more than 4 million births in 2010, according to preliminary figures released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Associated Press reported.

The number of births in the United States had been rising for years and reached an all-time high of 4.3 million in 2007, but have been dropping since then. However, the new statistics suggests that the decline is leveling off because the birth rate appeared to bottom out in the last three months of 2010.

But study lead author and CDC demographer Paul Sutton said it's too early to say whether that actually signals an end to the decline in births, the AP reported.

Along with the struggling economy, a drop in Hispanic immigration due to the weak job market may have contributed to last year's lower number.

"Hispanics have higher birth rates," Dr. Roger Rochat, of Emory University, who has studied fertility and abortion trends, told the AP.

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FDA Warns About Drugs With Similar Names

Confusion about the names of two medicines is leading to medication errors that have resulted in the hospitalization of some patients, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

The problem involves risperidone (Risperdal) -- an antipsychotic medication used to treat mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and irritability in people with autism -- and ropinirole (Requip), a dopamine agonist used to treat Parkinson's disease and Restless Legs Syndrome.

Factors contributing to the confusion between the two drugs include: similarities of both the brand and generic names; similarities in container labels and carton packaging; illegible handwriting on prescriptions; and similar drug characteristics, such as drug strengths, dosage forms and dosing intervals.

Doctors need to clearly print or spell out the medication name on prescriptions and ensure their patients know the name of their prescribed medication and their reason for taking it, the FDA said.

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Lead Poisoning Epidemic in China Being Hushed Up: Report

Chinese officials are attempting to cover up a lead poisoning epidemic that's affecting millions of children, according to a Human Rights Watch report released Wednesday.

The group said authorities are often denying victims testing, treatment and prevention and have failed to clean up contamination or to shut down polluting factories, theAssociated Press reported.

"Children with dangerously high levels of lead in their blood are being refused treatment and returned home to contaminated houses in polluted villages," said the group's health and human rights director, Joe Amon.

Chinese officials declined to comment on the charges, the AP reported.

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Teens Brains Predict Songs' Success: Study

Teens' brain activity may be able to predict hit pop songs, according to a new study.

The study included 27 teens, ages 12 to 17, who listened to song clips from largely unknown artists on MySpace. Brain imaging scans were conducted as the teens listened to the music, msnbc.com reported.

The researchers tracked the success of the songs for the next three years and found that activity in the ventral striatum area of the teens' brains predicted future sales figures and popularity of the songs.

"We found that when an area of the brain associated with reward and anticipation was active while listening to the song, chances were greater that the song would eventually go on to sell more than 20,000 units," said Dr. Gregory Berns, a neuroeconomist and director of Emory University's Center for Neuropolicy, msnbc.com reported.

The study appears in the Journal of Consumer Psychology.

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Number of New E. Coli Cases Slowing: German Officials

Another death from E. coli was reported in Germany, but the number of new cases of illness has slowed considerably, the country's national disease control center says.

Only seven more people were reported ill Tuesday, bringing to 3,235 the total number of people in Germany known to have been sickened in the E. coli outbreak, according to the Robert Koch Institute, the Associated Press reported.

The death of a 2-year-old boy in the northern German town of Celle brought the death toll from the deadliest known outbreak of E. coli to 36 in Germany and one in Sweden.

Officials believe the source of the outbreak is vegetable sprouts from a farm in northern Germany, the AP reported.

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Flavored Milks Banned From L.A. Schools

Chocolate and strawberry milk will be eliminated from schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District as of July 1.

The decision Tuesday by the largest school board in the United States is meant to help combat child obesity, the Associated Press reported. Flavored versions of milk contain high amounts of sugar.

The ban on chocolate and strawberry milk was introduced by Superintendent John Deasy after recent criticism of the school district by popular British TV chef Jamie Oliver, who claims that flavored milk has the same amount of sugar as a candy bar.

A number of other school districts nationwide have stopped serving flavored milk, the APreported.

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U.S. Drivers at Heightened Risk for Skin Cancer on Left Side

Drivers who like to keep their window down may be at increased for skin cancer on the left side of their bodies, according to a new study.

Researchers analyzed a U.S. government database and found that Americans are more likely to develop skin cancer on the left side of their body, USA Today reported.

Driving with an open window may be to blame, because it causes the left side of the body to receive more UV radiation, the University of Washington researchers suggested.

The study was published online in April by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Car windows block most sunburn-causing UVB rays, USA Today reported.

Health Tips for June 16

Health Tip: Protect Newborns From the Sun

A newborn's sensitive skin is particularly vulnerable to sunburn, so parents should be extra cautious.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these suggestions to prevent sunburn in babies less than six months:

• Avoid sun exposure as much as possible.
• Dress baby in a lightweight, long-sleeved top and long pants.
• Put baby in a wide-brimmed hat to shield the face.
• If you can't keep baby out of the sun, apply a small bit of sunscreen to the face and the backs of baby's hands.

Health Tip: Suggestions to Prevent Heat Rash

Heat rash occurs when an infant's pores become blocked, usually during hot, humid weather.

The University of Maryland Medical Center offers these suggestions to help prevent heat rash:

• Dress baby in clothes that are lightweight and made of cotton.
• Keep baby in an air-conditioned room during hot weather. Turn on a fan in baby's room when air conditioning isn't available.
• Skip ointments, creams or powders on baby's skin.
• Do your best to make sure that baby doesn't get too warm, and that the skin stays dry.

Health Headlines - June 15

Listeria at Kellogg Plant Spurs FDA Warning

A warning letter about bacteria and substandard production procedures at a food production plant in Augusta, Ga. was sent to Kellogg Co. by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA said an inspection conducted in February found listeria in the plant and also said food made at the plant may be "contaminated with filth." The letter, posted Tuesday on the FDA's website, didn't specify the types of food products made at the plant, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Kellogg says it is taking a number of "aggressive actions," such as cleaning the plant and testing the food, in response to the FDA's concerns.

"The safety of our food is of utmost importance to Kellogg. While the FDA did not identify specific concerns with the food, we take this situation very seriously," a company spokeswoman said in a statement, the Wall Street Journal reported. "We have confidence in the safety of our food."

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Woman to Receive Mother's Uterus

A 25-year-old Swedish woman plans to become the first in the world to undergo a mother-to-daughter uterus transplant, and then to become the first in the world to give birth to a child using the same womb in which she was carried.

Sara Ottosson lacks reproductive organs due to a rare genetic disorder and is scheduled to receive her mother's uterus next spring. Later, her eggs will be fertilized by her boyfriend's sperm and implanted into the uterus, according to the Telegraph newspaper,CBS News reported.

Both the daughter and mother view the transplant in a practical way.

"I'm a biology teacher, and it's just an organ like any other organ," Sara told theTelegraph, CBS News reported.

"My daughter and I are both very rational people, and we both think it's just a womb," said 56-year-old Eva Ottosson. "She needs it more than me. I've had two daughters so it's served me well."

The world's first uterus transplant was conducted in Saudi Arabia in 2000, but problems developed and the transplanted womb had to be removed from the 26-year-old recipient,CBS News reported.

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Countries Pledge Billions for Child Vaccinations Worldwide

More than four million lives will be saved over the next four years after a promise by a number of nations to donate $4.3 billion to help vaccinate children against preventable diseases such as pneumonia, according to the Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunization.

Donations were pledged by the U.K. ($1.3 billion), Norway ($677 million), the United States ($450 million), Sweden, The Netherlands, Australia, France, Germany and Italy. Another $1 billion was promised by Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates, BBC News reported.

GAVI had been seeking a total of $3.7 billion.

Even though there is a vaccine against pneumonia, the disease kills two million children under age 5 each year worldwide. It's estimated that pneumonia and diarrhea kill 3 times more children under age 5 than malaria and HIV/AIDS combined. But many countries can't afford the vaccines to prevent pneumonia and diarrhea, BBC News reported.

Health Tips for June 15

Health Tip: Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Your baby's teeth can decay from going to bed with a baby bottle or poor oral hygiene.

The American Dental Association lists these suggestions to help prevent baby bottle tooth decay:

• Moms, practice good oral hygiene and don't share utensils or put your baby's pacifier in your mouth.
• Wipe baby's gums with a clean, damp cloth after each feeding.
• Brush teeth with water and a child's toothbrush as soon as teeth break through the skin.
• Begin using fluoride toothpaste at about age 2, or when baby can spit. You will need to brush your child's teeth until at least age 6.
• Only formula, milk or breast milk go in baby bottles -- never juice or other sugary drinks.
• Don't put your child to bed with a bottle.
• Make sure pacifiers are clean (with soap and water) and never dip them in honey or other sweeteners.
• Limit sweet treats, provide exposure to fluoride and introduce baby to a sippy cup by the first birthday.

Health Tip: What May Cause Facial Pain

When your face throbs or you feel a dull ache, there are a number of possible causes to consider.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine lists these possibilities:

• Abscessed tooth.
• Migraine or a cluster headache.
• Facial injury.
• Shingles or cold sore infections, both of which are types of herpes viruses.
• Conditions such as sinusitis, sinus infection or myofascial pain syndrome.
• The nerve disorder tic douloureux.
• Temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

Health Headlines - June 14

Countries Pledge Billions for Child Vaccinations Worldwide

More than four million lives will be saved over the next four years after a promise by a number of nations to donate $4.3 billion to help vaccinate children against preventable diseases such as pneumonia, according to the Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunization.

Donations were pledged by the U.K. ($1.3 billion), Norway ($677 million), the United States ($450 million), Sweden, The Netherlands, Australia, France, Germany and Italy. Another $1 billion was promised by Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates, BBC News reported.

GAVI had been seeking a total of $3.7 billion.

Even though there is a vaccine against pneumonia, the disease kills two million children under age 5 each year worldwide. It's estimated that pneumonia and diarrhea kill 3 times more children under age 5 than malaria and HIV/AIDS combined. But many countries can't afford the vaccines to prevent pneumonia and diarrhea, BBC News reported.

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Study Questions Routine Autism Screening

A number of autism experts are challenging a new study that says there is not enough evidence to support routine autism screening in children.

Canadian researchers reviewed existing studies and concluded that it's not clear if screening for autism is the right approach, CNN reported.

"Good screening tools and efficacious treatment [for autism] is lacking," they wrote in the journal Pediatrics. The study authors added that "none of the autism screening tests currently available has been shown to be able to fulfill the properties of accuracy."

The study's conclusions left many autism experts puzzled and concerned.

"By screening for autism at an early age, children are able to begin intervention as soon as possible," Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer for the Autism Speaks advocacy group, told CNN. "Studies have shown that early intervention results in significant increases in cognitive and language abilities, and adaptive behavior, and gives children the best chance for a positive outcome."

Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be screened for autism at regular checkups at ages 18 and 24 months.

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Photos of Gabrielle Giffords Released

Photographs of Representative Gabrielle Giffords posted Sunday on her Facebook page include one of her smiling broadly and another with her mother at her side. The photos were taken May 17 in the courtyard of the TIRR Memorial Hermann rehabilitation hospital in Houston, The New York Times reported. They are the first clear public images of the congresswoman since she was shot in the head during an assassination attempt in January. Giffords' hair is much shorter than before and is dark instead of golden. Damage caused by the shooting is evident on the left side of her head. The photos were released in order to prevent Giffords from being hounded by photographers when she leaves the rehabilitation hospital later this month, according to her spokesman C.J. Karamargin, The Times reported.

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Girl Survives Rabies Despite Delayed Treatment

Hospital officials say an 8-year-old California girl is just the third person in the United States known to have survived rabies without receiving vaccinations immediately after being infected.

It's believed that Precious Reynolds of Willow Creek got rabies in April from a feral cat she encountered near her school, the Associated Press reported. She was diagnosed with rabies in May after she was seen by a doctor for serious flu-like symptoms.

After rabies was confirmed, the girl was treated by pediatricians at the University of California Davis Children's Hospital in coordination with state and federal health officials, according to a statement released by the hospital.

Precious received antiviral medications while she was in a drug-induced coma. After two weeks of treatment in intensive care, she was transferred to the general pediatric unit, where she remained Sunday, the AP reported.

"From the very beginning, Precious had a very rapid, robust immune response to her infection, which is a significant contributor to why she survived," Dr. Jean Wiedeman, leader of the pediatric team, said in the hospital statement.

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Apples Top Pesticides 'Dirty Dozen' List

Pesticide residue was found on 98 percent of apple samples tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a yearly survey, but most of the residue levels were within amounts considered safe.

Pesticide residue was also found on more than 90 percent of samples of six other types of produce tested by the USDA: oranges, spinach, strawberries, grapes, cilantro and potatoes, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Before the produce samples were tested, they were washed under cold water for 10 seconds in order to replicate how produce is typically handled by consumers at home.

The findings are outlined in the "Dirty Dozen" list, to be released Monday by the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocacy organization, the Wall Street Journal reported.

People shouldn't stop eating these fruits and vegetables because their health benefits outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure, according to the group. But consumers might consider organic produce.

The Environmental Working Group also published the "Clean 15" list, which includes crops which offer consumers the least exposure to pesticides. Onions, sweet corn, pineapples and avocadoes top the list.

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Springsteen Saxophonist Clarence Clemons Suffers Stroke

Saxophonist Clarence Clemons, best known for his work with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, has suffered a stroke but there is no information about his condition.

The news was confirmed Sunday night by a person who has worked with Clemons in the past but spoke on condition of anonymity because the person did not have authorization to speak on the matter, the Associated Press reported.

The 69-year-old Clemons has had a number of health issues over the last few years, including double knee surgery.

However, his health seemed to be improving and last month he performed with Lady Gaga on the season finale of "American Idol," the AP reported.

Health Tips for June 14

Health Tip: What to Eat When Going Gluten-Free?

When a health condition such as Celiac disease requires a gluten-free diet, you may not be aware of what is okay to eat.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine mentions these staples of a gluten-free diet:

• Cereals that don't include barley malt or wheat.
• Vegetables and fruits.
• Fresh fish, poultry and meat that don't include breading or typical gravies.
• Dairy products and milk.
• Beans, corn, rice and potatoes.

Health Tip: Signs You're Getting Too Much Iron

While iron deficiency is a big concern, absorbing too much iron -- a condition known as hemochromatosis -- can also pose problems.

The womenshealth.gov website lists these warning signs of hemocromatosis, one of the most common genetic conditions in the United States:

• Feeling weak and fatigued.
• Losing weight.
• Arthritis, pain in the joints and pain in the abdominal area.
• A fluttering sensation in the chest and other heart problems.
• Missing periods or early onset of menopause.
• Diminished sex drive and impotence.