Health Headlines - June 30

Too Few Young Adults Treated for Alcohol, Drug Problems: Study

More than one in five young adults in the United States (7 million) need treatment for alcohol or illicit drug use, but only 7 percent of them receive treatment at a specialty facility, says a federal government study released Monday.

Those levels have remained relatively stable since 2002, said the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) study of 2007 data from a national survey of 22,187 adults ages 18 to 25.

"Substance use disorders are preventable and treatable yet we continue as a nation to allow the lives of 1 in 5 young people and their families be torn apart by substance abuse," SAMHSA Acting Adminstrator Eric Broderick said in a news release. "As a nation we must redouble our efforts to prevent substance abuse in the first place and ensure treatment is available to those in need."

The study also found that 96 percent of young adults who needed, but didn't receive, treatment for substance-use problems didn't believe they needed help.

Among the other findings from the 2007 data:

• Among young adults, 17.2 percent needed treatment for alcohol disorders in the past year, 8.4 percent for illicit drug disorders, and 4.4 percent for both alcohol and illicit drug disorders.
• Young adults covered by Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) were more than three times as likely as those with private insurance to receive treatment for alcohol or illicit drug use in a specialty facility -- 13.2 percent vs. 4 percent.

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Studies Detail New Ovary Preservation, Transplant Methods

New methods of preserving and transplanting ovaries could improve older women's chances of having children, two new studies suggest.

A growing number of women are delaying having a family until they're in their 30s or 40s, when they're more likely to have fertility problems. But doctors say it may be possible to have an ovary removed and frozen when a woman is in her 20s or 30s and have it reimplanted when she's ready to have children, the Associated Press reported.

In one study, U.S. researchers compared the number of eggs in fresh and frozen ovarian tissue removed from 15 women before they had cancer treatment. The ovarian tissue that was frozen using a new ultra-fast technique had the same number of eggs as the fresh tissue. With traditional, slow-freezing methods, about half of the eggs were lost.

In another study, French researchers detailed a new surgical technique to transplant ovaries, the AP reported.

The studies were presented at a meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction.

"We are in the middle of an infertility epidemic," said Dr. Sherman Silber, who is director of the St. Louis Infertility Center in Missouri and was involved in the first study, the AP reported. "With these new techniques, we could dramatically expand our reproductive lifespan."

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Salmonella Fears Trigger Plainview Food Products Recall: Report

Possible salmonella contamination has prompted a voluntary recall of food products made by Plainview Milk Products Cooperative in Minnesota over the last two years. Salmonella bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections.

The recalled products include instant non-fat dried milk, whey protein, fruit stabilizers and gums (thickening agents), said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, United Press International reported.

Plainview sells its products to industry customers who may have used them in their own products. None of the recalled products was sold directly to the public, the FDA said.

"This is an ongoing investigation, and the FDA will update the public as new information emerges," agency officials said. "At this time, the FDA is not aware of products being recalled at the consumer level," UPI reported.

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Beef Products Recall Expanded

A recall of beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria was expanded Sunday by JBS Swift Beef Co. of Greeley, Colo., to include about 380,000 more pounds of products.

But the U.S. Department of Agriculture didn't immediately update which states received the beef products or have reported illnesses, according to the Associated Press.

Last week, JBS Swift Beef Co. announced a recall of about 41,000 pounds of products that were made April 21-22 and shipped to Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.

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Pro Cyclists Have Poor Sperm Quality: Study

Professional cyclists have poorer sperm quality than other men, possibly due to heat from wearing tight clothing, the friction of the testes against the saddle, and the overall physical demands of being an elite cyclist, Spanish researchers say.

They suggested that professional cyclists consider freezing their sperm before starting their careers, BBC News reported.

The study of 15 top triathletes who ride more than 186 miles a week found they have less than four percent normal-looking sperm, which would cause "significant" fertility problems. The findings were presented at a meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

But recreational cyclists or those who cycle to work aren't likely to experience fertility problems, a British expert told BBC News.

"Men training for triathlons are spending much more time in the saddle than the average social (cyclist) or someone who might cycle to and from work," said Dr. Allan Pacey, of the University of Sheffield.

Health Tips for June 30

Health Tip: Who's at Risk for Heat Illness?

Heatstroke and heat exhaustion are potentially deadly conditions stemming from a dangerous rise in body temperature. While everyone is at risk of a heat-related illness, some people are especially vulnerable.

The U.S. National Safety Council says the following people should take extra care to keep cool and hydrated during the stifling heat of summer:

• Senior citizens.
• Babies and young children.
• Outdoor pets.
• People with heart conditions, circulatory problems or other chronic illnesses.
• Anyone who has to work outside in the mid-day heat.
• People who exercise outdoors frequently.
• People who take medication that affects sweat production.
• People who abuse alcohol and drugs.

Health Tip: Some Medications Can Help Trigger Heat-Related Illness

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke occur when the body becomes overheated and can't cool itself back down.

Some medications may increase your risk of heat-related illness. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this list:

• Antihistamines to prevent allergy symptoms.
• Some medications to manage cough and cold symptoms.
• Some heart and blood pressure medications.
• Amphetamine diet pills.
• Irritable bowel and irritable bladder medicines.
• Laxatives.
• Water pills.
• Thyroid medications.
• Anti-seizure medications.
• Some medications used to manage mental health conditions.

Health Headlines - June 29

New Drug Shows Promise for Rheumatoid Arthritis

A new drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis reduces joint inflammation in severe cases while causing only mild to moderate side effects, according to a report from the first clinical trial of the drug on humans.

Masitinib, which is being developed by AB Science pharmaceuticals, is supposed to halt the activity of mast cells, a part of the immune system believed to be involved in the start and progression of rheumatoid arthritis.

The results of the French trial, involving 43 people with arthritis that other treatments had failed to help, appears online in Arthritis Research and Therapy.

"We are encouraged from this study that masitinib not only appears to be effective, but that within the first three months of treatment, the worst of its side effects were over, possibly making it suitable for long-term treatment regimens," one of the researchers, Olivier Hermine, said in a news release from the journal's publisher. The next step will be placebo-controlled trials, he added.

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Vitamin D may help prevent knee osteoarthritis

Low levels of vitamin D are associated with the loss of cartilage in the knee joint of older individuals, researchers in Australia report.

"Cartilage loss is the hallmark of osteoarthritis," Dr. Changhai Ding told Reuters Health. By the time patients reach the point of needing knee replacement, 60 percent of cartilage has been lost, he said.

However, "achieving vitamin D sufficiency in osteoarthritis patients could significantly delay total knee replacement," said Ding, at the Menzies Research Institute in Tasmania.

In a study, Ding and colleagues found "osteoarthritis patients with vitamin D sufficiency have approximately 1.5 percent less loss of knee cartilage per year than patients with vitamin D deficiency," said Ding.

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Obama pressures Senate on climate change measure

Hailing the House, President Barack Obama put pressure on senators Saturday to follow its lead and pass legislation to limit greenhouse gas emissions, helping usher the U.S. into a new age of energy efficiency.

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Obama urges Americans get tested for HIV

President Barack Obama on Saturday urged his fellow Americans to get tested for HIV in an effort to reduce transmission of the virus that causes AIDS.

Health Tips for June 29

Health Tip: Reasons for Adenoid Removal

Adenoids are glands that are found between the airway and the back of the throat. When the adenoids are removed, the procedure is called adenoidectomy.

Adenoidectomy is most often performed on children, and rarely on adults. The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers this list of reasons for why a child might need an adenoidectomy:

• Difficulty breathing through the nose because of enlarged adenoids.
• Frequent snoring.
• Sleep apnea.
• Recurrent ear infections that affect attendance at school or occur five times or more per year.
• Frequent tonsillitis infections.

Health Tip: Is LASIK Right for You?

LASIK surgery is performed on the eyes to improve vision, often reducing the need for glasses or contact lenses.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine, in cooperation with the American Academy of Ophthalmology, lists these guidelines for the ideal LASIK candidate:

• Being at least 18 years old. But, in some cases, young children with one very nearsighted eye and one normal eye may benefit from LASIK.
• Women should not be pregnant or nursing.
• Having healthy eyes with vision prescriptions that are relatively stable.
• Candidates should not be taking certain prescription drugs, including Accutane or oral prednisone.
• Being in overall good health, without chronic conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma, herpes eye infections, or cataracts.
• Being unsatisfied with wearing glasses or contacts.
• Having realistic expectations of the surgery and results.

Health Headlines - June 28

Swine flu shot campaign could involve 600M doses

A potential fall swine flu immunization campaign may involve an unprecedented 600 million doses of vaccine, though officials said Friday they haven't figured out how to administer so many doses or accurately track side effects if a seasonal vaccine is given simultaneously.

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Prescription drugs in spotlight after Jackson death

Michael Jackson's death has lifted a veil on the sinister underbelly of fame, with associates of the pop icon hitting out at celebrity-dazzled doctors who funnel powerful narcotics to the stars.

Jackson, who died Thursday aged 50 after collapsing at his home in Beverly Hills, had a long history of prescription drug use, stretching back to 1993 when allegations of child abuse were leveled against him.

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Jackson's Death Puts Spotlight on Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Pop star Michael Jackson probably did not die on Thursday of a heart attack but perhaps something even more deadly -- sudden cardiac arrest, experts say.

It's not yet clear whether Jackson went into sudden cardiac arrest in his Los Angeles home, but that assumption has been made by many experts "on the basis of the report that his heart stopped, and he received resuscitation attempts," said Dr. Stephen Nicholls, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

"The ultimate question is whether death was due to a problem with the heart or another problem," Nicholls said. An autopsy was performed Friday, but additional tests are to be performed and the results aren't expected for six to eight weeks, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said.

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The Psychology of Celebrity Worship

Looking at the legions of fans mourning the loss of Michael Jackson, one might think celebrity worship is a modern phenomenon. But from the gods on Olympus in ancient Greece to the bobby-soxers swooning over Frank Sinatra in the late 1930s to Brad and Angelina today, adulation of the stars is an age-old pursuit, psychologists say.

Health Tips for June 28

Health Tip: Protecting a New Hip

A hip replacement needs time to heal after surgery. And while you may be anxious to get back to a normal life, it's important to take it easy for a while.

Your doctor will tell you what you should and shouldn't do after surgery. But the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these general suggestions:

• For at least eight weeks after the surgery, avoid sitting with your legs crossed at the knees.
• Don't lift your knee above the level of your hip.
• When seated, avoid leaning forward -- such as to pick something up off the floor.
• When bending down, keep your feet straight. Avoid pointing them to the inside or outside.
• When in bed, avoid reaching down to grab the sheet or blanket.
• Don't stand with toes pointed toward each other.
• Don't bend at the waist at more than a 90-degree angle.
• Just because a certain movement doesn't hurt doesn't mean it's safe. Pain isn't the only indicator of what you should or shouldn't do.

Health Tip: After a Hip Replacement

Having a hip replaced involves major surgery, and you should lighten your activity load for as long as your doctor recommends.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions to help make your recovery easier:

• Keep items that you use often within close reach, so you won't have to stretch or bend for them.
• Arrange your furniture to accommodate your walker or crutches, and make your primary room doesn't require climbing stairs.
• Get a taller-than-average chair with a firmly padded seat. Low, soft seats will be less comfortable.
• Pick up any rugs that may cause you to slip, and make sure electrical cords are safely secured and out of the way.
• In the bathroom, use a shower chair, a grab bar and a raised toilet seat.
• Create an area with all of your medications, a phone, remote control, water and anything else you may need within reach.
• Use devices that will prevent you from having to reach, such as a long-handled shoehorn, a long-handled sponge, and a grabbing tool.

Health Headlines - June 27

Nestle Refused to Give Cookie Dough Records to FDA: Report

Nestle USA refused several times to provide federal government inspectors with pest-control records, complaint logs and other information related to the Virginia plant where recalled cookie dough was made, according to a published report.

The refusals were noted in inspection reports from the factory, the Associated Press reported. A Food and Drug Administration spokesperson said Nestle USA wasn't obligated to allow inspectors access to the records, which date back to 2004.

Last week, the company voluntarily recalled all Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products made at the Virginia plant. The recall came after the FDA said it believed people eating the dough raw may have been exposed to E. coli bacteria.

So far, there have been 69 reported cases of illness in 29 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the AP said.

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New York State Will Buy Women's Eggs for Stem Cell Research

New York's decision to become the first state to allow taxpayer-funded scientists to pay women for eggs to be used in embryonic stem cell research is being greeted with both praise and criticism.

Women who donate eggs will receive up to $10,000 for the time, discomfort and expenses associated with the procedure, the Washington Post reported. The new policy conflicts with guidelines issued by scientific organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, the newspaper said.

Supporters of the decision say it will help advance stem cell research.

"This is a really great, appropriate policy," Susan Solomon, co-founder of the New York Stem Cell Foundation, a private, nonprofit research organization, told the Post. "This could help us to pursue some critical experiments that we hope will lead to treatments for devastating diseases."

But critics fear New York's policy will result in the exploitation of vulnerable women.

"In a field that's already the object of a great deal of controversy, the question is, are we at the point where we really need to go that route in order to do the science?" Jonathan D. Moreno, a professor of bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, told the Post. "I'm not convinced."

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European Regulator Wants Painkiller Off Market

The painkiller dextropropoxyphene should be withdrawn from the European market because patients using the 50-year-old drug have been dying from overdoses, says the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).

The drug is still on the market in the United States, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering whether to withdraw it, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Dextropropoxyphene, which is called propoxyphene in the United States, is an opioid widely used to treat mild to moderate pain. It was first introduced in the United States in 1957 under the brand name Darvon and is marketed today by a wide number of generic drug makers. Opponents of the drug have tried for years to get it taken off the market, the newspaper said.

According to the EMEA, a "significant" number of Europeans have died from accidental or intentional overdoses of the drug, but it didn't provide an actual number, the Journal reported.

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E. coli Scare Spurs Big Beef Recall

Fears of contamination with the e. coli bacteria has prompted JBS Swift Co., of Greeley, Colo., to recall about 41,000 pounds of beef products, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the products were processed on April 21-22 and sent to distributors and retailers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.

The recalled beef is packed in boxes marked "EST. 969" with packaging date codes of 042109 or 042209. They have case codes of 21852, 21853, 31852, 31853, 33852, 33853, 41853, 79852, 79853 or 90853.

Consumers who have questions regarding the recall should call JBS Swift at (800) 555-7675.

Health Tips for June 27

Health Tip: New Moms, Protect Your Back

New moms have enough on their minds without worrying about throwing out their back.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers this advice:

• Try to exercise and strengthen your back muscles as soon as your doctor says it's safe.
• Make an effort to lose the baby weight -- within six weeks is recommended.
• Keep your arms and baby close to your body when you lift the infant.
• When lifting baby, bend at the knees and lift with your legs, instead of your back.
• Always drop the side rail of the crib when lifting baby, rather than bending over the rail and hoisting baby out.
• Before lifting baby from the high chair, remove the high chair's tray.
• Carry baby in a pack on the front of your body, instead of your hip.

Health Tip: Caring for Your Newborn

Most first-time parents are at a loss when they bring baby home from the hospital.

The Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions for parental novices:

• Support baby's head with a gentle hand whenever you hold, carry or lay baby down.
• Treat baby gently. Never shake the baby for any reason, including to wake him or her up. Instead, tickle the feet or blow on the cheek to rouse your little one.
• Make sure you're using the baby car seat and stroller correctly, and that baby is safely secured.
• Newborns just need to be held and cuddled. It's too soon for games such as bouncing on the knee or lifting in the air.

Health Headlines - June 26

Pop Star Michael Jackson Dies at 50

Michael Jackson, an entertainment icon since he was a child, died Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The newspaper reported that Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Steve Ruda said paramedics responded to a 911 call at 12:26 p.m. at Jackson's home in Bel Air, Calif. The 50-year-old Jackson was unconscious when the paramedics arrived.

CPR was performed on the way to the hospital, the newspaper reported. Several media outlets reported that the cause of death was cardiac arrest. His spokesman denied reports he had cancer just last month, asserting that the King of Pop was "in the best of health."

A 50-concert tour in Great Britain had been planned for later this summer. Concerns over the state of Jackson's health had surfaced in recent years, but AEG Live, a promoter of the U.K. shows, said in March that Jackson had passed a four-and-a-half hour physical exams conducted by independent doctors, MSNBC reported.

Jackson's death capped a life of superstardom and scandal. The music legend first burst onto the pop scene as a child star with the Jackson 5 nearly four decades ago and went on to become one of the biggest selling entertainers of all time.

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Actress Farrah Fawcett Dies of Cancer at 62

Farrah Fawcett, a national sex symbol in the 1970s thanks to her feathery mane and her role in the TV series Charlie's Angels, died Thursday of cancer in California, the Los Angeles Times reported. She was 62.

Fawcett, initially known more for her layered locks than her acting ability, was diagnosed in 2006 with a rare anal cancer. She was declared cancer-free in 2007, but three months later, doctors at UCLA Medical Center said the cancer had returned and spread to her liver, the Times said. The actress subsequently sought experimental treatments in Europe, according to news reports.

Fawcett was a spokeswoman in the fight against cancer long before her diagnosis. In a statement released Thursday, Elizabeth Fontham, national volunteer president at the American Cancer Society, said: "We are saddened at the news of the passing of Farrah Fawcett. Ms. Fawcett served as the American Cancer Society's chairperson for Women Against Cancer in the early 1980s, appearing in a public service announcement where she encouraged viewers to avoid smoking and get regular cancer checkups. Her public battle against cancer these past few years is a reminder of the work still to be done, and of the toll cancer still takes. Her support of those efforts, and her unique approach to life, will be missed."

Fawcett's publicist, Paul Bloch, said she died at 9:30 a.m. at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, the Times reported.

Women get anal cancer slightly more often than men, according to the American Cancer Society. It estimates that 5,290 new cases will be diagnosed this year, and that 710 people in the United States will die from the disease.

Anal cancer, most often found in adults older than 35, is curable in most cases, the cancer society said.

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E. coli Scare Spurs Big Beef Recall

Fears of contamination with the e. coli bacteria has prompted JBS Swift Co., of Greeley, Colo., to recall about 41,000 pounds of beef products, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the products were processed on April 21-22 and sent to distributors and retailers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.

The recalled beef is packed in boxes marked "EST. 969" with packaging date codes of 042109 or 042209. They have case codes of 21852, 21853, 31852, 31853, 33852, 33853, 41853, 79852, 79853 or 90853.

Consumers who have questions regarding the recall should call JBS Swift at (800) 555-7675.

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Doctors Mystified by Girl Who Doesn't Age

Doctors are trying to determine what's gone wrong with the aging process in a 16-year-old American girl who's the size of an infant and has the mental capacity of a toddler.

Brooke Greenberg may be unique among documented cases of children who fail to grow or develop in some way, said the girl's pediatrician, Dr. Lawrence Pakula from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, ABC News reported.

In a recent paper, Pakula and his colleagues listed a range of inconsistencies in Brooke's aging process. For example, she still has baby teeth and her bone age is estimated to be that of a 10-year-old, but she's never been diagnosed with a known genetic syndrome or chromosomal abnormality. The article appeared in the journal Mechanisms of Ageing and Development.

Instead of developing as a coordinated unit, independent parts of Brooke's body are developing out of sync, said the article's co-author, Dr. Richard Walker of the University of South Florida College of Medicine, ABC News reported.

"There've been very minimal changes in Brooke's brain," Walker said. "Various parts of her body, rather than all being at the same stage, seem to be disconnected."

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Gray Hair Might Indicate Reduced Cancer Risk

Gray hair could actually be a sign that you have a bit of added protection against cancer, suggests a Japanese study.

Hair grays when color-producing stem cells, called melanocytes, die off in hair follicles. DNA damage -- which can lead to cancer -- increases in melanocytes as people age. But gray hair means that melanocytes are no longer present and thus cannot pass on cancer-causing mutations, the Toronto Star reported.

The finding, published in the June 21 issue of New Scientist magazine, might help in the development of new cancer treatments, said Dr. David Fisher, director of the melanoma program at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

"The study demonstrated that stem cells containing DNA damage are removed, and it is theoretically possible that such a mechanism may exist for numerous types of cells (outside of hair follicles) in the body," Fisher wrote in an e-mail to the Star.

"The 'protection' concept from gray hair relates to the fact that damaged melanocyte stem cells have been removed (thus, the gray)," he said. "Perhaps if we had a similar mechanism of removing cells from the epidermis, melanoma may be less common."

Health Tips for June 26

Health Tip: Things That Trigger Migraines

While migraines and their causes vary from person to person, researchers have identified some common triggers.

The National Women's Health Information Center offers this list:

• Too much sleep, or not enough shut-eye.
• Missing meals.
• Overstimulated senses, including noises that are too loud, scents that are too strong, or lights that are too bright.
• Hormonal changes.
• Stress.
• Changes in the weather.
• Drinking red wine or changes in caffeine intake.
• Aspartame, an artificial sweetener.
• Food additives such as tyramine, monosodium glutamate (MSG) or nitrates.

Health Tip: Managing Your Child's Migraines

If your child gets migraine headaches, the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help prevent them:

• Make sure your child eats meals on a regular schedule, and never skips a meal.
• Keep your child on a regular sleep schedule.
• Make sure your child gets daily exercise, but don't overdo it.
• Figure out what triggers migraines in your child, and try to avoid those factors. Common triggers include stress, too much intense exercise, or changes in weather or altitude.
• Avoid foods that are known to trigger your child's migraines. Popular culinary causes include: cheese, processed meats, chocolate, caffeine, nuts, pickles and foods high in the preservative monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Health Headlines - June 25

South Pole Doctor Who Treated Own Breast Cancer Dies

The American doctor who diagnosed and treated her own breast cancer while on a research mission at the South Pole in 1999 has died of cancer.

Dr. Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald, 57, was the only doctor at the National Science Foundation Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station when she found a lump in her breast. Weather conditions made a rescue impossible, so she performed a biopsy on herself and then treated herself with anti-cancer drugs for months until she was taken back to the United States.

Her cancer remained in remission until August 2005. She died Tuesday at her home in Southwick, Mass., her husband, Thomas FitzGerald, said Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.

Neilsen FitzGerald described her South Pole ordeal in a best-selling book that was made into a TV movie. During the last decade, she traveled the world to speak about how cancer had changed her life. She also worked as a roving emergency room doctor at hospitals in the northeastern United States.

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Only Four Shots Needed for Rabies Protection

People exposed to a rabid animal need only four vaccinations, not the five currently recommended, a U.S. immunization advisory group has decided.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted Wednesday that four shots given within the first 14 days of exposure to rabies provides sufficient protection, the Associated Press reported.

Each year, between 20,000 and 40,000 Americans are in contact with a rabid animal. About 1,000 get just three or four shots and none have come down with rabies, which was a factor in the committee's decision, the AP said.

The committee advises the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which prepares official guidelines for doctors.

Until the 1970s, people had to have 14 shots in the abdomen after exposure to rabies, but improved vaccines led the government to ease that requirement.

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Insurance Improves Odds of Having a Doctor: Report

Young American adults who don't have health insurance are about half as likely as those with coverage to have a regular doctor (36 percent vs. 70 percent), says a federal government report released Wednesday.

About five million adults ages 19 to 23 didn't have health insurance for the entire year in 2006, and 30 percent said they didn't think coverage was worth the cost, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

More than two-thirds of young adults without insurance for the entire year did not see a doctor. Men were more likely than women to be uninsured -- 30 percent vs. 18 percent.

The AHRQ also said that 46 percent (2.2 million) of uninsured young adults worked full time and 26 percent (1.3 million) worked part time. The majority -- about 81 percent -- of the five million young adults without coverage through all of 2006 were not full-time students.

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Air Pollution Increases Cancer Risk For Many Americans: EPA

Millions of Americans live in neighborhoods where high levels of toxic air pollutants greatly increase their risk of cancer, according to an Environmental Protection Agency report to be released Wednesday.

People in the nearly 600 neighborhoods have a more than 100 in 1 million risk of cancer, compared to the national average risk of 36 in 1 million.

"If we are in between 10 in 1 million and 100 in 1 million, we want to look more deeply at that. If the risk is greater than 100 in 1 million, we don't like that at all ... we want to investigate that risk and do something about it," Kelly Rimer, an environmental scientist with the EPA, told the Associated Press.

The highest cancer risk in the nation -- 1,200 in 1 million and 1,100 in 1 million -- are in parts of Los Angeles, Calif., and Madison County, Ill., according to the EPA. Two neighborhoods in Allegheny County, Pa., and one in Tuscaloosa, Ala., had the next highest rates of cancer risk from air toxins.

The lowest risk levels are in Coconino County, Ariz., and Lyon County, Nev., the EPA said. The lowest levels of toxic air pollution are in Kalawao County, Hawaii, and Golden Valley County, Mont., the AP reported.

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Swine Flu Virus Likely Came From Asia: U.S. Officials

The swine flu pandemic likely originated in pigs in Asia, not on factory farms in Mexico, and was brought to North America by an infected human, say U.S. agriculture officials.

They said there's no evidence that the new swine flu virus -- a combination of North American and Eurasian genes -- has ever circulated in North American pigs. However, there is proof that a closely related "sister virus" has circulated among pigs in Asia, The New York Times reported.

But the agriculture officials added there's no way to prove their theory, which has only sketchy data to support it. As the virus spreads and pigs are infected by humans, it becomes more difficult to determine the origin of the pandemic.

"To tell whether a pig is newly infected by a human or had the virus before the human epidemic began really can't be done," Dr. Kelly M. Lager, a U.S. Agriculture Department swine disease expert, told the Times.

Since the swine flu pandemic began, the popular assumption is that it originated in Mexico. The pandemic has now reached more than 90 countries, according to the World Health Organization.

Health Tips for June 25

Health Tip: Help Prevent Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome occurs when being overweight or obese -- combined with other risk factors -- increase a person's chances of developing heart disease and diabetes.

These risk factors include abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and a poor ratio of good-to-bad cholesterol.

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute suggests how you can help prevent metabolic syndrome:

• Maintain a healthy body-mass index (BMI) of less than 25.
• Keep your waistline at a healthy size. Less than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men is ideal.
• Maintain a healthy body weight. Talk to your doctor about the best weight for you.
• Stick to a low-calorie, low-cholesterol and low-fat eating plan.
• Get regular exercise. In general, 60 minutes worth, five-to-seven days per week, is recommended for most people.
• Visit your doctor regularly, and frequently test your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

Health Tip: What's Behind High Cholesterol?

High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. If your numbers are rising, there are a few possible reasons.

The U.S. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute lists these factors that can affect blood cholesterol:

• A diet high in saturated fat or cholesterol-rich foods.
• Being overweight.
• Not getting enough exercise.
• Getting older, and being a postmenopausal female.
• A family history of high cholesterol.

Health Headlines - June 24

FDA Warns About Salmonella-Tainted Pistachios

Consumers should not to eat certain brands of pistachio nuts because they may be contaminated with salmonella, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.

The California Prime Produce- and Orange County Orchards-brand pistachios were distributed to retail locations in airports and hotels across the United States. The pistachios are in clear 6-ounce flexible plastic Ziploc bags, with "Sell By Dates" of "7/30/09" and "8/30/09," United Press International reported.

Orca Distribution West Inc. of Anaheim, Calif., received and repackaged pistachios recalled by Setton Pistachios of Terra Bella Inc., which has recalled all of its pistachios because of possible salmonella contamination, the FDA said.

More than 660 products are affected by the Setton recall, UPI reported. The FDA has a complete list of products at www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/pistachiorecall/index.cfm.

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Americans Now Have Higher Out-of-Pocket Costs: Report

Out-of-pocket costs (including premiums) for American workers with employer-based health insurance increased 30 percent between 2001 and 2006, from an average of $2,827 to $3,744, according to a federal government report released Tuesday.

When premiums weren't included, the average cost increased from $1,260 to $1,522, according to Hidden Costs of Health Care: Why Americans Are Paying More but Getting Less.

The report also says that employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, a rate three times higher than wage increases. In 2008, the average premium for an employer-based family plan was $12,680. That's nearly as much as the annual wage of a person working a full-time minimum wage job, the report said.

In 2004, about 20 percent of Americans with employer-based health insurance had a co-payment of more than $25, but that increased to one-third by 2008, according to the report.

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Nutrient May Protect Babies' Brains From Alcohol

Scientists plan to study whether a prenatal nutrient can protect the brains of babies whose mothers drink during pregnancy.

The study of pregnant women in Ukraine will examine the effects of choline, which is found in foods such as liver and eggs, the Associated Press reported.

The researchers are recruiting women who admit they drink while pregnant. The women would be counseled to stop drinking and then randomly selected to take either a standard vitamin supplement every day, or that vitamin plus 750 milligrams of choline. Currently, pregnant women are advised to get 450 milligrams per day of choline from food.

So far, about 120 of the planned 600 participants have been enrolled in the study. Preliminary results may be available within a year, the AP reported.

This is just one of a number of efforts to find ways to protect the brains of babies whose mothers drink while pregnant, including treatment with thyroid hormones and zinc.

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U.S. Study Will Target Vitamin D, Fish Oil

The effectiveness of two popular dietary supplements, vitamin D and fish oil, will be put to the test in a large, five-year U.S. government-sponsored study, the Associated Press reported.

The study is designed to determine whether either supplement reduces the risk of developing heart disease, cancer or stroke, as proponents claim.

One quarter of the participants will be black, the AP said, noting that dark-skinned people can't produce much vitamin D from sunlight. Some experts believe this is why blacks suffer higher rates of stroke, heart disease and cancer than whites.

Fish oil, or omega-3 fatty acid, is widely touted for improving heart health, but previous studies haven't established its safety or benefits.

Noting that other supplements, such as vitamins E and C, have fared poorly in recent tests, a study leader advised restraint. "We should be cautious before jumping on the bandwagon to take mega-doses of these supplements," said Dr. JoAnn Manson, who will co-lead the study with Dr. Julie Buring of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, according to the AP.

Set to start later this year, the new study will include 20,000 older adults who will be assigned to take vitamin D, fish oil, both supplements or placebo pills, the AP said.

Health Tips for June 24

Health Tip: Preparing Your Child for a Medical Test

Medical procedures and tests can be frightening for both parents and children, so it's important that you're both prepared and calm.

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

• Give your child a detailed, simple and clear explanation of what is going to happen.
• Be specific about which part of the body will be affected, and how it might feel.
• Allow your child to react -- even if it includes anger, screaming or crying -- but encourage communication about what he or she is feeling.
• Have your child practice the position that will be required -- such as lying down, stretching out an arm, or curling up on one side.
• Talk about why the test or procedure is necessary and how it will help your child.
• Let your child make decisions whenever possible, such as the color of the bandage that may be applied.

Health Tip: Eating Out With a Diabetic Child

It's easy to monitor what your diabetic child eats at home when you're the one preparing the meals. But it gets trickier when the family eats at a restaurant.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions for dining out with a diabetic child:

• Ask questions about what's in a particular menu item, and how it's cooked.
• Ask for healthier substitutions. For example, swap out fries for a salad or vegetable.
• Look for dishes that are grilled, steamed, broiled or baked instead of fried.
• Skip high-fat salad dressings, sauces and gravies.
• Split a large dish with your child to limit portion size, or box up half and take it home.
• Teach your child how to make healthy decisions by involving the child in the ordering process.

Health Headlines - June 23

U.S. Study Will Target Vitamin D, Fish Oil

The effectiveness of two popular dietary supplements, vitamin D and fish oil, will be put to the test in a large, five-year U.S. government-sponsored study, the Associated Press reported.

The study is designed to determine whether either supplement reduces the risk of developing heart disease, cancer or stroke, as proponents claim.

One quarter of the participants will be black, the AP said, noting that dark-skinned people can't produce much vitamin D from sunlight. Some experts believe this is why blacks suffer higher rates of stroke, heart disease and cancer than whites.

Fish oil, or omega-3 fatty acid, is widely touted for improving heart health, but previous studies haven't established its safety or benefits.

Noting that other supplements, such as vitamins E and C, have fared poorly in recent tests, a study leader advised restraint. "We should be cautious before jumping on the bandwagon to take mega-doses of these supplements," said Dr. JoAnn Manson, who will co-lead the study with Dr. Julie Buring of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, according to the AP.

Set to start later this year, the new study will include 20,000 older adults who will be assigned to take vitamin D, fish oil, both supplements or placebo pills, the AP said

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Drug Makers To Help Close Gap In Medicare Drug Coverage

U.S. drug makers promise to spend $80 billion over the next decade to help close the so-called "doughnut hole" in Medicare's drug coverage, the White House announced Monday.

Under the deal, drug companies will pay part of the cost of prescription drugs for lower- and middle-income Medicare recipients, the Associated Press reported. Currently, beneficiaries have to pay the full cost of prescriptions after their initial coverage ends but before they qualify for catastrophic coverage.

The pact should lead to at least a 50 percent discount on prescription drugs for some Medicare recipients, according to the president.

"This is a significant breakthrough on the road to health-care reform, one that will make a difference in the lives of many older Americans," Obama said, the AP reported.

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Swine Flu Infections, Deaths Surge In Recent Days

The United States leads countries that have seen a dramatic increase in the number of swine flu cases since Friday, the World Health Organization said Monday.

Since Friday, 7,873 more people worldwide were reported infected with the H1N1 virus and 51 more deaths were noted, for a total of more than 52,000 people infected and 231 dead in the pandemic, Agence France Presse reported.

The United States has reported 3,594 new cases since Friday, for a total of 21,449 with 87 deaths, the WHO said. Mexico was stable (7,600 cases and 113 deaths), while there were 805 new cases in Canada (5,710 cases and 13 deaths).

Figures that have yet to be incorporated into the WHO's official statistics may drive the worldwide number of infections and deaths even higher. The disease has now been reported in 100 countries and territories, AFP reported.

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VA Center Botched Prostate Cancer Treatments: Report

In the latest blow to the image of Veterans Affairs medical facilities, it's been revealed that 92 veterans with prostate cancer received incorrect radiation doses at the VA Medical Center in Philadelphia.

The New York Times reported that a procedure in which radioactive seeds are implanted to kill cancer cells (brachytherapy) was done incorrectly in 92 of 116 procedures over six years. The medical team involved kept performing the procedure for a year even though medical monitoring equipment wasn't working.

Of the 92 cases, 57 involved implants that delivered too little radiation to the prostate and 35 had excessive levels of radiation that affected nearby tissue and organs, according to a Nuclear Regulatory Commission report published in the Federal Register this month, the Associated Press reported.

All the affected patients received follow-up care, including eight who got additional radioactive seed implants at a Seattle VA Center, said Dale Warman of the Philadelphia VA Medical Center.

Health Tips for June 23

Health Tip: Why is the Room Spinning?

Dizziness typically isn't a serious problem. Most of the time, dizziness resolves itself or the underlying cause can be treated fairly easily.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these common reasons for dizziness:

• Standing up too quickly.
• The flu.
• The common cold.
• Allergies.
• Low blood sugar.
• Vertigo.
• Problems with the inner ear, such as Meniere's disease or labyrinthitis.
• Irregular heart rhythm, stroke, brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, or significant drop in blood pressure. These less common but more serious causes require evaluation and treatment.

Health Tip: Dizziness During Pregnancy

Many women feel dizzy during pregnancy, a condition caused by hormones that help increase blood flow to the baby, but may restrict blood flow to you.

The American Pregnancy Association offers these suggestions to help relieve dizziness during pregnancy:

• Try not to stand up for long periods. When you do have to stand, move your feet frequently to help maintain your circulation.
• When you start to stand up, do so slowly.
• Keep a cool body temperature. Avoid very hot baths or showers.
• Don't go too long without eating.
• Make sure clothing is loose and not so tight that it can reduce blood circulation.
• Ask your doctor about other factors that could cause dizziness. In some women, lying on their back may impede blood flow as the weight of the fetus presses on certain blood vessels.

Health Headlines - June 22

Calif regulators find pot smoke causes cancer

Marijuana smoke has joined tobacco smoke and hundreds of other chemicals on a list of substances California regulators say cause cancer.

The ruling Friday by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment likely will force pot shops with 10 or more employees to post warnings. Final guidelines are expected by the time warning requirements take effect in a year.

The listing only applies to marijuana smoke, not the plant itself.

Spokesman Sam Delson says the state agency found marijuana smoke contains 33 of the same harmful chemicals as tobacco smoke.

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UN: World hunger reaches 1 billion mark

The global financial meltdown has pushed the ranks of the world's hungry to a record 1 billion, a grim milestone that poses a threat to peace and security, U.N. food officials said.

Because of war, drought, political instability, high food prices and poverty, hunger now affects one in six people, by the United Nations' estimate.

The financial meltdown has compounded the crisis in what the head of the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization called a "devastating combination for the world's most vulnerable."

Compared with last year, there are 100 million more people who are hungry, meaning they consume fewer than 1,800 calories a day, the agency said.

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AP: Conn. officials were warned about attack chimp

Connecticut officials were repeatedly warned about the dangers posed by a chimpanzee who later mauled and blinded a woman and were urged — more than three years before the attack — to take action, but failed to do so, according to records obtained by The Associated Press.

The 200-pound chimpanzee named Travis attacked Charla Nash of Stamford in February, ripping off her hands, nose, lips and eyelids. She has been hospitalized for months at the Cleveland Clinic, where her condition late last week was listed as stable.

The state's response could affect a high-stakes lawsuit the victim's family filed against the chimp's owner, Sandra Herold of Stamford, seeking $50 million in damages. Attorneys are weighing whether to sue others as well, but declined to comment further.

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US swine flu cases now exceed 21,000; 87 deaths

The national count of swine flu cases has risen to 21,449 cases and the number of deaths have nearly doubled to 87.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the number of confirmed and probable cases Monday morning. The tally is up from the last week's count of 18,000 cases and 44 deaths.

Wisconsin, Illinois and Texas have had the most reported illnesses, and the Illinois count rose more than 500 since the last report. But CDC officials say much of the most recent flu activity has been in the Northeast. A quarter of the new deaths were in New York.

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Nestle recalls all refrigerated Toll House dough

Federal authorities are investigating a new national outbreak of a bacteria-triggered illness, this time related to a sweet treat treasured by the heartbroken and children-at-heart — packaged raw cookie dough.

The federal Centers for Disease Control said its preliminary investigation shows "a strong association" between eating raw refrigerated cookie dough made by Nestle and the illnesses of 65 people in 29 states whose lab results have turned up E. coli bacteria since March.

About 25 of those people have been hospitalized, but no one has died. E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure.

Nestle USA voluntarily recalled all of its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised consumers to throw away any Nestle Toll House cookie dough products in their homes and asked retailers, restaurateurs and other food service operations not to sell or serve any of the recalled products.

Customers also can return any recalled product where they bought it for a full refund. The recall does not affect other Toll House products, including ice cream that contains raw Toll House dough.

Health Tips for June 22

Health Tip: False Labor or Real Labor?

Many women mistake the irregular contractions of the uterus that constitute "false labor" as the real deal.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers this comparison of real labor versus false labor:

• Real labor contractions last about 30 seconds to 70 seconds, and get closer together over time. False labor pains are inconsistent, and don't occur more frequently as they continue.
• Pains and contractions that continue even when you move around or change positions are a sign of real labor. Pains that are relieved by movement, rest, or changing positions are signs of false labor.
• Labor pains are strong and get increasingly stronger as they continue. False labor pains may become weaker over time or stay the same intensity.
• While false labor pains are in the front of the belly, real labor pains often start in the lower back and move to the front.

Health Tip: Be More Comfortable During Childbirth

Few women would say childbirth is easy. The amount and type of pain depends on the woman herself, her baby's size and its position, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says.

The college offers these general suggestions for how to stay more comfortable during childbirth:

• Well before the birth, take childbirth classes that will teach you breathing techniques and relaxation methods to use in the delivery room.
• Ask your partner to apply pressure and massage your lower back. Tennis balls or your partner's hands will do fine.
• Apply an ice pack to your lower back.
• Change positions as often as is necessary to get more comfortable.
• Ask your doctor or nurse if you can take a shower.
• Use a damp, cool washcloth to wipe down your body if you get too hot.

Obama asks men to be better fathers than their own

WASHINGTON – Barack Obama got a basketball, his first name and ambition from his father. Little else.

The son gave back more than he received: a lifetime of ruminations about the man who abandoned the family, a memoir named "Dreams from My Father," and endless reflections on his own successes and shortcomings as a parent of Sasha, 8, and Malia, 10.

As a candidate and now president, he's been telling men what sort of father they should be. It's become his Father's Day ritual.

He's asking American men to be better fathers than his own.

The president showcased fatherhood in a series of events and a magazine article in advance of Father's Day this Sunday. He said he came to understand the importance of fatherhood from its absence in his childhood homes — just as an estimated 24 million Americans today are growing up without a dad.

Fathers run deep in the political culture as they do everywhere else, for better and worse. Michelle Obama has said many times how her late dad, Fraser, is her reference point and rock — she checks in with him, in her mind, routinely, and at important moments.

Obama's presidential rival, John McCain, called his own memoirs "Faith of My Fathers," tracing generations of high-achieving scamps. The father-son presidencies of the George Bushes were bookends on Bill Clinton, whose father drowned in a ditch before the future president was born and whose stepfather was an abusive alcoholic nicknamed Dude.

A Kenyan goatherder-turned-intellectual who clawed his way to scholarships and Harvard, Barack Hussein Obama Sr. left a family behind to get his schooling in the United States. He started another family here, then left his second wife and 2-year-old Barack Jr. to return to Africa with another woman.

His promise flamed out in Africa after stints working for an oil company and the government; he fell into drink and died in a car crash when his son was 21, a student at Columbia University.

"I don't want to be the kind of father I had," the president is quoted as telling a friend in a new book about him.

And in an interview Friday with CBS News, Obama said: "It was only later in life that I found out that he actually led a very tragic life. And in that sense, it was the myth that I was chasing as opposed to knowing who he really was."

His half-sister, Maya, called his memoirs "part of the process of excavating his father."

Obama now cajoles men to be better fathers — not the kind who must be unearthed in the soul.

His finger-wagging is most pointed when addressing other black men, reflecting years of worry about the fabric of black families and single mothers, but it applies to everyone.

Father's Day 2007: "Let's admit to ourselves that there are a lot of men out there that need to stop acting like boys; who need to realize that responsibility does not end at conception; who need to know that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child but the courage to raise a child."

Father's Day 2008: "Any fool can have a child. That doesn't make you a father. It's the courage to raise a child that makes you a father."

Father's Day 2009: "We need to step out of our own heads and tune in. We need to turn off the television and start talking with our kids, and listening to them, and understanding what's going on in their lives."

He doesn't hold himself out as the ideal dad. No driven politician can.

"I know I have been an imperfect father," he writes in Sunday's Parade magazine. "I know I have made mistakes. I have lost count of all the times, over the years, when the demands of work have taken me from the duties of fatherhood."

He volunteered for those demands, as all people do when they want power. His years as a community organizer, Illinois lawmaker, U.S. senator and presidential candidate often kept him apart from family.

At the same time, he went to great lengths in the 2008 campaign to find time with his girls and wife, and now considers the routine family time one of the joys of living and working in the White House.

The new book "Renegade" by Richard Wolffe recounts strains in the marriage early this decade, arising from his absences and from what Michelle Obama apparently considered his selfish careerism at the time. The author interviewed the Obamas, friends and associates.

Obama himself attributed his "fierce ambitions" to his dad while crediting his mother — a loving but frequently absent figure — with giving him the means to pursue them.

"Someone once said that every man is trying to either live up to his father's expectations or make up for his father's mistakes," he once wrote, "and I suppose that may explain my particular malady as well as anything else." By malady, he meant the will to achieve.

Obama was a schoolboy in Hawaii when his father came back to visit. He gave his dad a tie. His father gave him a basketball and African figurines and came to his class to speak about Kenya. He was an impressive, mysterious figure whom Obama found compelling, volatile and vaguely threatening.

The visit took a sour turn when Obama went to watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and his father made him shut off the TV, saying he watched too much. Obama slammed the bedroom door; a loud argument ensued among grown-ups.

Not the quality time Obama has in mind in asking dads to turn off the TV now.

Health Headlines - June 21

Nestle recalls all refrigerated Toll House dough

Federal authorities are investigating a new national outbreak of a bacteria-triggered illness, this time related to a sweet treat treasured by the heartbroken and children-at-heart — packaged raw cookie dough.

The federal Centers for Disease Control said its preliminary investigation shows "a strong association" between eating raw refrigerated cookie dough made by Nestle and the illnesses of 65 people in 29 states whose lab results have turned up E. coli bacteria since March.

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Emerging $80B deal would help fund Medicare drugs

Medicare beneficiaries would receive better drug coverage and a portion of President Barack Obama's health care legislation would be paid for under an emerging agreement involving the pharmaceutical industry, the White House and key lawmakers.

Several officials said Friday night that agreement on the $80 billion deal was close, and one said it had been sealed.

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Green tea could delay prostate cancer: U.S. study

Active compounds in green tea may slow down the progression of prostate cancer, researchers reported on Friday.

Capsules made using green tea extracts called polyphenols lowered levels of proteins that tumors use to grow, the researchers found.

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AMA objects to calling obesity a disability

The American Medical Association has taken action to support doctors' ability to discuss obesity with their overweight patients.

Under a new policy adopted Tuesday, the AMA formally opposes efforts by advocacy groups to define obesity as a disability.

Doctors fear using that definition makes them vulnerable under disability laws to lawsuits from obese patients who don't want their doctors to discuss their weight.

Health Tips for June 21

Health Tip: Life After a Heart Attack

Life usually doesn't return to the way it was before a heart attack. You'll probably need to make changes to your daily way of life, including taking new medication.

The American Heart Association offers this advice for people who are resuming life just after a heart attack:

• Establish a good balance between rest time, exercise and social time. Take a nap when you feel tired, but interact with friends and family again as soon as you can.
• Give yourself sufficient time before you return to work. Speak with your doctor about an appropriate amount of time. It can take three months to recover for someone who has had a significant heart attack, or as little as two weeks for someone who's had a less severe one.
• Feeling depressed after a heart attack is very common. Seek help from your doctor, friends, family or a counselor and talk about your emotions.
• Understand that your heart attack has impacted your family, too. Since loved ones will be dealing with their own emotions, consider counseling for the whole family.
• Talk to your doctor about any chest pain or other symptoms that you experience after your heart attack. Chest pain doesn't necessarily mean another attack, but it must be checked out.
• Your doctor probably will recommend cardiac rehabilitation and lifestyle changes, to include a healthier diet, exercise and cutting out alcohol and tobacco.

Health Tip: Taking a Daily Aspirin

A daily low-dose aspirin can help reduce the risk of heart attack in people with higher-risk conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

While aspirin is generally safe, there are some people who shouldn't take it, since the drug can irritate the stomach lining.

The American Diabetes Association says the following people should talk to their doctor before beginning daily aspirin therapy:

• People younger than age 21.
• People who bleed often or easily.
• People who are allergic to aspirin.
• People who have had recent bleeding in the digestive tract.
• People with current liver disease.

Nestle recalls all refrigerated Toll House dough

NEW YORK – Federal authorities are investigating a new national outbreak of a bacteria-triggered illness, this time related to a sweet treat treasured by the heartbroken and children-at-heart — packaged raw cookie dough.

The federal Centers for Disease Control said its preliminary investigation shows "a strong association" between eating raw refrigerated cookie dough made by Nestle and the illnesses of 65 people in 29 states whose lab results have turned up E. coli bacteria since March.

About 25 of those people have been hospitalized, but no one has died. E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure.

Nestle USA voluntarily recalled all of its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised consumers to throw away any Nestle Toll House cookie dough products in their homes and asked retailers, restaurateurs and other foodservice operations not to sell or serve any of the recalled products.

Customers also can return any recalled product where they bought it for a full refund. The recall does not affect other Toll House products, including ice cream that contains raw Toll House dough.

FDA spokesman Michael Herndon said officials were confident that Nestle refrigerated dough products caused the outbreak.

"This has been a very quickly moving situation," said Roz O'Hearn, spokeswoman for Nestle's baking division, adding the company took action within 24 hours of learning of the problem.

Spokeswoman Laurie MacDonald for Nestle USA in Glendale, Calif., a unit of Switzerland-based Nestle SA, said the company has temporarily stopped making the refrigerated dough products while the FDA investigates the Danville, Va., factory where all the recalled items are made.

"We hope to resume production as soon as possible," she said.

There are about 550 employees at the facility, just across the border with North Carolina, about half making Toll House products. Spokeswoman Roz O'Hearn said Friday the company doesn't know how many will be temporarily laid off, but it could be as many as 250.

Nestle holds a 41 percent share of the prepared cookie dough market.

The recall includes refrigerated cookie bar dough, cookie dough tubs, cookie dough tubes, limited edition cookie dough items, seasonal cookie dough and Ultimates cookie bar dough. Nestle said about 300,000 cases of Nestle Toll House cookie dough are affected by the recall, which covers chocolate chip dough, gingerbread, sugar, peanut butter dough and other varieties.

The FDA said consumers should not try to cook the dough, even though it would be safe to eat if cooked, because the bacteria could move to their hands and to countertops and other cooking surfaces.

Raw cookie dough is so popular that it has spawned more than 40 groups on Facebook, complete with postings that read like love notes.

Stacey Oyler, a 33-year-old San Francisco resident, called it her "secret indulgence" — a treat that became irresistible when she was pregnant with her second child last August. She said she still indulges occasionally.

"I love the combination of the salt and sweet," she said. "You can't get that from a piece of chocolate."

But no raw cookie is necessarily safe. The eggs in Nestle Toll House's dough are pasteurized, which eliminates most of the risk of salmonella infection from raw eggs. But other ingredients could contain pathogens or bacteria, and the company warns in product labels not to eat the dough raw.

Several recent food recalls have been related to bacterial contamination, including a salmonella outbreak last winter traced to a peanut company that sickened more than 600 people and that was blamed for at least nine deaths. A separate outbreak of salmonella last year linked to jalapeno peppers from Mexico led 1,400 people to become ill.

Sarah Klein, staff attorney in the food safety group at consumer advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest, called the cookie dough news disheartening.

"Unfortunately, I don't think that people who have been working in food safety for years can be surprised at this point and sadly, I don't think the American people are surprised either," Klein said.

Health Headlines - June 20

Hunger Afflicts One-Sixth of World's People: U.N.

The global economic crisis and high food prices are major reasons why 1.02 billion people (one-sixth of the world's population) don't have enough to eat, says a United Nations' agency report released Friday. Most of those going hungry -- defined as consuming less than 1,800 calories a day -- are in developing nations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization said there are 100 million more people going hungry this year than in 2008, and that more aid and agricultural investment are needed to help people in poor countries get enough to eat, the Associated Press reported.

The largest number of hungry people (642 million) are in Asia and the Pacific region, while the highest rate of hunger (32 percent) is in sub-Saharan Africa.

"The silent hunger crisis, affecting one-sixth of all of humanity, poses a serious risk for world peace and security," said agency Director-General Jacques Diouf, the APreported.

To highlight the connection between hunger and peace, officials noted that rising prices for staples such as rice caused riots in the developing world last year, theAP reported.

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U.S. Gives $6 Billion in New Child Insurance Funding

The U.S. government will give $6 billion in new funding to states and territories to maintain existing Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment and expand their programs.

The new funds were made available by the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, which provides additional funding for CHIP programs.

Of the $6 billion in new funding, more than $1 billion has been released and the remainder is expected to be allocated by the end of September.

"Through CHIPRA, states and territories will receive additional funds to provide health insurance to 11 million children, including 4 million who were previously uninsured. Parents now have more help if their children fall ill," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a news release.

CHIP provides health insurance for children in working families whose incomes are too low for either employer-sponsored family plans or private plans, but too high for traditional Medicare.

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Undiagnosed Condition Increases Women's Osteoporosis Risk

A delay in diagnosing a menopause-like condition called primary ovarian insufficiency in young women increases their risk of low bone density and osteoporosis later in life, says a U.S. National Institutes of Health study.

The condition occurs in girls and women younger than 40 when their ovaries stop working normally and no longer release eggs or produce estrogen. The main symptom -- irregular or stopped menstrual periods -- is often disregarded by women and their doctors, the study authors said.

"For years, primary ovarian insufficiency has been known to put women at risk of low bone density," Dr. Duane Alexander, director of NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, said in a news release. "The new study helps explain why some women with the condition are more likely to develop low bone density. It also provides strong evidence that by diagnosing the condition early, replacing deficient estrogen, and getting adequate calcium and vitamin D, these women can protect their bones from weakness and fractures."

The study was published online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

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Bayer Threatened With Lawsuit Over Men's Vitamin Claims

A U.S. consumer advocacy group says that Bayer Healthcare must stop claiming that its One-A-Day vitamins for men reduce the risk of prostate cancer or face legal action.

There's no evidence to support claims in TV and radio ads that selenium, an ingredient in One-A-Day Men's Health Formula and 50+ Advantage, helps prevent cancer, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Associated Press reported.

"The largest prostate cancer prevention trial has found that selenium is no more effective than a placebo," the center's senior nutritionist, David Schardt, said Thursday. "Bayer is ripping people off when it suggests otherwise in these dishonest ads."

But the company said the claims on its vitamins have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"We stand behind all claims made in support of our products," Bayer spokeswoman Trisch McKernan told the AP.

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Trainers Urge Halt to Two-a-Day Football Practices in August

High school football teams should stop holding two practices a day during the first week of August to prevent heat-related illnesses or death, says a new report from the National Association of Athletic Trainers.

Strenuous two-a-day drills are an annual tradition for thousands of high school football teams across the United States, the Associated Press reported.

But the trainers' report says the cutback the group is recommending would match what's being done at the college level. It made special mention of a 15-year-old football player in Kentucky who collapsed during practice last August and later died. His coach was charged with reckless homicide.

Since 1995, at least 39 football players of all ages have died from heat-related causes, and most of the incidents occurred in August, according to the National Center for Catastrophic Injury Research, the AP reported.

Health Tips for June 20

Health Tip: What's an APGAR Test?

As soon as your baby is delivered at a hospital or other medical facility, it's commonly whisked away to be evaluated by the waiting team of professionals.

The medical team probably is giving your baby what's known as an APGAR test to check how well baby handled birth, and how the infant is adjusting to life outside the womb. It's given at one minute after birth, and a second time five minutes after birth. The score ranges from 1 to 10, 10 being healthiest.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says the test evaluates:

Breathing effort
Heart rate
Muscle tone
Reflexes
Skin color
A score of less than five indicates that baby needs help adjusting to the new environment.

Health Headlines - June 19

Food Safety Bill Clears House Committee

Legislation to increase the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's funding and powers to regulate food safety was approved Wednesday by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Under the bill, the agency would be given the authority to order food recalls, impose new civil penalties and make food companies adhere to food safety standards. In addition, the bill would oblige the FDA to inspect high-risk food facilities at least once a year and would require food makers to keep detailed records to enable quicker tracking of tainted foods, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Funding for the measure would come from an annual $500 registration fee paid by about 378,000 domestic and foreign food facilities. Farms that raise meat and poultry and other facilities regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture would be exempt.

A House vote on the legislation has not been scheduled. A food safety bill has been introduced in the Senate, but it's not clear when lawmakers will begin discussing it, the Wall Street Journal reported.

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Employers, Employees Face Health Insurance Increases: Report

A new report suggests that businesses that provide health insurance coverage for employees may have to deal with a 9 percent cost increase in 2010 and their workers may have to cope with an even larger increase.

The consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers said one reason for the rise in costs is because employees concerned about losing their jobs are using their health insurance while it's still available to them, the Associated Press reported. Another factor is increasing medical costs due to rising unemployment.

For its report, PWC surveyed more than 500 employers and health insurers and found that 42 percent of employers would respond to cost increases by passing some of the burden to workers through higher premiums, deductibles or co-payments.

Next year's costs won't be affected by health-care reform legislation currently being debated by lawmakers, said PWC Principal Michael Thompson. However, intense scrutiny of health-care costs may slow price increases, he suggested.

"Nobody wants to be front page news when all the lights are shining on your industry," he told the AP.

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Hillary Clinton Breaks Elbow in Fall

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton suffered a broken elbow when she fell on her way to the White House on Wednesday.

A statement released by her chief of staff said Clinton was treated at The George Washington University Hospital and then sent home. She's scheduled to have surgery to repair her elbow in the coming week, the Associated Press reported.

"Secretary Clinton appreciates the professionalism and kindness she received from the medical team who treated her this evening and looks forward to resuming her full schedule soon," Chief of Staff Cheryl Mills said in the statement.

Clinton had planned to attend an event Thursday morning to mark World Refugee Day, but that appearance has been removed from her public schedule, the AP reported.

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Asbestos Contamination Prompts Health Emergency in Montana Town

A public health emergency has been declared in a Montana town where more than 200 deaths and thousands of illnesses have been linked to asbestos contamination, the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday.

The agency will spend more than $130 million in Libby, Mont., to conduct an extensive, home-by-home cleanup and to provide medical care for people with asbestos-related illnesses. However, the town's 2,600 residents won't be evacuated, the Associated Press reported.

The asbestos contamination is from a vermiculite mine that closed in 1990. Before the closure, mine workers carried asbestos home on their clothes. Previously, some residents in Libby used vermiculite as mulch in their home gardens, and vermiculite covered school running tracks in the town, the news service reported.

The federal government and Maryland-based W.R. Grace & Co. have already spent hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up Libby, the AP reported.

Health Tips for June 19

Health Tip: Help Prevent Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome occurs when being overweight or obese -- combined with other risk factors -- increase a person's chances of developing heart disease and diabetes.

These risk factors include abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and a poor ratio of good-to-bad cholesterol.

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute suggests how you can help prevent metabolic syndrome:

• Maintain a healthy body-mass index (BMI) of less than 25.
• Keep your waistline at a healthy size. Less than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men is ideal.
• Maintain a healthy body weight. Talk to your doctor about the best weight for you.
• Stick to a low-calorie, low-cholesterol and low-fat eating plan.
• Get regular exercise. In general, 60 minutes worth, five-to-seven days per week, is recommended for most people.
• Visit your doctor regularly, and frequently test your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

Health Tip: Understanding Various Types of Insulin

If you or a loved one has diabetes, you know that insulin is a lifeline to better health. But not all types of insulin are the same.

The American Diabetes Association offers this information about insulin's different forms:

• "Rapid-acting" insulin, often called Humalog or lispro, begins to work right away after injection and is most effective after about an hour. It's usually taken just before mealtime.
• "Regular," or short-acting insulin, may be taken 30 minutes to 45 minutes before meals, but it takes longer to work, and keeps working longer.
• "Intermediate-acting" insulin, often called NPH or Lente, is combined with another substance that helps it work more slowly. This type of insulin can last as long as 18 hours.
• "Long-acting" insulin, dubbed Ultralente, is commonly taken early in the morning or at bedtime, and can last for up to 20 hours.
• "Very long-acting insulin," or glargine, begins working about an hour after it's injected and can remain consistently effective for about 24 hours.

Health Headlines - June 18

Chopping Before Cooking Cuts Carrot's Cancer-Fighting Power

Carrots retain more of an anti-cancer compound if they're not cut up before they're cooked, say British researchers.

Carrots that were chopped up before they were boiled contained 25 percent less of the anti-cancer compound falcarinol than carrots that were boiled whole, BBC News reported.

The findings will be presented at a nutrition conference in France.

"Chopping up your carrots increases the surface area so more of the nutrients leach out into the water while they are cooked," explained lead researcher Kirsten Brandt, of Newcastle University's School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.

"By keeping them whole and chopping them up afterwards you are locking in nutrients and the taste, so the carrot is better for you all round," Brandt said, BBC News reported.

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AMA Opposes Labeling Obesity a Disability

The American Medical Association decided Tuesday to formally oppose attempts to define obesity as a disability.

The adoption of the new policy is meant to help doctors who want to discuss obesity with their overweight patients, the Associated Press reported. If obesity is defined as a disability, it's feared that doctors may be vulnerable under disability laws to lawsuits from obese patients who don't want to hear about their weight from doctors.

The new policy was passed at the AMA's annual meeting in Chicago.

Also on Tuesday, the group voted to lobby for legislation to ban pharmacies from selling tobacco products, the AP said.

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FDA Experts Recommend Gout Drug's Approval

An expert panel advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted 14-1 on Tuesday to recommend that the full agency approve the Savient Pharmaceuticals drug Krystexxa (pegloticase), Dow Jones reported.

Last week, the FDA released documents saying that although the drug appeared to relieve the painful, swollen joints that characterize gout, it was concerned about the higher rate of cardiovascular side effects that surfaced during clinical testing.

About 24 percent of clinical trial participants who took Krystexxa had a serious adverse effect, compared with 12 percent of those who took a non-medicinal placebo. Six deaths were reported among those who took the drug, versus three deaths among those who didn't. But the FDA "noted that many of them had pre-existing heart conditions," the Associated Press reported.

The FDA has been reviewing the approval application from the drug's maker since December, the AP said.

Gout, which affects an estimated 8 million Americans, is caused by the buildup of too much uric acid in the body.

The full agency is not bound by the recommendations of its expert panels but usually follows them. The FDA's decision is expected by the end of July.

Health Tips for June 18

Health Tip: Some Medications Can Help Trigger Heat-Related Illness

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke occur when the body becomes overheated and can't cool itself back down.

Some medications may increase your risk of heat-related illness. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this list:

• Antihistamines to prevent allergy symptoms.
• Some medications to manage cough and cold symptoms.
• Some heart and blood pressure medications.
• Amphetamine diet pills.
• Irritable bowel and irritable bladder medicines.
• Laxatives.
• Water pills.
• Thyroid medications.
• Anti-seizure medications.
• Some medications used to manage mental health conditions.

Health Tip: Beat by the Summer Heat

Soaring temperatures and high humidity can lead to heat-related ills, including heat stroke.

Some people are at greater risk, the U.S. National Safety Council says. They include:

• Babies and young children, the elderly, and pets.
• People who have a chronic illness, including heart problems and circulatory conditions.
• People who must work outdoors in the sun.
• Athletes who practice or play outdoors, or people who are just starting an outdoor exercise program.
• People who abuse drugs and alcohol.
• Anyone taking medications that affect sweat production.

Health Headlines - June 17

FDA Experts Recommend Gout Drug's Approval

An expert panel advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted 14-1 on Tuesday to recommend that the full agency approve the Savient Pharmaceuticals drug Krystexxa (pegloticase), Dow Jones reported.

Last week, the FDA released documents saying that although the drug appeared to relieve the painful, swollen joints that characterize gout, it was concerned about the higher rate of cardiovascular side effects that surfaced during clinical testing.

About 24 percent of clinical trial participants who took Krystexxa had a serious adverse effect, compared with 12 percent of those who took a non-medicinal placebo. Six deaths were reported among those who took the drug, versus three deaths among those who didn't. But the FDA "noted that many of them had pre-existing heart conditions," the Associated Press reported.

The FDA has been reviewing the approval application from the drug's maker since December, the AP said.

Gout, which affects an estimated 8 million Americans, is caused by the buildup of too much uric acid in the body.

The full agency is not bound by the recommendations of its expert panels but usually follows them. The FDA's decision is expected by the end of July.

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No Proof Anti-Aging Hormones Effective: AMA

There's no scientific proof that anti-aging hormones are effective, says the American Medical Association, which on Monday adopted a new policy on purported aging remedies.

For example, the AMA says, evidence indicates that long-term use of human growth hormone (HGH) to deal with aging-related issues might carry more risks, such as diabetes and tissue swelling, than benefits, the Associated Press reported.

The AMA says there's also no proof that hormones called bio-identicals are safer than traditional estrogen and progesterone products in treating menopause symptoms.

Those who promote the use of anti-aging hormones, the AMA says, need rigorous studies to support their claims, according to the AP report.

The new policy on products such as HGH, DHEA and testosterone was adopted at the group's annual meeting in Chicago.

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FDA Targets Bogus Treatments for H1N1 Swine Flu

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has sent more than 50 warning letters to Web sites selling illegal products that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure the H1N1 swine flu virus. As a result, more than 66 percent of the Web sites have removed the offending claims or products, the agency said.

The unapproved, uncleared or unauthorized products targeted by the FDA include:

• An electronic instrument that claimed to strengthen the immune system and prevent H1N1 virus-related symptoms.
• A shampoo that claimed to protect against the virus.
• A supplement that claimed to cure H1N1 infection within 4 to 8 hours.
• A dietary supplement that claimed to protect infants and children from contracting the H1N1 flu virus.

"Unapproved, uncleared or unauthorized products that claim to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat or cure the 2009 H1N1 flu are illegal and a potentially significant threat to the public health," the FDA said in a news release.

In addition to the warning letters, the agency identified the offending Web sites and products on the FDA Web site.

The agency "will consider further civil or criminal enforcement action against those Web sites that fail to resolve the violations cited in warning letters," the FDA said. "Actions could include seizure, injunction and criminal prosecution."

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Experts Challenge Benefits of Moderate Alcohol Consumption

Some experts are questioning the common belief that moderate alcohol consumption contributes to good health, The New York Times reports.

Research has shown an association between moderate drinking and lower risk of death, but the skeptics point out that no study has ever proved a causal relationship between the two. They suggest that rather than making people healthy, moderate drinking is something typically done by healthy people.

"The moderate drinkers tend to do everything right -- they exercise, they don't smoke, they eat right and they drink moderately," Kaye Middleton Fillmore, a retired sociologist from the University of California, San Francisco, told the Times. "It's very hard to disentangle all of that, and that's a real problem."

"The bottom line is there has not been a single study done on moderate alcohol consumption and mortality outcomes that is a 'gold standard' kind of study -- the kind of randomized controlled clinical trial that we would be required to have in order to approve a new pharmaceutical agent in this country," Dr. Tim Naimi, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Times.

Critics also expressed concerns about academic centers that accept money from the alcohol beverage industry to pay for studies, train students and publicize their findings.