Health Headlines - September 30

Reebok Kicked by FTC for Sneaker Health Claims

So much for those claims that wearing Reebok EasyTone sneakers will give you better legs and buttocks. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has put its foot down on the marketing tactic and said Reebok could pay as much as $25 million in refunds for misleading customers.

"Consumers expected to get a workout, not to get worked over," said David Vladeck, director of the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection, according to The New York Times.

Introduced in 2009, the sneakers were advertised to strengthen and tone legs 11 percent better than walking shoes and shape a behind 28 percent better than regular footwear. But research backing up the advertising pitch was "wholly insufficient," Vladeck told the Times. He did not say whether makers of other toning shoes would be disciplined as well.

Consumers who bought EasyTone shoes, which typically cost $100 or more, can apply for a refund at www.ftc.gov.

Reebok, a division of Adidas, agreed to the settlement but disputed the FTC allegations. "We stand by our EasyTone technology," a company spokesman told the Times in an email.

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Tyson Recalls Ground Beef After E. Coli Scare

Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. is recalling more than 130,000 pounds of ground beef because of possible contamination following a report that an Ohio family was sickened by E. coli bacteria after eating the meat.

The ground beef, sold primarily in Midwestern, Southern and Middle Atlantic states, was pre-packaged in tubes bearing a "best before" date of Sept. 12 and the number 245D, according to the Associated Press. The tainted beef, traced to a Tyson plant in Emporia, Kan., had a lean to fat ratio of 73/27.

A Tyson spokesman said consumers should check their freezers for any uneaten beef and throw away or return any that falls under the recall, which was announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday.

According to the AP, the recall includes Butcher's Beef beef sold at Food Lion supermarkets; Kroger-brand beef sold at Kroger Co. supermarkets; and generic-label beef for sale at Spectrum Foods, Supervalu SAV-A-LOT, and the Defense Commissary Agency.

The Butcher's Brand ground beef was distributed in North and South Carolina in 3-pound packages, and the Kroger ground beef was distributed in Tennessee and Indiana in 5-pound packages. The generic beef was packaged in 3-pound tubes and distributed in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin, the AP said.

Four children in Ohio's Butler County reportedly became ill the second week of September after eating beef bought at a Kroger supermarket. Health officials said no other cases have been reported in Butler County, the news service reported.

A list of retailers that received the beef will be posted on the USDA's website: www.fsis.usda.gov/FSISRecalls.

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Health-Care Reform Appeals Taken to Supreme Court

Twenty-six states have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court for a speedy ruling on "grave" constitutional concerns surrounding President Barack Obama's new health care law, the Associated Press reported.

Critics of the health care overhaul object to the provision that people must buy purchase insurance beginning in 2014 or pay a penalty.

The states' complaint also opposes expansion of the publicly funded Medicaid program and a mandate that states must pay penalties if they fail to provide their employees with a certain level of insurance coverage, the AP said.

The Federation of Independent Business also appealed to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, asking that it overturn the entire law, not just the requirement to buy health insurance -- a provision struck down by a federal appeals court in Atlanta.

Retired Justice John Paul Stevens told the AP on Wednesday that he thinks the justices should act quickly and not delay the case beyond next year's presidential election.

Health Tips for September 30

Health Tip: Understanding Sun Protection Factor

Sun protection factor (SPF) is a rating given to sunscreens to help gauge the amount of protection they provide against the sun's damaging UV rays.

An SPF of 15 means you'll have 15 times the amount of protection from the sun that you normally would without any sunscreen. That means spending 15 minutes in the sun with SPF 15 applied is the equivalent of spending roughly 1 minute in the sun without any sunscreen.

Sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher is recommended for anyone, especially children. Sunscreens that protect against both UVA and UVB rays offer the most benefit, the foundation says.

Health Tip: Dealing With Temper Tantrums

When some young children become frustrated, they throw temper tantrums.

To help a child learn to deal with his or her emotions in a healthier way, follow these suggestions:

• * Help your child express what he's feeling and why. Have a conversation with him, instead of an argument. Praise your child for talking calmly about what's making him angry.
• * Encourage your child to walk away from a situation when he is angry, and allow him to spend some time alone to calm down.
• * Give your child other methods of expressing his anger -- let him write or draw what he is feeling.
• * Have your child perform another activity that can help take his mind off of what's made him angry. Have him run around outside, dance around the bedroom, or do a few cartwheels.

Health Headlines - September 29

Health-Care Reform Appeals Taken to Supreme Court

Twenty-six states have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court for a speedy ruling on "grave" constitutional concerns surrounding President Barack Obama's new health care law, the Associated Press reported.

Critics of the health care overhaul object to the provision that people must buy purchase insurance beginning in 2014 or pay a penalty.

The states' complaint also opposes expansion of the publicly funded Medicaid program and a mandate that states must pay penalties if they fail to provide their employees with a certain level of insurance coverage, the AP said.

The Federation of Independent Business also appealed to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, asking that it overturn the entire law, not just the requirement to buy health insurance -- a provision struck down by a federal appeals court in Atlanta.

Retired Justice John Paul Stevens told the AP on Wednesday that he thinks the justices should act quickly and not delay the case beyond next year's presidential election.

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U.S. Lifts Restrictions on Imported Cantaloupes

Food-safety advocates are concerned about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's decision to lift import restrictions on cantaloupes from a Guatemala farm linked to a widespread U.S. salmonella outbreak last spring, The New York Times reported.

The melons -- which have no connection to the current outbreak of listeria tied to Colorado cantaloupes -- were imported by Del Monte Fresh Produce. A recall was announced last March. After import restrictions were enacted, the fruit importer filed a lawsuit against the FDA.

"We would certainly hope that F.D.A. has proof that the conditions that may have led to the outbreak have been cleaned up," said Caroline Smith DeWaal, director of food safety for the Center for Science in the Public Interest. De Waal told the Times that she knows of a previous case involving a recurrence of problems after the FDA lifted restrictions.

In an email announcement, the FDA said it was lifting the "import alert" on the basis of tests showing the cantaloupes were free of pathogens, and on an independent audit that found the growers were using sound practices.

Del Monte denied accusations that it was attempting to coerce the FDA into lifting the ban and said that the FDA's action showed mutual cooperation between the two parties, the newspaper said.

Before it ended in April, the 10-state salmonella outbreak sickened at least 20 people.

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Jewelry Industry Will Self-Regulate Toxin in Kids' Jewelry

U.S. jewelry manufacturers have voluntarily agreed to restrict levels of the toxic metal cadmium in children's necklaces, rings and other products, the Associated Press reported.

The heavy metal has been linked to cancer and other diseases, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which last year recalled some 300,000 pieces of costume jewelry because of high cadmium content, intends to use the voluntary limits to determine if and when product recalls are needed, the AP said.

The agency said voluntary standards, rather than mandatory rules, should be enough to regulate cadmium content in children's baubles. Most of the recalled trinkets were made in China.

The guideline "limits potential exposure to cadmium in children's jewelry in a manner that assures safety without resulting in bans on safe products," said Brent Cleaveland, who helped draft the regulations for ASTM International, a group that sets standards for various consumer goods. Cleaveland told the AP that the new limits, which may take effect in November, are "way more conservative than necessary."

Magnets, lead and other potential jewelry problems are also addressed in the new standard. Experts worry that if kids lick or bite trinkets bearing the metals that high levels might enter their bodies.

Under the new policy, 0.03 percent cadmium would be the content limit for jewelry intended for children 12 years and younger. Products that exceeded the limit in testing would be rejected or referred for additional examination.

Health Tips for September 29

Health Tip: Are Joint Supplements For You?

Glucosamine and chondroitin are substances that occur naturally in the body. Taken as supplements, they can help relieve arthritic joint pain.

Glucosamine is an amino sugar that's believed to help cartilage formation and repair, the Arthritis Foundation says. And chondroitin sulfate can help give cartilage elasticity.

But the supplements aren't recommended for everyone, the Arthritis Foundation says. Among those who should take great care or avoid them altogether:

• * Children, pregnant women, and women who may become pregnant.
• * Diabetics, who should be careful when taking these supplements, as the amino sugars can cause blood glucose levels to rise.
• * People who are taking blood-thinning medications, since these substances can trigger blood thinning.
• * People who are allergic to shellfish, from which these supplements often are extracted.

Health Tip: What Causes Nightmares?

Nightmares can cause poor sleep and anxiety, triggering health problems.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says the following factors can contribute to nightmares:

• * Eating just before bed, which can increase brain activity.
• * Any anxiety or stress.
• * Any major life event, including the death of a loved one.
• * Illness, including fever.
• * An adverse reaction, side effect or withdrawal from a drug.
• * Alcohol withdrawal, or excessive alcohol consumption.
• * Breathing disorders, including sleep apnea.
• * Sleep disorders, including narcolepsy.

Health Headlines - September 28

Jewelry Industry Will Self-Regulate Toxin in Kids' Jewelry

U.S. jewelry manufacturers have voluntarily agreed to restrict levels of the toxic metal cadmium in children's necklaces, rings and other products, the Associated Press reported.

The heavy metal has been linked to cancer and other diseases, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which last year recalled some 300,000 pieces of costume jewelry because of high cadmium content, intends to use the voluntary limits to determine if and when product recalls are needed, the AP said.

The agency said voluntary standards, rather than mandatory rules, should be enough to regulate cadmium content in children's baubles. Most of the recalled trinkets were made in China.

The guideline "limits potential exposure to cadmium in children's jewelry in a manner that assures safety without resulting in bans on safe products," said Brent Cleaveland, who helped draft the regulations for ASTM International, a group that sets standards for various consumer goods. Cleaveland told the AP that the new limits, which may take effect in November, are "way more conservative than necessary."

Magnets, lead and other potential jewelry problems are also addressed in the new standard. Experts worry that if kids lick or bite trinkets bearing the metals that high levels might enter their bodies.

Under the new policy, 0.03 percent cadmium would be the content limit for jewelry intended for children 12 years and younger. Products that exceeded the limit in testing would be rejected or referred for additional examination.

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Obese Now Outnumber Hungry Worldwide: Report

There are now more obese people than hungry people in the world, but a growing food crisis is increasing the hardship for those who don't have enough to eat, the International Federation of the Red Cross says.

In 2010, there were 1.5 billion obese people and 925 million undernourished people worldwide, the humanitarian group noted in its annual World Disasters Report released Thursday, Agence France-Presse reported.

The figures highlight the disparity between rich and poor, as well as problems caused by recent increases in food prices, according to the Geneva-based organization.

"If the free interplay of market forces has produced an outcome where 15 percent of humanity are hungry while 20 percent are overweight, something has gone wrong somewhere," IFRC secretary general Bekele Geleta said in a news release, AFP reported.

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U.S. Ranks Last in Preventable Deaths: Report

The United States ranks last among 16 high-income nations on preventable deaths and could save as many as 84,000 lives a year if it lowered its preventable death rate to that of the top three nations, a new study says.

Between 1997-98 and 2006-07, other nations lowered their preventable death rates an average of 31 percent. The U.S. rate declined only 20 percent, from 120 to 96 per 100,000.

By the end of those 10 years, the preventable death rate in the United States was nearly twice that of France, which had the lowest rate (55 per 100,000), according to the Commonwealth Fund-supported study. Australia and Italy had the second and third lowest rates.

The United States' poor ranking may be due to "the lack of universal [health insurance] coverage and high costs of care," said the study authors, who analyzed deaths before age 75 from causes such as treatable cancer, diabetes, childhood infections/respiratory diseases, and complications from surgery.

The study appears in the November print issue of the journal Health Policy.

"This study points to substantial opportunity to prevent premature death in the United States. We spend far more than any of the comparison countries -- up to twice as much -- yet are improving less rapidly," Commonwealth Fund Senior Vice President Cathy Schoen said in a Commonwealth news release.

"The good news is we know lower death rates are achievable if we enhance access and ensure high-quality care regardless of where you live. Looking forward, reforms under the Affordable Care Act have the potential to reduce the number of preventable deaths in the U.S. We have the potential to join the leaders among high-income countries," she added.

Health Tips for September 28

Health Tip: Managing With Chronic Pain

Chronic pain can be physically and emotionally difficult to manage, but taking an active role in your care can help.

The Cleveland Clinic mentions these suggestions to help manage chronic pain:

• Learn as much as possible about your condition, and discuss what you've learned with your doctor.
• Schedule time for exercise, rest and relaxation throughout the day.
• Practice deep breathing and other stress management techniques.
• Don't push yourself too hard.
• Practice positive self-talk, reminding yourself that you are strong.
• Limit or avoid alcohol, and quit smoking.
• Participate in a support group for people living with chronic pain.

Health Tip: Pain Relievers Aren't for Everyone

Over-the-counter pain relievers can be a quick and easy option to manage pain, but they may not safe for everyone.

The American Academy of Family Physicians says you should speak with a doctor before you take painkillers including acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen if:

• You have a known allergy to a pain reliever.
• You drink three or more alcoholic beverages each day.
• You have ulcers or bleeding in the intestines or stomach.
• You have kidney, liver or heart disease.
• You have a bleeding disorder or take a medication to thin the blood.

Health Headlines - September 27

Jewelry Industry Will Self-Regulate Toxin in Kids' Jewelry

U.S. jewelry manufacturers have voluntarily agreed to restrict levels of the toxic metal cadmium in children's necklaces, rings and other products, the Associated Press reported.

The heavy metal has been linked to cancer and other diseases, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which last year recalled some 300,000 pieces of costume jewelry because of high cadmium content, intends to use the voluntary limits to determine if and when product recalls are needed, the AP said.

The agency said voluntary standards, rather than mandatory rules, should be enough to regulate cadmium content in children's baubles. Most of the recalled trinkets were made in China.

The guideline "limits potential exposure to cadmium in children's jewelry in a manner that assures safety without resulting in bans on safe products," said Brent Cleaveland, who helped draft the regulations for ASTM International, a group that sets standards for various consumer goods. Cleaveland told the AP that the new limits, which may take effect in November, are "way more conservative than necessary."

Magnets, lead and other potential jewelry problems are also addressed in the new standard. Experts worry that if kids lick or bite trinkets bearing the metals that high levels might enter their bodies.

Under the new policy, 0.03 percent cadmium would be the content limit for jewelry intended for children 12 years and younger. Products that exceeded the limit in testing would be rejected or referred for additional examination.

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Obese Now Outnumber Hungry Worldwide: Report

There are now more obese people than hungry people in the world, but a growing food crisis is increasing the hardship for those who don't have enough to eat, the International Federation of the Red Cross says.

In 2010, there were 1.5 billion obese people and 925 million undernourished people worldwide, the humanitarian group noted in its annual World Disasters Report released Thursday, Agence France-Presse reported.

The figures highlight the disparity between rich and poor, as well as problems caused by recent increases in food prices, according to the Geneva-based organization.

"If the free interplay of market forces has produced an outcome where 15 percent of humanity are hungry while 20 percent are overweight, something has gone wrong somewhere," IFRC secretary general Bekele Geleta said in a news release, AFP reported.

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U.S. Ranks Last in Preventable Deaths: Report

The United States ranks last among 16 high-income nations on preventable deaths and could save as many as 84,000 lives a year if it lowered its preventable death rate to that of the top three nations, a new study says.

Between 1997-98 and 2006-07, other nations lowered their preventable death rates an average of 31 percent. The U.S. rate declined only 20 percent, from 120 to 96 per 100,000.

By the end of those 10 years, the preventable death rate in the United States was nearly twice that of France, which had the lowest rate (55 per 100,000), according to the Commonwealth Fund-supported study. Australia and Italy had the second and third lowest rates.

The United States' poor ranking may be due to "the lack of universal [health insurance] coverage and high costs of care," said the study authors, who analyzed deaths before age 75 from causes such as treatable cancer, diabetes, childhood infections/respiratory diseases, and complications from surgery.

The study appears in the November print issue of the journal Health Policy.

"This study points to substantial opportunity to prevent premature death in the United States. We spend far more than any of the comparison countries -- up to twice as much -- yet are improving less rapidly," Commonwealth Fund Senior Vice President Cathy Schoen said in a Commonwealth news release.

"The good news is we know lower death rates are achievable if we enhance access and ensure high-quality care regardless of where you live. Looking forward, reforms under the Affordable Care Act have the potential to reduce the number of preventable deaths in the U.S. We have the potential to join the leaders among high-income countries," she added.

Health Tips for September 27

Health Tip: Binge Drinking's Risks

Binge drinking occurs when the number of alcoholic drinks consumed in a short period raises a person's blood alcohol level to 0.08 grams percent or above, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This works out to consuming in two hours about five drinks for the average man and four drinks for the average woman, the agency said.

The CDC cites these dangers of binge drinking:

• Increased risk of car accidents, burns, drowning and falls.
• Increased risk of involvement in assault, domestic violence or other forms of intentional injury.
• Increased risk of alcohol poisoning, and having a child with fetal alcohol syndrome.
• Increased risk of getting pregnant unintentionally or contracting a sexually transmitted disease.
• Increased risk of cardiovascular disease, liver disease and neurological damage.
• Increased risk of poorly managed diabetes.

Health Tip: How to Spot Underage Drinking

Besides being illegal, underage drinking can endanger a young person's physical and emotional health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

The CDC says underage drinkers are more likely than other peers to have:

• Problems at school, including more absences and poor grades.
• Problems maintaining friendships and relationships.
• Problems with the legal system.
• Frequent hangovers or illnesses, drug abuse and problems with memory.
• Cases of alcohol poisoning.
• Car accidents.
• Increased risk of sexual or physical assault, suicide or homicide, or unplanned pregnancy.
• Problems affecting brain development.

Health Headlines - September 26

FDA approves Alexion's rare blood disease drug

U.S. health regulators cleared on Friday an Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc drug for adults and children with a very rare genetic disorder, as the company expands the uses of its flagship medicine.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Soliris for children and adults with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), a life-threatening genetic disease that damages vital organs and can lead to stroke, heart attack or kidney failure.

Soliris, generically known as eculizumab, is the first approved treatment for atypical HUS, one type of the rare disease that disproportionately affects children.

The drug is a targeted therapy that works by inhibiting chronic and uncontrolled activation of proteins that cause blood clots and organ damage in patients with aHUS.

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Bolivia plans to tax beer to encourage milk

Bolivia's government has a message for beer drinkers: Get milk.

The South American country's productive development minister complains that beer consumption is rising 10 percent a year while milk consumption is stable. And Teresa Morales says "Bolivians consume more beer than milk." Officials say Bolivians drink 30 liters of milk a year and 35 liters of beer.

Morales is backing a bill that imposes a small tax on beer to finance promotion of milk's benefits. other alcoholic beverages also will carry the new tax. The measure received final approval from Bolivia's congress on Friday.

Morales says the milk industry is running at just 60 percent of capacity.

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'Telemonitoring' may not help with severe asthma

A device that allows doctors to remotely monitor children with poorly controlled asthma may not help reduce serious asthma attacks, a small study finds.

The study, reported in the European Respiratory Journal, included 45 French children with poorly controlled asthma.

Researchers randomly assigned half to use a special handheld device connected to an automated modem. The children used the device each day to measure how well they could forcibly exhale, and the information was sent via phone line to the doctor.

If a child's breathing seemed to be worsening, the doctor could tell the parents to adjust their child's medication or, if the problem was serious, go to the hospital for treatment with oral corticosteroids.

The other half of the study group stayed with standard asthma treatment only, which included inhaled steroid medication to try to prevent attacks of wheezing and breathlessness.

After a year, the study found, there was no substantial difference in asthma attacks between the telemonitored children and those in the comparison group.

Health Tips for September 26

Health Tip: Fleas May Flock to People

Fleas may prefer to latch onto dogs and cats, but the blood-sucking insects can jump to people, especially after pets have left the home permanently.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine mentions these possible symptoms of flea infestation in people:

• Breaking out in hives or a skin rash.
• Mild to severe itching, starting in one place and then spreading.
• Itching or rash in the folds of the skin, including beneath the breasts or on the groin area.
• Swelling that occurs only near an injury or sore.

Health Tip: Protect Against Bug Bites

Insect bites can cause uncomfortable itching, and may transmit diseases such as West Nile virus.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these suggestions to help protect against bug bites:

• Avoid using products with fragrances, including perfumes, hair sprays and scented soaps.
• Keep away from areas that attract insects, such as puddles or blooming flowers.
• Avoid clothing with flower prints and bright colors.
• Use an insect repellent that contains DEET (on children at least 2 months old), but avoid products that combine sunscreen and insect repellent.
• Choose insect repellents that contain 10 percent to 30 percent DEET, or as an alternative, Picaridin.
• Wash off insect repellent when your or your children come back inside.

Health Headlines - September 25

Study Suggests Link Between Stress and Aggressive Breast Cancer

A new study finds that black and Hispanic women with breast cancer suffer more stress than white women, and the researchers connected the extra stress to more aggressive tumors.

But, the study authors cautioned that the research is preliminary and doesn't provide insight into whether the women's stress levels already were high before diagnosis, whether the stress levels increased after diagnosis, or whether the increased stress caused the cancer to be more aggressive.

Still, the findings point to one possible -- if unconfirmed -- explanation why breast cancer is generally worse in black and Hispanic women, said study lead author Garth H. Rauscher.

"One possible reason for that, among others, could be differences in the role of stress in influencing the development of breast cancer," said Rauscher, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Illinois at Chicago's School of Public Health.

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CDC Considers Vaccinating Boys, Not Just Girls, for HPV

U.S. health authorities now recommend that girls and young women be vaccinated against human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted disease that is a known cause of cervical cancer, but that recommendation does not extend to boys and young men.

At least for now.

A debate that's been simmering over whether males also should be vaccinated for human papillomavirus, or HPV, could come to a head in October at a meeting of a key advisory committee of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said CDC spokesman Tom Skinner.

HPV is widespread among men. An international study published in March in The Lancet found that half of all adult males in the United States may be infected with the virus.

More than 40 strains of HPV exist, and all are passed along by skin-to-skin contact, usually during sexual relations, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Many With Irregular Heartbeat Unaware of Raised Stroke Risk

Half of the 2.7 million Americans affected by an irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, deny or do not know they are at greater risk for stroke, according to a new survey from the American Heart Association (AHA).

"While there's a lot known about atrial fibrillation, there's a lot unknown as well," Dr. Mark Estes III, professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, said in a news release from the heart association. "The American Heart Association's goal for atrial fibrillation is to bridge those knowledge gaps through research and education. By helping people better understand their risks, we can impact treatment and prevention of atrial fibrillation and atrial fibrillation-related strokes."

The AHA surveyed 502 people living with atrial fibrillation. Despite being the third-leading cause of death in the United States (behind heart disease and cancer), the survey revealed that just 8 percent of those polled considered stroke to be their greatest health concern. On the contrary, 25 percent said they were not at risk for stroke and another 25 percent didn't know if they were at risk.

Moreover, the AHA survey revealed that only two-thirds of those polled received information on their increased risk of stroke from their doctor. Of the 66 percent that did talk to their doctors, 21 percent said they were told they have no risk for stroke.

"Patients need to be aware of this risk and have serious conversations with their health care providers about what they should be doing to prevent stroke," concluded Estes.

Health Tips for September 25

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 - September 24

U.S. Ranks Last in Preventable Deaths: Report

The United States ranks last among 16 high-income nations on preventable deaths and could save as many as 84,000 lives a year if it lowered its preventable death rate to that of the top three nations, a new study says.

Between 1997-98 and 2006-07, other nations lowered their preventable death rates an average of 31 percent. The U.S. rate declined only 20 percent, from 120 to 96 per 100,000.

By the end of those 10 years, the preventable death rate in the United States was nearly twice that of France, which had the lowest rate (55 per 100,000), according to the Commonwealth Fund-supported study. Australia and Italy had the second and third lowest rates.

The United States' poor ranking may be due to "the lack of universal [health insurance] coverage and high costs of care," said the study authors, who analyzed deaths before age 75 from causes such as treatable cancer, diabetes, childhood infections/respiratory diseases, and complications from surgery.

The study appears in the November print issue of the journal Health Policy.

"This study points to substantial opportunity to prevent premature death in the United States. We spend far more than any of the comparison countries -- up to twice as much -- yet are improving less rapidly," Commonwealth Fund Senior Vice President Cathy Schoen said in a Commonwealth news release.

"The good news is we know lower death rates are achievable if we enhance access and ensure high-quality care regardless of where you live. Looking forward, reforms under the Affordable Care Act have the potential to reduce the number of preventable deaths in the U.S. We have the potential to join the leaders among high-income countries," she added.

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California Nurses Stage One-Day Strike

Dozens of northern and central California hospitals were hit Thursday with a one-day strike by nurses.

The nurses at 33 not-for-profit hospitals operated by Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health and the independent Children's Hospital Oakland were protesting benefit cuts and other concessions sought by management, the Associated Press reported.

The strike was organized by the California Nurses Association, which expected nearly 23,000 nurses to participate. Actual numbers weren't available from the union and hospital officials said many nurses crossed the picket lines.

The hospitals had made preparations to minimize any possible patient disruptions caused by the walkout, the AP reported.

Health Tips for September 24

Health Tip: Keep a Diabetes Notebook

A notebook of instructions and helpful information will make it easier to stay organized when your diabetic child gets sick.

The American Diabetes Association offers these suggestions for what to include in the notebook:

• A list of your doctor's guidelines, including recommendations for when to call.
• Daytime and after-hours phone numbers for your child's diabetes care team.
• Copies of important documents, such as your child's insurance card.
• A meal plan that will provide your child with 50 grams of carbohydrates every three or four hours.
• Over-the-counter medications that won't interfere with other meds or affect blood glucose.
• A list of what your child has eaten, including blood glucose readings, insulin administered and carbohydrate counts.

Health Tip: Protect Kids and Pets From Rabies

Rabies is a potentially fatal virus that can be transmitted from an infected animal to people. But parents can take steps to help keep kids and pets safe.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these suggestions:

• Schedule regular veterinarian checkups and rabies vaccination for your pets.
• If you spot a stray animal in your neighborhood, call animal control.
• Teach children not to approach any stray or animal they don't know.
• Make sure pets stay indoors until you can supervise them outdoors.
• Avoid attracting stray or wild animals by covering garbage and keeping all pet food and water indoors.

Health Headlines - September 23

Graphic Smoking Images on Cigarette Packs Challenged by Judge

The U.S. government's power to force tobacco companies to put new graphic warning images on cigarette packages was questioned Wednesday by a federal judge.

Tobacco companies have filed a lawsuit to block the Food and Drug Administration requirement that would take effect in a year.

In Wednesday's two-hour hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon grilled a justice department lawyer about whether the new graphic warning images simply relay facts of the health risks of smoking or cross the line into advocacy. That would be a crucial distinction in a case over free speech, the Associated Press reported.

If Leon decides the new images do amount to advocacy, it would improve the chances that the tobacco companies' would be able to stop the new regulation. The judge said he hopes to issue a ruling by the end of October.

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Gay Teen's Suicide Occurs Just Before Anti-Bullying Summit

The recent suicide of a gay Buffalo, N.Y. teen who was the victim of bullying coincides with a national summit on bullying prevention.

Jamey Rodemeyer, 14, killed himself on the weekend after posting an online farewell. The student at Williamsville North High School had been the target of cyberbullies for the past year, ABC News reported.

The second annual Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Summit is being held today in Washington, D.C. and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Speakers at the conference include parents of another gay teen who killed himself after suffering relentless bullying.

Rodemeyer's suicide also marks a sad start to LGBT History Month in October.

"Jamey's suicide is a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of gay teens," Malcolm Lazin, founder and executive director of the Equality Forum, which focuses on LGBT civil rights and education, told ABC News.

"They are bullied and marginalized," he said. "While some may say that Jamey took his life, it is unrelenting homophobia that murdered him."

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Research Casts Doubt on 'Longevity Protein'

A new study challenges the theory that proteins called sirtuins can prolong life.

Previous research has suggested that elevated levels of sirtuins could extend life by up to 50 percent, but this new study found no such evidence, Agence France-Presse reported.

"We have re-examined the key experiments linking sirtuin with longevity in animals and none seem to stand up to close scrutiny," study leader David Gem, of the Institute of Healthy Aging at University College London, said in news release. "Sirtuins, far from being a key to longevity, appear to have nothing to do with extending life."

The study appears in the journal Nature.

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Dangerous Polio Strain Spreads to China

A "dangerous strain" of polio has spread from Pakistan to China, the World Health Organization says.

A WHO spokesman explained that the wild poliovirus type 1 is more dangerous than type 3 because it spreads more easily and is more likely to cause paralysis, the Associated Press reported.

In the past two months, seven cases of the WPV1 strain have been confirmed in China's Xinjiang province, which borders Pakistan.

The WHO says travelers to Pakistan need to be vaccinated against polio and that countries need to boost their surveillance for the WPV1 strain, the AP reported.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is currently no danger of contracting the strain of polio in the United States, although travelers to foreign countries where it is endemic do need to be cautious. The CDC advises that travelers talk to their doctors about the risks before they depart.

Health Tips for September 23

Health Tip: At Risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome involves swelling of a nerve in the wrist that extends into the hand. It can cause pain and weakness, and is typically caused by repetitive motions over a long period of time.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says these activities may cause carpal tunnel syndrome:

• Typing at a computer, especially if the workstation is not set up correctly.
• Sewing.
• Painting.
• Working on an assembly line.
• Using vibrating tools or hand tools.
• Playing certain musical instruments.

Health Tip: Help Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs from repetitive use of the wrists, including activities such as typing on a computer keyboard.

The University of Maryland Medical Center offers these suggestions for computer users:

• Take short breaks from the keyboard throughout the day to stretch and shake out the arms and wrists.
• When using the computer, practice good posture.
• Make sure your chair offers good support and can be adjusted for your height.
• Consider using voice recognition software to cut down on typing.
• Consider adding a pad to help cushion your wrists.
• Use a light touch while typing and using a mouse.
• Perform hand and wrist exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles.

Health Headlines - September 22

Dangerous Polio Strain Spreads to China

A "dangerous strain" of polio has spread from Pakistan to China, the World Health Organization says.

A WHO spokesman explained that the wild poliovirus type 1 is more dangerous than type 3 because it spreads more easily and is more likely to cause paralysis, the Associated Press reported.

In the past two months, seven cases of the WPV1 strain have been confirmed in China's Xinjiang province, which borders Pakistan.

The WHO says travelers to Pakistan need to be vaccinated against polio and that countries need to boost their surveillance for the WPV1 strain, the AP reported.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is currently no danger of contracting the strain of polio in the United States, although travelers to foreign countries where it is endemic do need to be cautious. The CDC advises that travelers talk to their doctors about the risks before they depart.

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More Young American Adults Have Health Insurance

The share of young American adults ages 18 to 25 without health insurance fell from 28 percent last fall to 24.2 percent in the second quarter of this year, according to a new Gallup poll.

That means that about one million more young adults have health insurance, thanks to a provision of the new health care law that allows them to stay covered under their parents' plans, the Associated Press reported.

The decrease in the number of uninsured young adults is an exception to the overall rising numbers of working-age Americans who don't have health insurance, and may be tied to provisions in the recent health care reform law that expanded access to young adults.

"While we did not see a drop-off in any other age group, we did see a drop in this age group," Frank Newport, Gallup's polling director, told the AP.

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Shark Compound May Help Combat Viral Diseases in Humans

A compound naturally produced by sharks could help combat different types of viral diseases that affect humans, ranging from hepatitis to yellow fever, according to scientists.

Squalamine was first discovered in 1993 but a new study is the first to examine the compound's potential use against human viruses, Agence France-Presse reported.

The scientists tested squalamine in lab samples and lab animals and found it could inhibit or control viral infections. In some cases, the compound seemed to cure viral infections in animals.

"It is clearly a promising drug, and is unlike, in its mechanism of action and chemical structure, any other substance currently being investigated to treat viral infections," said lead investigator Michael Zasloff, a professor of surgery and pediatrics at Georgetown University Medical Center, AFP reported.

The study appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Since 1995, scientists have been able to synthesize squalamine in the lab and the compound is no longer extracted directly from shark tissue.

Health Tips for September 22

Health Tip: Got a Pain in the Neck?

The neck has an unusually important job -- supporting the weight of your head! When there's pain in the neck, it can stem from a soft tissue injury, or an abnormality in the joints and bones at the top of the spine.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons mentions these possible causes of neck pain:

• A problem, such as rheumatoid arthritis, caused by inflamed joints.
• Injuries due to prolonged wear and tear.
• Cervical disk degeneration (spondylosis), in which the padding inside the disks of the neck deteriorates.
• An injury to the neck, stemming from factors such as an automobile accident, a fall or sports injury.
• Rare tumors, infections or congenital defects of the vertebrae.

Health Tip: You May Have Sprained Your Neck

If you tear a ligament that joins the seven spinal bones in your neck to each other, it's considered a neck sprain. It often occurs when the neck is stretched to an extreme position during a motor vehicle accident or fall.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says possible signs of this injury include:

• Pain, particularly the back of the neck, that worsens when you move.
• Pain that gets worse a day or two after the initial injury.
• Pain and muscle spasms in the upper area of the shoulder.
• Pain in the back part of the head.
• Sore throat, trouble sleeping, feeling fatigued and irritable, and having trouble concentrating.
• Numbness, weakness or a tingling sensation in the hand or arm.
• Stiffness and difficulty moving the neck.

Health Headlines - September 21

Shark Compound May Help Combat Viral Diseases in Humans

A compound naturally produced by sharks could help combat different types of viral diseases that affect humans, ranging from hepatitis to yellow fever, according to scientists.

Squalamine was first discovered in 1993 but a new study is the first to examine the compound's potential use against human viruses, Agence France-Presse reported.

The scientists tested squalamine in lab samples and lab animals and found it could inhibit or control viral infections. In some cases, the compound seemed to cure viral infections in animals.

"It is clearly a promising drug, and is unlike, in its mechanism of action and chemical structure, any other substance currently being investigated to treat viral infections," said lead investigator Michael Zasloff, a professor of surgery and pediatrics at Georgetown University Medical Center, AFP reported.

The study appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Since 1995, scientists have been able to synthesize squalamine in the lab and the compound is no longer extracted directly from shark tissue.

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New Tick-Borne Disease Identified

Scientists have identified a new tick-borne disease that may be infecting thousands of Americans a year, but it's not clear if the disease can cause serious long-term damage.

The newly-discovered disease is caused by a spirochete bacterium called Borrelia miyamotoi, a distant relative of Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochete that causes Lyme disease, The New York Times reported.

Each year, about 3,000 Americans are infected with B. miyamotoi through tick bites, the researchers estimated. About 25,000 Americans get Lyme disease each year. There is no diagnostic test for B. miyamotoi in the United States.

It appears that the newly-identified disease can be cured using the same short course of antibiotics used to treat people with Lyme disease, The Times reported.

Untreated Lyme disease can cause serious long-term health problems, but it's not yet known if the newly-discovered disease has the same effect, the researchers said.

The study will be published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

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Listeria Outbreak Linked to Colorado Cantaloupes: CDC

Colorado cantaloupes have been identified as the source of listeria outbreak that's killed four people in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday.

One person has died in Colorado, one in Oklahoma and two in New Mexico. The CDC is in the process of determining whether two other deaths in New Mexico are also linked to the outbreak, a state health official said, CBS News and the Associated Press reported.

So far, 35 people in 10 states have been sickened in the outbreak, according to the CDC. Most of the illnesses have occurred in Colorado (12), followed by Oklahoma (6) and New Mexico (5).

Federal officials have traced the outbreak to cantaloupes from Jensen Fruit Farms in Holly, Colo. The company has recalled its Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupes, CBS/AP reported.

Health Tips for September 21

Health Tip: Recognizing Asthma in Children

Asthma can develop in children of any age, but symptoms typically begin by age 5, the Cleveland Clinic says.

The clinic says parents should watch for:

• Frequent coughing spells that occur during playtime, laughing or at night.
• Lack of energy during playtime.
• Breathing rapidly, shortness of breath or wheezing.
• Discomfort or pain in the chest.
• A perceived tightness of the neck or chest muscles.
• Feeling tired often.

Health Tip: Create an Asthma Action Plan for School

If your school-age child has asthma, school educators and staff should know the specifics, in case of an emergency.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says parents should consider an action asthma plan for school. The agency says the plan should include:

• A short explanation of your child's history of asthma.
• Symptoms to watch for.
• Contact information for doctors, nurses, parents and/or guardians.
• A list of the child's asthma triggers.
• The child's best peak flow reading.
• A list of medications, and how/when they are taken.
• Suggestions on how the child can be physically active during gym and recess.

Health Headlines - September 20

Whooping Cough Shots Protect for Only a Few Years: Study

The protection offered by the whooping cough vaccine decreases after about three years, according to a preliminary study.

Researchers looked at children in a California county and found that the risk of developing whooping cough was as much as 20 times higher among those who were given the recommended series of vaccinations three or more years earlier. Those who'd received the vaccine more recently were well protected, the Associated Press reported.

The results were presented Monday at an infectious diseases conference in Chicago.

The findings appear to support school rules requiring students to get the whooping cough vaccination periodically, the AP reported. California had a large increase in whooping cough cases last year and this fall schools in the state turned away thousands of students who weren't up to date on their shots.

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New Technology Improves Early Stage Cancer Surgery: Report

A new technology that makes cancer cells glow can increase the amount of early stage cancer that surgeons can detect and remove from patients.

Cancer cells need folic acid to grow. Purdue University researchers found that adding a glowing dye to folic acid caused cancer cells to light up, CBS News reported.

The technology isn't approved in the United States, but doctors in the Netherlands have performed 20 successful trial surgeries in ovarian cancer patients. The procedure enables the removal of five times more cancer during surgery, according to some doctors.

"We know (that) the more aggressive you are in the surgical removal of the tumor, the better the outcome of the patient will be," said Dr. Gooitzen van Dam, a surgeon with the University of Groningen, CBS News reported.

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Gamers Decipher Enzyme of AIDS-Like Virus

The structure of an enzyme of an HIV-like virus has been deciphered by online gamers playing a video game in which the goal is to unfold chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.

Scientists have been trying for a decade to produce an accurate model of a monomeric protease enzyme. The gamers accomplished the feat in just three weeks, Agence France-Presse reported.

The achievement could help efforts to develop new antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV/AIDS patients.

"We wanted to see if human intuition could succeed where automated methods had failed," Firas Khatib, of the University of Washington's biochemistry lab, said in a news release, AFP reported. "The ingenuity of game players is a formidable force that, if properly directed, can be used to solve a wide range of scientific problems."

The study was published Sunday in the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.

Health Tips for September 20

Health Tip: Five Steps to a Healthier Heart

Five simple steps can help lower your risk of heart disease, says a leading expert on preventive cardiology.

She offered the following heart health tips:

• Know your numbers. Ask your doctor about what are considered normal numbers for blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides.
• Start exercising. Walking for just 20 to 30 minutes a few days a week can reduce the risk of premature death by more than 50 percent. Physical activity reduces blood pressure, improves cholesterol, reduces stress, improves sleep, boosts mood, improves cognition and prevents memory loss.
• Laugh. Just 15 minutes of laughter equals about 30 minutes of aerobic exercise in terms of cardiovascular health. Research has also linked laughter with reductions in pain and anxiety, health function of blood vessels, and increased levels of brain hormones that improve your mood.
• Pay more attention to your waistline than your weight. The waistline is a better measurement of overall health than weight because the amount of fat around your waist is directly linked to high blood pressure and high cholesterol and can increase your risk of diabetes.
• Get adequate sleep. Lack of sleep boosts blood pressure, induces stress, increases your appetite, slows your metabolism, dampens your mood and decreases cognition.

Health Tip: Get the Right Fit for Athletic Shoes

Wearing properly-fitted athletic shoes can keep your feet comfy during a workout and help reduce the risk of injury.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions for choosing athletic shoes:

• Shop for shoes when your feet are their largest -- either at the end of the day or after a workout.
• Try on shoes with the same type of sock that you'll wear when you exercise.
• Make sure you can easily wiggle your toes, and that the shoes are comfortable when you try them on.
• Run or walk several steps in the shoes to make sure they're comfortable.
• Properly lace shoes when you try them on.
• Make sure the shoes firmly grip your heels and don't slip off when you're walking or running.
• Choose a sports-specific shoe if you participate in a particular sport at least three times per week.

Health Headlines - September 19

Bachmann's Cervical Cancer Vaccine Claim Challenged

If Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann can back up her statement that the human papillomavirus vaccine causes mental retardation, a respected Philadelphia bioethicist said he will give $10,000 to charity.

Bachmann brought up the HPV vaccine, which protect girls and women from a sexually transmitted disease that causes cervical cancer, during the Republican presidential debate on Monday. On television the next day, she said the vaccine was linked to retardation.

Medical experts disputed her remarks, and on Thursday Arthur Caplan of the University of Pennsylvania called on Bachmann to support her claim or to pay up, the Associated Pressreported.

If the Minnesota Congresswoman can produce a legitimate vaccine victim within a week, Caplan said he will make the donation to any charity of her choice. If she cannot prove her claim, he suggested she make a $10,000 donation to a pro-vaccine organization, theAP said.

Caplan told the news agency he had not heard back from Bachmann, who received a similar, $1,000 challenge from a University of Minnesota bioethicist, Steven Miles.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends girls receive all three doses of the vaccine at age 11 or 12.

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Two Deaths Linked to Tainted Cantaloupes

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at least two deaths in western states have been caused by contaminated cantaloupe grown in Colorado, and that additional testing may reveal more deaths from the Listeria outbreak.

The deaths were reported in Colorado and New Mexico, and health experts believe the source of the outbreak is the Jensen Farms' melon farm in Colorado's Rocky Ford region. The outbreak has also sickened 22 people and spread to seven states, including Indiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia, the CDC said.

A spokeswoman for Jensen Farms told the Associated Press that one of its Rocky Ford cantaloupes tested positive for the Listeria bacteria, and that additional tests will determine if it's the same strain identified in the outbreak.

Stores reportedly selling the Jensen cantaloupes include Wal-Mart and Safeway Inc. Safeway announced a recall of Jensen's jumbo cantaloupes sold between Aug. 30 and Sept. 6 in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, New Mexico and South Dakota, the AP reported.

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Birth Control Pills Recalled Due to Packaging Problem

Because of a packaging error that could cause the incorrect use of birth control pills, Qualitest Pharmaceuticals is voluntarily recalling eight of its contraceptive products, Dow Jones reported.

Qualitest, a subsidiary of Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc., announced the recall of Emoquette, Orsythia, Previfem and Tri-Previfem contraceptives plus two Gildess products and two Cyclafem products.

The company is looking into the error, which reversed weekly pill orientation in the blister pack and could lead women to take the pill regimen incorrectly, putting them at risk of unintended pregnancy. Also, the expiration date and lot number on the defective packages were no longer visible, Dow Jones said.

Pharmacies were asked to notify consumers who have purchased the affected contraceptives, and consumers with the pill packs were advised to start using a nonhormonal contraceptive right away and consult their pharmacist or doctor.

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Journalists Oppose Removal of Malpractice Database

The removal from the Internet of a public database on medical malpractice and disciplinary actions has drawn fire from three U.S. journalism organizations.

Because of a complaint from a Kansas neurosurgeon, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services recently removed the "public use file" from the National Practitioner Data Bank, which provides important information, with doctors' names deleted, on disciplinary procedures and malpractice awards, The New York Times reported.

Reporters across the country have used the public use file to write stories that have exposed serious lapses in the oversight of doctors that have put patients at risk, said Charles Ornstein, president of the Association of Health Care Journalists, the Timesreported. "Their stories have led to new legislation, additional levels of transparency in various states, and kept medical boards focused on issues of patient safety."

The health reporters' group, along with the Society of Professional Journalists and another national association, Investigative Reporters and Editors, jointly sent the agency a letter objecting to the move.

Agency spokesman Martin A. Kramer told The Times that the doctor's complaint raised concerns that a Kansas City reporter might have gotten into the full data bank, rather than just the public use section, although the reporter said he had only accessed the public site.

He said he hopes the public use file will be available to the public within six months, possibly changed to further safeguard privacy.