Health Headlines - September 10

Laura Bush Back at White House After Pinched Nerve Surgery

First lady Laura Bush's Saturday surgery to relieve pain from pinched nerves in her neck was successful, the Associated Press reports.

The two-and-a-half hour minimally invasive surgery at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. did not require an overnight stay, and the wire service quotes Sally McDonough, Mrs. Bush's spokeswoman as saying she was back at the White House and resting comfortably.

Mrs. Bush injured her neck while hiking earlier this year and had been treating it with physical therapy, the A.P. reported, but the condition had become serious enough to require surgery. It caused Mrs. Bush to cancel accompanying her husband on his trip to Australia for the annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

While Mrs. Bush had no activities scheduled Monday, McDonough told the wire service the First Lady would be resuming her schedule soon. "Every patient is different, so there's no kind of set timeframe. She will certainly ease back into her schedule," McDonough said.

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Painful Mosquito-Borne Virus Confirmed in Northern Italy

While U.S. health professionals work to prevent outbreaks of the sometimes fatal West Nile virus, Europe now has a confirmed outbreak of another mosquito-borne illness, this one called chikungunya.

According to BBC News, 160 cases of chikungunya, which is caused by a mosquito bite, have been confirmed in northern Italy in the villages of Castiglione di Ravenna and Castiglione di Cervia.

The name chikungunya is derived from Swahili, meaning "that which bends up," the BBC reports, because most of the symptoms are arthritic-type and leave victims stooped over.

While not often fatal, chikungunya is quite painful and can persist for several weeks or months, similar to the way Lyme Disease affects Americans. But Lyme disease, usually caused by a deer tick bite, is bacterial and can be treated with antibiotics. This is ineffective for chikungunya, which is caused by a virus.

European medical authorities are warning travelers in Italy to take extra mosquito protection measures, including repellent spray, and health officials in the affected area say steps have been taken to reduce the mosquito population, according to the BBC reports. There is no vaccination to protect against chikungunya, the BBC added.

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U.S. Dog Population Now Rabies-Free, Government Says

Although rabies is still found in North American wild animals, there have been no reported cases of canine rabies in the United States this year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

Commemorating Sept. 7 as World Rabies Day in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO) and a number of other groups, the CDC formally declared rabies as having been eliminated in the U.S. dog population.

"The elimination of canine rabies in the United States represents one of the major public health success stories in the last 50 years," Dr. Charles Rupprecht, Chief of the CDC Rabies Program, said in an agency news release.

There are still at least 55,000 rabies deaths worldwide every year, the CDC says. The last death reported in the United States was in 2006, when a Wisconsin teenager was bitten by a bat and didn't receive the rabies treatment inoculation in time.

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Alcohol Consumption Can Double Uterine Cancer Risk, Study Says

Two or more alcoholic drinks a day may double the risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer, researchers at the University of Southern California have found.

According to a USC news release, the scientists found that the relationship between estrogen levels and alcohol in post-menopausal women is the key element. "Previous studies have shown that alcohol consumption has been associated with higher levels of estrogens in postmenopausal women, which could be the mechanism by which daily alcohol intake increases ones risk of endometrial cancer," Veronica Wendy Setiawan, assistant professor of preventive medicine at USC's Keck School of Medicine, says in the news release.

The researchers used a huge database of more than 215,000 people developed in 1993 by Dr. Brian Henderson, dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and Dr. Laurence Kolonel of the University of Hawaii. They examined the drinking habits of more than 41,000 multi-ethnic women from Los Angeles and Hawaii for an average of eight years.

The results are preliminary, Henderson said, but he added he was encouraged that "This discovery is important as it suggests that changes to certain lifestyle choices may potentially help alter risk of the disease."

The study will appear in a later issue of the International Journal of Cancer.

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Dietary Supplement Recalled for Unapproved Ingredients

The maker of Zencore Tabs, marketed as a dietary supplement to enhance male sexual stamina, is recalling the product because it contains undeclared ingredients including aminotadalafil and sildenafil, chemicals whose derivatives are used in prescription medicines for erectile dysfunction, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

These and two other chemical ingredients, sulfosildenafil and sulfohomosildenafil, may interact with nitrates found in certain prescription drugs and could lower blood pressure to dangerous levels, the FDA said in a statement.

Zencore is marketed by Los Angeles-based Bodee LLC.

Consumers who have this product are urged to stop using it immediately and to see a health-care professional if they notice any side effects, the FDA said.

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Chinese-Made Candles Pose Burn Hazards

Some 83,000 Chinese-made outdoor candles sold at Ace Hardware stores nationwide are being recalled because their unusually high flames pose burn and fire hazards to users, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday.

The Hayes citronella "Avant Yarde" decorative candles have glazed lower portions that are brown, blue or green. Item number 18134 can be found on a label on the bottom of the product.

The candles were sold from February 2006 through June 2007 for about $8.

Consumers should stop using the products immediately and return them to any Ace Hardware store for a refund. To learn more, contact the distributor, Hayes Co. Inc., at 800-838-5053.

Health Tips for September 10

Food Fact:
Coffee on the dark side?

If p.m. coffee leaves you too perky to sleep, try cutting it off earlier rather than cutting it out completely. Coffee's stimulatory effects usually take 6 - 8 hours to wear off, so consider your bedtime when you reach for an afternoon or evening cup. The effects -- it can exacerbate insomnia, nervousness, anxiety and even panic attacks -- may last longer in women taking oral contraceptives and in older people. But coffee isn't a demon, either. Short-term studies have found that a cup's worth -- 100mg -- can increase self-confidence, energy and motivation to work.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Getting to know you.

Saying "Hi" to your aerobics instructor may improve your group fitness experience. If you are joining a group exercise class for the first time, let your instructor know. Doing so will help the instructor ensure you get the most out of the class, and help protect you from injuries.

FAQ of the day:
What's the healthiest way to handle garlic and onions?

The way you handle garlic and onions affects their health-protective compounds. The more you cut, chop, smash or otherwise disturb raw onions or garlic, the more compounds they will release. If you're going to cook garlic, for example, it's a good idea to smash or chop it about 10 minutes before.

Health Headlines - September 9

U.S. Dog Population Now Rabies-Free, Government Says

Although rabies is still found in North American wild animals, there have been no reported cases of canine rabies in the United States this year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

Commemorating Sept. 7 as World Rabies Day in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO) and a number of other groups, the CDC formally declared rabies as having been eliminated in the U.S. dog population.

"The elimination of canine rabies in the United States represents one of the major public health success stories in the last 50 years," Dr. Charles Rupprecht, Chief of the CDC Rabies Program, said in an agency news release.

There are still at least 55,000 rabies deaths worldwide every year, the CDC says. The last death reported in the United States was in 2006, when a Wisconsin teenager was bitten by a bat and didn't receive the rabies treatment inoculation in time.

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Alcohol Consumption Can Double Uterine Cancer Risk, Study Says

Two or more alcoholic drinks a day may double the risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer, researchers at the University of Southern California have found.

According to a USC news release, the scientists found that the relationship between estrogen levels and alcohol in post-menopausal women is the key element. "Previous studies have shown that alcohol consumption has been associated with higher levels of estrogens in postmenopausal women, which could be the mechanism by which daily alcohol intake increases ones risk of endometrial cancer," Veronica Wendy Setiawan, assistant professor of preventive medicine at USC's Keck School of Medicine, says in the news release.

The researchers used a huge database of more than 215,000 people developed in 1993 by Dr. Brian Henderson, dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and Dr. Laurence Kolonel of the University of Hawaii. They examined the drinking habits of more than 41,000 multi-ethnic women from Los Angeles and Hawaii for an average of eight years.

The results are preliminary, Henderson said, but he added he was encouraged that "This discovery is important as it suggests that changes to certain lifestyle choices may potentially help alter risk of the disease."

The study will appear in a later issue of the International Journal of Cancer.

-----

U.S. Rejects N.Y. Effort to Insure More Children

The Bush administration has turned thumbs down on a New York state plan to allow more families to participate in the national State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), citing guidelines issued just three weeks ago, the Associated Press reported.

New York had proposed allowing more middle-income families to participate by expanding eligibility in SCHIP to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, which translates to $68,680 for a family of three. But the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services denied the plan, saying the state hadn't shown that it met new guidelines requiring 95 percent enrollment among all poor children before higher-income children could be admitted, the AP said.

"New York has not demonstrated that its program operates in an effective and efficient manner with respect to the core population of targeted low-income children," said Kerry Weems, acting administrator for the Medicare/Medicare agency.

State lawmakers said New York had made every effort to enroll more of its poor children in the SCHIP program.

"It is clear the [Bush] administration is spoiling for a fight and it's unfortunate [President Bush] has chosen children's health care," said Rep. Charles Rangel (D.-N.Y.), who called the decision "unconscionable."

The House of Representatives in early August passed a measure to increase funding for SCHIP to $75 billion over five years, while a similar Senate bill raises the level to $60 billion. President Bush, whose administration has proposed spending about $30 billion over the span, has threatened to veto the House or Senate versions if either reaches his desk, the AP said.

The program is set to expire Sept. 30 unless Congress approves an extension, the wire service said.

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Dietary Supplement Recalled for Unapproved Ingredients

The maker of Zencore Tabs, marketed as a dietary supplement to enhance male sexual stamina, is recalling the product because it contains undeclared ingredients including aminotadalafil and sildenafil, chemicals whose derivatives are used in prescription medicines for erectile dysfunction, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

These and two other chemical ingredients, sulfosildenafil and sulfohomosildenafil, may interact with nitrates found in certain prescription drugs and could lower blood pressure to dangerous levels, the FDA said in a statement.

Zencore is marketed by Los Angeles-based Bodee LLC.

Consumers who have this product are urged to stop using it immediately and to see a health-care professional if they notice any side effects, the FDA said.

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Most Imported Food Never Inspected: Report

More than 98 percent of imported food is never inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the two federal agencies charged with protecting Americans against tainted food, the Progressive Policy Institute said Friday. Imported food now accounts for about 13 percent of the average American's diet.

Some 76 million Americans get sick each year from eating spoiled, contaminated or tainted food, leading to 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths, the Washington, D.C.-based group said in a statement.

While the FDA is responsible for 80 percent of the nation's food supply, 80 percent of the nation's annual food-safety budget goes to the Department of Agriculture, the PPI said.

"Currently, Americans are protected against tainted goods by a system of redundant, inefficient programs that let too many dangerous products through the cracks," the institute added.

The PPI offered the following remedies for what it said was an ailing food-inspection system:

1. Grant food inspection authority to a sole agency, which should have stronger authority to recall unsafe food products, and would establish uniform standards for all domestic and imported foods.
2. Focus attention on goods from nations with a history of problem imports. According to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), the United States rejects twice as many food shipments from China as from all other foreign nations combined. Nonetheless, China exported $4.2 billion in food and agriculture to the United States last year.
3. Create a stronger federal recall authority. Currently, only infant formula is subject to any form of mandatory recall authority.
4. Use a program designed to prevent the import of terrorist weapons -- the Container Security Initiative -- to inspect food shipments. The infrastructure created for the program exists in more than 50 ports around the world.

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Chinese-Made Candles Pose Burn Hazards

Some 83,000 Chinese-made outdoor candles sold at Ace Hardware stores nationwide are being recalled because their unusually high flames pose burn and fire hazards to users, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday.

The Hayes citronella "Avant Yarde" decorative candles have glazed lower portions that are brown, blue or green. Item number 18134 can be found on a label on the bottom of the product.

The candles were sold from February 2006 through June 2007 for about $8.

Consumers should stop using the products immediately and return them to any Ace Hardware store for a refund. To learn more, contact the distributor, Hayes Co. Inc., at 800-838-5053.

Health Tips for September 9

Food Fact:
Culture club.

When yogurt's live active cultures colonize your digestive system, they draw a line in the sand against disease. The cultures -- especially acidophilus and bifida - muscle out potentially threatening bacteria. Low-fat or fat-free yogurt has a lot of other things going for it: It's easy to digest, especially for those who are lactose-intolerant and have difficulty digesting milk and many cheeses; it's an excellent source of calcium, protein, riboflavin (a B vitamin), vitamin B-12 (which may be low in vegetarian diets) and vitamin A; and provides selenium, potassium and magnesium.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Muscled out?

Inactive adults over age 30 lose about 3 - 5% of muscle tissue every 10 years; here's what you can do. Go to the weight room. Strength training prevents the reduction in muscle tissue that causes the body metabolism to slow and makes the bones more vulnerable to conditions like osteoporosis.

FAQ of the day:
Can certain foods prevent cancer?

No one can say with absolute certainty how powerful is diet in preventing cancer. But at least a third (and possibly more) of all cancers have been linked to diet. People who eat the most fruits and vegetables have been shown to have about half the risk of developing cancer as people who rarely eat them. Your genes and other lifestyle factors, such as smoking, have a strong say in your susceptibility to cancer. But it's likely that improving the typical American diet would make a big dent in new cases of cancer, the nation's second biggest killer after heart disease.

Health Headlines - September 8

U.S. Rejects N.Y. Effort to Insure More Children

The Bush administration has turned thumbs down on a New York state plan to allow more families to participate in the national State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), citing guidelines issued just three weeks ago, the Associated Press reported.

New York had proposed allowing more middle-income families to participate by expanding eligibility in SCHIP to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, which translates to $68,680 for a family of three. But the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services denied the plan, saying the state hadn't shown that it met new guidelines requiring 95 percent enrollment among all poor children before higher-income children could be admitted, the AP said.

"New York has not demonstrated that its program operates in an effective and efficient manner with respect to the core population of targeted low-income children," said Kerry Weems, acting administrator for the Medicare/Medicare agency.

State lawmakers said New York had made every effort to enroll more of its poor children in the SCHIP program.

"It is clear the [Bush] administration is spoiling for a fight and it's unfortunate [President Bush] has chosen children's health care," said Rep. Charles Rangel (D.-N.Y.), who called the decision "unconscionable."

The House of Representatives in early August passed a measure to increase funding for SCHIP to $75 billion over five years, while a similar Senate bill raises the level to $60 billion. President Bush, whose administration has proposed spending about $30 billion over the span, has threatened to veto the House or Senate versions if either reaches his desk, the AP said.

The program is set to expire Sept. 30 unless Congress approves an extension, the wire service said.

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Dietary Supplement Recalled for Unapproved Ingredients

The maker of Zencore Tabs, marketed as a dietary supplement to enhance male sexual stamina, is recalling the product because it contains undeclared ingredients including aminotadalafil and sildenafil, chemicals whose derivatives are used in prescription medicines for erectile dysfunction, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

These and two other chemical ingredients, sulfosildenafil and sulfohomosildenafil, may interact with nitrates found in certain prescription drugs and could lower blood pressure to dangerous levels, the FDA said in a statement.

Zencore is marketed by Los Angeles-based Bodee LLC.

Consumers who have this product are urged to stop using it immediately and to see a health-care professional if they notice any side effects, the FDA said.

-----

Most Imported Food Never Inspected: Report

More than 98 percent of imported food is never inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the two federal agencies charged with protecting Americans against tainted food, the Progressive Policy Institute said Friday. Imported food now accounts for about 13 percent of the average American's diet.

Some 76 million Americans get sick each year from eating spoiled, contaminated or tainted food, leading to 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths, the Washington, D.C.-based group said in a statement.

While the FDA is responsible for 80 percent of the nation's food supply, 80 percent of the nation's annual food-safety budget goes to the Department of Agriculture, the PPI said.

"Currently, Americans are protected against tainted goods by a system of redundant, inefficient programs that let too many dangerous products through the cracks," the institute added.

The PPI offered the following remedies for what it said was an ailing food-inspection system:

1. Grant food inspection authority to a sole agency, which should have stronger authority to recall unsafe food products, and would establish uniform standards for all domestic and imported foods.
2. Focus attention on goods from nations with a history of problem imports. According to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), the United States rejects twice as many food shipments from China as from all other foreign nations combined. Nonetheless, China exported $4.2 billion in food and agriculture to the United States last year.
3. Create a stronger federal recall authority. Currently, only infant formula is subject to any form of mandatory recall authority.
4. Use a program designed to prevent the import of terrorist weapons -- the Container Security Initiative -- to inspect food shipments. The infrastructure created for the program exists in more than 50 ports around the world.

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Some Question Validity of 9/11 Health Data

A New York City program dedicated to monitoring the health of Ground Zero recovery workers has not always had the resources to do the job properly, and its performance in collecting data on post-9/11 health problems sometimes has been flawed, The New York Times reported Friday.

The Irving J. Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, based at Mount Sinai Medical Center, has either directly examined or overseen the examination of more than 20,000 workers. Clinic doctors have published the largest and best-known studies of Ground Zero workers' health problems, the newspaper said.

"Six years after the disaster, it is clear that while the center's efforts have been well meaning, even heroic to some, its performance in a number of important areas has been flawed, some doctors say. For years after 9/11, the clinic did not have adequate resources or time to properly collect detailed medical data on workers exposed to Ground Zero dust," the Times reported.

Clinic doctors presented their research in ways that some experts said were scientifically questionable, having provided vague descriptions of workers' symptoms and their prognoses, the newspaper said. Experts also told the Times that the clinic's historical ties to labor unions may have influenced some of the health claims made public, and called into question whether those claims could be fully supported by study data.

Part of the problem is that there are no definitive records on how many people toiled at Ground Zero, or for how long. Also, no one knows precisely what was in the dust the workers inhaled. Finally, since many workers hadn't seen a doctor regularly before Sept. 11, 2001, there's no reliable way to confirm when respiratory symptoms and health problems actually began, the newspaper said.

The clinic's leaders acknowledge that their efforts were potentially troubled. But they said they did the best they could under the circumstances, citing their ever-increasing responsibilities with federal financing that came in fits and starts.

Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, who has overseen the clinic's efforts to help Ground Zero workers, said, "I'll accept that we could have done some things better and there's always room for improvement. You have to have a thick skin in this business."

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Chinese-Made Candles Pose Burn Hazards

Some 83,000 Chinese-made outdoor candles sold at Ace Hardware stores nationwide are being recalled because their unusually high flames pose burn and fire hazards to users, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday.

The Hayes citronella "Avant Yarde" decorative candles have glazed lower portions that are brown, blue or green. Item number 18134 can be found on a label on the bottom of the product.

The candles were sold from February 2006 through June 2007 for about $8.

Consumers should stop using the products immediately and return them to any Ace Hardware store for a refund. To learn more, contact the distributor, Hayes Co. Inc., at 800-838-5053.

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Students, Parents Get Low Marks on Hand Washing

The average student in the United States earns only a "D" when it comes to understanding and practicing basic hand hygiene, according to this year's annual report card from the Soap and Detergent Association.

Parents fared slightly better, getting an overall grade of "C." Moms averaged out at "B-," while Dads earned only a "D+," the trade group said in a statement.

School nurses and health professionals surveyed earned the highest average marks at "B+," while teachers were awarded a "B-."

The group's 2007 "Clean Hands Report Card" was based on telephone interviews and on-site surveys.

The SDA offered this refresher course on effective hand washing:

• Wet hands with warm running water before using soap.
• With soap, rub hands together to a lather, away from the running water.
• Wash the front and back of the hands, between the fingers and under the nails for at least 20 seconds.
• Rinse well under warm running water.
• Dry hands well with either a clean towel or air dryer.
• Hand sanitizers or wipes will suffice if soap and water aren't available.

Health Tips for September 8

Health Tip: Keep a Health Journal

A health journal is meant to be a complete record of a person's medications, illnesses, symptoms, surgeries or procedures.

A health journal helps you and your doctor keep track of what makes you sick or what causes symptoms, and you can use it to become a healthier person.

Here are suggestions for what to include in your health journal, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Any illness or injury you've sustained.
* Any hospitalizations or surgeries.
* Any symptoms or allergies that you've had.
* OTC medications, prescription medications, supplements and vitamins that you take, including the dosage and how often you take them.
* Any diseases, conditions or illnesses that run in your family.

Health Tip: Safety at the Salon

Salons that don't follow proper safety procedures may pass along infections to customers who get manicures or pedicures.

Before you get too comfy in a salon chair, consider these suggestions from the International Pedicure Association:

* Be sure all areas of the salon look clean.
* All technicians at the salon must be licensed, and their licenses displayed.
* Before a manicure or pedicure begins, the technician should examine your hands or feet and point out any signs of infection or other health condition.
* All tools should be disinfected after use on prior customers.
* All tools that cannot be sterilized must be disposed of.
* The salon should be properly ventilated.
* Each customer must receive a clean towel.

Health Headlines - September 7

Pavarotti, Opera Superstar, Dead at 71

Luciano Pavarotti, the charismatic opera star who enjoyed worldwide acclaim, died Thursday morning at his home in the northern Italian city of Modena.

The 71-year-old tenor, one of the few opera singers to win widespread fame as a popular superstar, had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. He was released from an Italian hospital on Aug. 25 and was undergoing treatment at his home until his death, BBC News reported.

Pavarotti came down with respiratory problems during the summer while on vacation at his villa on the Adriatic coast. He had undergone five rounds of chemotherapy since his cancer surgery last year, the BBC said.

Pavarotti, who was said to be planning a farewell tour, last sang in public in Italy in 2006 during opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics in Turin.

Pavarotti enjoyed mingling with pop stars in his series of charity concerts, "Pavarotti & Friends," held annually in Modena. He performed with artists as varied as Ricky Martin, James Brown and the Spice Girls, the Associated Press reported.

The performances raised some eyebrows but he always dismissed the criticism.

Some say the "word 'pop' is a derogatory word to say 'not important' -- I do not accept that," Pavarotti told the AP in a 2004 interview. "If the word 'classic' is the word to say 'boring,' I do not accept. There is good and bad music."

Pavarotti also enjoyed chart-topping success as part of the "Three Tenors," which included fellow opera stars Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras.

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Students, Parents Get Low Marks on Hand Washing

The average student in the United States earns only a "D" when it comes to understanding and practicing basic hand hygiene, according to this year's annual report card from the Soap and Detergent Association.

Parents fared slightly better, getting an overall grade of "C." Moms averaged out at "B-," while Dads earned only a "D+," the trade group said in a statement.

School nurses and health professionals surveyed earned the highest average marks at "B+," while teachers were awarded a "B-."

The group's 2007 "Clean Hands Report Card" was based on telephone interviews and on-site surveys.

The SDA offered this refresher course on effective hand washing:

• Wet hands with warm running water before using soap.
• With soap, rub hands together to a lather, away from the running water.
• Wash the front and back of the hands, between the fingers and under the nails for at least 20 seconds.
• Rinse well under warm running water.
• Dry hands well with either a clean towel or air dryer.
• Hand sanitizers or wipes will suffice if soap and water aren't available.

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Teen Use of Illicit Drugs Declining: Survey

Use of illicit drugs fell to 9.8 percent in 2006 among American teens, down from 11.6 percent in 2002, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said Thursday.

Marijuana use among youth ages 12 to 17 fell significantly to 6.7 percent last year from 8.2 percent in 2002, the agency said in a statement. Underage drinking, however, was unchanged from 2002 at 28.3 percent in 2006.

On the other hand, the agency said it was concerned about an upswing in misuse among young people of prescription drugs, notably painkillers. Some 6.4 percent of adolescents abused prescription drugs in 2006, up from 5.4 percent in 2002.

In general, 22.6 million people aged 12 and older had either substance abuse or dependency problems in the last year, SAMHSA's 2006 survey found. Of those, 3.2 million abused both alcohol and illicit drugs, 3.8 million abused illicit drugs but not alcohol, and 15.6 million abused alcohol but not illicit drugs.

Some 2.5 million people in the United States received treatment for substance abuse at specialty facilities in 2006, the agency said.

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Fresh Tomatoes Source of Salmonella: CDC

As many as 190 confirmed cases of salmonella poisoning from eating contaminated fresh tomatoes were reported in four multi-state outbreaks last year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

And because about 97.5 percent of salmonella infections are never confirmed by culture, the number of people sickened from contaminated tomatoes was probably substantially higher, the CDC said.

Last year's outbreaks originated from producers in Florida, Ohio, and Virginia. Sources may have included feces from domestic animals, and contaminated ponds or drainage ditches, the agency said. About 5 billion pounds of fresh tomatoes are eaten each year in the United States.

To help lessen their risk of salmonella infection, consumers should avoid buying bruised or damaged tomatoes, the CDC said. All tomatoes, regardless of their source, should be thoroughly washed under running water just before eating. Tomatoes that appear spoiled should be thrown out, and cut, peeled, or cooked tomatoes should be refrigerated at 40 degrees F (4.4 degrees C) within two hours or discarded.

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Global Warming May Worsen Heart Problems: Experts

The human heart may be the latest known casualty of global warming, some experts attending a cardiology conference in Vienna say.

"If it really is a few degrees warmer in the next 50 years, we could definitely have more cardiovascular disease," the Associated Press quoted Dr. Karin Schenck-Gustafsson, a cardiologist at Sweden's Karolinska Institute, as saying at the European Society of Cardiology's annual meeting.

As the human body sweats in higher temperatures, blood is sent to the skin where temperatures are cooler, the wire service explained. This opens up blood vessels, increases a person's heart rate and drops blood pressure. This sequence of events can be dangerous for older people, especially those with heart problems.

Dr. Gordon Tomaselli, chief of cardiology at Johns Hopkins University, likened the hardening of the arteries (called atherosclerosis) to rust that forms on a car. "Rust develops much more quickly at warm temperatures, and so does atherosclerosis," he said.

But because of all of the uncertainties about the effects and pace of global warming, and a lack of positive proof of a connection between climate change and heart problems, "there are too many unknowns to make predictions about how many more people will have heart problems in the future," the AP reported.

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FDA Panel Recommends HIV Drug's Approval

An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has unanimously recommended that the full agency approve Merck & Co.'s HIV drug Isentress (raltegravir) for people who are running out of treatment options, the Associated Press reports.

Isentress is among a new class of antiviral drugs called integrase inhibitors, which target an enzyme that allows the AIDS-causing virus to infect cells and reproduce itself. It's meant to be included among a "cocktail" of medications to combat HIV in people who have become resistant to other medications, the wire service said.

In two recent trials, the drug "reduced the virus to almost undetectable levels" after four months in as many as 62 percent of patients who took it in combination with other HIV medications, the Bloomberg news service said. That compared with up to 36 percent of patients who took a non-medicinal placebo along with the other HIV treatments.

A decision about Isentress from the full FDA is likely by next month. While the agency isn't bound by the recommendations of its expert panels, it usually follows them.

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Britain to Allow Creation of Hybrid Embryos

The British agency that oversees human embryo research is prepared to permit creation of embryos for experimental use that are part human, part animal, the Washington Post reports.

Researchers hope to determine whether such hybrid embryos could yield embryonic stem cells that may aid them in developing therapies for diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The embryos would be created by injecting human DNA into cow or rabbit eggs, whose own DNA has mostly been removed, the newspaper said.

Currently, embryos used for research generally have come from women treated with hormones. But in order to harvest stem cells, these embryos must be destroyed, which has raised ethical concerns.

In 2001, U.S. President George Bush limited federal funding for research to only stem-cell lines that existed at the time. Researchers have since found that many of those lines are contaminated.

The new ruling by Britain's Human Fertilisation and Embryo Authority said it acknowledged the concerns of opponents who feared "the specter of rogue scientists growing the embryos into weird human-animal creatures," the Post reported.

In a statement, the agency said the decision was not "a total green light" for hybrid research, "but recognition that this area of research can, with caution and careful scrutiny, be permitted."

Health Tips for September 7

Health Tip: Some Must Be Extra Careful With OTC Drugs

Some people should be very cautious about taking any medications, even those sold over the counter. The American Academy of Family Physicians says the following groups of people should check with their doctor before taking any drug or supplement:

* Pregnant women, and women who are trying to get pregnant.
* Women who are breast-feeding.
* Children.
* Older adults.
* People with health conditions.
* People taking any other medication, whether prescription or over the counter.

Health Tip: Help Prevent Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen, inflamed veins in the anus or rectum. They may be caused by factors including straining during bowel movements, pregnancy and constipation.

The pain of hemorrhoids can be treated with hemorrhoidal creams, ointments or suppositories, says the National Digestive Diseases Informational Clearinghouse. Warm water baths also can help ease symptoms.

Constipation, the root cause of many cases of hemorrhoids, can be prevented with a diet rich in fiber from fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Drinking plenty of water and regular exercise also can help.

Active cases of constipation may be treated with stool softeners or fiber supplements, the agency says.

Health Headlines - September 6

Mattel Recalls Thousands of Additional Toys Made in China

Mattel is recalling 848,000 Chinese-made Barbie and Fisher-Price toys that may contain excessive lead, the third huge recall by the world's top toymaker in five weeks, the Bloomberg news service reported Wednesday.

The latest recall includes Barbie kitchen and furniture accessories, Fisher-Price trains, and Bongo Band drums. The number of recalled toys since August now tops 21 million, Bloomberg said, although no injuries have been reported. Mattel produces 65 percent of its toys through China.

Mattel said consumers should visit its Web site to learn if they have any of the recalled products.

"We apologize again to everyone affected and promise that we will continue to focus on ensuring the safety and quality of our toys," Mattel chief executive officer Robert Eckert said in a statement.

Last month's recalls of more than 20 million toys involved Barbie, Pollie Pocket, Batman, Sesame Street, and Dora the Explorer items, Bloomberg reported. Most were for containing excessive lead-based paint, but others involved small magnets that if swallowed could clump together and cause intestinal damage.

Lead can be toxic if ingested by children, causing brain damage, behavioral and learning problems.

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Connecticut Man Acquired Anthrax From Drum

A Danbury, Conn., man has contracted cutaneous anthrax from handling African drums, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

The man was not identified, but the city's mayor, Mark Boughton, told a local newspaper that the roads around the man's home had been cordoned off, the wire service said.

Terrorism is not suspected in the case, and no additional details were available.

Cutaneous anthrax, the most common form of anthrax infection, is a non-contagious skin infection and is usually successfully treated with antibiotics. Inhalation anthrax, by contrast, kills about 75 percent of its victims after it infects the lungs, the AP said.

In February 2006, a similar case was reported in which a New York City man who handled African drums made from goat skins contracted anthrax and was hospitalized for weeks, the wire service said.

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Pavarotti's Health Worsens: Report

The health of opera star Luciano Pavarotti, who has been struggling with pancreatic cancer, has worsened and he's in "very serious" condition, BBC News reported Wednesday, quoting Italian media.

Pavarotti, 71, had been released from an Italian hospital on Aug. 25 and is being treated at his home in the northern city of Modena, surrounded by family and friends.

The famed tenor came down with respiratory problems during the summer while on vacation at his villa on the Adriatic coast. He has undergone five rounds of chemotherapy since his cancer surgery last year, the BBC said.

Pavarotti, who's planning a farewell tour, last sang in public in Italy in 2006 during opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics in Turin.

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Exercise May Help Heart Fix Itself

Not only will exercise help keep your heart healthy, it may help your heart repair itself, German researchers said Wednesday at a European Society of Cardiology meeting in Vienna.

A Leipzig University study of 37 people found that people with significant heart failure who rode a bicycle for up to 30 minutes each day over four months produced new stem cells and small blood vessels. People who didn't ride the bike didn't show these changes, the Associated Press reported.

Exercise can send up to 10 times the normal amount of blood to muscles, the wire service said. Stem cells may then be dispatched to repair any damage to the muscles. With continued exercise, these cells may also help adapt the body to stress by building new vessels and strengthening the muscles.

"People think that if they have heart failure then they're at the end of the road and they can't exercise," said Dr. Freek Verheugt, a cardiologist at the University of Nymegen in the Netherlands. "But this study shows that exercise can work to produce new blood vessels, even in patients with serious heart disease."

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Poor More Likely to Be Hospitalized for Diabetes

Residents of poor communities are much more likely to be hospitalized for diabetes or its complications than those who live in more affluent places, a new U.S. analysis finds.

People who live in areas with an average income of less than $37,000 were 80 percent more likely to be hospitalized for diabetes than people in communities with an average income of $61,000 or more, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality said in a Wednesday news release.

Diabetes-related hospital admissions soared 85 percent to 6.5 million from 3.5 million between 1993 and 2005, the agency said. Such admissions accounted for 17 percent of the nation's hospital stays in 2005.

People 65 or older were five times more likely than the national average to be hospitalized for diabetes-related problems, the AHRQ added.

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FDA Warns Against Use of Tanning Supplement

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned a Tennessee company to stop selling a tanning agent called Melanotan II. The agency is also warning consumers to stop using the product and to contact a physician if they've seen any side effects of the product's use.

"This product is being mislabeled, marketed and sold illegally as a preventative against skin cancer and as a tanning agent," Dr. Steven Galson, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement.

The agency said the supplement's marketer, Melanocorp Inc., has also claimed that the product can protect against rosacea, a skin condition characterized by redness and flushing. The FDA said these types of claims constituted marketing the product as a drug, adding that the agency has never approved the product for any use.

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Popcorn Fumes Could Be Dangerous: Expert

People who are frequently exposed to fumes from butter-flavored microwave popcorn could be in danger of acquiring a pulmonary disease often called "popcorn lung," a lung specialist has warned in a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Dr. Cecile Rose said she and her colleagues at Denver's National Jewish Medical and Research Center have identified what's believed to be the first case of a consumer who developed the disease after microwaving popcorn several times daily for years, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

"We cannot be sure that this patient's exposure to butter-flavored microwave popcorn from daily heavy preparation has caused his lung disease. However, we have no other plausible explanation," the wire service quoted Rose as saying.

Popcorn lung, a potentially fatal respiratory disease, has been the focus of lawsuits from hundreds of workers at popcorn factories who are heavily exposed to the chemicals used to produce buttery flavoring, the AP said. Symptoms include coughing and shortness of breath.

In response to Rose's letter, written in July but made public this week, the Flavor and Extract Manufacturer's Association issued a statement recommending that popcorn producers limit the amount of the chemical diacetyl in butter flavorings. One national popcorn maker, Indianapolis-based Weaver Popcorn Co., has already said it was working to replace the chemical, the wire service reported.

The FDA said it was still evaluating Rose's letter and "carefully considering the safety and regulator issues it raises," the AP said.

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New Drug Effective in Fighting Cholesterol: Study

Clinical testing of the new anti-cholesterol drug Cordaptive finds it is safe and effective in raising users' good cholesterol and lowering bad cholesterol, the drug's maker says.

Merck & Co.'s Cordaptive combines an extended-release form of the B-vitamin niacin with a chemical to limit a common side effect of niacin use called flushing, the Associated Press reported. Flushing is characterized by redness of the face and a burning and tingling of the area.

Merck said its 24-week study of 1,600 patients found that compared with patients who took a placebo, Cordaptive led to an 18 percent drop in LDL (bad) cholesterol and a 20 percent increase in HDL (good) cholesterol. The company also reported a 26 percent decline in another type of harmful blood fat called triglycerides.

Results stayed about the same regardless of whether trial participants also took cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins, the AP said.

Health Tips for September 6

Health Tip: Break the Habit of Thumb Sucking

Babies and young children satisfy the natural reflex to suck by sucking on pacifiers, fingers or thumbs. However, thumb sucking can affect the alignment of permanent teeth as they grow in.

While most children will stop the habit on their own between the ages of 2 and 4, others may need help. Here are suggestions to help your child stop sucking his or her thumb, courtesy of the American Dental Association:

* Don't scold the child when they do suck the thumb, but praise him or her when they aren't doing it.
* If your child sucks the thumb when anxious, upset or frightened, try to resolve the root of the anxiety.
* For a child old enough to understand, let him or her decide on how to break the habit.
* Have your child talk to the doctor or dentist about the damage that can be done by continuing to suck the thumb.
* Try wrapping the thumb in a bandage, a sock, or coating it with a bitter-tasting solution.

Health Tip: Preventing a Bunion

A bunion is a sore, swollen bump on the foot at the joint of the big toe. It can be very sore and painful, and may require surgery to remove.

Here are suggestions to prevent a bunion, courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

* Never try to force your foot into a shoe that doesn't fit well, or is too tight.
* Wear soft-soled shoes with wide insteps and ample space for the toes.
* Don't wear any heels higher than 2 1/4 inches.
* Avoid pointy-toed shoes.
* Wear cushioned pads in your shoes to prevent a bunion, and also to ease the pain of a bunion that has already formed.

Health Headlines - September 5

New Study Finds Risks in Drug-Coated Stents

Drug-coated stents aren't the best treatment for all heart patients, even those at risk of heart attack, new research finds.

Heart attack patients who had the expensive devices installed to prop open arteries in an emergency situation were five times more likely to die after two years than similar patients who received bare-metal stents, according to results presented Tuesday at a meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in Vienna.

Previous studies had found risks for using drug-lined stents, but mostly among non-emergency heart cases, the Associated Press reported.

Stents are wire mesh tubes used to prop open arteries, notably after a common artery-clearing procedure called angioplasty. Drug-coated stents are also used in as many as 30 percent of Americans having heart attacks, the AP said.

Dr. Gabriel Steg, of the Hospital Bichat-Claude Bernard in Paris, studied almost 2,300 patients from 94 hospitals in 14 countries. Some 75 percent of patients had bare metal stents, and 27 of those died. By contrast, of the 25 percent who had drug-coated stents, 49 died, the wire service reported.

Experts cited by the AP said there were differences among these patients that could have affected their outcomes. However, the findings were cause enough to re-evaluate drug-coated stents, they added.

The study was funded by Sanofi-Aventis, which makes anti-clotting drugs that could also be used to treat these heart problems, the AP noted.

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Genome Pioneer Mapping Own DNA

Genome pioneer J. Craig Venter has just finished publishing about 96 percent of a person's genetic code, the most comprehensive publishing of the human genome to date.

He's quite familiar with the owner of this DNA blueprint, because it's his own, reports CNN.

"Our genes can tell us probabilities of what might happen and give us a chance to do something about it," the billionaire biologist told the network.

Venter just published almost all 6 billion letters of his genetic code in the journal PLoS Biology. His father died of a heart attack, and Venter said he found at least three genes linked to increased heart attack risk. He said he now takes a statin drug to lower his blood cholesterol.

Venter said he also found a gene linked to Alzheimer's disease, for which there is no known family history. He's also found genetic links to blindness, alcoholism, lactose intolerance, substance abuse, high blood pressure, and obesity, CNN said.

Venter stressed that the findings are not proof that he will go on to develop the conditions, only that he may be at increased risk.

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Depressed Often Underserved by Primary Care Doctors: Study

Most clinically depressed people who are treated by their primary care doctors do not receive care "consistent with quality standards," a new Rand Corp. study concludes.

For the 1,131 people with depression studied, physicians showed low rates of adherence to nearly half of 20 standard treatment recommendations, the non-profit research organization said in a statement.

Fewer than half of the patients in the study completed the minimal course of treatment for either antidepressant drugs or psychotherapy, the researchers found. The lowest quality of care was given to patients with the most serious symptoms, including evidence of suicidal thoughts or substance abuse, Rand said.

"These findings are important for patients since most cases of depression are diagnosed and treated in primary care settings," said study lead author Dr. Lisa Rubenstein, a Rand scientist. "This shows that additional efforts are needed to improve the treatment of depression."

Study results are published in the September issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Overweight Kids Prone to Iron Deficiency

Overweight toddlers, especially those of Hispanic origin, seem to be more prone to iron deficiency, new research concludes.

Twenty percent of children ages 1 to 3 years are iron deficient, compared with 7 percent of toddlers of normal weight, scientists at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center said. Low blood iron levels reduce the amount of oxygen carried through the body, leading to mental and behavioral delays, the Associated Press reported.

Experts advised that toddlers should eat iron-rich foods including meats, beans, eggs, spinach, and fortified breads, the wire service said. Those who are still fed from bottles tend to drink low-iron milk and juice at the expense of eating sold foods, said study co-author Jane Brotanek.

"What you put in your baby's bottle can affect your child's future," she said.

Hispanic toddlers are more likely than those who are white or black to be obese, which could explain their increased tendency to be iron deficient, Brotanek said. Twelve percent of Hispanic toddlers were iron deficient, compared to 6 percent of whites and 6 percent of blacks, the AP reported.

The research is published in this month's issue of the journal Pediatrics.

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Women May Need Different Heart Remedies Than Men

Cardiac surgeries that can save the lives of men may be deadly for women, a new study finds.

The notion that women with heart problems should be treated differently than men was raised by the study results, presented at the annual European Society of Cardiology meeting in Vienna. The study of 184 women found that those who had major heart surgeries like coronary bypass were more likely than men to die, the Associated Press reported.

The research was conducted at University Hospital in Linkoping, Sweden, and funded by global drugmakers Sanofi-Aventis and GlaxoSmithKline. Experts said while the findings offered no rock-solid conclusions, they said the notion that female and male cardiac patients should be treated differently warranted further study, the wire service reported.

In August, the American College of Cardiology revised guidelines to recommend that doctors should consider avoiding invasive surgeries on low-risk women.

"We want there to be equality between the genders, but that doesn't mean that women and men should get the same treatment," said Dr. Eva Swahn, the study's lead author.

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Police Officer's Taser Demonstration Led to Spinal Fractures

A police officer who volunteered to participate in a Taser demonstration suffered spinal fractures and perhaps lasting spinal damage, according to a newly published case study in the journal Annals of Emergency Medicine.

The unidentified 38-year-old man was treated at the University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C., the journal said in a prepared statement. In the first such injury reported in medical literature, the law enforcement officer suffered compression fractures of the spine, almost certainly caused by muscle spasms triggered by the model X26 Taser, sometimes called a "stun gun."

"Normally after Taser exposure, pain stops after the discharge is over. In this case, the pain continued for a long time, leading the patient to reduce his work hours significantly," said Dr. James Winslow, one of the physicians who treated the injured officer.

"Although rare, vertebral fractures as a result of severe muscle contractions induced by the Taser are a possibility, as this case makes clear," Winslow continued. "Medical personnel and law enforcement officers should recognize that these weapons are still associated with injuries."

Health Tips for September 5

Health Tip: Prepare a First Aid Kit

It's important to have an emergency first aid kit on hand in the event of minor cuts, scrapes, burns or other injuries.

Make sure your first aid kit includes this list of essentials suggested by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

* Two pairs of sterile latex gloves (or gloves made of other material if there are known latex allergies).
* Sterile dressings, gauze pads or adhesive bandages.
* Antibacterial soap or towelettes, and antibiotic ointment.
* Burn ointment.
* Eye wash solution.
* A supply of your regular daily prescription medications.
* A thermometer.
* Prescribed medical supplies, like glucose or blood pressure monitoring equipment.

Health Tip: Caring For Your Hearing Aid

A hearing aid is an expensive and sophisticated electronic device that should be cared for properly to help extend its life.

Here are suggestions for how to keep your hearing aid functioning properly, courtesy of the U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders:

* Protect your hearing aid from contact with heat or moisture.
* Clean your hearing aid thoroughly and frequently as directed by your audiologist. Excess wax and drainage from the ears can damage the appliance.
* Protect your hearing aid from hair spray and other hair care products. Don't wear the hearing aid until you've finished applying these products.
* Turn your hearing aid off when you're not using it.
* Store batteries in a convenient place, but safely out of reach of children and pets.
* Replace dead batteries promptly.

Health Headlines - September 4

Highly-Trained Athletes May Need Heart Screening More than the General Population

Athletes who participate in the most strenuous sports, such as soccer and American football, are more likely than the general population to develop an abnormal heartbeat known as arrhythmia, which can lead to death, European cardiologists heard Monday.

And, according to the Associated Press, a universal screening program can prevent cardiac death in many athletes who outwardly show no sign that there is anything wrong with them.

The only country known to do heart screening for all its professional athletes is Italy, the wire service reports. Dr. Domenico Corrado of the University of Padua told colleagues at the European Society for Cardiology meeting in Vienna that since the program was begun in 1981, the rate of fatal heart attacks among professional Italian athletes has been reduced from four cases per 100,000 to 0.4 cases per 100,000.

Intense physical training in high-intensity sports can cause adrenaline production to over-stimulate the heart, Carrado said. "Sport acts as a trigger," the A.P. quotes him as saying.

"Athletes may have a silent but important heart disease that's not... manifest," said Dr. Douglas Zipes, a cardiologist at Indiana University School of Medicine.

How much does the heart screening cost? About $82 per athelete, Corrado told the wire service.

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Increased Demand for Leafy Vegetables Hikes Contamination Risk, Experts Say

It's almost a contradiction in terms: The more "healthy" fresh, leafy vegetables people eat, the more the likelihood that some sort of food poisoning bacteria will be in found in some of it.

That grim conclusion comes from experts speaking Monday at the Society for General Microbiology's 161st Meeting at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The desire for fresh produce, especially by Europeans and North Americans, has caused year-round production of leafy vegetables, which are particularly susceptible to the E. coli and salmonella bacteria.

The demand for this produce -- in part because it is believed to be good for one's health -- has required new methods to clean, package and quickly deliver it across large distances to consumers in many parts of the world, a society news release says.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 73,000 cases and 61 deaths occur in the United States each year from E.coli. And 40,000 cases of salmonella are reported in the United States annually, the CDC says. In fact, 20 tons of ground beef were recalled late last week in four states because of possible E. coli contamination, and a nationwide recall for bags of fresh spinach was announced Aug. 30 in the United States because of possibility of salmonella bacteria.

The problem of keeping massive amounts of produce free from these contaminants is not easily solved, says a U.S. expert. "This situation complicates strategies for eliminating illnesses and outbreaks due to the complex ecosystem of multiple potential sources, such as water, wildlife, and nearby livestock, all of which could be sources of bacteria causing food poisoning", says Robert Mandrell, from the US Department of Agriculture's Research Service in the news release.

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DNA Variant Confirms Genetic Link to Differences in Height

The scientific theory that a person's height is most often influenced by how tall his or her forbears were now has genetic confirmation.

Reporting in the Sept. 2 online edition of the journal Nature Genetics, American and British scientists say they have found a genetic variant in human DNA associated with height, and this is the first time such a genetic link has been confirmed.

The key to finding the "height" variant came through examining the coding in the human genome, according to a news release from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, one the organizations that conducted the research. Scientists examined DNA from 35,000 people and found that a gene known as HMGA2 had different coding, to indicate a person's height. A "C" code instead of a "T" code was found in taller people, the researchers said.

"Because height is a complex trait, involving a variety of genetic and non-genetic factors, it can teach us valuable lessons about the genetic framework of other complex traits such as diabetes, cancer and other common human diseases," said co-senior author Dr. Joel Hirschhorn, an associate professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Broad Institute, in the news release.

Linking height to DNA is just the first step in using DNA to identify many different human variables, the researchers report. "Soon the scientific community will have access to many more large-scale genomic data sets, making it feasible to identify additional genes involved in height," Hirschhorn added.

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Cancer Society Using Entire Advertising Budget as an Alert to Problems of the Uninsured

The American Cancer Society has decided to use its $15 million annual advertising budget to attack a health problem that its chief executive says overwhelms almost every other one in the United States: the rising number of uninsured Americans.

The New York Times reports that recent U.S Census figures have shown that the number of Americans without health insurance rose in 2006 to 47 million, almost 16 percent of the population. And it is this growing number of people who don't have the coverage to get preventative tests, such as mammograms, that may be slowing down a successful fight against cancer, the Times reports.

With 560,000 Americans estimated to die from cancer this year, the financial burden actually causes poverty in one-in-five families, the newspaper says. "I believe, if we don't fix the health care system, that lack of access will be a bigger cancer killer than tobacco," the Times quotes John R. Seffrin, cancer society chief executive, as saying. "The ultimate control of cancer is as much a public policy issue as it is a medical and scientific issue."

Two other health organizations are using a significant amount of their advertising budgets to campaign for more affordable health insurance: AARP and the American Medical Association.

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First New Smallpox Vaccine Since 1931 Approved by FDA

After a number of clinical trials, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the licensing of a new smallpox vaccine.

The vaccine, ACAM2000 -- made by Acambis Inc. of Cambridge, England -- will be for inoculating people at "high risk of exposure to smallpox and could be used to protect individuals and populations during a bioterrorist attack," the FDA says in a news release. It is the first smallpox vaccine approved by the FDA since 1931.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paid $30 million for 10 million doses of ACAM2000 in 2006, and the FDA's announcement of the vaccine's licensing indicates that it will become a main source to protect against smallpox if it becomes necessary.

The last case of smallpox, which is often fatal, was reported in Somalia in 1977. But since the 2001 World Trade Center attack, closely followed by the mailing of anthrax spores that struck 22 people and killed five, the U.S. government has worked to prevent bioterror attacks, including smallpox.

"The licensing of ACAM2000 will make us better prepared as a nation because it provides an important, effective tool for protecting first responders and individuals with a high risk of exposure from this potentially lethal disease," said Rear Adm. W. Craig Vanderwagen, M.D., assistant secretary for preparedness and response, in the news release.

And although the vaccine is designed to be available to those who would be most exposed to smallpox initially, the supply would also be much more available to the general population with the production of ACAM2000, the FDA said.

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Symptoms of Gestational Hypertension Intensifying, Study Finds

Increased stress during pregnancy may be causing hypertension to become life-threatening, new research concludes.

Writing in the September-October issue of the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, Temple University lead author Kathleen Black reported that the condition, known as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, appears to be getting more severe in the 6-to-8 percent of pregnant women who suffer from it.

Preeclampsia and gestational hypertension occur at about 20 weeks into pregnancy, according to a Temple University news release. Black's research team found that the intensity of the condition is increasing, as are the the symptoms. "The condition is variable and can change quickly," Black said in the news release. "We need to be aware of symptoms changing from mild to worse."

The commonest symptoms of preecalmpsia and gestational hypertension are headaches, dizziness, frequent vomiting and malaise, Black said. The severest forms of this condition can cause fetal developmental problems in the fetus and sometimes can cause death, either in the baby or the mother, according to the news release.

Pregnant women with symptoms associated with preecalmpsia and gestational hypertension should contact their doctor immediately, Black emphasized.

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Ground Beef Recalled for E. Coli Contamination

As one of the most popular holidays for grilling is here, some 20 tons of ground beef are being recalled in four states due to possible E. coli contamination, the Seattle Times reported Friday.

At least nine people in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho were sickened by the meat, which was processed between July 19 and July 30. The meat was also sold in Alaska.

While the sell-by dates have expired and the meat is no longer believed on store shelves, federal and state officials issued a consumer alert in case any of the meat remained in consumers' freezers.

Affected products included 16-ounce packages of "Northwest Finest 7% Fat, Natural Ground Beef" with UPC code label "752907 600127" and 16-ounce packages of "Northwest Finest 10% Fat, Organic Ground Beef" with expiration dates between Aug. 1 and Aug. 11, the newspaper said. Packages also bear the establishment number "Est. 965" inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture mark of inspection.

The beef, produced by Oregon-based Interstate Meats, was sold by grocers including Safeway, QFC, Fred Meyer, and possibly other stores.

E. coli can cause mild-to-severe intestinal illness including possible symptoms of bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting.

Health Tips for September 4

Health Tip: Get Enough Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential in helping the body absorb calcium. It also helps keep a healthy balance of phosphorous and calcium in the blood.

Here are foods that are good sources of vitamin D, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

* Dairy products, including cheese, butter, cream and fortified milk.
* Fish.
* Oysters.
* Fortified cereals.
* Margarine.

Health Tip: Help Prevent Medical Errors

Medical errors can occur when doctors don't have all of the information they need from a patient, including a comprehensive list of medications the patient takes, patient symptoms, and advice the patient has received from other doctors.

To reduce your risk, follow these suggestions from the American Academy of Family Physicians:

* Give each of your doctors a complete list of every drug and supplement you take -- including prescriptions, OTCs, supplements, vitamins and herbs. Update this list at least once a year.
* Make sure your doctor knows all of your allergies and adverse reactions to medications or substances.
* Ask questions about your medications before you start taking them.
* Have your doctor write prescriptions legibly and clearly to avoid errors at the pharmacy.
* Make sure your doctor or pharmacist gives you written information about potential side effects.
* Make sure each of your doctors has a complete medical history.

Health Headlines - September 3

DNA Variant Confirms Genetic Link to Differences in Height

The scientific theory that a person's height is most often influenced by how tall his or her forbears were now has genetic confirmation.

Reporting in the Sept. 2 online edition of the journal Nature Genetics, American and British scientists say they have found a genetic variant in human DNA associated with height, and this is the first time such a genetic link has been confirmed.

The key to finding the "height" variant came through examining the coding in the human genome, according to a news release from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, one the organizations that conducted the research. Scientists examined DNA from 35,000 people and found that a gene known as HMGA2 had different coding, to indicate a person's height. A "C" code instead of a "T" code was found in taller people, the researchers said.

"Because height is a complex trait, involving a variety of genetic and non-genetic factors, it can teach us valuable lessons about the genetic framework of other complex traits such as diabetes, cancer and other common human diseases," said co-senior author Dr. Joel Hirschhorn, an associate professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Broad Institute, in the news release.

Linking height to DNA is just the first step in using DNA to identify many different human variables, the researchers report. "Soon the scientific community will have access to many more large-scale genomic data sets, making it feasible to identify additional genes involved in height," Hirschhorn added.

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Cancer Society Using Entire Advertising Budget as an Alert to Problems of the Uninsured

The American Cancer Society has decided to use its $15 million annual advertising budget to attack a health problem that its chief executive says overwhelms almost every other one in the United States: the rising number of uninsured Americans.

The New York Times reports that recent U.S Census figures have shown that the number of Americans without health insurance rose in 2006 to 47 million, almost 16 percent of the population. And it is this growing number of people who don't have the coverage to get preventative tests, such as mammograms, that may be slowing down a successful fight against cancer, the Times reports.

With 560,000 Americans estimated to die from cancer this year, the financial burden actually causes poverty in one-in-five families, the newspaper says. "I believe, if we don't fix the health care system, that lack of access will be a bigger cancer killer than tobacco," the Times quotes John R. Seffrin, cancer society chief executive, as saying. "The ultimate control of cancer is as much a public policy issue as it is a medical and scientific issue."

Two other health organizations are using a significant amount of their advertising budgets to campaign for more affordable health insurance: AARP and the American Medical Association.

-----

First New Smallpox Vaccine Since 1931 Approved by FDA

After a number of clinical trials, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the licensing of a new smallpox vaccine.

The vaccine, ACAM2000 -- made by Acambis Inc. of Cambridge, England -- will be for inoculating people at "high risk of exposure to smallpox and could be used to protect individuals and populations during a bioterrorist attack," the FDA says in a news release. It is the first smallpox vaccine approved by the FDA since 1931.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paid $30 million for 10 million doses of ACAM2000 in 2006, and the FDA's announcement of the vaccine's licensing indicates that it will become a main source to protect against smallpox if it becomes necessary.

The last case of smallpox, which is often fatal, was reported in Somalia in 1977. But since the 2001 World Trade Center attack, closely followed by the mailing of anthrax spores that struck 22 people and killed five, the U.S. government has worked to prevent bioterror attacks, including smallpox.

"The licensing of ACAM2000 will make us better prepared as a nation because it provides an important, effective tool for protecting first responders and individuals with a high risk of exposure from this potentially lethal disease," said Rear Adm. W. Craig Vanderwagen, M.D., assistant secretary for preparedness and response, in the news release.

And although the vaccine is designed to be available to those who would be most exposed to smallpox initially, the supply would also be much more available to the general population with the production of ACAM2000, the FDA said.

-----

Symptoms of Gestational Hypertension Intensifying, Study Finds

Increased stress during pregnancy may be causing hypertension to become life-threatening, new research concludes.

Writing in the September-October issue of the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, Temple University lead author Kathleen Black reported that the condition, known as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, appears to be getting more severe in the 6-to-8 percent of pregnant women who suffer from it.

Preeclampsia and gestational hypertension occur at about 20 weeks into pregnancy, according to a Temple University news release. Black's research team found that the intensity of the condition is increasing, as are the the symptoms. "The condition is variable and can change quickly," Black said in the news release. "We need to be aware of symptoms changing from mild to worse."

The commonest symptoms of preecalmpsia and gestational hypertension are headaches, dizziness, frequent vomiting and malaise, Black said. The severest forms of this condition can cause fetal developmental problems in the fetus and sometimes can cause death, either in the baby or the mother, according to the news release.

Pregnant women with symptoms associated with preecalmpsia and gestational hypertension should contact their doctor immediately, Black emphasized.

-----

Ground Beef Recalled for E. Coli Contamination

As one of the most popular holidays for grilling approaches on Monday. some 20 tons of ground beef are being recalled in four states due to possible E. coli contamination, the Seattle Times reported Friday.

At least nine people in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho were sickened by the meat, which was processed between July 19 and July 30. The meat was also sold in Alaska.

While the sell-by dates have expired and the meat is no longer believed on store shelves, federal and state officials issued a consumer alert in case any of the meat remained in consumers' freezers.

Affected products included 16-ounce packages of "Northwest Finest 7% Fat, Natural Ground Beef" with UPC code label "752907 600127" and 16-ounce packages of "Northwest Finest 10% Fat, Organic Ground Beef" with expiration dates between Aug. 1 and Aug. 11, the newspaper said. Packages also bear the establishment number "Est. 965" inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture mark of inspection.

The beef, produced by Oregon-based Interstate Meats, was sold by grocers including Safeway, QFC, Fred Meyer, and possibly other stores.

E. coli can cause mild-to-severe intestinal illness including possible symptoms of bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting.

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New Drug Effective Against Resistant HIV: FDA

The new Merck & Co. HIV drug Isentress (raltegravir) is effective in suppressing the AIDS-causing virus in people who haven't responded to other therapies, the Bloomberg news service reported Friday, citing staff reviewer documents on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site.

An FDA expert advisory panel is slated to meet Sept. 5 to decide whether to recommend approval of the drug.

Isentress uses a different method than existing drugs to combat HIV. It blocks the process that the virus uses to insert genetic material into a person's DNA, which allows the virus to reproduce, Bloomberg said.

In two recent trials, the drug "reduced the virus to almost undetectable levels" after four months in as many as 62 percent of patients who took it in combination with other HIV medications, the news service said. That compared with up to 36 percent of patients who took a non-medicinal placebo along with the other HIV treatments.

Health Tips for September 3

Food Fact:
Culture club.

When yogurt's live active cultures colonize your digestive system, they draw a line in the sand against disease. The cultures -- especially acidophilus and bifida - muscle out potentially threatening bacteria. Low-fat or fat-free yogurt has a lot of other things going for it: It's easy to digest, especially for those who are lactose-intolerant and have difficulty digesting milk and many cheeses; it's an excellent source of calcium, protein, riboflavin (a B vitamin), vitamin B-12 (which may be low in vegetarian diets) and vitamin A; and provides selenium, potassium and magnesium.

Fitness Tip of the day:
Muscled out?

Inactive adults over age 30 lose about 3 - 5% of muscle tissue every 10 years; here's what you can do. Go to the weight room. Strength training prevents the reduction in muscle tissue that causes the body metabolism to slow and makes the bones more vulnerable to conditions like osteoporosis.

FAQ of the day:
Can certain foods prevent cancer?

No one can say with absolute certainty how powerful is diet in preventing cancer. But at least a third (and possibly more) of all cancers have been linked to diet. People who eat the most fruits and vegetables have been shown to have about half the risk of developing cancer as people who rarely eat them. Your genes and other lifestyle factors, such as smoking, have a strong say in your susceptibility to cancer. But it's likely that improving the typical American diet would make a big dent in new cases of cancer, the nation's second biggest killer after heart disease.

Health Headlines - September 2

Cancer Society Using Entire Advertising Budget as an Alert to Problems of the Uninsured

The American Cancer Society has decided to use its $15 million annual advertising budget to attack a health problem that its chief executive says overwhelms almost every other one in the United States: the rising number of uninsured Americans.

The New York Times reports that recent U.S Census figures have shown that the number of Americans without health insurance rose in 2006 to 47 million, almost 16 percent of the population. And it is this growing number of people who don't have the coverage to get preventative tests, such as mammograms, that may be slowing down a successful fight against cancer, the Times reports.

With 560,000 Americans estimated to die from cancer this year, the financial burden actually causes poverty in one-in-five families, the newspaper says. "I believe, if we don't fix the health care system, that lack of access will be a bigger cancer killer than tobacco," the Times quotes John R. Seffrin, cancer society chief executive, as saying. "The ultimate control of cancer is as much a public policy issue as it is a medical and scientific issue."

Two other health organizations are using a significant amount of their advertising budgets to campaign for more affordable health insurance: AARP and the American Medical Association.

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First New Smallpox Vaccine Since 1931 Approved by FDA

After a number of clinical trials, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the licensing of a new smallpox vaccine.

The vaccine, ACAM2000 -- made by Acambis Inc. of Cambridge, England -- will be for inoculating people at "high risk of exposure to smallpox and could be used to protect individuals and populations during a bioterrorist attack," the FDA says in a news release. It is the first smallpox vaccine approved by the FDA since 1931.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paid $30 million for 10 million doses of ACAM2000 in 2006, and the FDA's announcement of the vaccine's licensing indicates that it will become a main source to protect against smallpox if it becomes necessary.

The last case of smallpox, which is often fatal, was reported in Somalia in 1977. But since the 2001 World Trade Center attack, closely followed by the mailing of anthrax spores that struck 22 people and killed five, the U.S. government has worked to prevent bioterror attacks, including smallpox.

"The licensing of ACAM2000 will make us better prepared as a nation because it provides an important, effective tool for protecting first responders and individuals with a high risk of exposure from this potentially lethal disease," said Rear Adm. W. Craig Vanderwagen, M.D., assistant secretary for preparedness and response, in the news release.

And although the vaccine is designed to be available to those who would be most exposed to smallpox initially, the supply would also be much more available to the general population with the production of ACAM2000, the FDA said.

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Ground Beef Recalled for E. Coli Contamination

As one of the most popular holidays for grilling approaches on Monday. some 20 tons of ground beef are being recalled in four states due to possible E. coli contamination, the Seattle Times reported Friday.

At least nine people in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho were sickened by the meat, which was processed between July 19 and July 30. The meat was also sold in Alaska.

While the sell-by dates have expired and the meat is no longer believed on store shelves, federal and state officials issued a consumer alert in case any of the meat remained in consumers' freezers.

Affected products included 16-ounce packages of "Northwest Finest 7% Fat, Natural Ground Beef" with UPC code label "752907 600127" and 16-ounce packages of "Northwest Finest 10% Fat, Organic Ground Beef" with expiration dates between Aug. 1 and Aug. 11, the newspaper said. Packages also bear the establishment number "Est. 965" inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture mark of inspection.

The beef, produced by Oregon-based Interstate Meats, was sold by grocers including Safeway, QFC, Fred Meyer, and possibly other stores.

E. coli can cause mild-to-severe intestinal illness including possible symptoms of bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting.

-----

New Drug Effective Against Resistant HIV: FDA

The new Merck & Co. HIV drug Isentress (raltegravir) is effective in suppressing the AIDS-causing virus in people who haven't responded to other therapies, the Bloomberg news service reported Friday, citing staff reviewer documents on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site.

An FDA expert advisory panel is slated to meet Sept. 5 to decide whether to recommend approval of the drug.

Isentress uses a different method than existing drugs to combat HIV. It blocks the process that the virus uses to insert genetic material into a person's DNA, which allows the virus to reproduce, Bloomberg said.

In two recent trials, the drug "reduced the virus to almost undetectable levels" after four months in as many as 62 percent of patients who took it in combination with other HIV medications, the news service said. That compared with up to 36 percent of patients who took a non-medicinal placebo along with the other HIV treatments.

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Medication Approved for Rare Growth Hormone Disorder

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Somatuline Depot (lanreotide acetate injection) to treat a rare growth hormone-related disorder called acromegaly, the agency said Friday.

The disorder, caused by an abnormal secretion of the hormone, is characterized by enlarged hands, feet, facial bones, and internal organs such as the heart and liver. If untreated, people with the disorder often die prematurely because of heart and respiratory problems, diabetes, or colon cancer, the FDA said. The disorder affects about 15,000 people in the United States and Canada.

The drug's safety and effectiveness were evaluated in two clinical trials involving 400 people. The most frequent side effects were diarrhea, gallstones, skin reactions, slow heart rate, and changes in blood sugar levels.

Samatuline Depot is marketed by Beaufour Ipsen, based in Paris, France.

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Girls Who Diet More Likely to Smoke

Teen girls who diet are twice as likely as their peers to begin smoking, a new University of Florida study finds.

The survey of almost 8,000 adolescents found that the same link did not apply to boys, who are less likely to diet than girls, the school said in a prepared statement. The findings were published in the Aug. 31 issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.

"Dieting was a significant predictor of initiation of regular smoking among females," said Mildred Maldonado-Molina, the study's lead author, who is an assistant professor of epidemiology and health policy research. "We were expecting that this relationship was going to be strong among females."

The study also found that girls who frequently dieted were more likely to smoke. While smoking to suppress the appetite may be a reason that some girls start to smoke, it may not be the only one. Animal studies have shown that if food deprived, they will use more drugs, the researchers said.

Despite the findings, a dieting child is not necessarily going to begin smoking, and parents shouldn't automatically go on "red alert" if their child starts a diet, the scientists said.

Health Tips for September 2

Food Fact:
Go mango.

Nature packs a lot of vitamins A and C into these low-calorie appetizers. Half a medium-sized mango supplies 40% of the vitamin A and 50% of the vitamin C that most of us need daily. All for a mere 67 calories. And it tastes great!

Fitness Tip of the day:
Ice it down.

Running can place a great deal of stress on the knees; here's a tip for do-it-yourself massage packs. Simply fill small paper cups up with water and place in the freezer. Gently massage the area with the frozen cups for 15 - 20 minutes your knees will thank you for it!

FAQ of the day:
Is it true grapefruit juice and prescription medications don't mix?

Amazingly, grapefruit juice can interfere with some prescription medications. Grapefruit and its juice contains a phytochemical that inhibits the enzyme needed to break down antihistamines, calcium-channel blockers, immunosuppressants, sedatives and protease inhibitors (treatments for AIDS), among others. As a result, blood levels of those drugs stay higher than expected, with potentially serious side effects. If you drink grapefruit juice regularly and are prescribed medication, mention it to your health care provider.

Health Headlines - September 1

Ground Beef Recalled for E. Coli Contamination

As one of the most popular holidays for grilling approaches on Monday. some 20 tons of ground beef are being recalled in four states due to possible E. coli contamination, the Seattle Times reported Friday.

At least nine people in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho were sickened by the meat, which was processed between July 19 and July 30. The meat was also sold in Alaska.

While the sell-by dates have expired and the meat is no longer believed on store shelves, federal and state officials issued a consumer alert in case any of the meat remained in consumers' freezers.

Affected products included 16-ounce packages of "Northwest Finest 7% Fat, Natural Ground Beef" with UPC code label "752907 600127" and 16-ounce packages of "Northwest Finest 10% Fat, Organic Ground Beef" with expiration dates between Aug. 1 and Aug. 11, the newspaper said. Packages also bear the establishment number "Est. 965" inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture mark of inspection.

The beef, produced by Oregon-based Interstate Meats, was sold by grocers including Safeway, QFC, Fred Meyer, and possibly other stores.

E. coli can cause mild-to-severe intestinal illness including possible symptoms of bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting.

-----

New Drug Effective Against Resistant HIV: FDA

The new Merck & Co. HIV drug Isentress (raltegravir) is effective in suppressing the AIDS-causing virus in people who haven't responded to other therapies, the Bloomberg news service reported Friday, citing staff reviewer documents on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site.

An FDA expert advisory panel is slated to meet Sept. 5 to decide whether to recommend approval of the drug.

Isentress uses a different method than existing drugs to combat HIV. It blocks the process that the virus uses to insert genetic material into a person's DNA, which allows the virus to reproduce, Bloomberg said.

In two recent trials, the drug "reduced the virus to almost undetectable levels" after four months in as many as 62 percent of patients who took it in combination with other HIV medications, the news service said. That compared with up to 36 percent of patients who took a non-medicinal placebo along with the other HIV treatments.

-----

Medication Approved for Rare Growth Hormone Disorder

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Somatuline Depot (lanreotide acetate injection) to treat a rare growth hormone-related disorder called acromegaly, the agency said Friday.

The disorder, caused by an abnormal secretion of the hormone, is characterized by enlarged hands, feet, facial bones, and internal organs such as the heart and liver. If untreated, people with the disorder often die prematurely because of heart and respiratory problems, diabetes, or colon cancer, the FDA said. The disorder affects about 15,000 people in the United States and Canada.

The drug's safety and effectiveness were evaluated in two clinical trials involving 400 people. The most frequent side effects were diarrhea, gallstones, skin reactions, slow heart rate, and changes in blood sugar levels.

Samatuline Depot is marketed by Beaufour Ipsen, based in Paris, France.

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Girls Who Diet More Likely to Smoke

Teen girls who diet are twice as likely as their peers to begin smoking, a new University of Florida study finds.

The survey of almost 8,000 adolescents found that the same link did not apply to boys, who are less likely to diet than girls, the school said in a prepared statement. The findings were published in the Aug. 31 issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.

"Dieting was a significant predictor of initiation of regular smoking among females," said Mildred Maldonado-Molina, the study's lead author, who is an assistant professor of epidemiology and health policy research. "We were expecting that this relationship was going to be strong among females."

The study also found that girls who frequently dieted were more likely to smoke. While smoking to suppress the appetite may be a reason that some girls start to smoke, it may not be the only one. Animal studies have shown that if food deprived, they will use more drugs, the researchers said.

Despite the findings, a dieting child is not necessarily going to begin smoking, and parents shouldn't automatically go on "red alert" if their child starts a diet, the scientists said.

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10% of 4th-Graders Have Tried Alcohol: Study

As many as 10 percent of 4th-graders have already had more than a sip of alcohol and 7 percent have had an alcoholic drink in the past year, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

The rate of those who have tried alcohol doubles between grades four and six, according to lead author John Donovan, associate professor of psychiatry and epidemiology. The research is published in the September issue of the journal Prevention Science.

"Children are drinking, and our concern with underage drinking needs to start in elementary school, not in high school or college," Donovan said in a prepared statement. "Knowing how many children have had experience with alcohol would serve as an indicator of the number potentially at risk for later use of marijuana and other illicit drugs."

Early drinking also is associated with a greater risk of other behavioral problems, "including absences from school, delinquent behavior, drinking and driving, sexual intercourse and pregnancy," he added.

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Use of Angioplasty to Clear Blocked Arteries Soars

Use of angioplasty to open blocked arteries nearly doubled between 1993 and 2005, to 800,000 procedures each year from 418,000, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality said Thursday.

By contrast, more invasive heart bypass surgeries declined from 344,000 a year to 278,000 over the span, the agency said. Angioplasty is now used nearly three times more often than bypass surgery.

Angioplasty involves inflation of a balloon at the end of a catheter to open a blocked vessel and restore proper blood flow to the heart.

The AHRQ said its analysis also found that while the average hospital stay for angioplasty fell to 2.7 days in 2005 from 4.6 days, hospital charges for angioplasty rose to $48,000 (adjusted for inflation) from $31,300.

With 1.1 million hospitalizations in 2005, coronary artery disease was the third most common reason for a hospital stay, behind childbirth and pneumonia. It was the second leading reason for men and the seventh for women, the agency said.

Health Tips for September 1

Health Tip: When Considering Vasectomy

Vasectomy is a surgical procedure in which a man is sterilized. While it is a relatively simple procedure, men considering it should make sure that the option is right for them.

According to Planned Parenthood, vasectomy may not be the best birth control option if you:

* Think you may want to have biological children at some point in the future.
* Are being pressured into having the procedure by a partner, friend or family member.
* Are currently having marital, emotional, sexual, financial or mental health problems.
* You and your partner have not fully discussed or agreed on the procedure.
* Are relying on frozen sperm in case you decide to have children. Frozen sperm do not always retain the ability to fertilize a woman's egg.

Health Tip: Reasons for Crossed Eyes

Strabismus, or crossed eyes, occurs when one eye is turned too far in one direction. Symptoms often are evident at birth, and are usually corrected if treated by about the age of 5 months.

The University of Illinois Eye Center lists these common causes of strabismus:

* Heredity.
* High degree of farsightedness.
* Vision loss in one eye, usually a result of disease.
* Nerve damage to muscles in the eye.