Health Tips for May 20

Health Tip: Risk Factors for High Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that's found naturally in the body. And while some cholesterol is necessary, too much of it built up in the blood increases your risk of heart disease.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers this list of factors that raise your risk of having high blood cholesterol:

• Eating foods that are high in cholesterol and saturated fats.
• Being overweight. Losing weight can help lower cholesterol and reduce heart disease risk.
• Not getting enough exercise. At least 30 minutes a day most days of the week is recommended.
• Smoking or having high blood pressure.
• Being a postmenopausal woman. After menopause, levels of LDL ("bad" cholesterol) naturally rise.
• Advancing age, which is a risk factor for both men and women.
• A family history of high cholesterol.

Health Tip: Help Protect Young Athletes

Participating in sports is a great way for kids to get exercise and to be involved in school and community, but precautions must be taken to help avoid injury.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these recommendations to help young athletes stay safe:

• Make sure your child is fit enough to play his or her chosen sport.
• Your child should understand and follow the rules of the sport.
• Your child should always wear protective equipment, -- including a helmet, shin guards, etc. -- as appropriate for the sport.
• Teach your child how to properly use and adjust the equipment.
• Teach your child to always warm up appropriately.
• Your child should never be allowed to play sports when he or she is extremely tired or in some kind of pain.

Health Headlines - May 19

More Americans Pro-Life: Survey

More Americans consider themselves to be pro-life (51 percent) than pro-choice (42 percent), according to a new Gallup poll. It's the first time since Gallup started asking the question in 1995 that a majority of respondents said they're pro-life.

The results of the survey (which has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points) suggests a significant shift in attitudes, the Los Angeles Times reported. Last year, 50 percent of respondents said they were pro-choice, while 44 percent said they were pro-life.

The new poll found that 53 percent of Americans support legal abortion only in certain circumstances. The number of those who believe abortion should be illegal in all circumstances is 22 percent, while 23 percent think abortion should be legal in any circumstances.

In recent years, surveys found that people who opposed all restrictions outnumbered by a wider margin those who supported a total abortion ban, the Times reported.

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Injectable Risperdal Approved for Bipolar Disorder

The long-lasting, injectable form of Risperdal has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of bipolar disorder.

The approval, based on two studies, is for the use of the Johnson & Johnson drug on its own and in conjunction with other treatments, such as lithium, Dow Jones Newswires reported.

One study found that the drug used alone delayed bipolar disease relapses characterized by extreme mood shifts. The other study showed that injectable Risperdal significantly delayed relapses among patients who were already being treated with valproate or lithium.

Injectable Risperdal was approved by the FDA in 2003 for treatment of schizophrenia.

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Later Retirement May Delay Dementia: Study

Postponing your retirement could help delay the development of Alzheimer's disease, suggests a British study that included more than 1,300 people with dementia.

The Kings College London team looked at a number of factors, such as education, employment and retirement, and found that people who retired at an older age developed Alzheimer's later than those who retired earlier. Each extra year of work was associated with a six-week delay in the onset of dementia, the Associated Press reported.

"The intellectual stimulation that older people gain from the workplace may prevent a decline in mental abilities, thus keeping people above the threshold for dementia for longer," study co-author Simon Lovestone said in a news release.

The study appears in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

More research is needed to confirm the study's findings, said Suzanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, the AP reported.

"There could be a number of reasons why later retirement in men is linked with later onset of dementia," she said. For example, those who retire early may have health problem, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, that increase the risk of dementia.

"It could also be that working helps keep your mind and body active, which may reduce risk of dementia," Sorensen said.

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Lower-Tar Cigarettes May Increase Risk of Type of Lung Cancer

The move to lower-tar cigarettes in the United States over the past few decades may be linked to an increased risk of a type of lung cancer called adenocarcinoma, according to a preliminary study.

Dr. David Burns, of the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues found that the increase in adenocarcinoma tumors was higher in the U.S. than in Australia, even though low-tar cigarettes were introduced in both countries at the same time.

"The most likely explanation for it is a change in the cigarette," Burns told the Associated Press.

He noted that Australian cigarettes contain lower levels of caner-causing nitrosamines than those sold in the U.S. Levels of nitrosamines -- a by-product of tobacco processing -- vary due to a number of factors, including different curing methods.

The findings were presented at a meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.

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Obama Names NYC Health Chief Frieden to Lead CDC

President Barack Obama has named New York City health commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden to head the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Frieden, whose appointment does not require Senate confirmation, would take over the embattled agency next month, The New York Times reported.

A 48-year-old infectious disease specialist who has led New York City's fight to ban smoking in bars and restaurants, pass out free condoms to organizations and press for mandatory HIV testing as part of regular medical exams, Frieden inherits the CDC mantle at a time when the agency faces deep morale and organizational difficulties, while wrestling with how and whether to produce a swine flu vaccine, the Times reported.

Often a controversial leader during his seven years as New York's top health official, Frieden has had a history of focusing on health threats endangering large numbers of people, sometimes at the expense of more popular causes, the Times said. His high-profile style is likely to put him center stage in the Obama administration's efforts to overhaul the nation's health care system and to improve the safety of its food supply.

With his appointment, Frieden would become the second former New York health commissioner named to a top federal health post. Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, who held the post in the 1990s, is nearing confirmation as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Both Frieden and Hamburg, who have a along and close relationship, according to the Times, and together led New York's battle to stop an epidemic of drug-resistant tuberculosis infections, will play lead roles in how the U.S. will fight swine flu next fall if the virus returns. They may also play crucial roles in reforming food safety -- a top priority of the Obama administration, even within the overhaul of the nation's health care system.

Jeffrey Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health, a nonprofit public health advocacy organization, told the Times that Frieden is "a transformational leader." "I think the administration selected Tom Frieden because he can take public health to a new place," Levi said.

Facing Frieden are host of internal problems at the agency that he will inherit from former CDC head Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, who left in January, and whose long effort to reorganize the agency's bureaucracy has been widely criticized as sapping morale and causing a raft of top staff departures.

"Morale is the weakest thing at the agency right now," Dr. James M. Hughes, former director of the CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases, told the Times. "He has to really listen to people."

Health Tips for May 19

Health Tip: Keep Your Feet Safe in Flip-Flops

Flip-flops may feel great to wear during summer, but your feet might not agree. Many flip-flops offer no or little protection for the feet, and can lead to pain or injury.

The American Podiatric Medical Association has these suggestions to help protect your feet while wearing flip-flops:

• Invest in better quality flip-flops, made of a soft leather.
• Try to bend the flip-flop gently. While it should give at the ball of the foot, never purchase any flip-flop that completely bends in half.
• Opt for flip-flops instead of walking barefoot in areas such as public pools, beaches, locker rooms and hotel rooms.
• Make sure the flip-flops fit, and your feet don't extend beyond the edge.
• Protect your feet with a sturdier shoe (never a flip-flop) when playing sports, doing a lot of walking, or working in the yard.
• Throw out old, worn flip-flops.
• Take care of any sores or irritated skin between the toes.

Health Tip: Using Orthotic Shoe Inserts

Orthotics are prescription inserts worn in the shoes to help correct a deformity or problem with the foot. For example, the devices can help many people with flat feet walk, run and stand with more comfort and less pain.

The American Podiatric Medical Association offers these suggestions for those who wear orthotics:

• Choose shoes that are supportive and wide enough to comfortably accommodate your orthotics.
• When shoe shopping, bring your orthotics along to try on with shoes, making sure they fit comfortably together.
• Wear appropriate socks when shopping for new shoes.
• Have recommended follow-ups with your podiatrist to be sure your feet and orthotics are working well together.

Health Headlines - May 18

Obama Names NYC Health Chief Frieden to Lead CDC

President Barack Obama on Friday named New York City health commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden to head the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Frieden, whose appointment does not require Senate confirmation, would take over the embattled agency next month, The New York Times reported.

A 48-year-old infectious disease specialist who has led New York City's fight to ban smoking in bars and restaurants, pass out free condoms to organizations and press for mandatory HIV testing as part of regular medical exams, Frieden inherits the CDC mantle at a time when the agency faces deep morale and organizational difficulties, while wrestling with how and whether to produce a swine flu vaccine, the Times reported.

Often a controversial leader during his seven years as New York's top health official, Frieden has had a history of focusing on health threats endangering large numbers of people, sometimes at the expense of more popular causes, the Times said. His high-profile style is likely to put him center stage in the Obama administration's efforts to overhaul the nation's health care system and to improve the safety of its food supply.

With his appointment, Frieden would become the second former New York health commissioner named to a top federal health post. Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, who held the post in the 1990s, is nearing confirmation as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Both Frieden and Hamburg, who have a along and close relationship, according to the Times, and together led New York's battle to stop an epidemic of drug-resistant tuberculosis infections, will play lead roles in how the U.S. will fight swine flu next fall if the virus returns. They may also play crucial roles in reforming food safety -- a top priority of the Obama administration, even within the overhaul of the nation's health care system.

Jeffrey Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health, a nonprofit public health advocacy organization, told the Times that Frieden is "a transformational leader." "I think the administration selected Tom Frieden because he can take public health to a new place," Levi said.

Facing Frieden are host of internal problems at the agency that he will inherit from former CDC head Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, who left in January, and whose long effort to reorganize the agency's bureaucracy has been widely criticized as sapping morale and causing a raft of top staff departures.

"Morale is the weakest thing at the agency right now," Dr. James M. Hughes, former director of the CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases, told the Times. "He has to really listen to people."

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Judge Rules Minnesota Family Can't Refuse Chemo for Sick Son

A Minnesota judge has ruled that the parents of a 13-year-old boy with a highly treatable form of cancer must seek medical treatment.

Daniel Hauser's parents say they are supporting their son's decision to treat the disease with nutritional supplements and other alternative treatments, based on religious beliefs, the Associated Press reported.

Colleen and Anthony Hauser have until May 19 to get an updated chest X-ray for their son, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and stopped chemotherapy in February after a single treatment. Daniel will stay in the custody of his parents, the AP reported, but they were ordered to select an oncologist for their son, Brown County District Judge John Rodenberg ruled Friday.

Rodenberg said that Daniel had been "medically neglected" and is in need of child protection services, the AP reported. The family had argued that it preferred treating the disease with medicines used by the Nemenhah Band, a Missouri-based religious group that believes in natural healing methods used by some American Indians. Doctors have said Daniel's suffers from Hodgkin's lymphoma, but had up to a 90 percent chance of being cured with chemotherapy and radiation, according to the wire service. Without treatment, doctors said Daniel's chances of survival were just 5 percent.

Philip Elbert, Daniel's court-appointed attorney, said he hadn't spoken yet with the family but called the decision unfortunate, the AP reported. "I feel it's a blow to families," he said. "It marginalizes the decisions that parents face every day in regard to their children's medical care. It really affirms the role that big government is better at making our decisions for us."

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Congress Weighs Broad Changes in Health Care Legislation

Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are considering broad health-care changes that include aid to families earning up to $88,000 to help pay for insurance, a requirement that all must carry coverage, and for employers to offer coverage to full-time workers or pay a percentage of their payroll to the government, the Associated Press reported.

While a document from the House's Energy and Commerce Committee that was obtained by the AP does not include any cost estimates, outside experts have said the plans could run from $1.2 trillion to as high as $1.7 trillion over 10 years as Congress tries to meet the Obama administration's goal of a health-care overhaul by the end of July, the news service reported.

President Barack Obama has proposed a downpayment of $634 billion over 10 years to pay for expanding coverage and has said he'll hold hospitals, doctors, drug makers and other health-care providers to their recent offer of $2 trillion in savings over that 10-year period, the AP said.

In addition, the House plan would set up an insurance purchasing pool, or an "exchange," open only to companies with fewer than 10 workers, to make coverage more affordable for individuals and small businesses. The plan also seeks creation of a new government insurance plan to compete with private companies, likely run by the Health and Human Services department, and financed by premium payments, not taxpayer dollars, the AP said.

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U.S. Prescription Drug Use Falls for 1st Time in Decade: Report

For the first time in a decade, prescription drug use in the United States fell last year, even as total spending on drugs increased as prices for brand-name products rose sharply, the Associated Press reported.

Medco Health Solutions, a pharmacy benefits managing company that handles drug benefits for some 60 million people, said the overall number of prescriptions was down. The reasons: fewer new drugs hit the market last year, some big-selling drugs such as Zyrtec -- an allergy medication -- became available without a prescription, and other drugs faced decreased use because of safety issues. The combination of those factors was responsible for the downturn in prescriptions, Medco said, the AP reported.

Total prescription drug spending grew 3.3 percent last year, Medco said, chiefly because of greater use of "specialty" drugs treating chronic or complex illnesses. Diabetes drugs, specialty treatments for cancer, as well as drugs for rheumatological disease, seizure disorders and antiviral drugs also increased. Average pricing of brand-name pharmaceuticals in 2008 rose more than 8 percent, the fastest increase in five years, AP said.

Medco projected that prescriptions would rise no more than 1 percent in 2009 and in 2010, the AP reported, but added that higher prices would boost total spending by 3 percent to 5 percent this year and 4 percent to 6 percent next year.

Health Tips for May 18

Health Tip: Prevent Skateboarding Injuries

When skateboarding, falling is the last thing you want to do. But practicing how to fall safely can help you reduce your risk of injury.

The U.S. National Safety Council offers these suggestions:

• Practice crouching down low on the skateboard if you start to feel unbalanced. That way, you won't hit the ground from so far up.
• Try landing on the softer, fleshier parts of your body, not bones or joints that are more prone to injury.
• Practice rolling when you fall, instead of absorbing the impact with your arms.
• Practice relaxing your body instead of tensing up as you fall.

Health Tip: Prevent Your Children From Choking

For small children, even the most seemingly harmless objects can pose a choking threat.

The U.S. National Safety Council offers these suggestions to reduce your youngsters' risk of choking:

• Never allow a baby or young child to play with a toy that has a cord or string attached.
• Don't feed your baby foods that could get stuck in the throat, such as bites of hot dogs, hard candy, uncooked vegetables, nuts, raisins, fruits or vegetables with pits, popcorn or grapes.
• Never allow your child to eat while lying down.
• Keep anything that can fit in your child's mouth out of reach, including coins, batteries, jewelry, nails or thumbtacks.

Health Headlines - May 17

Obama Names NYC Health Chief Frieden to Lead CDC

President Barack Obama on Friday named New York City health commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden to head the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Frieden, whose appointment does not require Senate confirmation, would take over the embattled agency next month, The New York Times reported.

A 48-year-old infectious disease specialist who has led New York City's fight to ban smoking in bars and restaurants, pass out free condoms to organizations and press for mandatory HIV testing as part of regular medical exams, Frieden inherits the CDC mantle at a time when the agency faces deep morale and organizational difficulties, while wrestling with how and whether to produce a swine flu vaccine, the Times reported.

Often a controversial leader during his seven years as New York's top health official, Frieden has had a history of focusing on health threats endangering large numbers of people, sometimes at the expense of more popular causes, the Times said. His high-profile style is likely to put him center stage in the Obama administration's efforts to overhaul the nation's health care system and to improve the safety of its food supply.

With his appointment, Frieden would become the second former New York health commissioner named to a top federal health post. Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, who held the post in the 1990s, is nearing confirmation as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Both Frieden and Hamburg, who have a along and close relationship, according to the Times, and together led New York's battle to stop an epidemic of drug-resistant tuberculosis infections, will play lead roles in how the U.S. will fight swine flu next fall if the virus returns. They may also play crucial roles in reforming food safety -- a top priority of the Obama administration, even within the overhaul of the nation's health care system.

Jeffrey Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health, a nonprofit public health advocacy organization, told the Times that Frieden is "a transformational leader." "I think the administration selected Tom Frieden because he can take public health to a new place," Levi said.

Facing Frieden are host of internal problems at the agency that he will inherit from former CDC head Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, who left in January, and whose long effort to reorganize the agency's bureaucracy has been widely criticized as sapping morale and causing a raft of top staff departures.

"Morale is the weakest thing at the agency right now," Dr. James M. Hughes, former director of the CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases, told the Times. "He has to really listen to people."

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Judge Rules Minnesota Family Can't Refuse Chemo for Sick Son

A Minnesota judge has ruled that the parents of a 13-year-old boy with a highly treatable form of cancer must seek medical treatment.

Daniel Hauser's parents say they are supporting their son's decision to treat the disease with nutritional supplements and other alternative treatments, based on religious beliefs, the Associated Press reported.

Colleen and Anthony Hauser have until May 19 to get an updated chest X-ray for their son, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and stopped chemotherapy in February after a single treatment. Daniel will stay in the custody of his parents, the AP reported, but they were ordered to select an oncologist for their son, Brown County District Judge John Rodenberg ruled Friday.

Rodenberg said that Daniel had been "medically neglected" and is in need of child protection services, the AP reported. The family had argued that it preferred treating the disease with medicines used by the Nemenhah Band, a Missouri-based religious group that believes in natural healing methods used by some American Indians. Doctors have said Daniel's suffers from Hodgkin's lymphoma, but had up to a 90 percent chance of being cured with chemotherapy and radiation, according to the wire service. Without treatment, doctors said Daniel's chances of survival were just 5 percent.

Philip Elbert, Daniel's court-appointed attorney, said he hadn't spoken yet with the family but called the decision unfortunate, the AP reported. "I feel it's a blow to families," he said. "It marginalizes the decisions that parents face every day in regard to their children's medical care. It really affirms the role that big government is better at making our decisions for us."

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Congress Weighs Broad Changes in Health Care Legislation

Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are considering broad health-care changes that include aid to families earning up to $88,000 to help pay for insurance, a requirement that all must carry coverage, and for employers to offer coverage to full-time workers or pay a percentage of their payroll to the government, the Associated Press reported.

While a document from the House's Energy and Commerce Committee that was obtained by the AP does not include any cost estimates, outside experts have said the plans could run from $1.2 trillion to as high as $1.7 trillion over 10 years as Congress tries to meet the Obama administration's goal of a health-care overhaul by the end of July, the news service reported.

President Barack Obama has proposed a downpayment of $634 billion over 10 years to pay for expanding coverage and has said he'll hold hospitals, doctors, drug makers and other health-care providers to their recent offer of $2 trillion in savings over that 10-year period, the AP said.

In addition, the House plan would set up an insurance purchasing pool, or an "exchange," open only to companies with fewer than 10 workers, to make coverage more affordable for individuals and small businesses. The plan also seeks creation of a new government insurance plan to compete with private companies, likely run by the Health and Human Services department, and financed by premium payments, not taxpayer dollars, the AP said.

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U.S. Prescription Drug Use Falls for 1st Time in Decade: Report

For the first time in a decade, prescription drug use in the United States fell last year, even as total spending on drugs increased as prices for brand-name products rose sharply, the Associated Press reported.

Medco Health Solutions, a pharmacy benefits managing company that handles drug benefits for some 60 million people, said the overall number of prescriptions was down. The reasons: fewer new drugs hit the market last year, some big-selling drugs such as Zyrtec -- an allergy medication -- became available without a prescription, and other drugs faced decreased use because of safety issues. The combination of those factors was responsible for the downturn in prescriptions, Medco said, the AP reported.

Total prescription drug spending grew 3.3 percent last year, Medco said, chiefly because of greater use of "specialty" drugs treating chronic or complex illnesses. Diabetes drugs, specialty treatments for cancer, as well as drugs for rheumatological disease, seizure disorders and antiviral drugs also increased. Average pricing of brand-name pharmaceuticals in 2008 rose more than 8 percent, the fastest increase in five years, AP said.

Medco projected that prescriptions would rise no more than 1 percent in 2009 and in 2010, the AP reported, but added that higher prices would boost total spending by 3 percent to 5 percent this year and 4 percent to 6 percent next year.

Health Tips for May 17

Health Tip: Taking a Trip When You Have Diabetes

Diabetes doesn't have to keep you from traveling, but you still need some extra preparation before you begin your trip.

The American Diabetes Association offers these suggestions to help you plan before you leave:

• Make sure your diabetes is well-controlled. Before you leave for a long trip, a visit with your doctor to make sure you're healthy, and to get the immunizations you need, is a good idea.
• Pack extra medication, syringes and other supplies.
• Take a letter from your doctor that describes exactly what supplies you need, a list of your medications, and any allergies you have.
• Always wear your bracelet or necklace that identifies you as having diabetes.
• If traveling to a foreign country, learn how to say key phrases in the native tongue, such as "I have diabetes" and how to ask for sugar or orange juice.

Health Tip: Pack a First-Aid Kit When Traveling

You don't want a minor injury or medical problem to derail your travel plans. So be sure to make room for a first-aid kit with some basic essentials, especially if you're traveling internationally.

The University of Virginia Health System offers this list of items to take with you on your next trip:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• Antihistamine, motion sickness, cold and cough, and anti-diarrhea medications.
• Bandages in different shapes and sizes, as well as gauze pads, tape and an elastic bandage.
• Tweezers, scissors and safety pins.
• Antibiotic ointment, hydrogen peroxide, hydrocortisone cream and bug spray.
• A pair of rubber gloves and a thermometer.
• A chemical cold pack for burns or sprains.
• A bottle of sunscreen.

Health Headlines - May 16

Obama Names NYC Health Chief Frieden to Lead CDC

President Barack Obama on Friday named New York City health commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden to head the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Frieden, whose appointment does not require Senate confirmation, would take over the embattled agency next month, The New York Times reported.

A 48-year-old infectious disease specialist who has led New York City's fight to ban smoking in bars and restaurants, pass out free condoms to organizations and press for mandatory HIV testing as part of regular medical exams, Frieden inherits the CDC mantle at a time when the agency faces deep morale and organizational difficulties, while wrestling with how and whether to produce a swine flu vaccine, the Times reported.

Often a controversial leader during his seven years as New York's top health official, Frieden has had a history of focusing on health threats endangering large numbers of people, sometimes at the expense of more popular causes, the Times said. His high-profile style is likely to put him center stage in the Obama administration's efforts to overhaul the nation's health care system and to improve the safety of its food supply.

With his appointment, Frieden would become the second former New York health commissioner named to a top federal health post. Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, who held the post in the 1990s, is nearing confirmation as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Both Frieden and Hamburg, who have a along and close relationship, according to the Times, and together led New York's battle to stop an epidemic of drug-resistant tuberculosis infections, will play lead roles in how the U.S. will fight swine flu next fall if the virus returns. They may also play crucial roles in reforming food safety -- a top priority of the Obama administration, even within the overhaul of the nation's health care system.

Jeffrey Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health, a nonprofit public health advocacy organization, told the Times that Frieden is "a transformational leader." "I think the administration selected Tom Frieden because he can take public health to a new place," Levi said.

Facing Frieden are host of internal problems at the agency that he will inherit from former CDC head Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, who left in January, and whose long effort to reorganize the agency's bureaucracy has been widely criticized as sapping morale and causing a raft of top staff departures.

"Morale is the weakest thing at the agency right now," Dr. James M. Hughes, former director of the CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases, told the Times. "He has to really listen to people."

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Judge Rules Minnesota Family Can't Refuse Chemo for Sick Son

A Minnesota judge has ruled that the parents of a 13-year-old boy with a highly treatable form of cancer must seek medical treatment.

Daniel Hauser's parents say they are supporting their son's decision to treat the disease with nutritional supplements and other alternative treatments, based on religious beliefs, the Associated Press reported.

Colleen and Anthony Hauser have until May 19 to get an updated chest X-ray for their son, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and stopped chemotherapy in February after a single treatment. Daniel will stay in the custody of his parents, the AP reported, but they were ordered to select an oncologist for their son, Brown County District Judge John Rodenberg ruled Friday.

Rodenberg said that Daniel had been "medically neglected" and is in need of child protection services, the AP reported. The family had argued that it preferred treating the disease with medicines used by the Nemenhah Band, a Missouri-based religious group that believes in natural healing methods used by some American Indians. Doctors have said Daniel's suffers from Hodgkin's lymphoma, but had up to a 90 percent chance of being cured with chemotherapy and radiation, according to the wire service. Without treatment, doctors said Daniel's chances of survival were just 5 percent.

Philip Elbert, Daniel's court-appointed attorney, said he hadn't spoken yet with the family but called the decision unfortunate, the AP reported. "I feel it's a blow to families," he said. "It marginalizes the decisions that parents face every day in regard to their children's medical care. It really affirms the role that big government is better at making our decisions for us."

-----

Congress Weighs Broad Changes in Health Care Legislation

Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are considering broad health-care changes that include aid to families earning up to $88,000 to help pay for insurance, a requirement that all must carry coverage, and for employers to offer coverage to full-time workers or pay a percentage of their payroll to the government, the Associated Press reported.

While a document from the House's Energy and Commerce Committee that was obtained by the AP does not include any cost estimates, outside experts have said the plans could run from $1.2 trillion to as high as $1.7 trillion over 10 years as Congress tries to meet the Obama administration's goal of a health-care overhaul by the end of July, the news service reported.

President Barack Obama has proposed a downpayment of $634 billion over 10 years to pay for expanding coverage and has said he'll hold hospitals, doctors, drug makers and other health-care providers to their recent offer of $2 trillion in savings over that 10-year period, the AP said.

In addition, the House plan would set up an insurance purchasing pool, or an "exchange," open only to companies with fewer than 10 workers, to make coverage more affordable for individuals and small businesses. The plan also seeks creation of a new government insurance plan to compete with private companies, likely run by the Health and Human Services department, and financed by premium payments, not taxpayer dollars, the AP said.

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U.S. Prescription Drug Use Falls for 1st Time in Decade: Report

For the first time in a decade, prescription drug use in the United States fell last year, even as total spending on drugs increased as prices for brand-name products rose sharply, the Associated Press reported.

Medco Health Solutions, a pharmacy benefits managing company that handles drug benefits for some 60 million people, said the overall number of prescriptions was down. The reasons: fewer new drugs hit the market last year, some big-selling drugs such as Zyrtec -- an allergy medication -- became available without a prescription, and other drugs faced decreased use because of safety issues. The combination of those factors was responsible for the downturn in prescriptions, Medco said, the AP reported.

Total prescription drug spending grew 3.3 percent last year, Medco said, chiefly because of greater use of "specialty" drugs treating chronic or complex illnesses. Diabetes drugs, specialty treatments for cancer, as well as drugs for rheumatological disease, seizure disorders and antiviral drugs also increased. Average pricing of brand-name pharmaceuticals in 2008 rose more than 8 percent, the fastest increase in five years, AP said.

Medco projected that prescriptions would rise no more than 1 percent in 2009 and in 2010, the AP reported, but added that higher prices would boost total spending by 3 percent to 5 percent this year and 4 percent to 6 percent next year.

Health Tips for May 16

Health Tip: Reasons for Adenoid Removal

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

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

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

Health Tip: When Children Stutter

Children who stutter can become embarrassed and anxious about speaking, which can make the situation even worse.

While speech therapy can help, a proper response from parents, friends and teachers also is very important, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says.

The agency offers these suggestions:

• Try to keep the child away from stressful situations. Also, teach the child how to help manage stress.
• Make sure you allow the child plenty of time to speak.
• When you talk to the child, speak slowly and stay relaxed to encourage a similar slow, relaxed response.
• When the child starts to stutter and gets frustrated, acknowledge it and say that it's OK.

Health Headlines - May 15

Pfizer to Give Away Free Lipitor, Viagra to Jobless

Pfizer Inc., the world's largest drug maker, says it will give away free 70 or more of its most widely prescribed prescription drugs -- including Lipitor and Viagra -- to people who have lost their jobs and health insurance since Jan. 1 and have been on a Pfizer drug for three months or more.

Applicants will need to sign a statement that they are suffering financial hardship and provide a "pink slip" or similar notice of termination from work, the Associated Press reported. They will have until Dec. 31 to provide the information, and medications will be given for up to 12 months after approval or until the person is insured again. Starting Thursday, patients can call 866-706-2400, toll-free, to sign up, according to the company, and starting July 1, people can apply online at http://www.PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com. Those on drugs not included in the program will be referred to other company aid programs, the AP reported.

Impetus for the program came from a company leadership training meeting five weeks ago, where Pfizer workers discussed how many patients are struggling, Dr. Jorge Puente, head of Pfizer pharmaceuticals outside the United States and Europe and a project supporter, told the wire service. The free drug program is likely to garner goodwill for the company, the AP reported, and just as likely to help retain Pfizer customers during the current economic downturn.

Among drugs to be covered under the plan, Pfizer said, are the painkiller Celebrex, the fibromyalgia treatment Lyrica, and several antibiotics, antidepressants, antifungal treatments, heart medications, contraceptives and smoking cessation products.

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CDC Offers Tips to Prevent Summer Pool Chemical Injuries

A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that pool chemical injuries are responsible for an estimated 5,200 visits a year to hospital emergency rooms, but safe handling and storage of water treatment products can make these injuries preventable.

Most of these injuries take place during summer's swimming season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and can occur in or out of the pool, according to a report in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The study was released ahead of the CDC's National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week, May 18-20, which seeks to raise public awareness about safe behaviors around recreational water and safe storage of home pool chemicals.

"Pool chemicals make the water we swim in safer by protecting us from germs, but these same chemicals can also cause injuries if they are not properly handled," Michele Hlavsa, the study's lead author and an epidemiologist at CDC, said in a CDC news release. Both public and private pool operators and homeowners can protect themselves by:

• Securing all pool chemicals in a safe area, away from children.
• Reading manufacturers' instructions fully before using any chemicals.
• Wearing appropriate clothing -- mask, gloves, and safety glasses -- to protect against burns or inhaling noxious fumes.
• Avoiding mixing chlorine products with each other, with acid, or with any other substance.

Swimming is the second most popular sports activity in the United States, according to the CDC report, with approximately 339 million swimming visits to recreational water venues. To prevent illnesses at public venues, the agency suggests parents not take children swimming when youngsters are ill with diarrhea, not swallowing pool water, taking children on frequent bathroom breaks and practicing good hygiene.

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Congress Weighs Broad Changes in Health Care Legislation

Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are considering broad health-care changes that include aid to families earning up to $88,000 to help pay for insurance, a requirement that all must carry coverage, and for employers to offer coverage to full-time workers or pay a percentage of their payroll to the government, the Associated Press reported.

While a document from the House's Energy and Commerce Committee that was obtained by the AP does not include any cost estimates, outside experts have said the plans could run from $1.2 trillion to as high as $1.7 trillion over 10 years as Congress tries to meet the Obama administration's goal of a health-care overhaul by the end of July, the news service reported.

President Barack Obama has proposed a downpayment of $634 billion over 10 years to pay for expanding coverage and has said he'll hold hospitals, doctors, drug makers and other health-care providers to their recent offer of $2 trillion in savings over that 10-year period, the AP said.

In addition, the House plan would set up an insurance purchasing pool, or an "exchange," open only to companies with fewer than 10 workers, to make coverage more affordable for individuals and small businesses. The plan also seeks creation of a new government insurance plan to compete with private companies, likely run by the Health and Human Services department, and financed by premium payments, not taxpayer dollars, the AP said.

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U.S. Prescription Drug Use Falls for 1st Time in Decade: Report

For the first time in a decade, prescription drug use in the United States fell last year, even as total spending on drugs increased as prices for brand-name products rose sharply, the Associated Press reported.

Medco Health Solutions, a pharmacy benefits managing company that handles drug benefits for some 60 million people, said the overall number of prescriptions was down. The reasons: fewer new drugs hit the market last year, some big-selling drugs such as Zyrtec -- an allergy medication -- became available without a prescription, and other drugs faced decreased use because of safety issues. The combination of those factors was responsible for the downturn in prescriptions, Medco said, the AP reported.

Total prescription drug spending grew 3.3 percent last year, Medco said, chiefly because of greater use of "specialty" drugs treating chronic or complex illnesses. Diabetes drugs, specialty treatments for cancer, as well as drugs for rheumatological disease, seizure disorders and antiviral drugs also increased. Average pricing of brand-name pharmaceuticals in 2008 rose more than 8 percent, the fastest increase in five years, AP said.

Medco projected that prescriptions would rise no more than 1 percent in 2009 and in 2010, the AP reported, but added that higher prices would boost total spending by 3 percent to 5 percent this year and 4 percent to 6 percent next year.

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Scientist Held for Smuggling Ebola Research Vials Into U.S.

A 42-year-old Canadian scientist has been arrested for smuggling 22 vials stolen from Canada's National Microbiology Lab -- used in Ebola and HIV research -- into the United States, officials from both countries report.

Konan Michel Yao was arrested while crossing from Manitoba province into North Dakota on May 5, said a spokeswoman for the Public Health Agency of Canada, which operates the lab, Agence France-Presse reported. U.S. prosecutor Lynn Jordheim said Yao was carrying the unidentified materials in aluminum foil inside a glove and packaged in a plastic bag in the trunk of his car when he was detained. Yao said he had stolen the vials on his last day of work on Jan. 21 and was taking them to his new job with the U.S. National Institutes of Health at the Biodefense Research Laboratory in Bethesda, Md., AFP reported.

"This turned out not to be a terrorism-related case," Jordheim told AFP. "It appears to be exactly as he said. However, he still faces possible charges for smuggling the vials into the United States."

A Canadian health agency spokesperson said the Ivory Coast-born Yao worked on vaccines for the Ebola virus and HIV, but only had access to harmless and non-infectious materials, according to AFP. U.S. authorities tested the contents of Yao's packages and determined they were not hazardous.

Health Tips for May 15

Health Tip: Protecting a New Hip

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

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

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

Health Tip: Triggers for Foot Arthritis

Arthritis can cause pain and swelling in any joint, and the joints of the feet are no exception.

The American Podiatric Medical Association says the following triggers may contribute to foot arthritis:

• An injury to the foot, especially one that was left untreated.
• A bacterial or viral infection such as pnuemonia or Lyme disease.
• Bowel disorders such as ileitis or colitis.
• Use of certain prescription drugs or illicit drugs.
• Research has suggested that genetic history may also play a role in the development of arthritis.

Health Headlines - May 14

Scientist Held for Smuggling Ebola Research Vials Into U.S.

A 42-year-old Canadian scientist has been arrested for smuggling 22 vials stolen from Canada's National Microbiology Lab, used in Ebola and HIV research, into the United States, officials from both countries said Wednesday.

Konan Michel Yao was arrested while crossing from Manitoba province into North Dakota on May 5, a spokeswoman for the Public Health Agency of Canada, which operates the lab, Agence France-Presse reported. U.S. prosecutor Lynn Jordheim said Yao was carrying the unidentified materials in aluminum foil inside a glove and packaged in a plastic bag in the trunk of his car when he was detained. Yao said he had stolen the vials on his last day of work on Jan. 21 and was taking them to his new job with the U.S. National Institutes of Health at the Biodefense Research Laboratory in Bethesda, Md., AFP reported.

"This turned out not to be a terrorism-related case," Jordheim told AFP. "It appears to be exactly as he said. However, he still faces possible charges for smuggling the vials into the United States."

A Canadian health agency spokesperson said the Ivory Coast-born Yao worked on vaccines for the Ebola virus and HIV, but only had access to harmless and non-infectious materials, according to AFP. U.S. authorities tested the contents of Yao's packages and determined they were not hazardous

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Lawsuit Challenges Practice of Gene Patenting

A lawsuit organized by The American Civil Liberties Union and filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York is challenging the practice of gene patenting in a case that could have wide-reaching consequences for medical research and genetic diagnostics, the New York Times reports.

At issue was a decision made 10 years ago by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to grant Myriad Genetics, based in Salt Lake City, exclusive rights to two genes -- BRCA1 and BRCA2 -- closely associated with increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer and on testing methods to measure that risk. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of several cancer patients, professional organizations and genetic researchers, argues that gene patents restrict the practice of medicine and new research and block alternatives to the patented tests or interpreting or comparing gene sequences that involve these genes, according to the Times.

The specific case involved a Texas woman who had received a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2006 then took a genetic test to see if her genes also put her increased risk for ovarian cancer. When her test came back positive, she wanted a second opinion, but discovered that under the patent granted, there could be no second opinion, the Times reported.

Companies like Myriad argue that the patent system promotes innovation by giving firms a temporary monopoly that rewards their investment in research and development. Two panels of government experts have not found significant impediments to research or medical care caused by gene patents, and a report from the National Research Council found that patented biomedical research rarely imposes a significant burden for biomedical researchers, the Times said. But, the report added, the patent landscape could become considerably more complex and burdensome over time.

About 20 percent of the human genome, involving thousands of individual genes, are already included in patent claims, a draft report from the National Institutes of Health says, according to the Times. The report warned that it may be difficult for any one developer to obtain all the needed licenses to develop the next generations of tests.

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Many Americans Struggling to Control Diabetes: Analysis

A U.S. agency analysis finds that only slightly more than half of the 18 million Americans with diabetes had their blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure under optimum control in 2006.

The summary, issued by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), found that about 55 percent of American adults with diabetes had their blood sugar and total cholesterol levels under control, while about 59 percent had their blood pressure under control. Improper management of these factors can increase the risk for heart attack and stroke, the agency noted.

The report also found that:

• Only 43 percent of blacks and 38 percent of Mexican-Americans with diabetes had their blood sugar levels under control, compared with 61 percent of non-Hispanic whites with diabetes.
• The percentage of diabetics who had their blood pressure under control did improve between 2002 to 2006 -- from 39 percent to 58 percent for blacks and from 49 percent to 67 percent for Mexican-Americans. There were also no significant differences in blood pressure control among blacks, Mexican-Americans, and non-Hispanic whites with diabetes.

The AHRQ study also said that as many as 6 million Americans may have diabetes but don't know it. Diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, with $116 billion spent on medical care for the disease, according to AHRQ's recently released 2008 National Healthcare Disparities Report.

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Medicare Says It Won't Pay for Virtual Colonoscopies

Medicare says it won't pay for the procedure called virtual colonoscopy, citing what it calls a lack of evidence that the less invasive method can rid a patient of precancerous growths as well as regular colonoscopy can, the Associated Pressreports.

In a memo posted on its Web site, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said that the test does not qualify for Medicare coverage and noted that the procedure is performed on people without symptoms. Medicare does cover regular colonoscopies, wherein a small video camera inside a slender tube is snaked through the intestines to identify polyps and remove them if necessary.

CT colonography, or virtual colonoscopy, is an enhanced X-ray of the colon that is quicker, cheaper and easier on the patient, but involves radiation, the AP reported. Both procedures still involve drinking a liquid preparation to clean out the bowels.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force decided last fall not to approve virtual colonoscopies because of the risk of radiation to patients, among other factors. Medicare said in its posting that it took that decision into account in reaching its decision. Some private insurers cover the virtual procedure, but others don't, according to the AP. Colonoscopies can cost up to $3,000, while the virtual procedure can range from $300 to $800, the wire service reported.

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Recession Hastens Social Security, Medicare Insolvency: Report

The economic recession and resulting huge job losses are bringing great pressure to bear on Social Security and Medicare funds, reducing revenues far below previous projections, U.S. officials are warning.

They project that Social Security will run out of funds in 2037, four years earlier than last year's estimate, and that Medicare will be insolvent in 2017, two years earlier than last year's estimate and just eight years out, United Press Internationalreported. To head off a funding shortfall, the Obama administration has proposed raising payroll taxes 2 percentage points to 14.4 percent or reducing benefits by 13 percent, or some combination of both ideas.

None of the options appears palatable, however, since raising payroll taxes would be unpopular and break a key pledge Obama made during his election campaign, the officials said. Additionally, Social Security trustees said a cut in benefits is unlikely to pass because of backlash from politically powerful groups such as AARP,UPI reported.

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Kids' Face Paint Product May Be Contaminated, FDA Warns

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found "significant microbial contamination" in a brand of water-based face paints used by children, and has warned consumers to stop using the products, United Press International reports.

The cosmetic paints -- manufactured by a Shanghai company and distributed across the United States -- are being recalled by Fun Express Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oriental Trading Co., because of skin reactions in children who used the products, UPI reported.

"The FDA has learned of a cluster of adverse events in children exposed to various colors of the face paint," the FDA said in a statement. "All exposures occurred on the same day at an organized event and included rashes, itchiness, burning sensation and swelling where the face paints were applied. Significant microbial contamination was indicated in most of the products in testing by a FDA laboratory."

The FDA is asking consumers to report adverse events from the paints to state and local health officials, or by calling the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Health Tips for May 14

Health Tip: Communicating With a Loved One's Doctor

Part of a caregiver's responsibilities include communicating with your charge's doctors, and knowing how and when to ask the right questions.

The American Heart Association offers these guidelines for caregivers:

• Explain to the doctor your role as caregiver, and that you need to be included in important communication about the patient.
• Educate yourself about the details of your loved one's condition.
• Write down information about behaviors you have noticed, such as your loved one's sleeping habits, eating habits and emotions.
• Take your time and think through any decisions about your loved one. If possible, make sure the doctor offers you enough time to consider the options. Consider scheduling a consultation appointment.
• Make a list of questions and topics for discussion during appointments.
• Appreciate the time your doctor takes, and understand that he or she may not have an immediate answer to all of your questions.

Health Tip: Be Proactive at Your Next Doctor Visit

If you don't go to the doctor very often, it's important to make the most of every visit.

It's your opportunity to talk to your doctor about any health problems, or questions that you have.

Here are conversation pointers for your next medical visit, as recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• Bring up any symptoms or health concerns that you have.
• Create a log of your health history and bring it to your appointment.
• Tell your doctor about any stress in your life that could be affecting your health.
• Discuss any medications or supplements that you take, and any side effects that you suspect may be caused by them.
• Bring any recent medical records, test results or X-rays.
• Clarify anything your doctor says that you don't understand.
• Ask for extra time to spend with your doctor, if you need it. If your doctor can't be available personally, a nurse or physician assistant may be able to spend time with you.

Health Headlines - May 13

Kids' Face Paint Product May Be Contaminated, FDA Warns

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found "significant microbial contamination" in a brand of water-based face paints used by children, and has warned consumers to stop using the products, United Press International reports.

The cosmetic paints -- manufactured by a Shanghai company and distributed across the United States -- are being recalled by Fun Express Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oriental Trading Co., because of skin reactions in children who used the products, UPI reported.

"The FDA has learned of a cluster of adverse events in children exposed to various colors of the face paint," the FDA said in a statement. "All exposures occurred on the same day at an organized event and included rashes, itchiness, burning sensation and swelling where the face paints were applied. Significant microbial contamination was indicated in most of the products in testing by a FDA laboratory."

The FDA is asking consumers to report adverse events from the paints to state and local health officials, or by calling the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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FDA Challenges Cheerios Health Claims

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking issue with Cheerios maker General Mills Inc., citing company claims that the cereal lowers cholesterol and can help treat heart disease, the Bloomberg news service reports.

The FDA told Bloomberg that it allows food companies to make 17 nutrition claims based on scientific studies and company petitions, but that Cheerios' claim of its cholesterol-lowering ability weren't cleared by the agency. The FDA said the heart disease and cancer claims on the Cheerios' Web site should include language saying that fruits and vegetables also help reduce risks, Bloomberg reported.

In a warning letter to General Mills, the FDA said the claim about Cheerios "does not enable the public to understand the significance of the claim in the context of the total daily diet." General Mills could face a court injunction or product seizure if it doesn't fix the issue within 15 days of the May 5 letter, Bloomberg reported.

General Mills was quick to respond that the science of its claims is not in question. "The FDA is interested in how the Cheerios cholesterol-lowering information is presented on the Cheerios package and Web site," Tom Forsythe, a spokesman for the Minneapolis-based company, said in an e-mailed statement, Bloomberg reported. "We look forward to discussing this with FDA and to reaching a resolution," Forsythe said.

According to General Mills' Web site, Cheerios has advertised that it can "lower your cholesterol 4 percent in 6 weeks" for more than two years.

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Weight Worries Still Nag U.S. Women: Poll

A new Associated Press-iVillage poll suggests that many American women are unhappy with their figures, yet they face a disconnect between what they perceive a healthy body image to be and true physical conditioning.

The poll, conducted from April 20-30 by Knowledge Networks, contacted 1,000 women by telephone and mail, then questioned them online, providing Internet access for those who needed it. Among the poll's findings:

• Half of the women surveyed said they didn't like their weight. In fact, 26 percent of poll participants whose body-mass index (BMI) -- a measure of weight for height -- was in the normal range still reported being unhappy with their shape.
• Only 8 percent of women ate the minimum recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, and 28 percent admitted they only took in the recommended servings once a week or less.
• Women put in a median of 80 minutes of exercise a week, meaning half did even less. The average adult is supposed to get 2 1/2 hours of exercise a week for good health.
• A quarter of the women polled said they'd consider plastic surgery to feel better about their body, and most would choose a tummy tuck.
• Even among normal-weight women, a full 16 percent said they were dieting to drop pounds.

"The priorities are flipped," Dr. Molly Poag, chief of psychiatry at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, told the pollsters. She suggested that women athletes are a better role model for women than supermodels. "There's an undervaluing of physical fitness and an overvaluing of absolute weight and appearance for women in our culture," Poag said.

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FDA Probes 2 Delaware Deaths That May Be Linked to Heparin

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has sent a team to investigate the deaths of two Delaware patients who died over the weekend after taking the blood thinner heparin, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The deaths were confirmed by a spokesman from Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, Del., after three people suffered medical problems after using heparin. All three people were using the drug supplied by Baxter International Inc., of Deerfield, Ill., although the spokesman said there is no evidence that directly ties heparin to the deaths, the Journal reported. Baxter spokeswoman Erin Gardiner told the newspaper that the company immediately contacted the FDA, and both the agency and Baxter sent medical teams to Delaware to investigate.

The people who died, identified only as a 71-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman, were flown by helicopter from Beebe. One died at Christiana Hospital in Delaware, and the other died at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Gardiner said both received pre-mixed intravenous bags of heparin.

In 2008, tainted heparin bulk supplies, vials of the medicine and drug-coated medical devices reportedly were tied to some 80 deaths and led to a recall of heparin from several companies. The current investigation is so far focused on North American sources and not products from China, according to the Journal. Last year's cases mostly involved allergic reactions and cardiac complications, while the Delaware deaths involved cranial bleeding, Gardiner told the newspaper.

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Obama Praises Health Industry's Offer of Savings

Calling it a "watershed event," President Barack Obama has applauded an offer by health-care industry leaders to voluntarily slow rate increases. The move is designed to help provide heath insurance for the estimated 50 million Americans who have none and who are a focal point of the administration's health-care reform proposals, the Associated Press reported.

The industry leaders -- representing sectors including hospitals, doctors and insurers -- offered the president more than $2 trillion in rate reductions over the next 10 years and pledged to cut the growth rate for health care by 1.5 percentage points each year, the wire service said. The industry groups' offer doesn't resolve prickly details of the emerging health-care plan overall, but does put the health-care industry in a position to influence legislation that Congress is writing.

By offering the savings now, these private sector health-care groups hope to avoid creation of a competing government health plan that would enroll middle-class workers and their families, the AP said. Additionally, hospitals and doctors are worried that any government-run plan could dictate what they get paid to care for patients, and drug makers are concerned that future medications could face tougher cost-benefit analysis before new drugs could win approval.

While it's unclear whether the proposed rate reductions will prove decisive in passing more encompassing health-care legislation, the promised savings could accrue to society as a whole, not just the federal government, the AP reported. A key point is that specific federal savings would be needed to help pay for expanding insurance coverage. U.S. costs for a health-care overhaul could range from $1.2 trillion to $1.5 trillion over 10 years, according to the AP, but Obama has so far only outlined where he would get about half that amount.

"I will not rest until the dream of health-care reform is achieved in the United States of America," Obama said in the White House's State Dining Room as he announced the offer, the AP reported. "We can't continue down the same dangerous road we've been traveling for so many years. Reform is not a luxury that can be postponed, but a necessity that cannot wait."

Health Tips for May 13

Health Tip: Strive for Beautiful, Healthy Skin

It takes some work to keep skin clear, moisturized and looking young and healthy.

The Cleveland Clinic offers these skin care suggestions:

• Drink a lot of water every day. It will show on the outside.
• Gently but thoroughly wash your face twice each day.
• Always remove makeup before bed.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
• Use a toner after you wash to get rid of any leftover dirt, makeup or oil.
• Always use a moisturizer, even if your skin is oily. You may opt for an oil-free brand.

Health Tip: Safe Use of Contact Lenses

It can be difficult to see that cosmetics and contact lenses may not mix, especially if the cosmetics are misapplied.

The University of Virginia Health System offers these suggestions for contact lens wearers who use makeup:

• Always wash your hands before putting contact lenses in or taking them out.
• Keep cosmetic brushes and other tools clean.
• Invest in hypoallergenic cosmetics without fragrance, sparkle, glitter or anything else that may contain irritants such as crushed oyster shell or tinsel.
• Put lenses in first, then put on your cosmetics.
• Never wear someone else's makeup, or let anyone else borrow yours.
• Never re-use an old mascara applicator.
• Be careful to keep creams and powders out of your eyes.
• Skip makeup when your eyes are irritated, infected, swollen or red.

Health Headlines - May 12

FDA Investigating 2 Delaware Deaths That May Be Linked to Heparin

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has sent a team to investigate the deaths of two Delaware patients who died over the weekend after taking the blood thinner heparin, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The deaths were confirmed by a spokesman from Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, Del., after three people suffered medical problems after using heparin. All three people were using the drug supplied by Baxter International Inc., of Deerfield, Ill., although the spokesman said there is no evidence that directly ties heparin to the deaths, the Journal reported. Baxter spokeswoman Erin Gardiner told the newspaper that the company immediately contacted the FDA, and both the agency and Baxter sent medical teams to Delaware to investigate.

The people who died, identified only as a 71-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman, were flown by helicopter from Beebe. One died at Christiana Hospital in Delaware, and the other died at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Gardiner said both received pre-mixed intravenous bags of heparin.

In 2008, tainted heparin bulk supplies, vials of the medicine and drug-coated medical devices reportedly were tied to some 80 deaths and led to a recall of heparin from several companies. The current investigation is so far focused on North American sources and not product from China, according to the Journal. Last year's cases mostly involved allergic reactions and cardiac complications, while the Delaware deaths involved cranial bleeding, Gardiner told the newspaper.

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Obama Praises Health Industry's Offer of Savings

Calling it a "watershed event," President Barack Obama on Monday applauded an offer by health care industry leaders to voluntarily slow rate increases. The move is designed to help provide heath insurance for the estimated 50 million Americans who have none and who are a focal point of the administration's health care reform proposals, the Associated Press reported.

The industry leaders -- representing sectors including hospitals, doctors and insurers -- offered the president more than $2 trillion in rate reductions over the next 10 years and pledged to cut the growth rate for health care by 1.5 percentage points each year, the wire service said. The industry groups' offer doesn't resolve prickly details of the emerging health care plan overall, but does put the health care industry in a position to influence legislation that Congress is writing.

By offering the savings now, these private sector health care groups hope to avoid creation of a competing government health plan that would enroll middle-class workers and their families, the AP said. Additionally, hospitals and doctors are worried that any government-run plan could dictate what they get paid to care for patients, and drug makers are concerned that future medications could face tougher cost-benefit analysis before new drugs could win approval.

While it's unclear whether the proposed rate reductions will prove decisive in passing more encompassing health care legislation, the promised savings could accrue to society as a whole, not just the federal government, the AP reported. A key point is that specific federal savings would be needed to help pay for expanding insurance coverage. U.S. costs for a health care overhaul could range from $1.2 trillion to $1.5 trillion over 10 years, according to the AP, but President Obama has so far only outlined where he would get about half that amount.

"I will not rest until the dream of health care reform is achieved in the United States of America," Obama said in the White House's State Dining Room as he announced the offer, the AP reported. "We can't continue down the same dangerous road we've been traveling for so many years. Reform is not a luxury that can be postponed, but a necessity that cannot wait."

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Cervarix Induces Stronger Immune Response Than Gardasil: Study

A head-to-head comparison suggests that GlaxoSmithKline PLC's Cervarix vaccine triggers a stronger immune response against the cervical cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) than Merck & Co.'s Gardasil.

The Glaxo-funded study of 1,100 women, ages 18 to 45, didn't examine which vaccine was more effective at preventing cervical cancer or precancerous lesions, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The findings were presented at a Swedish medical conference that began Friday. Cervarix is on the market in Europe and is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Gardasil is designed to protect women against four HPV types, including those that cause most cases of genital warts, the Wall Street Journal reported. Cervarix targets two HPV types and isn't meant to provide as much protection against genital warts.

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Health Insurance Unaffordable for More Than Thought: Study

Most uninsured families who aren't covered by group health insurance through work can't afford to buy health insurance, says a U.S. government study.

Unlike most studies that use income alone to estimate how many Americans can afford health insurance, this study shows that measuring families' median net worth (the value of their savings plus other assets minus debt) provides a more accurate count.

Using national survey data, researchers with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that the median net worth of families who purchased health insurance was $105,819 -- nearly 35 times greater than the median net worth of $3,057 for uninsured families. Median net worth means that half the families had net worth above or below that amount.

In contrast, the median income of families who purchased health insurance was $41,086 -- only 2.3 times greater than the median income of $17,690 for uninsured families.

The study also found that 4.1 percent of families with access to work-based health insurance were poor (family income below 100 percent of the federal poverty line), and 11.1 percent were low income (family income 100 percent to 199 percent of the federal poverty line). Among families without access to employer-based health insurance, 33.8 percent were poor, and 28.4 percent were low income.

"This study has important implications for defining who can afford to pay for health insurance in the next wave of health care reform," AHRQ Director Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy, said in a news release. "We need accurate, evidence-based findings to ensure that we are providing policymakers with reliable information."

Health Tips for May 12

Health Tip: Keep Medications Away From Children

Youngsters seem to get into everything -- often things they aren't supposed to, such as medications.

Your medicine cabinet is full of dangers for young people, so it's important to keep medications locked away and out of a child's reach.

The National Safety Council offers these suggestions:

• Keep all medications in a securely latched medicine cabinet, even if you don't think your child can reach it.
• Always store medications in containers with child-proof lids, and make sure the containers are securely closed.
• Try not to take medication in front of children, and never act like they are candy or something to play with.
• When you dispose of medications, don't just throw them in the garbage can. Dispose of them in a way that a child can't find and swallow them.

Health Tip: Remember to Take Your Medicine

Many medications should be taken at the same time every day, both to ensure their effectiveness and so that you remember to take them.

The American Heart Association offers these suggestions to help keep you on schedule:

• Make taking your medication a part of your daily routine, as you would brushing your teeth.
• Take your medicine while performing another daily activity, such as having breakfast.
• Use a daily pill box to organize and track when you've taken your medication.
• Track taking your medication on a calendar, and mark off the day afterward.
• Use a white board to keep track of when you've taken your medication.
• Ask a family member or friend to remind you each day.

Health Headlines - May 11

Cervarix Induces Stronger Immune Response Than Gardasil: Study

A head-to-head comparison suggests that GlaxoSmithKline PLC's Cervarix vaccine triggers a stronger immune response against the cervical cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) than Merck & Co.'s Gardasil.

The Glaxo-funded study of 1,100 women, ages 18 to 45, didn't examine which vaccine was more effective at preventing cervical cancer or precancerous lesions, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The findings were presented at a Swedish medical conference that began Friday. Cervarix is on the market in Europe and is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Gardasil is designed to protect women against four HPV types, including those that cause most cases of genital warts, the Wall Street Journal reported. Cervarix targets two HPV types and isn't meant to provide as much protection against genital warts.

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Health Insurance Unaffordable for More Than Thought: Study

Most uninsured families who aren't covered by group health insurance through work can't afford to buy health insurance, says a U.S. government study.

Unlike most studies that use income alone to estimate how many Americans can afford health insurance, this study shows that measuring families' median net worth (the value of their savings plus other assets minus debt) provides a more accurate count.

Using national survey data, researchers with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that the median net worth of families who purchased health insurance was $105,819 -- nearly 35 times greater than the median net worth of $3,057 for uninsured families. Median net worth means that half the families had net worth above or below that amount.

In contrast, the median income of families who purchased health insurance was $41,086 -- only 2.3 times greater than the median income of $17,690 for uninsured families.

The study also found that 4.1 percent of families with access to work-based health insurance were poor (family income below 100 percent of the federal poverty line), and 11.1 percent were low income (family income 100 percent to 199 percent of the federal poverty line). Among families without access to employer-based health insurance, 33.8 percent were poor, and 28.4 percent were low income.

"This study has important implications for defining who can afford to pay for health insurance in the next wave of health care reform," AHRQ Director Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy, said in a news release. "We need accurate, evidence-based findings to ensure that we are providing policymakers with reliable information."

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Obama's 2010 Health Budget Targets Reforms

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius this week outlined provisions of President Barack Obama's 2010 health budget that target cutting costs, improving quality of care and rooting out waste and fraud in the Medicare system.

Overall, the proposed budget includes a total of $879 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services in 2010, a $63 billion increase over the agency's 2009 budget. The budget establishes a $635 billion health care reserve fund over 10 years, funded by new revenue and savings from Medicare and Medicaid, to finance the reforms and assure health care coverage for all Americans, Sebelius said in a news release from her agency. To improve public safety, the new budget also sets aside $584 million to prepare for and combat pandemic flu and fund increases for the Food and Drug Administration to help ensure the safety of food and medicine.

"We estimate that for every $1 we spend to stop fraud in the system, we save $1.55," Sebelius said in the new release. "The President's budget lays out funding for anti-fraud efforts over five years that we estimate could save $2.7 billion by improving overall oversight and stopping fraud and abuse within the Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug programs."

Other highlights in the health care budget include $4 billion for the Indian Health Service (IHS) to expand health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives; $330 million to fund education programs to address the shortage of health care providers in underserved areas; $73 million for improving rural health care initiatives; and $354 million to help combat health care disparities of racial and ethnic minorities and low-income and disadvantaged populations.

The FDA would also receive an additional $511 million, with $259 million earmarked for food safety efforts, increasing the number of inspectors by about 20 percent, as well as helping fund domestic surveillance, laboratory capacity, and response to and control of food-borne illness.

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U.S. Raid Seizes $1.5 Million of Contaminated Food Products

More than $1.5 million worth of food products, including herbs and botanicals, stored in filthy conditions at the American Mercantile Corporation of Memphis, Tenn., have been seized by U.S. marshals on Thursday at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency reported.

FDA inspectors in March had found evidence of rodent and insect infestation in the company's warehouse, but said the firm had failed to correct conditions. The products seized in the raid included items such as sarsaparilla, spearmint leaves, cornstarch, sweet orange peels powder, licorice powder, sassafras, and salt that may have been sold to and used in the dietary supplement and herbal tea industries, according to the FDA release. The seized products violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the agency said, because they were held in unsanitary conditions where they may have become contaminated with filth.

The FDA said it had received no reports of illness associated with the products.

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Dodgers' Ramirez Suspended 50 Games After Positive Drug Test

Los Angeles Dodgers' All-Star outfielder Manny Ramirez has been suspended for 50 games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, Major League Baseball officials has announced. The suspension begins immediately and was expected to cost Ramirez about a third of his $25 million salary. He could return to the field on or about July 3, the New York Times reported.

Ramirez, 36, said he would not challenge the decision and in a statement released through the Major League Baseball Players Association said that he tested positive for a doctor-prescribed medication he was taking for a personal health issue and not a steroid, the Times reported. "I want to apologize to Mr. McCourt, Mrs. McCourt, Mr. Torre, my teammates, the Dodger organization, and to the Dodger fans. LA is a special place to me, and I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I'm sorry about this whole situation," Ramirez said in the statement. The McCourts own the Dodgers, and Joe Torre, the former skipper of the New York Yankees, now manages the Dodgers.

Ramirez becomes the third major league player suspended this year under baseball's tougher drug-testing program. The new policy calls for a 50-game suspension for a first violation, a 100-game suspension for a second offense, and a lifetime ban for a third, the Wall Street Journal reported.

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West Nile Test Produced False-Positive Results: Study

A commercially available West Nile Virus test produced a substantial number of false-positive test results and affected the number of West Nile Virus (WNV) cases reported in the United States in 2008, a new study says.

One lot of the WNV Immunoglobulin M (IgM) ELISA kit used at four laboratories resulted in positive tests from 518 patients in 42 states. Retesting of available samples showed a 72 percent false-positive rate. The majority of those false-positive results were from people without symptoms of neuroinvasive disease.

The lot of the test kit, labeled for use on serum to help aid in suspected cases of WNV neuroinvasive disease, was used starting in July 2008 and was recalled after a multistate investigation into an increased number of false-positive WNV test results.

The indicated use of commercially available test kits should be considered when requesting testing and interpreting results. Any positive results should be confirmed by a state health department or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the authors of the report, which was published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Syphilis Rates in Heterosexuals Need Monitoring: Study

Public health officials in the United States need to watch for increasing rates of syphilis among heterosexuals, say the authors of a study that found sharp increases in new syphilis infections among heterosexuals in Jefferson County, Ala.

U.S. syphilis rates have been increasing since the early 2000s, and this rise has been associated primarily with men who have sex with men (MSM). Between 2002 and 2004, MSM accounted for 46.3 percent of all new syphilis cases in Jefferson County, which includes the city of Birmingham.

However, between 2005 and 2007, heterosexuals accounted for 87.7 percent of new syphilis cases in the county, while MSM accounted for only 12.3 percent, said the study published Thursday in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Overall, cases of syphilis in Jefferson County increased from nine in 2002 to 238 in 2006, and then declined to 167 in 2007. Between 2002 and 2007, the proportion of women with syphilis increased from 26.9 percent to 43.3 percent. The researchers noted that after 10 years of decline, syphilis cases among women in the Southern U.S. increased 69 percent between 2003 and 2007.

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Facebook Use Doesn't Harm Grades: Report

Students who use the social networking site Facebook don't have lower grades, says a new study that contradicts the preliminary findings of an Ohio State University study that made news last month.

"We found no evidence of Facebook use correlating with lower academic achievement," co-author Eszter Hargittai, an associate professor of communication studies at Northwestern University and a fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, said in a news release.

Hargittai and colleagues' examination of three data sets found no significant negative relationship between grade point average and normal Facebook use. The study appears in the online journal First Monday.

It is possible that excessive Facebook use can have a negative effect on academic performance, Hargittai noted.

"If somebody's spending an inordinate amount of time on Facebook at the expense of studying, his or her academic performance may suffer, just as it might from spending an excessive time on any activity," Hargittai said. "We need more research with more nuanced data to better understand how social networking site usage may relate to academic performance."