The best health news search engine - My Health News » The Seattle Times: Health » March 2010 - Bird flu, Avian influenza, Diabetes, Cholesterol, Caner, HIV

Many people need care decisions made for them, study says

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 9:16pm CDT

A significant number of people eventually will need someone to make end-of-life decisions about their medical care, a new study suggests.

Study finds possible heart risk with prostate drug

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 6:16pm CDT

Full results of a big study testing a drug for preventing prostate cancer show a higher risk of heart failure, a surprise finding that could dampen enthusiasm for expanding its use.

1 in 4 elderly need care decisions made for them

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 6:16pm CDT

A significant number of the elderly - more than one in four - will eventually need someone to make end-of-life decisions about their medical care, a new study suggests.

UW panelists say lawsuits challenging health bill lack merit

Posted: March 31st, 2010, 1:46am CDT

The University of Washington billed it as a debate among distinguished law faculty over whether the new federal health-care law is constitutional...

Product Recalls: MasXtreme, ski jackets

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 7:16pm CDT

The following recall has been announced:

Medical uses for erectile dysfunction drugs

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 6:31pm CDT

Researchers are testing the medication tadalafil (sold as an erectile dysfunction drug under the brand name Cialis) on men with Becker muscular dystrophy, one of the nine forms of muscular dystrophy, a group of inherited muscle-wasting diseases. And the authors of the Nature Reviews Drug Discovery point to studies suggesting sildenafil or similar drugs might potentially help diseases such as congestive heart failure, hypertension, stroke and certain other lung disorders.

Smile your way to a long life

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 6:01pm CDT

Research shows that people who have big smiles live longer. This isn't a bunch of psycho-hooey, the authors said. Smiles reflect positive emotion. Positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental well-being.

Study: Chocolate could reduce heart risk

Posted: March 30th, 2010, 5:01pm CDT

The Easter Bunny might lower your chances of having a heart problem. According to a new study, small doses of chocolate every day could decrease your risk of having a heart attack or stroke by nearly 40 percent.

Health premiums could rise 17 pct for young adults

Posted: March 29th, 2010, 10:01pm CDT

Under the health care overhaul, young adults who buy their own insurance will carry a heavier burden of the medical costs of older Americans - a shift expected to raise insurance premiums for young people when the plan takes full effect.

Outside experts to review WHO's swine flu response

Posted: March 29th, 2010, 6:01pm CDT

A group of outside experts will scrutinize the World Health Organization's response to the swine flu outbreak and likely examine whether the global body could have been clearer when it declared a pandemic of what has turned out to be a relatively mild disease, the World Health Organization said Monday.

CDC: Not too late to get swine flu vaccination

Posted: March 29th, 2010, 5:46pm CDT

Health officials are renewing their push for Americans to get swine flu vaccinations following a recent uptick in hospital cases in Georgia.

Outside experts to review WHO's swine flu response

Posted: March 29th, 2010, 7:01am CDT

The World Health Organization says a group of independent experts will assess the global body's response to the swine flu outbreak.

Coverage for all children? Check new health-care law's fine print

Posted: March 29th, 2010, 2:16am CDT

Days after President Obama signed the new health-care law, insurance companies already are arguing that, at least for now, they do not have to provide one of the benefits that the president calls a centerpiece of the law: coverage for certain sick children

Health overhaul likely to strain doctor shortage

Posted: March 28th, 2010, 7:58pm CDT

Better beat the crowd and find a doctor.

Obama to nominate Medicare, Medicaid director

Posted: March 27th, 2010, 10:15pm CDT

President Obama will soon name Dr. Donald Berwick, a scholar of health policy, to run Medicare and Medicaid, the programs that serve nearly one-third of all Americans, administration officials said Saturday.

FDA says millions got unapproved heart pills last year

Posted: March 27th, 2010, 10:11pm CDT

Doctors in the United States wrote more than 4 million prescriptions last year for nitroglycerin tablets, heart drugs placed under the tongue to reduce the chest pain angina or to stop a heart attack

Experts debate merits of breast cancer screening

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 6:46pm CDT

Are doctors overtreating breast cancer?

Forget your medicine? This device won't let you

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 5:48pm CDT

A Wi-Fi pill bottle cap that's linked to the Internet flashes an amber light when it's time to open your pill vial, plays an insistent tone when you miss the appointed hour, and triggers a reminder by phone if you're two hours late. GlowCaps can also provide data to doctors' offices.

FDA warns against drinking raw milk

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 2:16pm CDT

The Food and Drug Administration has said it more than once, and they'll say it again: Don't drink raw milk.

Losing breast not always best for cancer patients

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 7:04am CDT

New research suggests that women with gene mutations that predispose them to breast cancer might not pay a huge price in survival if they choose to preserve their breast instead of having it removed.

Could Hong Kong teach China to quit smoking?

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 7:01am CDT

Nearly one in three smokers worldwide lights up in China, where cigarettes - commonly given as gifts - are so tightly woven into the culture, some believe it's an impossible habit to kick. But a new report suggests the keys to quitting lie in the country's own backyard.

Uzbekistan limits foreign travel for doctors

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 6:12am CDT

Authorities in Uzbekistan have restricted the country's doctors from freely traveling abroad to international medical conferences, a think tank in the Central Asian nation said Friday.

Could Hong Kong teach China to quit smoking?

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 6:11am CDT

Nearly one in three smokers worldwide lights up in China, where cigarettes - commonly given as gifts - are so tightly woven into the culture, some believe it's an impossible habit to kick. But a new report suggests the keys to quitting lie in the country's own backyard.

Congress passes amended health-care law

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 2:31am CDT

Congress agreed Thursday to amend the nation's new health-care law, concluding a long, contentious quest to pass major changes, and lawmakers prepared to head home for a two-week recess to hear voters' reactions.

Abortion referral puts spotlight on school-based health centers

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 2:31am CDT

County officials hope to spell out more clearly the range of health services available to minors after an incident in which a pregnant Ballard High student reportedly got an abortion without her mother's knowledge after visiting a school-based health-care center.

FDA panel mulls tanning bed ban for teens under 18

Posted: March 26th, 2010, 12:46am CDT

Federal health experts say more restrictions are needed to protect teenagers from the cancer risks of tanning beds, including a potential ban for people under 18.

Multi-taskers may be falling behind

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 11:01pm CDT

A look at studies that show media multi-tasking takes a toll on the brain. Plus tips to ensure your high-tech juggling is efficient and enjoyable.

Study: Pregnancy safe for breast cancer survivors

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 9:16pm CDT

Women who survive breast cancer and have children afterwards don't appear to be at any higher risk of dying from cancer, a new study says.

Up to a third of breast cancers could be avoided

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 7:16pm CDT

Up to a third of breast cancer cases in Western countries could be avoided if women ate less and exercised more, researchers at a conference said Thursday, renewing a sensitive debate about how lifestyle factors affect the disease.

CDC: Breast-feeding varies by race, place

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 6:01pm CDT

A new study confirms that Hispanic women generally breast-feed more than white and black women do. But it finds surprising regional differences in U.S. breast-feeding rates.

US study: Breast-feeding varies by race, place

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 2:29pm CDT

A new study confirms that Hispanic women generally breast-feed more than white and black women do. But it finds surprising regional differences in U.S. breast-feeding rates.

Retired couples may need $250k for health care

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 2:25pm CDT

Relief to seniors facing high prescription drug costs is one of the first changes to come under the new health care overhaul. But ultimately that won't offset the relentless increase in retirees' medical expenses.

Experts: One-third of breast cancer is avoidable

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 1:16pm CDT

Up to a third of breast cancer cases in Western countries could be avoided if women ate less and exercised more, researchers at a breast cancer conference said Thursday, renewing debate on a sensitive topic.

Workers to give out 2.5 billion condoms in SAfrica

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 12:16pm CDT

Thousands of health workers will help hand out 2.5 billion condoms and test 15 million people for HIV as part of the world's largest campaign in the country hardest hit by the virus, the health minister said Thursday.

Experts: One-third of breast cancer is avoidable

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 7:31am CDT

Up to a third of breast cancer cases in Western countries could be avoided if women ate less and exercised more, researchers at a conference on breast cancer said Thursday.

Washington saw rise in number of TB cases

Posted: March 25th, 2010, 1:16am CDT

The number of overall TB cases in 2009 rose 12 percent in Washington, one of the few states that saw an increase. Nationally, the number of TB cases has been dropping for 17 years.

More than 1 million baby slings recalled

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 11:57pm CDT

More than 1 million baby slings made by Infantino were recalled Wednesday after claims linking them to three infant deaths.

Study adds evidence that bone drugs work, are safe

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 9:46pm CDT

A new study gives reassuring news about the safety of Fosamax and Reclast, bone-building drugs taken by millions of American women. It found that long-term use does not significantly raise the risk of a rare type of fracture near the hip.

Bigger hospitals may treat some conditions better

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 7:46pm CDT

People hospitalized with a heart attack, heart failure or pneumonia fare better if they are admitted someplace that treats a lot of those problems, a large study of Medicare patients finds.

People's Pharmacy: Prozac and sexual dysfunction

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 6:29pm CDT

People's Pharmacy answers questions on Prozac and sexual dysfunction; the long-term effects of osteoporosis drugs; and blister beetle juice to treat warts.

1 in 10 Chinese adults are diabetics, study finds

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 6:16pm CDT

After working overtime to catch up to life in the West, China now faces a whole new problem: the world's biggest diabetes epidemic.

Cornell confirms 2 bridge deaths were suicides

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 3:15pm CDT

Cornell University officials say two fatal plunges from bridges this month have been ruled suicides.

Fattest state's lawmakers shed pounds, fried stuff

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 2:24pm CDT

In a gym at a tiny college in the capital of the most obese state in the nation, state Rep. John Hines dropped his chest to the floor, let out an "Aaaarrrrgggh!" and forced through a few final pushups.

Tacoma tries to douse cigar smoking lounge

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 2:01pm CDT

He's an outlaw who endangers the public health.

Gap in health care law's protection for children

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 10:51am CDT

Hours after President Barack Obama signed historic health care legislation, a potential problem emerged. Administration officials are now scrambling to fix a gap in highly touted benefits for children.

Global Fund seeks $20 billion to fight AIDS, TB

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 10:46am CDT

A global group funding the battle against AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in impoverished countries urged wealthy nations on Wednesday to keep paying for the fight even as the economic crisis forces budget cuts.

Global Fund seeks cash to fight AIDS, TB, malaria

Posted: March 24th, 2010, 7:16am CDT

A global group funding the battle against AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in impoverished nations worldwide is urging donors to keep paying for the fight even as the economic crisis forces budget cuts.

State lifts limit on preservative in H1N1 vaccine

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 10:01pm CDT

The state Health Department has lifted a temporary limit on the amount of a mercury preservative that can be used in the H1N1 swine-flu vaccine because there's an ample supply of the vaccine for anyone who wants to get it.

FDA panel mostly backs much-debated knee device

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 8:01pm CDT

Federal health experts said Tuesday a device for repairing knees that was subject to a contentious three-year review by the Food and Drug Administration is likely safe and effective, despite major shortcomings with company studies.

Answers on health insurance overhaul

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 4:09pm CDT

The health care overhaul package is the most far-reaching health legislation since the creation of the Medicare and Medicaid ...

Older women need 1-hour workouts to fend off flab

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 4:07pm CDT

Rev up the treadmill: Sobering new research spells out just how much exercise women need to keep the flab off as they age - and it's a lot.

Religious groups pledge to end AIDS stigma

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 4:01pm CDT

Religious groups from around the globe pledged Tuesday to prevent the stigmatization of people living with HIV and AIDS, in a joint statement welcomed by a senior U.N. official as a sea change in attitudes.

Top US psychiatrist calls for ethics cleanup

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 3:31pm CDT

American psychiatrists need to break away from a "culture of influence" created by their financial dealings with the drug industry, the head of the National Institute of Mental Health said in a leading medical journal.

Study: Last Supper paintings supersize the food

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 3:14pm CDT

Has even the Last Supper been supersized?

A push for healthier school meals

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 2:16pm CDT

Charlie Baltimore eyed the pizza in the cafeteria of the High School of the Future with simmering contempt. "In a year," the ...

Health law will make calorie counts hard to ignore

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 11:24am CDT

That Caesar salad you're about to eat? It's 800 calories, and that's without the croutons. The fettuccine alfredo? A whopping 1,220 calories. You may choose to ignore the numbers, but soon it's going to be tough to deny you saw them.

Study: Last Supper paintings supersize the food

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 1:16am CDT

Has even the Last Supper been supersized?

Aggressive prostate cancer more likely in infertile men, study finds

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 7:40pm CDT

Men who have difficulty conceiving children are 2.6 times as likely to have highly aggressive prostate cancer and 60 percent more ...

FDA warns doctors about Glaxo rotavirus vaccine

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 6:16pm CDT

U.S. health officials urged pediatricians Monday to temporarily stop using one of two vaccines against a leading cause of diarrhea in babies, after discovering that doses of GlaxoSmithKline's Rotarix were contaminated with bits of an apparently benign pig virus.

Heart disease treatment pioneer James Black dies

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 5:35pm CDT

Nobel Prize-winning pharmacologist James Black, whose breakthrough beta-blocker drugs help treat millions of heart patients and save thousands of lives, has died at age 85, his former university said Monday.

Testing new MS theory as patients demand care now

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 5:34pm CDT

Under intense pressure from patients, some U.S. doctors are cautiously testing a provocative theory that abnormal blood drainage from the brain may play a role in multiple sclerosis - and that a surgical vein fix might help.

Film: 147 toddlers infected in Uzbek HIV outbreak

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 2:31pm CDT

An AIDS outbreak at two children's hospitals in Uzbekistan has killed at least 14 children and left 133 infected with HIV, according to a documentary posted on a respected Central Asian news Web site on Monday.

Fitness program whipping SAfrican cops into shape

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 10:32am CDT

South African police officers are being forced to get fit so they can better chase criminals.

Orthopedic surgeons weigh in on joint care

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 10:01am CDT

Patient pool for knee replacements is getting younger.

On final day, Obama works vote outside public view

Posted: March 21st, 2010, 6:51pm CDT

No more fiery speeches, no trips to Capitol Hill, no ventures outside the White House gates at all.

Abortion compromise doesn't satisfy critics

Posted: March 21st, 2010, 6:50pm CDT

A last-minute compromise that swung a half-dozen anti-abortion Democrats behind President Barack Obama's health care bill - virtually ensuring its passage - failed to placate outside activists on either side of the issue, and drew derision from Republicans.

A look at the health care overhaul bill

Posted: March 21st, 2010, 6:01pm CDT

Congressional Democrats have released a final version of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul bill in advance of a House vote planned for Sunday. Some features of the legislation, which makes changes to the bill the Senate passed on Christmas Eve:

Nepalese doc is God of Sight to poor

Posted: March 21st, 2010, 1:16am CDT

Raj Kaliya Dhanuk sits on a wooden bench, barefoot, with a tattered sari covering thin arms as rough as bark. Thick clear tears bleed from her eyes, milky saucers that stare at nothing.

The King County Health Department wins grant to study tobacco use, obesity

Posted: March 20th, 2010, 11:42pm CDT

The King County Health Department has won a $25.5 million grant to address obesity and tobacco use.

People's Pharmacy: Confusion about cholesterol levels

Posted: March 20th, 2010, 11:01pm CDT

People's Pharmacy clears up confusion about cholesterol levels and explains how to get rid of sun spots.

Costliest part of Dems' plan: Health-insurance subsidies averaging $6,000

Posted: March 20th, 2010, 12:14am CDT

The final health-care legislation that House Democrats are striving to pass this weekend would give about 19 million Americans subsidies averaging $6,000.

Pain: Why it's 'ow' for me and 'YOW!' for you

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 11:01pm CDT

Ever noticed how two people can suffer from back pain, say, but one will moan and groan and take to bed while the other will get ...

Step by step: Join walkers on the path to physical and mental benefits

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 11:01pm CDT

Is walking a lost art? Get back in step with your community and make personal discoveries.

Report: USDA lax in policing organics marketing

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 11:01pm CDT

The Agriculture Department has failed to enforce penalties against some who falsely marketed foods as organic, according to an internal department investigation.

Testing overseas may explain big drop in TB cases

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 9:01pm CDT

An unexpected big drop in new U.S. tuberculosis cases is probably because of stepped up screening and treatment of immigrants before they leave their native countries, health officials say.

Correction: WHO drug-resistant TB story

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 3:23pm CDT

In a March 18 story about drug-resistant tuberculosis, The Associated Press reported erroneously that there were no U.S. cases in 2008 of extensively drug-resistant TB. There were four cases in 2008 and no cases in 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Report: USDA lax in watching organics market

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 3:08pm CDT

The Agriculture Department has failed to enforce penalties against some who falsely marketed foods as organic, according to an internal department investigation.

House Dems on track for vote on $940B health bill

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 12:24pm CDT

Pushing toward a Sunday vote that could transform the nation's health-insurance system, House leaders announced a $940 billion compromise Thursday that would extend coverage to the vast majority of Americans, cut billions of dollars from Medicare and impose new taxes on the wealthy and well insured.

New FDA rules severely restrict how tobacco is marketed

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 8:58am CDT

A former convict pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Thursday for killing his 80-year-old prison pen-pal lover, entombing the man's body in a concrete egg in a garden and then using his victim's money on a spending spree.

Inmate's mother sues King County, medical staff over son's death

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 8:24am CDT

The mother of Lynn Dale Iszley, the King County Jail inmate whose grisly death from a bleeding ulcer figured prominently in the federal investigation into conditions at the downtown jail, has sued the county and the doctor and nurses who failed to recognize his symptoms and get him help.

A confusing health care vote explained

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 3:16am CDT

Democrats are using an obscure but commonly used tactic known as "reconciliation" to get the health-care legislation through both chambers.

Some key features included in the health-care bill

Posted: March 19th, 2010, 12:56am CDT

Some of the main features of the health-care overhaul legislation:

FDA panel backs implant for mild heart failure

Posted: March 18th, 2010, 7:16pm CDT

Federal health advisers said Thursday an electronic heart implant should be approved for a large group of heart-disease patients who currently aren't eligible for the device.

5 charged after break-in at Kirkland-area pot grower's home

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 11:23pm CDT

The young men apparently knew there was plenty of marijuana and cash lying around Steve Sarich's Kirkland-area home because they'd either...

Nuns' support for health-care bill shows church split

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 10:31pm CDT

By sending a letter to Congress in support of the Senate health care bill, a wide coalition of nuns took sides against not only the Republican minority but against their own church hierarchy, as represented by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which opposes the bill.

Report questions exclusion of gays from some studies

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 9:16pm CDT

A small but significant portion of medical studies exclude gays from participating, sometimes without an apparent scientific reason, several cancer researchers say.

VA fined $227K for flawed cancer treatments in Pa.

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 6:31pm CDT

The Department of Veterans Affairs was fined $227,500 after incorrect radiation doses were given to 97 veterans with prostate cancer at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, a federal agency announced Wednesday.

Report questions excluding gays from some studies

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 6:16pm CDT

Some researchers are questioning why gay men and lesbians are excluded from participating in certain medical studies.

Do you know your omega-3?

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 5:16pm CDT

How much do you know about the celebrated fatty acid omega-3? 1. According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association...

Don't let fear choke creativity

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 3:44pm CDT

Learning to let go helps emotional fitness

Study links bullying to cognitive deficits, brain changes

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 2:58pm CDT

Being bullied leads to lasting scars

Walgreens: no new Medicaid patients as of April 16

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 2:57pm CDT

Walgreens will stop taking new Medicaid patients in Washington state as of April 16, saying it loses money filling their prescriptions.

US clinic sparks debate with UK human egg raffle

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 2:01pm CDT

An American infertility clinic seeking business in Britain has prompted fierce criticism by offering free eggs from a U.S. woman to one participant in a promotional seminar Wednesday evening in London.

Kraft to cut salt in its North American foods

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 1:40pm CDT

Kraft Foods Inc. said Wednesday that it will cut the salt in its products that are sold in North America by an average of 10 percent over the next two years to appeal to health-conscious consumers.

First lady: Diet is key to children's productivity

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 1:31pm CDT

First lady Michelle Obama says her fight against childhood obesity isn't about appearance but about whether kids have enough energy to be productive at school.

Medical-pot grower plans to sue over shootout fallout

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 11:41pm CDT

King County sheriff's detectives have arrested four men and a juvenile male in connection with Monday's early-morning break-in and shootout at the home of a medical-marijuana activist near Kirkland.

Scores sue over zinc in denture adhesives

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 11:35pm CDT

In the wake of news reports that the zinc found in many denture adhesives could lead to neurological problems, hundreds of denture wearers have been calling lawyers...

Firestorm erupts as Dems weigh a shortcut

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 11:17pm CDT

As lawmakers clashed fiercely over health-care legislation on the House floor, Democrats struggled Tuesday to defend procedural shortcuts...

Medicare formula adds guesswork for seniors, doctors

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 11:16pm CDT

Every year or so, Medicare patients and the doctors who treat them go through a ritual of guessing whether physicians' Medicare ...

Cancer-cost burden straining system, researchers say

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 11:12pm CDT

The rising cost of cancer research and care, which helped reduce death rates by 16 percent over 40 years, is straining the U.S. health system and needs to be restrained, commentators said in a special edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Obama to appear on Fox News Channel in final health-care push

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 11:12pm CDT

President Obama will tomorrow be interviewed by the Fox News Channel, which has been the target of criticism by his administration.

Don't let your cosmetics cause health problems

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 11:01pm CDT

How to spot ingredients in cosmetics that may irritate and cause health problems. Plus, Web links to sites with more information about cosmetics and their ingredients.

Product recalls: Tostachos corn chips, dip mix

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 10:02pm CDT

The following products are being recalled because they could be contaminated with salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children and others with weakened immune systems:

British hospitals: No sitting allowed

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 9:16pm CDT

Britons trying to cheer up their hospitalized friends and relatives often have to do so standing up; sitting on the bed usually isn't allowed.

Bill to combat prescription abuse really will harm patients in pain

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 8:46pm CDT

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire should veto House Bill 2876, write physician leaders whose expertise is in pain treatment. Though the bill is aimed at reducing prescription-drug abuse, it will end up harming patients who need pain relief.

Sebelius confident health care bill will pass

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 8:31pm CDT

U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday that she's confident the House will have the votes to pass President Barack Obama's health care legislation, possibly as early as Friday.

PepsiCo cuts sugary drinks from schools worldwide

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 4:31pm CDT

PepsiCo plans to remove sugary drinks from schools worldwide, following the success of programs in the U.S. aimed at cutting down on childhood obesity.

Doctor says heart groups too cozy with industry

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 2:46pm CDT

A prominent cardiologist accused leading heart organizations of being too cozy with industry and allowing those ties to influence its policies and education programs for doctors.

Study: Gene testing helps get warfarin dose right

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 11:23am CDT

Doctors are reporting an exciting win for gene testing and personalized medicine: Checking patients' DNA before starting them on a popular blood thinner helps get the tricky dose right and keep them out of the hospital.

New HIV infections increasing among homosexuals

Posted: March 16th, 2010, 10:55am CDT

New HIV infections are increasing among homosexuals, drug users and prostitutes who don't seek help because of laws that criminalize these practices, the head of the U.N. AIDS agency said Monday.

2 shot in Kirkland home invasion

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 10:02pm CDT

A medical-marijuana activist survived a shootout with robbers who broke into his Kirkland-area home early Monday, apparently to steal the pot he grows there.

Boston Scientific suspends defibrillator sales

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 8:31pm CDT

Medical device maker Boston Scientific said Monday it is suspending sales of its heart-shocking defibrillator implants after failing to alert regulators to changes in manufacturing of the best-selling devices.

Detroit city workers being warned to go scentsless

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 8:10pm CDT

Change is in the air for Detroit city workers. City employees will be urged not to wear perfume, cologne or aftershave as a result of a settlement in a federal lawsuit.

Angiotech said new stent met goals in studies

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 8:01pm CDT

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Monday a stent it developed with Boston Scientific Corp. met its goals in a pair of clinical trials.

Sony boss asks theater owners for healthier snacks

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 6:31pm CDT

The head of Sony Pictures suggested Monday that movie theaters offer healthier snacks to help fight obesity and give audiences a broader range of food choices.

Arteries improve after smokers quit, study finds

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 6:16pm CDT

Quitting smoking can turn back time.

Heart-shock device may disrupt quiet hospice death

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 6:01pm CDT

If you have a heart-zapping defibrillator implanted in your chest but now are dying of something else, when do you have it turned off?

Germs may blow the whistle on crooks one day

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 5:57pm CDT

Warning to criminals: Rubbing out your fingerprints may no longer be enough. Your germs could still give you away.

Study: Mini clip is safer than heart-valve surgery

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 5:48pm CDT

Many Americans with leaky heart valves soon might be able to get them fixed without open-heart surgery. A study showed that a tiny clip implanted through an artery was safer and nearly as effective as surgery, doctors reported Sunday.

BioSante cancer vaccine gets 'orphan drug' status

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 5:46pm CDT

BioSante Pharmaceuticals has received orphan drug status for its potential pancreatic cancer treatment, the company said Monday.

Health Care 101: A consumer primer on Obama's bill

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 4:20pm CDT

It took lawmakers a year to shape President Barack Obama's health care bill. If it finally passes Congress, it'll take the better part of a decade to write the user manual for consumers and doctors, employers and insurance companies.

Ohio woman says Pa. doc gave wrong breast implants

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 3:31pm CDT

An Ohio woman claims in a lawsuit that a Pennsylvania plastic surgeon used the wrong kind of breast implants on her, then kept her knocked out longer than necessary and continued with the botched operation on the advice of her fiance.

FDA asks for risk plan info on diabetes drug

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 12:40pm CDT

Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Monday it received a Food and Drug Administration request for information on manufacturing and a risk mitigation plan for a potential once-weekly diabetes treatment.

Study: Mini clip is safer than heart-valve surgery

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 1:01am CDT

Many Americans with leaky heart valves soon might be able to get them fixed without open-heart surgery. A study showed that a tiny clip implanted through an artery was safer and nearly as effective as surgery, doctors reported Sunday.

Studies: Intense care doesn't help diabetics

Posted: March 15th, 2010, 1:01am CDT

Three new studies say treating diabetics intensively to sharply reduce blood pressure, cholesterol levels and sugar levels make many patients worse.

As stocks swoon so may hearts, study says

Posted: March 13th, 2010, 10:44pm CST

A study at a major medical center suggests more heart attacks may have occurred as stock prices crashed at the start of the recession.

Israel tries a new method to boost donation of organs

Posted: March 13th, 2010, 10:32pm CST

Israel is launching a potentially trailblazing experiment in organ donation: Sign a donor card, and you and your family move up in line for a transplant if one is needed.

FDA urges stronger safeguard for spices

Posted: March 13th, 2010, 10:31pm CST

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is re-examining the safety of a culinary staple found in every restaurant, food-manufacturing plant and home-kitchen pantry: spices.

Hearts may swoon when stocks do, study suggests

Posted: March 13th, 2010, 7:34am CST

Stock market slides may hurt more than your savings. New research suggests they might prompt heart attacks.

Many WTC responders show early signs of heart woes

Posted: March 13th, 2010, 7:20am CST

Law enforcement officers who worked near ground zero after the World Trade Center attacks seem to show early signs of heart problems at a higher rate than would be expected for their age, a new study suggests.

Court says thimerosal did not cause autism

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 10:16pm CST

The vaccine additive thimerosal is not to blame for autism, a special federal court ruled Friday in a long-running battle by parents convinced there is a connection.

Deaths prompt warning on baby slings

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 10:16pm CST

The government warned Friday that baby slings that moms and dads are sporting can be dangerous, even deadly.

Gastric-band surgery may be option for obese children

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 9:46pm CST

A gastric band made by Allergan may become the first cleared by federal regulators to be sold to children as young as 14.

Experts say U.S. doctors overtesting, overtreating

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 9:31pm CST

Too much cancer screening, too many heart tests, too many cesarean sections. A spate of recent reports suggest that too many Americans — maybe even President Obama — are being overtreated.

Experts say even Obama getting too many med tests

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 5:46pm CST

Too much cancer screening, too many heart tests, too many cesarean sections. A spate of recent reports suggests that many Americans are being overtreated. Maybe even President Barack Obama, champion of an overhaul and cost-cutting of the health care system.

Women on the pill may live longer

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 3:08pm CST

Women who took the birth control pill beginning in the late 1960s lived longer than those never on the pill, a new study says.

Major employers to shift more health-care costs to workers, survey shows

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 12:17am CST

Most major employers plan to shift more health-care costs to their workers next year, according to a survey released Thursday. Many say they may...

For first time, Seattle team cracks genome of entire family

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 3:46am CST

The people who have had their genetic blueprints fully deciphered wouldn't fill a typical coffee shop. Now, Seattle scientists have ushered a family of four into that elite group.

CDC uses shopper-card data to trace salmonella

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 10:39pm CST

As they scrambled recently to trace the source of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened hundreds across the country, federal health investigators...

Long-term use of osteoporosis drugs questioned

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 10:34pm CST

Medications called bisphosphonates are standard tools for the treatment of osteoporosis. They include Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel and Reclast. But new data released Wednesday raise some concern about whether the drugs are safe for long-term use.

Newlywed sues 'Dr. Phil' over penis story

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 10:24pm CST

A 22-year-old newlywed contends in a lawsuit that a "Dr. Phil" national TV spin-off tricked him into appearing and discussing the blemishes...

Study suggests too many invasive heart tests given

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 8:31pm CST

A troublingly high number of U.S. patients who are given angiograms to check for heart disease turn out not to have a significant problem, according to the latest study to suggest Americans get an excess of medical tests.

People's Pharmacy: Using Vicks to block nauseating smells

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 8:01pm CST

People's Pharmacy: Using Vicks to block nauseating smells; taking a heartburn medicine to combat warts; and sharing pill-swallowing tricks.

Panel: Women need chance to avoid repeat C-section

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 2:54pm CST

Too many pregnant women who want to avoid a repeat cesarean delivery are being denied the chance, concludes a government panel that urged doctors to rethink litigation-spurred policies that have swung the pendulum back toward the days of "once a C-section, always a C-section."

Study: those who stay fit have longer sex lives

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 11:44am CST

It seems the old cliche may be true.

Businesses to fight health bill with huge ad campaign

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 1:16am CST

A coalition of organizations led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce plans to spend as much as $1 million a day on advertisements designed to pressure lawmakers to vote "no" on health-care legislation.

Grandma's a good caregiver, but she might be making grandkids overweight

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 10:46pm CST

A new study in the International Journal of Obesity finds that young children under full-time care of their grandparents may be at a higher risk for being overweight than children who are only looked after by their parents.

Harry Smith colonoscopy to air on `Early Show'

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 10:51am CST

"The Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith is scheduled to have a colonoscopy Wednesday, with live reports planned as he undergoes the procedure at a New York hospital.

Brazil's Silva quits smoking after 50 years

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 10:43am CST

Brazil's president said Tuesday that he kicked the smoking habit he had for 50 years after a recent health scare sent his blood pressure soaring.

Little black box helps jog failing memory

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 8:56am CST

Two years ago, Reznick, who has early-stage Alzheimer's disease and is now 82, signed up for an experiment intended to help people with Alzheimer's and other memory disorders. The concept was simple: using digital pictures and audio to archive an experience like a weekend visit from the grandchildren, creating a summary of the resulting content by picking crucial images, and reviewing them periodically to awaken and strengthen the memory of the event.

Hoped-for drop in childbirth deaths not happening

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 5:26pm CST

Eleven days after her son Benjamin's birth by C-section, Linda Coale awoke in the middle of the night in pain, one leg badly swollen. Just as her doctor returned her phone call asking what to do, she dropped dead from a blood clot.

P&G recalls 2 Pringles flavors

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 5:18pm CST

Procter & Gamble Co. has recalled two versions of Pringles chips because of concerns about potential Salmonella exposure.

Puff, puff, puff, nicotine rises gradually

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 5:16pm CST

Nicotine builds up gradually in smokers' brains rather than spiking after each puff, according to a study that might help point to new ways to help people quit smoking.

UN says mother-child HIV can be eliminated by 2015

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 1:52pm CST

The United Nations says mother-to-child HIV transmission can be eliminated by 2015 if health programs receive increased investments as planned.

UNAIDS: Funding cuts could lead to HIV 'nightmare'

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 1:46pm CST

Cuts in donor funding could cause an HIV "nightmare," the United Nations' AIDS agency chief warned Monday.

Researchers: AIDS virus can hide in bone marrow

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 11:38am CST

The virus that causes AIDS can hide in the bone marrow, avoiding drugs and later awakening to cause illness, according to new research that could point the way toward better treatments for the disease.

Researchers: AIDS virus can hide in bone marrow

Posted: March 7th, 2010, 3:31pm CST

The virus that causes AIDS can hide in the bone marrow, avoiding drugs and later awakening to cause illness, according to new research that could point the way toward better treatments for the disease.

First lady gets moving at soccer clinic

Posted: March 5th, 2010, 6:01pm CST

First lady Michelle Obama kicked soccer balls with youngsters to encourage them to get the recommended hour of daily exercise as she promoted her campaign against childhood obesity.

WHO: over 85M African kids get polio vaccination

Posted: March 5th, 2010, 9:31am CST

The World Health Organization says more than 85 million children under 5 in west and central Africa will be vaccinated against polio.

WHO: 85 million African children to get polio shot

Posted: March 5th, 2010, 7:16am CST

The World Health Organization says more than 85 million children under 5 in west and central Africa will be vaccinated against polio.

17 food makers put on notice by FDA

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 10:39am CST

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified 17 food companies, including major brands such as Gerber and Nestlé, that they have violated federal laws by making false or misleading claims on their packaging.

Russian drug fails to treat Alzheimer's

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 10:38am CST

It seemed unlikely, but in recent years an old Russian hay-fever pill had become one of the world's best hopes for treating Alzheimer's disease.

FDA warning for hand sanitizer in Puerto Rico

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 10:06am CST

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers in Puerto Rico that two locally produced hand sanitizers contain high levels of bacteria.

New guidelines urge fewer prostate screenings

Posted: March 4th, 2010, 12:01am CST

New guidelines for prostate-cancer screening issued Wednesday emphasize that physicians should better educate men about the risks and benefits of using the PSA test for screening.

Sanofi drug shows promise against prostate cancer

Posted: March 3rd, 2010, 7:16pm CST

For the first time, an experimental drug has extended the lives of men with advanced prostate cancer who are no longer responding to other treatments and are out of options for fighting the disease, a company-led study found.

Sanofi drug shows promise against prostate cancer

Posted: March 3rd, 2010, 7:16pm CST

A study suggests that an experimental drug may modestly extend the lives of men with advanced prostate cancer who are no longer responding to other treatments.

Should men be tested for prostate cancer?

Posted: March 3rd, 2010, 5:46pm CST

The American Cancer Society revised its guidelines for prostate cancer screening on Wednesday. The advocacy group is one of many organizations that make such recommendations. Some questions and answers:

Obama open to adding GOP ideas to health plan

Posted: March 3rd, 2010, 12:31am CST

President Obama said Tuesday he was open to four new Republican proposals on health-care legislation, in a gesture of bipartisanship meant to jump-start his stalled drive to overhaul the system.

More than one way to trim health coverage premiums

Posted: March 2nd, 2010, 5:31pm CST

Skyrocketing premiums have stunned some consumers who buy their own health insurance policies. People in several corners of the country are facing increases of 20 percent or more from some insurers.

Mullahs help promote birth control in Afghanistan

Posted: March 2nd, 2010, 2:46pm CST

Some mullahs in Afghanistan are distributing condoms. Others are quoting the Quran to encourage longer breaks between births. Health experts say contraception is starting to catch on in a country with the world's second highest maternal death rate.

Shanghai declares indoor smoking ban ahead of Expo

Posted: March 2nd, 2010, 7:01am CST

Restaurants and office buildings in China's commercial capital Shanghai are scrambling to set up nonsmoking areas as the city bans lighting up in indoor public spaces ahead of the World Expo.

Parents say doctors hastening deaths of dying children

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 9:56pm CST

A handful of parents have told researchers that they had asked doctors to hasten their children's deaths — and that doctors complied, using high doses of the powerful painkiller.

Give your brain a jump start with a nap

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 8:46pm CST

Nap time may boost brain function later in the day, study indicates.

Research notes more ways music affects brain

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 8:16pm CST

Playing a musical instrument appears to both improve our ability to hear and our ability to focus and remember, according to two recent studies.

Parents say doctors hastened death for dying kids

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 8:13pm CST

It's a situation too agonizing to contemplate - a child dying and in pain. Now a small but provocative study suggests that doctors may be giving fatal morphine doses to a few children dying of cancer, to end their suffering at their parents' request.

First lady talks obesity with school nutritionists

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 4:46pm CST

First lady Michelle Obama says the people who prepare meals for schools have more influence over what kids eat than parents do.

Hot tip: Target inflammation to ease obesity ills

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 4:46pm CST

What if you could be fat but avoid heart disease or diabetes? Scientists trying to break the fat-and-disease link increasingly say inflammation is the key.

1 in 4 parents buys unproven vaccine-autism link

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 3:33pm CST

One in four U.S. parents believes some vaccines cause autism in healthy children, but even many of those worried about vaccine risks think their children should be vaccinated.

Striking number of obesity risks hit minority kids

Posted: March 1st, 2010, 9:14am CST

The odds of obesity appear stacked against black and Hispanic children starting even before birth, provocative new research suggests.

My Health News » The Seattle Times: Health » March 2010

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