It’s the time of year when we like to look back before we look forward.

So here’s my list of the Top 10 health stories of the year that touched us locally. Please tell me if you disagree with my picks and if I missed any big stories.

10. The beloved state dessert, the Smith Island Cake, is declared one of the nation’s least healthy foods by Health magazine.

9. Baltimore hires a food czar, Holly Freishtat, to help the city figure out how to better feed itself and cut down on obesity-related illnesses.

8. Four Loko, the caffeinated alcohol drink, is pulled off national and local store shelves.

7. Everyone is told to get a flu shot by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the first time.

6. A 12-year-old article in prestigious British medical journal that scared parents everywhere by making a link between autism and the mercury in childhood immunizations is retracted.

5. Haiti’s earthquake devastates a city and mobilizes many people to offer their time, skills and money to help the needy.

4. A federal judge blocks funding for embryonic stem cell research, and scientists fear potentially life-saving discoveries are jeopardized.

3. A doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital is shot by the distraught son of a patient, who later killed himself and his mother.

2. St. Joseph Medical Center tells heart patients their stents may not have been necessary.

1. The health care reform law passes and begins to offer protections for consumers and the promise of coverage to the uninsured.

I got pretty close to this year-in-review list, compiled by the health editor here at The Sun. She also included bed bugs, doctor shortages, Mercy Medical Center's new hospital buidling and a record grant to the University of Maryland for celiac research, among other stories.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: General Health
        

In a split with Alaska governor-turned-Tea-Partier Sarah Palin, some conservatives including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee have recently come out in support of First Lady Michelle Obama's efforts to curb childhood obesity, according to this Washington Post story. 

Obama has been launched a campaign called Let's Move. It encourages kids to excerize and eat right. She and a host of health officials and agencies including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have sounded alarms about the rising obesity rate among children, who are now starting to develop diseases once limited mainly to adults, such as diabetes and heart disease.

As part of the effort, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are working with food makers to produce consumer-friendly labels and pediatritians are being encouraged to keep an eye on body fat. Schools are getting money to serve healtheir food.

But Sarah Palin, who has a well-known fitness background, says this is making the country a "Nanny State," where the government tells people what to eat. Palin has specifically said that Obama is telling people not to have dessert instead of leaving it to individuals to decide what they can consume. A bunch of talk radio hosts and other conservatives agree.

So, do we heed the call of Obama and tell our kids to exercise and eat right, or listen to Palin and decide for ourselves if we should tell our kids to exercise and eat right?

Associated Press photos

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

This is the time of year when I get pitches for new fitness books. This one seems, um, criminal to ignore:

"CONVICT CONDITIONING: USING THE LOST SECRETS OF SUPREME SURVIVAL STRENGTH"

The book, published by Dragon Door Publications, is by Paul "Coach" Wade, who is billed as a "23-Year Veteran of U.S. Maximum Security."

It's 304 pages and is available for $39.95.

The pitch doesn't talk about Wade's crimes -- and after reading a few reviews, it doesn't sound like the book goes into it.

The pitch does say Wade "has put together one of the most compelling books ever written about how top convicts train on the inside ...from a true insider. No weights. No gym membership. No machines. No easy solutions.

"Most physical training systems are designed for the 'domesticated' human animal. That is to say, us humans live lives of such relative security that we cultivate our strength and power more out of pride, and for a sense of accomplishment, than out of an absolute need to survive in the wild. There remains one environment where exuding the necessary degree of authoritative strength and power can mean the difference between life or death: the Maximum Security Prison."

The book promises readers can learn "The Big Six Power Moves," how to do a one-armed push-up
and one-armed hand stand, among other moves. 

Wade apparantly learned these things while trying to survive in San Quentin, Angola and Marion.

Wonder what Suzanne Somers, 70s TV babe and author of "Sexy Forever: How to Fight Fat After 40," did for her research.

Photo courtesy of Dragon Door

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

The cold has zapped all the stuff outside making your allergies and asthma worse. But now you're inside the house with dust, pet dander and mold.

Here are some tips directly from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology:

--Reduce moisture in your home to keep dust mites in check. Maintain humidity below 55 percent, and don’t use a humidifier or a vaporizer.

--Filter out dust and other allergens by installing a high efficiency furnace filter with a MERV rating of 11 or 12, and be sure to change it every three months.

--Banish allergens from the bedroom (where you spend a third of your life). “Keep pets and their dander out, and encase mattresses and pillows with dust-mite proof covers,” said allergist Dr. Myron Zitt, ACAAI past president, in a statement. “Limit curtains – use blinds that can be washed instead.”

--Keep it clean. A clean home is especially important for allergy sufferers, who should wear a NIOSH-rated N95 mask while dusting, a chore that should be done regularly. Wash bedding and stuffed animals in hot water every 14 days and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

--Turn on the fan or open the window to reduce mold growth in bathrooms (while bathing) and kitchens (while cooking). Wear latex-free gloves and clean visible mold with a five-percent beach solution and detergent.

--Don’t overlook the garage if it’s attached to the house. Noxious odors or fumes can trigger asthma, so move insecticides, stored gasoline and other irritants to a shed, and don’t start the car and let it run in the garage.

--Box up books and knick-knacks and limit the number of indoor plants. When you are buying new furniture, like chairs or sofas, opt for leather or other nonporous surfaces to make cleaning easier.

Istockphoto

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Allergies
        

Some parents are not so happy with a new policy at a Hagerstown hospital than bans all kinds of photography in the delivery room until 5 minutes after the babies are born.

The Associated Press is reporting that officials at Meritus Medical Center say the new policy aims to cut down on distractions and protect the moms' privacy. 

Civil rights officials say the pics and video do not violate any privacy laws. The hospital may fear lawsuits.  

I've asked a couple of the popular birthing centers to let me know what their policies are and will pass them on when I get them.

In the meantime, let me know if you got images of your child's birth and where you delivered. How do you feel about such a delay?

Below are the highlights from the policy in effect since 2006 at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, which has one of the busiest delivery rooms around. The center is in the process of updating its general photo/video policy. 

Also, see the policy at Mercy Medical Center, which I believes delivers the most babies in the city.

At GBMC, pparents/family who have parents' permission can take video/photos under the following guidelines:
 
A. Videotaping/Audiotaping will be permitted while the laboring patient is in early labor and after birth, once the newborn is stabilized and in his/her mother’s arms. Videography of the full-term spontaneous vaginal delivery of the infant may be permitted only with the expressed permission of the obstetrician, anesthesiologist and nurse. It will be conducted from the head of the bed.

B. Still photography will be allowed at any time, at the discretion of the physician and /or nursing staff.

C. Use of camera capability of cellular phones is prohibited without consent of the staff.

D. In the event of an EMERGENCY SITUATION, all taping and photography will stop. Visitors will be asked to step back and provide the staff the space and ability to care for the mother and child. Visitors may also be asked to leave the room.

E. Filming of obstetrical, medical, and/or surgical procedures/interventions will not be permitted.

F. Physicians, midwives, anesthesiologists, neonatologists and nurses will not be videotaped or photographed without their consent.

At Mercy, the chief of OB, Dr. Robert Atlas, says the policy basically mirrors the Hagerstown policy:  No videotaping the delivery itself and the initial resuscitation of the infant.  Once everything is noted to be stable, videotaping is allowed.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Pediatrics
        

Giving iron and folic acid supplements to pregnant women in developing countries -- where iron deficiency is common -- increases their babies’ smarts, according to researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The researchers looked at the intellectual and motor functioning of Nepalese children whose mothers got the micronutrients while they were pregnant. They found memory and fine motor functions were stronger.

The results were published in the December 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“Iron is essential for the development of the central nervous system,” said Parul Christian, lead author of the study and an associate professor with the Bloomberg School’s Department of International Health, in a statement. “Early iron deficiency can alter neuroanatomy, biochemistry, and metabolism, leading to changes in neurophysiologic processes that support cognitive and sensorimotor development.”

The researchers said that the scientific study showed that in very low-income settings, intervention during pregnancy can make a difference for their kids and international guidelines should be expanded to reflect this.

Perhaps this research isn’t startling given that American women are told to take their prenatal supplements. Why not hand them out to women in Nepal?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Women's health
        

How’s this for holiday warmth? The University of Maryland Medical Center Knit & Crochet Circle have made a bunch of lap blankets for cancer patients. They’ve been handing them out this week in the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center.

The goal of the group, made up of people who knit and crochet from the center, was to make 100 blankets for patients undergoing cancer treatment during the holidays.

Trisha Kendall, a nurse and the group’s founder, said they exceeded their goal with help from people inside and outside the center.

“Staff from across the medical center joined forces with community members from the Waxter Center, local churches and cancer survivors to give to others this season,” she said in a statement. “It’s very touching to see how many people came through to help.”

They made 156 blankets – all with tags that wish the survivors strength, peach and recovery.

The circle meets on the first Wednesday of the month from noon to 2 p.m. at the center. The public is welcome. For more information, call Trisha at 410-328-5420 or email tkendall@umm.edu.

Photo of Trisha Kendall and a cancer patient courtesy of the University of Maryland Medical Center

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cancer
        

Baltimore has seen a number of lost lives due to fire and carbon monoxide poisonings this year and state and local officials are passing along tips in hopes of preventing anymore this winter.

Governor Martin O’Malley and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake joined fire officials this week to promote safety during the winter months when fires are more common.

Holiday decorations and unsafe home heating are fire hazards this time of year. Generators and other appliances can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning if unmonitored, the officials said.

There have been 69 fire deaths across the state this year. The good news is that this is a slight decline from the comparable period last year.

O'Malley and Rawlings-Blake reminded people of home energy assistance information that can help people with their heating bills. Baltimore City residents can also get smoke alarms from their local fire department.

Here are some other tips that were passed along.

Heating Safety

• Keep anything that can burn at least three-feet away from heating equipment.

• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.

• Never use your oven to heat your home.

• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer instructions.

• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.

• Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.

• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.

• Test smoke alarms monthly.

Preventing Christmas Tree Fires

• Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent.

• Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree.

• Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks.

• Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

• Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood-burning stove for disposal.

• When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.

Holiday Lights

• Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up.

• Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.

• Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe.

• Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.

• Do not leave holiday lights on unattended.

Holiday Decorations

• All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.

• Never put wrapping paper in a fireplace.

• If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.

Candle Care

• Avoid using lit candles. If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.

• Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame - candles, lighters or matches.

Smoke Alarms

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement. Many fatal fires begin late at night or in the early morning. For extra safety, install smoke alarms both inside and outside sleeping areas. Since smoke and many deadly gases rise, installing your smoke alarms at the proper level will provide you with the earliest warning possible. Always follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

• If your smoke alarms are hard wired, that is wired into the electrical system, you will need to have a qualified electrician do the initial installation or install replacements. For battery powered smoke alarms, all you will need for installation is a screw driver. Some brands are self adhesive and will easily stick to the wall or ceiling where they are placed. For all smoke alarm installations, be sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions because there are differences between the various brands. Call your local fire department (on a non-emergency telephone number) if you have problems installing a smoke alarm.

Protect Yourself and Your Family from CO Poisoning

• Install at least one carbon monoxide alarm with an audible warning signal near the sleeping areas and outside individual bedrooms. Make sure the alarm has been evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Carbon monoxide alarms measure levels of CO over time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would experience symptoms. It is very possible that you may not be experiencing symptoms when you hear the alarm. This does not mean that CO is not present.

• Have a qualified professional check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year.

• Never use your range or oven to help heat your home and never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home or garage.

• Never keep a car running in a garage. Even if the garage doors are open, normal circulation will not provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup of CO.

• When purchasing an existing home, have a qualified technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and house. The presence of a carbon monoxide alarm in your home can save your life in the event of CO buildup.

Escape Planning

• Draw a home escape plan and discuss it with everyone in your home.

• Practice the plan at night and during the day with everyone in your home, twice a year.

• Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.

• Have an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole or mailbox) a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet.

• Practice using different ways out.

• Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.

• Close doors behind as you leave.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer health
        

Know someone who has trouble seeing? A specialist at Greater Baltimore Medical Center has some gift ideas.

Dr. Janet Sunness, medical director of GBMC’s Hoover Low Vision Rehabilitation Services, says electronic readers and smart phones can offer medical benefits as well as enjoyment.

One out of every 6 Americans age 70 and older has some kind of visual impairment, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. And more than a million age 40 and older are blind. Another 2.4 million are visually impaired. Causes are age-related diseases such as macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

“The number of Americans at risk for developing vision problems as a result of one of these diseases is increasing as the baby boomer generation ages,” said Dr. Sunness in a statement. “However, many individuals living with these conditions are making use of technology to help them adapt.”

She said e-readers – such as the Kindle and Nook -- are now much less expensive than the standard low vision video magnifiers.

They have high resolution screens with adjustable text size. Many also have high contrast letters. The Kindle also has a text-to-speech feature, meaning it can read books or other media out loud and can magnify the words up to 5 times the size of newsprint.

The iPhone also has a camera feature that can be used as a magnifier and contrast enhancer, she said. It also has a voice control. The iPad also can play pre-recorded books.     

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer health
        

What makes a face look human? Some researcher says it’s all in the eyes.

“There's something fundamentally important about seeing a face and knowing that the lights are on and someone is home,” said Thalia Wheatley of Dartmouth College, in a statement.

She cowrote a study with graduate student Christine Looser that was published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

Wheatley said humans can see faces in the moon, a piece of toast, two dots and a line for a nose. But no one believes they are truly alive.

For the study, the pair photographed doll faces. They paired them with similar-looking human faces and used morphing software to blend them in a series of photos.

Volunteers were asked which ones were human and which ones were dolls. The tipping point, when they decided they were alive, was about two-thirds of the way along the continuum, closer to the human side. Another experiment found that the eyes were the most important feature for determining life.

Researchers said the results suggest that people scrutinize faces, particularly the eyes, for evidence of life.

“I think we all seek connections with others,” Wheatley said. When people see life in a face, they think, “This is a mind I can connect with.”

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 6:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Medical studies
        

Young Kayla Murphy suffers from a debilitating cell disease that her family knows will one day take her life.

I first wrote about 6-year-old Kayla, who suffers from mitochondrial disease, in August as part of a story about a shortage in hospice care for children. The story received numerous responses from readers wanting to know how Kayla is doing.

Kayla is still in a home-based children's hospice at Gilchrist Kids and her condition hasn't changed much since the summer, said her hospice social worker Betsy Schindler. The disease causes Kayla to stop breathing and heart to stop beating for several seconds at a time. The most notable difference is that the amount of time she stops breathing has grown longer.

"She's pretty much been doing the same, so I was happy about that," said Kayla's mom Dawn. Last year, the family took Kayla to Disney because they didn't expect she would live that long.

"This is a disease that is hard to give a prognosis for," Dawn Murphy said. "Last year, they told us this might be our last chance to take her to Disney. I can't believe it's already been a year."

But things have taken a turn for the worse for Dawn Murphy, who was also recently diagnosed with mitochondrial disease. She is also in Hospice in Gilchrist's adult program as some of her symptoms have started to worsen in recent weeks. 

Dawn, 36, has had several digestive issues that make it hard for her to eat, among other ailments. Her cognitive ability has slowed as well. She has lost weight and keeps getting reoccuring respiratory infections. The infections make her weak.

Schindler said it is unusual to treat a mother and daughter at the same time. While it is hard for dad and husband Stephen to cope, Schindler and Dawn Murphy said he deals with it by turning the pain into laughter and jokes and keeping the mood around his family positive.

Dawn Murphy said the family is struggling financially because of all the medical bills. She used to work full-time but now has part-time job at home doing human resources.

Gilchrist wants the Murphy family to have a good holiday and will bring gifts for them later this week as part of its adopt-a-family program. Dawn's parents will also come to spend the holidays with the family.

Despite the family's health problems, Dawn Murphy said her daughter has seemed at peace lately.

"She has been very happy the last couple of months," Dawn Murphy said.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 3:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: General Health
        

In a surprise move, the Senate passed a food safety bill on Sunday that will become the first overhaul in decades.

The Washington Post reports that the measure fixes a technical glitch that almost scuttled the legislation. The Senate had added fees on companies that recall tainted food, but tax measures cannot origniate in that chamber.

The House is expected to pass the bill and President Obama is expected to sign it.

The measure had wide support from business and consumer groups, though there was some threat of a filibuster in the Senate.

Many groups pointed to new estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   that found 1 in 6  people get food poisoning a year, and 3,000 die.

The new legislation calls on businesses to come up with measures to prevent contamination, and new testing, rather than relying on government inspectors to catch tainted food in the factory. The measure does also call for more inspectors.

Some meat and egg products will be exempt because they are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Think this bill will make food safer?

Associated Press photo of spinach after the 2006 E. coli. outbreak

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer health
        

When it come to health care reform, Maryland officials have prided themselves on being ahead of the game – in adding thousands to the ranks of the insured and in setting up the framework that will enable more to get coverage.

So, it’s probably no surprise that Gov. Martin O’Malley has not signed onto lawsuits against the new law. A judge in Virginia recently bucked other rulings and said it is unconstitutional to mandate that individuals buy insurance, a central tenet of reform.

Many legal experts have said the matter will be decided in the Supreme Court, and today O’Malley sent a letter to the governor of Virginia saying he would not sign onto a request from him to expedite the high court’s review.

“We have a difference of opinion on the underlying issue,” O’Malley wrote to Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, after apparently, the two spoke on the phone about the matter.

“I believe that affordable healthcare for all Americans regardless of pre-existing conditions will strengthen our nation and make America more competitive in the new global economy.

"Most of the judicial opinions arising out of these nuisance cases are actually upholding the law. And on the narrow issue of personal responsibility, I believe that too will be upheld – just as mandatory automobile insurance coverage has been upheld in years past in your state and mine.”

How do you think the court will decide?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care reform
        

Youth exposure to alcohol advertising on TV increased 71 percent between 2001 and 2009, according to a new report from the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Alcohol companies are supposed to be self-regulating, but the number of ads seen by American kids on TV increased from 217 to 366 in that time frame – or an ad a day, the study shows.

“One a day is great for vitamins but not for young people being exposed to alcohol advertising,” said David H. Jernigan, the center director, in a statement. “This is a significant and troubling escalation, and shows the ineffectiveness of the industry’s current voluntary standards.”

The Distilled Spirits Council responded by saying that the report is misleading and biased. The industry is serious in its opposition to underage drinking, and research shows its advertising isn't making that problem worse.

"CAMY Director David Jernigan’s conclusion that the '[i]ndustry standards need to be tightened to protect youth from alcohol marketing' ignores the fact that while advertising on cable television increased from 2001-2009, the latest federal government statistics released yesterday show that alcohol consumption rates among 8th, 10th and 12th graders have continuously declined during this same period and are at historic lows," the group said. 

"Simply put, CAMY’s claim that an increase in alcohol advertising is causing teens to drink is undercut by the federal government data and unsupported by the body of scientific literature.

The CAMY report says youth drinking is still a real problem -- and the industry isn't living up to its promises. The beer, distilled spirits and wine industries had agreed in 2003 to place ads only when the percent of underage kids watching was 30 percent or less. That was down from 50 percent. 

Ads for spirits on cable is driving the increase, the report said. The youth exposure there is up 3,000 percent, the report said.

Virtual Media Resources, an advertising research firm, did the analysis and found there were nearly 2.7 million ads placed by alcohol companies in that 8-year window. The industry paid about $8 billion for them.

The center reports that alcohol is the leading drug problem among kids. Some 4,600 deaths a year are alcohol related. Last year, 10.4 million, or more than a quarter, of American kids 12-20 reported drinking in the past month. Long-term studies show that exposure to alcohol ads and marketing increases the likelihood that kids will start drinking or consume more alcohol.

The stats have led some officials at the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine to lower the advertising standard to 15 percent from 30. The Federal Trade Commission reportedly asked the industry to lower it to 25 percent, but the industry refused.

“Alcohol companies have stepped up their advertising efforts on television—particularly on cable networks—and the result is an alarming hike in youth exposure,” said Jernigan. “Industry standards need to be tightened to protect youth from alcohol marketing.”

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Business of health
        

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is out with new estimates about how many people get sick from foodborne illnesses every year and it’s a lot of people – 48 million, or 1 in 6 Americans.

About 3,000 die from forborne diseases.

The CDC has had estimate before, but the agency believes these are the most accurate.

“We've made progress in better understanding the burden of foodborne illness and unfortunately, far too many people continue to get sick from the food they eat,” said Dr. Thomas Frieden, CDC director, in a statement. “These estimates provide valuable information to help CDC and its partners set priorities and further reduce illnesses from food.”

The new estimates are lower than past estimate because the agency says it’s using better methodology.

About 90 percent of estimated illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths were due to seven pathogens: Salmonella, norovirus, Campylobacter, Toxoplasma, E.coli O157, Listeria and Clostridium perfringens.

There have been several recalls in recent years, including a massive egg recall in August, and government officials are calling for passage of a new food safety bill that would give the Food and Drug Administration greater authority over the food system.

Have you gotten sick from your food? Learn about preventing illness at www.foodsafety.gov.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: News roundup
        

Here is another lesson in why you can't believe everything food labels tell you.

The Dannon Company was ordered by the federal government to pay a $21 million fine and stop making exaggerated health claims for two very popular Dannon products under an agreement with the federal government and attorneys general from 39 states, according to an article in USA Today.

Many of you have probably seen the commercials - using high profiles figures like Jamie Lee Curtis - where Dannon claims a serving of its Activia yogurt will make people regular and help with digestive problems.

It also said the DanActive drinks fended off colds and flu.

The Federal Trade Commission said Wednesday Dannon must stop making the claims.

My colleague Liz Kay also wrote about the issue.

"These types of misleading claims are enough to give consumers indigestion," said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. "Companies like Dannon shouldn't exaggerate the strength of scientific support for their products."

The FTC charged that Dannon's ads were deceptive because it did not have substantiation for its claims, according to the USA Today article. The commission also charged that Dannon's claims that Activia and DanActive were clinically proven were false.

So what do you think? Was Dannon wrong for making such claims? Any of you rush out to buy the products hoping it would help you with bathroom issues? And what about the fine? Is it enough or just a typical slap on the wrist? 

(Associated Press photo)

Posted by Andrea Walker at 6:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

Earlier this week, a carbon monoxide leak in a Pikesville house killed two people and sent 11 to the hospital.

The gas is insidious because it’s odorless and colorless and victims in buildings with no carbon monoxide detector don’t know there is a problem. It comes from fuel-burning devices such as a fireplace, water heater or boiler.

To avoid being a victim yourself this winter, take a look at some information from the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

+Carbon monoxide (CO) builds up in enclosed spaces and poisons those who breathe it. It kills more than 500 people a year and is the leading cause of accidental poisoning death in the country.

+It poisons people when red blood cells up CO faster than oxygen, blocking oxygen from the body and damaging tissue.

+A person’s health and the length of exposure impact the damage. Most people do not have symptoms from prolonged exposure at levels about 1-70 parts per million. Above that, symptoms may include headache, fatigue and nausea. At 150-200 ppm there is disorientation, unconsciousness and death. Extreme levels can cause death in 15 minutes.

+Symptoms can be mistaken for the flu. Or they can be missed because the victims are sleeping or intoxicated.

+For safety, install a carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home, especially near the sleeping areas. Have gas appliances installed by a qualified professional. Have gas furnaces, water heaters, clothes dryers, fireplaces and flues inspected annually by a qualified service technician. Make certain the fireplace flues are open during use. Use only appliances that vent fumes outside. Turn on the exhaust fan over your gas stove when using it. Never use a gas range or oven to heat a home.  Never use a charcoal grill inside. Never leave the motor running of a vehicle parked in an enclosed garage. Don’t ignore the alarm if it sounds, even if you feel fine.

+CO alarms are designed to go off before you feel the effects of CO. Immediately go outside and call 911. Do not re-enter until emergency responders check the building. Seek prompt medical attention if carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected.

+And this tip is from me: Do a little research before buying a detector. Some models have high false alarm rates. We plan to switch from a battery powered model to a new plug-in model to see if it works better. But if you've found a quality product, let us know.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer health
        

Between winter cold and sinus problems and the effects of holiday stress, now is a good time to talk about headaches. And that's what we'll be doing today at noon with Dr. Paul Christo, director, Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

You can send your questions in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com or go to baltimoresun.com/healthchat at noon to participate. Can't make it? A transcript of the chat will be at the same link afterward. 

Please note: Comments made during the chat are for informational purposes only and do not represent or substitute as medical advice. Patients are advised to consult their own physician or pharmacist for advice, diagnosis and treatment.

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Teenagers are smoking marijuana more than cigarettes, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health.

In 2010, 21.4 percent of high school seniors smoked a joint in the past 30 days, compared to 19.2 percent who had smoked a cigarette.

The results are from an annual series of surveys of eighth, 10th and 12th graders conducted by the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. The survey is funded by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is part of NIH. The findings were released today.

Marijuana use increased significantly among all three grades, the survey found.

"These high rates of marijuana use during the teen and pre-teen years, when the brain continues to develop, places our young people at particular risk," NIDA Director Nora D. Volkow said in a statement. "Not only does marijuana affect learning, judgment, and motor skills, but research tells us that about 1 in 6 people who start using it as adolescents become addicted."

The survey also showed a significant increase in the reported use of Ecstasy, with 2.4 percent of eighth-graders citing past-year use, compared to 1.3 percent in 2009. Similarly, past-year MDMA use among 10th-graders increased from 3.7 percent to 4.7 percent in 2010.

Prescription drug abuse also continued to remain a major problem. Although Vicodin abuse decreased in 12th graders this year to 8 percent, down from around 9.7 percent the past four years, other indicators confirm that nonmedical use of prescription drugs remains high. For example, the use of OxyContin, another prescription opiate, stayed about the same for 12th-graders at 5.1 percent in 2010.

Six of the top 10 illicit drugs abused by 12th-graders in the year prior to the survey were prescribed or purchased over the counter. The survey, like in the past, found that teens generally get these prescription drugs from friends and family, whether given, bought, or stolen.

The survey also found that fewer teenagers find marijuana use unacceptable. The researchers wondered if talk about legalizing the drug could be influencing its perception as being okay.

One of the improvements found in the survey is that binge drinking continued its downward trend. Among high school seniors, 23.2 percent report having five or more drinks in a row during the past two weeks, down from 25.2 percent in 2009 and from the peak of 31.5 percent in 1998.

The study surveyed 46,482 students from 396 public and private schools. The survey has been conducted since 1975.

(picture courtesy of Reuters)

Posted by Andrea Walker at 5:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Drugs
        

Maryland scored a nine out of 10 in a new report aimed at gauging the emergency health preparedness of the states.

The states in general got their highest scores in the eighth annual report, by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. But the groups said the gains are under threat of budget cuts.

The report is called Ready or Not? Protecting the Public from Diseases, Disaster and Bioterrorism. And the groups looked at key indicators of public health preparedness. Fourteen states scored nine or higher. Three scored a 10 – Arkansas, North Dakota and Washington state.

Another 25 states and Washington, D.C. scored seven or eight. No state scored lower than five.

The groups said since the Sept. 11, 2001 and anthrax attacks, there has been a lot of progress and the nation is now better able to prevent, identify and contain disease outbreak and bioterrorism threats. And responses are quicker to natural disasters and outbreaks. The H1N1 flu pandemic is an example.

But public health staffing and budget cuts may become a problem, the groups say. Thirty three states have already made cuts.

 “There is an emergency for emergency health preparedness in the United States,” said Jeff Levi, executive director of the Trust for America’s Health, in a statement. “This year, the Great Recession is taking its toll on emergency health preparedness. Unfortunately, the recent and continued budget cuts will exacerbate the vulnerable areas in U.S. crisis response capabilities and have the potential to reverse the progress we have made over the last decade.”

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health, Health care professionals
        

A judge in Virginia has become the first to strike down the federal health care law. U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson said it was unconstitutional.

Two others have upheld the law, and today's ruling is certain to be appealed by the Obama administration. And most observers agree that the Supreme Court will eventually decide the case. 

The opposition is coming from some states, but Republicans in Congress also have pledged to change portions or all of the legislation passed last year aimed at covering millions more Americans.

They especially take issue with the mandate that everyone buy insurance. Democrats are trying to stop people from buying insurance only when they get sick, or burdening the system with uncompensated care that drives up the costs for everyone else. A bigger pool of healthy insured people will mean lower costs for everyone, they say.

Republicans say the government doesn’t have the right to require Americans to buy health insurance, even if hospitals are required to treat them when they are sick. They also say the subsidies to help them pay will be too expensive.

The Richmond judge was ruling on the constitutionality.

Also, in Washington, Republicans have blocked attempts to repeal of an unpopular provision in the health law that would require small businesses to meet a lot of new reporting requirements. Democrats tried to attach it to the tax package Republicans negotiated with President Obama, but the Republicans don't want to amend that deal though they oppose the small business measure.

So, for now, nothing changes in the health law. Do you think it's unconstitutional? People still need care, so what can control the uncompensated costs?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Health care reform
        

Five days after her 18th birthday, superstar Miley Cyrus was caught on video taking a hit from a bong. But she says she was smoking salvia and not marijuana.

That’s a hallucinogenic drug made from a plant in the mint family and it’s legal in many states, including California where the video was taken of Cyrus.

The video, reported by TMZ, shows her giggling.

I’m working on a story about salvia (stay tuned for that) because some Johns Hopkins scientists are trying to understand how the unique drug works in hopes that eventually it can be used as a non-addictive pain killer, or used to treat addiction or brain diseases.

They say in the lab it appears not to be harmful to humans, but they are not recommending its use. it can get you into trouble.

Users say it’s kind of an anti-marijuana and won’t get you high. It can make you lose touch with reality for up to 20 minutes and become deeply introspective. It’s been used by Mexican shaman for centuries for spiritual healing.

One Hopkins scientist said the Cyrus' response looked more like salvia than cannabis to him, from the effects, reactions and expectations of onlookers to the manner of smoking ("instigation to take one very large hit and experiencing effects rather than more casual ongoing smoking typical of cannabis.")

Any users out there want to weigh in on salvia's effects?

Reuters photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 6:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)
Categories: Drugs
        

Pregnant women who were given buprenorphine instead of methadone to treat heroin and prescription drug addiction had healthier babies, according to a study led by Johns Hopkins researchers.

The study, published in the Dec. 9 New England Journal of Medicine, found that those given buprenorphine were likely to need less morphine to deal with withdraw symptoms from the opioids. They also spent half the time in the hospital after delivery and recovered from neonatal abstinence syndrome in half the time.

That syndrome is caused when a fetus is exposed to opioids and means more medications and hospitalization for babies. I can cause hyperirritability and autonomic nervous system dysfunction.

Methadone, a synthetic opiate, is the current standard of care. Buprenorphine is newer and comparable to methadone in its side effects and outcomes for the mother, researchers said.

 “In newborns, buprenorphine produces a milder withdrawal than methadone,” said study leader Hendree Jones, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Hopkins’ school of medicine, in a statement. “Our results support the use of buprenorphine as the treatment of choice for opioid dependence in pregnant women.”

She said the use of buprenorphine in addicted pregnant women hadn’t been well studied. She said it still is not likely for everyone and more research is needed.  This study involved eight sites and 175 women in the scientific study.

If you want to read more about "bupe" and it's uses and abuses, The Sun published a series in 2007. Read it here.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Drugs
        

In the aftermath of the shooting of a Johns Hopkins Hospital doctor in September by the distraught son of a patient, a pair of Hopkins researchers looked into how common such an event is. They determined that shootings are rare. Other assaults are higher, though.

The rate of assaults on workers in U.S. healthcare settings is four times higher than other workplaces, they found. The rate of assaults in all private-sector workplaces is two per 10,000, compared to eight per 10,000 in healthcare settings, according to Dr. Gabor D. Kelen and Dr. Christina L. Catlett.

They wrote about this in a commentary to be published in the Dec. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

They concluded that hospital shootings get all the media attention, but security experts say there should be more of a focus on preventing the assaults. That’s why installing magnetometers and other expensive high-tech devices isn’t called for, said Kelen, professor and chair of Hopkins’ Department of Emergency Medicine.

That echoes statements made around the shooting by Hopkins security officials, who said that it wasn’t practical and wouldn’t necessarily improve safety to install gun detection technology at the hospital. At the time, the officials and hospital representatives said it would also not be welcoming for patients and visitors.

“Magnetometers certainly project a protective aura; however they are not a security panacea in most health care settings,” said Kelen and Catlett. They may also give a “false sense of security.”

The researchers found that most shootings also happen outside of the health facilities.

Hopkins officials may have used this analysis in their response to the Joint Commission, the panel that accredits hospitals. The commission labeled the shooting of Dr. David B. Cohen at Hopkins at “sentinel” event that required a review of procedures. The confidential report was turned in recently. 

In general, a commission official has said Hopkins may not need any additional measures.

The commission also reported that there have been 6,923 sentinel events between 1995 and 2008. Maryland has had 146 events. They include wrong-site surgery, suicide, postoperative complications, delays in treatments and medical errors.

Violence is less common. Just under 4 percent were called “assault/rape/homicide.” There have been 263 of them from 1995-2008. But they don't say how many of each occured.

You feel safe at the hospital?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care professionals
        

Family members who have kids with specials needs may need a little extra help in picking out good toys for them. So, the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Parents’ Choice Foundation have come up with a holiday gift list.

Officials at the groups say the same factors apply to good toys for these kids as for any kids: safety, educational value and age-appropriateness and cost. On top of that, the toys should meet therapeutic goals and they should balance a child’s developmental age with his or her chronological age. Avoid toys that put a child in a win or lose situation, they say.

“It is possible to find many good toy options for children with special needs in any toy store,” Elisa Mintz Delia of the Kennedy Krieger Institute said in a statement.  “Many reasonably priced toys found at a variety of stores will engage and entertain children with special needs, as well as serve as learning and skill-building tools.”

The Kennedy Krieger Institute, which works to improve the lives of kids with disorders of the brain, spinal cord and musculoskeletal system, and Parents’ Choice Foundation, which focuses on children’s media and toys, test and review toys and have come up with some suggestions:

+Curious George Discovery Beach Game. This seek-and-find board game promotes visual and visual motor skills, thinking skills and socialization, they said.

+Hedbanz. This guess-the-card game encourages thinking skills, socialization and communication.

+Bubble Talk. A caption-photo-matching game fosters thinking skills, socialization and communication.

+Bop It Bounce. An electronic instructional game helps build gross motor skills and sensory motor skills.

+U- Build Connect Four. A piece-assembly game develops thinking skills, fine motor skills, visual skills and visual motor skills.

+B. Spinaroos. An interlocking-block game supports visual, fine motor and visual motor skills.
For more information and tips on shopping, go to the Parents’ Choice Foundation Holiday Gift Guide.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer health
        

State officials said today that 200 medical professionals have signed up to participate in Maryland's electronic medical records system.

The state hopes to eventually recruit 1,000 primary care doctors to transition to the digitized system.

Maryland and its partners have received $25 million in federal funds to help implement health information technology. It was one of the first three states in early 2009 to have its State Health IT plan approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

An official set of recommendations for doctors treating food allergies has finally been put together by a group of researchers lead by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

As many as 3 percent of Americans have a food allergy, and scientists say the number has been rising in the last two decades, but there hasn’t been agreement on how to diagnose and manage them.

There guidelines are being published this week by the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
“Paradoxical as it may be, up until now we have lacked uniform guidelines based on hard scientific evidence about how to diagnose and treat these very common conditions that affect the lives of millions of people,” said Dr. Robert Wood, one of the six lead authors of the guidelines, in a statement.

Wood, also director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, said the guidelines should mean suffers get up-to-date care anywhere they seek treatment – which basically includes allergen avoidance and treatment of symptoms.

The guidelines for clinicians include definitions (as in how to tell the deference between food allergy and intolerance) and information on proper tests and management of allergic reactions that are non-life-threatening and life-threatening.

A synopsis for families seeking information will be available early next year. If you want to get through the clinical version, you can find it here.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Allergies
        

It’s National Influenza Vaccination Week and health officials are reminding everyone that there is lots of flu vaccine available.

Unlike last year, when there were lines to get the H1N1 vaccine, there is vaccine ready to go at doctors’ offices, retail outlets and health departments. There also is only one shot needed. It contains both the seasonal flu vaccine (for A and B strains) and the H1N1 vaccine.

Also unlike last year, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reports that the flu is behaving normally this year so far. There are only low levels now, but things are just ramping up. The peak is expected in February.

 “Flu vaccine is in sufficient supply so now is the time to get vaccinated against the flu,” said John M. Colmers, health secretary, in a statement. “Protect yourself, your family and friends from the flu before it starts spreading through schools and the workplace where it could cost you time on the job or in the classroom or, something far worse. We do have reports of Marylanders, mostly children for now, who are being hospitalized with the flu and flu-related illness.”

The retail shops are convenient for many to get the shot – it’s usually about $20. Local health departments also are offering free and low cost clinics.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for the first time that everyone over 6 months old get a flu vaccination, and not just at risk groups including kids, seniors, health care workers, those with pre-existing conditions and pregnant women.

The seasonal flu generally hit seniors the hardest. But flu can be unpredictable. The H1N1 flu hit kids particularly hard.

The state has contact information for local health departments.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Swine flu/H1N1
        

No time to get to hot yoga class? Well, an industrious manufacturer says he has you covered. SolarSpa LLC is selling a heated yoga mat.

The idea behind hot yoga is warm muscles are more limber and stretchy -- during class at a studio, the air temperature is turned way up while you do your poses.

The company says its SolarFlex mat uses far infrared heat to do the job in your house. It can be set to 68 to 140 degrees. The technology is used in a lot of therapy products, and some others also are pitching the idea of a heated mat for exercise.

This mat weights five pounds and costs $249.95 plus shipping – I figure that’s about 16 or 17 hot yoga classes at $15 a class, without the shipping and the $20 regular yoga mat.

The company suggests you plug it in, lie down and then when you feel good and warm and relaxed, then you can start exercising.

I ran the mat past Kim Manfredi, owner and instructor at Charm City Yoga, which offers hot yoga, and she said she had not heard of it but was intrigued. Though, she wasn't clear exactly how it would work.

As for taking up your hot yoga practice outside of the studio, she said there is no reason not to. 

"I used to put a space heater in our tiny bathroom before there was any Hot Yoga in Baltimore," she said. "Of course you always want to be careful about contraindications to the practice, illness or special needs, and when you get good and sweaty you also want to be careful not to slip on the floor."

Think this can replace hot yoga class. Would it make you practice more, or put you right to sleep on your floor?

Photo courtesy of SolarFlex

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 5:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield said this morning it will give out $1.28 million in scholarships to nurses who want to get Master's degrees and become professors.

The state's largest insurer is hoping to help tackle the nursing shortage by increasing the number of college faculty available to train new nurses.

The scholarships are part of a program called Project RN that CareFirst launched in 2007. CareFirst will award 16 two-year scholarships, or $80,000 per student. The scholarships will be distributed through colleges and universities in the insurer's coverage area, which includes Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia.

Nurses should apply directly through the schools. Schools that have participated in Project RN are Johns Hopkins University,  University of Maryland School of Nursing, Georgetown University, Howard University, Towson University, George Mason University, Marymount University and Catholic University.

Project RN has helped 14 nurses earn their graduate degrees over the years. Twelve nurses continue to teach undergraduate classes.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Physician shortage
        

The makers of a band that is placed around a person's stomach to aid in weight loss is asking the federal government to expand use of the device.

Drug company Allergan has applied for approval with the Food Drug and Administration to allow people who are less obese to have "Lap-Band" surgery.

The procedure has been used since receiving FDA approval in 2001, but only for severely obese patients. Patients must have a Body Mass Index of at least 40, or 35 with severe health problems. A normal BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9.

Allergan wants the FDA to approve the surgery for people with a BMI of at least 35, or 30 if there are other severe health issues, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

About 15 million people are eligible for Lap-Band under the current criteria, according to Allergen. Nearly 27 million could get the surgery under the broader definition.

Lap-Band is placed around the upper part of the stomach, reducing the amount of food that can enter. Allergan also makes wrinkle reducer Botox and Lattise, a drug that helps eyelashes grow.

(photo courtesy of reuters)

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

The University of Maryland Medical Center has been designated by the Leapfrog Group as a Top Hospital of the Decade for patient safety and quality of care.

The medical center shares the honor with Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.

The awards were presented at a ceromony Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

The Leapfrog Group, which promotes hospital safety, used a survey that measured hospital performance in a range of areas including patient care outcomes, use of best practices and patient safety initiatives.  It is the only national, public comparison of hospitals on key issues including preventing medication errors and infections and standards for performing high-risk procedures.

Leapfrog adds new, more stringent performance measures and expands the criteria for hospitals to meet its standards each year.

 “It is a tremendous honor to be one of only two hospitals in the nation recognized as a Leapfrog Top Hospital of the Decade for safety and quality. It demonstrates that our entire staff— including clinical leaders, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists and support staff—is focused on providing the best patient care every day,”  Jeffrey A. Rivest, president and chief executive officer of UMMC said in a statement.

The Leapfrog Group is a coalition of public and private purchasers of employee health coverage formed a decade ago to work for improvements (or “leaps”) in health care safety, quality and affordability. Initially organized by the Business Roundtable, it is now an independent advocacy group working with a broad range of partners, including hospitals and insurers.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

I asked the folks at the Baltimore Health Department about other caffeine-alcohol drinks -- which are not banned like Four Loko and the like.

(If you missed it, the city and Howard County joined a bunch of other cities and states in following warnings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and state health officials in banning caffiene-infused alcohol drinks because they say the drinks pose a special health risk.)

I got this response: 

It looks as if Vincent Van Gogh Double Espresso vodka has about 10 mg of caffeine per 1.7 oz – substantially less than the products the FDA is banning.

A recipe for a rum and cola - 5 oz. of cola and 1.5 oz. of rum.  This is a fairly typical size and contains roughly 14.5 mg of caffeine and 0.6 oz. of alcohol, assuming the rum is 40 percent ABV[alcohol by volume]. Irish coffee, containing 6 oz. of coffee, 1.5 oz. of whiskey, a teaspoon of brown sugar and cream.  Assuming the whiskey is 40 percent ABV, your drink will have something like 90 mg of caffeine and 0.6 oz. of alcohol.

Comparatively, one 23.5 oz. can of Four Loko at 12 percent ABV has 156 mg of caffeine and 2.82 oz. of alcohol. 

So to get a "Four Loko effect" with a rum and cola, you'd have to drink 4.7 rum and colas.  This would have the same alcohol content as a Four Loko, but the caffeine content (at only 68.15 mg) is still less than half the caffeine in one can of Four Loko.
 
For Irish coffee, you'd would need to drink a little less than two to get the same caffeine level as a Four Loko.  But to truly equal a Four Loko, you would have to pour at least twice as much whiskey into each serving.

So, anyone for 5 rum and Cokes?

Los Angeles Times photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Consumer health
        

Today is World AIDS Day and there are many events planned to show support for human rights, access to medication and education.

Officials at the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene say they are using the day to focus on reducing stigma and increasing prevention activities.

Activities will be held throughout the state “to encourage residents, stakeholders, and partners to embrace the vision of a Maryland with no new cases of HIV, experience local talent, show support for people living with HIV/AIDS, and reflect upon the lives of those that have been lost to HIV/AIDS.”

Several state health officials and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will be discussing the incidence of the disease in the state, current public health prevention and treatment programs, the impact of Health Care Reform, and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, 3rd Floor Auditorium, 400 Cathedral St. For more information, call 410-767-5252.

Other events can be found here.

In the meantime, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that the number of adults tested for HIV reached a record high in 2009. Last year, 82.9 million adults were tested, an increase of 11.4 million people since 2006, when the CDC recommended that testing become a routine part of medical care.

Though, the CDC says, 55 percent of adults, and 28.3 percent of adults at higher risk for HIV, have not been tested. The agency also estimates that 1.1 million adults are living with HIV and that as many as one in five of these individuals does not know that they are infected.

Have you been tested?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: HIV/AIDS