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House Dems to Move Ahead on Health Care

Posted by charity_scott | July 30, 2009 | 0 Comments
Blue Dog Democrats in the House have reached an agreement with party leadership concerning the health care reform bill, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. 

The Blue Dog Democrats are a group of fiscally conservative Democrats, and their opposition threatened to derail the bill because they thought it was too costly and did not fix certain problems with the health care industry. Debate on the bill was scheduled to begin 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Energy and Commerce Committee, but the House will not call a vote until the August recess.

Rep. Henry Waxman, the Energy and Commerce Committee chair, was presented with a list of 10 items that the Blue Dogs want changed. The items listed were not revealed by either side.

Four of the seven Blue Dogs on the committee said these issues had been settled, which will allow the committee to finish its work before the recess, which begins Friday. It is one of only three committees left for the bill to move through before a vote can be held.

The four representatives are Reps. Bart Gordon of Tennessee, Baron Hill of Indiana, Mike Ross of Arkansas and Zach Space of Ohio.

The news came while President Obama took part in a town hall meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina on health care reform.

Resources
Explore health care on the Livestrong topic page here.
More information on the health care reform bill at CNN's website.

--By Charity Scott

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CDC Advises Pregnant Women to Get Swine Flu Vaccine

Posted by charity_scott | July 30, 2009 | 0 Comments
The Centers for Disease Control issued a recommendation that pregnant women be given priority for swine flu vaccination. The recommendation came down in light of new data from the CDC that shows that pregnant women infected by the H1N1 virus were hospitalized at a much higher rate than the general population during the first wave of swine flu.

The study was published in the British medical journal, The Lancet, but NPR reports that it may be difficult to convince pregnant women, and their doctors, to vaccinate. Even after the CDC increased its focus on getting pregnant women vaccinated against the seasonal flu, fewer than 15 percent get flu shots.

"There's a real hesitancy on the part of pregnant women to take anything during pregnancy," says Dr. Denise Jamieson, an author of the new CDC study. "A lot of women want to avoid all medications and all exposures."

According to that study, there were 45 deaths reported in the first two months of the outbreak, six of which were pregnant women. That rate is 13 times higher than the number of pregnant woman in the country compared to the total population. Experts fear the rate could increase during the fall and winter, when a higher rate of H1N1 infections are expected.

Dr. John Treanor, a vaccine expert at the University of Rochester, said that his experience with past flu vaccines points to the swine flu vaccine's safety. "I think there is accumulated evidence that the vaccine is safe in pregnancy," he said.

Dr. Iffath Hoskins, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn saw first-hand this spring what the new pandemic virus can do to healthy pregnant women who start out with ordinary flu symptoms. "We've seen them get very sick, very quickly," says Hoskins.

Jamieson said that most pregnant women who get infected only experience mild symptoms like fever and a cough like most of the general population, adding that the CDC doesn't have any additional recommendations for pregnant women to avoid catching swine flu. However, if they do manage to catch the virus, doctors should act quickly, ideally within 48 hours of displaying symptoms.

"The message is don't delay appropriate treatment because she's pregnant," she said.

Resources
The originals study was published at The Lancet.
Additional swine flu information is available through the CDC.
Explore the Livestrong Influenza topic page here.

--By Charity Scott

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US Congress Closing in on Big Tobacco

Posted by Krisserin | July 29, 2009 | 3 Comments
Senator Edward Kennedy's Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was passed through Congress in May of this year, and is said to have unflagging support from President Barack Obama.
The question is, what will the passing of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act mean for America's smokers and for big tobacco?

The Act outlines the prohibition of all flavored cigarettes other than tobacco or menthol, and prohibits   tobacco product manufacturers from using tobacco that contains a greater level of pesticide chemical residue than is specified by any tolerance applicable to domestically grown tobacco.

It will also grant the FDA the right to prior approval of all label statements on tobacco products to prevent misbranding.

If the act passes it wouldn't be the death nail for big tobacco, who will still be allowed to produce cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products, little or normal-sized cigars, pipe tobacco or roll-your-own tobacco products. The act also specifies that the FDA will not be allowed to reduce the nicotine yields of tobacco products to zero.


Senator Kennedy outlined the importance of the bill in a statement released on June 10, 2009:

"The need to regulate tobacco products can no longer be ignored.  Used as intended by the companies that manufacture and market them, cigarettes will kill one out of every three smokers. Yet, the federal agency most responsible for protecting the public health is currently powerless to deal with the enormous risks of tobacco use. Public health experts overwhelmingly believe that passage of H.R. 1256 is the most important action Congress can take to protect children from this deadly addiction. Without this strong Congressional action, smoking will continue at its current rate, and more than six million of today's children will ultimately die from tobacco-induced disease."

Resources
Statement from Senator Edward M. Kennedy, United States Senator for Massachusetts
Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
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Updated, ad-free version of the iPhone app available

Posted by Lex | July 29, 2009 | 3 Comments
As we mentioned last week, a new version of LIVESTRONG.COM Calorie Tracker iPhone app is available now in iTunes! This version removes the banner ads that were introduced a week ago. We goofed, we're sorry, and we're most appreciative of your feedback and support. Download the update and go ad-free again!

We've already sent another new version to Apple to address a few occasional glitches with updating serving sizes and meal times. Stay tuned!
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Ways to prevent the spread of swine flu

Posted by charity_scott | July 29, 2009 | 0 Comments
Over a month after the World Health Organization declared the spread of the Novel H1N1 influenza virus, widely known as the swine flu, had reached Phase 6 pandemic levels. This designation says that a widespread pandemic outbreak is underway. It does not address the severity or deadliness of the disease. Currently, over 70 countries have reported outbreaks.

H1N1 Virus Symptoms
Symptoms are similar to that of the seasonal flu, and include cough, fever, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, chills fatigue, diarrhea, headache and vomiting. Just as with the seasonal flu, there have been some deaths associated resulting from the virus. 

Preventing/Containing the Swine Flu
The disease is contagious, and many pharmaceutical companies are fast-tracking a vaccine. In the meantime, the Center for Disease Control has released a number of preventative measures that should be followed to reduce the chances of contracting the virus:

• Keep tissues with you, so you can cover your nose and mouth with it when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after using it.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for 15 to 20 seconds, especially after you cough or sneeze or if you handle communal property. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can also be useful, but remember to rub your hands until the gel is dry.
• Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Avoid being in close proximity to people with the virus.
• If you get sick, try to limit your contact with others as much as possible. Stay home for seven days after you begin displaying symptoms or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. You should not leave your house unless you need professional medical care. If a family member gets sick, you can still go to work, but you should monitor your health carefully. 
• Prepare your household in case anyone in it gets sick and need to stay home for a week or so. Keep a stock of over-the-counter medicines, tissues, alcohol-based hand sanitizers and other items that might be needed. Keeping this supply on hand will reduce the need to make trips outside while being sick and contagious.
• The CDC recommends the using oseltamivir or zanamivir to prevent and/or treat an infection of the H1N1 flu virus.

When Emergency Medical Attention is Needed
There are several signs that a person that has contracted the H1N1 virus needs emergency medical attention. These signs vary for children and adults:

In children:
• Fast breathing or struggling to breath
• Skin discoloration, Bluish or gray
• If they stop drinking enough fluids, dehydration
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Not waking up or not interacting with others
• Being very irritable, does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms seem to improve, but then fever and cough returns

In adults:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms seem to improve, but then fever and cough returns

Resources
For additional information on the H1N1 virus, visit the CDC website.
Explore the topic of Influenza here.

--By Charity Scott

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Hand Sanitizer Doesn't Replace Soap and Water

Posted by charity_scott | July 29, 2009 | 0 Comments
Hand washing is one of the easiest things people can do to prevent diseases such as the flu and common cold, and hand sanitizers have gained popularity as a way to reap the benefits of hand washing, even if there’s no water around. After last month’s advisory from the Food and Drug Administration, reporting that hand sanitizers produced by Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory were tainted with high levels of disease-causing bacteria, many consumers may be thinking twice about these waterless options. 

While most hand-sanitizers have not been found to be riddled with bacteria, they might not being doing the job people expect them to do either, a Purdue University professor said in a university press release.

"Waterless, antibacterial hand sanitizers are marketed as a way to 'wash your hands' when soap and water aren't available, and they are especially popular among parents of small children," associate professor Barbara Almanza said. "But research shows that they do not significantly reduce the overall amount of bacteria on the hands, and in some cases they may even increase it."

The Center for Disease Control has said that not all hand sanitizers are alike, and consumers should be careful when choosing one. Some hand sanitizers do not contain alcohol, which is a vital ingredient. The CDC recommends only using products with an alcohol base, and urges people to purchase sanitizers that are at least 60 percent alcohol.

When using hand sanitizer, remember to use around 1/2 teaspoon, cover your hands completely and rub until they are dry. Generally, hand sanitizers should only be used when soap and water are not available.

Almanza said sanitizers work by removing the outer layer of oil from hands, which will not get rid of all disease-causing bacteria. She said the reason manufacturers continue to market these products as killing 99.9 percent of germs is because they test on inanimate surfaces, not actual hands.

"The physiological complexity of human skin makes it very difficult to use for testing of this nature," Almanza says. "The most clear and consistent results were going to come from using surfaces for which the variables can be controlled, and that's just not real life. Real life is not neat and tidy."

Resources:
Preventing the common cold: www.livestrong.com/preventing-the-cold/. 

--By Charity Scott

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Occupational Therapy in Schools Becomes a Hot Topic

Posted by charity_scott | July 29, 2009 | 0 Comments
The role of occupational therapists in public schools has become a widely discussed topic in light of a court case that might be reviewed by the highest court in the nation soon. The U.S. Supreme Court may decide this issue in Jacob Winkelman, et al., v. Parma City School District sometime during fall 2009. The Supreme Court chooses what cases it will hear in the fall over the summer.

The case looks at the school district in Parma, Ohio, and the way it provided occupational therapy to Jacob Winkelman, a child living with autism. Occupational therapy helps students with autism learn how to interact socially, and can also positively affect students' academic performance. 

A number of advocate groups are joining forces to support the petitioners in the case because they think children with autism have the right to receive highly personalized occupational therapy services at public schools.

Christina A. Metzler, the chief public affairs officer at the Americans Occupational Therapy Association, said the case is a good opportunity to bring attention to the importance of the use of occupational therapy services in schools for children with autism. 

"The AOTA is extremely supportive of the Supreme Court taking on the issues raised by this case," she said.

Occupational therapists can aid both children who have disabilities and those that don't get ready to execute everyday school tasks. They access students' capabilities, strengths and needs, then, through collaborations with their teachers and others, set up yearly goals and a plan to meet them.

Sandra Schefkind, MS, OTR/L, pediatric coordinator at AOTA, added that parents are also an important part of this group.

"The team develops realistic, achievable, outcome-based, individualized goals for the student and identifies the appropriate team members to provide the services to achieve the established goals," she said.

The AOTA, The Autistic Self Advocacy Network and Parents for Autistic Children's Education are amongst the supporters that introduced two briefs in support of the petitioners for U.S. Supreme Court review, according to a press release from AOTA. The sponsors are hopeful that the court will agree to hear the case.

The Court could decide how individualized an autistic child's education program should be. A decision would also influence how the right of individuals with disabilities to a "free appropriate education" should be carried out.

Should the court decide to review the case, it will be the second time they will hear a case concerning Jacob. On May 21, 2007, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision saying that Jacob's parents had the right to represent him in court. The decision set a new precedent for parental rights and the importance of parental involvement in court cases concerning children with disabilities and their right to a "free appropriate public education."

Resources:
Jacob Winkelman vs. Parma City School District information page

For information about Autism, visit the LIVESTRONG topic page here.

--By Charity Scott
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Using Interventions to Prevent Childhood Obesity

Posted by Krisserin | July 29, 2009 | 0 Comments
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is looking for new ways of preventing childhood obesity, and want to fund research programs that conduct health interventions--much like those used now to confront individuals with destructive personality traits and/or drug abuse—to prevent obesity in children.
 
The Funding Opportunity Announcement was issued by The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Health and Human Development. They note that "In 2003-2004, 33.6 percent of children two to 19 years were at or above the 85th percentile of body mass index (BMI). 

Some experts predict that a continuing childhood obesity epidemic may reverse the steady increases in life expectancy substantially because of possible increases in obesity-related cardiovascular deaths."

Only two prevention trials testing interventions showed a significant lowering of BMI in its test subjects, and the Department of Health and Human Services is looking for innovative methods of intervention from its funding applicants. The goal is to test various intervention approaches alone or in combination including pharmacotherapy, meal replacement, and intensive behavioral intervention coupled with family-based and/or community-based interventions, at individual and clinic, community, and/or societal levels.

The organization that is awarded the grant will get a total of $49.75 million dollars in funding over a seven year period. 

Resources:

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About those ads in the iPhone app...

Posted by Lex | July 22, 2009 | 12 Comments
We recently released an update to the LIVESTRONG.COM Calorie Tracker app for iPhone that addressed some bugs and crashes. The app, now sponsored by Nissan, also started sporting some ads.

Our members have told us, loudly and clearly, that the ads are too obtrusive. We're removing them. As soon as Apple approves our latest submission to the app store, the app will once again be ad-free. 

Thanks for your patience and support!
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Older / archived MyPlate data

Posted by Lex | July 20, 2009 | 36 Comments
A few weeks back, we archived a lot of older MyPlate data temporarily, in an attempt to shrink the size of our database so that The Daily Plate on LIVESTRONG would load faster. 

We planned to un-archive the data that week.

Unfortunately, as some of you know first-hand, the un-archiving process has gone slower than planned. We've set and missed a couple goals for getting older MyPlate data restored, and we apologize sincerely for that frustration. Please know that our developers continue to strategize on how we can best restore that MyPlate data, and no information has been lost. We've been unarchiving member data each night, and we're still investigating faster ways to get this data back for you.

Gold members have been prioritized to the top of the pending queue for un-archiving.

We know this hasn't gone as well as it could have. Our top priorities are continuing access to your older data, and keeping the site snappy. We will work to resolve this issue as quickly as we can, and as always, we appreciate your support!
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