Health Secretary Franciso Duque III urged the public to exercise caution in buying milk as health authorities in China recalled infant formula found containing melamine, a substance used to make pkastic and fertilizer.
Duque said the public should avoid buying unbranded and repacked milk products reportedly abundant in markets like Divisoria in Manila.
In an interview, he noted that without the brand label, consumers would not lnow who to go after if there is a problem with the product.
about child booster seat safety:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20080917/hl_hsn/healthtipboosterseatsafety;_ylt=ArkvwZFnLA6WUE5VtpDYy7XVJRIF
British Sleep Society
http://www.sleeping.org.uk
FDA Requires Stronger Fungal Infection Warning for TNF Blockers
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/tnf091508.html
On this page:
* Reports of Infections
* Advice for Patients
On September 4, 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the makers of four drugs known as "tumor necrosis factor alpha blockers" (TNF-alpha blockers) must strengthen existing warnings on the risk of developing fungal infections. Some patients with invasive infections have died.
The TNF blockers are
* Humira
* Cimzia
* Enbrel
* Remicade
These drugs, which suppress the immune system, are approved to treat a variety of conditions which may include rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis (a form of arthritis that affects the spine and other joints), and Crohn's disease.
FDA is requiring that the labeling change appear in the "Warnings and Precautions" sections of the drugs' prescribing information and in Medication Guides, paper handouts that are required to be distributed by pharmacists to patients with certain medications.
Reports of Infections
The risk of serious infections, including fungal infections, has been included in the prescribing information for the four drugs since the drugs were initially approved. However, reports reviewed by FDA indicate that health care professionals are not consistently recognizing cases of histoplasmosis and other invasive fungal infections. This has led to delays in treatment. Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum.
* FDA reviewed 240 reports of histoplasmosis in patients being treated with Enbrel, Humira, or Remicade.
* Most of the reports involved people in the Ohio River and Mississippi River valleys, areas where the fungus is commonly found.
* In at least 21 of the reports, histoplasmosis was initially not recognized by health care professionals, and antifungal treatment was delayed. Twelve of those patients died.
* FDA reviewed one reported case of histoplasmosis in a patient taking Cimzia.
* The agency has received reports of cases, including deaths, of other fungal diseases in patients treated with TNF blockers.
Advice for Patients
People who take TNF blockers should
* be aware that they are more susceptible to serious fungal infections
* promptly seek medical attention if they develop a persistent fever, cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue
* tell their health care professionals where they live and what areas they have recently visited (to assist in the diagnosis)
Patients who develop a fungal infection may be advised to stop taking the TNF blocker until they recover.
This article appears on FDA's Consumer Health Information Web page (www.fda.gov/consumer), which features the latest updates on FDA-regulated products. Sign up for free e-mail subscriptions at www.fda.gov/consumer/consumerenews.html.
For More Information
FDA Press Release
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01879.html
Information for Healthcare Professionals
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/HCP/TNF_blockersHCP.htm
Date Posted: September 15, 2008
Health action could cut in half early deaths of women
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7617146.stm
Taking Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20080917/hl_hsn/healthtiptakingannsaid;_ylt=Ankk26yyu8pUo2LGKpMFpr23j7AB
Healthy Eating for Busy Families
Posted: 16 Sep 2008 03:28 AM CDT
Does eating healthy seem impossible for your family when you try to balance work, kids' activities, meetings and recreation? There are steps your family can take that ensure they are getting the energy and nutrients they need to grow, play and stay healthy!
Use Canada's Food Guide when you plan your families' meals. Aim for 3 meals and 2 or 3 snacks each day in order to fit in all of the healthy foods that provide energy and nutrients to growing bodies. Plan for least 3 of the 4 food groups at each meal and 2 food groups at snack time.
Here are some tips for healthy and quick meals and snacks:
* Create a meal plan with the family at the beginning of each week. Make a grocery list based on this meal plan so you have everything you need.
* Post a grocery list in the kitchen and remind family members to add items that run out.
* Try to set time aside one day a month when you can prepare extra meals. Foods such as soups, chili and tomato sauces can be frozen in containers and used later.
* Wash and cut up raw vegetables and fruit and store in containers in the refrigerator so they are ready to eat or grab as a snack or with a meal.
* Keep frozen vegetables in your freezer. These can be prepared in a short time as they are already cut and washed.
* Freeze portions of items such as grated cheese, chopped peppers, onions and nuts in freezer bags so they can be added quickly to recipes.
* Keep a variety of dry pantry items on hand: whole wheat pasta, rice, whole grain crackers, whole grain cereals, 100% real fruit juice boxes, canned spaghetti sauce, beans, peanut butter and granola bars.
* Create healthy snacks such as homemade trail mix (dry cereal, dried fruit, sunflower seeds, almonds) and keep in a large container so kids can take their own portions for snacks.
For days when you are on the go from after school through the evening consider using a small cooler in the car with ice packs to bring snacks or meals. Remember to refreeze the ice packs after each use. Ideas for the cooler include:
* bagel and turkey sandwiches
* ham & cheese tortillas
* cut up vegetables (grape tomatoes, cucumbers, celery)
* fruit (apples, grapes, bananas, melon)
* cheese cubes or strings
* frozen yogurt tubes
* homemade trail mix
For a copy of Canada's Food Guide, go to www.healthcanada.gc.ca/foodguide.
WRITTEN BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONISTS OF SASKATCHEWAN
Originator: Danielle Campbell, R.D., Saskatoon Health Region
Editing Buddy: Carolyn Chu, Saskatoon Health Region
References:
Dietitians of Canada, www.dietitians.ca.
Heather Dzioba, M.Sc.(Nutr), Community Nutrition Resident Helen Flengeris, R.D., "Quick and Easy Meal Solutions", week of March 5, 2000.
What you can do to lower your blood pressure:
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/risk/092.html
What you can do to avoid Bisphenol-A
http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/green-products-services/avoid-bisphenol-a-55091701?src=syn&dom=yah_buzz&mag=tdg&ha=1
How to Fight Gossip:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20080917/hl_time/qahowtocombatgossip;_ylt=AiolahLVj5pV4o2hYSDiXoCQeZd4
Kids Deep Breathing Exercises:
http://stress.about.com/od/stressmanagementtools/ht/deep_breathing.htm
Protecting newborns:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ColdandFluNews/wireStory?id=5824347
Intuition of mothers:
http://www.momscape.com/articles/dillard-intuition.htm
U.S. National Institutes of Health web sites:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH News
NIH Office of the Director (OD)
Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
NEWScientist
http://www.newscientist.com/
Tips for Parents:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/09/17/helicopter.parents/index.html
Prevent Child Ear Pain on Airplanes:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20080917/hl_hsn/healthtippreventearpaininflight;_ylt=AuMKfT5a3V5lATIxAdC2ui23j7AB
thedailygreen
http://www.thedailygreen.com/
Raising Emotionally Intelligent Children:
http://www.momscape.com/articles/emotionallyintelligentkids.htm
Working Mothers and Stress Relief:
http://stress.about.com/od/stressmanagementtools/a/working_moms.htm
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