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CDC Investigates Mystery E. Coli Outbreak Affecting 5 States

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U.S. health officials say they are investigating an outbreak of E. coli gastrointestinal illness that’s already affected 72 people across five Eastern states. The origin of the foodborne illnesses remains unknown, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late Friday. “The investigation is still ongoing and a specific food item, grocery store, or restaurant chain has not been identified as the source of infections,” the CDC said in a statement. States affected are Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. Cases of illness first began to be reported March 2, and the last reported case occurred March 29. Although no deaths have been reported, “of 47 people with information available, eight have been hospitalized” because their cases have been so severe, the CDC said. This outbreak has been linked to the E. coli O103 strain of bacterium, and the CDC says people typically get sick within three to five days of eating E. coli-contaminated food. “Most people get diarrhea (often bloody), severe stomach cramps and vomiting,” the agency said. “Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe.” There are ways you can protect yourself, however. Be sure to wash hands while preparing food, and cook meats thoroughly. “To kill harmful germs, cook beef steaks and roasts to an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit…  read on >

The 7-Minute Workout

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Are you in a time crunch for even a short workout? Experts at the American College of Sports Medicine created a 7-minute plan that can fit into almost anyone’s schedule. The program uses high-intensity training in an exercise circuit, meaning that you quickly progress from one exercise in the circuit to another, exercising full out for each one (that’s the “high-intensity” part of the training plan). This workout combines cardio and resistance work into a single session. Some moves target specific muscle groups; others work the entire body. Do each of the 12 exercises for 30 seconds, which should be enough time to complete between 15 and 20 repetitions, the optimal amount. Take a 10-second break as you transition from one exercise to the next, but no longer so that you don’t lose the benefits of the high-intensity technique. 7-Minute Circuit Exercises 1. Jumping jacks to benefit your entire body 2. Wall sits to target your lower body 3. Push-ups to target your upper body 4. Abdominal crunches to target your core 5. Step-ups to benefit your entire body 6. Squats to target your lower body 7. Triceps dips to target your upper body 8. Planks to target your core 9. Running in place to benefit your entire body 10. Lunges to target your lower body 11. Push-ups to target your upper body 12. Side…  read on >

Voice-Assisted Tech Can Be a Driving Hazard

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The risks of using voice-based technology in your car may be greater than you think. Many consider this technology safer than using their hands to operate devices while driving, but it’s not risk-free, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety warns. Mental distractions can last as long as 27 seconds after drivers use voice-assisted technology to dial, change music or send a text message. At 25 mph, a car travels the length of nearly three football fields during this short time. “Just because your eyes are on the road and hands are on the wheel, does not mean you are focused on driving,” David Yang, the foundation’s executive director, said in a AAA news release. “Research from the AAA Foundation shows that mental distractions resulting from talking, texting, or programming navigation can last longer than you think and lead to crashes,” he cautioned. The risk of a crash is up to four times higher for drivers who talk on a cellphone, and up to eight times higher for those who text behind the wheel, the researchers said. Even so, nearly half of drivers report talking on a handheld phone while driving recently, and about one-third have sent a text or email, according to the foundation. The risky behavior persists even though nearly 58% of drivers say talking on a cellphone behind the wheel is a very…  read on >

FDA Says Patients Can Take Tainted Blood Pressure Meds Until Shortages End

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As Americans face shortages of widely used blood pressure drugs due to contamination with potentially cancer-causing impurities, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said patients can safely take the tainted drugs in the short term. As the agency explained, the risk of stroke and other problems from stopping the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) medications — drugs such as losartan and valsartan — far outweighs than the potential threat of cancer from briefly taking the impure drugs. A full supply of untainted medicines is expected with six months, the agency said. In the meantime, “patients should continue taking their medicine until their pharmacist provides a replacement or their doctor provides an alternative treatment option — even if they learn that their ARB medicine is recalled,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb and Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in an agency news release. “The risk associated with abruptly discontinuing the use of these important medicines far outweighs the low risk that our scientists estimate to be associated with continuing the medicine until the patient’s doctor or pharmacist provides a safe replacement or a different treatment option,” the officials said. The FDA announcement is the latest chapter in an ongoing saga involving blood pressure medications taken by millions of Americans. The first nitrosamine impurity in ARBs was…  read on >

Does Cancer Battle Bring Personal Growth? Yes and No, Survivors Say

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Breast cancer survivor Jessica Sidener is adamant that her illness brought real benefits to her life. “I am incredibly grateful for all of the hardships I’ve gone through in my young life, including my cancer journey,” said Sidener, 39, of Parker, Colo. “It makes you appreciate that life is short.” But Nancy Stordahl is just as convinced that her bout with breast cancer shouldn’t be viewed as an opportunity for personal growth. In fact, her cancer memoir is titled Cancer Was Not a Gift & It Didn’t Make Me a Better Person. “Cancer is a horrible disease, not an enlightenment program,” said Stordahl, who lives in Wisconsin and maintains a popular blog about breast cancer called Nancy’s Point. Both women have a legitimate viewpoint, based on new data from a long-term clinical trial. In the trial, breast cancer patients who underwent an intensive psychological program to help them better deal with their disease came away more likely to view their post-cancer life as positive, researchers found. After the program, these survivors had four times more positive than negative thoughts about changes they experienced because of their illness, the study found. The women typically felt better about their close relationships, they traveled more and took part in more spiritual activities, and felt that they’d gained a new sense of altruism and balance in life. “It’s a…  read on >

Let Your Lawn Grow: It’s Good for Bees, Won’t Attract Ticks, Study Finds

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You now have an excuse to skip cutting the grass every weekend — it’s beneficial for the bees. And mowing your lawn less often to provide native bees a better habitat won’t lead to an increase in disease-carrying ticks, experts say. When research ecologist Susannah Lerman began urging friends and colleagues to leave lawns a bit longer to help the bees, the “first thing people said was that letting the grass get longer would invite ticks,” she recalled. “It was clear that before we could make the case for promoting lawns as bee habitat, we had to understand the tick risk,” Lerman added. She and Vince D’Amico, a fellow USDA Forest Service research entomologist, studied whether less frequent mowing of 16 residential lawns in Springfield, Mass., over two summers could benefit native bees without increasing the risk of ticks. The researchers found 111 bee species on the lawns — about one-quarter of all known bee species in Massachusetts. They also dragged a cloth across the lawns in search of ticks. In 144 tick drags, done with grass at various heights and mowing frequencies, they failed to find a single blacklegged tick. Also called deer ticks, the insects can carry Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that can make people seriously ill. The study was published online April 3 in the journal PLoS One. The researchers said…  read on >

The 7-Minute Workout

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Are you in a time crunch for even a short workout? Experts at the American College of Sports Medicine created a 7-minute plan that can fit into almost anyone’s schedule. The program uses high-intensity training in an exercise circuit, meaning that you quickly progress from one exercise in the circuit to another, exercising full out for each one (that’s the “high-intensity” part of the training plan). This workout combines cardio and resistance work into a single session. Some moves target specific muscle groups; others work the entire body. Do each of the 12 exercises for 30 seconds, which should be enough time to complete between 15 and 20 repetitions, the optimal amount. Take a 10-second break as you transition from one exercise to the next, but no longer so that you don’t lose the benefits of the high-intensity technique. 7-Minute Circuit Exercises 1. Jumping jacks to benefit your entire body 2. Wall sits to target your lower body 3. Push-ups to target your upper body 4. Abdominal crunches to target your core 5. Step-ups to benefit your entire body 6. Squats to target your lower body 7. Triceps dips to target your upper body 8. Planks to target your core 9. Running in place to benefit your entire body 10. Lunges to target your lower body 11. Push-ups to target your upper body 12. Side…  read on >

Voice-Assisted Tech Can Be a Driving Hazard

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The risks of using voice-based technology in your car may be greater than you think. Many consider this technology safer than using their hands to operate devices while driving, but it’s not risk-free, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety warns. Mental distractions can last as long as 27 seconds after drivers use voice-assisted technology to dial, change music or send a text message. At 25 mph, a car travels the length of nearly three football fields during this short time. “Just because your eyes are on the road and hands are on the wheel, does not mean you are focused on driving,” David Yang, the foundation’s executive director, said in a AAA news release. “Research from the AAA Foundation shows that mental distractions resulting from talking, texting, or programming navigation can last longer than you think and lead to crashes,” he cautioned. The risk of a crash is up to four times higher for drivers who talk on a cellphone, and up to eight times higher for those who text behind the wheel, the researchers said. Even so, nearly half of drivers report talking on a handheld phone while driving recently, and about one-third have sent a text or email, according to the foundation. The risky behavior persists even though nearly 58% of drivers say talking on a cellphone behind the wheel is a very…  read on >

Health Tip: When to Cut Down on Caffeine

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(HealthDay News) — Millions of Americans rely on caffeine for a morning or afternoon energy boost. However, relying too much on caffeine can cause unpleasant side effects such as migraines, stomach aches and irritability, says Mayo Clinic. Signs you should curb caffeine use are: You drink more than four cups per day. You’re losing sleep. You’re taking medication. A safe amount of caffeine is usually under 400 milligrams per day, or less than four cups of coffee, Mayo says.

Health Tip: When to Cut Down on Caffeine

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(HealthDay News) — Millions of Americans rely on caffeine for a morning or afternoon energy boost. However, relying too much on caffeine can cause unpleasant side effects such as migraines, stomach aches and irritability, says Mayo Clinic. Signs you should curb caffeine use are: You drink more than four cups per day. You’re losing sleep. You’re taking medication. A safe amount of caffeine is usually under 400 milligrams per day, or less than four cups of coffee, Mayo says.