Americans are consuming way too much sugar and should cut back, the American Heart Association said this week. Medical tests using radiation also may be a concern. A new study found that 2 out of 3 U.S. adults had such a test in the last few years. New developments also occurred this week related to swine flu. Advisers to the President said 20% to 40% of Americans may be infected this fall. In other research news, studies found that circumcision does not protect gay men from HIV and that poison control centers are getting many more calls about abuse of ADHD drugs.
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In the News:

Americans Urged To Cut Way Back on Sugar
The typical American gets 22 teaspoons of added sugars each day, and the American Heart Association said this week that it's way too much. It said the average woman should consume no more than 6 teaspoons daily. For a man, the limit should be 9. The group's new statement appeared in the journal Circulation, the Associated Press (AP) said. The limits include sweeteners such as corn syrup, too. They do not include natural sugars such as those in fruit. Soft drinks are by far the biggest source of added sugars for Americans, the guidelines say. A 12-ounce drink contains sweeteners equal to 8 teaspoons of sugar. Candy, sugar, cookies, cakes and pies rank next. People who want to consume more sugar should exercise more, the guidelines' lead author told AP.

Widespread Swine Flu Predicted This Fall
About 20% to 40% of the U.S. population will get H1N1 (swine) flu this fall, a White House advisors' group predicted this week. About half of those are likely to get sick enough to go to the doctor. The group predicted 30,000 to 90,000 deaths. But U.S. public health officials said the higher figure is unlikely if this type of flu remains mostly mild. Seasonal flu kills about 36,000 people a year. Health officials say it will be late November before many people are protected by swine flu vaccine. Some may be available in September. About 50 million doses should be in doctors' offices by mid-October. But people will need a second shot three weeks after the first one. Each shot takes effect within two weeks. The new vaccine is still being tested to make sure it is safe and effective. U.S. officials say they expect it to be safe because it is being made in the same way as seasonal flu vaccine. That vaccine is a little different every year. The Associated Press, New York Times News Service and USA Today wrote about these flu developments.

Most U.S. Adults Get Tests Using Radiation
Up to 2 out of 3 U.S. adults had a test in the last few years that exposed them to radiation, researchers said this week. A new study looked at insurance claims for nearly 1 million adults under 65. For most people, radiation exposure was low. But for 20% who had exposure, the levels were moderate. And for 2% the exposure was high. About 71% of the tests were regular X-rays. But they contributed only 11% of the radiation from medical tests. About 21% of the tests were computed tomography (CT) scans or nuclear imaging. They provided 75% of total radiation. CT scans use far more radiation than regular X-rays. Nuclear imaging uses a small amount of radioactive materials. The Associated Press wrote about the study.

ADHD Drug Abuse Rises Sharply
More teens are abusing drugs that treat attention-deficit disorders, researchers said this week. The new study found that calls to poison control centers about abuse of these drugs rose 76% in 8 years. These drugs are mostly stimulants. In improper doses, they can cause agitation, rapid heartbeat or extremely high blood pressure. Some symptoms can be life-threatening. The study used data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers. It covered calls for the years 1998 through 2005. More than 4 out of 10 teens involved had moderate to severe side effects. Most went to emergency rooms. Four died. The Associated Press wrote about the study.

Study: Circumcision Doesn't Protect Gay Men From HIV
Studies in Africa show that circumcision can help prevent HIV infection among heterosexual men. But it doesn't help protect gay men, a study released this week said. U.S. government researchers did the study. They presented it at a conference, the Associated Press said. The study included 4,900 men who had anal sex with an infected partner. About 3.5% of the men became infected with HIV. The infection rate was the same whether the men were circumcised or not.

Used with the permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. The above summaries are not intended to provide advice on personal medical matters, nor are they intended to be a substitute for consultation with a physician.