Our weekly roundup of the latest news in the world of health.
The Food and Drug Administration announced that it has approved the vaccine formulation for the 2012-2013 influenza (flu) season. A study published this week found that people with blood types A, B, or AB have a slightly higher risk of heart disease than people type O. Having type A blood increased risk by 8 percent, type B by 11 percent, and type AB by 20 percent. Johnson & Johnson announced this week that it expects to remove potentially harmful chemicals from its baby products and adult skin care products by 2015. The company has been under pressure from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to take the chemicals out of their products. New figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week identify 12 states where at least 30 percent of adults are obese. Finally, state laws to curb the sale of junk food and sugary drinks in school seems to be having some success in lowering obesity rates among kids.
Stay well.
This Issue:
FDA Approves Flu Vaccine for Coming Season Blood Type Might Be a Clue to Heart Disease Risk J&J Removing Harsh Chemicals from Products by 2015 12 States Now Have High Obesity; Mississippi No. 1 Junk Food Laws May Help Curb Kids' Obesity In the News:
FDA Approves Flu Vaccine for Coming Season
This week, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it has approved the vaccine formulation for the 2012-2013 influenza (flu) season. Six companies will make the vaccine. According to the CDC, between 5 percent and 20 percent of Americans get the flu each year. This leads to more than 200,000 hospitalizations from related complications. Influenza seasons are unpredictable and can lead to many deaths. The CDC recommends that everyone six months of age and older get a flu shot. The Associated Press wrote about it.
Blood Type Might Be a Clue to Heart Disease Risk A study published this week found that people with blood types A, B, or AB have a slightly higher risk of heart disease than people type O. About 90,000 men and women were included in the study; 4,070 people developed heart disease. Having type A blood increased risk by 8 percent, type B by 11 percent, and type AB by 20 percent. The research did not look at how blood type affects heart disease risk. The findings don't change the advice to stop smoking, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, eat a healthy diet and exercise daily. The Associated Press wrote about it.
J&J Removing Harsh Chemicals from Products by 2015 Johnson & Johnson announced this week that it expects to remove potentially harmful chemicals from its baby products and adult skin care products by 2015. Specifically 1,4 dioxane and the preservative formaldehyde. The company has been under pressure from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to take the chemicals out of their products. The Associated Press wrote about it.
12 States Now Have High Obesity; Mississippi No. 1 New figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week identify 12 states where at least 30 percent of adults are obese. In the last survey, 10 states made the list: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia. The Associated Press wrote about it.
Junk Food Laws May Help Curb Kids' Obesity
A new study finds that state laws that restrict sales of junk food and sugary drinks in schools may help slow childhood obesity. This is the first, large national study to look at this effect. Children who lived in states with strong laws gained less weight from fifth through eighth grades than children who lived in states with no laws regulating school snacks. Also, children who were overweight or obese in fifth grade had a better chance of being at a healthy weight by eighth grade if they lived in states with the strongest laws. The study doesn't prove that the laws influenced kids' weight. But obesity experts and public health officials are optimistic about the findings. The study was released online Monday in the journal Pediatrics. The Associated Press wrote about it.
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.
