ICY HOT RECALLED---HUNDREDS GET BURNED

Icy Hot Heat Therapy Products Cause Severe Burns, Other Injuries
In early 2008, the Food and Drug Administration announced a nationwide recall of several Icy Hot Heat Therapy Activated Heat products after hundreds of users reported suffering first-, second- and third-degree burns, skin irritation and other injuries after using the products designed to ease muscle and joint pains. Some users reported being injured by the adhesive material used to hold the warming patch on the skin.

The Icy Hot products targeted in the recall were:

Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat - Back

Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat - Arm, Neck, and Leg

Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat - Arm, Neck, and Leg single consumer use "samples" that were issued on a limited basis as a free promotional item in cartons of 3 oz. Aspercreme Pain Relieving Cream.

Most at Risk
While people from all walks of life used and were injured by the recalled Icy Hot Heat Therapy patches, those who were particularly at risk from the products include:

Athletes
The elderly
Arthritis patients
People who experience muscle and/or joint pain

Recall Details
Chattem Inc., which makes and markets Icy Hot Heat Therapy products, voluntarily pulled the skin patches from store shelves in February 2008 after more than 200 people reported being burned by the products. Reports of injuries from the patches starting filing into Chattem and the FDA in 2007, officials said.

Injured By Icy Hot? You May Have Rights
If you or someone you know was injured by an Icy Hot Heat Therapy product, you may have a right to sue the manufacturer for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income and other damages, we sugest you contact a lawyer to get the help you may deserve.

810 CINFIRMED ILL BUT IS IT REALLY THE TOMATOES

As salmonella cases continue to climb, the FDA is checking if tainted tomatoes really are to blame for the record outbreak or if the problem is with another ingredient, or a warehouse that is contaminating newly harvested tomatoes.

The widening outbreak with 810 people confirmed ill means whatever is making people sick could very well still be on the market, federal health officials warned on Friday.

Tomatoes remain the top suspect and the advice on which ones consumers should avoid hasn't changed, stressed Food and Drug Administration food safety chief Dr. David Acheson.

However, he said it is possible that tomatoes being harvested in states considered safe could be picking up salmonella germs in packing sheds, warehouses or other facilities currently under investigation.

Most worrisome, the latest victim became sick on June 15 long after the outbreak began on April 10 and weeks after government warnings stripped supermarkets and restaurants of many tomatoes.

"The source of contamination has been ongoing at least through early June. And we don't have any evidence that whatever the source is, it's been removed from the market," said Dr. Patricia Griffin of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Disease detectives at the CDC in Atlanta are double-checking their own probes just in case some other type of produce is really the culprit.

"We have also kept an open mind about other possibilities and are looking into other ingredients," Griffin said.

She wouldn't identify other potential suspects, except to say that from the beginning some patients have told the CDC they ate raw tomatoes in fresh salsa and guacamole. Officials have previously cleared jarred salsas.

For now, the FDA continues to urge consumers nationwide to avoid raw red plum, red Roma or red round tomatoes unless they were grown in specific states or countries that FDA has cleared of suspicion. Check FDA's Web site — http://www.fda.gov — for an updated list. Also safe are grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached.

But FDA's Acheson made clear that consumers should stay tuned in case that advice changes.

"The facts keep changing here. The outbreak is continuing," he said. "We need to re-examine all parts of this system and make sure that the consumer message is still solid."
FDA inspectors spent the last week chasing the best clues to date in the CSI-like hunt for the outbreak's source — but leads are growing cold.

Inspectors tested for traces of salmonella on farms in southern and central Florida and in three Mexican states, farms suspected to have harvested at least some of the tomatoes involved in the outbreak's earliest weeks. They also are following the path tomatoes took from those farms to packing houses and other distribution stops, testing water supplies and equipment along the way.

So far, "every single one" of 1,700 samples, mostly from farms, has been salmonella-free, a frustrated Acheson said Friday. Hundreds of other samples are still being tested. MUST READ TOMATO RECALL ARTICLES

BURGER KINGS NEW KID'S MEAL--APPLES SHAPPED LIKE FRENCH FRIES

Burger King known for its edgy ads featuring a man with an oversize plastic king mask is launching a new marketing and promotional campaign Monday targeted to moms.

"A large part of our customer base is parents with children," said Russ Klein, president of global strategy, marketing and innovation. "As a parent, the challenge is always trying to get the kinds of things you want to but have some dimension of fun."

The centerpiece of the effort, Klein said, is a new kids' meal featuring a four-ounce serving of Kraft macaroni and cheese, lowfat milk and the company's "Fresh Apple Fries", which are uncooked apple slices shaped like french fries and served with low-fat caramel dipping sauce. The meal will go on sale Monday for $3.49 and will be a permanent fixture on Burger King's menu.

The launch will be followed by an in-restaurant merchandising and television ad campaign, with the first commercial airing July 7. That spot will introduce "Little King" meant to be the masked king's young son.

The company will be offering free samples of its apple fries through July in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and Houston. Burger King will also give away samples at Jonas Brothers concert tour sites. Burger King is an official sponsor of the group's "Burning Up Tour" and will be offering some free tickets to the concerts.

Klein declined to specify the value of the advertising and marketing effort, saying only that the company will spend millions "supporting this vehicle."

Burger King certainly isn't the first fast food restaurant to try to convince moms to listen to the pleas in the backseat for fast food. McDonald's launched a public relations campaign targeted to mothers last year in a bid to neutralize criticism that the company's food is a contributor to childhood obesity.

The McDonald's approach included adding a bevy of healthier menu items to its menu meant to entice both kids and parents, including "Apple Dippers" pre-cut slices of apples similar to the new Burger King version. The chain also started a "mom's quality correspondence" campaign in which six mothers got a behind-the-scenes look at how the chain operates. The moms write about their experience on the company's Web site.

Zack's Investment Research senior analyst Anne Northrup said McDonald's has been "a trailblazer" in changing the perception that fast food is an indulgence that will likely lead to gaining a few extra pounds.

But convincing parents to correlate healthy eating with the home of the Whopper may not so be easy, particularly since Burger King has been lambasted by critics for not switching to trans-fat free oil as fast as some of its competitors. The chain has committed to making the switch in all of its restaurants by the end of the year. Wendy's meanwhile, cut out trans fat oil in August 2006.

Northrup said getting parents to take their families to Burger King may also be dependent on the pace of the chain's remodeling campaign. Burger King has been attempting to turn around its sales partly by renovating its restaurants.

Northrup said a large number of the chain's unit are still more than 30 years old.

"That's a key driver of earnings growth in the next few years," she said.

SCOTT BAIO'S BABY SCARE WHATS THE DIAGNOSIS

Scott Baio’s baby girl Bailey DeLuca tested positive for a potentially fatal disorder called GA-1 just one day after she came home from the hospital last November but Scott Baio tells a Babies Story that the results turned out to be false and he baby is just fine.

Glutaricaciduria I (GA-I) is a rare hereditary metabolic disorder, caused by a deficiency of the enzyme glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase. One of a group of disorders known as "organic acidemias," it is characterized by an enlarged head (macrocephaly), decreased muscle tone (hypotonia), vomiting, and excess acid in the blood. Affected individuals may also have involuntary movements of the trunk and limbs (dystonia or athetosis) and mental retardation may also occur.

Babies with glutaricaciduria I are sometimes mistakenly thought by medical professionals to be abused babies because they present with subdural and/or retinal hemorrhages.

Tests showed Bailey DeLuca, who was premature, might have GA-1, a metabolic disorder that can cause seizures and lead to coma and death. Testing took 10 weeks, and when doctors told the couple Bailey was completely healthy, “we jumped through the ceiling,” Baio said.

TIM RUSSERT'S RAINBOW SEE THE VIDEO OF THIS MIRACAL

At the Tim Russert memorial service in Washington, D.C., the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow was played, and then appearing in the sky was an unusual rainbow in the sky, many believe Tim Russert was smiling down as a huge number of politians, actors and news colleagues paid there respects to the much loved Tim Russert. MORE ABOUT THE TIM RUSSERT BURIAL

TOMATO RECALL THE 2 CHICAGO RETAURANTS THAT SICKENED THE MOST

More than half of the Chicago cases of salmonella linked the tomato recall occurred at two locations of a very popular Mexican restaurant.

CBS 2 chicago reports that of those 383 cases, eleven have been linked to the two Adobo Grill restaurant locations in Chicago; one in Old Town and another in Wicker Park. All eleven people became ill in May.

The Chicago Department of Public Health said, "The restaurant has cooperated fully with the investigation with us, to take steps to ensure that there would be no possibility of any further salmonella spread."

Both Adobo Grill restaurants were open for business Wednesday evening and patrons both dinning on and taking out.

Adobo Grill is known for using fresh ingredients. News the popular eatery was tied to salmonella tainted tomatoes was met with different reactions from those who frequent the restaurant.

One patron said, "When we ate there, I thought the food was very good and I had no problem. Everything was fine. I would go back there again."

The company that operates the restaurants said it was not to blame for the contamination.

Since mid-April, 17 Chicagoans are known to have been made ill by the bacterium believed by federal investigators to be linked to consumption of certain types of raw tomatoes, the release said.

All 17 have recovered fully or are almost fully recovered, CDPH officials said. Most of the illnesses occurred in mid and late May, though several additional cases are awaiting laboratory results that may connect them to the multi-state outbreak.

TOMATO RECALL NYC
TOMATO RECALL SEE THE PICS
MILLIONS AFFECTED

MY FRIDAY NIGHT AT PIZZERIA BLANCO

Chef/owner Chris Bianco created his award-winning pizzas at Pizzeria Bianco. Plan to get to Pizzer Bianco early beat the large crowds or put your name on the waiting list and head next door to Bar Bianco for a glass of wine and appetizer as you wait for your table. Before dinner I recomend the handmade Buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. For dinner, Pizzeria Bianco offers a limited selection of wood-fired pizzas, such as the Rosa, made with red onions, pistachios and Asiago cheese.

I went there on a Friday night showing up at around 6:00pm. I was told the wait would be about 2 hours. Had to wait 3 hours instead. Got some wine and appetizers from the Bar Bianco and hung out for 3 hours.

Pizza is good but not great. But as far as the the title of "best pizza in the US" I wouldn't say it is.

After waiting 3 hours for a pizza, and you are pretty starved, you will tell your mind that the pizza is the "best" that you've ever had. Heck, he could have just served us a microwavable pizza and I'd probably have said it was good because I was starving.

If you have 3-4 hours to burn, and you don't have kids who would probably freak out at the fact that they can't have there pizza as quick as possible , this can be an interesting experience. If you're pressed for time, don't go to the Pizzeria Bianco .

MICHELLE OBAMA STICKING BY HILLARY SEE HER VIEW APPEARANCE

In a special guest appearance on ABC’s much watched “The View” Michelle Obama defended Sen. Hillary Clinton’s view's on sexism playing a role in the presidential primary campaign.

“Yes, there’s always a level of sexism,”

she said. “People are not used to strong women.” Obama credited Clinton for her race and also for breaking down barriers for women.

Michelle Obama appears Wednesday on ABC’s “The View.” (ABC/AP)

“And I think that Hillary Clinton, as she said, has made 18 million cracks on the ceiling and we need to keep pushing it and pushing it.” She went on to give credit to Hillary Clinton for paving the way and making it easier for her young daughters, Sasha and Malia. “She’s taken [the hits] so that when my girls come along they won’t have to fight it as badly,” she said.

Michelle Obama avoided a question on whether or not she thought Hillary Clinton would make a good vice-president for her husband. “The one thing the nominee earns is the right to pick the vice president that best reflects the needs of the country, and I’m just glad I have nothing to do with it.”

Michelle Obama noted that it’s been hard at times to adjust to how much her family has been scrutinized in the presidential campaign. “They really didn’t scrutinize families as much as they do in this race,” she said, referring to her husband’s earlier runs for local office and the U.S. Senate.

LIP GLOSS LINKED TO CANCER

Shiny lip balms and glosses may attract ultraviolet rays and increase the risk of skin cancer, warns a dermatologist at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

Dr. Christine Brown noted that protecting your lips from harmful sun rays is as important as using sunscreen to protect your skin. But a recent study found that less than 25 percent of Americans use some form of lip protection.

Lips are more susceptible than skin to aging from chronic sun damage and also more prone to developing serious cancers.

"When skin cancer occurs on the lower lip, it has the potential to be much more aggressive and metastasize to surrounding lymph nodes," Brown said in a prepared statement.

Shiny balms and glosses don't offer protection. Instead, they attract the sun's rays to the lips.

"What most people don't realize is they're actually increasing light penetration through the lip surface by applying something clear and shiny to them," Brown said.

Women should only wear glossy lipsticks in the sun when they have a layer of sun protection on underneath, dermatologists advise.

Anyone who's planning on being outdoors for more than 20 minutes at a time should use a lip sun block with an SPF of 30. Women should apply it in the morning under any lipsticks or lip glosses and then reapply the sun block throughout the day.


People should check their lips for signs of cancer. Consult a dermatologist if you notice any changes to the color of the lip surface (an area turns opaque or white), or if you have persistent peeling or flaking of a spot on your lip, Brown said.

FIND OUT HOW MUCH HAIR YOUR LOSING:: A 60 SECOND HAIR COUNT

Want to know how much hair you're losing?


Start counting the hairs on your comb, not on your head.


In the June issue of Archives of Dermatology, scientists demonstrate that a so-called "60-second hair count" is a simple and reliable away to get a grip on whether you're balding and, if so, how fast.


The procedure, which can be carried out in the convenience of your own home. "Hair loss is fraught with emotions... Here is a hair count that allows the person to get a handle as to what's going on with their hair," said Dr. Jeffrey Miller, senior author of the study and associate professor of dermatology at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Penn. "With something like the 60-second hair count, you can participate and monitor in an objective fashion what's going on with your hair."


"The reality is that hair loss is incredibly common among men and women. Fifty percent of both genders will have hair loss by the age of 50. That's a big number," added Dr. Doris Day, an attending physician in dermatology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "It affects how you're perceived, your ability to date and climb that corporate ladder."


Both the media and dermatology experts are fond of proclaiming that shedding 100 hairs a day is normal. (That's probably too high, Miller said.) But there is little scientific evidence for that number, which is based on the assumption that the average scalp holds 100,000 hairs, 10 percent of which are at any one time in the telogen, or resting, phase.


Not only do experts not know how much hair loss is normal, they also don't have any standardized way of assessing the amount of hair lost on an average day.


"We keep saying the same things over and over, that it's normal to lose 100 hairs a day," Day said. "The question is, how normal is it and what is normal in terms of hair loss."


The "wash test" involves washing one's hair over a sink five days after the last shampoo, a waiting period some might find objectionable.

A more up-to-date method is the 60-second hair count, used in this study.


Here are instructions on how to perform the count:

Comb your hair for 60 seconds over a pillow or sheet of contrasting color before shampooing. Pull the comb from the back top of the scalp forward to the front of the scalp for 60 seconds. "That 60 seconds allows you to dislodge any of the resting hairs that are supposed to be shed.

Repeat the procedure before three consecutive shampooing sessions, always using the same comb. Count and record the number of hairs in the comb and on the pillow or sheet.

Repeat the procedure every month and discuss results with your dermatologist.

ACL SURGERY WHATS AHEAD FOR TIGER WOODS

Tiger Woods is done for the year, but not without one last major that he said might have been his best ever.

Woods explained why Wednesday when he revealed he will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee that he injured 10 months ago.

He also suffered a double stress fracture of his left tibia two weeks before the U.S. Open, ignoring doctors' advice to take six weeks off to let it heal. And he still won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, going 91 holes over five days on a knee that was getting worse.

"Now, it is clear that the right thing to do is to listen to my doctors, follow through with this surgery and focus my attention on rehabilitating my knee," Woods said on his Web site.


He had arthroscopic surgery April 15 to clean out cartilage in his left knee, bypassing ACL surgery with hopes it could get him through the 2008 season. But the stress fracture and a ligament that could no longer sustain a powerful swing made it impossible to keep going.
Surgery for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries involves reconstructing or repairing the ACL.

ACL reconstruction surgery uses a graft to replace the ligament. The most common grafts are autografts using part of your own body, such as the tendon of the kneecap (patellar tendon) or one of the hamstring tendons. Other good choices include allograft tissue, which is donor material.

In repair surgery, the ends of the torn ligament are sewn back together.
Most ACL surgery is done by reconstructing the ACL because reconstruction gives better results than repair surgery. Repair surgery generally is only used in the case of an avulsion fracture (a separation of the ligament and a piece of the bone from the rest of the bone). In this case, the bone fragment connected to the ACL is reattached to the bone.

ACL surgery is done by making small incisions in the knee and inserting instruments for surgery through these incisions (arthroscopic surgery) or by cutting a large incision in the knee (open surgery).

What To Expect After Surgery
Arthroscopic surgery is often done on an outpatient basis, where you do not spend a night in the hospital. Other surgery may require staying in the hospital for a couple of days.

To care for your incision while it heals, you need to keep it clean and dry and watch for signs of infection.

Physical rehabilitation after ACL surgery may take several months to a year. The length of time until you can return to normal activities or sports is different for every person; it may range from 6 to 12 weeks.

Why It Is Done
The goal of ACL surgery is to restore normal or almost normal stability in the knee and the level of function you had before the knee injury, limit loss of function in the knee, and prevent injury or degeneration to other knee structures.

Not all ACL tears require surgery. You and your health professional will decide whether rehabilitation only or surgery plus rehabilitation is right for you.

WOMEN WHO DRINK COFFE HAVE LOWER DEATH RATE BUT MEN DON'T

Women who drink coffee regularly have lower death rates, a benefit that doesn't appear to accrue to men, a Spanish researcher says.

Lead author Esther Lopez-Garcia and colleagues analyzed data from 84,214 women who participated in the Nurses' Health Study and 41,736 men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

The researchers found women consuming two to three cups of caffeinated coffee per day had a 25 percent lower risk of death from heart disease during the follow-up period which lasted from 1980 to 2004 compared with non drinkers and an 18 percent lower risk of death caused by something other than cancer or heart disease as compared with non-drinkers during follow-up.

For men, this level of consumption was associated with neither a higher nor a lower risk of death during the follow-up period, which lasted from 1986 to 2004.

The findings are published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA GIVEN THUMBS UP / STREET POT STRONGER THAN EVER

Medical use of cannabinoids from marijuana does not cause serious negative medical side effects

, according to Canadian researchers.

Researchers at McGill University Health Centre and McGill University in Montreal and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver said that as the use of cannabinoid medications increases, so do concerns about their potential to cause "adverse events."

Dr. Mark Ware of the McGill University Health Centre said the analysis reported 31 separate clinical studies of cannabinoid medications conducted between 1966 and 2007. Adverse events were categorized as either serious or non-serious; with serious adverse events defined as those leading to death, hospitalization or disability.

"Overall, we found an 86 percent increase in the rate of non-serious adverse events among the patients treated with cannabinoids compared to the patients in the control groups," Ware said in a statement. "The majority of events were mild to moderate in severity."

The majority of non-serious adverse events observed involved dizziness and drowsiness, the researchers said.

The findings were published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS

A federal report said marijuana sold in the United States is at least twice as strong as it was in 1983 and poses a serious risk for teens.

The latest analysis from the University of Mississippi's Potency Monitoring Project said levels of THC the main psychoactive substance in marijuana have reached the highest ever amounts since analysis of the drug began in the late 1970s, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy reported Thursday.

The average amount of THC in recently seized samples was 9.6 percent, compared to an average of just under 4 percent in 1983.

Parents who still think marijuana is a harmless substance need to look at the facts,
John Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy, said in a statement. "Marijuana potency has grown steeply over the past decade, with serious implications in particular for young people, who may be not only at increased risk for various psychological conditions, cognitive deficits and respiratory problems, but are also at significantly higher risk for developing dependency on other drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, than are non-smokers."

The report said higher potency marijuana may be contributing to a growing number of teenagers in treatment for marijuana dependence.

TOMATO RECALL LATEST: NEW YORK CITY GETS POISONED

New York City health officials Wednesday said That there have been six more cases of salmonella poisoning caused by the tainted tomatoes reported in New York City.
They have been added to one previously reported case in New York, The New York Times said.

The new latest cases came as the head of U.S. food safety efforts said it's possible the government will never track down the source of the outbreak. David Acheson, the Food and Drug Administration's "food safety czar," says that's because fresh produce like tomatoes aren't consistently labeled as to origin, and also because the outbreak, which sickened more than 277 people and hospitalized 43, is so widespread.

Sickness blamed on salmonella-tainted tomatoes jumped to 228 cases Friday with six new states added, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The CDC found 61 new cases of Salmonella Saintpaul infection in Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New York, Tennessee and Vermont. That brings to 23 the number of states in which infections have been confirmed since mid-April, CNN reported.

Acheson said that definitively pinning down where the bacteria originated may be impossible because, unlike jars of peanut butter, which were also subjects of an outbreak, individual tomatoes typically don't have information about their origins.

"Off of that jar of peanut butter, you've got the history of that product," Acheson said, adding that even though some U.S. growers voluntarily identify boxes of their products, tracking a suspect batch is very difficult.

The FDA used harvest schedules in a process of elimination to narrow down their suspicions to southern Florida or Mexico. Tomato Recall Whos Not Affected--Tomato Recall What You Need To Know

TIM RUSSERT FUNERAL ARANGEMENTS: WHAT KILLED HIM AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS TRAGEDY

The funeral arrangements for Tim Russert are all set, the much loved and famed political journalist as well as longtime host of NBC's Meet The Press, has been scheduled for Wednesday June 18 at 4:00 pm.

The funeral and memorial service will take place in Washington's Kennedy Center. The funeral services will not be open to the public, but you can watch it on MSNBC.

A wake for Russert will be held Tuesday June 17 at St. Albans School in Washington, while private vigils have been held in Washington and in western New York, where Tim Russert grew up.

Tim Russert, saddly passed away Friday after collapsing at the NBC News Bureau in Washington. The cause of death was coronary embolism, which caused a heart attack.Everyone can benefit from learning about heart health. If you or a loved one is living with a heart condition, or if you want to learn how to prevent heart problems in the future, our topics can give you the information you need.

According to the autopsy, Russert's physician Dr. Michael Newman said that Russert "was known to have asymptomatic coronary artery disease [atherosclerosis], which resulted in hardening of his coronary arteries."

What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease occurs when fatty deposits called plaque (say "plak") build up inside the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries wrap around the heart and supply it with blood and oxygen. When plaque builds up, it narrows the arteries and reduces the amount of blood that gets to your heart. This can lead to serious problems, including heart attack.

Coronary artery disease (also called CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It is also the number one killer of both men and women in the United States.

What causes coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease is caused by hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs when plaque builds up inside the arteries. (Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood throughout your body.) Atherosclerosis can affect any arteries in the body. When it occurs in the arteries that supply blood to the heart, it is called coronary artery disease.

Plaque is a fatty material made up of cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the blood. A healthy artery is like a rubber tube. It is smooth and flexible, and blood flows through it freely. If your heart has to work harder, such as when you exercise, a healthy artery can stretch to let more blood flow to your body’s tissues.

An artery with atherosclerosis is more like a clogged pipe. Plaque narrows the artery and makes it stiff. This limits the flow of blood to the tissues. When the heart has to work harder, the stiff arteries can't flex to let more blood through, and the tissues don't get enough blood and oxygen.


When plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, the heart doesn't get the blood it needs to work well. Over time, this can weaken or damage the heart. If a plaque tears, the body tries to fix the tear by forming a blood clot around it. The clot can block blood flow to the heart and cause a heart attack. See a picture of how plaque causes a heart attack.

What are the symptoms?

Usually people with coronary artery disease don't have symptoms until after age 50. Then they may start to have symptoms at times when the heart is working harder and needs more oxygen, such as during exercise. Typical first symptoms include:

Chest pain, Shortness of breath.

Heart attack. Too often, a heart attack is the first symptom of coronary artery disease.

Some people don't have symptoms. In rare cases, a person can have a “silent” heart attack, without symptoms.

How is coronary artery disease diagnosed?

To diagnose coronary artery disease, doctors start by doing a physical exam and asking questions about your past health and your risk factors. Risk factors are things that increase the chance that you will have coronary artery disease.

Some common risk factors are being older than 65; smoking; having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes; and having heart disease in your family. The more risk factors you have, the more likely it is that you have coronary artery disease.

If your doctor thinks you have coronary artery disease, you may have tests, such as:

Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG), which checks for problems with the electrical activity of your heart.
Chest X-ray.
Blood tests.
Exercise electrocardiogram, commonly called a "stress test." This test checks for changes in your heart while you exercise.

Your doctor may order other tests to look at blood flow to your heart. You may have a coronary angiogram if your doctor is considering a procedure to remove blockages, such as angioplasty or bypass surgery.

How is it treated?

Treatment focuses on taking steps to manage your symptoms and reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke. Some risk factors you can't control, such as your age or family history. Other risks you can control, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Lifestyle changes can help lower your risks. You may also need to take medicines or have a procedure to open your arteries.

Lifestyle changes are the first step for anyone with coronary artery disease. These changes may stop or even reverse coronary artery disease. To improve your heart health:

Don't smoke. This may be the most important thing you can do. Quitting smoking can quickly reduce the risk of heart attack or death.

Eat a heart-healthy diet that includes plenty of fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, high-fiber grains and breads, and olive oil. This is sometimes called a Mediterranean diet. See a dietitian if you need help making better food choices. Get regular exercise on most, preferably all, days of the week. Your doctor can suggest a safe level of exercise for you. Walking is great exercise that most people can do.

Lower your stress level. Stress can damage your heart.
Changing old habits may not be easy, but it is very important to help you live a healthier and longer life. Having a plan can help. Start with small steps. For example, commit to eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Instead of having dessert, take a short walk. When you feel stressed, stop and take some deep breaths.

Medicines may be needed in addition to lifestyle changes.
Medicines that are often prescribed for people with coronary artery disease include:

Statins to help lower cholesterol.
Beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure.
Aspirin or other medicines to reduce the risk of blood clots.
Nitrates to relieve chest pain.
Procedures may be done to improve blood flow to the heart.

Angioplasty is the treatment doctors prefer, because it isn't major surgery. During angioplasty, the doctor guides a thin tube (catheter) into the narrowed artery and inflates a small balloon. This widens the artery to help restore blood flow. Often a small wire-mesh tube called a stent is placed to keep the artery open. The doctor may use a stent that is coated with medicine, called a drug-eluting stent. When the stent is in place, it slowly releases a medicine that prevents the growth of new tissue. This helps keep the artery open.

Bypass surgery may be a better choice in some cases, such as if more than one coronary artery is blocked. It uses healthy blood vessels to create detours around narrowed or blocked arteries. Bypass surgery is usually an open-chest procedure.

What else can you do?
To stay as healthy as possible, it is important to:

See your doctor for regular follow-up appointments. This lets your doctor keep track of your risk factors and adjust your treatment as needed.

Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Do not stop or change medicines without talking to your doctor.

Tell your doctor about any chest pain you have had, even if it went away.
Get the support you need to succeed in making lifestyle changes. Ask family or friends to share a healthy meal or join a stop-smoking program. Or ask your doctor about a cardiac rehab program. In cardiac rehab, a team of health professionals provides education and support to help you make new, healthy habits.

God Bless Tim Russert

FOODS THAT WILL HELP YOU SLEEP

One of the best natural sedatives is tryptophan, an amino acid component of many plant and animal proteins.

Tryptophan is one of the ingredients necessary for the body to make serotonin, the neurotransmitter best known for creating feelings of calm, and for making you sleepy.

However, the trick is to combine foods that have some tryptophan with ample carbohydrate. That’s because in order for insomnia-busting tryptophan to work, it has to make its way to the brain.

Unfortunately, all amino acids compete for transport to the brain. When you add carbs, they cause the release of insulin, which takes the competing amino acids and incorporates them into muscle…but leaves tryptophan alone, so it can make its way to the brain, be converted to serotonin, and cause sleepiness.

Serotonin-producing bedtime snacks should be no more than 200 calories and should be eaten at least 30 minutes prior to bed.

Here are a few great ideas:

Bedtime Snacks for Adults

6-8 oz container of non-fat, flavored yogurt topped with 2 tablespoons low-fat granola cereal
Sliced apple with 1-2 teaspoons natural peanut butter
3 cups low-fat popcorn – sprinkled with optional 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

Bedtime Snacks for Teens

One cup healthy cereal with skim milk
Low-fat granola bar
Scoop of vanilla or strawberry low-fat ice cream

Bedtime Snacks for Children

1/2 cup low-fat vanilla pudding
1/2 banana with 1-2 teaspoons peanut butter
One cup skim milk with a bunch of grapes (or other fruit)

What not to eat/drink before bed

Caffeine - It should be obvious, but you should avoid caffeinated drinks and foods - coffee, tea, many soft drinks, and chocolate - several hours before bed. Caffeine is a natural chemical that activates the central nervous system, which means that it revs up nerves and thought processes. For people who are sensitive to caffeine, that excitation is not pleasant, making them feel jittery and slightly ill. If you drink caffeinated drinks too close to bedtime, chances are it will keep you awake. Of course, what "too close" means is totally individual. Sensitive people should stop drinking caffeine at least eight hours before bedtime (that means by 3 p.m., if you hit the sack at 11 p.m.). You can play with your particular timing...just don't experiment on a night when you absolutely must get a good night's sleep.

Alcohol - Although many people use alcohol to help them relax before bed, the effects can wear off, so they wake up in the middle of the night. Over time, alcohol-induced sleep becomes less restful, so sleepiness will become a constant fact of life. I'm not saying you need to give up alcohol, but don't use it like a sleeping pill; and if you have insomnia, I strongly recommend omitting alcohol for a few weeks to see if your sleep problem resolves.

Large Meals - Eating a huge dinner, or even a large before-bedtime snack, may make you feel drowsy, but the sleep won't necessarily take. When you lie down and try to sleep, your digestion will slow down, make you feel uncomfortable, and possibly keep you awake. I recommend eating a dinner that has no more than 600 calories (and optimally at least three hours before bed).

Stop liquids 90 minutes prior to bed - The single best piece of advice I can give to those of you who wake up in the middle of the night to visit the bathroom is to not drink water or fluids within 90 minutes of bedtime. It takes that long for your body to process liquid of any type. If you must drink to take medication, take a small sip. If the medication requires a full glass of water, take it earlier in the evening if possible

FDA ISSUES WARNING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF SILVER FILLINGS

Your silver dental fillings contain mercury, and the government is warning that your silver fillings may pose a safety concern for pregnant women as well as young children. The Food and Drug Administration posted the precaution on its Web site earlier this month, to settle a lawsuit making the move a victory for anti-mercury activists.

The warning is not aimed at the worlds population, only at two groups already urged to limit mercury from another source seafood because too much can harm a developing brain.

The fillings, also known as dental amalgams, "contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses," reads the FDA Web posting.

But the FDA isn't saying you should rush out and start yanking them fillings...not yet at least.

The agency still is studying whether the small amount of mercury vapor released by chewing and brushing is enough to cause neurologic disorders or other problems in youngsters. There have been only a handful of rigorous studies comparing children given either amalgam fillings or tooth-colored resin composite fillings that are mercury-free — and those studies haven't detected any brain problems.

Nor has that research settled the long-simmering scientific controversy. Two years ago, the FDA's own independent scientific advisers said that while amalgam fillings were safe for most people, more research was needed about potential effects on fetuses and children under 6.

And earlier this year, the FDA put dentists on notice that it is considering additional controls, including whether to require warnings that would advise consumers of the mercury in amalgams before they have a cavity filled, or perhaps even restrict use in small children and certain other patients. It is accepting public comments until July 28.

"It's an open question what we will do," FDA Deputy Commissioner Randall Lutter told The Associated Press. But, "what this says is there's a clear intent on our part on labeling for sensitive subpopulations."

Expect a final ruling by July 28, 2009, a date set by that legal settlement.

"It's a watershed moment," said Michael Bender of the Mercury Policy Project, who with other advocacy groups had sued the FDA in hopes of forcing restrictions on amalgams.

Amalgam fillings are about 50 percent mercury, joined with silver, copper and tin. The hardened mixture makes the mercury less absorbable by the body than the kind found in fish.

Used since the 1800s, amalgams' popularity already is dropping. They account for about 30 percent of U.S. fillings, still millions of people a year.

They're cheaper than alternatives — roughly $100 for an amalgam filling versus $150 or more for a composite, and they're known as particularly durable.


For 99 percent-plus of people, there probably isn't harm. But if there is a group of people who might be at risk, they should at least have the knowledge that may be so.

Several other countries limit amalgams, either as a precaution in pregnant women and small children or because of environmental concern. Dental workers make amalgam fillings by mixing liquid mercury with powdered ingredients, requiring special safety steps and filters to limit waste seeping back into the environment.

TOMATO RECALL WHOS NOT AFFECTED SEE THE PICS OF THE INFECTED TOMATOES

The Food and Drug Administration has just expanded its warning to all consumers nationwide that a salmonellosis outbreak has been linked to consumption of certain raw, red tomatoes. As I have reported yesterday, here's what you need to know about the Tomatoe recall.

The FDA is advising consumers to limit their consumption of tomatoes to the following types of tomatoes. The following types of tomatoes listed below are NOT likely to be the source of this outbreak.

cherry tomatoes
grape tomatoes
tomatoes sold with the vine still attached
tomatoes grown at home

FDA recommends consuming raw red plum, raw red Roma, or raw round red tomatoes grown and harvested only from the following areas that HAVE NOT BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE OUTBREAK:

Alabama
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Delaware
Florida (counties of: Jackson, Gadsden, Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Suwannee, Hamilton, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, Hardee, DeSoto, Sarasota, Highlands, Pasco, Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, Charlotte)*
Georgia
Hawaii
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Minnesota
Mississippi
New Jersey
New York
Nebraska
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
West Virginia
Wisconsin

Belgium
Canada
Dominican Republic
Guatemala
Israel
Netherlands
Puerto Rico

Shipments of tomatoes harvested in these counties are acceptable with a certificate issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Consumers who are unsure of where the tomatoes are from that they have in their home are encouraged to contact the store or place of purchase for that information.

Consumers should also be aware that raw tomatoes are often used in the preparation of fresh salsa, guacamole, and pico de gallo, are part of fillings for tortillas, and are used in other dishes.

Restaurants, grocery stores, and food service operators have been advised by the FDA not to offer for sale or service raw red plum, Roma, or red tomatoes and products made from these types of tomatoes unless they are from one of the areas listed above.

Since mid April, there have been 167 reported cases of salmonellosis nationwide caused by Salmonella Saintpaul, an uncommon form of Salmonella. At least 23 hospitalizations have been reported.


Red Plum/Red Roma tomatoes implicated in outbreak


Round red tomato implicated
in outbreak
MORE ABOUT THE TOMATO RECALL

TOMATO RECALL AFFECTING MILLIONS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Federal officials are searching for the source of a 17-state salmonella outbreak linked to three types of raw tomatoes, while the list of supermarkets and restaurants pulling those varieties from shelves and menus keep growing.


McDonald's, Wal-Mart, Burger King, Kroger, Outback Steakhouse, Winn-Dixie and Taco Bell were among the companies that voluntarily withdrew red plum, red Roma or round red tomatoes.

Aso, federal officials at the Los Angeles Unified School District the nation's second largest said Monday they have suspended serving uncooked tomatoes.

The FDA is investigating the source of the Tomato outbreak, The FDA went on to say "We are working hard and fast on this one and hope to have something as quickly as possible," .

Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached and homegrown tomatoes are likely not the source of the outbreak, federal officials said.

Also not affecting the outbreak are raw red Roma, red plum and round red tomatoes from Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands and Puerto Rico.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that since mid-April, 167 people infected with salmonella with the same "genetic fingerprint" have been identified. At least 23 people have been hospitalized.

A 67-year-old cancer patient in Texas at a Mexican restaurant is believed to be the first death associated with the outbreak.

Raul Rivera died last week and the salmonella strain was a contributing factor.

Rivera's wife said he was hospitalized after eating pico de gallo, a tomato-based condiment.

Salmonella is a bacteria that lives in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals. The bacteria are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.

The salmonella causing the outbreak is a very unusual type called salmonella saintpaul, said FDA Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach, who added it was not more virulent than other types of salmonella.

Salmonella symptoms begin with nausea and vomiting and progress to abdominal pains and diarrhea. Additional signs and symptoms include fever, chills and muscle pains, and can last anywhere from several days to two weeks.

People with salmonella-induced bacteremia may show few symptoms; however, fever can be present. If you have intestinal salmonella and you have a healthy immune system, you may not seem ill or show signs or symptoms. However, you may continue to shed the bacteria in your feces and remain contagious for up to a year.

You can contract salmonella infection by touching or ingesting anything contaminated with salmonella bacteria. Reservoirs for the microorganism include pet reptiles, dogs and cats, pigs and cattle, infected humans, contaminated water, raw dairy products and chicken eggs. Salmonella can survive for months in water, ice, sewage and frozen meat.

Most frequently, humans come in contact with salmonella through food sources such as contaminated poultry, meat, eggs and egg products.

McDonald's, the world's largest hamburger chain, stopped serving sliced tomatoes on its sandwiches, but will continue serving grape tomatoes in its salads because no problems have been linked to that variety.

The simplest way to diagnose salmonella infection is to isolate the bacteria in a stool or other culture. Typically, your doctor will ask for a stool sample and send it to a laboratory, where a technician will try to grow and identify the infectious organism under a microscope.

Although salmonella infection elsewhere in your body isn't always present in your bloodstream, a blood culture might help identify certain types of bacteria and rule out other pathogens

CONTROL YOUR DIABETES WITH PROPER TOOTH AND GUM CARE

People with type 2 diabetes can help control the disease by taking better care of their teeth and gums.

That's the case dentists were expected to make at the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting in San Francisco this weekend.


"Several recent studies have shown that having periodontal disease makes those with type 2 diabetes more likely to develop worsened glycemic control, and puts them at much greater risk of end-stage kidney disease and death," George W. Taylor, an associate professor of dentistry at the University of Michigan schools of Dentistry and Public Health, said in a prepared statement. "Given the numerous medical studies showing that good glycemic control results in reduced development and progression of diabetes complications, we believe there is the potential that periodontal treatment can provide an increment in diabetes control and subsequently a reduction in the risk for diabetes complications," he said.


Intensive periodontitis intervention, for example, can significantly lower one's levels of A1C, a measure of long-term glucose control.


"We have found evidence that the severity of periodontal disease is associated with higher levels of insulin resistance, often a precursor of type 2 diabetes, as well as with higher levels of A1C," dentist Maria E. Ryan, director of clinical research at the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine in New York, said in a prepared statement.


Periodontal, or gum, disease is an infection and chronic inflammatory disease of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. As it is painless, most people don't know they have it, yet it is a major cause of tooth loss in adults.


A set of studies of the Pima Indians in the Southwest, a population with a very high rate of type 2 diabetes. One found those with periodontitis were more than four times as likely to develop worsened glycemic control; another showed that those with severe gum disease had more than triple the risk of dying from diabetic nephropathy or ischemic heart disease than those with less severe periodontal disease.
A study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, that found a "statistically significant reduction" in A1C levels in people with type 2 diabetes after 15 months after routine periodontal treatment, Taylor said.

"When glycemia has been difficult to control, the physician might consider asking patients when they last saw their dentist, whether periodontitis has been diagnosed and, if so, whether treatment has been completed," Ryan said. "A consultation with the dentist may be appropriate, to discuss whether periodontal treatment has been successful or whether a more intensive approach with oral or sub-antimicrobial antibiotics is in order because, just as it is difficult to control diabetes while the patient has an infected leg ulcer, the same applies when there's infection and inflammation of the gums."

ASTHMA TRIGGERS THE WHY HOW WHEN AND WHERE

What are asthma triggers?

An asthma trigger is a factor that can decrease lung function and lead to sudden difficulty breathing and other symptoms of an asthma attack. When you are around a trigger, you are at increased risk for an asthma attack. A severe attack may mean you have to go to the hospital.

Some triggers are substances you may be allergic to (allergens). These triggers may include:

House dust mites.
Cockroaches.
Animal dander.
Indoor mold.
Pollen.

Other triggers are not allergens—they can cause asthma symptoms, but you are not allergic to them. These include:

Cigarette smoke and air pollution.
Upper respiratory infections such as colds, influenza (flu), and sinusitis.
Exercise. Many people with asthma have symptoms when they exercise.
Dry, cold air.
Medications, such as aspirin.

In adults, hormones, including those involved in pregnancy and menstrual periods. Your symptoms may change just before or during periods.


Identifying asthma triggers helps you know what increases your asthma symptoms. If you avoid triggers, you may be able to:

Avoid an asthma attack altogether.

Reduce the length and severity of an asthma attack.

How to identify asthma triggers

Identify possible asthma triggers. A trigger is anything that can lead to an asthma attack. When you are around something that triggers your symptoms, keep track of it. This can help you find a pattern in what triggers your symptoms. Record triggers on a piece of paper or in your asthma diary.

Monitor your lung function. A trigger may not always cause symptoms. However, it can still narrow your bronchial tubes, making your lungs work harder. To identify triggers that do not always cause immediate symptoms, measure your peak expiratory flow (PEF) throughout the day. PEF will drop when your bronchial tubes narrow, so your PEF will drop when you are near things that trigger symptoms. Measure your PEF when you are around the common irritants.

Be tested for allergies. Skin or blood testing may be used to diagnose allergies to certain substances. Skin testing involves pricking the skin on your back or arms with one or more small doses of specific allergens. The amount of swelling and redness at the sites where your skin was pricked are measured to identify allergens to which you react. If your PEF drops when you are near an allergen, consider being tested for this allergen.

Share your trigger record with your health professional. After you have found some things that may trigger your asthma, you and your health professional can devise a plan for how to deal with them. ASTHMA LEADS TO SUICIDE

ASTHMA FOUND TO INCREASE THE RISK OF SUICIDE

People with asthma may be at increased risk for suicidal thoughts with attempted suicide, but not for suicidal thoughts without suicide attempts, according to a U.S. study.


Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in Baltimore analyzed data on 5,692 people, aged 18 and older, from the U.S. National Comorbidity Survey Replication.


They found that about 12 percent had a history of asthma. Estimates of lifetime prevalence for suicidal thoughts and attempts without and with asthma were 8.7 percent, 4.2 percent and 12 percent, respectively, and occurred more frequently in women than in men.


Cigarette smoking and concurrent mental health conditions may independently account for a large part, but not all, of the association between asthma and suicidal thoughts with attempts, said the study authors.


After they adjusted for cigarette smoking, concurrent mental health conditions and common sociodemographic factors, they found there was still a significant association between asthma and suicide thoughts and attempts.


"Researchers have speculated that the relationship between asthma and suicidal behaviors is possibly because of ensuring mood and anxiety that results from disability and discomfort associated with asthma, which can be a lifelong disease," the study authors wrote. "Individuals might have frequent thoughts of death with increasing severity solely because they have a potentially life-threatening illness."


The findings suggest that people with asthma who express suicidal thoughts should be referred to mental health services.