Health Buzz: First Face Transplant in U.S. and Other Health News
Nation's First Face Transplant Performed in Cleveland
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic performed the nation's first near-total face transplant on a woman so disfigured she was willing to risk her life to get the procedure, the Associated Press reports. Surgeons replaced about 80 percent of the woman's face with portions of the face from a female cadaver. The clinic did not release the patient's name, age, or reason for her transplant, but more information is expected to be provided today during a news conference. This is the fourth face transplantation performed; two such procedures were previously done in France, and one was performed in China. Face transplants are the subject of much ethical debate because they are done to improve quality of life rather than to extend life—which is the reason for transplants of the heart or liver, for example. Transplantation patients are at risk of deadly complications and must take immune-suppressing medications for the rest of their lives in order to prevent rejection of the transplanted tissues, the AP reports.
Author Amy Silverstein described her life after a heart transplant at age 25 in a book excerpt published by U.S. News last year. She later received an award for her story.
Why You Should Get Fit in the New Year
Unless you live in Burlington, Vt., the nation's healthiest city, where 92 percent of residents report good health, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you may need a reason to get moving in the new year. The national initiative known as Healthy People 2010 established goals for physical activity, among other health behaviors. Nationwide, 49 percent of adults met its physical activity criteria in 2007, the latest year for which data are available. Recently updated, the initiative now calls for adults to get 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five times per week or at least 75 minutes of vigorous activity (running as opposed to speed walking, for example) per week. That means the majority of Americans aren't being as active as they should be. U.S. News lists America's 10 fittest cities—and the 10 least fit, too.
Ready to get in shape? Read these seven tips on meeting Uncle Sam's fitness guidelines. The surgeon general and other groups have long offered a similar basic prescription for exercise.
U.S. News Lists the Smokiest Cities in the United States
On the heels of Monday's Supreme Court decision that even "light" cigarettes pose severe health risks and that smokers can sue tobacco companies for advertising otherwise, U.S. News brings you a list of 10 metropolitan areas where smoking rates remain high and another list of 10 cities where few people smoke. If you're a nonsmoker living in a smoky city, you've got reason to be concerned about secondhand smoke. Maybe you can get your neighbors to quit by sharing 12 Reasons to Really Quit Smoking and these tips on how to quit.
U.S. News also provides advice on why cigarettes are bad for you and offers tips on how to quit smoking. And Sarah Baldauf shares the secrets of successful quitters.
—January W. Payne
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