Health Buzz: Hundreds Exposed to TB and Other Health News

Patients in Illinois Possibly Exposed to TB

A healthcare worker in Chicago may have unknowingly exposed patients and staff in three hospitals to tuberculosis, the Associated Press reported last week, quoting hospital officials. The worker, a medical resident, had done rotations in three hospitals in the area, possibly exposing 450 people at one institution, 17 at another, and 100 at a third over the past several months. Health officials are taking precautions, including testing those who might have been exposed and possibly giving the most vulnerable—such as infants—preventive antibiotics, ABCNews.com reported. So far, no one has tested positive for the disease.

Earlier this month, researchers said a new antibiotic might shorten by several months the arduous drug regimen currently used to treat TB. U.S. News wrote earlier this year about how to protect your family from bird flu.

Smart Fitness for Grown-Ups

For those who would like to lay the groundwork for a sustainable, lifelong fitness habit, U.S. News is here to help with an easy-to-follow 10-week workout routine designed for grown-ups by Vonda Wright, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine and directs PRIMA: the Performance and Research Initiative for Masters Athletes. The workout program, adapted from her book Fitness After 40: How to Stay Strong at Any Age, will introduce you to the four components of a regular exercise routine, which address flexibility, aerobic fitness, load-carrying exercise, and equilibrium.

Ready to go? Read 11 Tips for the Over-40 Exerciser. And check out one proposal aimed at preventing obesity: a tax on sugared beverages, including nondiet sodas and energy drinks.

Preventing Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, also known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, is a chronic condition that affects 2 to 5 percent of people in the United States. Named to distinguish it from fatty liver disease that occurs in alcoholic patients, NASH involves inflammation or damage to the liver that can be severe and may lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. The disease often goes hand in hand with diabetes. No specific medical therapies exist to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. So doctors' advice on what patients should do after diagnosis and on how to prevent the condition may vary. Here are 5 tips from experts and recent studies for preventing and treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Losing weight, which tops the list of ways to prevent and treat the disease, is difficult. Here are 7 tips to shed pounds, taken from our greatest-hits list.

—Katherine Hobson

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