H1N1 Threat Isn't Over Yet, Government Warns
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned yesterday that the H1N1 flu virus is still causing illness and that another wave of infections and deaths could be ahead, according to CNN. In fact, most cases of flu diagnosed now are H1N1 because seasonal flu is not widely circulating yet, according to the New York Times. The CDC says H1N1 vaccine is widely available; at least 60 million Americans have been vaccinated against H1N1, and 136 million more doses are available, the Times reports. Vaccines are available at pharmacies, retail clinics, doctor's offices, and school and community clinics. People of all ages can now get vaccinated in most states, even if they do not fall into one of the special-risk categories used to ration the vaccine when it was in short supply, the Times reports. The Department of Health and Human Services' Flu.gov can help locate seasonal and H1N1 shots in your area.
[Read 7 Swine Flu Facts You Need to Know Now and Sick With H1N1? 6 Ways to Keep From Infecting Friends and Family.] [Slide Show: 10 Do's and Don'ts to Protect Yourself From Swine Flu.]
Assessing Children's Risk of Early-Onset Diabetes
Scientists have been trying to figure how the big spike in obesity among children will affect their health as adults, U.S. News contributor Nancy Shute reports. Evidence has been building that having what's called metabolic syndrome—a cluster of symptoms that include high blood pressure, low "good" cholesterol, abdominal obesity, high fasting glucose, and high triglycerides—vastly increases the risk of early heart disease and diabetes. But metabolic syndrome is hard to identify in kids, and last year the nation's cardiologists said children shouldn't be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, because the odds of progressing to diabetes or heart disease later in life weren't known.
New research, published in Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, might change that situation. Researchers used existing surveys to track the health of girls from age 9 into adulthood, up to age 39. They found that children with blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) in the highest 20 percent were more likely to have type 2 diabetes by age 39. Other factors also increased the risk. Read more.
[Read How to Protect Your Kids Against Metabolic Syndrome and New Item on the School Cafeteria Menu: a Calorie Limit?]
The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook: Have Your Baked Goods and Eat Them, Too
Food allergies are on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And for the 4 to 8 percent of kids and 2 percent of adults who have them, life can be challenging because it's tough to eliminate common allergens from your diet. A new cookbook by food writer Cybele Pascal, The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook (Celestial Arts), aims to help these folks enjoy cake, cookies, biscuits, and cobblers—without experiencing an allergic reaction. Published this month, the book offers 100 recipes that use substitutes for foods that commonly cause allergic reactions: cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soybeans, and wheat. U.S. News talked with Pascal about her approach.
[Read Smart Ways to Manage Kids' Food Allergies, How to Control Peanut Allergy in Children, and Preventing Food Allergy—Is It Possible? ]
Other Popular Articles From USNews.com
- Can't Sleep? Why Insomnia Shouldn't Be Ignored
- 10 Ways to Get Better Sleep (and Maybe Cure Your Insomnia)
- 10 Reasons Not to Skimp on Sleep
- 5 Risks Linked to Diabetes Medications
- 7 Steps Newly Diagnosed Diabetics Should Take
- 6 Ways to Reduce Inflammation Without Taking a Statin
- Need Care? Scan the Rankings: Best Nursing Homes, Best Health Plans, and Best Hospitals.
Reader Comments