Personal Health

The FDA notified the public that the use of two prescription medicines used to help smoking cessation, Chantix (varenicline) manufactured by Pfizer Inc or Zyban(bupropionhydrochloride) manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, has been associated with reports of behavior changes including hostility, agitation, depressed mood, and suicidal thoughts or actions. The FDA is requiring the manufacturers of these products, including generic versions of Zyban (bupropion), to add a new Boxed Warning to the product labeling to alert healthcare professionals to this important new safety information.

In anticipation of the warm summer months, the Massachusetts Departments of Children and Families (DCF) and Public Health (DPH) would like to remind families and caregivers with young children of useful summertime safety tips.

Infants, toddlers and young children (ages 0-5 years) depend on adults for their safety. Children this age like to explore, but are not aware of dangers. Three hazards in warmer weather involve falls from windows, water safety, especially around pools, and safety around and in cars. Simple safety steps can prevent injury.

Window Safety

Healthy swimming behaviors play an important role in stopping the spread of illnesses through recreational water, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

"Germs on and in swimmers' bodies end up in the water and can make other people sick," said Dr. Kirk Smith, waterborne disease supervisor for MDH. "Even healthy swimmers can get sick from recreational water illnesses, but the young, elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are especially at risk."

Specific actions you can take to promote healthy swimming include:

NHS Manchester is promoting some top tips for taking care in the hot weather, which is forecast to last for several days.

High temperatures can be dangerous, especially for:

• the elderly,
• the very young, and
• people with chronic or long-term medical conditions.

Dr Sally Bradley, Director of Public Health at NHS Manchester, explains: “Hopefully most of us will enjoy it while it lasts, but the truth is hot weather can be as bad for health as a cold snap.

Scientists are to study a group of proteins that are highly effective at killing bacteria and which could hold the key to developing new types of antibiotics.

Researchers from the Universities of York and Leeds have been awarded ?3.3m from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to find out how a family of proteins known as colicins force their way into bacterial cells before destroying them.

We hope you all have a safe and happy July 4th. While you and your family may chose to add fireworks to the mix, keep these ten firework safety tips in mind:

* Always read and follow all warnings and instructions

* Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.

* Be sure other people are out-of-range before lighting fireworks. Small children should be kept a safe distance from the fireworks; older children that use fireworks need to be carefully supervised.

* Do not smoke when handling any type of "live" firecracker, rocket, or aerial display.

In January, thousands of North Carolinians made resolutions to eat better, get more physical activity and achieve a healthy weight. However, most of those resolutions were abandoned before March. Midway through the year is a great time to get back on course toward achieving those goals.

The Hong Kong Department of Health received notification from Global Medical Solutions (GMS), a medical supply company, about the missing of a pack of iodine-125 seeds when it was transshipped through Hong Kong from Shanghai by China Eastern Airlines on June 23.

It was reported that the package which contained 60 seeds of iodine-125 in two lead containers could not be located when GMS tried to collect the package at the airport for re-export today.

Health Canada is informing Canadian health care professionals and consumers of recent restrictions regarding the use of the prescription drug piroxicam. Health Canada has conducted a safety review and concluded that piroxicam should no longer be used to treat short-term pain and inflammation due to an increased risk of serious skin reactions and gastrointestinal problems relative to other similar drugs.

Piroxicam is a prescription drug in the family known as non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and is used to relieve pain and inflammation.

With the forecasts calling for extreme heat in Indiana this week, Indiana state health officials offer hot weather tips to cope with the rising temperatures.

"Heat advisories should be taken very seriously," said State Health Commissioner Judy Monroe, M.D. "I encourage all Hoosiers to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves during these hot summer days."

To avoid heat related health problems, the Indiana State Department of Health recommends the following:

· Drink plenty of cool water.

· Avoid prolonged exposure to high temperature.