| Updated: 10/30/2009 7:35 pm |
Published: 10/30/2009 6:09 pm |
H1N1 Press Conference
The H1N1 virus is now widespread among 48 states. Centers for Disease Control Director Thomas Frieden said some states are seeing a decrease in cases especially in the southeast. But he's not sure if that's a decrease before another wave of illness. The CDC says 114 children have died from H1N1 related causes. Most had underlying medical conditions.
"Children are particularly high priority for prevention and for treatment. This is a younger person's flu. In a usual flu season 90% of deaths are over the age of 65. in H1N1, 90% of the deaths are in people under the age of 65," Frieden said.
So far the Arkansas Department of Health has given out more than 119,000 seasonal and H1N1 flu shots.
Insurance for Children
New research shows kids without insurance who end up in the hospital are 60 percent more likely to die. Doctors looked at 23 million hospital records between 1988 and 2005. They attribute nearly 17,000 deaths during the time period to lack of insurance. Researchers say the 60 percent increased risk is regardless of medical condition. The findings only capture deaths while in the hospital--they don't count children who died after being released.
Exercise at work
Gyms in the workplace help people do better at their desks. Researcher studied 38,000 workers--who had access to gyms set up by their employers. Having a gym just down the hall helped at least some people lose weight. People were more likely to work out if they could do it during the work day not before or afterwards. They were also less likely to call in sick and said exercise relieved stress.
Doctor on Call: colon cleansing
Q: Is colon cleansing safe and are doctors recommending it?
A: Doctor Oksana Melnyk says while there is little scientific evidence to support or refute the benefits of colon cleansing, critics say it's generally unnecessary and at times may even be harmful.
Although doctors prescribe colon cleansing as a preparation for medical procedures - like a colonoscopy, most don't recommend it for detoxification. Their reasoning is simple: the digestive system and bowel naturally eliminate waste material and bacteria.
