ABC 4: Health News

Overcoming addiction

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:08:58 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Dr. Matt Anderson and Michael Desjardins share some advice for helping overcome addiction. Both work at Next Step Detox in Orem. They appeared on Good Morning Utah.

http://www.nexstepdetox.com/

Helping kids not be afraid of the dentist

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:14:11 -0700

It's indoor allergy season!

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:49:33 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) -The trees are not pollinating, and you can't see anything in bloom, but it's what you aren't seeing in your house that could be causing allergies.

Dr. Douglas Jones, from Rocky Mountain Allergy, says it’s the height of indoor allergy season. "There’s no pollen but we definitely see the mold, dust mites, cats dogs all of the indoor type allergies.”

Dust mites like the humidity some furnaces provide, and they also like warm temperatures. They thrive in bed sheets and pillows, and other areas of the home when it's above seventy degrees. They don't bite, but will cause you to wheeze. To get rid of dust mites Dr. Jones says wash bedding in hot water every seven to ten days. He says other indoor allergens may be valued members of the family. “During this time of year cat dander, dog dander, definitely go up because even though it's warmer, we are not opening our houses up like we do in the summer.” He says all that dander builds up.

Dr. Jones says the inversion, and wood burning stoves also contribute. Some people may not even know they have an allergy because it is cold season after all. He says you know you have an allergy if your runny nose and watery eyes just won’t go away. "The allergies will persist"

If you do have allergies Dr. Jones says it sets you up for more illnesses. "You are going to have an underlying inflammation and it just sets you up to be more prone to the virus and the bacteria."

Survey shows Utah kids' teeth getting healthier

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:25:19 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Officials say more Utah children have healthy pearly whites compared with five years ago.

A Utah Department of Health survey found dental decay fell from 55 percent in 2005, to 51 percent in 2010, among children ages 6 to 8.

The survey also shows untreated decay affected 21 percent of children in 2005, but 17 percent in 2010.

Still, 2 percent of children screened had extensive tooth decay, infection or pain.

State Dental Director Dr. Steven Steed says that means more than 2,600 children in first, second and third grades are in urgent need of dental care.

The survey shows poverty and lack of dental insurance are among the top reasons for children suffering dental problems.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Heart health

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:52:16 -0700

What motivates someone to kill their own children?

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:13:03 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – Many are asking how Josh Powell could intentionally take the lives of his own children. Psychologists say that type of murder suicide is rare.

The only clues left behind by Josh Powell were the messages saying he couldn't live without his children. Chuck Cox says Josh was desperate. "He's disturbed. The act that he did was cowardly. He murdered two innocent grandchildren."

Research into familicide shows that when someone kills their children before committing suicide, it is more likely to be motivated by their intent to kill themselves, than it is about killing their children.

Dr. Donald Strassberg, from the University of Utah Clinical Psychology Department, says many feel they are doing their children a favor by not leaving them behind. "Of those that do it, many of them, they actually believe that their kids will be better off, that their kids being in heaven, or out of the troubles of this world does bring thoughts that they are doing their kids some kind of favor.”

Several studies confirm a majority of parents who murdered their children did so out of the belief their children's suffering would end if they died. Men are more likely to kill their children in a murder suicide than women, and most of the offenders exhibited emotional problems, depression, and difficulty coping with everyday activities. They were also more likely to exhibit possessive, obsessive, or jealous behavior.

Josh Powell was at the heart of the investigation into the disappearance of his wife, the courts appeared to be in the process of taking his children away, and questionable images were found on his computer. He was ordered to undergo a psychosexual evaluation that included a lie detector test.

Strassberg says the pressure on Josh was building. “I could imagine somebody being that overwhelmed by all of this attention, and everything happening to him to decide that he didn't want to deal with it anymore. Unfortunately, we will never know the answer to what triggered this, but obviously it is terribly sad that he decided to take not only his own life, but the lives of his children as well.”

What is a psychosexual evaluation?

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:09:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – Last Wednesday Josh Powell was ordered to undergo a psychosexual evaluation during a custody hearing in Washington. Experts say it’s an invasive test reserved for extreme cases.

Jeff Bassett, Josh Powell’s attorney strongly refuted the latest evidence presented against him February 1, 2012. "He denies ever looking at any kiddie porn, he denies any knowledge of any of these images that have purportedly been take off of his computer."

Those images were unlocked by West Valley Police, and when presented, were enough for a doctor to order a psychosexual evaluation. Salt Lake City legal expert Greg Skordas says it's an unusual order in a custody battle. "It means that judge was concerned about something that he had done, something that he had said, or something they found at his house that led them to think he was a sexual predator."

Donald Strassberg, PhD, is a University of Utah Professor of Clinical Psychology. He says the psychosexual evaluation includes personality tests, and very specific questioning. “You are looking at their sexual histories, asking them basically about their sexual behavior growing up and their family as adolescents, and as adults."

He says psychosexual evaluations are typically restricted to those known to have committed a crime. “It’s pretty much restricted to the evaluation of men who are known, or suspected, to have committed some kind of sexual violence, child molestation, rape or some kind of sexual offense.”

The evaluation includes physical testing. “The unique aspect of the psychosexual evaluation involves trying to find what kind of stimuli, what kind of circumstances are they most sexually interested in- so while the person is being exposed to the sexual stimuli, their arousal level is being accessed."

The PPG test ordered for Josh Powell is also accompanied by a lie detector test. Josh had refused to take polygraph tests in the past. Dr. Strassberg says it’s another tool used l to get information from someone who may not want to be forthcoming. "That too is unusual in custody cases, but it's yet one other way to try to get at the truth."

Dr. Strassberg says neither of the tests is infallible but do help create a portrait of the person being evaluated. “The psychosexual evaluation is designed to try to understand someone's sexual personality what they are like as a sexual being."

Strassberg says this type of evaluation is not common, but alone, would not normally be enough to cause someone to commit a murder suicide. He says, however, that the stressors on Josh Powell, especially the possibility of losing his children, were intense.

Stacy Drew, our school nurse talks about prescription drug abuse in kids

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:42:20 -0700

Bill pushes for parents to accompany teens at tanning salons

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:11:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Parents could soon be required to go with their under-18 teenagers to tanning salons if a bill introduced in the Senate ends up becoming law.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted 4-1 to pass Senate Bill 41 (SB41) after hearing testimony from melanoma survivors and doctors.

Advocates of the bill believe the legislation could save lives and reduce the number of melanoma diagnoses.  MaryAnn Gerber testified in front of the committee this week. Gerber knows first-hand what it's like to suffer from the long-term effects of tanning. She was diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 24, after she discovered a facial mole. Gerber started tanning when she was a young teenager. She thought it made her look pretty and never realized it was causing her harm. "At the highest point of my tanning, I was going about three times a week," says Gerber.

Gerber had the mole removed along with lymph nodes in her neck. She describes it as a painful process that required a lot of facial reconstruction. It wasn't until her doctor told Gerber her life could be in danger, that she was faced with her own mortality. "I was concerned about my scar, and my doctor just said I'm not here to talk to about your scar, I'm here to save your life!"

Melanoma is the second highest cause of cancer among 15-29 year olds in Utah, according to the World Health Organization. The state also ranks fourth in the nation for melanoma cases per capita. Doctors are seeing melanoma cases at an alarming rate.   "Never before have I seen in my practice so many young people, especially young women, coming in and havnig a life threatening diagnosis," says Sancy Leachman, Director of the Melanoma Program at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

According to Gerber, education is key when it comes to preventing all forms of skin cancer. She is part of an outreach group known as "Sole Survivors" and travels to schools to share her message.  She believes that early detection and recommended skin checks will save people's lives. "The first time you save your life, it will be you. If someone else notices something, it's probably too late."

SB41 will go before the full Senate for a vote.

Utah among states included in Michael Foods egg recall

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:19:00 -0700

MINNETONKA, Minn. (AP) - Michael Foods, of Minnetonka, Minn., is recalling hard-cooked eggs in brine sold in 10- and 25-pound pails to food distributors and manufacturers for institutional use in 34 states, including:

Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

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U.S. Food and Drug Administration recall: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm289920.htm

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Are French parents better than Americans?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:34:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A new book raises the question over whether French parents have a better method for raising children than Americans.

The book and issues are recently discussed in an ABC News story which aired on Good Morning America.

The book in question is called "Bringing Up Bebe" by Pamela Druckerman.

The book suggests that French parents feed their children healthier meals and are less lenient, unlike American parents who accommodate their children, who grow up with a greater sense of entitlement, A.K.A. "spoiled."

To read more from the ABC News story, click here.

Also see video of the GMA segment below:

video platform video management video solutions video player

Possible health issues from high heeled shoes

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:42:30 -0700

Men with unhealthy egos may create unhealthy bodies

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:46:03 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News)- Psychologists would say a positive self image is important, but now it appears men who are really full of themselves could be hurting their health.

A study conducted by the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia shows narcissism can lead to unhealthy levels of the hormone cortisol in men.

Ashley McMullin is a University of Utah student and says she knows men who meet the definition. "They are really into themselves and they care more about themselves than other people.”

The research shows men who are narcissistic may not like what it's doing to them. The study of 106 undergraduate students shows it leads to the production of high levels of cortisol. University of Utah endocrinologist, Wayne Meikle explains it is a hormone important for survival. "Cortisol is a major hormone that is made by the adrenal gland and it's important for us for survival, for maintaining glucose levels, and responding to stress, and also it has anti-inflammatory action"

But too much of it can lead to high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, and more abdominal fat.

Dr. Meikle says everyone releases cortisol when in stressful situations, but according to the study narcissistic men release it even when they aren’t stressed. The same reaction was not found in the women.

The possibility of obesity and heart attacks has some men taking the new research to heart.

Benny Hienrichs, a student at the U of U says "I’m going to need ego suction."

Staggering reasons for teen pregnancy in Utah

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:12:59 -0700

We all know teen pregnancy happens, but the reasons for it happening in Utah may surprise you.

According to research by the Centers for Disease Control, of the teens that got pregnant in our state, 53% were not using protection. 49% of the girls thought they could not get pregnant, while 24% thought their partner was sterile. That number is three times higher than the national average.

Utah teens we talked with said those reasons make no sense to them.

“you shouldn't have the excuse of I didn't know because you learn about it growing up and you should know," said 17 year old Fiona Morrison.

Morrison’s friend agreed. "I mean 17 is really old I mean where you should know about that, and if you don't know obviously it has something to do with you being too sheltered or something like that," Bradley Lewis said.

The pregnant teens interviewed did not receive follow up questions, so we don't know why they believed what they did.

Old eye surgery proved as effective as new Lasik technique

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:49:32 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Lasik surgery is considered one of the most important advances in the last century, but now some say people with vision problems should take a second look at an older technology, PRK.

Both surgeries correct several vision problems including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, but 33-percent of people who would like to have Lasik don't qualify for the procedure because of their eye shape, or prescription strength. PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) could still be an option for them, and now it's been proven to be equally safe and effective.

During Lasik surgery, a laser is used to create a flap in the outer cornea tissue. A laser is then used to reshape the deeper cornea tissue. It all takes place in a matter of seconds. The flap is then folded back over, and healing, and new vision happens in just hours. Majid Moshirfar, M.D., F.A.C.S, from the Moran Eye Center, says the speed of recovery makes Lasik a popular choice, but it’s not the only choice.

PRK was developed decades ago. There's no corneal flap to act as a natural band aid. Special contacts are used for about five days to protect the eye and facilitate healing. Dr. Moshirfar says it wasn't very popular. "Surgeons didn't like it, and patients had a lot pain with it, but now you have to understand, that a lot of patients get PRK and the pain is negligible and the healing is reasonable."

So doctors at Moran Eye Center wanted to know which was safer, and if they are equally effective. Unlike past studies with two study groups, this time researchers used two eyes, in the same people. "One eye got PRK and one got Lasik."

They tested the patients for vision, and the eyes for scarring, and what they found three months after the study was good news for anyone who doesn’t qualify for Lasik but is still interested in permanently losing their glasses. "You really cannot find a big difference between the PRK eyes versus the Lasik eye."

Dr. Moshirfar says the scarring and vision problems patients with PRK complained about in the past are no longer an issue thanks to new and better lasers, better medications and better protective contact lenses. Dr. Moshirfar says the research opens up better vision to more people.

Governor announcing plan to improve air quality

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:41:00 -0700

JOSH LOFTIN
Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Gov. Gary Herbert is launching a new initiative to improve air quality in the state's urban areas.

Herbert will provide details of the initiative Tuesday during a news conference at a Salt Lake City natural gas plant. He first announced the effort during last week's State of the State speech.

Herbert says he will include businesses, clean-air activists and government officials in his plan.

Utah has struggled with increasingly polluted air, especially when smog gets trapped in the heavily-populated northern valleys during winter. Federal regulators say the state must adopt preventive measures or face penalties.

Last month, a group of doctors, mothers and other activists filed a lawsuit to prevent the expansion of a copper mine in the Salt Lake valley because of pollution concerns.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Salt Lake County Health Department launching new public reporting system

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:45:24 -0700

Demi's collapse may have been caused by smoking Spice

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:39:52 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Synthetic cannabis is used by teens and adults. Now it appears it may be behind actress Demi Moore’s collapse and convulsions.

49-year-old Moore was semiconscious when a friend called 911. The caller said “She smoked something --- it’s not marijuana, but it’s similar to incense.”

University of Utah Neurologist, Dr. Adam de Havenon, began studying the impact of Spice on the brain after drawing a connection between two of his seizure patients, and smoking the synthetic drug form of marijuana. “These Spice products just seem to activate the seizure area of the brain.” He says the same reaction is not true of marijuana which stimulates the brain in the same area, but in a different way.

He says Demi Moore’s symptoms are consistent with smoking Spice. Moore reportedly had smoked K2 Spice, which was made illegal under a special order by the Drug Enforcement Administration last year.

The cheap herbal incense mimics marijuana. “It essentially gets them stoned and users report an experience very similar to marijuana, and that’s because it does occupy the same receptor in the brain.”

Dr. de Havenon has published research showing the dangerous consequences of smoking Spice. He says brain abnormality is visible in testing. "There was this diffuse, what we call enhancement, but irregularity of the brain right after the seizure that we do associate with medication and toxic events.”

He says five of the most common synthetic canabanoids were removed from the market by the DEA but, he says, those making Spice just come up with new forms of the drug. “It’s kind of a wolf in sheep’s clothing, in a sense, because it is sold as incense. It’s sold over the counter, and realistically it’s being used for people as a recreational drug.”

Dr. de Havenon says seizures are not the only dangerous medical side effects associated with Spice. He says violent behavioral problems as well as medical problems are not uncommon. “We are seeing Poison Control Centers around the country report emergency department visits for things like dangerous heart rhythms to seizures.” Dr. de Havenon says there is nothing safe about the readily available, over the counter high.

Officials warn of brain injuries from snow sports

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:23:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Health officials say being safe in the winter weather can help Utahns avoid the traumatic brain injuries that affecting hundreds of state residents each year.

The Utah Department of Health says 440 Utahns suffered a recreation-related traumatic brain injury in 2009, and ten percent of those came from snow sports such as skiing, sledding and ice skating.

Snow sports rank fourth among causes for major brain injuries in Utah. They follow bicycles crashes, ATV or dirt bike accidents, and horse accidents.

Health officials say residents can protect themselves by wearing a helmet. Two-thirds of brain injury victims in Utah were not wearing a helmet at the time of their accident.

Officials also recommend checking weather and avalanche conditions before venturing into the state's backcountry.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Scientists study ozone formation in eastern Utah

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:09:00 -0700

PAUL FOY
Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - State and federal scientists are trying to determine why so much air pollution builds up each winter in a rural area of Utah with few people.

The region is the Uintah Basin, an oil-and-gas rich patch in Utah's northeast corner bordering Colorado with a coal-fired power plant.

Scientists are not certain that drilling emissions or the Bonanza Power Plant cause the Uintah Basin's notoriously bad air during winter. The region's air pollution eases in summer.

The scientists from a number of government agencies and research institutions are trying to determine why snow on the ground in winter seems to produce so much ozone, the main ingredient in smog. The ozone readings can reach nearly twice the limit considered safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and can last for weeks at a time.

For many urban areas around the country, ozone is a problem during hot summers, not the cold of winter.

Scientists are at a loss to explain why ozone not only forms in winter in the Uintah Basin but does so at levels that far exceed those seen during summer months in urban areas.

Chemistry will be central to understanding the puzzle, said Brock LeBaron, deputy director at the Utah Division of Air Quality.

"You have some sort of chemistry going on with different emissions that can produce different end products," he said.

Last winter, Utah officials and scientists began intensively monitoring the basin's air quality. This winter they hoped to ramp up the study, but the ozone has largely disappeared owing to a dry season with little snow.

The weather has left little chemistry for scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to study.

"We're not happy with the conditions right now," LeBaron said. "This is a very unusual year."

Ground-level ozone forms from a reaction of sunlight with air containing hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. When inhaled, the colorless gas can cause respiratory problems, congestion and worsen some pre-existing health issues.

Data from 2010 showed winter ozone levels in the eastern Utah basin were some of the highest recorded in the United States. EPA figures show basin ozone levels had reached 123 parts per billion, far higher than the 75 parts per billion deemed unhealthy.

Snow also appears to be a factor because it reflects energy from sunlight back into the air. When combined with high pressure, sun and snow turn the basin into a bowl that seals out cleansing precipitation and wind.

Pollution in the basin has lingered for as many as 40 days in the winter of 2010.

The study is monitoring weather conditions, including temperature, relative humidity and other factors. It's also logging ozone readings every few minutes at 10 locations.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Utah family sues pharmaceutical company

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:57:00 -0700

LOGAN, Utah (AP) - The family of a late Hyde Park woman has sued a pharmaceutical company, claiming it made a faulty pain-relief patch that caused her death.

Logan's Herald Journal reports the family of Janine Ward filed the lawsuit Monday in 3rd District Court against the ALZA Corp. of Vacaville, Calif.

The complaint says Ward died in May 2010 after a transdermal patch leaked dangerous doses of the painkiller fentanyl.

Toxicology reports showed she had a lethal level of fentanyl in her blood when she died.

ALZA is owned by Johnson & Johnson, which issued a statement Sunday extending its sympathy to her husband, Preston, over the death.

The company says the patch is a safe and effective treatment for chronic pain, but has benefits and risks like all prescription medications.

___

Information from: The Herald Journal

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Help understanding the new nutritional guidelines for school lunches

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:40:20 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Our school nurse, Stacy Drew, joins us to explain the new nutritional guidelines for school lunches.

Tips for handling the unexpected

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:36:48 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Our life coaches, Lynette Williams and Thomas Dyches, give us some tips to help handle the unexpected events in life.

High heels could lead to heath hazards

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:42:00 -0700

Ladies love their high heels. From the way they look, to what they do to their legs, some of women just can't live without them. But a new study by the Journal of Applied Physiology shows the damage may be a lot worse than once thought.

High heels not only cause issues like bunions and corns, the incline of your foot strains your calf, which can lead to permanent muscle damage. And all that inflammation that causes throbbing feet may actually increase our risk of heart disease.

“No question about it. Inflammation inside your body can happen anywhere. It can happen from wearing shoes,” said researcher Dr. David Agus.

That inflammation is the biggest problem. The study shows that swelling in your feet can put extra stress on your heart, leading to a greater risk of heart disease.

Streamlined public health complaint line launched

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:34:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Health officials are launching a new telephone system for reporting public health problems and concerns.

The Salt Lake Valley Health Department telephone line is a companion system to an online reporting site. Department spokesman Nicholas Rupp says the central phone system will streamline the reporting process for citizens.

A previous system offered nine different phone numbers for reporting different types of health violations.

Citizens can now call (385) 468-8888 to report problems like food poisoning, restaurant cleanliness, noise, drug-contaminated housing, transient camps, infectious diseases and other health concerns.

Rupp says during regular business hours, callers will be routed to the agency bureau appropriate for their complaint.

Health department director Gary Edwards says his agency relies on public observations of health violations to aid in the regulation process.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)