More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, and that number could quadruple by 2050.  

Research has suggested people can reduce their risk for dementia with regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking.  But a new study finds that romantic relationships may also protect against Alzheimer's disease.  

Doctors found that people living alone at mid-life were twice as likely to develop dementia or Alzheimer's disease and those who had been widowed had even greater risk - three times higher than people who were cohabitating or married during middle age. 

Researchers note that couple-hood has several advantages: couples watch out for one another's health.  And the mental and social stimulation of having a partner may help keep the brain fit.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV / AP) - Swine flu may be tapering off here in central New York, but the number of cases continues across the country continues to rise. 

The number of U.S. swine flu cases has reached nearly 34,000, and deaths have risen 34 percent in the past week to 170, federal health officials reported Thursday.

About four out of five of the swine flu deaths to date were adults aged 25 or older, although seven of the most recent deaths were children, according to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The numbers mark an increase from the 127 deaths and nearly 28,000 confirmed and suspected swine flu cases reported last week.

CDC officials believe those cases - which sought treatment and underwent testing - are just the tip of the iceberg. They estimate more than 1 million Americans have been infected with the virus so far, though many probably had only a mild illness. Swine flu is the predominant flu type circulating currently, with ten states reporting widespread cases. The states are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia.

The pandemic was first discovered in California in April, but since then a total of more than 77,000 cases have been reported in more than 100 countries, according to the World Health Organization.

Increasing numbers of Americans are taking acid reflux medications and staying on the drugs for long periods of time. New research suggests that one reason for the rise may be that the drugs themselves create a dependency in patients who use them. 

A study of healthy volunteers found that many participants who had never experienced heartburn or acid reflux in the past began having symptoms after they stopped taking the medication. 

Last year, Americans received more than one hundred million prescriptions last year for acid reflux drugs such as Prevacid or Prilosec medications in a class called proton pump inhibitors. These popular drugs outsold every other class of medication except cholesterol drugs and antipsychotics. 

But, new evidence finds the acid reflux pills may be creating dependency in patients who use them. Researchers in Denmark tested Prilosec in healthy volunteers who had never experienced acid reflux problems. Results revealed that 40 percent of participants started experiencing symptoms such as heartburn, chest pain, and acid reflux after they stopped the drug. 

The medications work by blocking acid pumps in stomach cells, but researchers say that ceasing the drugs may trigger a rebound effect that creates more acid. They suggest this is why one third of patients continue to fill their prescriptions even after they have theoretically completed treatment. While the drugs overall have an excellent safety record studies have linked long-term use of proton pump inhibitors to an increased risk for fractures. 

In these health headlines, a new study finds each year, thousands of elderly Americans end up in emergency rooms from falls involving walkers and canes.

An average of about 130 Americans ages 65 and older were treated in the ER each day, a total of more than 47,000 a year, for injuries from falls caused by their walking aids.

Eighty-seven percent of the injuries were caused by walkers.

Of those hurt, older women were hurt three times more than men.

Researchers say this study should act as a reminder to doctors who need to be sure they take the proper amount of time to fit patients with walking aids and teach them how to use them safely.

Also making health headlines, several reports out provide new insight into the H1N1 swine flu virus that is currently circulating around the globe.  

Research from Mexico confirms that young people - including those with no health problems - are at greater risk for serious complications and even death.

The new swine flu virus has infected at least 1 million Americans, according to the latest estimates from the CDC.

Thankfully, most cases are mild, but reports on patients in Mexico confirm this new virus behaves more like a pandemic strain than a typical flu.

Doctors studying Mexican patients found that 87 percent of deaths were in younger people, between the ages of 5 and 59 years.  In contrast, just 17 percent of typical flu deaths are in this age group.  

Researchers conclude that if supplies of pandemic vaccine turn out to be limited, then priority should be given to younger generations.  

Being overweight as a young adult increases the risk for pancreatic cancer. That's according to a study published Wednesday in the journal of the American Medical Association.

The study found that people who were overweight or obese between the ages of 14 and 49 were at greater risk for the cancer.  The association was stronger in men than in women.

The risk of cancer leveled off for those who became overweight or obese at age 40, and the risk became insignificant for those whose excessive weight gain did not start until after age 50.

In this health headline, new research shows people who visit their primary care physician for routine blood tests or screenings are often not informed of the results. 

Researchers say it's relatively common, happening in about one in every 14 tests.  Doctors say it's particularly disturbing, since most patients assume that no news is good news. 

So, what does it mean for you?  Researchers say don't accept it when a physician says they'll call you if something is wrong.

Instead, ask for test results on a consistent basis, whether or not the results are of concern -- because, if you ask for them 100 percent of the time, there is no question you will always stay informed.

The drug-resistant bacteria known as MRSA is back in the news, with a new potential source:  Your family pet.

MRSA infections between dogs, cats, and their owners are on the rise, according to researchers.

Animal bites are the primary culprit.  Their findings were published Monday in the Lancet Infectious Diseases.  If not detected and treated, the infection can find its way into the body, causing infections in heart valves, lungs, joints, bones and the bloodstream.

Researchers also found that boys ages five to nine are at greatest risk from dog bites, while cat bites are more common in women and the elderly.

Also, a new internet data map offers a first of its kind look at HIV cases in the U.S. -- and the map finds infection rates tend be highest in the south.

It also finds infection is concentrated in about 20 percent of American counties, with the highest numbers of cases in population centers like New York and California.

The map was put together by the National Minority Quality Forum and can be found at http://www.maphiv.org.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Consumers should stop using Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel and related products because they can permanently damage the sense of smell, federal health regulators said Tuesday.

The over-the-counter products contain zinc, an ingredient scientists say may damage nerves in the nose needed for smell. The other products affected by the Food and Drug Administration's announcement are adult and kid-size Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs.

The FDA says about 130 consumers have reported a loss of smell after using Matrixx Initiatives' Zicam products since 1999. Shares of the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company plunged to a 52-week low after the FDA announcement, losing more than half their value.

"Loss of the sense of smell is potentially life threatening and may be permanent," said Dr. Charles Lee. "People without the sense of smell may not be able to detect life dangerous situations, such as gas leaks or something burning in the house."

The FDA said Zicam Cold Remedy was never formally approved because it is part of a small group of remedies that are not required to undergo federal review before launching. Known as homeopathic products, the formulations often contain herbs, minerals and flowers.

A warning letter issued to Matrixx on Tuesday asked the company to stop marketing its zinc-based products, but the agency did not issue a formal recall. Instead, regulators said Matrixx would have to submit safety and effectiveness data on the drug.

"The next step, if they wish to continue marketing Zicam intranasal zinc products, is for them is for them to come in and seek FDA approval," said Deborah Autor, director of FDA's drug compliance division.

The agency is requiring formal approval now because of the product's safety issues, she added.

The global market for homeopathic drugs is about $200 million per year, according to the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists. The group's members include companies like Nutraceutical International Corp. and Natural Health Supply.

Matrixx has settled hundreds of lawsuits connected with Zicam in recent years, but says on its Web site: "No plaintiff has ever won a court case, because there is no known causal link between the use of Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel and impairment of smell."

The company said in a statement Tuesday that the Zicam Cold Remedy's safety is "supported by the cumulative science and has been confirmed by a multidisciplinary panel of scientists."

But government scientists say they are unaware of any data to support Zicam's labeling, which claims the drug reduces cold symptoms, including "sore throat, stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing, congestion."

Matrixx said it will consider withdrawing the products, which accounted for about 40 percent of its $111.6 million in sales last year.

Health officials said they have asked Matrixx executives to turn over more than 800 consumer complaints concerning lost smell that the company has on file. A 2007 law began requiring manufacturers to report such problems, but FDA regulators declined to say Tuesday whether the company broke the law.

The 130 reports received by the FDA came entirely from physicians and patients, not the manufacturer.

Regulators said the relatively small number of complaints accounted for the agency's lengthy investigation.

"FDA doesn't take action against drug products without evaluating all of the circumstances surrounding the issues with the product," Lee said.

Shares of Matrixx Initiatives Inc. plummeted $13.37, or 69.5 percent, to $5.87 in late-afternoon trading.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal health regulators are urging parents to keep their children on attention deficit drugs like Ritalin and Adderall, despite new evidence from a government-backed study that the stimulants can increase the risk of sudden death.

Published Monday in the American Journal of Psychiatry, the study suggests a link between use of the stimulant drugs and sudden death in children and adolescents. The drugs, used to treat attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, already carry warnings about risks of heart attack and stroke in children with underlying heart conditions, but researchers have questioned whether they pose the same risks to children without those problems.

Healthy children taking the medications were six to seven times more likely to die suddenly for unexplained reasons than those not taking the drugs, according to the study from the National Institute of Mental Health.

The study was partially funded by the Food and Drug Administration, but agency experts said its methods - which relied on interviews with parents and physicians years after the children's deaths - may have caused errors.

"Since the deaths occurred a long time ago, all of this depended on the memory of people - relatives and physicians - involved with the victims," said Dr. Robert Temple, the FDA's director of drug review.

The agency urges parents to discuss safety concerns with their doctor, but to keep children on the treatments.

The study compared a sample of 564 children who died of unexplained causes to 564 children who were killed in car accidents. Among the unexplained deaths, 10 children were taking an ADHD drug compared with two of the patients killed in car accidents.

The researchers used car accident victims as a comparison group because sudden childhood deaths are rare and difficult to track.
 
"We're confident that the association is real and that that's never been shown before," said Dr. Madelyn Gould, a professor of psychiatry at Columbia University. "But given the limitations, we wanted any ramifications from the paper to be conservative."

The FDA said it is collecting data for a larger, more in-depth study of the drugs that should be completed by the fall.

"We're not sure this study tells us something we didn't know," Temple said of Monday's publication. "We didn't think it gave an unequivocal answer as to whether there is such a risk."

About 2.5 million U.S. children currently take drugs for ADHD, according to government researchers. The American Heart Association recommends doctors consider giving children echocardiograms before starting them on ADHD drugs, though experts stress there is little hard data about the drugs' risks.

Sales of the drugs topped $4.8 billion last year, according to health care analysis firm IMS Health. The most popular brands include Shire's Adderall, Johnson & Johnson's Concerta and Novartis' Ritalin.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - More than 60 percent of U.S. households have at least one computer somewhere in the home. 

But as computer ownership goes up, so do the number of injuries they cause.

During a 13-year study, researchers found the number of people who own computers increased 300 percent.

But injures from computers -- serious enough to be treated at the emergency room -- rose by more than 700 percent. 

The most common accidents occurred when patients were caught on or tripped over computer equipment. 

One in five injuries, though, were due to computer equipment falling on the person, with children less than five years old the most likely to be hurt.  

To further reduce injuries, doctors say computers should be kept on a stable surface and away from walking paths -- with all cords and cables safely bundled and tucked out of sight.

World health officials are tracking the H1N1 flu virus to see how it evolves over the coming months, but already we have learned important lessons from this outbreak, according to a new report. 

Some aspects of pandemic flu planning went well -- such as stockpiling of antiviral medications. 

However, despite preparations, some local health systems were overwhelmed.

In April, the world first learned of a new flu virus circulating in our midst - the H1N1 swine flu, which has continued to spread rapidly around the globe.  

Though there is still much to discover about the novel virus, we already have learned many important lessons, according to a new joint report from Trust for America's Health, the Center for Biosecurity, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 

For example, the stockpiles of antiviral mediations such as Tamiflu and Relenza were of great help in treating sick people, but there were some unforeseen difficulties -- families struggled to manage when schools closed, testing of samples at the CDC and state labs often lagged well behind, and some local emergency departments faced overcrowding.

The World Health Organization's pandemic phase alert system caused much confusion -- a point the agency is now addressing by creating a separate rating system to describe the severity of the outbreak. 

To improve preparations, U.S. experts recommend further strengthening the vaccine manufacturing system, so that every American could be vaccinated if necessary. 

As for the flu locally -- the Onondaga County Health Department says there are two new schools with confirmed cases; they include Syracuse's Nottingham High School and Grant Middle School.

We told you Wednesday an adult in Onondaga County died from the virus.  The Health Department says the patient had other conditions which led to a sacrificed immune system.

Most people will recover from this flu with plenty of rest -- just as with any other flu.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - One of the germiest surfaces in your home may be your own body.

A new study reveals a surprising diversity in the bacteria thriving on human skin. 

Scientists tested just ten volunteers and found roughly 1,000 species of bacteria had colonized their skin. 

So what are they doing there? 

Scientists are still working that part out, but they say that the tiny bugs likely help keep skin healthy by feeding on dead cells and preventing the invasion of more harmful bacteria.

Researchers also hope that studying the natural state of skin bacteria will provide insight into fighting various skin diseases, such as eczema and psoriasis.

How many text messages do your teenagers send and receive every month?  The bill tells you it's a lot, but in these health headlines, the A.C. Nielsen Company says the average teen texts 80 messages a day, or 2,200 a month. 

The phenomenon is starting to worry doctors and psychologists who say the constant communication is leading to anxiety, distraction in school, repetitive stress injury and sleep deprivation. 

And with AT&T and Verizon Wireless offering unlimited texting plans, parents are paying less attention.

There are many complications to having diabetes.  One of the most devastating can be amputation -- most often due to circulation problems and nerve damage in the toes, feet, or even legs. 

But a new study finds a drug used to lower blood fat levels may reduce the risk of that. 

More than half of all lower limb amputations in the United States occur in people diagnosed with diabetes. 

Experts say most amputations could be prevented by reducing the number of people with diabetes, and through better treatment for those who do develop the disease. 

Amputations of the toes, feet, or legs become necessary when nerve damage and poor blood circulation allow infection to set in.  But patients with type 2 diabetes may reduce their amputation risk by taking a drug called Fenofibrate to lower levels of fats in the bloodstream. 

Doctors studied nearly 10,000 diabetic patients who took a placebo or Fenofibrate daily for five years.  Those taking Fenofibrate cut their risk for amputation by 36 percent.  

Physicians also recommend diabetic patients take special care of their feet to reduce the odds of infection -- wash them daily and dry them well; keep toenails trimmed short, and wear shoes that fit. 

In addition, patients should keep their blood sugar levels down by taking all prescribed medications, following a sensible diet, and getting regular exercise.  

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and doctors are once again reminding people to wear sun screen to reduce their risk of skin cancer.  

But many Americans are not getting the message.  A new poll from Consumer Reports finds that nearly one-third of Americans do not wear sun screen, despite rising rates of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

Most parents said they protected their young children with sun screen, but 14 percent admitted they did not use it even when their kids were outside for four hours or more.  

Skin cancer is far and away the most common cancer in the U.S, with one million new cases diagnosed each year.  

To reduce personal risk, doctors advise reducing sun exposure by wearing hats and protective clothing, and using sun screen when outdoors.  

Americans now recognize that the SPF number is critical for identifying an effective sun screen – 68 percent use a product marked SPF 30 or higher.  

But only one third of people knew the best time to apply sun screen, which is 30 minutes before heading out into the sun. 

For maximum protection, experts recommend choosing a product that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - The CDC is now testing the blood of people over the age of 52 to see if they have the antibodies to better fight off the swine flu.

The CDC believes a similar version of the virus made the rounds prior to 1957, and many people over 52 may have built up an immunity.

The World Health Organization reports more than 10,000 swine flu cases worldwide.

Eighty deaths have been reported.

But according to CDC researchers, only about 13 percent of those with the H1N1 virus have been over the age of 50.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal regulators are scolding the maker of Cheerios, saying it made inappropriate claims about the popular cereal's ability to lower cholesterol and treat heart disease.

The Food and Drug Administration says in a warning letter to General Mills that language on the Cheerios box suggests the cereal is designed to prevent or treat heart disease. Regulators say that only FDA-approved drugs are allowed to make such claims.

Among other claims, the labeling states: "you can lower your cholesterol 4 percent in six weeks."

General Mills said the health claims on Cheerios have been approved for 12 years and the FDA's complaints deal with how the language appears on the box. The company said in a statement that the science was not in question.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the agency will announce that it is complying with a federal judge's order that overturns a Bush administration policy. The official was not authorized to speak publicly before the FDA announcement, expected later Wednesday.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Edward Korman ruled in a New York lawsuit that Bush administration appointees let politics, not science, drive their decision to allow over-the-counter access to these pills only for women 18 and older. Korman ordered the agency to let 17-year-olds get the medication, and separately to evaluate whether all age restrictions should be lifted.

Plan B is emergency contraception that contains a high dose of birth control drugs and will not interfere with an established pregnancy. Religious conservatives say it's the equivalent of an abortion pill because it can prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.

The battle over access to Plan B has dragged on for the better part of a decade, through the tenure of three FDA commissioners. Among many in the medical community, it came to symbolize the decline of science at the agency. Top FDA managers refused to go along with the recommendations of scientific staff and outside advisers that the drug be made available over-the-counter with no age restrictions.

"The FDA got caught up in a saga, it got caught up in a drama," said Susan Wood, who served as the agency's top women's health official and resigned in 2005 over delays in issuing a decision. "This issue served as a clear example of the agency being taken off track, and it highlighted the problems FDA was facing in many other areas."

If taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, Plan B can reduce a woman's chances of pregnancy by as much as 89 percent. It contains a high dose of birth control drugs and works by preventing ovulation, fertilization, or the implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus.

If a woman is already pregnant, Plan B has no effect.

However, social conservatives say that since it can prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg, Plan B is the equivalent of an abortion pill.

The treatment consists of two pills and sells for about $35 to $60. Women must ask for Plan B at the pharmacy counter, and show identification with their date of birth. The drug is made by a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, an Israeli company. It does not prevent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.

Supporters of broader access argued that Plan B was safe and effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy, and could also help reduce the number of abortions.

Opponents, including prominent conservatives, countered that it would encourage promiscuity, and might even become a tool for criminals running prostitution rings, as well as for sexual predators.

Early in the Bush administration, more than 60 organizations petitioned the FDA to allow sales without a prescription. But according to court documents, the issue quickly became politicized.

In 2003, a panel of outside advisers voted 23 to 4 to recommend over-the-counter sales without age restrictions. But top FDA officials told their subordinates that no approval could be issued at the time, and the decision would be made at a higher level. That's considered highly unusual, since the FDA usually has the last word on drug decisions.

In his ruling, Judge Korman said that FDA staffers were told the White House had been involved in the decision on Plan B. The government said in court papers that politics played no role.

In 2005, the Center for Reproductive Rights and other organizations sued in federal court to force an FDA decision.

The following year, the FDA allowed Plan B to be sold without a prescription to adults. But the controversy raged on over access for teens.

When is the right time for people with early signs of Alzheimer’s to stop driving? In tonight's Health Headlines, scientists are creating tests to help families make that decision. 

Researchers recruited 40 people with early-stage of Alzheimer's to take a road test, and compared it to other older drivers without the disease.

The results, reported in the Journal of Neurology, found the Alzheimer's drivers committed on average 42 mistakes, compared with 33 for the older drivers without the disease. 

Lane violations, such as swerving or hugging the center line, were the biggest problem for the Alzheimer's drivers. 

Overall errors rose with increasing age whether or not the driver had Alzheimer's -- an extra 2½ mistakes for every five years of age.

Perhaps the most interesting finding was flunking simple memory tests didn't make a difference in driving ability.  But when the participants were asked to multitask, checking if visual and motor skills work together, that was a real predictor of the ability to be a safe driver. 

The goal is a doctor’s office exam to help decide when its time to give up the car keys.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - A couple of cups of coffee can lessen the pain of your workout. 

A study out Tuesday shows people who consume two to three cups of coffee before they work out can reduce the pain of exercise and allow them to push themselves further, compared to exercisers who had no caffeine.

And fighting in front of the kids may be okay -- as long as you fight fair.  University of Rochester researchers found that in some ways, kids can benefit from seeing their parents disagreeing and even being mildly angry.

As long as there's no name calling, silent treatment or physical aggression, the study shows watching parents fight fair gives them a lesson on problem solving and compromise.