Poll: Are You Starting to Worry About Swine Flu? (There's H1N1 Hysteria Going on in England)

While the CDC hasn't issued a warning explicitly stating that swine flu, or, ahem, H1N1, is going to return this fall with a vengeance, it's easy to feel a little edgy about what to expect. After all, experts are speculating about just how bad it could get--even making death predictions. And it seems that people in England are going a little cuckoo over the flu...

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I like to read up on health news from the other side of the Atlantic now and then. Occasionally I'll learn hear about a new trend that hasn't quite hit the U.S. yet, or a wacky health story that we can all learn from. But lately, it seems, that the health reporting out of Europe--namely, the U.K.--has become 24-7 swine-flu hysteria. There have been reports that surgical masks and antibacterial hand gels (which, experts point out, don't kill the flu) are nearly sold out in Great Britain. And now, I'm hearing the crazy news that people are panicking so much, they're already identifying suitable locations for mass grave sites in the event of mass deaths.

Is Samantha Encouraging Lindsay to Be Super-Skinny?

In today's celeb health news, I bring you another page from the Samantha Ronson-Lindsay Lohan saga. The latest buzz? Some are saying that Sam is a bad influence on Lindsay in the body image department. The young starlet seems to be slimmer than ever, and one source says Sam is the reason. Do you buy it?

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According to reports, Lindsay is losing weight and some blame Samantha. These reports are totally unsubstantiated (and um, how do these UK celeb gossip sites actually find their sources from across the pond anyway?), but it does make you wonder about how relationships affect our size. Speaking of which, check out this past Vitamin G post (in case you missed it) about what research says about weight gain/loss over the course of a relationship.

Halle Berry: Living with Diabetes

Halle Berry is in the news this week for her new role in the movie 'Shoes Addicts Anonymous'.  When we think of Halle Berry we think of an empowered and successful women who has accomplished an extraordinary amount in her young life.  We also think of a woman who is living with diabetes.

In 1989, during the taping of Living Dolls, a short lived television series, the actress lapsed into a coma and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  The American Diabetes Association estimates that 500,000 to 1 million people in the US have this condition.  Type 1 diabetes is a disorder caused by autoimmune distruction of the insulin secreting cells of the pancreas resulting in the body's inability to produce sufficient insulin to meet bodily needs.  

Gunman From Yesterday's Hostage Situation: TLC Must Stop Shows About "Parisitic Human Infants"

Did you guys follow the news from yesterday's scary hostage situation at the Discovery Communications headquarters in Silver Springs, Maryland? We're learning more about the gunman--a radical environmentalist who claims that Discovery and TLC are proselytizing overpopulation with shows about multiple births. Let's discuss this frightening situation ...

The gunman, James Jay Lee, who stormed the Discovery Communications headquarters on Wednesday, taking hostages, did so reportedly in effort to demand that the company stop airing shows on multiple births. He was shot and killed by police. All hostages are safe.

Does Subway Have a Dirty Little Health Secret?

I know a lot of people who love Subway and think it's the healthiest fast food option out there. Not so, say some health experts who exposed a shocking secret from the sandwich chain ...

In the news this month, Subway restaurants in Illinois were reported to be contaminated with salmonella, which sickened many people (120 people and counting, and 1 death). But, that aside, Subway is back in the news again, this time for an ingredient lurking in their breads. That's right: high fructose corn syrup. In fact, it's loaded with the the stuff.

From Yahoo Shine: "David Zinczenko, author of the Eat This, Not That series, recently outed Subway for serving a 9-grain wheat that actually has more high fructose corn syrup in it than it does whole grains. If you read the ingredients label for Subway's 9-grain wheat you'll see that there are nine grains, but eight of them are scarce, as they appear on the listing toward the end behind the "contains 2% or less" disclaimer. The fourth ingredient is high fructose corn syrup."

5 Health "Rules" You Can Break (and Not Feel That Bad About)

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? Ah heck--sometimes apples just don't sound as good as chocolate! With me there? Under the category of "rigidity never did anyone any good," I've got a list of health "rules" you can go ahead and break now and then--without freaking out or putting yourself on probation. Your get-out-of-jail-free cards, after the jump ...

Rule #1: Thou shalt eat 5 fruits and veggies a day. Important stuff, for sure. But if you slack one day, and only eat three--don't sweat it. Seriously. Make it up the next day, and remember this easy way to sneak in a fruit or veggie: juice.

What Do You Think About When You're in The Shower?

To me, a shower is more than just a place to wash your hair. It's crazy, but you know the cliche about getting great ideas in the shower? It's always true for me--so true, in fact, that I keep a notebook in my bathroom to jot down little epiphanies that hit me in the shower! What do you think about when you're lathering up?

Did you guys hear the news about showerheads being loaded with bacteria? Gross, yes, but probably not any real cause for alarm (unless you have a health condition that leaves you with a compromised immune system). On the happier thoughts!

I love my morning shower. Even though I always have guests in the bathroom with me (my baby, who sits in a bouncer seat; my toddler who rocks on his "rocking horse," yes, in the bathroom; and sometimes my dog--it's a full house!), I still try to zone out a little and relax. To me, a shower is a built-in time for a little zen (even if someone is crying or barking, which is almost always the case).

Sex Question: Can You Transmit an STD by Sharing a Toothbrush?

Dear Dr. Kate,

Can you transmit an STD by kissing on the cheek, drinking from the same glass or sharing a toothbrush?

The only good news about STDs is that the bacteria and viruses can't live on inanimate objects. They're microscopic zombies-they need human skin to survive. STDs are transmitted most often through mucus membranes-those that line the vagina, the foreskin, the inside of the head of the penis, the mouth and the anus. Some STDs like HPV and herpes can be transmitted through genital skin-to-skin contact. It is possible to transmit a disease if both people have open cuts that touch, but swapping saliva on a toothbrush, glass or cheek won't increase your risk of transmission or infection. The only STD that could be passed from the surface of an object or by simple touching (without genital contact) is molluscum contagiousum, which can appear all over your body and is highly contagious.

Poll: Are You More Comfortable With a Male or Female Massage Therapist?

Interesting news, out this week: Save your money when it comes to post-exercise massage. According to a new study, it doesn't help reduce the lactic acid in your muscles, nor does it increase blood flow. Oh bummer (I liked the excuse to get a massage). Speaking of which, do you prefer guy or gal massage therapists?

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Whenever I go for a massage (which, believe me, is not often enough!), my husband is like "you're appointment is with a female therapist, right?" I always think it's cute, if not a little silly, that he's worried about this. I tend to just see female therapists--by default. I guess I do feel a tad more comfortable being partially clothed in front of a stranger who is female rather than male. Other friends of mine disagree. My friend J. says that she only goes to male therapists because they have stronger hands and do a better job. What do you think?

Don't Bother With These Deadbeat Get-Fit Plans

So you need to lose a few pounds. Experts say to choose a diet and fitness plan like you choose your dates--be picky. Before you start sweating to the oldies or anything else (no offense, Richard Simmons!), be sure your new routine really works. Here are a few to avoid:

In a new report from ABC News, health experts say to avoid some common diet and fitness flops. Some highlights:

Correspondence Gym Courses: Yes, there are mail-away programs to help you get fit. But, better to head to the gym than leave your fitness goals in the hands of the UPS man.

"Cavemen" and "Color" Diets: A diet that tells you to eat lots of meat and load up on calories or just focus on food of a certain color--bad, bad, bad.

Chill Out Diet for Hot Flashes

Although you may have experienced occasional hot flashes at some time in your life, when you're going through menopause, they can be unrelenting and even debilitating. The good news is that some small dietary adjustments may make a big difference in their frequency and intensity.

In general, the typical American diet includes a lot of white flour, fat, dairy, sugar, caffeine and meat. Replacing some of these items with whole grains, fruits and vegetables, beans, fish and small amounts of meat, would have many health benefits; one of which is that these food groups are high in concentrated phytoestrogens -- estrogen-like compounds that even out the hormonal fluctuations that cause hot flashes.

Child and Teen Obesity – Why Is It So Prevalent?

I cannot get through the news without seeing at least one reference to child/teen obesity.  Why is it such a problem in America? Is it the type of food that children today are putting in their mouths, and who is to blame for such behavior?

What’s the problem?

First of all, we must define what child and adolescent obesity really is. Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and teenagers. It occurs when a child is above the normal weight for his or her age and height. The problem is that the children are showing a very high rate of obesity that can lead into health issues as they grow older, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.