Education Resources

Health Highlights: Dec. 6, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Duchess of Cambridge Leaves Hospital

The Duchess of Cambridge was discharged from hospital Thursday
after being admitted on Monday for treatment for severe morning
sickness.

As she left King Edward VII Hospital in London, the duchess
smiled and posed briefly with her husband, Prince William, before
getting into a waiting car, the
Associated Pressreported.

The duchess will spend of few days of rest at Kensington Palace
in London, the royal couple's office said.

Royal officials were forced to announce that the duchess was
pregnant after she was admitted to hospital. They said that the
duchess is not yet 12 weeks pregnant with the couple's first child,
the
APreported.

-----

CPSC Takes Action Against Nap Nanny Maker

Six infant deaths have prompted the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission to take action against the maker of a portable baby
recliner called the Nap Nanny.

In an administrative complaint, the CPSC alleges that the Nap
Nanny "poses a substantial risk of injury and death to infants,"
the
Associated Pressreported.

The CPSC is seeking an order that would force the manufacturer,
Baby Matters of Berwyn, Pa., to alert the public about what the
agency considers a serious product defect, and to offer consumers a
full refund.

An email from Baby Matters said the company went out of business
a month ago, the
APreported.

About 155,000 of three Nap Nanny models were sold since
2009.

-----

Federal Government Denied Rehearing on Graphic Cigarette
Warnings

The U.S. government's request for a rehearing on graphic health
warnings on cigarette packages has been denied by the U.S. Court of
Appeals in Washington, D.C.

The court did not provide any reason for its decision to deny
the government's request for the full court or a panel to rehear
the case, the
Associated Pressreported.

In August, a three-judge panel upheld a lower court ruling
blocking the Food and Drug Administration's proposed health
warnings that included photos of diseased and dead smokers. The
judges ruled that the warnings violated the First Amendment's free
speech protections.

The government has 90 days to appeal the decision to the U.S.
Supreme Court, the
APreported.

-----

States Spending Less on Tobacco Prevention: Report

Despite record high revenues from tobacco taxes and the national
tobacco settlement, states are spending less on tobacco prevention
programs, according to a report released Thursday by the Campaign
for Tobacco-Free Kids.

The group said the amount spent by states on tobacco prevention
in the past two years is the lowest in any period since the
national tobacco settlement in 1998,
The New York Timesreported.

States will collect a record $25.7 billion in tobacco taxes and
settlement money in the current fiscal year, but less than two
percent of that will be spent on tobacco prevention, according to
the document.

The tobacco settlement awarded states an estimated $246 billion
over its first 25 years and give states complete control over how
they spend the money. Many use the funds to fill budget gaps or for
programs unrelated to tobacco,
The Timesreported.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the
U.S., killing more than 400,000 people a year, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.