henna tattoos can cause skin reactions
Popular temporary black henna tattoos could contain a harmful chemical associated with major skin problems. Natural henna used for temporary tattoos is made from a plant that is considered harmless. To increase the color intensity and prolong its appearance, some tattoo artists are adding the chemical para-phenylenediamine, or PPD, to the henna. But the FDA prohibits direct application of PPD to the skin because of its health risks. There have been hundreds of reports of problems from tattoos containing PPD, including permanent scarring.
Study: Sleep apnea sufferers die sooner
A study shows that some people with severe, untreated sleep apnea died at a rate more than three times that of those without apnea. Researchers said the higher the number of halts in breathing — the apnea symptom — per hour of sleep, the greater the risk of death. This is based on an 18-year study of 1,522 adults.
Follow safety tips when mowing
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that in 2007, more than 16,000 children were injured in lawn-mowing accidents. To prevent such injuries, the agency recommends: Don't let children younger than 12 mow the lawn; be sure anyone using the mower wears shoes, not sandals; and always clear debris from an area before you mow it.
Basic advice for women's health
The federal Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health offers these tips:
• Be sure to have routine exams and screenings.
• Stay active.
• Eat healthy foods.
• Know your family's health history.
• Increase personal safety (such as engaging in safe sex and not smoking).
• Get adequate sleep.
For links to numerous health topics, go to the agency's site, www.womenshealth.gov/whw/healthinfo.
Compiled from Times staff, wires