Data has found that while life expectancy has steadily increased over the past decade, the prevalence of heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes has also increased, and disability has grown as well.

For example, in 1998 about 16 percent of men in their 70s had a mobility problem — that is, they failed one of four commonly used physical tests. By 2006, almost 25 percent failed at least one.

Writing in the January issue of The Journal of Gerontology B, the authors conclude that people live longer not because they are less likely to get sick, but because they survive longer with disease.

As a result, a 20-year-old man today can expect to live about a year longer than a 20-year-old in 1998, but will spend 1.2 years more with a disease, and 2 more years unable to function normally.

The lead author, Eileen M. Crimmins, a professor of gerontology at the University of Southern California, said that while we have been very successful in increasing the length of life, it comes at a cost.

“Longer life is what we want,” she said. “But we’re going to have to pay for it with more treatment of diseases and accommodations for disability.”

The New York Times

The FDA said Wednesday that some manufacturers are deceptively labeling products to hide that they contain ingredients known to cause health problems. Other supplements contain ingredients that should be available only by prescription.

“These tainted products can cause serious adverse effects, including strokes, organ failure and death,” FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said. “The manufacturers selling these tainted products are operating outside the law.”

Additional information on this article in the Dallas Morning News.

The Suter Company is recalling 8.2-ounce packages of the “Bumble Bee Lunch on the Run Chicken Salad Complete Lunch Kit” and 3.5-ounce packages of “Bumble Bee Chicken Salad with Crackers,” according to a statement released Sunday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

While the company is headquartered in Sycamore, Illinois, its products are sold from coast to coast. The recalled products — which have a August 2011 “best-by” date for the lunch kit, and February 2012 corresponding date for the cracker package — were put together and shipped out to distributors and stores between August 14 and 28 of this year.

The recall was prompted by complaints from people who found pieces of loose plastic inside their Bumble Bee packages. The federal agency noted in its release that it hasn’t received any reports of people getting hurt or sick as a result.

The recall is a Class II, which means there is a “remote probability of adverse health consequences,” according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

From CNN Health.com.

The National Center on Elder Abuse website is a resource to answer your questions and provide information on this issue.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 600 fires in the U.S. are caused from Christmas tree lights and decorations each year. Additionally, 7,500 injuries occur from Christmas trees and decorations alone.

To keep your holidays merry and safe, follow these safety tips:

Safety Tips

• Make sure lights are marked with the UL Seal. (Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., an independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organization).
• Always check indoor and outdoor wires, bulbs, electrical plugs and sockets before using.
• Do not overload electric outlets or extension cords.
• Never use indoor lights outside.
• Never put nails through wires when hanging lights.
• Do not run electrical cords under rugs or carpets. Cords can fray and cause a fire.
• If using outdoor lights on outdoor trees, make sure that the trees have not grown into power lines.
• Turn off holiday lights when leaving the house or going to bed.
• Use ground fault protected circuits with outdoor lights for added protection from electrical shock.

When using candles:

• Keep burning candles away from all flammable materials.
• Never leave children in a room with lighted candles.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
• Be careful of loose fitting clothing around burning candles.

When using a live Christmas tree:

• Select a fresh tree. Check branches every day to make sure it isn’t drying out. Trees usually dry out in 10-15 days.
• Keep the tree stand filled with water.

When using an artificial Christmas tree:

• Make sure it is labeled “fire resistant.”
• Place the tree away from heat sources such as radiators or fireplaces. If possible, place it near a smoke detector.
• Aluminum and metallic trees should not be decorated with lights. They may conduct electricity and cause electrocution.
• Use flame-resistant ornaments.
• Never decorate trees with lighted candles or other flammable decorations.
• Avoid decorating with small objects that could be swallowed by a child.
• Always keep fire extinguishers in the house.
• Do not burn trees or wrapping paper in a fireplace.

Meet an Fort Worth, Texas Personal Injury Lawyer from the firm of Ted Machi and Associates, P.C.

Meet an Fort Worth, Texas Personal Injury Lawyer from the firm of Ted Machi and Associates, P.C.