Brief Honeymoon Period Ends for Boehner as Ratings Slide

Image now equally negative and positive

by Jeffrey M. Jones

PRINCETON, NJ -- Americans are just as likely to say they have an unfavorable as a favorable opinion of Speaker of the House John Boehner. This is a significant shift from January, shortly after Boehner took over as speaker, when his positive rating was nearly twice as high as his negative rating.

Americans' views of Boehner were closely divided in four Gallup measurements from July 2009 to October 2010, with substantial proportions not having an opinion of him in either direction. After the Republicans won control of the House of Representatives in last fall's midterm elections, his favorable ratings rose and his unfavorable ratings declined in two successive measurements, in November and January. Now, the April 20-23 USA Today/Gallup poll finds the speaker's ratings returning to about equally positive and negative. This is what they have been for most of his time as the top Republican in the House of Representatives, though more have an opinion of him now than did so in earlier measurements.
Boehner's Image Declines Across All Parties
Since January, Boehner's image has declined among all party groups, with proportionately greater change among independents. His favorable rating is down 10 points among independents and his unfavorable rating is up 17 points, shifting his net favorable score from +16 to -11.
Republicans are less positive toward Boehner now than in January, but still widely view him favorably. Democrats' opinions were more negative than positive in January, but have moved further in that direction in the most recent measure.

The change in Americans' opinions of Boehner likely reflects the reality of his role in the political process as the president and Congress try to come to agreement on issues. The challenging environment for Boehner is greater given divided control of government, and his leadership role in the House of Representatives at a time when approval ratings of Congress as an institution are generally low.
The trend in Boehner's ratings this year is similar to what Gallup measured for Nancy Pelosi after she became speaker in 2007. Her favorable ratings increased in her first month in that position, but within two months had declined to the point that she was viewed about as negatively as positively. Over time, Americans became increasingly negative toward Pelosi and now generally view her much more negatively than positively.
Implications
Americans tend to view political figures more positively as they assume leadership positions in government. This phenomenon, known as the honeymoon period, has long been apparent in ratings of presidents, and Gallup now observes this to be true for the two most recent speakers of the House.
But as politicians get into their work and are forced to make decisions that are pleasing to some but not others, their popularity generally fades quickly. From that perspective, the rise and fall in Boehner's favorable ratings in recent months is not unexpected.
Though Boehner's image is now much less positive than it was just three months ago, it compares favorably to ratings of recent speakers. Of the four most recent people to hold this position, only Dennis Hastert was generally viewed more positively than negatively by Americans for most of his tenure, perhaps because of his lower profile, relatively higher ratings of Congress overall, and being able to work with a president of his own party for most of his time as speaker. Pelosi and Newt Gingrich were more prominent figures who had to work with presidents of the other party for much or all of their speakership, and Americans generally viewed them more negatively than positively during that time.
Survey Methods Results for this USA Today/Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted April 20-23, 2011, with a random sample of 1,013 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.
Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones, with interviews conducted in Spanish for respondents who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Each sample includes a minimum quota of 400 cell phone-only respondents and 600 landline respondents per 1,000 national adults, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents for gender within region. Landline telephone numbers are chosen at random among listed telephone numbers. Cell phone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.
Samples are weighted by gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, region, adults in the household, and phone status (cell phone only/landline only/both, cell phone mostly, and having an unlisted landline number). Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2010 Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older non-institutionalized population living in U.S. telephone households. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.
In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
View methodology, full question results, and trend data.

In U.S., Negative Views of the Tea Party Rise to New High

Republicans and conservatives are the most positive

by Frank Newport

PRINCETON, NJ -- About half of Americans, 47%, now have an unfavorable image of the Tea Party movement, the highest since it emerged on the national scene.

Gallup began tracking Americans' views of the Tea Party in March 2010, when 37% had a favorable and 40% an unfavorable view. Those views stayed roughly the same through January of this year, but have now turned somewhat more negative. The April 20-23 USA Today/Gallup poll finds favorable opinions of the Tea Party movement dropping to 33%, from 39% in January, and unfavorable opinions rising to 47% from 42%. Twenty percent of Americans say they haven't heard of the Tea Party or have no opinion of it.
Republicans, Conservatives Most Positive About Tea Party
The Tea Party movement has no official status as an organization or association. It is not officially connected with the Republican Party. Still, Tea Party candidates who ran for the House and Senate in last fall's midterm elections for the most part ran as Republicans. And Tea Party candidates who were elected to the House are now making their voices heard in Congress as they pressure House Republican leadership to take strong conservative positions on such issues as cutting government spending and reducing the deficit.
While Americans who identify as Republicans and conservatives clearly tend to be favorably predisposed toward the Tea Party, these attitudes are by no means universal, underscoring the challenges House GOP leaders face as they try to reflect the interests of their constituencies.
The views of Republicans split 60% positively to 24% negatively toward the Tea Party; conservatives' views split 56% to 29%. Substantial majorities of Democrats and liberals view the Tea Party unfavorably. Views of the Tea Party became more negative between January and April among both Republicans and independents; there was very little change in Democrats' already negative views.

Americans who approve of the job President Obama is doing tilt strongly negative toward the Tea Party. Those who view possible Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump favorably are substantially more positive about the Tea Party than those who view him unfavorably.
Older Men More Favorable Toward Tea Party
The Tea Party has a relatively strong appeal to men aged 50 and older, 49% of whom have favorable opinions of the movement. By contrast, women aged 50 and older are the most negative, with more than half holding a negative opinion.

Southerners are most positive about the Tea Party across regions, with essentially equal favorable and unfavorable opinions. Americans living on either coast are the most negative.
Percentage of Americans Who Are Tea Party Supporters Holds Constant
A separate Gallup trend question asks Americans if they are "supporters" of the Tea Party movement, "opponents," or neither. The percentage of Americans who call themselves supporters of the movement (30%) roughly matches the percentage calling themselves opponents (28%). Support for the Tea Party has held steady over the last year at about 30%.

A little more than half of Republicans, 54%, say they are supporters of the Tea Party movement.
This is considerably higher than the 29% of independents and 8% of Democrats who are Tea Party supporters but, as was the case for basic attitudes toward the Tea Party, is by no means monolithic. Republicans who are not Tea Party supporters for the most part say they are neither supporters nor opponents.
Implications
The precise influence of the Tea Party movement on U.S. politics is difficult to pinpoint, given its vague shape and lack of any type of official organization. The Tea Party, however, did have a significant influence on last year's midterm elections. Candidates who were supported by voters who identified with the Tea Party made a significant impact on primary outcomes, and in a number of instances won election to the House and Senate.
Now observers continue to ponder the impact of those elections on the Republican Party, as these newly elected members attempt to follow through on their campaign promises and pressure House leadership to take stronger conservative positions on key issues.
The data reviewed here demonstrate the nature of the political challenges Republican congressional leadership faces in responding to Tea Party-supported members. A majority of rank-and-file Republicans nationwide give the Tea Party favorable ratings, but a sizable minority say their opinion is unfavorable or do not classify themselves as supporters.
Further, the overall image of the Tea Party among all Americans has become substantially more negative than positive over the last several months, which could weaken its perceived clout among GOP congressional leaders. Americans' negative views of the Tea Party contrast with their much more balanced views of the Republican Party, measured at 44% favorable and 47% unfavorable in the same April 20-23 USA Today/Gallup poll.
Survey Methods Results for this USA Today/Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted April 20-23, 2011, with a random sample of 1,013 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.
Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones, with interviews conducted in Spanish for respondents who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Each sample includes a minimum quota of 400 cell phone-only respondents and 600 landline respondents per 1,000 national adults, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents for gender within region. Landline telephone numbers are chosen at random among listed telephone numbers. Cell phone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.
Samples are weighted by gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, region, adults in the household, and phone status (cell phone only/landline only/both, cell phone mostly, and having an unlisted landline number). Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2010 Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older non-institutionalized population living in U.S. telephone households. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.
In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Neither Party Has Big Edge on Most Major U.S. Issues

Americans see Republicans as better able to handle the budget

by Jeffrey M. Jones

PRINCETON, NJ -- Of six key issues facing the United States, the federal budget is the only one for which Americans express a clear preference as to which party can better handle it. On the budget issue, Republicans have a 12-point advantage. The GOP holds slight, but not statistically significant, advantages on four other issues, with Democrats slightly ahead on healthcare.

These results are based on an April 20-23 USA Today/Gallup poll. Gallup last asked Americans to rate the parties on issues in August. At that time, the GOP held an 11-point advantage on the economy (49% to 38%) and a 15-point advantage on immigration (50% to 35%). Those leads, along with several others, have since shrunk.
The lack of differentiation between the parties also extends to several characteristics. Americans are about equally likely to say the Democratic and Republican parties are able to bring about changes the country needs, have mostly honest and ethical members in Congress, and look out for the country's long-term future as well as current problems. In an absolute sense, the parties' ratings on these attributes are not particularly strong, with at best slim majorities saying any of the characteristics describe the parties.

One positive sign for the parties is that Americans are more likely now than they were last fall to believe each can bring about changes the country needs. In October, 43% thought the Republican Party could bring about change and fewer, 40%, believed the Democrats could. Since then, there has been a 10-point increase in the percentage of Americans who believe Democrats can deliver needed change, and a 5-point increase in the belief that Republicans can.
Favorable Ratings of Parties Similar and Little Changed
The most general measure of the parties' images are their favorable ratings, and these, too, are similar in the April 20-23 survey -- 44% for the Republican Party and 43% for the Democratic Party. Americans have rated the parties about equally each time Gallup has asked this question since September 2010.
That is a departure from what Gallup found for most of the time between late 2005 and early 2010, when Americans evaluated the Democratic Party much more positively than the Republican Party.

Implications
Neither party seems to have a significant perceptual advantage in the eyes of Americans across a wide variety of dimensions, including issue competence, characteristics, and basic favorability. Americans in general do not view either party that positively, giving each favorable ratings below 50%.
And even for the one dimension -- the federal budget -- on which Americans generally seem to favor the Republican Party over the Democratic Party, it is not clear that they necessarily endorse the specific actions the GOP would take on this issue. The same April 20-23 poll finds Americans evenly divided in their preferences between the specific long-term budget plan Rep. Paul Ryan and the Republicans are promoting and the one President Obama and the Democrats have proposed.

Survey Methods Results for this USA Today/Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted April 20-23, 2011, with a random sample of 1,013 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.
Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones, with interviews conducted in Spanish for respondents who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Each sample includes a minimum quota of 400 cell phone-only respondents and 600 landline respondents per 1,000 national adults, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents for gender within region. Landline telephone numbers are chosen at random among listed telephone numbers. Cell phone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.
Samples are weighted by gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, region, adults in the household, and phone status (cell phone only/landline only/both, cell phone mostly, and having an unlisted landline number). Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2010 Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older non-institutionalized population living in U.S. telephone households. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.
In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

One in Four Britons Smoke, Are Obese

High blood pressure, depression are the most widespread chronic illnesses in the U.K.

by Elizabeth Mendes

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Smoking and obesity -- two factors known to increase the risk for chronic health problems -- are significant health challenges for the United Kingdom. More than one in four British adults smoke and one in four are obese, likely putting a strain on the country's healthcare system.

Obesity rates in the U.K. increase into middle age, with 45- to 64-year-old Britons most likely to be obese (30.9%), before declining slightly in the 65-plus age range. Smoking rates, on the other hand, decreases with age. Young adults are the most likely to say they indulge in the habit, with 35.0% saying so.
These findings, encompassing the first three months of Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index tracking in the United Kingdom, reveal that Britons are nearly as likely as Americans to be obese and are more likely to smoke.
High Blood Pressure, Depression Most Widespread Chronic Illnesses in U.K.
Obesity and smoking are linked to various chronic conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and even depression.

Two in 10 British adults report having high blood pressure, making it the most prevalent of seven chronic conditions the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index tracks in the U.K. Depression diagnosis is the second most frequently reported chronic illness at 16.9%, followed by high cholesterol at 15.4%.

Additionally, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes -- mostly preventable conditions -- increase with age.

Half of Britons Exercise Frequently
Frequent physical activity is a key way to reduce or prevent obesity and chronic health problems, but many Britons are not engaging in it. About half of British adults, 49.5%, say they exercise for 30 minutes or more three or more days a week. This figure is slightly lower among those aged 30 to 44 (48.2%) and 45 to 64 (46.4%). The U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) recommends 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity at least five days per week.
Britons do somewhat better at healthy eating, with 66.1% saying they eat five or more servings of fruits or vegetables four or more days per week and 69.3% reporting they ate healthy all day "yesterday." Healthy eating in the U.K., unlike frequent exercise, improves with age.

Implications
British adults face numerous health challenges. Chronic health conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, afflict a significant proportion of Britons. Obesity and smoking rates are also high, with the former about on par with and the latter exceeding what the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index found in the U.S.
At a time when the U.K.'s state-funded NHS is grappling with budgetary pressures from an aging population and increasing costs of care, these data provide insight into potential pathways to decrease costly, chronic health issues and, in turn, healthcare costs.
The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, launched in January of this year in the U.K. to track Britons' wellbeing on an ongoing basis, reveals at least one clear way for Britons to improve their health and decrease chronic disease risk factors: more exercise. The Well-Being Index also highlights that different health strategies are needed for different age groups. Stop-smoking policies targeted at young British adults and exercise programs geared toward the middle aged could go a long way in curbing the rates of many chronic diseases in the country.
As the British government pushes for an extensive overhaul of NHS, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index provides healthcare decision makers with in-depth data they can use to design strategies to prevent and address long-term health issues that affect Britons' quality of life and pocketbook.
View all Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index questions and methodology.
About the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index
The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index tracks U.S. wellbeing and provides best-in-class solutions for a healthier world. To learn more, please visit well-beingindex.com.
For complete data sets or custom research from the more than 150 countries Gallup continually surveys, please contact SocialandEconomicAnalysis@gallup.com or call 202.715.3030.
Survey Methods Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey Jan. 2-March 31, 2011, with a random sample of 3,933 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the United Kingdom, selected using random-digit-dial sampling.
For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±1.8 percentage points.
Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones. Each daily sample includes a minimum quota of 5 cell phone respondents and 29 landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents for gender within region. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.
Samples are weighted by gender, age, education, region, adults in the household, and cell phone status. Demographic weighting targets are based on the most recently published population data from the Census Bureau for Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.
In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Actively Disengaged Workers and Jobless in Equally Poor Health

Engaged employees report the best health

by Jim Harter and Sangeeta Agrawal

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- American workers who are emotionally disconnected from their work and workplace are about as likely as the unemployed -- but far less likely than those who are engaged in their jobs -- to report they are in excellent health. Nearly 2 in 10 of these "actively disengaged" workers rate their overall health as "excellent," similar to the 22% of the unemployed, but significantly fewer than the 31% of engaged workers.

These findings are from a special Gallup Daily tracking series conducted in November and December 2010 to explore in greater depth American workers' engagement levels. Gallup's employee engagement index is based on worker responses to 12 workplace elements with proven linkages to performance outcomes, including productivity, customer service, quality, retention, safety, and profit.
Engaged employees are involved in and enthusiastic about their work. Those who are not engaged are satisfied with but are not emotionally connected to their workplaces and are less likely to put in discretionary effort. The actively disengaged workers are emotionally disconnected from their work and workplace and jeopardize the performance of their teams.
Actively Disengaged and Unemployed Report More Unhealthy Days Than Engaged Workers
At least one in in five unemployed respondents and actively disengaged workers report that poor health kept them from their usual activities on 3 or more days out of the past 30. Engaged workers are less than half as likely to report having 3 or more unhealthy days in the past 30.

Obesity and Chronic Disease Rates High Among Actively Disengaged and Unemployed
Actively disengaged and unemployed Americans' higher percentages of unhealthy days are likely tied to their higher rates of chronic disease and obesity. The Gallup-Healthways Wellbeing Index calculates obesity levels based on respondents' self-reported height and weight. Body Mass Index scores of 30 or higher are considered obese.
Of those Gallup surveyed, 30% of actively disengaged workers and 28% of unemployed Americans are obese. This is higher than the national average and much higher than the 23% of engaged workers who are obese.
Actively disengaged employees are also as likely as the jobless to report having been diagnosed with several chronic illnesses over the course of their lifetimes. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are all about as prevalent among the actively disengaged workforce as they are among the unemployed. Slightly more than 2 in 10 in both groups also report having been diagnosed with depression.
Engaged workers are in the best health, reporting rates of chronic illnesses that are much lower than the actively disengaged and unemployed populations.

Implications
Gallup research has found that how employees are managed can significantly influence employee engagement and disengagement, which in turn influences an organization's bottom line. This analysis suggests there also could be health implications related to workplace engagement. Workplaces that create environments that disengage employees might be creating health risks that are as troubling as those the unemployed face.
This analysis, however, cannot definitively determine the direction of the causal relationship between engagement and health. It is possible that workers who are unhealthy become disengaged or unemployed, or that there are additional variables that could explain these relationships. Nevertheless, the results do control for gender, age, income, education, race, and marital status differences. Additionally, prior longitudinal research published in JAMA and the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that perceptions of working conditions explain risk in future coronary heart disease among employees.
Regardless, actively disengaged workers and the unemployed are in significantly worse health than Americans who are engaged in their jobs, according to Gallup data. The high rates of obesity and chronic illnesses these groups report could have a major effect on their long-term health and on U.S. healthcare costs. While addressing the health problems of the unemployed may be difficult, business leaders could play a major role in improving the workplace environment and potentially the health and wellbeing of actively disengaged workers.
About the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index
The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index tracks U.S. wellbeing and provides best-in-class solutions for a healthier world. To learn more, please visit well-beingindex.com.
About Gallup's Employee Engagement Index
Gallup's employee engagement index is based on decades of research studying which workplace elements matter most in driving performance outcomes across organizations throughout the world. Gallup researchers identified 12 elements that are summarized into 12 survey items. A composite of employee responses to the 12 items is used to formulate the engagement index groupings: engaged, not engaged, and actively disengaged.
About Gallup's Unemployment Index
Gallup's unemployment index categorizes respondents as "unemployed" if they are not employed, even for one hour a week, but are available and looking for work.
Survey Methods Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of the Gallup Daily tracking survey Nov. 16-Dec. 15, 2010, with a random sample of 3,421 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, selected using random-digit-dial sampling. The survey includes 1,266 unemployed, 400 actively disengaged, 1,116 not engaged, and 594 engaged respondents.
Maximum expected error ranges for subgroups vary according to size, ranging from ±2.8 percentage points for the largest group to ±4.9 percentage points for the smallest group.
Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones, with interviews conducted in Spanish for respondents who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Each daily sample includes a minimum quota of 200 cell phone respondents and 800 landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents for gender within region. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.
Samples are weighted by gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, region, adults in the household, cell phone-only status, cell phone-mostly status, and phone lines. Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2010 Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older non-institutionalized population living in U.S. telephone households. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.
In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Americans' Ratings of Their Finances Remain at Low Point

High- and middle-income Americans are more optimistic than low-income Americans

by Elizabeth Mendes

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Less than half of Americans rate their current financial situations as "excellent" or "good" (42%), on par with the 10-year low Gallup measured last year.

Gallup first asked Americans to rate their financial situations on the excellent/good/only fair/poor scale in August 2001, and has asked the question at least annually since then. A majority of Americans rated their financial situations positively through most of the past decade, before pessimism struck in reaction to the beginning of the recession in 2008. Since then, less than half of Americans have given their financial situations an excellent or good rating.
As Many Americans Optimistic as Pessimistic About Their Financial Future
In regard to what their financial future holds, Americans fall into one of two equally sized groups: 41% think their situation is "getting better" and 41% think it is "getting worse," according to the April 7-11 Gallup poll.
Americans' optimism about their future financial situations plummeted in 2008. The percentage who think their situation is getting better has been inching back up since that time, but remains well below the relatively optimistic levels found pre-2008. From 2001 to 2007, Americans were much more likely to say their financial situations were getting better than getting worse.

High-Income Americans Align With Middle-Income People on Financial Futures
While high-income Americans rate their current financial situations better than those with lower incomes, they are as likely as middle-income Americans to say their situations are getting better. At the same time, low-income Americans are significantly more pessimistic about their current and future financial situations.

Republicans Rate Current Financial Situation Best, Future Worst
Republicans are slightly more likely than Democrats and significantly more likely than independents to rate their current financial situation as excellent or good. Republicans are, however, less optimistic about the future than either independents or Democrats. Fifty-one percent of Republicans think their financial situation is getting worse, significantly more than the 30% of Democrats and 43% of independents who say the same.

Republicans were also more likely than Democrats to have pessimistic predictions about their financial futures in the same poll last year, but that was before the GOP took control of the House. In each year during the Bush administration, however, Republicans were more optimistic than Democrats, suggesting that economic expectations are related to politics and in particular to the party that controls the White House.
Bottom Line
The lack of improvement in Americans' ratings of their financial situations is in line with their declining economic optimism and concerns swirling around the high-profile budget battle in Washington, including what will be done about the deficit and how it will affect their retirement. Americans' views of the job market also remain highly negative. Until the employment situation improves and the federal budget issues are ironed out, Americans may be less likely to be positive about their current and future personal finances.
Survey Methods Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted April 7-11, 2011, with a random sample of 1,077 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the continental U.S., selected using random-digit-dial sampling.
For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.
Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones, with interviews conducted in Spanish for respondents who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Each sample includes a minimum quota of 400 cell phone respondents and 600 landline respondents per 1,000 national adults, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents for gender within region. Landline telephone numbers are chosen at random among listed telephone numbers. Cell phone numbers are selected using random digit dial methods. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.
Samples are weighted by gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, region, adults in the household, and phone status (cell phone-only/landline only/cell phone mostly, and having an unlisted landline number). Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2010 Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older non-institutionalized population living in continental U.S. telephone households. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.
In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Chronic Illness Rates Swell in Middle Age, Taper Off After 75

PRINCETON, NJ -- The percentages of U.S. adults ever diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes increase rapidly during middle age from about age 30 to 60. These percentages continue to rise through about age 75, after which they hold steady or diminish.

These findings are based on 24 months of Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index daily tracking data from 2009 through 2010, encompassing surveys with more than 650,000 U.S. adults, aged 18 and older. The resulting sample sizes for every age from 18 through 90 -- ranging from roughly 1,500 to 18,000 cases -- allow for age-specific analysis of the data.
The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index measures the prevalence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes by asking respondents if a medical professional has ever told them they have each condition. Overall from 2009 through 2010, an average of 31% of Americans reported having ever been diagnosed with high blood pressure, 27% with high cholesterol, and 11% with diabetes. In many cases, once diagnosed, these are lifetime conditions, not episodic.
Rates of Chronic Conditions Expand Differently as Americans Age
The trends by age reveal the extent to which these diagnoses accumulate in the population as it ages, although the patterns vary by condition.
The percentage of Americans reporting they were ever told they have high blood pressure climbs steadily from 5% of 18-year-olds to 57% of 70-year-olds and then plateaus at about 60% among people in their 70s and 80s.
The pattern is slightly different for high cholesterol. The percentage ever diagnosed with this condition holds in single digits from age 18 through 31, but then rises more rapidly from 10% at age 32 to 43% at age 60. It increases further to 50% by age 66, after which it stabilizes at this level until age 80 when it starts to dip, descending below 40% by age 89.
One reason hypertension rates might stay high among older seniors, whereas high cholesterol rates do not, is that the stiffening of blood vessels with age is a strong risk factor for the disease; thus, the diagnosis mounts with age, apparently offsetting those who die of hypertension-related illnesses in old age. By contrast, high cholesterol is linked with lifestyle factors more likely to affect people's health earlier in life. Thus, more people with high cholesterol may be dying in their 70s and 80s than are being newly diagnosed with the condition during these years.
Diabetes rates are slower to accelerate in the population by age than either high blood pressure or high cholesterol. About 1% of 18-year-old adults have been diagnosed with some form of the disease -- most likely heavily represented by Type 1 diabetes. The percentage of people diagnosed with diabetes remain in the single digits through their late forties, but thereafter -- when Type 2 diabetes becomes a greater risk -- it rises more sharply reaching 23% at age 68, then falls to 17% by age 89. Given the lifetime nature of diabetes, this decline is most likely attributed to mortality.
Obesity More Than Doubles Between Age 18 and 30
A leading cause of certain chronic conditions -- obesity -- surges in Americans' 20s, more than doubling between the ages of 18 and 30. It peaks at about age 50 and remains prevalent among Americans in their 60s and early 70s before tapering off.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index determines obesity on the basis of respondents' self-reported height and weight, using traditional Body Mass Index (BMI) scoring. Across 2009 and 2010, an average 27% of Americans were obese, defined as having a BMI of 30 or higher.
Whether the decline in obesity later in life mostly reflects the higher mortality rate of obese people as they age or significant weight loss among seniors is not clear.
To the extent that obesity remains a chronic problem for younger Americans -- that is, they do not make lifestyle changes to reduce their weight -- the prevalence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes may be greater for future generations of seniors. It is also possible that the rates of chronic illnesses among younger Americans today are higher than they were in the past as a result of higher rates of obesity.
Bottom Line
The proportion of Americans who have ever been diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes is fairly low in their 20s; however, these rates naturally increase over time, swelling to double digits among Americans in their 30s. Among people in their 40s, nearly a quarter each report having had hypertension or high cholesterol. About half of Americans in their 60s have been diagnosed with these conditions and one in five with diabetes. The rates would likely continue to compound, except for the associated mortality rates. As a result, those who survive into their 70s and 80s are typically less likely to have such chronic conditions.
At the same time, obesity affects an average of 20% of adults in their 20s and more than a quarter of adults in their 30s, likely setting Americans up for the exploding rates of weight- and diet-related chronic conditions seen later in life.
About the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index
The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index tracks U.S. and U.K. wellbeing and provides best-in-class solutions for a healthier world. To learn more, please visit well-beingindex.com.
Survey Methods Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey throughout 2009 and 2010, with a random sample of 658,578 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, selected using random-digit-dial sampling.
For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±1 percentage point.
For results based on individual age groups, the maximum margins of sampling error range from ±1 percentage point to ±3 percentages points.
Interviews are conducted with respondents on landline telephones and cellular phones, with interviews conducted in Spanish for respondents who are primarily Spanish-speaking. Each daily sample includes a minimum quota of 200 cell phone respondents and 800 landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas among landline respondents for gender within region. Landline respondents are chosen at random within each household on the basis of which member had the most recent birthday.
Samples are weighted by gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, region, adults in the household, cell phone-only status, cell phone-mostly status, and phone lines. Demographic weighting targets are based on the March 2010 Current Population Survey figures for the aged 18 and older non-institutionalized population living in U.S. telephone households. All reported margins of sampling error include the computed design effects for weighting and sample design.
In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Jennifer Hudson talks about Hollywood discrimination

Jennifer Hudson believes she was “discriminated against” in Hollywood when she was heavier.

The singer-and-actress was always happy with her body when she was larger, but since dropping four dress sizes by following the WeightWatchers diet plan she has realised her fuller figure was hindering her career.

Jennifer – who shed the pounds to play politician Winnie Mandela, the ex-wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, in upcoming film ‘Winnie’ - said: “Last week I saw some footage of myself as I was five years ago and I was surprised. It was like I recognised myself but I didn’t. It seemed another world away. But in this slim world I do now realise I was being discriminated against. I’m offered more parts. There is much more excitement about me now.”

Rather than be worried about her own weight when she started her career, the 29-year-old star – who competed on ‘American Idol’ –thought her peers were too slim.

Jennifer – who is marrying WWE wrestler David Otunga, with whom she has a 20-month-old son David, later this year – always felt she was a normal size woman.

In an interview with Britain’s Grazia magazine, she said: “I never thought I was overweight. I thought my old look was pretty normal. That was how all the girls looked growing up in Chicago. I didn’t have any problem with it. It makes me smile to think back to myself when I did ‘Dreamgirls’ with Beyonce (Knowles). I did see all these women in Hollywood, all very slim and I thought, ‘Wow, these ladies are very into themselves.’ I loved that I stood out in a room. You knew when you saw this woman it was Jennifer Hudson.”

Jennifer is pleased with her new figure and admits she felt great when her famous friends praised her for looking so great.

She added: “There have been times when it’s a huge high, like when I walked the red carpet at the Oscars and people were screaming at me. Then I also had dinner with Beyonce (Knowles) and Alicia Keys and they just kept going on an on about how great I looked.”

Jaundice

Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, is not a disease itself but a symptom of an underlying disorder. The discoloration occurs when excessive amounts of the body pigment bilirubin accumulate in the bloodstream.

Normally bilirubin -- a natural byproduct of the breakdown of red blood cells in the liver -- mixes with the digestive juice bile and passes harmlessly out of the body through the digestive tract. But if the liver is not functioning properly or the passage of bile is obstructed (perhaps by gallstones), bilirubin backs up into the blood. Jaundice in newborns and very young children, in most cases, is relatively benign. But in older children and adults it can be a sign of a more serious ailment.

Symptoms:

A yellowish or greenish tinge to the skin.
Yellowing of the whites of the eyes; this is usually a more reliable sign of jaundice than yellowing of the skin.
Dark-colored urine.
In some cases, generalized itching.

Causes:
More than half of all newborn infants experience what is called physiological jaundice, the consequence of an inexperienced liver suddenly being required to function on its own. In the womb, a fetus's blood passes through the mother's liver, which disposes of any excess bilirubin. After birth, however, the newborn's liver has to handle the job alone, and sometimes it takes time for the new organ to get up to speed. In these cases, the infant is placed periodically under a sun lamp. In rare cases, excessive amounts of bilirubin can damage the child's brain. For this reason, and because it may be a symptom of a serious underlying problem, jaundice should never be ignored.
Premature infants and those with a family history of jaundice stand a slightly higher than normal chance of developing it, as do some breast-fed infants. Physicians can't predict which infants will get jaundice and which will not.

Some cases of jaundice in newborns stem from an incompatibility between the mother's and child's blood types. The mother's immune system attacks blood cells in the fetus, causing the blood cells to break down and resulting in the development of jaundice in the child after birth. Infant jaundice can also come as a result of some other illness or disorder, such as blocked bile ducts, bowel obstructions, hepatitis, mononucleosis, herpes infections or even bruises sustained at birth.

Illness-related jaundice is generally a more serious concern in older children and adults. Frequently the underlying cause in such cases is cirrhosis, caused when liver cells are damaged and replaced by scar tissue. The damaged liver cannot process and dispose of bilirubin effectively, so the pigment backs up into the bloodstream.

Other factors or conditions that can disrupt liver function and lead to jaundice include hepatitis, certain drugs and toxins, pregnancy and congestive heart failure. In some cases, gallstones become lodged in a duct carrying bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. Its path blocked, the bile backs up and seeps into the bloodstream.

Diagnostic and Test Procedures :
You can perform a simple test to check for jaundice in your infant. Using your finger, press gently on the tip of the baby's nose or forehead. If the skin looks white when you pull your finger away, the baby is fine. (This is true regardless of the child's race.) If the spot has a yellowish tinge, the baby is developing jaundice. It's best to perform this test in natural daylight, as artificial light can give the skin a yellow cast. Note: Dark orange or tea-colored urine may indicate jaundice even when the skin appears normal.

If jaundice shows up in school-age children or adults, the doctor may take a blood sample to check for liver damage. The physician may also recommend an examination with ultrasound or X-rays to check for bile duct obstructions.

Treatment :
Generally, the best way to treat jaundice is to correct the underlying cause; the exact remedy, conventional or alternative, will depend on the nature and severity of the case.


Consult Doctor :
If you notice jaundice in your infant; though jaundice in newborns is common, it may indicate a more serious condition.
If you notice jaundice in yourself, in another adult, or in a school-age child; jaundice may be a sign of gallstone-related problems, hepatitis or liver failure, all of which can be serious if left untreated.

Malaria: FAQs

What is malaria?Malaria is a serious, sometimes fatal, disease caused by a parasite. Thereare four kinds of malaria that can infect humans: Plasmodium falciparum , P.vivax , P. ovale , and P. malariae.
Where does malaria occur?
Malaria occurs in over 100 countries and territories. More than 40% of thepeople in the world are at risk. Large areas of Central and South America,Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Africa, the Indian subcontinent,Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania are considered malaria-risk areas(an area of the world that has malaria).
How common is malaria?
The World Health Organization estimates that yearly 300-500 million cases ofmalaria occur and more than 1 million people die of malaria. About 1,200 casesof malaria are diagnosed in the United States each year. Most cases in theUnited States are in immigrants and travelers returning from malaria-risk areas,mostly from sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent.
How do you get malaria?
Humans get malaria from the bite of a malaria-infected mosquito. When a mosquito bites an infected person, it ingests microscopic malaria parasites found in the person’s blood. The malaria parasite must grow in the mosquito for a week or more before infection can be passed to another person. If, after a week, the mosquito then bites another person, the parasites go from the mosquito’s mouth into the person’s blood. The parasites then travel to the person’s liver, enter the liver’s cells, grow and multiply. During this time when the parasites are in the liver, the person has not yet felt sick. The parasites leave the liver and enter red blood cells; this may take as little as8 days or as many as several months. Once inside the red blood cells, the parasites grow and multiply. The red blood cells burst, freeing the parasites to attack other red blood cells. Toxins from the parasite are also released into the blood, making the person feel sick. If a mosquito bites this person while the parasites are in his or her blood, it will ingest the tiny parasites. After a week or more, the mosquito can infect another person.
Each year in the United States, a few cases of malaria result from blood transfusions, are passed from mother to fetus during pregnancy, or are transmitted by locally infected mosquitoes.
What are the signs and symptoms of malaria?
Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. Malaria may cause anemia and jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood cells. Infection with one typeof malaria, P. falciparum, if not promptly treated, may cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma, and death.
How soon will a person feel sick after being bitten by an infected mosquito?
For most people, symptoms begin 10 days to 4 weeks after infection, although a person may feel ill as early as 8 days or up to 1 year later. Two kinds ofmalaria, P. vivax and P. ovale, can relapse; some parasites can rest in the liver for several months up to 4 years after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito . When these parasites come out of hibernation and begin invading red blood cells, the person will become sick.
How is malaria diagnosed?
Malaria is diagnosed by looking for the parasites in a drop of blood. Blood will be put onto a microscope slide and stained so that the parasites will be visible under a microscope.
Any traveler who becomes ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling and up to 1 year after returning home should immediately seek professional medical care. You should tell your health care provider that you have been traveling in a malaria-risk area.
Who is at risk for malaria?
Persons living in, and travelers to, any area of the world where malaria is transmitted may become infected.
What is the treatment for malaria?
Malaria can be cured with prescription drugs. The type of drugs and length of treatment depend on which kind of malaria is diagnosed, where the patient was infected, the age of the patient, and how severely ill the patient was at start of treatment.
Conventional Medicine
If you are infected with P. vivax, P. ovale or P. malariae, you will receivechloroquine orally for three days. To help avoid later recurrences caused bydormant P. vivax or P. ovale parasites, you will also be given oral doses of primaquine for 14 more days. Because primaquine can destroy red blood cells andthus threaten the health of a fetus, it is not given to pregnant women; if youare pregnant, you will be kept on chloroquine.

If you became infected with P. falciparum in an area of the world where it has not been shown resistant to chloroquine, you will be treated with that drug.Otherwise, you will be given oral doses of either quinine and tetracycline, or quinine and a combination product of pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine for several days. If you are vomiting or have serious medical complications, you may be given intravenous quinidine until you are well enough to take the other drug
How can malaria and other travel-related illnesses be prevented?

• Visit your health care provider 4-6 weeks before foreign travel for any necessary vaccinations and a prescription for an antimalarial drug.
• Take your antimalarial drug exactly on schedule without missing doses.
• Prevent mosquito and other insect bites. Use DEET insect repellent on exposed skin and flying insect spray in the room where you sleep.
• Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, especially from dusk to dawn. This is the time when mosquitoes that spread malaria bite.
• Sleep under a mosquito bednet that has been dipped in permethr in insecticide if you are not living in screened or air-conditioned housing.

This fact sheet is for information only and is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider. If you have any questions about the disease described above or think that you might have malaria, consult a doctor.

Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when the amount of water in the body falls below normal, which, in turn, disrupts the balance of sugars and salts (electrolytes) in the body. Many factors can lead to dehydration, including vomiting or diarrhea, bleeding, certain medications and a variety of diseases. Infants, young children and the elderly are particularly sensitive to the effects of dehydration and may become dehydrated rapidly. Left untreated, dehydration can result in shock and then death.

Symptoms :
Increased heart rate
Darker yellow urine (indicating that it's more concentrated than normal)
Decreased amount of urine (including fewer wet diapers in a baby)
Dry or sticky feeling or appearance inside of the mouth
Lack of tears
Poor skin tone, or turgor (that is, when pinched, the skin remains tented, instead of relaxing flat again)
Sunken eyes
Sunken fontanel (the soft spot on a baby's head)
Weakness, severe lethargy
Dizziness
Muscle cramps
Intense thirst
Pain in the chest and/or abdomen
Cold, clammy hands and feet
Blue mottling (blotching, streaking or spotting) of the skin of the hands and feet, or bluish cast to the fingernails and toenails
Confusion
Unconsciousness

Causes :
In children, the most common cause of dehydration is a viral or bacterial illness that causes vomiting or diarrhea, such as stomach flu (gastroenteritis). Vomiting or diarrhea may lead to significant loss of fluid that the child is unable to offset by drinking. If the child also has a fever, then more fluid will be lost through sweating and fast breathing, worsening the dehydration. While particularly common in children (who tend to have a number of bouts of stomach flu during childhood), this scenario can also strike adults.
You can also get dehydrated due to severe bleeding , bleeding ulcers, exercise in hot weather (which may cause severe sweating, see Heat Illness), burns and severe asthma attacks (fast breathing allows too much fluid to be exhaled). If you have a condition that allows fluid to leak out of your circulatory system and accumulate in different parts of the body, you may become dehydrated. Such conditions include bowel obstructions, peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of the abdomen), pancreatitis (see Pancreatic Problems), nephrotic syndrome (a kidney disease) and liver cirrhosis. Severe infections can also cause dehydration by allowing fluid to pool in over-expanded veins rather than return to the heart.

The kidneys are responsible for many of the tasks involved in regulating body fluids, and a variety of kidney conditions can result in dehydration. If you take certain medications, such as diuretics (which encourage your body to form and pass urine), you may be at greater risk for dehydration. Diabetes insipidus, Addison's disease and other diseases can also result in dehydration.

Treatment :
Mild dehydration can be treated by drinking fluids. Because dehydration means that fluids, sugar and salts have been lost, it is important that the fluids used in treatment contain all these substances in the proper amounts. For instance, items such as juices, sodas, broths, gelatin desserts and plain water don't contain the right concentrations of salts. There are a number of commercial rehydration products that have been carefully designed to replace fluids, sugar and salts. These are available in most grocery stores.

You can also make your own solution by adding one-half teaspoon of table salt and 8 teaspoons of sugar to a liter of water, and mixing thoroughly. This solution does not replace potassium and does not correct pH changes associated with dehydration. So this solution should be used only temporarily, until you can obtain a prepared rehydration solution.

If you are vomiting, you should try to drink at least a teaspoonful of rehydration solution every five minutes. If you have diarrhea, drink about one-half to one cup of liquid after each bowel movement.

More severe cases of dehydration should be treated in a doctor's office or an emergency room, where balanced fluids can be given through a needle in the vein (intravenously). If you are dehydrated due to bleeding or certain other medical conditions, you may need a blood transfusion or special intravenous medications.

Prevention :
If you have a condition that may lead to dehydration, begin replacing lost fluids even before you have the symptoms of dehydration. Also, everyone should drink plenty of fluids during work or exercise in hot weather.

Bedwetting

The most important thing to remember about bedwetting is that it is a benign disorder and not a willful act. Punishment is never an answer. Between five million and seven million children suffer from bedwetting; the majority are boys.
Don't be unduly concerned about bedwetting unless your child is older than six. Before then, your child's body may not have developed enough to control bladder actions at night. Time usually cures the problem: Most children resolve any difficulties on their own by the age of seven.

Symptoms:
It is not unusual for children under the age of six to have trouble controlling their bladders at night. You should be concerned about bedwetting only if:
Your child is older than six and has never been dry at night or continues to wet the bed twice a month or more.
Your child suddenly starts wetting at night after a period of having been dry through the night

Causes :
Why bedwetting occurs is not fully understood, although most cases seem to result from some kind of developmental delay. Some experts think bedwetting is purely a behavioral issue, others believe its origins are physiological, and still others think both physiological and behavioral factors play a role. Only 2 percent of cases can be traced to neurological problems (often caused by structural spinal abnormalities) or specific diseases such as diabetes or bladder infections.
Alternative therapists believe that a misalignment of muscles and joints around the pelvis can affect the activity of the sphincter muscle that controls urine release.

Any new, stressful situation may cause a child to revert to bedwetting. Once your child adjusts to the situation, the problem should resolve itself. If your child does not improve, the treatments listed here should help. In addition, you will want your child to talk through his fears.

Treatment :
To rule out a disease-related problem, your pediatrician will perform a blood or urine test. If the test reveals diabetes or an infection, your pediatrician will treat that condition first. The doctor will also test your child to rule out nervous system problems.

There are three primary ways to treat bedwetting in an otherwise healthy child: waiting for spontaneous resolution, employing behavioral conditioning, and undertaking drug therapy.

Waiting, though often the preferred course, may make your child anxious. However, if he is old enough to benefit from motivational counseling to learn about the condition and participate in its management he and the rest of your family will be better able to cope. One form of motivation is to have your child place a star on a chart or calendar to mark dry nights.

Behavioral conditioning utilizing a device with a sensor that detects wetness and sets off an alarm has proved very effective. The child begins associating bladder distention with being awakened and in time "learns" to awaken before losing control.

Drug therapy is considered less effective because most children relapse after stopping medication. It has its place, however. For short-term help when your child sleeps at a friend's, for example desmopressin, an antidiuretic, works well. Doctors are moving away from the antidepressant imipramine because of side effects.

Tonsillitis

The tonsils are masses of lymphatic tissue located at the back of the throat. They produce antibodies designed to help your child fight respiratory infections. When these tissues themselves become infected, the resulting condition is called tonsillitis.

Tonsillitis most commonly affects children between the ages of three and seven, when tonsils may play their most active infection-fighting role. But as the child grows, the tonsils shrink, and infections become less common. Tonsillitis is usually not serious, unless a tonsillar abscess develops. When this happens, the swelling can be severe enough to block your child's breathing. Secondary ear infections (otitis media) and adenoid problems are other complications.

Symptoms :

A very sore throat with red, swollen tonsils; there may be a white discharge or spots on the tonsils.
Swollen and tender lymph nodes in the neck under the jaw.
A low-grade fever and headache accompanying the other symptoms.
For tonsillar abscess:
In addition to inflamed tonsils, severe pain and tenderness around the area of the soft palate, at the roof of the mouth, and difficulty swallowing.
Distinctively muffled speech, as if the child is speaking with a mouthful of mashed potatoes, caused by swelling from the abscess.


Causes :
Most tonsil infections and tonsillar abscesses in elementary school-age children are caused by the streptococcal bacterium, the same organism that causes strep throat. Cold or influenza (flu) viruses sometimes also cause tonsillitis.

Treatment :
To check your child's tonsils, place the handle of a spoon on her tongue and ask the child to say "aaahhh" while you direct a light on the back of her throat. If the tonsils look bright red and swollen, call your pediatrician.

Prevention :
Tonsillectomy, the surgical removal of the tonsils, is performed much less frequently today than in years past. Doctors now generally recommend the operation only in serious cases, such as when tonsillar abscess is a recurring problem. If surgery is performed, your child may need to be hospitalized for a day or two and her throat will be sore for four or five days.

Measles

Measles is one of the most contagious childhood viral infections and one of the most severe, with complications ranging from ear infections to pneumonia and encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain that occurs in one out of 2,000 patients). Measles can become an epidemic in schools. Preventive immunization is recommended, if not required by state law.
Adults can contract measles if they have not been previously exposed or immunized. People who have once had measles develop a natural immunity and cannot contract it again.

Symptoms :
If your child has measles, he will be very sick. Look for the following symptoms:
Days 1-3 (Prodrome): mild to high fever, harsh cough, runny nose, red eyes and sneezing; tiny white spots on gums near upper molars or inside cheeks.
Days 4-8: high fever; characteristic rash, spreading from face to trunk, then to arms and legs. Skin starts to peel in two to three days. Rash starts to fade from the face by the time it reaches the arms and legs.
Your child may also develop inflammation of the eyes (conjunctivitis), which will make the eyes sensitive to light.

Causes :
Measles is a virus that is transmitted by direct contact or by droplets from a sneeze or cough. The incubation period -- when the virus multiplies in the body and the child is not contagious -- is eight to 12 days. Your child is most contagious two days before symptoms appear, although he is still contagious for several days after the rash begins.


Treatment :
If you suspect that your child has measles, you should always consult your child's pediatrician or family practitioner, who will confirm the diagnosis. If measles is likely, your doctor will notify the schools and monitor your child's progress so as to be ready to intercede if complications arise. Infected children should not return to school until a week after the rash appears. Treatment includes rest and fluids.

Prevention :
Many alternative practitioners feel it is better for an otherwise healthy child to contract measles than to be vaccinated, because fighting the illness strengthens the immune system. However, immunization is usually required by state law, as measles can cause epidemics in schools. The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella vaccine) is now given at 12 or 15 months, with a booster at the age of 4 to 6 or 10 to 12. The homeopathic version of immunization is not an accepted equivalent and will not provide adequate protection, but some homeopaths will prescribe remedies to ease the potential side effects of the MMR.


Consult Doctor : 
If you think your child has measles; your doctor may have received notice of an epidemic and may be able to confirm your diagnosis over the phone.
If your child has measles and his cough becomes harsher or more productive, which could indicate viral pneumonia.
If your child has measles and is having trouble staying fully awake; is extremely lethargic; or is suffering from irritability, disorientation or convulsions within a week of the onset of the rash. This could indicate encephalitis.
If your child has measles and develops difficulty hearing or pain in the ears, which may indicate an ear infection

Allergies

The term allergy applies to an abnormal reaction by your immune system to a substance that is usually not harmful. Allergies come in a variety of forms and vary in severity from mildly bothersome to life-threatening. An estimated one-fifth of the Western Hemisphere's population suffers from allergies. No one knows why some people develop them, but heredity seems to play a role in their development. Although allergies may flare up and subside throughout your life, people rarely acquire new ones past the age of 40.

The immune system protects the body from foreign substances -- known as antigens -- by producing antibodies and other chemicals to fight against them. Usually the immune system ignores harmless substances, such as food, and fights only dangerous ones, such as bacteria. A person develops an allergic reaction when the immune system cannot tell the good from the bad and releases a type of chemical called histamine to attack the harmless substance as if it were a threat. Histamine produces many of the symptoms associated with allergies. Substances that may trigger allergic reactions, known as allergens, range from pollen to pet dander to penicillin.

Most allergic reactions are not serious, but some, such as anaphylaxis, can result in an inability to breathe or a severe drop in blood pressure and can be fatal. Only a few allergies can be cured outright, but a variety of conventional and alternative treatments are available to relieve the symptoms. If your allergy is severe, it is vital that you visit a conventional medical doctor and get immediate treatment on an emergency basis.


Symptoms :
Sneezing, wheezing, nasal congestion and coughing may indicate asthma, or drug or respiratory allergies.
Itchy eyes, mouth and throat are frequently symptoms of respiratory allergies.
Stomachache, frequent indigestion and heartburn are signs of food sensitivities.
Irritated, itchy, reddening or swelling skin is associated with drug, food and insect sting allergies.
Stiffness, pain and swelling of joints may indicate food or drug allergies

Causes :
Allergies come in many distinct forms and are typically grouped in general categories according to the types of substances that cause them or the parts of the body they affect.
Skin allergies: Contact dermatitis is caused by direct, topical exposure to a specific allergen; atopic dermatitis has no known cause, but it is usually hereditary. Hives, or urticaria, is an eruption of itchy, swollen, reddened welts that can last for minutes or days. Angioedema is characterized by a deeper swelling around the eyes and lips, and sometimes of the hands and feet as well. Both hives and angioedema stem from the body's adverse reaction to certain foods, pollen, animal dander, drugs, insect stings, cold, heat, light or even emotional stress.

Respiratory allergies: Some 20 million Americans suffer from hay fever (allergic rhinitis). Typical symptoms include itchy eyes, nose and roof of mouth or throat, along with nasal congestion, coughing and sneezing. If you (or members of your family) have other allergies such as dermatitis or asthma, you are more likely to have hay fever. The terms allergic rhinitis and hay fever apply specifically to reactions caused by the pollens of ragweed, grasses and other plants whose pollen is spread by the wind. But the same symptoms can be produced by other airborne substances that you inhale. These can include molds, dust and animal dander. If, for example, you are allergic to cat dander (dead skin scales and saliva), being near a cat will make you sneeze, wheeze and sniffle. Mold allergies are caused by airborne spores. Outdoor molds -- alternaria and hormodendrum -- thrive in warm seasons or climates, while indoor molds -- penicillium, aspergillus, mucor and rhizopus -- grow year round in damp locations (basements and bathrooms, for example). Dust causes allergies because it harbors offenders such as pollen, mold spores and microscopic dust mites; it may also contain irritating fibers from fabrics, upholstery and carpets.

Asthma: Asthma has various causes, but the chief ones are environmental exposures and allergies to pollen, mold spores, animal dander and dust mites.

Food allergies: An estimated 70 percent of people with food allergies are under 30; most are children under the age of six. It is sometimes difficult to pinpoint the specific allergens responsible for a food allergy, because reactions are often delayed or may be caused by food additives or even by eating habits. However, approximately 90 percent of food allergies are caused by proteins in cow's milk, egg whites, peanuts, wheat or soybeans. Other common food allergens include berries, shellfish, corn, beans, yellow food dye No. 5 and gum arabic (an additive in processed foods). The classic symptoms of food allergies include stomach cramps, diarrhea and nausea. In more severe cases, there may be vomiting, swelling of the face and tongue, and respiratory congestion, as well as dizziness, sweating and faintness.


Drug allergies: The most common drug allergy is to drugs in the penicillin family. Other common drug allergens include sulfas, barbiturates, anticonvulsants, insulin, local anesthetics and dyes injected into blood vessels for X-rays. Almost one million Americans have reactions to aspirin; these responses are not true allergies but rather "sensitivities."

Insect sting allergies: Some studies speculate that people who have other allergies (food, drug or respiratory) may be more susceptible to insect sting allergies, which affect about 15 percent of the population. Venom in stings of bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and fire ants is a common allergen (see Insect and Spider Bites).

Treatment :
The most certain treatment for allergies is to avoid the substances that trigger them, but this can be difficult. The basic medications for allergies are antihistamines, which counteract the histamine chemicals that cause the allergic reactions. Prescription corticosteroid drugs may also be used for severe symptoms. In emergency situations -- when anaphylactic shock occurs -- injections of epinephrine are used to dilate bronchial passages. Immunotherapy, or allergy desensitization shots, may cure some allergies by introducing small amounts of the offending allergens in order to help the body learn to deal with them.

Respiratory allergies: hay fever is generally treated with over-the-counter antihistamines, but your doctor may prescribe other, more powerful drugs -- such as cromolyn -- if your symptoms are severe. The same treatments apply to other respiratory allergies, but if your symptoms are severe, your physician may prescribe corticosteroids, in nasal spray or oral form. Immunotherapy has a high success rate, curing 70 percent to 80 percent of people treated for respiratory allergies.

Food allergies (treatment): The best treatment for food allergies is avoidance. If your reactions to certain foods are irritating but not life-endangering, your doctor may prescribe antihistamines or topical creams to help relieve symptoms.

Drug allergies (treatment): The only effective treatment for drug allergies is avoidance. Skin rashes associated with drug allergies are generally treated with antihistamines; occasionally they are treated with oral or topical corticosteroids.

Insect sting allergies: Avoidance is the best treatment, but immunotherapy may cure insect sting allergies. If you are extremely allergic and likely to go into anaphylactic shock (see Anaphylaxis), your doctor will prescribe an emergency kit, which you must carry with you at all times. This kit contains a preloaded injection of ephinephrine, a fast-acting drug that counters anaphylactic shock. Your doctor can show you how to use this properly.

Prevention :
Respiratory allergies: Install a high-efficiency air cleaner to help remove pollen and mold spores, and use an air conditioner in your home and car during warm seasons to keep pollen out; regularly clean damp areas with bleach to kill molds. Consider hiring a special cleaning service to rid furniture and upholstery of dust mites. Isolate your pets and keep them outside as much as possible. Regular baths for your pet will help reduce dander.

Food allergies:
Instead of dairy products, try tofu-based foods. Always check food labels for additives that are known allergens, such as yellow food dye No. 5 and gum arabic. When eliminating foods from your diet, be sure to find alternate sources of nutrients. For example, if you cannot eat dairy foods, choose other foods high in calcium or take calcium tablets.

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR :
-If you have violent stomach cramps, vomiting, bloating or diarrhea; this could point to a serious food or other allergic reaction or food poisoning.
-If breathing becomes extremely difficult or painful; you may be experiencing an asthma episode, another serious allergic reaction or a heart attack. Get emergency medical treatment.
-If you suddenly develop skin welts, accompanied by intense flushing and itching; your heart may also be beating rapidly. These symptoms may indicate the onset of anaphylactic shock, an extremely serious allergic reaction. Get emergency medical treatment.

What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma, an extremely rare form of cancer, derives its name from mesothelium, which is the tissue infected by this cancer. Mesothelium is a membrane covering most of the body viscera. Factually speaking, mesothelium consists of two layers: one of the two forms an immediate cover of the organ; the other one leaves a space around the first layer and then forms a covering. A fluid released by mesothelium fills this sac-like space. Function of this fluid is lubrication, in other words, it allows convenient and frictionless motion of the internal body organs.
Mesothelial tissue, if surrounds the lungs and chest cavity, is called pleura, it is called peritoneum if it surrounds the abdominal organs and pericardium if it surrounds heart. Mesothelial lining surrounding the male reproductive system is called tunica vaginalis testis, and the one surrounding internal female reproductive organs is called tunica serosa uteri.

Mesothelioma is a disorder, in which uncontrollable division of cells of mesothelium leads to formation of a tumor in this tissue, which, in most of the cases is malignant. That is why, mesothelioma is also known as cancer of mesothelium. The cancerous cells of mesothelioma can metastasize to other body parts and can also damage nearby tissues. Most of the cases of mesothelioma begin in pleural cavity. Peritoneal and pericardial origin is less common. Rarely, mesothelioma may originate in groin and give a hernia-like appearance.

Types of Mesothelioma?

Malignant Mesothelioma
A cancerous form of tumour, which is virtually always caused by sustained exposure to asbestos. The time period between first exposure to asbestos and appearance of first symptoms can be anywhere between 20-50 years. In some cases, it may stretch even beyond that. Besides the treatment methods mentioned forth, supportive treatment such as pain-relief and oxygen may also help in relieving the symptoms a bit. Even though. Prognosis depends upon the stage of cancer, and availability of effective treatment options, different studies indicate median period to be between 4 and 18 months.

Benign-fibrous Mesothelioma

A non-cancerous tumour of the pleura. This is a localized type of tumour, which, as studies suggest, affects men more frequently then women. The usual symptoms to appear are chronic cough and shortness of breath. The reason for appearance of these symptoms is, the tumour grows to a large size at times and compresses the lung, causing shortness of breath. During physical examination, the health care professional may observe a clubbed appearance of fingers. Pleural effusion is a complication of this disorder

What Causes Malignant Mesothelioma?

Up to 9 out of 10 cases of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a natural mineral, mined from rock found in many countries. It is made up of tiny fibres that are as strong as steel but can be woven like cotton and are highly resistant to heat and chemicals. Before the 1980s, asbestos was imported to the UK in large quantities for use in construction, ship-building and the manufacture of household appliances. When asbestos is disturbed or damaged, it releases tiny fibres that can be breathed into the lungs and cause inflammation, a build-up of scar tissue (fibrosis) and sometimes cancer.

During the 1960s the first definite link between mesothelioma and asbestos was made. Asbestos is now known to be the most common cause of the disease.

Asbestos was very widely used in insulation materials, such as amosite insulation board, and building materials, including asbestos cement. Asbestos fibres are very fine and if they are breathed in they can penetrate to the smallest airways of the lung, so they cannot be breathed or coughed out. Once the fibres are in the lungs the body’s defence mechanism tries to break them down and remove them, which leads to inflammation in the lung tissue. The asbestos fibres can also penetrate through the lung tissue to settle in the pleura (the membrane around the lung).

The asbestos fibres can also be swallowed, and some of the fibres can stick in the digestive tract. They can then move into the membrane that lines the abdomen (the peritoneum), where they cause inflammation.

The people most likely to have been exposed to asbestos include construction workers, plumbers, electricians, boilermakers, shipbuilders and demolition workers. People who lived near to asbestos factories, or worked in buildings where asbestos was present have developed mesothelioma. Family members of people who worked with asbestos and brought the dust home on their clothes have also sometimes been affected.
There are three types of asbestos: blue, brown and white. Blue and brown asbestos, are most commonly linked with mesothelioma. They are now very rarely used and cannot be imported into the UK. Originally, white asbestos was not thought to be dangerous but recent studies have now shown that it is also harmful.

Mesothelioma does not usually develop until 10-60 years after exposure to asbestos and for this reason it is often difficult to discover the exact cause.

In the 1980s, imports of blue and brown asbestos into the UK were stopped and in 1999 the importation and use of all asbestos was banned. However, as mesothelioma develops so slowly it is estimated that by 2020 approximately 3,000 people will be diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. The number of people who develop mesothelioma will then start to reduce each year.

Rarely, mesothelioma develops in people who have never been exposed to asbestos. The other causes of the disease are not fully understood, but exposure to radiation has also in rare cases been linked to mesothelioma. Currently a research study is taking place to try to find out more about the causes of mesothelioma. It is called the National Study of Occupation and Lung Diseases. Your doctor may invite you to take part in the study, and if you agree you will be asked to fill in a short questionnaire and have a telephone discussion for about an hour with a researcher.

Research has not found any evidence that smoking increases a person’s risk of developing mesothelioma. It is also thought that exposure to other building materials such as fibreglass does not increase the risk.

Mesothelioma is not contagious and cannot be passed on to other people. It is not caused by inherited faulty genes and so children of people with mesothelioma do not have an increased risk of developing it, unless they have been in contact with asbestos.

Asbestos Mesothelioma?

The major risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Only about 20% of the cases reported occur due to other reasons. These reasons are not vivid as yet. Asbestos is a the name of a category of minerals, and finds extensive use in several industrial products, including cement, brake linings, flooring products, roof shingles, textiles, and insulation. During the process of manufacturing, several small fibres float in air, which are inhaled and swallowed. Over a period of time, these asbestos fibres reach a threshold concentration in lungs and pleura, and lead to several complicated disorders. Besides mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos multiplies the risk of other health ailments like lung cancer, asbestosis, and other cancers such as the ones of lungs and kidney.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Facts

In the groups of workers with cumulative exposures to asbestos ranging from about 5 to 1200 fibre-year/ mL, diseases like lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis etc. are found extensively. Such exposures result from 40 years of occupational exposure to air concentrations of 0.125 to 30 fiber/ Ml.

Tremolite asbestos exposure has been associated with an increased incidence of disease in vermiculite miners and millers from Libby, Montana.

Long and thin fibres reach the lower airways and alveoli of lungs, where they are retained for longer. These fibres are more toxic than short and wide fibres or particles. Wide particles deposit in the upper respiratory tract and do not reach the lung and pleura, which are the sites of asbestos-induced toxicity. Short, thin fibres play in role in asbestos pathogenesis.

Fibers of amphibole asbestos, for instance, tremolite asbestos, actinolite asbestos, and crocidolite asbestos are retained longer in the lower respiratory tract than chrysotile fibres of similar dimensions.

70-80% of the reported cases of mesothelioma occur due to chronic exposure to asbestos fibres.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an extremely painful cancer.

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma, however, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure steeply raises the slope of a person’s risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

Stages of Malignant Mesothelioma:

Staging is the process of finding out how far the cancer has spread. Staging of mesothelioma is based on imaging studies such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans. The treatment and outlook for patients with mesothelioma largely depends on the stage (extent of spread) of their cancer. Since pleural mesothelioma occurs most frequently and has been studied the most, it is the only mesothelioma for which a staging classification exists.

The major staging system has recently been developed by the International Mesothelioma Interest Group and adopted by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). This is a TNM system, similar to staging systems used for most other cancers. T stands for tumor (its size and how far it has spread to nearby organs), N stands for spread to lymph nodes, and M is for metastasis (spread to distant organs). In TNM staging, information about the tumor, lymph nodes, and metastasis is combined in a process called stage grouping to assign a stage described by Roman numerals from I to IV.

T Stages

T1: Mesothelioma involves either the right or left pleura lining the chest. It has only spread to the pleura covering the lung, with the exception of possibly a few other small spots.

T2: Mesothelioma involves either the right or left pleura lining the chest and has spread from the lining of the chest into 1) the outer lining of the lung, 2) the diaphragm, or 3) into the lung itself.

T3: Mesothelioma involves either the right or left pleura lining the chest and has spread into 1) the first layer of the chest wall, 2) the fatty part of the mediastinum, 3) a single place in the chest wall, or 4) the outer covering layer of the heart.

T4: Mesothelioma involves either the right or left pleura lining the chest and has spread 1) into the chest wall, either muscle or ribs, 2) through the diaphragm, 3) into any organ contained in the mediastinum (esophagus, trachea, thymus, blood vessels), 4) into the spine, 5) across to the pleura on the other side of the chest, 6) through the heart lining or into the heart itself, or 7) into the brachial plexus (nerves leading to the arm).

N Stages

N0: No spread to lymph nodes.

N1: Spread to lymph nodes on the same side of the chest as the mesothelioma.

N2: Spread to lymph nodes around the point where the windpipe branches into the left and right bronchi or to lymph nodes in the space behind the chest bone and in front of the heart (mediastinum). Affected lymph nodes are on the same side of the cancerous lung.

N3: Spread to lymph nodes near the collarbone on either side, to hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes on the side opposite the cancerous lung.

M Stages

M0: No spread to distant organs or areas.

M1: The cancer has spread distantly.

Stage Grouping for Pleural Mesothelioma

Once the T, N, and M categories have been assigned, this information is combined (stage grouping) to assign an overall stage of I, II, III, or IV. Patients with lower stage numbers have a better prognosis.

Stage I (T1, N0, M0): Mesothelioma involves either the right or left pleura lining the chest. It has only spread to the outer lining of the lung in, at most, a few small spots. It has not spread to the lymph nodes or distant sites.

Stage II (T2, N0, M0): Mesothelioma involves either the right or left pleura lining the chest and has spread from the lining of the chest into 1) the outer lining of the lung, 2) the diaphragm, or 3) into the lung itself. It has not spread to the lymph nodes or distant sites.

Stage III (T1 or 2, N1 or 2, M0; OR T3, N0-2, M0): Mesothelioma involves either the right or left pleura lining the chest and may or may not have spread from the lining of the chest into 1) the outer lining of the lung, 2) the diaphragm, 3) into the lung itself and has spread to lymph nodes anywhere in the chest on the same side as the tumor, but has not spread to distant sites; OR Mesothelioma involves either the right or left pleura lining the chest and has spread into 1) the first layer of the chest wall, or 2) the fatty part of the mediastinum, or 3) a single place in the chest wall or 4) the outer covering layer of the heart and may or may not have spread to lymph nodes but not as far as to lymph nodes near the collarbone or on the opposite side of the chest. It has not spread to distant sites.

Stage IV (T4, any N, M0; OR any T, N3, M0; OR any T, any N, M1): Mesothelioma involves either the right or left pleura lining the chest and has spread 1) into the chest wall, either muscle or ribs, 2) through the diaphragm, 3) into any organ contained in the mediastinum (esophagus, trachea, thymus, blood vessels), 4) into the spine, 5) across to the pleura on the other side of the chest, 6) through the heart lining or into the heart itself, or 7) into the brachial plexus (nerves leading to the arm), and may or may not have spread to lymph nodes anywhere, but has not spread to distant sites; OR the tumor is of any size, but has spread to lymph nodes near the collarbone on either side, to hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes on the side opposite the cancerous lung but not to distant sites; OR the mesothelioma has spread to distant sites.