Also: A CDC report says drowning is the No. 1 cause of injury death in children aged 1-4; researchers map the genetic code of 21 breast cancers; and food companies and consumer groups press for stalled food regulation.

It's one of the most popular antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections, but a new study suggests for some people taking azithromycin , commonly referred to as a "Z-pack", could be very dangerous. Researchers at Vanderbilt University looked at the records of thousands of Tennessee Medicaid patients over a period of 14 years.  They found a 2.5-fold higher risk of death from heart disease  in the first five days of using Z-pack when compared to another common antibiotic or no antibiotics at all. The study was published in the current edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. People with underlying heart problems seem to be especially vulnerable, says Wayne Ray, professor of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt and the study's lead researcher. And while the risk is rare, it's important for doctors and patients to be aware.  At this point, Ray says it's unclear why Z-packs can cause heart issues.  He also points out that other antibiotics in the same drug class such as amoxicillin have been found to cause heart arrhythmia . So should people with heart problems stop taking Z-packs?  Not necessarily. "This just adds another 'con'," says Ray. He says it's important to ask your doctor the follow questions:  How serious is the infection?  If I use a Z-pack could it aggravate any underlying health issues?  Are there any other antibiotics that could work just as well? Ray says doctors often prescribe Z-packs because they only need to be taken for five days versus the 10-day periods that are typical with other antibiotics. Filed under: Conditions , Empowered Patient , Heart Tagged: Jennifer Bixler – CNN Medical Executive Producer

Roche Drug to Raise ‘Good’ Cholesterol Fails (WSJ): The drug’s failure in a large human trial spelled a setback for pharmaceutical companies that see an opportunity in medicines that seek to ward of heart disease by raising so-called “good” cholesterol. Competitors Merck and Eli Lilly said they remain confident in late-stage drugs in their pipelines that work similarly. Study Examines Depression and Aging Brain (WSJ): The onset of depression late in life can be an early warning of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia later, according to a new study of 13,535 Kaiser Permanente members. A Regime’s Tight Grip on AIDS (New York Times): Cuba’s AIDS rate is only one-sixth that of the U.S., thanks in part to aggressive tactics taken in the early years of the epidemic, such as forced quarantines for people who tested positive for HIV. F.D.A. Staff Raises Concerns About Arthritis Drug (New York Times): Documents released ahead of a Food and Drug Administration review Wednesday show regulators are concerned a new Pfizer treatment for rheumatoid arthritis raised concerns of significant side-effects. Court Dismisses Vets’ Suit on Mental Health Care (San Francisco Chronicle): A San Francisco appeals court dismissed a five-year-old suit by veterans groups accusing the Department of Veterans Affairs of delaying needed mental health services. Drug-Defying Germs from India Speed Post-Antibiotic Era (Bloomberg): The widespread use of antibiotics in India is helping cultivate new breeds of drug-resistant bacteria bred from otherwise benign microorganisms.

Fiber, fiber, fiber. We all know we should be getting enough. It’s recommended that women eat 25 to 30 grams of fiber each day to decrease the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as some types of cancer including breast cancer. Eating plenty of fresh, luscious fruits in your diet is a great way to fill up on fiber, but which sources are the best? Keep reading to see a chart comparing the fiber content of your favorite fruits.

Cholesterol, C-reactive protein, homocysteine and triglycerides are probably the best known biomarkers used to assess cardiovascular risk. Uric acid typically isn’t included in this group of heart disease indicators. In the coming years, this may very well change. However, you and your doctors don’t have to wait for an official stamp of approval from the Related posts: Best of Dietary Fiber and Heart Disease Dietary Fiber and Heart Disease Vitamin K and Heart Disease Air Filters and Heart Disease Kiwi Fruit and Heart Disease

We know that not getting enough sleep puts you at a higher risk for obesity, among many other complications. And sleep experts have also warned that getting too much sleep has its own set of risks, like heart disease. But a new study has found that, when it comes to the bathroom scale, getting less sleep may be far worse for you than too much. Scientists who looked at 1,000 sets of twins found that the siblings who slept fewer than seven hours per night were likely to weigh more because of genetic factors. In comparison, the siblings who slept seven to nine hours (or more than nine hours) weighed less and were less likely to be affected by any inherited obesity genes. In fact, the researchers think that getting enough sleep is a major element in how much a person’s body weight is influenced by any genetic predisposition to being overweight or obese. When you’re already exercising regularly and eating right, it’s nice to be reminded that sleeping more - especially if you are sleep-deprived – can give you that extra push when it comes to weight loss, no matter what body-weight issues you’ve inherited.

Berry season is right around the corner, and if a big bowl of strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries didn’t excite you before, maybe this news will: eating at least two servings of berries per week can help delay age-related memory loss in women. A recent Harvard study followed 16,010 women over the age of 70, finding those who ate berries slowed memory loss by almost three years . Researchers cite the plethora of antioxidants packed into these small fruits as being the reason. If preventing memory loss weren’t enough, here are five more reasons why you should up your berry intake. They help with weight loss : Berries are loaded with the antioxidant anthocyanin, which has been shown to alter the activity of genes found in human fat cells, making it more difficult to put on weight. Blueberries, specifically, have been shown to diminish stubborn belly fat . They are good for your brain : Investigators with the US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston found that the polyphenols in berries help the part of the brain that takes care of regular maintenance and “housekeeping.” Blueberries and strawberries were said to contain the most polyphenols. They are good for your eyes : Berries, especially blueberries and raspberries, contain lutein, which is important for healthy eyes and sharp vision. They help protect against disease : Berries are brimming with carotenoids, an antioxidant that has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. Other phytonutrients in berries have been shown to protect against heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. Those deep hues pay off tenfold when it comes to maintaining the health of your body. They help slow down the aging process : The powerful antioxidants in berries prevent free radical damage in your body, and less free radical damage means slowing down the aging process to help you live longer! Amped up for berry season yet? Mix things up by making one of these healthy berry recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktail hour!

Are you getting enough fiber each day? The recommended daily quota of fiber for women is 25 to 30 grams, not only to keep the body regular, but also to help lower cholesterol and to prevent heart disease and certain cancers. If you’re having a hard time eating enough fiber – or you have no idea how much you’re getting – include one of these fiber-filled foods in your diet for an extra five grams each day. One cup fresh raspberries: 8 grams Half of an avocado: 6.7 grams One Ginger Snap Larabar: 6 grams One large sweet potato: 5.9 grams Nine broccoli florets: 5.5 grams Medium apple with the skin ( 4.4 grams ) with one tablespoon all-natural peanut butter ( 1 gram ): 5.4 grams Medium pear with the skin: 5.1 grams One cup of Barbara’s Bakery Shredded Oats: 5 grams 15 almonds ( 2.1 grams ) with two medium figs ( 2.9 grams ): 5 grams Two tablespoons of flaxseeds sprinkled on your cereal or salad: 5 grams 1/4 cup dried blueberries: 5 grams

It’s getting hot out there, which means many of you are busting out the bathing suits, crop tops, and waist-skimming bottoms. If you’re not quite ready to bare your midriff, we’ve got just the thing for you! Here are seven ab-focused workouts that’ll have your tummy tight and toned by the time Summer rolls around. We are all about total-body workouts, but sometimes it’s nice to give a little extra attention to the midsection. For those moments, turn to our comprehensive all-abs workout , where you’ll find the best moves to tone your upper abs, obliques, and lower abs. Pictures don’t lie: Lady Gaga is definitely sporting a six-pack. To get results like Gaga’s, follow this workout plan created by her trainer Harley Pasternak . Just because it’s quick doesn’t mean it won’t do wonders for your belly. All you need are four minutes to do our short, sweet, and complete ab video workout . It’s the perfect way to spend a commercial break during your favorite show. Yes, crunches are the go-to exercise for working your core, but they aren’t so good for posture. Skip them altogether, while also giving your body a bigger challenge, by doing our favorite crunchless ab exercises . Yoga not only relaxes the mind, but it also helps tone the tummy, something Jennifer Aniston knows all too well. In this short video, watch as celeb trainer Mandy Ingber takes us through three poses she uses to help sculpt Jen’s midsection . Another celeb with a set of drool-worthy abs is Minka Kelly (she was voted one of Esquire ‘s sexiest, after all). Her trainer Gunnar Peterson shared one of the actress’s fitness secrets with us: standing ab work! Grab a dumbbell and get set to follow along with this video workout highlighting Minka’s ab routine . Skip the Spanx and tone your way to a midsection you’ll be dying to show off - even in that dreaded pooch area. To help work that lower ab section, Amy Dixon, group fitness manager at Equinox in Santa Monica, developed this workout to target the lower abdominal muscles . You’ll work with a stability ball to challenge your core even more.

iStockphoto Here’s what’s happening in health news this morning: Institute of Medicine Report Calls for Tax on Medical Care (WSJ): A report by an advisory group says U.S. healthcare is focused too much on treating the sick rather than preventing illness, and calls for a tax on medical care to drive improvements in the system. Heart Journal Stands by Report (WSJ): The journal Heart Rhythm will  move forward with print publication of a study about deaths tied to failures of a piece of equipment connecting defibrillators to patients’ hearts, turning down a request by St. Jude Medical to retract the report. Heart Test May Help Find Elderly at Heart Attack Risk (WSJ): Abnormalities in electrocardiogram, or EKG, in elderly patients without heart disease are associated with higher heart attack risk over following years , a study published in JAMA finds. But the results don’t challenge current recommendations against routine use of EKGs to detect heart risk in elderly or other asymptomatic patients. Bills Pending for Tax Credit for Hearing Aids (NPR Shots): No action so far, but tax-credit bills are pending in Congress that would offer help to pay for hearing aids , which aren’t covered by Medicare or many private health insurers.