No new vote in Venezuela if Chavez sworn in late: official

Venezuela will not call fresh elections if Hugo Chavez's cancer prevents him from taking office by January 10, the head of Congress said on Saturday, despite a constitutional mandate that the swearing-in take place on that date. Chavez is recovering in Cuba from a six-hour cancer operation that followed his October re-election. The socialist leader has not been heard from for nearly two weeks, raising doubts as to whether he will be fit to continue governing. Opposition leaders may pounce on the issue of the swearing-in date to demand that authorities call fresh elections because of Chavez's apparently critical state of health due to an undisclosed type of cancer in the pelvic region. A constitutional dispute over succession could lead to a messy transition toward a post-Chavez era in the South American nation with the world's largest oil reserves. "Since Chavez might not be here in on January 10, (the opposition) hopes the National Assembly will call elections within 30 days. They're wrong. Dead wrong," said Diosdado Cabello, the National Assembly's president and one of Chavez's closest allies, during a ceremony to swear in a recently elected governor. "That's not going to happen because our president is named Hugo Chavez, he was reelected and is in the hearts of all Venezuelans." He suggested Chavez may need more time to recover from his surgery. Officials in recent weeks have recognized his condition was serious, and the garrulous leader's unusual silence has built up alarm even among supporters. The constitution says "the elected candidate will assume the Presidency of the Republic on January 10th of the first year of their constitutional term, via swearing-in by the National Assembly." It says new elections are to be called if the National Assembly determines a "complete absence" of the president because of death, physical or mental impairment or abandoning the job. The opposition believes it would have a better shot against Chavez's anointed successor, Vice President Nicolas Maduro, than against the charismatic former soldier who for 14 years has been nearly invincible at the ballot box. Chavez allies want to avoid a public debate over the president's health because his cancer has been treated as a state secret. His treatment in communist Cuba has helped keep his condition under wraps, and the Venezuelan government has given only terse and cryptic statements about his post-operation recovery. Constitutional lawyer Jose Vicente Haro said he expects the Supreme Court, which is controlled by Chavez allies, will rule that Chavez may extend his existing term without having to be sworn in with the expectation that he will eventually recover. "What they are doing is taking the debate over succession from the National Assembly, which is where it belongs, and moving it to the Supreme Court where behind closed doors they can decide the next steps are," said Haro, a Chavez critic and constitutional law professor as the Universidad Catholic Andres Bellow. Chavez has vastly expanded presidential powers and built a near-cult following among millions of poor Venezuelans, who love his feisty language and oil-financed social welfare projects. Opposition leaders are smarting from this month's governors elections in which Chavez allies won 20 of 23 states. They are trying to keep attention focused on day-to-day problems from rampant crime to power outages.

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FDA approves Aegerion's cholesterol drug with strongest warning

Aegerion Pharmaceuticals Inc said the U.S. health regulator approved its drug as an alternative treatment for patients who have a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol. The drug, Juxtapid, would carry a boxed warning -- the strongest label warning -- and will be available only through a restricted program due to risk of liver damage. Shares of the company fell nearly 4 percent to $24.76 in early trade on the Nasdaq on Monday. Aegerion will also conduct a post-approval study to test the long-term safety and efficacy of Juxtapid, the company said on a conference call. It plans to launch the drug in January. Juxtapid, Aegerion's first approved product, was backed by an advisory panel of independent experts on October 17. The panel looks at a drug's approval application and advises the FDA on whether it should be approved. The panel also recommended a drug from Sanofi SA and Isis Pharmaceutical Inc, Kynamro, to treat the same disorder on Oct 18. Aegerion's shares were down 2 percent at $25.15 in morning trade. The stock has gained about 23 percent since the FDA panel's report to Friday's close.

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S.Africa's Mandela to remain in hospital for Christmas

Former South African President Nelson Mandela, who is 94, continues to respond to treatment more than two weeks after being taken to hospital in Pretoria and will remain there for Christmas Day, the presidency said on Monday. President Jacob Zuma said in a statement that the anti-apartheid hero, who has been treated for a lung infection and gallstones after being hospitalised on December 8, "will recover from this episode with all our support."

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South Africa's Mandela to remain in hospital for Christmas

Former South African President Nelson Mandela continues to respond to treatment more than two weeks after being taken to hospital in Pretoria and will remain there for Christmas Day, the presidency said on Monday. The 94-year-old anti-apartheid hero and Nobel Peace laureate has been treated for a lung infection and gallstones after being hospitalized on December 8. President Jacob Zuma said in a statement that Mandela "will recover from this episode with all our support... We also humbly invite all freedom loving people around the world to pray for him." It will be the first Christmas that Mandela has spent away from home since 1989, when he was still in prison. He was jailed for almost three decades for his role in the struggle against white minority rule. He was released in 1990 and went on to use his prestige to push for reconciliation between whites and blacks as the bedrock of the post-apartheid "Rainbow Nation". Mandela was elected South Africa's first black president in 1994. He stepped down five years later after one term in office and has been largely removed from public life for the last decade.

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Apps to help achieve New Year's resolutions

Whether it is improving health or managing finances better, about 87 percent of Americans will make resolutions for 2013 and there are plenty of apps to help them achieve their goals. Nearly half of New Year's resolutions are about setting health-related goals, which is the most popular category, according to a recent survey by online broker TD Ameritrade. Rather than jumping into a rigorous fitness routine, a new app called 5K Runner suggests it might be better to ease into things slowly and focus on building sustainable habits. The iPhone app helps couch potatoes ramp up their running distance to 5 km over the course of eight weeks. "You're slowly building this routine into your daily life with a lot of success and after eight weeks you're literally running 5K, which is pretty big if (initially) you're not running at all," said David-Michel Davies, the executive director of The Webby Awards, an annual ceremony honoring Internet companies. The app guides runners through each run, alternating periods of running and walking for 35 minutes. Davies also recommends Nike+ Running and RunKeeper, two popular and free fitness apps, which use GPS to track distance traveled, speed and calories burned. Both apps are available for iOS and Android devices. Diet is another component of good health and a focus of many apps. Fooducate is an iPhone and Android app that helps shoppers make healthier purchases at the supermarket by allowing them to scan the barcodes of products and get insight into how healthy the product is. Their database, which contains over 200,000 products, displays a grade for the product and information on its contents. It can show whether there are hidden additives or the probability of containing genetically modified ingredients. "There are a lot of healthy people out there who unknowingly buy products that have an inordinate amount of salt in them," Davies said. DietBet is an app for people with a competitive streak. Available for iPhone and on the Web, it allows its users to join in a four-week weight loss challenge to lose 4 percent of weight. Everyone bets money, which goes into a fund, and submits proof of weight lost. People who meet the challenge split the money. "It comes back again to how people get motivated," Davies said. "Gamification is something that technology has really enabled and for some people it really works." To stay on top of finances, Davies recommends Mint, which provides a visual view of all financial accounts and is available for iOS, Android and on the Web.

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9 Things You Shouldn't Buy at Grocery Stores

Grocery stores offer plenty of conveniences to make food-buying as simple as possible. Most of us head to the grocery store to pick up fresh produce, meats, cheeses, snacks, and other convenience foods, and you can pick from dozens of brands and generic items that fit your budget. Still, there are a few things you don't want to pick up at your local supermarket. Certain types of produce are full of pesticides and you'll be better off heading to the local farmers market or buying organic. Buying non-grocery items at the supermarket usually means you'll spend much more than the average price in your area. Here are nine items you shouldn't pick up from the grocery store: [See 50 Ways to Improve Your Finances in 2012.] 1. Cosmetics and skin care items. Even though many grocery stores are stocked with popular brands of cosmetics and skin care products, you'll probably pay a premium for every item. Head to your nearest chain drugstore, Wal-Mart, or Super Target if you want to stock up on or sample makeup, moisturizer, cleansers, and scrubs. 2. Pre-ground coffee. Some grocery stores offer great prices on coffee beans that you can grind right in the store, but buying pre-ground coffee could put a dent in your grocery budget. The mark-up on pre-ground coffee is relatively high and you could get a much better deal on large coffee cans at your neighborhood big-box store. Remember you can also track down coupons and vouchers for certain brands. 3. Party supplies. As convenient as it is to pick up candles, balloons, and other party supplies for that last-minute get together, you'll end up paying a high price solely out of convenience. Plan to make a pit stop at the local dollar store or party supply store to take advantage of lower prices. 4. Kitchen appliances. Whether you're in the market for a new toaster, blender, or food processor, do your homework and track down a great price on kitchen appliances online. Grocery stores typically carry a very small stock of these items and you probably won't even find a quality brand. Stick with big-box stores and online merchants for your kitchen appliances and other small electronics. [See 10 Kitchen Tools That Will Save You Money.] 5. Hardware. Light bulbs, extension cords, nails, and small tools don't come cheap at the grocery store. Again, these are considered to be specialty goods at a grocery store and most will only have a very small inventory of hardware items. Stick with big-box retailers, the dollar store, or even your local hardware store when you need to stock up. 6. Cookware and bakeware. If you're suddenly inspired to cook a banquet-style meal when shopping at the grocery store, make sure you pick up your basic supplies elsewhere. Cookware and bakeware items are usually heavily marked up at the grocery store and you could end up paying almost double the price for your items. Make a list of what you need then head out to a store that has a larger inventory of these specialty items. 7. Some fruits and veggies. PBS put together two lists of fruits and vegetables that are worth buying-and not buying-at the grocery store, based on the level of pesticides and chemicals present in each items. The recommendation is to stick with organic varieties of apples, bell peppers, peaches, strawberries and potatoes. Grocery stores are your best bet for fruits and vegetables like asparagus, sweet peas, eggplant, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, and onions. [See 5 Ways to Stretch Your Grocery Budget.] 8. Gourmet cheese. The deli section of most grocery stores is stocked with pricey items that also have a very short shelf life. If you're looking for cheese, head to the dairy section where you'll find processed varieties for a fraction of the price of the fresh, gourmet options. If it's gourmet cheese you're after, keep an eye out for deals on offerings from daily deal sites at local wine and cheese stores in your area. You can also get better pricing on cheese at your local warehouse club. 9. Name-brand spices. Fresh spices are another gourmet food item that you're probably paying a premium for at the grocery store. Your best bet? The ethnic food markets and local ethnic food stores. Some big-box stores also tend to stock a large spice inventory and will price these at lower price points than your neighborhood grocery store. Consider buying in bulk from the ethnic market to save even more.

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Glam Slam: The Friday Five -- Ways To Get Even Sexier

The number one hit "Sexy and I Know It" makes me laugh (I work ouuut!) and with Valentine's Day just around the corner, you may be looking for a little "get sexy" inspiration. InStyle magazine shares five ways we can all get even sexier!!!! PLAY IT NOW: 2012 People's Choice Awards Fashion Report Card Apply Bold Color There's power in your pout. One study showed that both red and pink lipstick hold a man's attention for five seconds longer than a neutral lip. But a high-impact hue has to feel right--to you. Experiment with different shades of crimson and fuchsia and combine it with a subtle, smoky eye. Master the "Bed-Head Bardot" For touchable waves (like J.Lo's!), start with a volumizing spray or powder. Loosely gather hair into two low ponytails and secure with rubber bands. Twist each pony around its base; pin and leave in for two hours. Shake out and voila--goddess bed head. Create waves on shorter 'dos by wrapping strand vertically around a 1-inch curling iron; begin at the top of your ears and continue down to the ends. VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hollywood Stars Who Take The Plunge! Customize Your Curves When it comes to turning up the heat, a tailor can be a miracle worker. Alterations to the bust, waist and hips of a sheath dress can highlight your shape easily giving you a day-to-night look. Add definition with a thin or wide belt. Work on Your Wink Fluttery fringe on the red carpet (like Eva Longoria's) is often achieved with false eyelashes or extensions, say pros. For DIY lashes at home, use these tips. Begin with a primer and secure your lashes to the bottom of your eyelid. Gently heat your lash curler with a blow-dryer before crimping. Finally, brush on waterproof mascara to seal the lash. Embrace Lace A lacy stocking shows off your seductive legs in a seductive way that's not edgy or overt. Pair with an LBD and platform pumps for a saucy retro vibe. VIEW THE PHOTOS: Kristen Stewart's Best Red Carpet Looks For more beauty tips, pick up a February issue of InStyle on newsstands today. Instyle is also hosting its annual Beauty Lounge today and tomorrow at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. VIEW THE PHOTOS: Stars Step Out For GQ's 2011 'Men Of The Year' Party To celebrate the 2012 Awards Season, stars like Malin Ackerman will get pampered at the lounge's complimentary hair and makeup touch ups by L'Oréal Paris and mini manicures by OPI! Good times! Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Americans Living Longer, Report Finds

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Americans are living longer, a new report shows, with the average life expectancy going from 78.6 years in 2009 to 78.7 years in 2010. Meanwhile, U.S. death rates dropped half a percent between 2009 and 2010, and hit the lowest rate ever, at 746.2 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the latest set of data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. And while both heart disease and cancer stubbornly remain in place as the nation's leading killers (together accounting for 47 percent of deaths in 2010), death rates here declined as well. Mortality from heart disease went down 2.4 percent, while it dropped 0.6 percent for cancer. The report is based on 98 percent of death certificates from 50 states and the District of Columbia available to the NCHS. "In many regards, I think the health of the nation is improving and people are living to an older age so that's good news," said Dr. David McClellan, acting regional chair of family and community medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. "But we are starting to see age-related diseases have more prominence." For instance, pneumonitis (aspiration pneumonia) often happens when people get old enough and debilitated enough to where they can't swallow. This could be due to dementia or as the aftermath of a stroke, he explained. There's also "a long way to go in terms of combating the epidemic of smoking, obesity, poor diet and exercise," he said. "If we could get the smoking epidemic under control, we'd probably see the numbers improve even more." Another expert was more optimistic. "This is good news. We're making major progression in cancer and heart disease through decreases in smoking," said Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of hematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge, La. Statins are also playing a part in reducing the death toll from heart disease, while cancer screening is also helping to save lives, Brooks added. There were slight shuffles in the rankings of other causes of death. Homicide fell out of the top 15 category for the first time since 1965, replaced by pneumonitis. Kidney disease and pneumonia/influenza switched places, with the former now 8th and the latter now 9th. "Pneumonia and influenza have really dropped a lot. Several years ago, they were the sixth leading cause of death," said Dr. Michael Niederman, chairman of medicine at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. "To me, this is very encouraging because we're dealing with older populations where many patients frequently have pneumonia, but this affirms the national priority on immunization, both influenza and pneumococcal." The other leading causes of death (in order) were: chronic lower respiratory diseases, cerebrovascular disease (stroke), accidents, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, kidney disease, suicide, septicemia, liver disease, hypertension and Parkinson's. Many of these are clearly diseases related to the aging population, Brooks noted. Death rates also declined for influenza and pneumonia (by 8.5 percent), septicemia (3.6 percent), stroke (1.5 percent), respiratory diseases (1.4 percent) and accidents (1.1 percent). Meanwhile, death rates increased for five of the top 15: Parkinson's disease (4.6 percent), pneumonitis (4.1 percent), liver disease and cirrhosis (3.3 percent), Alzheimer's disease (3.3 percent) and kidney disease (1.3 percent). The death rate for HIV/AIDS (which was not among the 15 leading causes of death) declined 13.3 percent between 2009 and 2010. But the virus remains a significant concern, especially for people aged 15 through 64. There was also good news in infant mortality, with rates in 2010 down 3.9 percent from 2009. But Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, a preventive cardiologist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City cautioned against getting too excited over the findings. "This is good news. I don't think it's great news," she said. "With the increased incidence in obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, we're going to start seeing people getting sicker younger."

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Need to Exercise More? Think How It Will Help You Now

FRIDAY, Jan. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Health and fitness experts have for years tried to entice people to exercise more by flogging long-range benefits such as losing weight or avoiding long-term illness caused by chronic disease. They might have been going about it all wrong. Research now appears to show that "improve your heart health" may be a less effective message than "feel better now." A University of Michigan study found that people are more apt to exercise when they're given reasons that apply to their immediate, day-to-day life. For example, telling someone they will have more energy after working out seems to be a more effective motivation than telling them they will be less likely to develop diabetes. Michelle Segar, the study's lead author, said she believes the results indicate a need to "rebrand" exercise so that health organizations that promote exercise will see better results from their efforts. "We need to develop new messaging that teaches people that physical activity is a way to reduce their stress in the moment, feel better in the moment, create more energy in the moment," said Segar, a research investigator with the Institute for Research on Women and Gender at the University of Michigan. "You're a more patient parent. You enjoy your work more. You don't snap at your spouse as much. The benefits of exercise help you lead a more pleasant and productive life. The messaging needs to go there." The study focused on a randomly selected set of 385 women, 40 to 60 years old, who were given several questionnaires over the course of a year related to exercise and health. The women's responses indicated that they valued long-term goals like weight loss as much as short-term goals more directly linked to day-to-day quality of life, such as stress reduction. Nonetheless, Segar and her team found that women who cited short-term factors exercised more often than those who felt long-term goals were most important. "The women who exercised for quality of life did significantly more exercise than the other two groups," Segar said. Those who exercised based on daily quality of life worked out 15 percent to 34 percent more often, the study found. This argues strongly for a reassessment of how exercise is promoted, Segar said. "Health and healthy aging are very abstract," she said. "We may endorse them as important, but the problem lies in the fact that we live very busy, complicated lives. When you're looking at your daily to-do list, how compelling is fitting in exercise for a reason that's far in the future, where you might never notice? If you're exercising to enhance the quality of your daily life because it reduces your stress or improves your mood, you notice those things immediately. And if you don't exercise, you immediately notice you feel worse." Messages that might resonate better with people who need to exercise more often, she said, include that exercise is a way to: * Become a more pleasant member of your family by feeling better. * Improve your productivity at work because working out makes your mind more focused. * Relieve day-to-day stress. * Improve your mood. * Enjoy higher levels of energy and vitality. * Spend more social time with others. * Take time to enjoy the outdoors. Though those are compelling arguments for exercise, groups might want to think twice before removing long-term goals from their marketing strategies, said Walter Thompson, a professor of exercise science in the department of kinesiology and health at Georgia State University and a spokesman for the American College of Sports Medicine. Long-term goals like weight loss tend to be measurable, whereas short-term goals like improved energy are largely subjective, Thompson said. "The problem with the long-term goal is they can get to the 5½-months point and not lose a pound," he said. "That's the argument for the short-term goal. But without a long-term goal, it's hard to come up with short-term goals." Short-term goals also might not apply to everyone because they're subjective, he added. "I like to run, but I remember days when I just felt miserable after my run," Thompson said. "If I only looked at short-term goals, if I felt bad one day, I may not do it the second day." More information The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports offers guidelines for personal exercise programs.

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Sexual Activity Deemed Safe for Many Heart Patients by AHA

The American Heart Association has released its first scientifically based statement with recommendations for sexual activity for people with heart conditions or cardiovascular disease. The good news for many with heart problems is that sex is safe. AHA Scientific Statement on Sex and Cardiovascular Disease For many heart patients, if they are able to walk briskly or climb two flights of stairs without experiencing chest pain, abnormal heartbeats, or shortness of breath, a normal sex life is possible -- after discussing it with their heart doctor, advises the AHA Scientific statement. In an interview with HeartWire, lead author of the study underlying the AHA Statement on Sex, Dr. Glenn N. Levine of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, explained that not only are these recommendations about sexual activity and heart disease the most comprehensive to date, but also have been compiled and endorsed by experts in a variety of fields including urology, exercise physiology and sexual counseling in addition to cardiologists. There are many people who, once diagnosed with a heart condition or who have experienced a heart attack, abstain from sexual activity due to fear that engaging in sex could result in a heart attack or death. Levine, via HeartWire, explained that many heart patients -- and their physicians -- are reluctant to address the topic of sexual activity. The AHA Statement on Sex provides guidelines for safe sexual activity not only for cardiologists, but also general practitioners and physicians in other fields. Facts on Sex and Heart Health/Safety According to the AHA Statement on Sex, less than 1 percent of heart attacks are caused by sexual activity, with this risk being even lower for heart patients who are physically active. Among that 1 percent, the largest number of heart attacks experienced were among people involved in extramarital sex. Following a heart attack or coronary bypass surgery, your physician should advise a certain waiting period before beginning to have sex again. He may also advise that you first increase your overall physical health and endurance through recommended exercise programs and recommend an exercise stress test before resuming sexual activity, recommends the AHA Statement on Sex. People with heart conditions should avoid eating a heavy meal or drinking alcohol before sexual activity as well. What People Are Potentially Affected by Cardiovascular Disease Baby boomers and their seniors because, as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports, people 65 years of age and older represent 19.8 percent of those diagnosed with coronary heart disease and people 45 to 64 years of age represent 7.1 percent of people with CHD. Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, reports that 33 percent of deaths due to CHD occur each year in people younger than 75 years of age. If you have questions or concerns about your heart health or about sexual activity and your health, consult your health care provider.

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