A heart attack that occurs in the morning may be more damaging than one that happens any other time of the day, according to new research from Spanish scientists.

Researchers from the National Center for Cardiovascular Research in Madrid collected data from 811 patients who had experienced a heart attack between 2003 and 2009. Scientists analyzed the amount of heart muscle damage that occurred in relation to the time the heart attack had taken place, and discovered that cardiac events that take place between 6 a.m. and noon were the most severe.

Individuals who had heart attacks between those times had levels of the enzymes kinase and troponin-I that were 21 percent higher than any other time of the day.

The risk of suffering from a cardiac event can be considerably decreased with a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. The American Heart Association says eating nutritious, low-fat foods is the best way to avoid a heart attack, while avoiding cigarettes and engaging in 30 minutes of vigorous exercise each day can also keep hearts healthy.
 

A new report from the Pew Center On the States found that Florida is failing to meet the dental health needs of children who receive health insurance through Medicaid, according to an agency press release.

In a rating scale of A to F, Florida received an "F" grade for only meeting two of the eight policy benchmarks in Pew's analysis. The investigation found that only 24 percent of the state's Medicaid-covered children received dental care in 2007, making the Sunshine State just one of three states where less than a quarter of children received dental services. Delaware and Kentucky also provided care for less than 25 percent of children enrolled in Medicaid.

In addition, the agency reported that Florida may face a workforce shortage and needs 750 additional dentists to provide care to neglected areas.

Only six states received "A" grades: Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island and South Carolina.

Oral health is an important part of maintaining a strong body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost one-third of American adults suffer from untreated tooth decay, while poor dental care has also been found to lead to oral cancers in some older adults.
 

Poultry contaminated with the bacteria Campylobacter cause the most food borne illnesses in the U.S. each year, sickening about one in six people and costing 1.3 billion, according to a new study from the University of Florida.

A report from the institution's Emerging Pathogens Institute included poultry, as well as eggs and deli meats as some of the 10 riskiest foods for disease-causing microorganisms. In addition to campylobacter, salmonella - found in poultry, eggs and other complex foods, listeria monocytogenes, toxoplasma gondii and norovirus were listed as the top-5 disease causing pathogens in U.S. food products.

Those pathogens account for about $12.7 billion in economic losses each year, according to the report, which takes into account the cost of lost productivity, medical care and serious complications or disabilities associated with those food-borne illnesses.

Other foods found to have high levels of bacteria include soft cheeses, pork, beef and some produce.

Salmonella has been found in a variety of products in recent years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals who ingest the bacteria may suffer from diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps and may be sick for up to a week.
 

While the nation's air quality has improved in the past few years, the most recent State of the Air 2011 report from the American Lung Association found that just over half of the population lives in areas with unsafe levels of air pollution.

According to the report, 50.3 percent of Americans live in 366 counties that have exceedingly high levels of either ozone or particle pollution. In addition, about one in 17 people - a total of 18.5 million - live in counties with unhealthy amounts of ozone, short-term and year-round particle pollution.

However, the organization said there is some good news as well. More than half of the country's most smog-polluted cities reported decreased smog levels. Plus, all but two of the 25 most polluted cities that experience year-round particle pollution improved since the last report, with 19 of them reporting their best levels to date.

Air quality can have a serious impact on human health. For instance, the U.S. Environmental Protection agency says particle pollution - a mixture of components such as acids, metals, organic chemicals and dust particles - can damage the heart and lungs with heavy exposure, which may lead to serious illnesses such as lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
 

The Food and Drug Administration announced it is launching an educational program to reduce the nation's abuse of long-lasting opioid prescription drugs, according to the agency's website.

The action requires drug companies that manufacture those drugs - which include OxyContin, Avinza, Duragesic and nine other brand names - to provide educational materials to physicians and patients to inform them on the correct use of those medications. The FDA said those medications are extensively misprescribed and abused, leading to addiction and even death.

Opioids are synthetic versions of opium that are used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Gil Kerlikowske, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said the plan provides a national framework for reducing prescription drug abuse and informing the public on the dangers of using those drugs for recreational use.

"We share a responsibility to protect our communities from the damage done by prescription drug abuse," Kerlikowske said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 27,000 people died from prescription drug overdoses in 2007, which is five times higher than overdose deaths reported in 1990.