Monday, January 19, 2015
Straight talk about flu season
The flu is going viral. Yes it is true. It‘s catchy!
Due to a genetic change in this shifty virus, this year’s
flu shot is less effective (about 40% compared to close to 70% in past years). This
is concerning since all of the national indicators have revealed that this
could be the worst flu season in more than seven years. This is mostly due to
the decreased effectiveness of our vaccine.
Who is at risk for influenza complications? Children (less than 5 years old); adults over 65; pregnant
women or recent postpartum; nursing home patients or clients in long term
facilities; any person with underlying medical conditions such as chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); diabetes, asthma or a weakened immune system as well as many
others.
For a complete
listing, check the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website and view “Are You At Risk for Serious Illness from Flu.”
What should you do is you think you have the flu? Although the virus has shifted, our rapid flu test has not. It remains about 70%
sensitive and 98% specific. The earlier you are tested, the more accurate the
test result .
Therefore, it is essential that if you develop symptoms of
fever, headache, body aches and fatigue, you should visit your health care professional and be tested. If your test is positive or your
symptoms are classic, antiviral medications can be prescribed. These
medications reduce symptoms and decrease the risk for complications from the
flu. They are most effective if given within 72 hours of symptoms but recent
evidence has shown some benefit even after four-five days of symptoms.
Of course, the best avenue is always prevention. If you are diagnosed with the flu,
please be considerate of others by isolating yourself especially when you are
most contagious (first three to five days). Also, please cover your mouth when coughing or
sneezing. The use of disposable tissues are preferable over handkerchiefs since
hankies are just a breeding ground for organisms. Hankies can go viral very
easily.
Frequent hand washing and alcohol cleansers are staples for
everyone during this season. Studies have confirmed that the alcohol cleansers
(such as Purell) are very effective at killing the flu on contact.
And, despite the flu mutation this year, vaccination is
still the gold standard for flu prevention.
It takes a heightened vigilance and up-to-date knowledge to
keep the flu contained. You are armed with all of that now. Let’s make healthy
habits more catchy than the flu.
Paqui Motyl, MD, specializes in internal medicine and is based at the Montville Backus Family Health Center. This advice should not replace the advice of your personal health care provider. To comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.healthydocs.blogspot.com or e-mail Mr. Motyl or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
A “check up” on Internet medical advice
“Please don’t get your medical advice from the internet.” I
have said that repeatedly to friends, family, and even in previous health
columns. Medical advice is what primary care providers are for.
A case in point:
my friend read something on the web about her symptoms and became
extremely anxious and upset. A
week later, when she finally sat down and discussed it with her primary care
provider, she was relieved to find that the web advice was totally false. She had wasted valuable time and
energy, did some foolish treatment that could have resulted in serious side effects,
and spent a week in anguish for nothing. Her doctor reassured her and set her on the right course of
treatment. Naturally, she vows
never to repeat that foolish action again.
“I want patients to know that every person has a unique
genetic makeup,” says Dr. Christopher Awtrey, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical
Center in Boston, reaffirming why people should not rely on Googling to get
medical advice. One person may require vastly different treatment than someone
else receiving the same diagnosis.
Now, that being said, there are some internet sites where
accurate and reliable information can be found. Good sources of health information include:
• Sites that end in ".gov," sponsored by the federal
government, like the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (www.hhs.gov), the National Institutes of Health
(www.nih.gov), and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov).
• .edu sites, created by universities or medical schools, such
as Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine or University of California at
Berkeley Hospital, or other healthcare facility sites, like Mayo Clinic and
Cleveland Clinic.
• .org sites maintained by not-for-profit groups whose focus
is research and teaching the public about specific diseases or conditions, such
as the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association and, of
course, hospitals like Backus.
• Sites whose addresses end in .com are usually commercial
sites and are often selling products.
I asked Dr. John Greeley, a primary care physician at the
Backus Family Health Center at Crossroads in Waterford to weigh in on this issue
and this is his response:
“There are many sources of health information out there and
I don’t mind if people search for information on the internet, as long as they
bring their questions and concerns to me at their next appointment so I can
validate the information and we can proceed with an appropriate plan. Seeking information from the internet
and other sources is a great starting point, but patients should not act on
this information without first filtering it through their physician,” Dr. Greeley said.
Sounds like very good advice we can all live with.
Alice Facente is a community health nurse for the Backus Health System. This advice should not replace the advice of your personal health care provider. To comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy Living blog at www.healthydocs.blogspot.com or e-mail Ms. Facente or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org
Monday, January 05, 2015
Five mood-boosting habits for the post-holiday slump
I absolutely love the holidays. Parties, presents, good food and time spent with family can make
those first chilly days of winter feel like some of the warmest.
But on Jan. 2, it’s all over. That winter wonderland of which we sang so fondly begins to
look more like a wasteland, and we’re left facing months of dismal weather with
nothing to look forward to until the spring thaw.
Many of us feel these post-holiday doldrums, and I am often
asked at this time of year if there are any foods that can positively affect
mood. While there aren’t any
specific foods that have been proven to boost a bad mood, there are certainly
some health habits that foster good feelings.
Eat at least five servings daily of a variety of whole
fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables provide a myriad of vitamins and
minerals in addition to important phyto-chemicals that can improve health in
many ways. Many of these nutrients
(especially B vitamins like folate) nourish the brain and allow it to produce
the neurotransmitters that regulate our moods. So eat your spinach with a smile!
Choose your carbs wisely. Processed carbohydrates and sugars might make you feel good
for a little while, but once the initial rush is over you know the crash is
coming. And when we crash, what do
we often do? Look for another fix
with more sugar or caffeine! Get
off the emotional rollercoaster by choosing fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and
whole grain foods which will help to stabilize your blood sugar.
Get your omega-3’s. Studies have shown an association between these essential
healthy fats and our moods. You
can be sure you are getting what you need by eating cold-water fish such as
salmon, herring, mackerel or halibut two or more times per week and by
including a variety of nuts and seeds in your daily routine.
Get your vitamin D. Because vitamin D is produced in our skin when we are
exposed to sunlight, it should come as no surprise that many of us are depleted
of this mood-enhancing nutrient during the shortest days of the year. Luckily, if you’re eating the
aforementioned fish for their omega-3’s, you’re also getting a healthy dose of
vitamin D. How convenient! Some other sources of vitamin D include
fortified whole grain cereals and dairy products and certain types of
mushrooms, such as portabellas.
Get outside for some exercise whenever you can. We have an innate need as humans to be outside breathing
fresh air and basking in sunlight.
It balances and invigorates us.
And research has shown time and again that physical activity positively
impacts our psychological health in many ways. So even though you might feel like hibernating, bundle up
and brave the chill for just 10 to 15 minutes a day to take a brisk walk. You’ll be amazed at how energized you
feel!
Jennifer
Fetterley is a registered dietitian for the Backus
Health System and Thames Valley Council for Community Action. This advice should not replace the advice of your personal
healthcare provider. To comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy
Living blog at www.healthydocs.blogspot.com or e-mail Ms. Fetterley or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org.
