“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." ~Mark 2:17

Flu Shots Thousands of Americans die of influenza annually: most of those are older or ill to begin with, but experts say most of the deaths are still preventable.

Influenza (a.k.a. "the flu") is caused by a virus. The virus is very contagious and affects your lungs, not your stomach. The virus is present in the communities from December until April and usually at its worst around Christmas time through February. Classic symptoms of the flu are: abrupt onset of fever (within 24 hours), chest congestion, dry cough that is painful and can become severe, muscle and joint pain, headache and extreme fatigue. The flu can take you out of action for seven to fourteen days, which is reason enough to try and prevent it.

Families typically "share" the flu virus during Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations putting a severe damper on holiday fun. Health officials say everyone can benefit from the flu shot, but call for people at the highest risk of severe illness to be the first in line and get the shot early. If you happen to be at the doctor's office, don't miss an opportunity to ask for the flu shot.

Those who should receive the flu shot include:

• People aged 65 years and older
• Residents of long-term care facilities
• People age 2 to 64 with a chronic medical condition-such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or lung disease
• Anyone with a chronic medical condition that makes them more vulnerable to the flu, such as heart or lung disorders, asthma, kidney disease or diseases of the immune system, and their family members.
• Children 6 months to 18 years old (Please note that children 6 months to 8 years of age receiving the flu vaccination for the first time should receive 2 doses of flu vaccine spaced 4 weeks apart. Please check with your health care provider prior to vaccination.
• Women who will be more than three months pregnant during the flu season
• Health care workers who provide direct patient care
• Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age
• Any one else falling with the CDC recommendations who wishes to reduce the risk of contracting and transmitting influenza.

Persons who are allergic to eggs or egg products or chicken feathers should not receive the flu shot. Persons who have a fever or are taking antibiotics should wait until recovery before getting the shot.

There are several websites that can provide you with additional information.

• Visiting Nurse Association (ANA)
• Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Stay Well, Be Healthy, Be Informed

Keeping your immune system up... It is our hope that we can help dispel some of the fears and give you tips on how to prevent getting the flu or spreading the flu. This information is based on facts and opinions of the Parish Nurses and are no way meant to take the place of your health care provider.

• Check with your doctor or health care provider:
• Do they have the vaccine?
• Will they be getting the vaccine?
• Do you really need the vaccine based on your health status?
• If you are at risk, have you had a pneumonia shot (pneumovax)? The pneumonia shot guards against bacterial pneumonia, blood infections, and meningitis. It is recommended for people over 65 and those under 65 with health risks, such as lung disease and problems, diabetics, and cardiac patients. Medicare will only pay for one pneumonia shot. If you are over 65, it is felt that you only need the pneumonia shot once. Again, talk with your doctor. Pneumonia is one of the complications of the flu especially in the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
• Waiting in long lines for flu shots especially for the elderly can be more of a health risk than the chance of them getting the flu.
• Keep your immune system up:
  • Get adequate rest.
  • Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water.
  • Regular exercise, walking is one of the best and can be done at the mall indoors as the weather gets colder.
  • Good hand washing prevents germs from spreading.
  • Chill out! Getting overstresses tires the body and can affect your immune system.
• People have voiced to us the concern about shaking hands in church. This really should not be an issue. But if this is a real concern to you; you may just want to nod to the people around you and give your greeting and sign of peace verbally.
• Did you know that a lot of health workers do not take the flu shot and they are around all kinds of germs all day long?
• The media has contributed to the flu vaccine frenzy. To quote one media story, "we as a society tend to want the unattainable." This is true with the flu vaccine. People who have never considered getting a flu shot are caught up in the frenzy "that I have to get a flu shot."
• Not getting a flu shot does not mean that you will get the flu.
• Ontario, Canada will not give the flu vaccine to Americans crossing the bridge in Windsor.
• For people who are elderly and homebound and are worried about getting the flu because they are unable to get the vaccine, remember there is less chance of getting the flu because you are not being exposed to the public. Just watch who comes in to your home and make sure they are not sick.
• Put your faith in the Lord.

Stay Well, Be Healthy, Be Informed

On A Healthy Note

"The Lord works out everything for his own ends." ~Proverbs 16:4

Do I Have A Cold or the Flu (Part 1 of 3)

Both the common cold and the flu are respiratory illnesses. It can be difficult to tell the difference. Different viruses cause colds and the flu. Colds are caused by any one of 200 viruses, rhinovirus being the most common. Colds will come on gradually and spread easily, usually through hand contact or from sneezing and coughing.

The common cold will involve the sinuses, ears and the bronchial tubes. The cold lasts on the average of one week. Mild colds may last for 3 days and severe colds can last up to two weeks. Symptoms may include stuffiness, runny nose, sneezing, red eyes, sore throat, occasionally and and low-grade fever. Treatment is usually over the counter medicines to treat the symptoms: Tylenol or aspirin to relieve the fever or aches, cough medicine for the cough, decongestant to the stuffiness and runny nose or there are combination over the counter meds that will contain several of the listed medications all in one pill. Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses. If symptoms persist beyond two weeks or you are feeling worse, contact your health provider. Occasionally cold can lead to a sinus infection which may be bacterial. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems such as pneumonia, bacterial infections or hospitalizations.

The flu will usually come on fast as opposed to a cold, which is usually gradual. The symptoms usually last from 4 to 7 days but the fatigue and weakness can last 2 to 3 weeks. The symptoms include high fever lasting 3-4 days, loss of appetite, severe muscle aches, chills, severe headache, severe dry cough, fatigue and exhaustion.

Both the flu and the cold are spread through respiratory droplets from cough and sneezes. They also can be spread by contact, touching something that the virus is on and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

Influenza or the flu should not be confused with a stomach virus that some people refer to as the "stomach flu." The vaccine that we receiver for the flu will not prevent the "stomach flu" or medically known as viral gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis will present with the following symptoms - abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. It is caused by one of a number of viruses and can be contagious. It like the respiratory flu is more common in the winter months. In infants, young children and the elderly the big concern is dehydration due to the diarrhea and vomiting.

Next week we will discuss how to prevent getting the flu, especially if you are not able to get the flu vaccine. Remember even with getting the vaccine you are not guaranteed not getting the flu. The vaccine hopefully will protect you against the viruses they suspect will cause the flu each year. Each year the viruses change. So with the vaccine it will help you build antibodies against the viruses and lessen the severity if you do get the flu.

How To Prevent Getting the Flu (Part 2 of 3)

Prevent getting the flu and colds begins with good health habits. The habits are everyday things that we do but this is a good time to stop think of what we are doing and why. The
best defense is good hand washing technique. Hand washing should be done frequently and with warm water and soap. To be effective the hands should be washed for at least twenty
seconds. A simple method to know if you are washing long enough, especially with children, is to sing “Happy Birthday” to yourself. At home change the hand towels frequently during the cold and flu season. Have a separate towel for the person in the home that may be ill.

• Get plenty of sleep. A well-rested body is the best defense against a range of illnesses. Healthy sleep helps bolster the immune system.
• Exercise and regular physical activity strengthens the immune system.
• Drink plenty of water during the day. Fluids keeps you hydrated, delivers nutrients to your organs and flushes toxins from the body.
• The eyes, nose and mouth are entry ports for cold and flu viruses. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
• Try to avoid using your hands to cover your mouth when you sneeze. Again the virus is transferred to your hand and then you touch someone or something and transfer the
  germs. Use a tissue and discard properly. Don’t put them in your pocket or tuck it in your sleeve to be saved and used again. If you do not have a tissue handy turn your head away from others and cough or sneeze into you sleeve.
• Sharing is not always good. Avoid sharing the communal bathroom cup because you could inadvertently catch germs. Opt for the disposable paper or plastic one time use cup. Throw away toothbrushes after an illness such the cold or flu.
• In the workplace and at home wipe down your telephone with an alcohol wipe or one of the several disinfecting wipes on the market. You may also want to wipe down your desk or computer keyboard especially if you share this equipment with other people.
• If you have young children take the time to periodically wipe down their toys with an antibacterial wipe. In general in the home wipe down countertops, the door knobs and
  other common places that that members of the family come in contact that may have collected germs from the outside.
• If possible stay home from work, school, church and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. You are most contagious with a cold or
  the flu usually in the first 24 to 72 hours of the onset of the illness.

With holiday shopping coming up avoid the crowds at the malls if possible. Washing hands again if you stop to eat. You might want to have hand wipes or the small size of alcohol
base hand sanitizers in your purse or pocket. Wash hands thoroughly when your return home. Next week we will talk about what to do if you do get the flu.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in afflictions, faithful in prayer." ~Romans 12:12

What to Do If You Get the Flu (Part 3 of 3)

Despite all your best efforts and good health habits you find yourself or someone in your family ill with the flu. As you know there is no magic cure for the flu. The object is to treat the symptoms, keep the person as comfortable as possible and prevent complications by being observant and seeking medical help when appropriate and trying to contain the spread of the flu to other members in the household.

TIPS FOR COPING WITH THE FLU:

• Bed rest.
• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and to flush the toxins from the body.
• Use over the counter meds such as Tylenol, Motrin, etc. to reduce the fever and ease the body aches. Do not give aspirin to children.
• Keep your distance from the person who is ill if possible. Avoid close contact with the person who has the flu.
• Dispose of used tissues properly and quickly (do not keep them in your pocket or at the bedside).
• Hand washing is extremely important for the caregiver and the patient.
• Contact your health care provider for a prescription antiviral medication. There are several antiviral meds that can be given such as Tamiflu, Relenza, Flumadine and Symmetrel. These drugs will not cure you of the flu but they will shorten the duration and the severity of the flu symptoms. To be most effective they need to be taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. As with any medication there is a risk of side effects and you need to contact your health provider.
• Watch for complications. Contact your doctor if you experience a worsening of symptoms.
  • Contact your physician if symptoms persist beyond a week or if your temperature is above 102 degrees.
  • In children, sinus and ear infections can develop.
  • In both children and the elderly, especially those with pre-existing medical problems, dehydration is a concern. Signs of dehydration include sunken eyes, low urine output, lack of sugar tugor (skin lacks its normal elasticity and sags back into position slowly when pinched up into a fold), dry mouth, and confusion.

OTHER COMMON SENSE TIPS INCLUDE:

• Use antibacterial wipes to clean common surfaces around the house (such as doorknobs, counter tops, telephone and table).
• Use the sanitary wash cycle on your dishwater.
• Have the ill person use separate hand towels.
• Wipe down children's toys with an antibacterial wipe or soap and water.
• Open up the window and air out the bedroom for a few minutes when changing the bed linens.

Stay Well, Be Healthy, Be Informed

Other symptoms Chest pain increases with deep breaths