For some its better late than never for flu shot
Mar 4th, 2008 | By admin | Category: HealthIt takes about two weeks to develop immunity to the influenza virus after getting the vaccine. This would mean that you would not be immune until late March. The flu season seems to be peaking late this year as activity over the last several weeks has been increasing, which would likely mean you would still get benefit from the vaccine.
If you are a traveler, you may benefit from the vaccine even this late, as influenza peaks at different times in other parts of the world.
Another option is FluMist, an intranasal delivery system for live influenza vaccine. This is available by prescription through your doctor and pharmacy.
It is important to note other effective measures in preventing and treating influenza. If you have close contacts with confirmed influenza, you may want to consider taking a medicine to prevent it. The two on the market are Tamiflu and Relenza. They are very expensive, so in the future, I would recommend the vaccine rather than resorting to these medications. Most doctors do not consider co-workers with influenza a “close contact.” Most consider exposure from household contacts with the virus an indication for prophylaxis with either of the two medications.
If you do develop symptoms of influenza (cough, fever, muscle aches, runny nose and headaches - not the stomach flu), see your doctor immediately as you can start treatment, which will reduce the severity and duration of your illness, but it needs to be started within 48 hours of onset. The same medications used for preventing influenza can be used for treatment.
Q.My sister and mother both have severe diverticulosis and have had to have parts of their colon removed.
I’m 32 and don’t want to have the same problems they are having. Is diverticulosis hereditary and is there a way to prevent it?
A. Diverticulosis is a very common medical problem, mostly related to our Western diet.
Most are unaware that they have diverticulosis until they have symptoms or when it is found incidentally on a CT scan or during colon cancer screening.
Diverticulosis refers to a condition where small pockets are formed in the colon, usually the left part of the colon. They can be complicated by infection, inflammation or bleeding, which is usually the indication to have the affected part of the colon removed.
Most of the time, however, diverticulosis can be managed through diet. Everyone should eat a high fiber diet, and there is some thought that those with diverticulosis should avoid foods with small seeds that can become stuck in the diverticuli and cause infection.
It seems as though diverticulosis is mostly caused by diet, although a genetic/inheritable cause can’t be ruled out.
Given your family history, I would be very cognizant of your diet and that you are getting daily exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.
Deidre Faust is an internist at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Send questions to her at: Plank Road Clinic, 1155 N Mayfair Road, Suite B, Wauwatosa, WI 53226, or e-mail to dfaust@mcw.edu. Copyright Medical College of WisconsinArchive For some, it’s better late than never for flu shot (3/3/2008) More details on who should get shingles vaccine (2/4/2008) Obesity: The Health Scourge We Can Defeat (6/18/2007) “Cool” Twist on Cardiac Arrest Treatment (4/18/2007) More to obesity than overeating? (3/8/2007) Small farmers and world nutrition (1/9/2007) Preventing medical error is tricky business (10/19/2006) Marriage as a Public Health Measure (9/5/2006) Smoke and Mirrors (8/23/2006) The power of sleep (11/28/2005) Our most common and deadly health condition (10/11/2005) Workers’ Compensation: The difficult ten percent (10/11/2005) Give body a chance to fight travelers’ diarrhea (10/7/2005) Health insurance for everybody is an attainable goal (5/16/2005) Protect insurance fund and access to medical care (4/26/2005) Making sense of conflicting medical studies (2/3/2005) Raise tobacco tax for good of smokers and state (1/29/2005) ‘Forgotten children’ not properly buckled up (1/14/2005) Daycare can be a conundrum for parents (1/11/2005) First aid recommendations to be revised (12/30/2004)
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