Reviewed By Laura J. Martin, MD

People often complain of dizziness and upset stomach right after a roller coaster ride, but new evidence suggests that the high speeds and sudden turns of the ride are responsible for ear damage. Doctors from Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital pointed out the case of a 24-year-old man who suffered ear barotrauma after riding a roller coaster that can reach the stunning maximum speed of 120 miles per hour in four seconds.

Ear barotrauma occurs when there is a quick change in air pressure that affects the eardrum and pressure in the middle ear. This commonly happens when during scuba diving, air travel, or being near explosives. In that particular case, the patient’s head was turned during the ride. Thirty-six hours after the ride, the man reported feelings of pain and fullness in the right ear. A physical examination showed injury in his right ear, a swollen ear canal and an inflamed eardrum. The eardrum was not punctured though.

The patient’s left ear was fine, indicating that his right ear endured the entire impact of the roller-coaster motion while his head was turned. Researcher Kathleen L. Yaremchuk, MD, chair of the department of otolaryngology at Henry Ford Hospital, and colleagues estimated that the patient’s right ear was exposed to about 0.6 pounds per square inch when the roller coaster accelerated. The patient did not receive treatment and his symptoms cleared up a couple of days days.

“As rollercoasters continue to push the envelope of speed, otolaryngologists need to be aware of this new cause of barotrauma to the ear,” Yaremchuk says in a news release. “Based on our research, we recommend that passengers remain facing forward for the duration of the ride to not let the full impact of acceleration hit the ear.”

Other kind of roller-coaster injuries have been reported in medical literature in the past, including bruising and spine injuries, including vertebral
disk herniation or tear of the tissue surrounding the spine. These injuries are caused by the force of roller-coaster acceleration. Ear injuries are not common in amusement park rides. Needless to say, not all roller-coaster riders suffer from ear trauma. Yaremchuk admits that particular case was rare and many things had to coincide for this to happen. “This was an unusual situation, where the rider turned his head at just the right time to experience the full force of acceleration against his eardrum,” says Yaremchuk in the news release. “It would be highly unlikely to do this multiple times in a row, but roller coaster riders should be aware of what they can do to prevent barotrauma from occurring.”

source: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=115923

If not, this is probably because the lotion does not contain the right ingredients. There are so many products that say they will take care of these new wrinkles popping up that people are confused.

What works and what is just a waste of money? Finding the right collagen elastin lotion will take a little effort on your part.

Knowing what to look for in the products you buy makes all the difference in the world. There are many that have collagen and elastin in the actual product.

These are one to stay away from when purchasing skin products. Collagen and elastin will not absorb through the skin to where it is needed to work.

It is far too large to penetrate through the layers of skin to the spot where it would do any good. The lotion will wash off before it will go to the root of the problem.

The products that you need to pay attention to are the ones that produce collagen and elastin to help your skin. These are proteins that are naturally produced in plentiful amounts by the body when we are young.

As we age, the body slows down and does not produce as much. The result is sagging skin and wrinkles.

Why does this happen? Because these proteins are what keep your skin looking young and supple.

When we do not produce as much collagen and elastin, the skin begins to get a little droopy, wrinkles start forming and your neck develops that little bit of sag that increases with age.

The lack of enough collagen and elastin along with other factors, such as exposure to the sun, smoking and not enough hydration causes the skin to age that much faster. There are collagen elastin lotions that can regenerate your skin by providing the essentials the body needs to produce more collagen and elastin.

But, you have to remember the name of the ingredients will not be collagen and elastin. The ingredients that help the skin to rejuvenate are Cynergy TK, coenzyme Q10 and vitamins to help your skin repair the damage that has been done.

There will also be supplements in the lotion that are known as antioxidants. These are essential to decrease free radicals because they keep the skin from being able to repair damage.

Use a good collagen elastin lotion that has the right ingredients to stimulate reproduction of these proteins. In many cases this method has worked to get rid of the wrinkles completely.

The choices you are faced with on a daily basis can be somewhat confusing. However, the one thing you do not want to do is waste money on products that do nothing near what they promise.

Your skin is very important to how you look and feel about yourself. This is one reason you want to do everything you can to bring it back to the great looking skin of your youth.

Finding and buying the collagen elastin product that will produce these two proteins are the only way you will get the benefits of healthier, younger looking skin. This is the easiest way of revitalizing your skin.

Please Pay Close Attention: If you are concerned about Aging, then this could be the most important website you will visit. Kalpana shares all the critical tips on natural skin care and anti-aging techniques at her website ==>
http://www.NaturalBeautyAndSkincare.comArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-lies-you-have-been-told-about-collagen-elastin-lotion-1352343.html
[Back to Health-Offers.net]

What happens is a disc is pushed up against a nerve resulting in incredible pain. Some of the causes are injury, a degenerative disc disease, or a herniated disc. Whatever the cause of the pain, spinal decompression, also known as Vertebral Axial Decompression (VAX-D), may be the safest and most effective treatment.

Spinal Decompression is Drug Free
Spinal decompression does not use drugs and is non-surgical making it a uniquely safe treatment. The treatment has also been shown to reduce pain in the arms, legs, and even the sensitive lower back.

Spinal decompression slowly elongates the spine, which in turns takes the pressure off the compressed disc and vertebrae. In most cases, patients lie on an axial decompression table while a machine uses reverse pressure to elongate the spine and injured area.

Decompression is the Best Option for Chronic Back Pain
Spinal decompression is normally reserved for patients that have experienced severe back pain for longer than a month. Those who experience frequent and chronic back pain lasting longer than six months may also benefit from spinal decompression therapy.

Research has shown that spinal decompression is effective for the treatment of sciatica, degenerative disc disease herniated discs, facet arthopathy and soft-tissue spinal stenosis. Studies have also shown that it is more effective and less dangerous than surgical treatments.

The normal curvature and position of the spine is returned through gentle traction. When the discs are elongated, the pressure is taken off the herniated or bulging disc allowing pain to dissipate. The elongation also adds to the body’s ability to extract nutrients that are necessary for a full recovery. The negative pressure put on the disc in effect reverses the strain on the back allowing the elimination of pain and tension.

Rating the Pain of before Spinal Decompression
As with any medical procedure, it is extremely important to give the chiropractor a full medical history. All chiropractors will ask a series of questions followed by an exam before any treatment is given. It is during this time that you should reveal any past medical problems no matter how unrelated it may seem.

You can expect the chiropractor to ask you specific questions about the pain. The chiropractor will ask you to describe and rate the pain level. When describing the pain, try to focus on how it feels. Does the pain throb, stab, pulsate, or tingle? Does the pain come and go or is it a constant level? Is there anything that makes the pain worse or better? It could be the back does not hurt at all but in fact, you lose feeling in parts of your body.

After a thorough description, you will be asked to rate the pain on a scale from 1 to 10. 1 stands for very mild discomfort and 10 is the worst pain you have ever experienced in your life. However, the pain may not always be the same level.

In this case, you may need to give two or more ratings. You may say in the morning it feels like an eight but by afternoon, it only feels like a four. Alternatively, you may say normally the pain remains a level five but when I drive for long periods, it increases to a seven or eight. Whatever the case, it is important to be thorough and accurate for best results.

Do you suffer from chronic low back pain, headaches, spinal surgery, or want to lose weight? The Incorporation of Progressive Rehabilitation with latest in chiropractic care will help. Use of non-surgical spinal decompression, nutritional counseling, weight loss with the Triple Pledge Satisfaction.
For more info, go to www.pennsylvania.HealthSourceChiro.com/City/abingtonArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-is-spinal-decompression-1335166.html

[Back to Health-Offers.net]

Sure Shot Way to Grow Taller

Tip#1: Diet: Not many people know that there is a close relationship between your height and what you eat. For example consuming large quantities of fat is known to increase the insulin level in the body which in turn is known to affect the release of growth hormones, so very essential to grow tall. You must therefore get rid of processed food items if you want to grow taller. Acai berry juice and fish oil are known to help people in growing taller.

Tip#2: Hairstyle: Visit an experienced hairstylist and find out about certain styles that can make you look taller than what you are.

Tip#3: Dressing: Men wearing shirts which come with vertical stripes are always known to look taller. Similarly women can try wearing high heals and a tall hat.

Tip#4: Posture: A good posture is another thing that can make you look taller than what you actually are. Make sure that you sit up right with your chin up and your chest out.

Tip#5: Sleep: Most people are unaware of the close relationship between getting adequate sleep and growing taller. The growth hormones released in the body are distributed only during sleep. It is therefore essential that you get a good nights rest.

Tip#6: Exercise: Regular exercise is known to boost the production of growth hormones in the body. The more the intensity of the exercise program, the more will be the secretion and release of growth hormones. Sprint bursts, stretching exercises, Yoga, Pilates and swimming are known to be particularly good for growing taller.

Now Pay Close Attention Here- Are You Looking for ways to Grow Taller? There is a proven all natural technique which will help you Growing Taller by 2-3 inches in under 6 weeks. If you have been desperately looking around for ways to Grow Taller then this is the most important message you will ever read- Click Here.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/growing-taller-6-sure-shot-tips-to-tower-over-the-others-1341800.html

[Back to Health-Offers.net]

In the BBC report, a survey said that many people believe people with autism harbor special talents or skills, as if in compensation to the other skills lost. However, this isn’t true. Not every autistic child has particular enhanced skills, like the character from Rain Man (played by Dustin Hoffman) who has eidetic memory. There are also many reports of people with autism excelling in music or the arts due to their enhanced sense of hearing, for instance (it should be noted that most people with the disorder do have overly sensitive hearing). Experts say that these special skills and abilities are, in fact, extremely rare. Unfortunately, many people do not know this, so they expect people with autism to be some sort of savant in a particular field. This causes the social stigma experienced by people with autism to be more severe.

Another cause of this stigma: the expectation that all autistic people are the same. Of course, they aren’t-the disorder affects people in different ways, with varying intensity. Some people with autism have severe symptoms, while others exhibit very few signs. In fact, it is quite possible to be autistic and have the ability to socialize with other people; the effects of the disorder may be evident in other areas. Again, not many people know this. Many generalize autism when, in fact, it is a treacherous disorder with varied end results. For instance, many people, especially in the past, exhibit autistic traits-yet they managed to live their lives normally. While some of aspects of their lives are limited, they function normally in other respects, mainly because the intensity of autism varies.

Just consider the list of people with this disorder, many of which have accomplished great things. Christopher Knowles, for one, is an acclaimed poet (who is well known for his work with theater legend Philip Glass) who was diagnosed with autism. Dan Aykroyd, a well known actor, has a mild Asperger syndrome. Pulitzer Award-winning author Tim Page (well known for his music criticism) also has Asperger.

Basically, the activities of an autistic person naturally depend on what he is most inclined to do, or usually up to what extent he or she is affected by the disorder. There are instances when the disorder is too severe, rendering a person totally unable to do these things. Still, one way to let them do what they can is to prevail against social stigmas. There is nothing be ashamed of about autism. With the proper care and nurture, a child can live fruitful against the odds.

For more information on http://autism-supplements.com title=”Autism Vitamins”>Autism Vitamins, and Autism and Fish Oil, please take a look at our Supplement Guide for Autism.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/is-autism-automatically-a-social-death-1329180.html

[Back to health-offers.net]

Don’t get taken in by advertisements and weight-loss websites without verifying their claims and checking out the ingredients they are using in their diet pills and weight-loss supplements.

The best way to lose weight and to stay fit is to adopt an exercise program. You can take up some regular physical activity in the form of a sport like swimming or tennis. You can try your hand at aerobics and dancing also. All such type of activities are enjoyable and at the same time help you lose weight. For those who get tired of going to the gym, a recreational physical activity that lets you sweat out works great as a fat-loss solution.

You can also try and take up some specific health-improving activities like yoga, tai chi and chi gong. Experts also suggest that if you include a daily system of meditation in your lifestyle you will be able to check stress.

Some simple warm-up and stretching exercises can be done even in the workplace. You don’t have to try and take out time from a busy schedule if you start walking, trying push-up, side-to-side lunges, stretching etc on a daily basis. These types of simple exercises won’t take more than 15 minutes a day but help a great deal in losing weight in the long run.

Adopting a healthy diet is very important if you want to lose weight permanently. Here are some tips to keep in mind while chalking out a proper diet plan:

• Eat more cereals, vegetables and fresh fruits rather than junk food, fried stuff and processed foods. This tip is so much common knowledge that you should know it already. All you need to do is gather some will power to stick to this diet plan.

• For a diet through the week, you can try a cup of rolled oats with boiled water, grated apple and honey on the first day.

• On the second day you can eat rice and apricots.

• On the third day, you can try buckwheat with fried onions.

• Follow that up with porridge the next day and eat buckwheat and rice on the day after. You can try this diet for a week and you will notice a happy difference.

• You must never skip a meal as it interferes with your metabolism which works on burning calories. If you eat properly, your metabolism rate functions properly and your body manages to melt fat more easily.

• Try to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water everyday. This will keep your body hydrated, wash out the toxins and help in losing weight.

Depending entirely on artificial methods to lose weight is not going to be very successful and you will keep returning to your fat-bod state unless you decide to change your lifestyle as well.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/guaranteed-way-to-lose-weight-improve-your-lifestyle-1329077.html

[Back to health-offers.net]

This is a question that has perhaps puzzled many parents, especially those with children showing unusual red flags pointing to autism. However, knowing whether one has autism or not can be a very difficult, strenuous, and often emotional task. The person involved, after all, can be loved one, a child, a relative-and, naturally, you wouldn’t want them to be afflicted by this horrible disorder. Still, the task must be done, no matter how difficult it is. Unfortunately, the signs are not as clear cut as they could be. For one, autism is not like a simple ailment like a fever where you can use a thermometer to measure whether one is inflicted by autism or not. Experts do tests do determine the presence of the ailment, of course, but how do you determine if you need to bring your child to the professionals for a more comprehensive analysis of the situation.

Many say that autism cannot fully be assessed until the child has reached the age of two. At this age, certain developmental signs can become more pronounced, hence making the assessment easier. But there are certain signs that can help you determine early on.

For instance, by the age of six months above, you can detect early signs of the disorder by checking the child’s social and oral skills. When the child does not coo or babble, does not make eye contact, or does not smile, your “red flags” should be raised, although might say you should wait for a few more months to check for other signs. Other “signs” at this point include: non-participation or non-response in any vocal activities and non-response to any game or activity that require their reaction (a peek a boo game, for instance).

At the age of one, the child should show attempts to speak, point, wave, respond when being called by name, grasp-or, basically, just to simply react. One of the main and most assuring sign of autism is indifference, the lack of reaction to any activity, sound, or visual elements around him. An autistic child, in turn, may also be overly sensitive to certain smells, sounds, and/or textures. Furthermore, if the child is prone to making repetitive actions or motions, along with other signs, parents should bring their child to experts right away. Other red flags: resistance to chance and an unusual attachment to a particular object.

At age two, the signs should be more pronounced. Along with the cited warning signs, other autism red flags include lack of joyful expression, indifference to social activities, loss of speech (by the child’s 24th month, he should be able to at least say two-word phrases that are meaningful or not simply imitated from someone else), among others.

Generally, the three main criteria of these sign are: impaired social interaction, restricted movement and interests, and impaired communication skills.

Obviously, as one could tell from these signs, it may be possible to tell if a child has autism at an early age, although it is not a possibility for most children. The signs that become apparent are not constant, and they are differently not standard to every child with the disorder. In any case, once these signs are detected, you should bring your child to medical experts who can treat the symptoms and help your child live a normal life.

For more information on http://autism-supplements.com title=”Autism Vitamins”>Autism Vitamins, and Autism and Fish Oil, please take a look at our Supplement Guide for Autism.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/recognizing-the-warning-signs-of-autism-1329160.html

[Back to healh-offers.net]

WASHINGTON – It’s hard for pregnant women to escape the message: You’re at extra risk from swine flu — it could trigger premature labor, hospitalize you for weeks, even kill you — so be among the first in line for vaccine next month. But only about one in seven pregnant women gets a flu shot each winter.

While federal health officials are working hard to raise that number this year, repeated swine flu warnings won’t automatically overcome a key obstacle: Many obstetricians don’t vaccinate. And not only are many women reluctant to go hunting for flu shots elsewhere, historically some pharmacists and other providers have been wary of vaccinating them.

“Maybe this year we can change that culture,” says Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It’s not supposed to happen that you, when you are pregnant, are fighting for your life on a respirator.”

Yet getting simple vaccine information took Charla Bason of Washington, D.C., repeated requests, as she was bounced between her obstetrician’s office and her primary care doctor a few weeks ago.

“I feel like if I hadn’t brought it up, they never would have mentioned it to me,” says Bason, 30, who is seven months pregnant with her first child.

Bason decided to seek vaccination after watching a CDC Webcast about pregnant women and talking with a physician in the family. But she still has no clear answer about where to get one.

“It’s been incredibly frustrating. There’s a terrible disconnect between the message that was getting out and, once you decide you want it, how do you get it?” she says.

Any kind of flu is risky during pregnancy, and pregnant women have been on the get-a-flu-shot priority list for years. Their reluctance to take any medication during pregnancy is part of the reason for the low vaccination rates.

With swine flu, what doctors call the 2009 H1N1 strain, pregnant women seem at particular risk for complications. Pregnant women make up 6 percent of H1N1-confirmed deaths even though they account for only 1 percent of the population, according to the CDC. They’re at least four times as likely to be hospitalized as other flu sufferers.

Vaccine is a two-for-one deal during pregnancy: It can protect not just mom but the baby, too, for the first few months after birth. The mother’s body makes flu-fighting antibodies that easily cross the placenta to be carried by the fetus, explains Dr. Neil Silverman of the University of California, Los Angeles. That’s important because flu can easily kill newborns, yet babies can’t be vaccinated until they’re 6 months old.

Once women get that vaccine advice, where do they get the shot?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has no count of how many OBs offer flu vaccine. It’s still considered a minority although recent surveys suggest many more may be starting this year, especially in large cities.

An extra complication: Each state’s health department ultimately will decide who gets to offer the H1N1 vaccine, aiming for locations that vaccinate the most people. Those decisions haven’t been made public yet. Even if your OB requested swine flu shots, he or she may not get any, at least from initial shipments.

So the CDC and ACOG are urging obstetricians to partner with a nearby site — a hospital or drugstore, for example — to guarantee their patients a flu-shot source, a message the government will reiterate Tuesday in a swine flu training seminar for obstetricians nationwide.

Yet providers who don’t routinely treat pregnant women may not understand flu’s risk and the shot’s safety record, says Silverman, who helps set ACOG practice guidelines.

Take pharmacists, expected to be key H1N1 vaccinators. Silverman gets occasional phone calls from women who say a pharmacist won’t fill the flu-shot prescription he wrote.

“They act like the doctor who prescribed it didn’t know what he or she was doing,” says Silverman, who settles the standoff by getting the pharmacist on the phone. For every patient who calls, “I know there are at least two who just say, ‘Well, OK, I’m not going to do this,’ and just walk away.”

The American Pharmacists Association is urging its members to follow the CDC’s pregnancy guidelines but can’t mandate that, and a few stores may still balk, says association chief of staff Mitchel Rothholz.

But some are embracing the potential customers. The large Walgreen’s drugstore chain told states that if picked as an H1N1 shot site, it might put get-vaccinated-here signs next to the pregnancy tests, or print vaccine reminders for people who bought prenatal vitamins.

And Louisiana this month lifted its requirement that pharmacists vaccinate by prescription only, making it easier for everyone to get a drugstore flu shot.

Why don’t more OBs vaccinate? Largely it’s the expense and hassle, but it’s not part of routine obstetrician training, says Dr. Stanley Gall of the University of Louisville, an OB and longtime vaccine provider. That’s changing as more stock a different vaccine — against the virus that causes cervical cancer — and decide they might as well offer flu vaccine, too.

Because so few pregnant women even have another doctor, “the OB office should be a one-stop shop,” he says.

___

EDITOR’S NOTE — Lauran Neergaard covers health and medical issues for The Associated Press in Washington.

On the Net:

CDC info: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/pregnancy/

[Back to Health Offers Home Page]

September 11, 2009 – Within the complex mosaic of health-care delivery and cost containment are many possible paths to achieving better outcomes – a key goal of the ongoing health-care reform effort being pushed by the Obama administration.

One idea is getting a closer look at Columbine Health Systems facilities in Fort Collins and Loveland. Last month, Columbine, which provides residential and home-care services for seniors, introduced a telehealth monitoring program designed to help clients better manage their day-to-day health and potentially avoid expensive hospital and emergency room treatment.
Columbine partnered with Connections 365, a company offering a 24/7 call center that monitors health data input through kiosks called “Health Buddies.”

The basic goal, said Columbine health systems coordinator Yvonne Myers, is to help seniors stay in their homes and empower them to take charge of their health situation.

“Our average age is around 85 years old,” Myers said. “It’s about helping them to better manage their health and doing it at home helps them be in charge of their life. They all want to stay in the least restrictive environment as long as possible.”

Initially, Columbine has installed kiosks in its residential facilities so residents can check on their own vital signs and get feedback on any changes they may notice. In the near future, Myers said Columbine intends to offer the Health Buddy table-top monitoring units through its home-care providers as well.

The home units are hooked to a telephone or Internet connection that feeds data to the call center, where the information is assessed and a local intervention can take place before a health condition becomes critical.

Gilbert Cruz, a spokesman for Connections 365, said studies have shown that self-monitoring systems can decrease hospitalizations and premature entry into nursing homes. But the units also help encourage wellness and illness prevention, he added.

Cruz said the cost of renting a Home Buddy hasn’t been finalized but would likely be somewhere between $100 and $200 a month.

“We want to keep it no greater than a high-end cable TV package because we want to keep it affordable,” he said.

The client can take his or her medical record stored in the Health Buddy on visits to the doctor and the physician can get a better idea of how the patient has been progressing. Cruz said the service also includes a weekly wellness call from a real person to check on the client to provide an opportunity to ask questions or just talk to someone.

And the system offers some piece of mind for relatives. “It brings a sense of security to family members when they aren’t close,” Cruz said.

The system works best when monitoring chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and lung disease. And many seniors have more than one condition to track.

“When you have multiple things to monitor, that’s really what the Health Buddy’s for,” said Myers.

With millions of aging baby boomers moving into retirement with escalating health-care needs, Myers said such home-based monitoring technology will be vital.

“There just aren’t going to be enough health-care workers to take care of them all,” she said. “Moving forward, telehealth is the future of health care.”

Myers said having a connection to a call-center monitor is what will set Columbine’s telehealth program apart from other programs aimed at helping keep seniors out of hospitals, emergency rooms and nursing homes until that kind of expensive care is truly needed.

“The most unique part of it is the call center part of it – having someone available 24/7,” she said. “For homebound people without children nearby, this becomes their lifeline.”

Steve Porter covers health care for the Northern Colorado Business Report. He can be reached at 970-221-5400, ext. 225 or at sporter@ncbr.com.

Article Source: http://www.ncbr.com/article.asp?id=102056

[Back to Health Offers Home Page]

In June 2009, World Health Organization officials declared the H1N1 influenza virus—commonly known as swine flu—a global pandemic. It is the first time they have taken this measure in 40 years. Some projections have warned there will be between 30,000 to 90,000 deaths in America caused by swine flu—compared with 36,000 deaths from flu complications in a typical year.

Flash back three years ago to when the world braced for the dangerous spread of a different strain of influenza called H5N1—commonly known as bird flu. While the United States ended up escaping a full-on outbreak of H5N1, it killed nearly 200 people worldwide. How did we escape? The H5N1 virus never mutated into a form communicable by human-to-human contact (everyone who died caught the virus from birds, not other humans). But swine flu can be spread from human-to-human contact.

As the winter flu season dawns in the Northern hemisphere—coinciding with the start of the school year—questions about a swine flu vaccine are becoming more urgent.

What are the symptoms of swine flu?
Dr. Michael Osterholm—who answered questions about bird flu on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2006—says in most cases, you won’t be able to tell the difference between regular seasonal flu and swine flu. Both result in muscle aches, fever and chills.

According to Dr. Julie Morita, medical director of the Chicago Department of Public Health’s immunization program, the only way to be sure that a person has seasonal flu or swine flu is by taking a laboratory test. This test, she says, is only recommended for those who are sick enough to be hospitalized or whose health conditions increase their risk for dangerous complications from flu.

Who should get the swine flu vaccine?
Dr. Morita says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices released a priority list to outline who is most in need of the vaccine. That list includes: pregnant women, caregivers for children younger than 6 months old, healthcare and emergency medical personnel, anyone between 6 months old and 24 years old and anyone between ages 25 and 65 who has a medical condition that increases the risk of complications.

Does the swine flu vaccine protect against regular seasonal flu?
“The seasonal influenza vaccine will protect against three different nonpandemic influenza strains that caused the majority of influenza infections in recent years,” Dr. Morita says. “However, it will not prevent pandemic influenza infections. Likewise, the pandemic influenza vaccine will only prevent infections caused by the pandemic influenza strain, not infections caused by seasonal influenza viruses.”

So if you are eligible to get the swine flu vaccine, be prepared for a total of three shots. “One for seasonal flu and two doses for the nominal H1N1,” Dr. Osterholm says. Studies have shown that the swine flu vaccine must be given in two doses to be effective.

UPDATE—September 16: On Tuesday, September 15, the FDA approved a swine flu vaccine that may require just one dose. Final testing on number of doses is still pending.

When will the swine flu vaccine be available?
No date has been set for delivery. “We hope in mid-October the first doses will start,” Dr. Osterholm says.

If you aren’t on the high-priority list, will it be possible to get vaccinated?
“No, because it won’t exist,” Dr. Osterholm says. “There are only 190 million doses for the country. If it takes two doses, [that's only 85 million people who can be vaccinated] right there.”

There’s no need to panic if you aren’t able to get the swine flu vaccine. Doctors will be able to treat severely affected patients with antiviral medications like Tamiflu and Relenza, Dr. Morita says. But even that type of intervention won’t be commonly necessary. “Most people do not need antiviral drugs to fully recover from the seasonal or pandemic influenza infections,” she says.

Are there any risks from the vaccine itself?
“The pandemic influenza vaccines are being produced using the same manufacturing process as seasonal influenza vaccines,” Dr. Morita says. “When seasonal influenza vaccines are administered according to licensed indication and usage information, they are safe. However, vaccines, like any medical product, carry some risks.”

Dr. Osterholm agrees. “It is the seasonal flu vaccine, just a different antigen in it,” he says. “We’ve been giving that successfully for the past 25 years without any problems at all.”

If you think you or your children have contracted swine flu, what should you do?
Dr. Osterholm says the first thing you should do is pick up the phone and call your physician. “Don’t go in,” he says. “Call them.”

Dr. Morita says it’s important for infected people to stay away from others as much as possible. “Do not go to work or school while ill,” she says. Her other recommendations for recovery from pandemic flu are what you’d do to recover from seasonal flu: Get plenty of rest, drink clear liquids, cover coughs and sneezes and wash your hands regularly.

Worsening influenza symptoms include: difficulty breathing, purple or blue discoloration of the lips, vomiting, signs of dehydration like dizziness or absence of urination, seizures or convulsions and confusion. If you see any of these, Dr. Morita says to get emergency medical care right away.

Source: http://www.oprah.com/article/health/diseases/20090903-orig-swine-flu-vaccine-faq

[Back to Health Offers Home Page]