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You've probably already noticed that a lot of the flu frenzy has calmed down today. The fright is passing, but vigilence is still important. This wave of coverage serves as a good reminder to keep up daily habits for good hygiene (especially for kids). And while it's good that panic isn't dominating the headlines, it's still wise to follow updates from the CDC and WHO.
On what's normally a day of celebration in Mexico, the outbreak still remains as not just a medical but also a social issue for Mexicans. In fact, the nation has planned a stimulus package of its own to help recover from the outbreak.
Concerns are easing, but we're still following the story. Stay alert, and stay healthy.
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This Sunday, MSNBC will air the first episode of a three-part series called Change of Face. The series follows three New York City surgeons whose jobs are to "perfect, save a reconstruct the human face, changing their patients' lives in their operating rooms."
The series tells the story of some amazing doctors and incredible families. You'll find profiles of frightened parents and brave children trying to figure out what's wrong and how to make it better. Hailey's story is a touching one:
One-year-old Hailey is your average adorable, smiley toddler, but when a circular purple bruise-like mark began to grow on the side of her forehead, it wasn't just the stares of strangers that proved devastating for her parents, it was their concern of what the mystery mark overtaking their daughter's face was. Under the care of Dr. Waner, Hailey and her family learned that what she was suffering from was a hemangioma--a benign tumor made up of extra blood vessels.
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After the alert level was raised late yesterday afternoon, the news got (and stayed) busy of course. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, quick get started in her new position, joined Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in a live webcast with Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the CDC. You can check out the video here. Keiji Fukuda, assistant director-general of Health Security and Environment at WHO, also spoke with reporters.
The number of cases in the United States went above 250, and South Carolina and Georgia became the eleventh and twelfth states with confirmed cases. Schools continue to close across the nation, and Mexico's government shut down all non-essential activity.
In Floral Park, a New York City suburb, the story got quite personal, when one family had five children contract the swine flu. Jacqueline Civitano lent a very realistic perspective in MSNBC's coverage, examining our preparedness. Startlingly, researchers have been able to learn very little from Mexico's first swine flu death, and the search for a vaccine still continues.
Of course it was hard to miss coverage of Vice President Joe Biden's comments about avoiding travel. You can catch up on the story with video of Biden's comments about swine flu if you missed it.
While it's a semantic story on the surface, the question of what we really call this disease is still out there. WHO is officially referring to swine flu as "H151," hoping to avoid confusion about the risk of eating pig products. It's worth noting that whatever we call the disease, experts say it isn't spread by eating pork. The important precautions to take are covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, wash you hands and avoid touching your face. If you are sick, don't play tough; stay home from work and see a doctor. There's a great, simple breakdown of key points on at The Huffington Post, with five things you need to know.
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Today at 1 pm Eastern, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and HHS Secretary Sebelius and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will host a live webcast and answer questions from the public. Also joining them in this discussion about swine flu will be Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control. You can view the webcast at hhs.gov or cdc.gov. Want to submit a question? Email hhsstudio@hhs.gov.
Get more updates by following us on Twitter.
Today's news had a very sad beginning, as the report came of the nation's first swine flu death, a 23-month-old in Texas. While the currently-known cases are still called "mild," experts still expect some more severe cases.
In the afternoon, we learned that the World Health Organization raised the alert to "pandemic level 5". And the announcement came that Germany and Austria also have confirmed cases.
Schools are, appropriately, among the most concerned institutions, and in some cities, widespread closings are still likely.
Governments and companies are already turning thoughts to preparedness and the search for a vaccine.Pig farmers are explaining the precautions they take to maintain healthy conditions.
Pork companies, meanwhile, are trying to remind us that people don't get swine flu from eating pork. In fact the Wall Street Journal Health Blog delved into the topic of why many people, including President Obama, just want to call it H1N1 flu virus, its more scientific name.
In the midst of the crisis, the nation finally got a new leader at the department of health and human services, Kathleen Sebelius. The former governor of Kansas of course went straight to the situation room after being sworn in as secretary.
While swine flu may have us thinking a little more about health and a little less about wealth, we still can't ignore the economy. And the markets are reflecting some of the fears surrounding swine flu. Oil is down, since people may be traveling less.
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This morning's news saw a little bit of conflict on the swine flu front, since we were concerned to see the number of estimated cases in the country get up to fifty, but at the same time the government's efforts seemed focus on calming our fears. Those two messages weren't too surprising. The truth is, those numbers will keep going up (later in the morning the CDC updated the total to 64), and until we have a better understanding of this particular strain, the mantra "everybody stay calm" may be the best advice.
Schools are among the most vulnerable locations, and many communities have resorted to closing down schools and major public gathering areas, like local parks.
While these precautions are necessary, especially in schools where kids have been infected, many media outlets have devoted space today to reducing panic. Newsweek has good insight to the straightforward but not-so-simple question "Should We Panic," and the "5 Reasons Not to Panic" from ABCNews gives good tips and calming advice.
The CDC is continuously updating its site's swine flu page, which has the five best pieces of advice summarized conveniently and concisely. Speaking of the CDC, the Health Blog on the Wall Street Journal site has been live blogging a lot, including today's CDC media update.
Meanwhile, is Twitter helping or hurting as everyone is spreading not just information, but fear as well?
What's next? Of course we don't know how bad it's going to get. But we do know that the government wants to commit more funds and resources to controlling the spread. For now, the CDC has recommended avoiding any non-essential travel to Mexico. Keep checking for updates, and stay vigilant. Follow some common practices for good hygiene: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze (and throw the tissue away), wash with soap and water often and don't touch, rub or scratch your nose, eyes or mouth.
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What is swine flu?
It is a lot like our seasonal flu but it usually
only affects pigs. This one, swine influenza A (H1N1), is affecting humans who
have not been exposed to pigs. This suggests there might be human-to-human
transmission. The mode of transmission is presumably respiratory droplets.
If I had the flu shot, am I protected?
No. The swine H1N1 is very
different from the human H1N1 that is in the flu vaccine. Currently there is no
human vaccine available for swine flu.
How can I prevent getting the flu?
Similar recommendations as the
seasonal flu. You are trying to avoid being exposed to respiratory droplets.
- Hand washing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (minimum concentration of 60 percent to 95 percent ethanol or isopropanol).
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth as those are direct entry points for viruses. Viruses can get on your hands when you touch infected objects.
- Avoid close contact (6ft) with a sick person.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are very similar to the human flu:
- Cough
- Fever/Chills
- Sore throat
- Fatigue/Body aches
- Decreased appetite
- Less commonly: runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Is there treatment for swine flu?
YES, Tamiflu and Relenza (both
prescription medications) work on this virus but it needs to be started in the
first 48 hours of symptoms. So it is important to contact your doctor right away
if you have symptoms.
If I think I have the flu, what should I do?
STAY HOME and contact
your physician right away. This is not the time to be "tough" and go into work
or school nor is it the time to travel. If you see your doctor, they might do a
swab of your nose or mouth to confirm the virus with the CDC. Your doctor would
start you on treatment based on your symptoms and likelihood of having the
illness. Don't be alarmed if your doctor's office has a sign posted, like in the
SARS days, that tells you to put on a mask if you have flu-like symptoms. This
is a routine precaution during an outbreak to protect health care workers as
well as other patients in the office. We are all just being extra careful.
COVER YOUR COUGH and avoid close contact with others. You should maintain a distance of 6 ft between you and other people, even family members. If you need to COUGH or SNEEZE, cover it with a tissue and throw the tissue away. Alternatively if you have no tissue available, you can cough or sneeze into the elbow of your sleeve. You are trying to avoid spreading infected respiratory droplets around that others could pick up.
Is there reason to panic?
No. The CDC and WHO have a good handle on
the situation and are establishing a state of preparedness. If you follow the
guidelines above and keep updated on the Homepage and links below, you will be
in top of it.
Questions?
If you have any further questions, call your physician.
You can also call the CDC directly at (800) CDC-INFO (232-4636) or go online for
more detailed information on swine flu:
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Of the nearly ten million Americans estimated to have osteoporosis, about eight million are women, so it's no surprise that bone health is near the top of just about every list of women's health concerns. While it's a very common disease, some simple steps to prevention can get those rates down--and keep you from becoming one of the statistics.
Taking care of your bones may sound tough, since you can't necessarily see the results. But the National Osteoporosis Foundation makes it easier with five steps to follow for good bone health.
- Make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D
- Keep weight-bearing exercise in your routine
- Quit smoking and don't abuse alcohol
- Keep an open conversation with your doctor
- When your doctor recommends, get a bone density test
For an in-depth look at healthy bones, check out Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom's top tips. With Osteoporosis Awareness Month coming up in May, we'll see plenty of news and updates about osteoporosis treatment and prevention. So stay tuned to our bone health news for more updates.
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It was another busy week for some of our favorite health blogs. Here are some highlights from this week's news and commentary, your weekly dose of health information:
- You May Now Feel Free to Move About the Cabin...Unless You're Fat!
- Watch Out for Exploding Fitness Balls
- Enough with the Bacon Already!
- Vitamin D Is Just Outside Your Door
- How to Get the Most from Your Local Farmers Market
- Plus-Size Love
When the major food recalls hit, things tend to get busy around the health sites. We scramble to find the root of the problem and the lists of tainted products, and we try to figure out how big of the problem really is. But according to a new study from Rutgers, maybe we have it all wrong. As it turns out, only around 60 percent of Americans check their homes for recalled products once the news hits.
The study only surveyed about 1,100 people, so the 60 percent on its own isn't quite frightening. But comparing a few numbers starts to expose the problem. Researchers also found that around 84 percent of people pay close attention to the news, and almost as many people said they tell others about it. So the word is spreading. But when we get home, we're not doing anything about it. It's hard to escape the "it'd never happen to me" mentality--which likely plays into how widespread these epidemics become.
The salmonella outbreaks, like the recent peanut butter and pistachio problems, aren't going away. In fact they seem to be getting worse. We've called for help, but government action won't be enough. Safety also needs to start at home. We can take some good lessons from the at-home advice we got during the peanut butter recall. Simple steps, like washing your hands before preparing food, and always washing foods and food prep surfaces, can go a long way.
Still, the most important steps are in our reactions to the specific recalls. When the news hits, a quick kitchen audit can keep your family safe from foodborne illness. Usually the FDA keeps an easy-to-search list available, so you can look out for any potential problems waiting for you at home. It's tough to follow through, but it can make a huge difference. What's your style? Do you usually check at home, or if you don't, why not?
Get more updates by following us on Twitter. .poll{padding:10px; font-family: arial, helvetica, verdana, sans-serif;font-size:12px;} .poll a,.poll a:visited , .poll a:hover {color:#772243;} .pollContent p{margin:0px 0px 0px 0px; padding:0px;} .pollContent form{margin:0px; padding:0px;} .pollContent ul{margin:5px 0px 5px 0px; padding:0px;} .pollContent li{list-style:none; margin:0px; padding:0px;} .link{padding:5px 0px 0px 0px;}What's your usual response to food recalls?
I check my pantry and fridge for potentially recalled products.
I avoid whatever's recalled, but I don't really check my stuff at home.
I follow the story, but it doesn't really change my shopping habits.
I don't bother--those stories always blow over anyway.
Spring is in the air, and for most of us it's a happy time of year as we look forward to warmer weather and more time outdoors. We're smiling a lot more, but that doesn't mean we don't have big questions about our health and our families health. Helpful answers are all over the health blogs, and so here are a few new posts for your weekly dose of health information:
- Is Our Food Safe?
- Tired All the Time?
- "Brown" Fat for Weight Loss?
- Will Your Child Water over Soda?
- HIPAA Made Easy
- Raising Grandchildren in a Recession
- When Medicine Makes You Fat
- A Tax on Sugary Drinks?
The HIPAA acronym gets tossed a lot, and perhaps more casually than we'd expect for a policy that protects our medical privacy. Not everyone understands it, and that's not much of a surprise. The full name "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act" is clunky enough to make us stop reading. And shortening it to HIPAA doesn't make it much more attractive. But especially as more health information moves to digital platforms, it's increasingly important to understand the protections that HIPAA offers. Thankfully, the World Privacy Forum made it easy for us with their newly-posted "Patient's Guide to HIPAA."
Their guide is the solution to the problem of our eyes glazing over when we see long, convoluted paragraphs about our health and privacy. It's not written for doctors or lawyers, and it's not full of political phrases. It's simple and easy to read. It's for people like us, patients and their families. I won't go so far as to call it entertaining, but it's friendly. Just when the writers might get to a potentially confusing point, they include a helpful "sidebar" to clear things up. It's web-friendly in it's FAQ style, and just like the sidebars, the "rules of thumb" make for simple scanning for the information you need.
You know how important your health is, and of course you value your privacy. Now you can take more control of your medical care by getting a quick, easy understanding of how HIPAA can help.
Get more updates by following us on Twitter.Some of our favorite blogs were focused this week on family, technology, and getting the best out of a doctor's visit. Since we're all about your family's health and the cutting edge of medical care, we thought you'd like a look. Here are some of the latest thoughts from around the web: Have a great, healthy weekend!
Walgreen's has good news right when we need it: They're providing free care for jobless and uninsured people. Not only are unemployment numbers still on the rise, but recent reports show that one in five working adults are still without health insurance. Now there's a little help.
The free treatment will cover things like breathing problems, allergies, and skin conditions. But not checkups, vaccinations, or injections. Basically, they're looking to help out when you need urgent care and may not be able to get it. Prescription drugs will still come at a cost. Still, the coverage they'll provide costs an average of $59 without insurance, and every bit helps.
Of course there's some fine print. The free services are available on weekdays from 11 am to 3 pm, and the drugstore will require proof of unemployment. And only people who lose their jobs and benefits after March 31 will be eligible.
Meanwhile, the government has prepared a helpful guide to recession-related stress. It's called "Getting Through Tough Economic Times," and while it doesn't add to the long list of hard-to-trust financial advice, it will help you deal with the health risks that come with unemployment and money trouble. The guide is produced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), part of Health and Human Services. With their expertise in mental health, they go beyond simple stress management and delves into issues like keeping healthy family relationships and emotional eating.
Quick confession: I'm a pack rat. It only takes one look at my desk or bookshelves to figure it out. Classic definition. And if you haven't heard of hoarding disorder, it may sound like a classification for extreme pack rats. It's not--it's not even close. It's serious and damaging, and it affects more than 2 million Americans and their families.
The Mayo Clinic explains that hoarding disorder is "excessive collection of items that seem to have limited or no value." Worse, the compulsion comes with an inability to get rid of the items. People with hoarding disorder don't just have trouble throwing out their own items. They rescue things from other people's trash, from food that is only "just past" the expiration date to tossed-out, tattered clothes.
With hoarding disorder, there's virtually no limit to the amount of items taken in. Hoarded items take over the whole house. Closets are full. Kitchen tables are overrun. Family members sleep outdoors because beds are covered up.
And it's more than an inconvenience. Hoarded items become fire hazards. Unwieldy piles threaten bodily harm. The worst part is likely that those suffering with hoarding disorder are unlikely to acknowledge any problem. And it's arguing with reason rarely works. It's a strain on relationships, and it can tear families apart.
It's hard to imagine, but it's easier when you can picture it. When documentary filmmaker Cynthia Lester recognized the symptoms in her mother, she took action. And she took her camera. And this Sunday at 10 pm Eastern, you can get a detailed look at hoarding disorder through her impressive film, My Mother's Garden.
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Cynthia's tale of her family's return to her mother's house gives you the visuals that are hard to imagine. It's her siblings' first look at the house since the hoarding disorder set in, and their attempts to bring the home back to order. Mother-daughter relationships can be difficult enough, but wrestling with hoarding disease brings it to a new level.
Take a peek at the clip, and after you tune in Sunday night, please share your comments. Do you have more questions about hoarding disorder? Cynthia is taking questions online. You can learn how iVillagers are coping with family members with hoarding disorder on our message boards. If you know someone with hoarding disorder and want to find help for them, please visit Children of Compulsive Hoarders for advice and support.
