In This Issue -
Flu Virus Prevention
Quotes
Musician Jokes
Go Figure
Relax, refresh, rejuvenate.
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Cinco De Mayo is May 5.
Remember Mom on Mother's Day.
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Flu Virus Prevention
Reports of the outbreak of swine flu have dominated the news for over a week. You May Be Worried, but There's a lot you can do to keep yourself and your family healthy.
On Friday, May 1, President Obama said, "I'm optimistic that we're going to be able to manage this [flu outbreak] effectively." He said this flu virus may run its course like ordinary seasonal flu, "in which case, we will have prepared and we won't need all these preparations."
Seasonal Influenza
First, here are some facts about ordinary seasonal flu. Every year, 5-20% of the people in the world get the flu. In the U.S. each year, flu and its complications cause on average 36,000 deaths, over 200,000 hospitalizations, and innumerable hours of missed work and school.
Influenza often leads to secondary infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia, ear and sinus infections. At higher risk of complications are children up through 5, adults over 65, and people with reduced immune systems. Influenza spreads mainly from one person to another through coughing or sneezing. Virus germs can also live for hours on doorknobs and other surfaces outside the body.
H1N1 Swine Flu
H1N1 influenza is a respiratory illness related to normal seasonal flu that doesn't usually occur in humans. It is spreading in the usual way from person-to-person. You can't catch it from being around pigs or by eating pork. As of Friday afternoon, 5/1, over 300 H1N1 flu cases had been reported outside Mexico, including over 150 confirmed in the U.S. Most of the H1N1 flu cases so far in the U.S. have been mild, like seasonal flu. Scientists have learned a lot in the past 30 years and even more since 1918. Experts at the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) say the flu genes indicate that the virus is not as bad as 1918. Some evidence suggests that older people may have some resistance to this flu due to exposure to past viruses. This strain of flu is also treatable with antiviral drugs already available, and conventional antibiotics are effective in treating secondary infections. Scientists are working hard to develop a safe, effective vaccine in case it is needed.
Background
A pandemic is an outbreak of an infectious disease in numbers greater than normal that spreads through multiple countries. Historians say there have been 10 influenza pandemics in the past 300 years. Flu pandemics occur when the virus undergoes dramatic changes so that few people have resistance to infection. Then the number of those infected is much higher than during ordinary winters. Also, during some pandemics, the severity of illness is higher, as in 1918-1919 when the death rate was 50 times higher than usual. By contrast, in the 1957 and 1968 pandemics, the death rate was only about twice normal.
What You Can Do To Stay Healthy
Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
Get plenty of sleep.
Exercise and eat well.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. Warm water is best. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are good, too.
Don't touch your face - Germs can infect you through your eyes, nose or mouth.
Avoid contact with sick people.
Wear a mask if you have a compromised immune system.
Manage any chronic health conditions.
Get a pneumonia vaccination as recommended by your doctor.
Avoid taking sick children to public places like day care or school.
Stay informed.
Pay attention to public health advice about school closures, avoiding groups, and other measures.
As a precaution, make an emergency plan, including storing a supply of water, food, medicines, facemasks, hand sanitizers, and other essentials.
What To Do If You Get Sick
Stay home. You'll get well faster if you rest and avoid exposure to other illnesses.
Limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
If you have fever and other flu symptoms, call your doctor right away.
Only go to a hospital in an emergency.
Cover your cough or sneeze with inside of elbow or sleeve, or with a tissue you toss in the trash right away.
Wash your hands often.
Clean household surfaces, including doorknobs, phones, remotes, light switches, etc.
Get a new toothbrush.
Contacts For Continued Updates
Multnomah County Health Dept.
http://www.mchealth.org/swineflu.shtml
Oregon Public Health Division
www.flu.oregon.gov
Oregon Public Health Hotline
1-800-978-3040 toll-free
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)
1-888-232-6348 TTY
www.cdc.gov/swineflu
Namaste,
Honor the Light Within,
Sue Redding
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Quotes
"Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood."
Marie Curie
"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words and never stops at all."
Emily Dickinson
"Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got."
Art Buchwald
Grandchildren are God's gift to reward you for not killing your teenagers.
" Remember that the Chinese word for 'crisis' are the two Chinese symbols for 'opportunity' and 'change.'"
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Small businesses provide over 30% of non-government jobs.
Spend your money wisely at your local small business.
Help your neighbors, and strengthen the economy, too!
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Musician Jokes
"Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves, for we shall never cease to be amused."
Relative minor: A guitarist's girlfriend.
Vibrato: Used by singers to hide the fact that they are on the wrong pitch.
Q: Why are violist's fingers like lightning?
A: They rarely strike the same spot twice.
Q: How do you get two bass players to play in unison?
A: Hand them charts a half-step apart.
Q: How many 2nd violinists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None, they can't get up that high!
Q: What's the difference between a dead chicken in the road, and a dead trombonist in the road?
A: There's a remote chance the chicken was on its way to a gig.
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Go Figure
Someone sitting watching TV burns 200 fewer calories than someone sitting doing nothing.
If you eat a big mac, fries, and a shake, you'll have to walk 9.5 miles to burn off all those calories!
Relief From Nighttime Leg Cramps?
For relief from restless leg syndrome and leg and foot cramps, put a bar of ordinary soap under your bottom sheet.
I haven't tried this myself, but I've heard it from two different people. Worth a try!
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Relax, refresh, rejuvenate.
Save $10 off any massage in May.
Gift certificates are available for Mother's Day, graduations, anniversaries...
Call ahead for best appointment times.
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Content of this newsletter is for information only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your physician.
Sue Redding, LMT
503-235-4839
www.SueRedding.com
Blind Faith Bodywork Since 1996
"Soothing for the Mind, Body &Spirit"
Open Tue. & Thu. 10AM-6PM, Fri. 10AM-7PM, Sat. 10AM-5PM.
Oregon Massage License #5974
Monday, May 4, 2009
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