According to research performed in the United Kingdom and published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal the influenza vaccine seems to reduce the risk of a first heart attack by 19%.

The study included people at least 40 years of age. It also found that the pneumococcal vaccine (pneumonia shot) had no affect on the occurrence of heart attacks.

Just one more reason to get the all important flu shot! bjmdjd

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Canadian Medical Association Journal · flu · flu shot · flu vaccine · influenza · pneumococcal vaccine

According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 19% of gay and bisexual men in 21 major U.S. cities are HIV+ and nearly half of them don’t know it.

Young black men were found to be the least likely to know that they were infected. A CDC spokesman said that there is less urgency and fear associated with HIV now than there was in the past likely due to the advancements made in AIDS treatments.

With the increased availability in HIV testing one would think that those in such a high risk category would be more vigilant in getting tested. It’s very important to know when someone is HIV+ because early treatment can help keep people healthy and less likely to infect others. bjmdjd

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · HIV

In the October issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Committee on Obstetric Practice (COP) issued new guidelines on getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy.

The view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice is that all women who are going to be pregnant from October through May should get the vaccine. This is supported by the COP.

The authors of the opinion stated that the flu vaccine is an integral part of prenatal care. bjmdjd

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American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Committee on Obstetric Practice (COP) · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice · flu · flu shot · flu vaccine · influenza · Obstetrics and Gynecology (journal)

As most everyone who is taking the diabetes drug Avandia knows the medication has been under scrutiny in the U.S. and in Europe for some time. The FDA has decided to allow continued marketing of Avandia in the U.S. with restricted access while the European Medicines Agency has announced that all drugs containing Avandia will be off of the market in the next few months. They announced that the information that they now have no longer supports the view that the benefit of using the drug outweighs the cardiac risks involved.

The restricted access plus the fact that there is another drug available like Avandia without the same cardiac risks may signal the end of the popular diabetes drug. Restricted access means among other things that:

• in order to prescribe the drug doctors must be part of a registry that certifies that they are familiar with the cardiac risks involved with the use of Avandia
• they are prescribing it only because their patient has exhausted all other medications to try and control their blood sugar
• patients also have to understand the cardiac risks involved in taking the drug 

Patients currently on Avandia should be hearing from their doctor’s office soon to discuss their use of Avandia. If they don’t they should give them a call. bjmdjd

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Avandia · diabetes · European Medicines Agency · FDA

The Pneumococcal vaccine (pneumonia shot) is given to prevent a specific type of pneumonia. There are over 80 different types of Pneumococcal bacteria and the current vaccine protects against 23 of those. The vaccine does not protect against other bacteria that cause pneumonia or against the other pneumococcus types not covered in the vaccine.

Updated guidelines for the use of the vaccine were recently printed in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Specific recommendations include:

• Adults from 19 to 64 years of age with chronic medical conditions including asthma or anything compromising their immune system should receive the vaccine.
• Adults from 19 to 64 years of age who smoke should receive the vaccine and smoking cessation information.
• Routine administration of the vaccine is no longer recommended for Alaska Natives or American Indians younger than 65 years old. However, for those in these two groups who are 50 to 64 years old and who reside in areas where the risk of invasive pneumococcal disease is increased, authorities may recommend vaccination.
• All persons should receive the vaccination at 65 years of age. If a person got the vaccination before age 65 and 5 years or more have passed since they received it a second dose should be given at 65 years of age or later. If the vaccination was received at age 65 or later only one dose is required. No re-vaccination should be given.
• For people 19 to 64 years of age who have no spleen or a non functioning spleen or a immunocompromising condition a second dose should be given 5 years after the first. There is no indication for further re-vaccination.

Pay particular attention to the last two bulleted points since there has always been confusion as to when or if someone should receive a second dose of the vaccine.

Chronic medical conditions in persons 19 to 64 years of age where the vaccine is recommended include: chronic heart disease except hypertension, chronic lung disease including COPD, emphysema, and asthma, diabetes, CSF leaks, cochlear implants, alcoholism, cigarette smoking, and chronic liver disease including cirrhosis.

Be sure to ask your physician about the pneumococcal vaccine (pneumonia shot). bjmdjd

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health · indications for receiving the pneumococcal vaccine · Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) · pneumococcal vaccine · pneumonia shot · wellness

Well, it appears that the Salmonella outbreak traced to two egg farms in Iowa may be over. The topic has certainly gotten plenty of press on the national news. While the two farms are not shipping eggs to consumers at the present, the FDA report on what they found at the farms is sickening.

According to Medscape from WebMD Health News: “Among other things, FDA investigators found:

• Huge manure pits open to outside animals.
• Evidence that rodents, wild birds, and other animals could enter the hen houses via missing siding and gaps in doors and walls.
• Actual sightings of rodents, birds, and bird nests inside the facilities.
• So many live flies that they were crushed underfoot on walkways. Maggots “too numerous to count” were seen in at least one manure pit.
• Farm workers went from hen house to hen house without cleaning their tools or changing their shoes or clothing — which can spread germs between houses.
• Uncaged birds tracked manure from the pits to the laying houses.”

Eggs are still being sold to food makers who use them in their products but they are sterilized during processing. Let’s see…do you want scrambled or over easy? Or maybe some raw cookie dough. bjmdjd

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eggs · FDA · Food and Drug Administration · Iowa egg farms · Salmonella

Even though I did a post on the flu vaccine back on August 1st you really can’t be reminded about it too often! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older be vaccinated as soon as the vaccination becomes available which is now.

As usual the vaccine will protect against the three most likely strains of flu expected to be prevalent this flu season. This years shot will include coverage for the H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season. With more manufacturers than before there is not expected to be a shortage of vaccine this season.

Vaccination is particularly important for those who are at high risk of flu complications including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health problems like diabetes, asthma, heart and lung disease, and people 65 years of age and older. While children younger than 6 months of age are at a high risk they are too young to be vaccinated. It is important to vaccinate the people that take care of them and will be around them instead.

And once again…THE FLU SHOT DOES NOT AND CANNOT CAUSE THE FLU!!!  bjmdjd

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · flu shot · flu vaccine · health · wellness