An advisory committee of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that the vaccine given to prevent meningitis be given as a booster to 11 and 12 year olds. The previous recommendation was to give it before a young person went to college to help prevent the disease in settings like dorm rooms where transmission rates are high. The new recommendation is because the protection offered by the dose given to an infant is no longer believed to last as long as it was once thought.

A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine reports that the incidence of pneumococcal meningitis has decreased since the vaccine was introduced in 2000. It is expected that the CDC will accept the recommendation of the advisory committee. bjmdjd

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · meningitis · meningitis vaccine · pneumococcal meningitis

The latest prediction by the CDC is that new diabetes cases will surge in the U.S. by 2050 unless something is done about the obesity epidemic. It is estimated that 1 in 3 Americans will have the disease.

The overwhelming feeling is that the key is in prevention. The fact that people are living longer and diabetes patients are living longer after diagnosis are two more reasons that the incidence of the disease is expected to greatly increase. Weight loss through both diet and exercise is the only hope to correct this dangerous trend.

Weight loss and exercise can prevent or at least delay the patients with prediabetes from developing Type II diabetes. People at risk due to their weight, family history, ethnic background, and other factors need to get screened. bjmdjd

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · diabetes · obesity · prediabetes · weight loss and exercise

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

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

Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say in a June 25th report that 90% of Americans consume more salt in their diet than is currently recommended. As most everyone knows increased salt (sodium) consumption is related to heart disease and stroke.

One of the most interesting findings is that most of the salt comes from processed foods that don’t even taste salty rather than from adding or cooking with salt at home. In school I was always taught that the easier the food was to prepare (i.e. the more processed it was) the more salt it contained.

The recommended salt consumption is 2,300 mg/day for healthy folks and 1,500 mg/day for those with high blood pressure. Many food companies have pledged to lower the salt content of their processed foods but admit that it will only be in some selected foods and it will be a very slow process.

The best way to lower food intake is to cook at home but in our rushed lifestyles that is unlikely to happen. Slowing down might have health benefits in areas we haven’t even thought about. bjmdjd

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · heart disease · processed foods · salt consumption · stroke

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has voted to recommend that all adults receive the annual influenza vaccine beginning next flu season (2010 – 2011). Prior to this recommendation the focus was on people between the ages of 6 months and 18 years old and over 50 years old, anyone at risk of complications from the flu, and those in close contact with high risk individuals.

Now the new recommendation encourages everyone over the age of 6 months to be vaccinated unless they have a contraindication. Since vaccine makers have plenty of lead time for planning an increased manufacturing schedule it is hoped that the increase need for vaccine will not cause a shortage.  bjmdjd

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