Tuesday, April 16, 2013
It's wise to look for ticks on yourself and your children and pets after being outdoors.
Among the budding flowers and greening grass, another sign of spring has arrived. Tick season. The evidence? Two ticks, one on each of my dogs, I found this week. One dog had a tick on her snout, the other dog had a tick on her head that I found while petting her. Both ticks were about the size of a pinhead, and attached, but not yet engorged. I was able to remove them, and promptly gave both dogs a dose of K9 Advantix, which my husband I had stopped using for a few months this winter. I also checked the rest of the dogs' bodies for more ticks, finding none. With evidence that tick season is here, it's a good reminder to check yourself, your children and your pets after being outdoors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Outbreaks are earlier than normal in the area.
The Red Cross said there's still time for folks to get flu shots and be covered from what is considered to be a more active flu season. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said flu outbreaks are high for this time of the season, with "widespread activity" in Massachusetts. How do you prevent the flu? According to the CDC, in addition to getting the vaccine, you can: How do you know if you have the virus? Symptoms include: high fever, severe body aches, headache, being extremely tired, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, and vomiting and/or diarrhea (which is more common in children). When should you call the doctor? According to the Red Cross, if you think you have the flu, your doctor should be consulted immediately if you …
Monday, December 10, 2012
It's National Influenza Vaccination Week and this year is shaping up to be one of the worst flu seasons in a while. Did you get your flu shot?
More than one-third of United States residents have already been vaccinated against the influenza virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday. With National Influenza Vaccination Week, which started last Sunday and ends Saturday, health officials aim to increase that percentage, especially since this year's season may be a bad one. Influenza—more commonly known as simply "the flu"—is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses infecting the nose, throat and lungs. It spreads via infected people coughing, sneezing or talking, though people can also get infected by touching something with the flu virus on it before touching their mouth, eyes or nose. The 2012-2013 season is shaping up to be one of the worst …
Friday, November 30, 2012
Whether you are a regular to the flu vaccine or an “I never get it” kind of reader, the total vaccine story may not be one you’ve ever stopped to investigate.
"What are your thoughts on the flu vaccine?" is a question I am asked daily. It truly comes down to informed consent and personal philosophy. We live in a country with much propaganda for vaccines. I was checking out at Rite Aid this week and I heard the cashiers asking all the customers if they had received the flu shot yet. If someone responded with “No,” the employee would say “our pharmacy has them and it is free with your insurance, you really need to get one so you won’t get the flu.” … and a column was born. At this time of year everyone in the family over 6 months old is encouraged to have the influenza vaccine. This recommendation is about 12 years old. Before then, only those 65 and over and very ill people were encouraged to be…
