Hi everyone,
If you're reading this, you are reading my first blog entry EVER. So, it may not be perfect, but I'm trying! I want to welcome you to my page, whether I am your coach, your friend, or you just ended up here! I plan on putting things here regularly, so check back often. For today, I'd just like to post my most recent newsletter, entitled "H1N1 simplified". It has little to do with Beachbody, or fitness, but it is related to overall health, which is one of my interests as a Beachbody coach. It is intended to be simple and informative information about a topic which is VERY current. Let me know if you have any quesions.
H1N1 simplified (I hope!)
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are variable, and may include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea.
How is it spread?
It is spread person to person through direct contact, through coughing and/or sneezing by people with the virus.
How can I protect my family and myself?
• Good hand washing is very important.
• Keeping your hands away from your eyes and mouth.
• Avoid contact with people who are ill
• Stay HOME if you are sick. The CDC recommends staying home for at least 24 hours after any fever is gone (this is WITHOUT Tylenol or Motrin).
• Get the standard AND H1N1 influenza vaccines. The flu shot (both types) is a killed virus. You cannot get the flu from the flu shot.
Can’t I just get tested for the H1N1 virus?
NO! Only certain people should be tested. This includes
• Hospitalized patients with suspected influenza
• Patients for whom a diagnosis of influenza will impact decisions regarding clinical care, infection control, or management of close contacts.
• Patients who died of an acute illness in which influenza was suspected.
Who should get the flu shots?
• Anyone 6 months of age to 19 years old (24 years old for H1N1)
• Pregnant women
• People over age 50
• People of any age with chronic medical conditions (asthma, COPD, etc.)
• People who live in nursing homes or other long term care facilities
• Health care workers
• Household contacts of people who are at high risk of complications from the flu
• Household contacts and caregivers of children under age 5, especially those who care for children under 6 months of age
What about those ‘flu medicines’, can’t I just take that?
NO! Not everyone needs or should take the antiviral medications. The medications are recommended ONLY for people who are:
• Sick enough to be hospitalized
• People with the flu and a greater chance of complications such as
o Children under 2 years old
o Adults over 65
o Pregnant women
o People with asthma, heart failure, chronic lung disease (COPD or emphysema)
o People under age 19 who are receiving long term aspirin therapy
I hope this answers some of your questions that you may have. Please feel free to contact me with regards to this information. The Centers for Disease Control also has excellent information on their website. You can start by looking at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/parents/, which offers some good information for parents and http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/business/, which offers information specific to businesses and employers.
Until next time,
Bob Hansen, M.D.
Independent Beachbody Coach
bhansenmd@beachbodycoach.com
