He knows his patients have a lot of restrictions when it comes to what they can put into their bodies to combat common health issues many women face during pregnancy on a daily basis.
So he turned to Dr. Pina LoGiudice, an acupuncturist and naturopathic doctor at Innersource Health in N.Y. for some natural ways to make the pregnancy experience a little easier.
“Certain medications and over-the-counter medications are not recommended for expectant moms,” Alvarez said. “And morning sickness is usually a sign of a viable pregnancy, but dealing with nausea morning, noon and night could be a nightmare.”
LoGiudice said she has found taking a ginger capsule to be the most effective when dealing with morning sickness.
“And that could be a 250 milligram capsule, and I’ll recommend two of those, twice a day,” she said. “B6 is also a really great nutrient that could help your body metabolizing hormones, which will help minimize the nausea as well.”
Since the immune system is slightly lowered during pregnancy, women may be more vulnerable to colds, Alvarez said.
“Studies show that the more sleep you get, the better your immune system will be,” LoGiudice said. “I would also recommend a small dose of vitamin C when a woman has a cold. You don’t want to take too much of it because it can induce contractions, so I usually keep it at anywhere less than 500 mg. I love Neti pots, especially if there is a sinus infection. And doing saltwater gargles if you have a sore throat.”
As your body changes to make room for the baby’s growth, aches and pains in the legs, lower back and hips are pretty common, according to Alvarez.
“The first thing is definitely magnesium. That will actually help with restless leg syndrome or if you have any low back cramping,” LoGiudice said. “Calcium is quite wonderful because ... your body will cause more aches and pains because you're trying to build your baby, and so you yourself become deficient.
Acupuncture is phenomenal and safe for those low back pains or sciatica or that neck stiffness.”
But LoGiudice’s favorite for sore mothers-to-be? Massage therapy.
Additional blood and fluid can cause swelling, which is normal, Alvarez said, but it can make you very uncomfortable.
“The first thing I recommend is actually a parsley tea., which will help your body eliminate the fluid in the body so you're not so swollen,” LoGiudice said. “There is conflicting information about salt intake. You don't want to have too much, and of course you don't want to have too little. So you just want to be mindful about how much you're getting in your diet.”
If you are experiencing heartburn, LoGiudice recommended trying a papaya enzyme, chewing slowly and de-stressing.
2011年11月30日星期三
2011年11月29日星期二
The Voice Interviews Valeska Paris
Yesterday, a story about an Australian woman who says she was held for 12 years against her will aboard Scientology's floating cathedral and cruise ship Freewinds hit the Scientology-watching world like a depth charge.
Last night, we had a lengthy conversation over Skype with Valeska Paris, and learned much more about her upbringing in Scientology, her time on the ship, and in particular, what it was like when church leader David Miscavige brought aboard his best pal, Tom Cruise, for the actor's big birthday celebration in 2004.
We also talked about how she decided to speak out even though she had previously signed confidentiality agreements with the notoriously litigious church.
"They're cowards. They always threaten, but they never follow it up," she says.
Valeska left the Freewinds in 2007, and later left Scientology itself. In 2010 she first went public with her defection at the blog of former high-ranking Scientology executive Marty Rathbun. Then, yesterday, she appeared on the Australian network ABC's program Lateline, saying that she was held against her will aboard the cruise ship for more than a decade. A fellow former member of Scientology's hardcore Sea Organization, Ramana Dienes-Browning, backed up her version of events.
The church has denied all of the allegations by Paris and Dienes-Browning, and spokeswoman Karin Pouw's full statement can be found below. At the end of the statement, Pouw writes to ABC's Steve Cannane: "Your source is doing this because she and Chris Guider apparently cannot get their life in order and move on."
In fact, Valeska and her husband Chris -- who was the subject of his own Lateline program -- are getting on with their lives quite nicely, and even have a bit of an announcement...
"They say we're not getting on with our lives? We both have jobs, we have a boy," she told me last night from Sydney, "And I'm pregnant with another baby."
What a change from her time in the Sea Org, where having children is prohibited, where she signed a billion-year contract at only 14 years old, and where she was pulled away from her own mother and put aboard what she says was a floating prison.
Valeska Paris was born in Geneva, Switzerland in 1977. She had two younger siblings -- Melissa (1979) and Raphael (1982) -- and their lives changed radically when their parents, who were both Scientologists, split up and her father, Jean-Francois Paris, decided to join the church's Sea Org in England. At only 6 years of age, Valeska was put into a former Scientology organization known as the "Cadet Org." (Her sibs joined too -- Melissa was only 4, and Raphael barely 2, she points out.)
Her sister, Melissa, has written that the Cadet Org was a sort of "mini Sea Org," where even the youngest children were treated like future hardcore church workers, and were "assigned all sorts of manual labor: scrubbing walls, floors, cleaning the toilets...not stuff that kids would normally do." (We're going to be interviewing Melissa, who has her own story to tell about growing up in Scientology and living in a family torn apart by the church.)
Scientology believes that each of us has lived countless lives over billions of years -- our souls, which Scientology calls "thetans," are ancient, and so even when we inhabit a new body in a new life, as a child, there is actually an adult soul inside.
"We were just future Sea Org members that needed to be molded into 'good' SO members which meant breaking us down into robots," Melissa writes.
Valeska did join the Sea Org, at only 14 years old, signing its standard billion-year contract, promising to come back, lifetime after lifetime, to serve the church by working incredible hours for only 50 dollars a week.
Last night, we had a lengthy conversation over Skype with Valeska Paris, and learned much more about her upbringing in Scientology, her time on the ship, and in particular, what it was like when church leader David Miscavige brought aboard his best pal, Tom Cruise, for the actor's big birthday celebration in 2004.
We also talked about how she decided to speak out even though she had previously signed confidentiality agreements with the notoriously litigious church.
"They're cowards. They always threaten, but they never follow it up," she says.
Valeska left the Freewinds in 2007, and later left Scientology itself. In 2010 she first went public with her defection at the blog of former high-ranking Scientology executive Marty Rathbun. Then, yesterday, she appeared on the Australian network ABC's program Lateline, saying that she was held against her will aboard the cruise ship for more than a decade. A fellow former member of Scientology's hardcore Sea Organization, Ramana Dienes-Browning, backed up her version of events.
The church has denied all of the allegations by Paris and Dienes-Browning, and spokeswoman Karin Pouw's full statement can be found below. At the end of the statement, Pouw writes to ABC's Steve Cannane: "Your source is doing this because she and Chris Guider apparently cannot get their life in order and move on."
In fact, Valeska and her husband Chris -- who was the subject of his own Lateline program -- are getting on with their lives quite nicely, and even have a bit of an announcement...
"They say we're not getting on with our lives? We both have jobs, we have a boy," she told me last night from Sydney, "And I'm pregnant with another baby."
What a change from her time in the Sea Org, where having children is prohibited, where she signed a billion-year contract at only 14 years old, and where she was pulled away from her own mother and put aboard what she says was a floating prison.
Valeska Paris was born in Geneva, Switzerland in 1977. She had two younger siblings -- Melissa (1979) and Raphael (1982) -- and their lives changed radically when their parents, who were both Scientologists, split up and her father, Jean-Francois Paris, decided to join the church's Sea Org in England. At only 6 years of age, Valeska was put into a former Scientology organization known as the "Cadet Org." (Her sibs joined too -- Melissa was only 4, and Raphael barely 2, she points out.)
Her sister, Melissa, has written that the Cadet Org was a sort of "mini Sea Org," where even the youngest children were treated like future hardcore church workers, and were "assigned all sorts of manual labor: scrubbing walls, floors, cleaning the toilets...not stuff that kids would normally do." (We're going to be interviewing Melissa, who has her own story to tell about growing up in Scientology and living in a family torn apart by the church.)
Scientology believes that each of us has lived countless lives over billions of years -- our souls, which Scientology calls "thetans," are ancient, and so even when we inhabit a new body in a new life, as a child, there is actually an adult soul inside.
"We were just future Sea Org members that needed to be molded into 'good' SO members which meant breaking us down into robots," Melissa writes.
Valeska did join the Sea Org, at only 14 years old, signing its standard billion-year contract, promising to come back, lifetime after lifetime, to serve the church by working incredible hours for only 50 dollars a week.
2011年11月28日星期一
As cold and flu season begins, you can guard against germs
As the days shorten toward winter, sniffles and sore throats return. Noses start dripping, and all too soon you’ve got aches and pains, fever and malaise. And so do your kids, or your colleagues, or your friends.
This is the onset of cold and flu season, when germs travel easily from person to person as we spend more time close together indoors. And everything can be a good breeding ground for germs: computer keyboards, the knob on the door into your office, the telephone you use, the subway seat where someone coughs behind you, the escalator railing, the shopping cart handle.
Germs get spread by hand-to-hand contact, by touching a contaminated surface or by being spewed through the air in droplets as someone sneezes, coughs or talks. On average adults get about two to four colds a year, children about six to 10, mostly in the fall and winter months. And every year 5 to 20 percent of the population comes down with the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with about 200,000 people getting sick enough to be hospitalized.
“The difference between the common cold and flu is the severity of fever,” said Jeff Dimond, a spokesman for the CDC. “The flu is usually accompanied with fever, aches and pains, and congestion in the lungs. A cold is more in your head. Both are contagious,” often before symptoms even show up.
Colds linger for a week to 10 days. The flu is shorter but carries a bigger wallop. It tends to clear up after two to five days, but sufferers may feel drained and exhausted for another week.
Want to avoid all this?
Here are a few simple tips for staying healthy this season from the experts (CDC, doctors, infectious-disease researchers).
The No. 1 preventive measure for killing germs is washing hands, said Dimond.
“If you think about where you put your hands, you wipe your nose then touch the elevator,” Dimond said. “A virus can last for six hours on those elevator buttons. If you have bowls of nuts or M&Ms out and everybody is dipping their hands into it, germs get passed around.”
Not very appetizing? The CDC recommends washing hands, both tops and palms, for about 20 seconds with soap, then rinsing. Wash before eating and preparing food. Wash after using the bathroom, blowing your nose, changing a diaper and caring for a sick person, to name a few common situations.
If washing your hands with soap is not doable, slather on hand sanitizer, Dimond said. “Part of working here at the CDC [in Atlanta], we are highly aware of hand hygiene,” he said. “At every floor there is a hand sanitizer and a big sign at the front door to wash hands.”
Secretions from your nose are often clear in the beginning of a cold and thicken as the cold progresses, said Ann Rixinger, an infectious-disease specialist in Annandale. “But be careful not to wipe your eyes, as germs can go into tear ducts and then get in the lymphatic system,” she said. “We will assume no one picks their nose. For little kids we have to teach good hygiene, using tissues and keep extra containers of Purell around.”
This is the onset of cold and flu season, when germs travel easily from person to person as we spend more time close together indoors. And everything can be a good breeding ground for germs: computer keyboards, the knob on the door into your office, the telephone you use, the subway seat where someone coughs behind you, the escalator railing, the shopping cart handle.
Germs get spread by hand-to-hand contact, by touching a contaminated surface or by being spewed through the air in droplets as someone sneezes, coughs or talks. On average adults get about two to four colds a year, children about six to 10, mostly in the fall and winter months. And every year 5 to 20 percent of the population comes down with the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with about 200,000 people getting sick enough to be hospitalized.
“The difference between the common cold and flu is the severity of fever,” said Jeff Dimond, a spokesman for the CDC. “The flu is usually accompanied with fever, aches and pains, and congestion in the lungs. A cold is more in your head. Both are contagious,” often before symptoms even show up.
Colds linger for a week to 10 days. The flu is shorter but carries a bigger wallop. It tends to clear up after two to five days, but sufferers may feel drained and exhausted for another week.
Want to avoid all this?
Here are a few simple tips for staying healthy this season from the experts (CDC, doctors, infectious-disease researchers).
The No. 1 preventive measure for killing germs is washing hands, said Dimond.
“If you think about where you put your hands, you wipe your nose then touch the elevator,” Dimond said. “A virus can last for six hours on those elevator buttons. If you have bowls of nuts or M&Ms out and everybody is dipping their hands into it, germs get passed around.”
Not very appetizing? The CDC recommends washing hands, both tops and palms, for about 20 seconds with soap, then rinsing. Wash before eating and preparing food. Wash after using the bathroom, blowing your nose, changing a diaper and caring for a sick person, to name a few common situations.
If washing your hands with soap is not doable, slather on hand sanitizer, Dimond said. “Part of working here at the CDC [in Atlanta], we are highly aware of hand hygiene,” he said. “At every floor there is a hand sanitizer and a big sign at the front door to wash hands.”
Secretions from your nose are often clear in the beginning of a cold and thicken as the cold progresses, said Ann Rixinger, an infectious-disease specialist in Annandale. “But be careful not to wipe your eyes, as germs can go into tear ducts and then get in the lymphatic system,” she said. “We will assume no one picks their nose. For little kids we have to teach good hygiene, using tissues and keep extra containers of Purell around.”
2011年11月27日星期日
Police boot 26 troublemakers off Rottnest Island during schoolies
The mass evictions came just hours after a 17-year-old youth was rushed to the Rottnest Nursing Post following a suspected drug and alcohol overdose about 7pm.
Witnesses said the teen had ingested two or three ecstasy pills and had been drinking heavily before an ambulance was called to his unit.
Police sweeps of chalets unearthed youths on the island without authorised accommodation. They were aged 17 and 19.
Five males - including two schoolies - were shipped back to the mainland on the Water Police boat, while a 17-year-old youth was put on the 4pm ferry after drunkenly giving police a false name and abusing nursing post staff.
By 9.30pm, police had issued 20 "toolies'' - older people who prey on school leavers - with orders to leave the island on the 8.30am (WST) ferry this morning.
Under the Rottnest Island Authority Act, people can be removed from the island for committing non-criminal offences and ordered not to return for seven days. If they fail to adhere to the instruction they can be arrested and fined $1000.
About 10,000 Year 12 students descended on Rottnest and Dunsborough as the annual leavers pilgrimage got into full swing, while smaller contingents of revellers headed to Mandurah and Lancelin.
At Rottnest, police used sniffer dogs and searched luggage at the main jetty as about 1500 teenagers arrived on ferries ready to party.
Another 400 teenagers are celebrating aboard an armada of private boats moored around the island, while 8000 are in Dunsborough and across WA's South-West.
In Dunsborough, officers issued 10 move-on notices on Friday night, seven to "toolies'' and three to leavers.
Another "toolie'' was taken to hospital with minor injuries when he was hit by a slow-moving bus in Dunsborough.
Police said 5400 wristbands were sold for special events on the Friday night and it was shaping up to be the biggest leavers gathering in the South-West.
Sgt Peter Bahen, officer-in-charge of Rottnest Island, said police would continue their zero tolerance towards "toolies'' and would evict any adults who were on the island without a legitimate reason.
"We have quite a few toolies on the island and I think that is because this year's leavers event falls on a weekend,'' Sgt Bahen said.
"They are posing a bit of a problem because they have nowhere to stay.
"They have no business being around these kids - it's their weekend.
"Some have been taken off by our police vessel but we can't continue that all night and it becomes a Rottnest Island Authority issue, not a police issue because they are not breaking any laws.''
Sgt Bahen said the behaviour of school leavers had generally been pleasing.
Police had a strong presence on the island, backed up by the Dog Squad, Water Police and Liquor Enforcement Unit. Leavers intent on causing trouble would be immediately evicted from the island, Sgt Bahen said.
"What will happen to them is that they'll be off the island so quickly their feet won't even touch the ground,'' he said.
Sgt Bahen said police sniffer dogs had detected traces of drugs on day-trippers, but bag searches had not revealed anything untoward and no charges had been laid.
"The operation of the dogs here is as a deterrent and I'm happy enough to say they've had no hits on any schoolies,'' he said.
In Dunsborough, temporary accommodation was provided to about 140 schoolies in the Dunsborough Playing Fields after fire forced the closure of the Prevelly Park Caravan Park in Margaret River.
However only about 30 schoolies took up the offer last night by staying at the site.
"I'm feeling pretty cut...and I've got a sore throat from drinking," said one Dunsborough school leaver this morning who wished not to be named.
In his third night sleeping under the stars, Ben Pearson,18, said he was "happy but cold" sleeping at the playing fields.
Witnesses said the teen had ingested two or three ecstasy pills and had been drinking heavily before an ambulance was called to his unit.
Police sweeps of chalets unearthed youths on the island without authorised accommodation. They were aged 17 and 19.
Five males - including two schoolies - were shipped back to the mainland on the Water Police boat, while a 17-year-old youth was put on the 4pm ferry after drunkenly giving police a false name and abusing nursing post staff.
By 9.30pm, police had issued 20 "toolies'' - older people who prey on school leavers - with orders to leave the island on the 8.30am (WST) ferry this morning.
Under the Rottnest Island Authority Act, people can be removed from the island for committing non-criminal offences and ordered not to return for seven days. If they fail to adhere to the instruction they can be arrested and fined $1000.
About 10,000 Year 12 students descended on Rottnest and Dunsborough as the annual leavers pilgrimage got into full swing, while smaller contingents of revellers headed to Mandurah and Lancelin.
At Rottnest, police used sniffer dogs and searched luggage at the main jetty as about 1500 teenagers arrived on ferries ready to party.
Another 400 teenagers are celebrating aboard an armada of private boats moored around the island, while 8000 are in Dunsborough and across WA's South-West.
In Dunsborough, officers issued 10 move-on notices on Friday night, seven to "toolies'' and three to leavers.
Another "toolie'' was taken to hospital with minor injuries when he was hit by a slow-moving bus in Dunsborough.
Police said 5400 wristbands were sold for special events on the Friday night and it was shaping up to be the biggest leavers gathering in the South-West.
Sgt Peter Bahen, officer-in-charge of Rottnest Island, said police would continue their zero tolerance towards "toolies'' and would evict any adults who were on the island without a legitimate reason.
"We have quite a few toolies on the island and I think that is because this year's leavers event falls on a weekend,'' Sgt Bahen said.
"They are posing a bit of a problem because they have nowhere to stay.
"They have no business being around these kids - it's their weekend.
"Some have been taken off by our police vessel but we can't continue that all night and it becomes a Rottnest Island Authority issue, not a police issue because they are not breaking any laws.''
Sgt Bahen said the behaviour of school leavers had generally been pleasing.
Police had a strong presence on the island, backed up by the Dog Squad, Water Police and Liquor Enforcement Unit. Leavers intent on causing trouble would be immediately evicted from the island, Sgt Bahen said.
"What will happen to them is that they'll be off the island so quickly their feet won't even touch the ground,'' he said.
Sgt Bahen said police sniffer dogs had detected traces of drugs on day-trippers, but bag searches had not revealed anything untoward and no charges had been laid.
"The operation of the dogs here is as a deterrent and I'm happy enough to say they've had no hits on any schoolies,'' he said.
In Dunsborough, temporary accommodation was provided to about 140 schoolies in the Dunsborough Playing Fields after fire forced the closure of the Prevelly Park Caravan Park in Margaret River.
However only about 30 schoolies took up the offer last night by staying at the site.
"I'm feeling pretty cut...and I've got a sore throat from drinking," said one Dunsborough school leaver this morning who wished not to be named.
In his third night sleeping under the stars, Ben Pearson,18, said he was "happy but cold" sleeping at the playing fields.
2011年11月24日星期四
Tips to help you escape flu Jersey
Flu season generally starts in October, can run as late as May, and peaks in January to February, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
While for the most part it results in symptoms similar to those of a cold — cough, sore throat, runny nose and headache — the flu also has symptoms like fever, achiness, tiredness, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea. It should be noted that unlike a cold, the flu can cause "mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death."
In fact, the CDC estimates that over a 30 year period, "influenza-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people. And, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized in the United States each year due to complications related to seasonal influenza."
The best way to prevent getting the flu, experts agree, is to get vaccinated every year.
Seasonal vaccines are developed for the three influenza strains that research predicts will be most prevalent that year. There are two ways to receive the vaccine: via an injection, or through a nasal mist. The injectable vaccine is created using the killed virus and is appropriate for use in anyone over 6 months of age.
The nasal mist is made with live, weakened viruses, and is "sometimes called LAIV for 'Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine'," according to the CDC. The nasal mist can be used on healthy individuals between the ages of 2 and 49, but should not be used by pregnant women.
Be sure to eat a healthy diet, including lots of colorful vegetables and yogurt, which is believed to stimulate your immune system and drink plenty of water, which helps to flush toxins from your system. Also include plenty of ginger, garlic, and dark leafy greens, suggests herbalist Robin Rose Bennett, of West Milford.
"Ginger and garlic can be used in cooking, and ginger tea is also good. Ginger and garlic can both be chopped and infused in a jar with raw local honey, ready to use within 24 hours, but (it) only gets better over months of time...all these are safe for kids, except the usual caution regarding infants not being given honey for one year," says Bennett.
While for the most part it results in symptoms similar to those of a cold — cough, sore throat, runny nose and headache — the flu also has symptoms like fever, achiness, tiredness, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea. It should be noted that unlike a cold, the flu can cause "mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death."
In fact, the CDC estimates that over a 30 year period, "influenza-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people. And, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized in the United States each year due to complications related to seasonal influenza."
The best way to prevent getting the flu, experts agree, is to get vaccinated every year.
Seasonal vaccines are developed for the three influenza strains that research predicts will be most prevalent that year. There are two ways to receive the vaccine: via an injection, or through a nasal mist. The injectable vaccine is created using the killed virus and is appropriate for use in anyone over 6 months of age.
The nasal mist is made with live, weakened viruses, and is "sometimes called LAIV for 'Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine'," according to the CDC. The nasal mist can be used on healthy individuals between the ages of 2 and 49, but should not be used by pregnant women.
Be sure to eat a healthy diet, including lots of colorful vegetables and yogurt, which is believed to stimulate your immune system and drink plenty of water, which helps to flush toxins from your system. Also include plenty of ginger, garlic, and dark leafy greens, suggests herbalist Robin Rose Bennett, of West Milford.
"Ginger and garlic can be used in cooking, and ginger tea is also good. Ginger and garlic can both be chopped and infused in a jar with raw local honey, ready to use within 24 hours, but (it) only gets better over months of time...all these are safe for kids, except the usual caution regarding infants not being given honey for one year," says Bennett.
2011年11月23日星期三
Cold comfort for psoriasis sufferers
For many psoriasis sufferers, winter brings not only shorter days and colder temperatures but also worsening symptoms.
"About 70 percent of psoriasis patients will experience exacerbated symptoms at this time of year," says Bai Yanping, a skin problem specialist at Beijing's China-Japan Friendship Hospital.
Dry air, colder temperatures and reduced exposure to sunlight can all worsen symptoms, Bai explains.
Psoriasis is caused by a mix of environmental and genetics factors and can appear suddenly or gradually. In many cases, psoriasis goes away and then reoccurs.
Most people with the irritation have thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches on the elbows, knees and trunk, but it can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp.
Psoriasis sufferers, particularly young people, can also experience anxiety when they suffer from attacks, which makes the situation worse.
"Stress can worsen the situation, and create a vicious circle," Bai says.
"The itchiness almost kills me. I know I shouldn't scratch the sores, but I can't help it," says Zhao Jinsheng, a 50-something Beijinger who has psoriasis all over his body.
"Even if you offered me 1 million yuan ($157,131) you could not stop me scratching."
Although the ultimate cause of the disease is still unknown, doctors believe psoriasis is an autoimmune disease and probably occurs when the body's immune system mistakes healthy cells for dangerous ones.
"When the disease attacks, the produce of cytokine will be abnormally stimulated, causing inflammation and the rapid production of certain skin cells, as well as the dilation of blood vessels," Bai says.
"As a result, the skin will become red and thick."
Ultraviolet light can slow the growth of the skin cells, and ultraviolet therapy is used in the treatment of psoriasis, Bai says.
Sunlight also causes the body to produce vitamin D naturally, which is good for psoriasis sufferers, and is better than a vitamin D supplement.
"The best way to combat psoriasis is make your body as healthy as possible," Bai says. "Having a balanced diet, doing exercise and staying in good mood are our most effective defense against the disease."
For average psoriasis sufferers, a short and mild-temperature shower is beneficial, while for those with more serious symptoms, a bath with prescribed traditional Chinese medicine is advised, Bai says.
"About 70 percent of psoriasis patients will experience exacerbated symptoms at this time of year," says Bai Yanping, a skin problem specialist at Beijing's China-Japan Friendship Hospital.
Dry air, colder temperatures and reduced exposure to sunlight can all worsen symptoms, Bai explains.
Psoriasis is caused by a mix of environmental and genetics factors and can appear suddenly or gradually. In many cases, psoriasis goes away and then reoccurs.
Most people with the irritation have thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches on the elbows, knees and trunk, but it can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp.
Psoriasis sufferers, particularly young people, can also experience anxiety when they suffer from attacks, which makes the situation worse.
"Stress can worsen the situation, and create a vicious circle," Bai says.
"The itchiness almost kills me. I know I shouldn't scratch the sores, but I can't help it," says Zhao Jinsheng, a 50-something Beijinger who has psoriasis all over his body.
"Even if you offered me 1 million yuan ($157,131) you could not stop me scratching."
Although the ultimate cause of the disease is still unknown, doctors believe psoriasis is an autoimmune disease and probably occurs when the body's immune system mistakes healthy cells for dangerous ones.
"When the disease attacks, the produce of cytokine will be abnormally stimulated, causing inflammation and the rapid production of certain skin cells, as well as the dilation of blood vessels," Bai says.
"As a result, the skin will become red and thick."
Ultraviolet light can slow the growth of the skin cells, and ultraviolet therapy is used in the treatment of psoriasis, Bai says.
Sunlight also causes the body to produce vitamin D naturally, which is good for psoriasis sufferers, and is better than a vitamin D supplement.
"The best way to combat psoriasis is make your body as healthy as possible," Bai says. "Having a balanced diet, doing exercise and staying in good mood are our most effective defense against the disease."
For average psoriasis sufferers, a short and mild-temperature shower is beneficial, while for those with more serious symptoms, a bath with prescribed traditional Chinese medicine is advised, Bai says.
2011年11月22日星期二
Another bug season is upon us
First the bad news. Another bug season is upon us. That means colds, chills, fever, coughs, sniffles, assorted body aches and flu could catch and zap us, making life miserable.
Now the good news. You might escape these wintertime illnesses. Just use wise common sense, live healthy, get seven to eight hours of sleep nightly, wash your hands frequently, take mega-doses of vitamin C and avoid likely germ hot spots.
My wife and I have been flu-free for 40-plus years. We have skipped serious colds since way back when. We recently increased our daily vitamin C intake from 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams. We'll boost that to 4,000 mg. if cold signs threaten. We got our flu vaccines in September. Have you had your annual flu shot? It's a must-do.
Our goal is to live this season without a cold. I'm sure the chances of catching a cold bug have multiplied by all the new shopping stores plus a more mobile population growth. This combo increases likelihood of exposure and swapping strange new strains of viruses and bacteria for which our bodies haven't an immunity.
As a young boy I became sickly whenever winter northers blew in. I'd come down with sore throats, earaches, coughs and respiratory infections. My mother, bless her soul, made me wear an aviator skull cap with long ear flaps that buckled under my chin. She nursed me with gobs of strongly pungent Vick's salve. She rubbed my chest, filled my nostrils and forced me to swallow chunks of it. But I really didn't get cold relief until my tonsils and adenoids were surgically removed.
Wife Rae, who is one-fourth Cherokee, remembers her grandmother treating her with Indian remedies.One was a poultice. This was a soft, warm, moist cloth or gauze filled with herbal medications. It was applied to her chest or hung around her neck at night. It was similar to a mustard plaster.
First and foremost in the battle against wintry maladies is home defense. Topping the list is hand scrubbing. I probably wash my hands 20 times a day. I try not to touch my face, eyes, mouth or nose a lot because that's where germs slip into your body.
Washing hands is a no-brainer. Lather them with soap, we are advised, 15 to 20 seconds. Whisper "Jesus loves me" five times so you'll time yourself correctly. When you use a public restroom, consider choosing a stall on either end of the row since these are used less often than the middle ones. And after washing up, pull a paper towel to exit the door handle.
My wife and I use a plastic container of alcohol wipes when we venture to supermarkets, retail stores or restaurants. We pull out about a dozen wipes and share them on any door surface. Some stores now offer both the wipes and sanitizing gel. I am encouraged to see more customers using them to wipe down door handles and shopping carts. But many folks still pass them by. What's the old saying? "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."
True carts are essential items for major shopping to transport your goods until you reach the checkout counter. But they're so risky for snagging and holding diseased bugs. I read where one health study found E. coli or similar bacteria existed on more than 70 percent of shopping carts.
Those plastic covers on the cart seat area are there for holding perishable or breakable goods like eggs, bread, fruit, etc. But they also are used by babies' bottoms. You don't want raw vegetables you eat sharing the same space. Since shopping carts are seldom washed down, rub handles and seats briskly with a disinfecting alcohol wipe. You might even line the seat with a plastic bag before wheeling it around the store.
Now the good news. You might escape these wintertime illnesses. Just use wise common sense, live healthy, get seven to eight hours of sleep nightly, wash your hands frequently, take mega-doses of vitamin C and avoid likely germ hot spots.
My wife and I have been flu-free for 40-plus years. We have skipped serious colds since way back when. We recently increased our daily vitamin C intake from 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams. We'll boost that to 4,000 mg. if cold signs threaten. We got our flu vaccines in September. Have you had your annual flu shot? It's a must-do.
Our goal is to live this season without a cold. I'm sure the chances of catching a cold bug have multiplied by all the new shopping stores plus a more mobile population growth. This combo increases likelihood of exposure and swapping strange new strains of viruses and bacteria for which our bodies haven't an immunity.
As a young boy I became sickly whenever winter northers blew in. I'd come down with sore throats, earaches, coughs and respiratory infections. My mother, bless her soul, made me wear an aviator skull cap with long ear flaps that buckled under my chin. She nursed me with gobs of strongly pungent Vick's salve. She rubbed my chest, filled my nostrils and forced me to swallow chunks of it. But I really didn't get cold relief until my tonsils and adenoids were surgically removed.
Wife Rae, who is one-fourth Cherokee, remembers her grandmother treating her with Indian remedies.One was a poultice. This was a soft, warm, moist cloth or gauze filled with herbal medications. It was applied to her chest or hung around her neck at night. It was similar to a mustard plaster.
First and foremost in the battle against wintry maladies is home defense. Topping the list is hand scrubbing. I probably wash my hands 20 times a day. I try not to touch my face, eyes, mouth or nose a lot because that's where germs slip into your body.
Washing hands is a no-brainer. Lather them with soap, we are advised, 15 to 20 seconds. Whisper "Jesus loves me" five times so you'll time yourself correctly. When you use a public restroom, consider choosing a stall on either end of the row since these are used less often than the middle ones. And after washing up, pull a paper towel to exit the door handle.
My wife and I use a plastic container of alcohol wipes when we venture to supermarkets, retail stores or restaurants. We pull out about a dozen wipes and share them on any door surface. Some stores now offer both the wipes and sanitizing gel. I am encouraged to see more customers using them to wipe down door handles and shopping carts. But many folks still pass them by. What's the old saying? "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."
True carts are essential items for major shopping to transport your goods until you reach the checkout counter. But they're so risky for snagging and holding diseased bugs. I read where one health study found E. coli or similar bacteria existed on more than 70 percent of shopping carts.
Those plastic covers on the cart seat area are there for holding perishable or breakable goods like eggs, bread, fruit, etc. But they also are used by babies' bottoms. You don't want raw vegetables you eat sharing the same space. Since shopping carts are seldom washed down, rub handles and seats briskly with a disinfecting alcohol wipe. You might even line the seat with a plastic bag before wheeling it around the store.
2011年11月21日星期一
Cold Or Flu? You Decide
A new leaflet from the NHS - Handy Advice about Flu and Colds can help you decide whether you have a cold or flu as well as help you understand and manage your symptoms this Self Care Week.
On average, adults can expect two colds a year and children as many as ten, until they develop immunity. Sometimes bad colds can be mistaken for flu, but how do you tell the difference?
Flu's biggest symptom is a sudden high temperature of over 38 degrees Celsius and a sudden cough. Other symptoms include headache, chills, aching muscles, limb or joint pain, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, loss of appetite and diarrhoea or stomach upset.
A cold on the other hand may present some of the same symptoms but these will appear at different stages. Usually, with a cold adults will not run a high temperature, but children might.
If you have flu this is the time when you will have a high temperature and symptoms that come on quickly. You will be shivering with a headache, muscle aches in the back and legs and you may feel dizzy. The high temperature should go down within 48 hours.
If you have a cold, this is the incubation stage, and there are no symptoms to tell you that you have been infected.
If you have flu, your temperature should be dropping now and from here on your symptoms will be similar to those you get with colds.
If you have a cold, the first signs appear on day two with a tickle or soreness in the nose and/or throat and sometimes in the eyes. The sore throat gets worse and a dry cough might start. You start sneezing and your nose starts to run.
From day three the symptoms for both flu and colds are very similar. The discharge from the nose may change from clear and watery to thicker and yellowish in colour. Your nose starts to feel very stuffy and blocked up, and you might get pain in the forehead and around and behind the eyes. If the infection is a really nasty one, adults may still have a slight fever.
Try not to attend A&E as there's nothing the healthcare professionals can do for colds and flu and you run the risk of spreading the virus to other patients.
The best thing you can do is rest, drink plenty of fluids and help ease sore throats with cough lozenges, mixtures or sprays. Make sure you check with your pharmacist whether any cold or flu remedies can be used with medication you're already taking.
On average, adults can expect two colds a year and children as many as ten, until they develop immunity. Sometimes bad colds can be mistaken for flu, but how do you tell the difference?
Flu's biggest symptom is a sudden high temperature of over 38 degrees Celsius and a sudden cough. Other symptoms include headache, chills, aching muscles, limb or joint pain, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, loss of appetite and diarrhoea or stomach upset.
A cold on the other hand may present some of the same symptoms but these will appear at different stages. Usually, with a cold adults will not run a high temperature, but children might.
If you have flu this is the time when you will have a high temperature and symptoms that come on quickly. You will be shivering with a headache, muscle aches in the back and legs and you may feel dizzy. The high temperature should go down within 48 hours.
If you have a cold, this is the incubation stage, and there are no symptoms to tell you that you have been infected.
If you have flu, your temperature should be dropping now and from here on your symptoms will be similar to those you get with colds.
If you have a cold, the first signs appear on day two with a tickle or soreness in the nose and/or throat and sometimes in the eyes. The sore throat gets worse and a dry cough might start. You start sneezing and your nose starts to run.
From day three the symptoms for both flu and colds are very similar. The discharge from the nose may change from clear and watery to thicker and yellowish in colour. Your nose starts to feel very stuffy and blocked up, and you might get pain in the forehead and around and behind the eyes. If the infection is a really nasty one, adults may still have a slight fever.
Try not to attend A&E as there's nothing the healthcare professionals can do for colds and flu and you run the risk of spreading the virus to other patients.
The best thing you can do is rest, drink plenty of fluids and help ease sore throats with cough lozenges, mixtures or sprays. Make sure you check with your pharmacist whether any cold or flu remedies can be used with medication you're already taking.
2011年11月20日星期日
LA fit and ready after Saturday's final training session
“We wouldn’t have beat anybody last week,” Arena said on Saturday afternoon after LA’s final training session before the Cup. “But we weren’t playing last week. This week, everything turned up and everyone looks good.”
That “everyone” includes star midfielder David Beckham, who had missed the previous two days of training with a cold and is still nursing both a slight hamstring injury and a sore back. Beckham took part in training on Saturday, and said he doesn’t expect any problems on Sunday.
“No, my body feels great,” Beckham said when asked specifically about the hamstring injury. “It shouldn’t be a problem. Obviously I’ve had issues with my back all season, but I was able to train today and come through it with no problems.”
Also coming through training with no problems was Landon Donovan, who’s been fighting off a number of injuries all season, most notably a quad strain that’s hampered him since August. Donovan also practiced and said he’s feeling fit and ready for the Cup.
The two weeks of rest came on the heels of three big playoff games in the span of nine days, a stretch that taxed a Galaxy side that’s been playing two games a week seemingly all season. Between the regular season, the CONCACAF Champions League, the US Open Cup and the World Football Challenge, LA are approaching 50 games across all competitions.
Add in international duty for a number of players, and it’s taken a physical and mental toll. That’s why the two weeks off were welcomed by everyone in the Galaxy camp, even those who weren’t nursing injuries.
That said, in Beckham’s words, “It seems to have gone so slow.” Both Arena and defender Todd Dunivant echoed that sentiment.
“It was kind of a lull,” Dunivant explained. “You can’t stay at such a high level physically and mentally for that long a time, so we kind of had a drop off for that following week and this week, and then after a day off we came back and we’re sharp. Everyone is firing on all cylinders and training was really good.”
It’s what Arena wanted to see and what he expected to see from a group that’s remained largely intact in the two years since their loss in the 2009 MLS Cup to Real Salt Lake.
“I think we have a better lesson from the 2009 final than from the rest of this year,” Arena said. “One thing we learned from 2009 is you may never have a chance again, so when you have that moment, you have to take it and produce.”
That “everyone” includes star midfielder David Beckham, who had missed the previous two days of training with a cold and is still nursing both a slight hamstring injury and a sore back. Beckham took part in training on Saturday, and said he doesn’t expect any problems on Sunday.
“No, my body feels great,” Beckham said when asked specifically about the hamstring injury. “It shouldn’t be a problem. Obviously I’ve had issues with my back all season, but I was able to train today and come through it with no problems.”
Also coming through training with no problems was Landon Donovan, who’s been fighting off a number of injuries all season, most notably a quad strain that’s hampered him since August. Donovan also practiced and said he’s feeling fit and ready for the Cup.
The two weeks of rest came on the heels of three big playoff games in the span of nine days, a stretch that taxed a Galaxy side that’s been playing two games a week seemingly all season. Between the regular season, the CONCACAF Champions League, the US Open Cup and the World Football Challenge, LA are approaching 50 games across all competitions.
Add in international duty for a number of players, and it’s taken a physical and mental toll. That’s why the two weeks off were welcomed by everyone in the Galaxy camp, even those who weren’t nursing injuries.
That said, in Beckham’s words, “It seems to have gone so slow.” Both Arena and defender Todd Dunivant echoed that sentiment.
“It was kind of a lull,” Dunivant explained. “You can’t stay at such a high level physically and mentally for that long a time, so we kind of had a drop off for that following week and this week, and then after a day off we came back and we’re sharp. Everyone is firing on all cylinders and training was really good.”
It’s what Arena wanted to see and what he expected to see from a group that’s remained largely intact in the two years since their loss in the 2009 MLS Cup to Real Salt Lake.
“I think we have a better lesson from the 2009 final than from the rest of this year,” Arena said. “One thing we learned from 2009 is you may never have a chance again, so when you have that moment, you have to take it and produce.”
2011年11月17日星期四
'Knockout of the Year' Mila Kunis Has Unusual Remedy for Cold
Mila Kunis apparently has one unusual concoction when it comes to curing sore throat. In GQ's Men of the Year issue, writer Michael Idov shared the story when he had to interview the "Black Swan" beauty, who is dubbed Knockout of the Year by the magazine, while having cold.
In the feature article about Kunis, Idov recalled that the 28-year-old beauty offered him her own remedy for cold when they chatted in her apartment. "Kunis starts making us hot tea when she gets a better idea," he recalled. " 'Let's get some Cabernet going,' she says. 'It'll make you feel better and it will make you drunk.' " She then handed off the $50 Grgich Hills Cabernet Franc bottle to him.
The writer further detailed that after declaring it "perfect for boiling", the "Friends with Benefits" star poured it into a saucepan and added "an avalanche of green-tea powder ('It's vitamins!'), two gelcaps of fish oil ('What's the difference? It's all going to end up liquefied and syrupy'), apple-cider vinegar (' 'Cause that's just always good for you'), and Ayurvedic chai."
When the writer told her to also drink the potion, Kunis agreed as saying, "Yeah, I'll get wasted with you on this wine. F**k it. It's good for you!" She then decided to add some alcohol into the mix. "I have vodka and I have tequila," she told Idov. "What do you think kills germs better?" After settling on half a bottle of Ketel One, she exclaimed, "Healthy! This will kill everything."
During the interview, Kunis talked about not taking acting too seriously. "I love what I do," she said, "but my theory is that it's people who doubt what they do and want to prove it to you, they're like 'It's art. I create art. It's art, art, art.' I'm like, Holy s**t, are you fucking kidding me? I run around and pretend I'm someone else for twelve hours; I record 'Family Guy' [she voices Meg]. Then I get to go home and watch 'Jersey Shore'."
In the feature article about Kunis, Idov recalled that the 28-year-old beauty offered him her own remedy for cold when they chatted in her apartment. "Kunis starts making us hot tea when she gets a better idea," he recalled. " 'Let's get some Cabernet going,' she says. 'It'll make you feel better and it will make you drunk.' " She then handed off the $50 Grgich Hills Cabernet Franc bottle to him.
The writer further detailed that after declaring it "perfect for boiling", the "Friends with Benefits" star poured it into a saucepan and added "an avalanche of green-tea powder ('It's vitamins!'), two gelcaps of fish oil ('What's the difference? It's all going to end up liquefied and syrupy'), apple-cider vinegar (' 'Cause that's just always good for you'), and Ayurvedic chai."
When the writer told her to also drink the potion, Kunis agreed as saying, "Yeah, I'll get wasted with you on this wine. F**k it. It's good for you!" She then decided to add some alcohol into the mix. "I have vodka and I have tequila," she told Idov. "What do you think kills germs better?" After settling on half a bottle of Ketel One, she exclaimed, "Healthy! This will kill everything."
During the interview, Kunis talked about not taking acting too seriously. "I love what I do," she said, "but my theory is that it's people who doubt what they do and want to prove it to you, they're like 'It's art. I create art. It's art, art, art.' I'm like, Holy s**t, are you fucking kidding me? I run around and pretend I'm someone else for twelve hours; I record 'Family Guy' [she voices Meg]. Then I get to go home and watch 'Jersey Shore'."
2011年11月16日星期三
Another reason to stay home if you're sick
Why do we do this? Why do we insist on coming to work when we're coughing, achy, got a runny nose and wondering when
the fever is going to kick in? New research confirms what you probably know is the right thing but refuse to do: Just
stay in bed.
Those who do drag themselves in sick probably think their bosses will notice their dedication and consider them hard
workers. But new research from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, shows that our bosses shouldn't be too
impressed. The study was supported by Afexa Life Sciences, the makers of a cold and flu treatment.
The researchers looked at the results of more than 80 studies, representing the work of more than 300 researchers at
more than 100 universities and institutions.
The results? Stay home. Yes, 83 percent of Americans say they will show up to work even if they have flu-like
symptoms. But the researchers say the loss in productivity from a worker who shows up sick -- the working wounded, as
it were -- is twice the productivity loss that they experience when a worker stays home. After all, those who come in
sick don't get as much done as they think they will, and quite often infect their colleagues.
The researchers also found that:
1. One-third of Canadians report a sore throat, cold or flu in any given month. Symptoms are more common in women
than in men.
2. Women are more likely to go see a doctor than men are.
3. One-fifth of people ignore their symptoms altogether
4. Cold remedies and prescription antibiotics don't do much good. The researchers found that, for the most part,
these remedies neither "ameliorate symptoms nor change the course of illness."
And while the study found that co-workers do frequently pass their illnesses along to each other, school-aged kids
are much more active in spreading disease. The Queens researchers say school-aged children "have been shown to
introduce rhinovirus [the primary cause of the common cold] infections into their families three times more often
than working adults."
SDI, a research agency that tracks colds and flu in North America found an annual spike in colds and flu within the
first two weeks of students' return to school each fall.
the fever is going to kick in? New research confirms what you probably know is the right thing but refuse to do: Just
stay in bed.
Those who do drag themselves in sick probably think their bosses will notice their dedication and consider them hard
workers. But new research from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, shows that our bosses shouldn't be too
impressed. The study was supported by Afexa Life Sciences, the makers of a cold and flu treatment.
The researchers looked at the results of more than 80 studies, representing the work of more than 300 researchers at
more than 100 universities and institutions.
The results? Stay home. Yes, 83 percent of Americans say they will show up to work even if they have flu-like
symptoms. But the researchers say the loss in productivity from a worker who shows up sick -- the working wounded, as
it were -- is twice the productivity loss that they experience when a worker stays home. After all, those who come in
sick don't get as much done as they think they will, and quite often infect their colleagues.
The researchers also found that:
1. One-third of Canadians report a sore throat, cold or flu in any given month. Symptoms are more common in women
than in men.
2. Women are more likely to go see a doctor than men are.
3. One-fifth of people ignore their symptoms altogether
4. Cold remedies and prescription antibiotics don't do much good. The researchers found that, for the most part,
these remedies neither "ameliorate symptoms nor change the course of illness."
And while the study found that co-workers do frequently pass their illnesses along to each other, school-aged kids
are much more active in spreading disease. The Queens researchers say school-aged children "have been shown to
introduce rhinovirus [the primary cause of the common cold] infections into their families three times more often
than working adults."
SDI, a research agency that tracks colds and flu in North America found an annual spike in colds and flu within the
first two weeks of students' return to school each fall.
2011年11月15日星期二
Virus takes memories from cellist but leaves music
Herpesviral encephalitis is caused by the same virus that causes cold sores. It is a rare infection and occurs when this virus travels along nerves to the brain. In the case of PM, the virus wiped out large sections of his medial temporal lobes which have been linked to memories of events and facts. PM was left with no memory of personal or professional events he had done and the only people he recognized were his brother and a care worker.
Doctors began testing PM’s abilities after they discovered that he was able to identify musical scales and recall music that was played for him.
Neurologist Carsten Finke from Charite University Hospital in Berlin decided to take these tests further. Working with a team of professional musicians, Finke designed a series of tests that were designed to look at just how PM’s musical memory worked.
One test, PM was presented with a piece of music that was composed before he was struck with illness. He was then played a similar piece composed after his illness. When he was asked which piece he knew better, 93 percent of the time he chose the older piece.
In addition to amnesia, PM has had difficulty learning new things. For example, he is unable to remember the layout of his home or which medications he is supposed to take on a daily basis. However, in another test the doctors conducted, PM was able to identify pieces of music that were played to him earlier in the day 77 percent of the time.
Doctors are hoping this case will help to better understand how memories are stored in the brain. In the case of PM, they are also hoping to use music to help in his rehabilitation. They plan to try using musical notes and connect them to different people and tasks.
Doctors began testing PM’s abilities after they discovered that he was able to identify musical scales and recall music that was played for him.
Neurologist Carsten Finke from Charite University Hospital in Berlin decided to take these tests further. Working with a team of professional musicians, Finke designed a series of tests that were designed to look at just how PM’s musical memory worked.
One test, PM was presented with a piece of music that was composed before he was struck with illness. He was then played a similar piece composed after his illness. When he was asked which piece he knew better, 93 percent of the time he chose the older piece.
In addition to amnesia, PM has had difficulty learning new things. For example, he is unable to remember the layout of his home or which medications he is supposed to take on a daily basis. However, in another test the doctors conducted, PM was able to identify pieces of music that were played to him earlier in the day 77 percent of the time.
Doctors are hoping this case will help to better understand how memories are stored in the brain. In the case of PM, they are also hoping to use music to help in his rehabilitation. They plan to try using musical notes and connect them to different people and tasks.
2011年11月14日星期一
Going to work sick is bad for business
Your throat is scratchy. You nose is dripping and your head is gently throbbing. You don’t feel ill enough to justify taking a sick day, but you’re far from your regular, healthy, productive self.
Welcome to world of the working wounded, the army of hacking, sneezing, watery-eyed employees who refuse to suffer their cold and flu symptoms lying down – or, at least, safely away from the workplace. While many feel pressured to soldier on with their jobs, there’s a growing consensus that ill employees could be doing more harm than good by reporting for duty.
A recent study from Queen’s University found it costs employers twice as much in productivity losses for employees who come to work while sick than for those who stay at home. Yet the same study showed that 83 per cent of U.S. adult survey participants continued to attend work or school while experiencing flu-like symptoms. The research, funded by a grant from Afexa Life Sciences Inc., the maker of cold remedy COLD-FX, also found one in three Canadian adults have a sore throat, cold or flu in any given month, and one in five ignore their symptoms of illness.
Earlier this year, the temporary staffing company Accountemps released the results of a survey of more than 430 Canadian workers, which revealed people are far more likely to be worried about catching a bug from their ill co-workers than to be impressed by their dedication. Fifty-seven per cent said they feared being exposed to their sick colleagues, and 29 per cent said they were concerned about their ill co-workers’ well-being, compared with 11 per cent who said they would be impressed with them for working while unwell.
But when ill themselves, 51 per cent said they would go to work anyway, compared with 31 per cent who said they would stay at home and take a sick day.
“I think a lot of people feel pressure [to work while sick] because they obviously feel a sense of obligation to their employer,” says Anaar Dewjee, branch manager of Accountemps in Toronto. Some also tend to feel guilty about leaving their co-workers to pick up the slack, or believe that if they show up, they’ll make a better impression on their bosses.
Workers, however, often aren’t as effective on the job when they’re unwell, Ms. Dewjee says. They also risk infecting others, and they may prolong their recovery if they don’t rest up. “It can actually be counter-productive.”
The trouble is, it’s not always clear from one’s symptoms whether an illness warrants time off, and how many sick days one should take.
Many flu-like symptoms, such as coughing, headaches, fever, nasal congestion and muscle aches, can be due to Influenza A, Influenza B, or any number of respiratory viruses, which behave differently, says Doug Sider, acting director for infectious-disease prevention and control at Public Health Ontario.
Further complicating matters, he adds, the severity of one’s symptoms does not necessarily indicate the level of risk for spreading the illness. “If you’ve got mild symptoms, does that mean you’re less infectious? Or if you’ve got more significant symptoms, that you’re more infectious? We’re not always certain about that.”
Ideally, Dr. Sider says people should stay home for at least two to three days when they start feeling ill, as that’s when they’re most infectious. He acknowledges, though, that staying home isn’t always feasible. “There’s a whole series of workplace disincentives for people to do the right thing, in terms of basically isolating themselves when they’re ill,” he says.
Some workplaces, for instance, require employees to obtain a doctor’s note, even though a crowded waiting room while they’re at their most contagious is the last place people should be, Dr. Sider says.
If you absolutely must go to work, he advises practising good respiratory etiquette: frequent hand-washing, coughing into a tissue or sleeve and using alcohol-based hand rubs.
In general, after the first 48 hours, people’s immune systems kick in but they could continue to spread illness for four to five days, says Bhagirath Singh, director of the centre for human immunology the University of Western Ontario. Regardless, they may not feel topnotch for a while.
Typically, a common cold can last around seven days, while the effects of some flu viruses can last several weeks, Dr. Singh says. “Obviously you will still be feeling miserable and terrible, but you won’t be contagious.” Cold comfort.
Welcome to world of the working wounded, the army of hacking, sneezing, watery-eyed employees who refuse to suffer their cold and flu symptoms lying down – or, at least, safely away from the workplace. While many feel pressured to soldier on with their jobs, there’s a growing consensus that ill employees could be doing more harm than good by reporting for duty.
A recent study from Queen’s University found it costs employers twice as much in productivity losses for employees who come to work while sick than for those who stay at home. Yet the same study showed that 83 per cent of U.S. adult survey participants continued to attend work or school while experiencing flu-like symptoms. The research, funded by a grant from Afexa Life Sciences Inc., the maker of cold remedy COLD-FX, also found one in three Canadian adults have a sore throat, cold or flu in any given month, and one in five ignore their symptoms of illness.
Earlier this year, the temporary staffing company Accountemps released the results of a survey of more than 430 Canadian workers, which revealed people are far more likely to be worried about catching a bug from their ill co-workers than to be impressed by their dedication. Fifty-seven per cent said they feared being exposed to their sick colleagues, and 29 per cent said they were concerned about their ill co-workers’ well-being, compared with 11 per cent who said they would be impressed with them for working while unwell.
But when ill themselves, 51 per cent said they would go to work anyway, compared with 31 per cent who said they would stay at home and take a sick day.
“I think a lot of people feel pressure [to work while sick] because they obviously feel a sense of obligation to their employer,” says Anaar Dewjee, branch manager of Accountemps in Toronto. Some also tend to feel guilty about leaving their co-workers to pick up the slack, or believe that if they show up, they’ll make a better impression on their bosses.
Workers, however, often aren’t as effective on the job when they’re unwell, Ms. Dewjee says. They also risk infecting others, and they may prolong their recovery if they don’t rest up. “It can actually be counter-productive.”
The trouble is, it’s not always clear from one’s symptoms whether an illness warrants time off, and how many sick days one should take.
Many flu-like symptoms, such as coughing, headaches, fever, nasal congestion and muscle aches, can be due to Influenza A, Influenza B, or any number of respiratory viruses, which behave differently, says Doug Sider, acting director for infectious-disease prevention and control at Public Health Ontario.
Further complicating matters, he adds, the severity of one’s symptoms does not necessarily indicate the level of risk for spreading the illness. “If you’ve got mild symptoms, does that mean you’re less infectious? Or if you’ve got more significant symptoms, that you’re more infectious? We’re not always certain about that.”
Ideally, Dr. Sider says people should stay home for at least two to three days when they start feeling ill, as that’s when they’re most infectious. He acknowledges, though, that staying home isn’t always feasible. “There’s a whole series of workplace disincentives for people to do the right thing, in terms of basically isolating themselves when they’re ill,” he says.
Some workplaces, for instance, require employees to obtain a doctor’s note, even though a crowded waiting room while they’re at their most contagious is the last place people should be, Dr. Sider says.
If you absolutely must go to work, he advises practising good respiratory etiquette: frequent hand-washing, coughing into a tissue or sleeve and using alcohol-based hand rubs.
In general, after the first 48 hours, people’s immune systems kick in but they could continue to spread illness for four to five days, says Bhagirath Singh, director of the centre for human immunology the University of Western Ontario. Regardless, they may not feel topnotch for a while.
Typically, a common cold can last around seven days, while the effects of some flu viruses can last several weeks, Dr. Singh says. “Obviously you will still be feeling miserable and terrible, but you won’t be contagious.” Cold comfort.
2011年11月13日星期日
10 home remedies that work
We spend billions every year on over-the-counter health remedies for everything from canker sores to aching muscles, but in some cases there’s no need to shell out a lot of money to find relief. All you need to do is check your cupboards for some surprising home remedies.
The 10 we picked are cheap, easy to find, and there’s actual scientific proof that they work.
Because certain home remedies can interact with prescription medications, check with your doctor before trying something new.
1. Honey. Just one spoonful can help quiet a nighttime cough better than over-the-counter cough syrups or suppressants.
That’s what a Pennsylvania study of more than 100 children found. Study author Ian Paul, M.D., says honey can also help reduce coughs in older adults suffering from a cold.
Honey coats and soothes an irritated throat to help calm repeated coughing. “It is generally safe and can be used repeatedly as needed,” Paul says. He recommends two teaspoons per dose.
2. Liquid dish soap. If you come into contact with poison ivy or poison oak, washing the affected area with liquid dish soap within two hours of contact may prevent you from getting an itching red rash. Arkansas dermatologist Adam Stibich wanted to see if liquid dish-washing soap, which is formulated to remove oil, would be a cost-effective way to get rid of the plant oil on poison ivy leaves that causes a rash when it gets on your skin.
Volunteer medical students rubbed poison ivy leaves on their forearms and then washed with dish-washing soap for 25 seconds before rinsing. The soap prevented a reaction in almost half the volunteers and reduced the inflammation in the rest by 56 percent.
In his study, Stibich used Dial dishwashing soap, but any brand will work.
3. Tart cherry juice. Drinking tart cherry juice can help prevent gout attacks, relieve muscle soreness after exercise, and possibly help with arthritis pain because of its natural anti-inflammatory properties.
Gout expert Naomi Schlesinger, says the juice seems to reduce the joint inflammation that gout causes. Schlesinger led a study that found patients who took a tablespoon of tart cherry juice concentrate twice a day for four months cut the frequency of their gout attacks in half.
More than a third remained gout attack-free. Other studies have shown that drinking tart cherry juice daily helps runners reduce muscle soreness and reduces inflammation in overweight patients.
Unlike its sweeter cousins, the Bing and black cherry, the tart cherry is bright red and higher in antioxidants.
4. Baby shampoo. A half-and-half solution of baby shampoo and warm water is a simple, effective way to clean eyelids that are itchy, red or crusty.
Gently cleaning the eyelid with a baby shampoo wash helps get rid of oil and bacteria but won’t sting your eyes.
Try diluting a little baby shampoo with an equal amount of water twice a day, then gently rubbing the mixture with clean fingertips on the closed eyelid and along the eyelashes for one minute. Rinse well with water.
Philip Hagen, medical editor of the Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies, cautions that baby shampoo should only be used on the lid, and never on the surface of the eye.
5. Menthol rub. Applying mentholated ointments such as strong-smelling Vicks VapoRub has been shown to be a safe, cost-effective treatment for toenail fungus, often more effective than over-the-counter products.
A small study this year found that applying Vicks to the affected nails once daily helped 15 of 18 adults either cure or partially clear up their fungus.
Sally Stroud, professor of nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina, says Vicks is easy to apply and worth trying “before turning to more costly alternatives.”
Stroud also suggests first wiping the affected nails with a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar, then applying the VapoRub.
6. Witch hazel. Witch hazel is derived from the leaves and twigs of a flowering shrub. For more than a century, the clear, refined extract has been used as an astringent to help tighten the skin and relieve inflammation.
It is the main ingredient in commercial hemorrhoid pads, used to relieve mild itching and irritation, but you can do the same at home with pads you moisten with witch hazel, according to Hagen. For even more relief, use chilled witch hazel.
7. Ginger. Ginger can help reduce nausea and relieve motion sickness.
Some studies have shown that taking one gram of ginger an hour before surgery can reduce nausea and vomiting during the first 24 hours after surgery.
In addition, a large National Cancer Institute-funded study found that people undergoing chemotherapy who take as little as one-quarter of a teaspoon of ginger daily for three days before chemo cut their nausea by 40 percent.
The study found that a small amount of fresh or powdered ginger worked better than a larger dose, and that ginger taken with anti-vomiting drugs worked better to control nausea than drugs alone.
For adults prone to motion sickness, Suzanna Zick of the University of Michigan recommends eating one or two pieces of crystallized ginger, available in most supermarkets, before traveling. She cautions that ginger extract capsules are much stronger and may actually cause stomach upset. “Don’t go above two grams of ginger,” she advises.
8. Water. Daily gargling with plain tap water can help cut the number of colds and respiratory infections you get, as well as relieve symptoms if you’re already sick.
A 2005 study of nearly 400 healthy volunteers ages 18 to 65 in Japan found that those who gargled three times a day with tap water had nearly 40 percent fewer respiratory infections during cold and flu season than did the control group. When the subjects did get sick, gargling reduced bronchial irritation, researchers reported.
Other studies also support gargling, whether with salt water or water with lemon and honey, as a safe, effective way to soothe and cleanse a sore throat.
Hagen says the salt in the water also draws out excess fluid from the throat’s inflamed tissues, “and warm water may help cleanse them a bit better.”
9. Milk of magnesia. Dabbing this milky liquid on canker sores — small ulcers that typically appear inside the mouth — can temporarily soothe their pain. “Milk of magnesia won’t heal the sores, but it does give relief from the symptoms,” Hagen says. Experts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggest first dabbing the sore with a mixture of half water and half hydrogen peroxide, then dabbing on the milk of magnesia.
10. Cranberries. If you’re prone to bladder infections, drinking cranberry juice daily won’t cure them, but it can help prevent them, say the urologic disease experts at NIH.
Just be careful if you are taking blood-thinning medication like warfarin (Coumadin), Plavix or aspirin, warns Hagen: “Possible interactions between cranberry juice and warfarin may lead to bleeding.”
Taking a 500 mg cranberry extract pill twice a day is also effective at preventing urinary tract infections.
A Dutch study published this year compared women who took a daily low dose of an antibiotic to prevent infections and women who took the cranberry pills. The antibiotic was somewhat more effective, but it also caused more antibiotic resistance in the bloodstream.
The 10 we picked are cheap, easy to find, and there’s actual scientific proof that they work.
Because certain home remedies can interact with prescription medications, check with your doctor before trying something new.
1. Honey. Just one spoonful can help quiet a nighttime cough better than over-the-counter cough syrups or suppressants.
That’s what a Pennsylvania study of more than 100 children found. Study author Ian Paul, M.D., says honey can also help reduce coughs in older adults suffering from a cold.
Honey coats and soothes an irritated throat to help calm repeated coughing. “It is generally safe and can be used repeatedly as needed,” Paul says. He recommends two teaspoons per dose.
2. Liquid dish soap. If you come into contact with poison ivy or poison oak, washing the affected area with liquid dish soap within two hours of contact may prevent you from getting an itching red rash. Arkansas dermatologist Adam Stibich wanted to see if liquid dish-washing soap, which is formulated to remove oil, would be a cost-effective way to get rid of the plant oil on poison ivy leaves that causes a rash when it gets on your skin.
Volunteer medical students rubbed poison ivy leaves on their forearms and then washed with dish-washing soap for 25 seconds before rinsing. The soap prevented a reaction in almost half the volunteers and reduced the inflammation in the rest by 56 percent.
In his study, Stibich used Dial dishwashing soap, but any brand will work.
3. Tart cherry juice. Drinking tart cherry juice can help prevent gout attacks, relieve muscle soreness after exercise, and possibly help with arthritis pain because of its natural anti-inflammatory properties.
Gout expert Naomi Schlesinger, says the juice seems to reduce the joint inflammation that gout causes. Schlesinger led a study that found patients who took a tablespoon of tart cherry juice concentrate twice a day for four months cut the frequency of their gout attacks in half.
More than a third remained gout attack-free. Other studies have shown that drinking tart cherry juice daily helps runners reduce muscle soreness and reduces inflammation in overweight patients.
Unlike its sweeter cousins, the Bing and black cherry, the tart cherry is bright red and higher in antioxidants.
4. Baby shampoo. A half-and-half solution of baby shampoo and warm water is a simple, effective way to clean eyelids that are itchy, red or crusty.
Gently cleaning the eyelid with a baby shampoo wash helps get rid of oil and bacteria but won’t sting your eyes.
Try diluting a little baby shampoo with an equal amount of water twice a day, then gently rubbing the mixture with clean fingertips on the closed eyelid and along the eyelashes for one minute. Rinse well with water.
Philip Hagen, medical editor of the Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies, cautions that baby shampoo should only be used on the lid, and never on the surface of the eye.
5. Menthol rub. Applying mentholated ointments such as strong-smelling Vicks VapoRub has been shown to be a safe, cost-effective treatment for toenail fungus, often more effective than over-the-counter products.
A small study this year found that applying Vicks to the affected nails once daily helped 15 of 18 adults either cure or partially clear up their fungus.
Sally Stroud, professor of nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina, says Vicks is easy to apply and worth trying “before turning to more costly alternatives.”
Stroud also suggests first wiping the affected nails with a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar, then applying the VapoRub.
6. Witch hazel. Witch hazel is derived from the leaves and twigs of a flowering shrub. For more than a century, the clear, refined extract has been used as an astringent to help tighten the skin and relieve inflammation.
It is the main ingredient in commercial hemorrhoid pads, used to relieve mild itching and irritation, but you can do the same at home with pads you moisten with witch hazel, according to Hagen. For even more relief, use chilled witch hazel.
7. Ginger. Ginger can help reduce nausea and relieve motion sickness.
Some studies have shown that taking one gram of ginger an hour before surgery can reduce nausea and vomiting during the first 24 hours after surgery.
In addition, a large National Cancer Institute-funded study found that people undergoing chemotherapy who take as little as one-quarter of a teaspoon of ginger daily for three days before chemo cut their nausea by 40 percent.
The study found that a small amount of fresh or powdered ginger worked better than a larger dose, and that ginger taken with anti-vomiting drugs worked better to control nausea than drugs alone.
For adults prone to motion sickness, Suzanna Zick of the University of Michigan recommends eating one or two pieces of crystallized ginger, available in most supermarkets, before traveling. She cautions that ginger extract capsules are much stronger and may actually cause stomach upset. “Don’t go above two grams of ginger,” she advises.
8. Water. Daily gargling with plain tap water can help cut the number of colds and respiratory infections you get, as well as relieve symptoms if you’re already sick.
A 2005 study of nearly 400 healthy volunteers ages 18 to 65 in Japan found that those who gargled three times a day with tap water had nearly 40 percent fewer respiratory infections during cold and flu season than did the control group. When the subjects did get sick, gargling reduced bronchial irritation, researchers reported.
Other studies also support gargling, whether with salt water or water with lemon and honey, as a safe, effective way to soothe and cleanse a sore throat.
Hagen says the salt in the water also draws out excess fluid from the throat’s inflamed tissues, “and warm water may help cleanse them a bit better.”
9. Milk of magnesia. Dabbing this milky liquid on canker sores — small ulcers that typically appear inside the mouth — can temporarily soothe their pain. “Milk of magnesia won’t heal the sores, but it does give relief from the symptoms,” Hagen says. Experts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggest first dabbing the sore with a mixture of half water and half hydrogen peroxide, then dabbing on the milk of magnesia.
10. Cranberries. If you’re prone to bladder infections, drinking cranberry juice daily won’t cure them, but it can help prevent them, say the urologic disease experts at NIH.
Just be careful if you are taking blood-thinning medication like warfarin (Coumadin), Plavix or aspirin, warns Hagen: “Possible interactions between cranberry juice and warfarin may lead to bleeding.”
Taking a 500 mg cranberry extract pill twice a day is also effective at preventing urinary tract infections.
A Dutch study published this year compared women who took a daily low dose of an antibiotic to prevent infections and women who took the cranberry pills. The antibiotic was somewhat more effective, but it also caused more antibiotic resistance in the bloodstream.
2011年11月10日星期四
Cold and Flu Spread During the Winter Season
The Engle Center has seen several cases of pneumonia so far this season, and with many other seasonal illnesses out there, the Engle Center urges students to take precautions against getting sick.
"I've seen about a dozen cases of pneumonia this year and this is only the start [of the winter season]," said Coordinator of Health Services Judy Groop.
Pneumonia symptoms often mimic that of the flu – sore throat, fever and congestion — but those with pneumonia will also experience chest pains, chills, cold sweats, muscle pain, and fatigue.
"Keep your distance from people who have those cold symptoms-- at least five to six feet," said Groop. "And stay outdoors whenever you can. Fresh air always does good and will prevent you from being confined to a small area where sicknesses may thrive."
As the winter season approaches, common illnesses such as the cold and flu will begin to spread around campus. Every year during this time, both students and staff are more susceptible to certain illnesses due to the drastic shift in weather and other factors, such as stress and a lack of sleep.
"When students are tired and stressed they tend to let their guard down because they have other things to think about," said Groop. "Getting some sleep lessens the stress and will make a student more aware."
Typically, the common cold is the most prominent winter sickness. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, and congestion. The flu is also another illness seen in the winter. Symptoms are the same as the common cold, but more severe.
Groop also adds that washing your hands frequently is a must. Students may hear this precaution frequently but often do not understand just how helpful it is in preventing illness.
During the year, the Engle Center averages 6,500 visits.
"That averages out to be two visits per student," said Groop.
As winter approaches, the Engle Center starts to see the number of visits rise to 25-35 students per day.
"As of yesterday [October 1, 2011] we saw 47 students, each of them very sick," she said, but the number of visits usually "depends on what is going around."
"Since we have a lot of pneumonia this year, the average could change."
The Engle Center is a walk-in clinic with no appointments needed unless a student would like to see the nurse practitioner, Sandra Halbruner, who is trained in infectious diseases, internal medications, and travel clinics for students who are studying abroad. A visit with Halbruner costs twenty dollars but all others are free.
The Engle Center offers information sheets about viral illnesses and guidelines on how and why to take certain medications. They also offer various vaccines, cold medications (similar to Dayquil) and over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol and Advil. Cold medications cost a dollar for four daily doses.
Groop encourages students to take advantage of the services offered at the Engle Center, including flu shots.
"Students think they don't need a flu shot … A flu shot is truly the hidden secret [to prevent the illness]."
She said everyone should get the flu shot annually or at least biannually. Flu shots are available at the Engle Center for $25 during regular business hours.
"I've seen about a dozen cases of pneumonia this year and this is only the start [of the winter season]," said Coordinator of Health Services Judy Groop.
Pneumonia symptoms often mimic that of the flu – sore throat, fever and congestion — but those with pneumonia will also experience chest pains, chills, cold sweats, muscle pain, and fatigue.
"Keep your distance from people who have those cold symptoms-- at least five to six feet," said Groop. "And stay outdoors whenever you can. Fresh air always does good and will prevent you from being confined to a small area where sicknesses may thrive."
As the winter season approaches, common illnesses such as the cold and flu will begin to spread around campus. Every year during this time, both students and staff are more susceptible to certain illnesses due to the drastic shift in weather and other factors, such as stress and a lack of sleep.
"When students are tired and stressed they tend to let their guard down because they have other things to think about," said Groop. "Getting some sleep lessens the stress and will make a student more aware."
Typically, the common cold is the most prominent winter sickness. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, and congestion. The flu is also another illness seen in the winter. Symptoms are the same as the common cold, but more severe.
Groop also adds that washing your hands frequently is a must. Students may hear this precaution frequently but often do not understand just how helpful it is in preventing illness.
During the year, the Engle Center averages 6,500 visits.
"That averages out to be two visits per student," said Groop.
As winter approaches, the Engle Center starts to see the number of visits rise to 25-35 students per day.
"As of yesterday [October 1, 2011] we saw 47 students, each of them very sick," she said, but the number of visits usually "depends on what is going around."
"Since we have a lot of pneumonia this year, the average could change."
The Engle Center is a walk-in clinic with no appointments needed unless a student would like to see the nurse practitioner, Sandra Halbruner, who is trained in infectious diseases, internal medications, and travel clinics for students who are studying abroad. A visit with Halbruner costs twenty dollars but all others are free.
The Engle Center offers information sheets about viral illnesses and guidelines on how and why to take certain medications. They also offer various vaccines, cold medications (similar to Dayquil) and over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol and Advil. Cold medications cost a dollar for four daily doses.
Groop encourages students to take advantage of the services offered at the Engle Center, including flu shots.
"Students think they don't need a flu shot … A flu shot is truly the hidden secret [to prevent the illness]."
She said everyone should get the flu shot annually or at least biannually. Flu shots are available at the Engle Center for $25 during regular business hours.
2011年11月9日星期三
The kind of cold a heater doesn’t cure
The leaves have changed colors and the snow is starting to fall, as autumn works its way into winter. Every student is preparing for the cold weather, but there is another type of cold that is catching.
Cold and flu season has begun, and Dr. John Barret, staff physician at the Student Health and Wellness Center, has offered some helpful information to help students know which ailment is which.
Initially, Barret said, it can be hard to tell the difference between having a cold or flu. He said the two are completely different viruses. He said a cold is usually caused by a rhinovirus — a virus predominantly found in the nose — while flu is caused by either influenza A or influenza B.
"Influenza A symptoms that distinguish it from a cold are body aches and fever," he said. "People often describe … they feel like they've been hit by a truck. There's this overwhelming feeling of ‘I want to lie down.'" He said this is called prostration.
Barret said colds usually have less severe symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and nasal congestion. He said the symptoms of flu are often more serious — especially with influenza A — affecting the whole body.
"Both are very, very infectious," Barret said, because the germs spread through respiratory droplets when someone coughs or sneezes.
Some viruses seem to be more serious than others, Barret said, because different pathogens have different properties, which make them more serious and infectious. He said some pathogens can even be deadly. He said influenza has two antigens — H and N — which make it different from colds.
"Antigens are structures on the surface of the virus that the immune system recognizes," Barret said.
He said that antigens play a key role in how the immune system fights off a certain virus.
"If the immune system doesn't recognize the antigen very well, it makes it a more serious illness, because the immune system isn't effective at fighting it as well," Barret said. "This is why when you get a mutation — a new virus people haven't seen much of, like the swine flu — it's much more serious."
These viruses seem to be present mostly in the winter time, but Barret said colds pass year round. He said there are two reasons why colds are more common during the winter.
"(Number one,) all viruses are better preserved at colder temperatures," Barret said. "Number two, people are inside, passing it more readily."
Barret said cold and flu symptoms generally last about 7-10 days, and the best suggestion for recovery is lots of fluids and rest. He also said people should get vaccinated for flu each year, because flu antigens change each year.
The developers of flu vaccines have to estimate how it will change each year in order to fight it accordingly, he said.
Joanna Zattiero, adjunct music professor, said she recently encountered the flu and is still recovering from the setback.
"I'm still a week behind," Zattiero said. "I've never been able to catch up."
She said although she was vaccinated, she got sick a few weeks later. However, she said, she doesn't believe it was the seasonal flu but some other form of the flu.
Zattiero said it's stressful to get sick as a professor or a student, because there is essentially no such thing as sick days.
"Even from a professor's standpoint, it's hard to make up the time that you've missed, because you can't say everything more quickly," Zattiero said. "You just either have to drop some stuff or find a way to incorporate more into a lecture."
She said it's difficult for students to make up missed work after an illness, as well.
Missing class due to illness is definitely not anything new, but Zattiero said she finds it difficult to discern between students who are really sick and students who are just making excuses. She said she suggests students visit a doctor and get a note to bring to class.
Chealsey Leach, a junior studying business, recently experienced a cold, and said she missed a few classes and even a few quizzes. Leach said she hopes she can catch up.
She said she prefers holistic remedies such as orange juice and eating healthy, and even tried the immunity boost shots from Jamba Juice, in hopes they would help.
Leach said she believes the stress of getting sick may actually cause some students to become more susceptible to illness.
"This is kind of the time of the year when everyone anticipates getting sick," Leach said. "Stress really brings down your immune system."
She said she suggest students take care of themselves in advance to prevent getting sick in the first place. She said getting plenty of sleep, taking care of personal hygiene and eating healthy may be an essential prevention strategy.
Cold and flu season has begun, and Dr. John Barret, staff physician at the Student Health and Wellness Center, has offered some helpful information to help students know which ailment is which.
Initially, Barret said, it can be hard to tell the difference between having a cold or flu. He said the two are completely different viruses. He said a cold is usually caused by a rhinovirus — a virus predominantly found in the nose — while flu is caused by either influenza A or influenza B.
"Influenza A symptoms that distinguish it from a cold are body aches and fever," he said. "People often describe … they feel like they've been hit by a truck. There's this overwhelming feeling of ‘I want to lie down.'" He said this is called prostration.
Barret said colds usually have less severe symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and nasal congestion. He said the symptoms of flu are often more serious — especially with influenza A — affecting the whole body.
"Both are very, very infectious," Barret said, because the germs spread through respiratory droplets when someone coughs or sneezes.
Some viruses seem to be more serious than others, Barret said, because different pathogens have different properties, which make them more serious and infectious. He said some pathogens can even be deadly. He said influenza has two antigens — H and N — which make it different from colds.
"Antigens are structures on the surface of the virus that the immune system recognizes," Barret said.
He said that antigens play a key role in how the immune system fights off a certain virus.
"If the immune system doesn't recognize the antigen very well, it makes it a more serious illness, because the immune system isn't effective at fighting it as well," Barret said. "This is why when you get a mutation — a new virus people haven't seen much of, like the swine flu — it's much more serious."
These viruses seem to be present mostly in the winter time, but Barret said colds pass year round. He said there are two reasons why colds are more common during the winter.
"(Number one,) all viruses are better preserved at colder temperatures," Barret said. "Number two, people are inside, passing it more readily."
Barret said cold and flu symptoms generally last about 7-10 days, and the best suggestion for recovery is lots of fluids and rest. He also said people should get vaccinated for flu each year, because flu antigens change each year.
The developers of flu vaccines have to estimate how it will change each year in order to fight it accordingly, he said.
Joanna Zattiero, adjunct music professor, said she recently encountered the flu and is still recovering from the setback.
"I'm still a week behind," Zattiero said. "I've never been able to catch up."
She said although she was vaccinated, she got sick a few weeks later. However, she said, she doesn't believe it was the seasonal flu but some other form of the flu.
Zattiero said it's stressful to get sick as a professor or a student, because there is essentially no such thing as sick days.
"Even from a professor's standpoint, it's hard to make up the time that you've missed, because you can't say everything more quickly," Zattiero said. "You just either have to drop some stuff or find a way to incorporate more into a lecture."
She said it's difficult for students to make up missed work after an illness, as well.
Missing class due to illness is definitely not anything new, but Zattiero said she finds it difficult to discern between students who are really sick and students who are just making excuses. She said she suggests students visit a doctor and get a note to bring to class.
Chealsey Leach, a junior studying business, recently experienced a cold, and said she missed a few classes and even a few quizzes. Leach said she hopes she can catch up.
She said she prefers holistic remedies such as orange juice and eating healthy, and even tried the immunity boost shots from Jamba Juice, in hopes they would help.
Leach said she believes the stress of getting sick may actually cause some students to become more susceptible to illness.
"This is kind of the time of the year when everyone anticipates getting sick," Leach said. "Stress really brings down your immune system."
She said she suggest students take care of themselves in advance to prevent getting sick in the first place. She said getting plenty of sleep, taking care of personal hygiene and eating healthy may be an essential prevention strategy.
2011年11月8日星期二
Snow-less season drifts into record books
No matter when Edmonton finally gets its first snowfall of the season, this year will already have set a record, says a local meteorologist.
“This is the latest we’ve ever gone without having any snowfall downtown,” CTV meteorologist Josh Classen said in an interview Tuesday.
It’s just the fourth time in recorded history that Edmonton hasn’t had at least some snow in either September or October, even if that snow later melted, Classen said.
In 1902, Edmonton got its first snowfall on Nov. 3. In 1921 and 1963, the first snow came Nov. 6, Classen said.
“Now that we’re past that, it’s a record setter. We likely won’t get our first snowfall until Friday night or Saturday morning, which is Nov. 11th or 12th, so this is the latest we’ve ever gone without having any snowfall downtown.”
The snowless fall is a pleasure for some people and a sore point for others.
Wade Izzard and Jason Burns took advantage of the delayed snow to squeeze in a final golf game last week.
“It was just because the weather was so great,” Izzard said. “It was cold but it was excellent.”
The dry fall is also giving people extra time to get their yard work done, said Izzard, who has been helping a friend tidy his yard for winter. “I’ve seen a lot of people that have been mowing their lawns recently. As a matter of fact, on Sunday I saw someone mowing their lawn in the Meadowlark area. They’re doing it to gather up the leaves, instead of raking.”
The late snowfall has allowed Alf’s Roofing Ltd. to recoup some of the business that snowy and wet weather cost the company early this year, said owner Alfred Weimann. Cold weather and heavy snow lasted until April, then it was windy in May, Weimann said.
“In June and July, it rained a lot, which was good for the farmers but not good if you’re in the roofing business. We were lagging in business volume a lot.”
The weather dried up in August and that continued through the fall. Business at Alf’s Roofing Ltd. has been excellent this October and November, Weimann said.
“It’s relatively dry, reasonably mild and, most of all, there is no snow,” he said. “Snow coming so late this year, in our case, made up for what we lost.”
The owner of Easy Rider, a snowboard, skateboard and paddleboard shop in south Edmonton, said he took advantage of the weather to ride his stand-up paddleboard on the North Saskatchewan River on Sunday. “I don’t generally fall in,” Warren Currie said. “Basically, I’ll go until it freezes solid.”
However, he’s ready for a good winter whiteout. If it doesn’t snow in the next few weeks, the weather will start to hurt his snowboard sales.
“Right now we’re doing OK, but it needs to get cold and miserable and start snowing for me to be happy,” Currie said with a laugh.
“The snowboard guys are definitely chomping at the bit to get going.”
Ski hills around the city are busy making snow and getting ready to open. Snow Valley Edmonton, near 119th Street and Whitemud Drive, is set to open Friday, said spokesman Tim Dey. The hill normally opens mid-November, he said.
“If it was warm, our snow-making efforts would have been melted away and we would have just kept pushing the opening back, but it’s been cool enough, especially in the evening, that we’ve been able to keep the snow,” Dey said. “People are just pumped to get out there.”
While Edmontonians wait for those first flakes, they need to keep watering their trees and shrubs and keep perennials moist, said Lucy Chang, chairwoman of the Edmonton Horticultural Society City Gardeners. Chang recommends “a good soaking” once a week until the ground freezes.
“I would love to see a good snow cover,” Chan said.
A dusting of snow did fall in southwest Edmonton last Friday, “about 72 snowflakes,” Classen said with a laugh, “but downtown hasn’t .”
Snow could accumulate in Edmonton Friday into Saturday, Classen said. If not, it will likely blanket the ground late next week, he said.
“This is the latest we’ve ever gone without having any snowfall downtown,” CTV meteorologist Josh Classen said in an interview Tuesday.
It’s just the fourth time in recorded history that Edmonton hasn’t had at least some snow in either September or October, even if that snow later melted, Classen said.
In 1902, Edmonton got its first snowfall on Nov. 3. In 1921 and 1963, the first snow came Nov. 6, Classen said.
“Now that we’re past that, it’s a record setter. We likely won’t get our first snowfall until Friday night or Saturday morning, which is Nov. 11th or 12th, so this is the latest we’ve ever gone without having any snowfall downtown.”
The snowless fall is a pleasure for some people and a sore point for others.
Wade Izzard and Jason Burns took advantage of the delayed snow to squeeze in a final golf game last week.
“It was just because the weather was so great,” Izzard said. “It was cold but it was excellent.”
The dry fall is also giving people extra time to get their yard work done, said Izzard, who has been helping a friend tidy his yard for winter. “I’ve seen a lot of people that have been mowing their lawns recently. As a matter of fact, on Sunday I saw someone mowing their lawn in the Meadowlark area. They’re doing it to gather up the leaves, instead of raking.”
The late snowfall has allowed Alf’s Roofing Ltd. to recoup some of the business that snowy and wet weather cost the company early this year, said owner Alfred Weimann. Cold weather and heavy snow lasted until April, then it was windy in May, Weimann said.
“In June and July, it rained a lot, which was good for the farmers but not good if you’re in the roofing business. We were lagging in business volume a lot.”
The weather dried up in August and that continued through the fall. Business at Alf’s Roofing Ltd. has been excellent this October and November, Weimann said.
“It’s relatively dry, reasonably mild and, most of all, there is no snow,” he said. “Snow coming so late this year, in our case, made up for what we lost.”
The owner of Easy Rider, a snowboard, skateboard and paddleboard shop in south Edmonton, said he took advantage of the weather to ride his stand-up paddleboard on the North Saskatchewan River on Sunday. “I don’t generally fall in,” Warren Currie said. “Basically, I’ll go until it freezes solid.”
However, he’s ready for a good winter whiteout. If it doesn’t snow in the next few weeks, the weather will start to hurt his snowboard sales.
“Right now we’re doing OK, but it needs to get cold and miserable and start snowing for me to be happy,” Currie said with a laugh.
“The snowboard guys are definitely chomping at the bit to get going.”
Ski hills around the city are busy making snow and getting ready to open. Snow Valley Edmonton, near 119th Street and Whitemud Drive, is set to open Friday, said spokesman Tim Dey. The hill normally opens mid-November, he said.
“If it was warm, our snow-making efforts would have been melted away and we would have just kept pushing the opening back, but it’s been cool enough, especially in the evening, that we’ve been able to keep the snow,” Dey said. “People are just pumped to get out there.”
While Edmontonians wait for those first flakes, they need to keep watering their trees and shrubs and keep perennials moist, said Lucy Chang, chairwoman of the Edmonton Horticultural Society City Gardeners. Chang recommends “a good soaking” once a week until the ground freezes.
“I would love to see a good snow cover,” Chan said.
A dusting of snow did fall in southwest Edmonton last Friday, “about 72 snowflakes,” Classen said with a laugh, “but downtown hasn’t .”
Snow could accumulate in Edmonton Friday into Saturday, Classen said. If not, it will likely blanket the ground late next week, he said.
2011年11月7日星期一
Ease symptoms while a cold runs its course
Your head is congested, and your throat feels scratchy. You alternate between sneezing, coughing and blowing your nose.
Unfortunately, one of the 200 cold viruses has taken up residence in your body and will stay for one to two weeks.
Since so many different viruses cause colds, and they're constantly evolving, the body doesn't build up resistance to them. That's why adults average two to four colds between September and May, and kids catch six to eight colds.
Although there isn't medicine to cure a cold -and that includes antibiotics -there are remedies to ease symptoms. Here are some suggestions.
Drink plenty of liquids. Fluids can prevent dehydration, keep your nose and throat moist, and thin out mucous.
Water, soup and tea (both antioxidant laden green tea and white tea) are good choices.
Plug in the humidifier. This eases dryness in your nose and throat, especially while sleeping. Remember to change the water daily and disinfect the humidifier weekly.
Steam from a hot shower does the same thing. You can also make a steam tent by placing a towel over your head and inhaling steam from a bowl of hot water. Adding a few drops of lemon and eucalyptus oils to the water can help to kill the virus.
Gargle with saltwater three times daily. Stir one teaspoon of salt into one cup of warm water and gargle with the entire solution.
Viruses can't survive in a high-salt environment, so begin this at the onset of symptoms.
Take it easy. Slow down your pace and get extra sleep so your body can fight the cold faster. If not, you may find the virus hanging on longer or returning again within a few weeks of fighting it.
Treat other symptoms. If sneezing and a runny nose become bothersome, an antihistamine can help.
Decongestants can clear up excessive mucous.
Homeopathic cherry bark cough medicine not only eases fits of coughing, but it also soothes a sore throat. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen relieve feelings of generalized illness and headaches.
Fortify your immune system. Eat lots of antioxidant-rich produce and add plenty of infection-fighting garlic, onions and turmeric to your soup and other foods. Herbs with antiviral and immune boosting properties include ginger, goldenseal, echinacea and astragalus. They come in many forms, including capsules, liquids and teas. If you take medicine for other conditions, consult a knowledgeable professional before using herbal products.
Be courteous. Keep in mind that no one else wants your cold, so pay attention to preventing the spread of the virus to co-workers and family. Be sure to cover your mouth while coughing and sneezing, wash your hands frequently, refrain from shaking hands and stay home while sick.
The best way to deal with a cold is to take care of yourself and to be prepared by keeping foods and medicine on hand during cold season. It also helps to keep in mind that the misery is temporary and you'll be back on your feet in no time.
Unfortunately, one of the 200 cold viruses has taken up residence in your body and will stay for one to two weeks.
Since so many different viruses cause colds, and they're constantly evolving, the body doesn't build up resistance to them. That's why adults average two to four colds between September and May, and kids catch six to eight colds.
Although there isn't medicine to cure a cold -and that includes antibiotics -there are remedies to ease symptoms. Here are some suggestions.
Drink plenty of liquids. Fluids can prevent dehydration, keep your nose and throat moist, and thin out mucous.
Water, soup and tea (both antioxidant laden green tea and white tea) are good choices.
Plug in the humidifier. This eases dryness in your nose and throat, especially while sleeping. Remember to change the water daily and disinfect the humidifier weekly.
Steam from a hot shower does the same thing. You can also make a steam tent by placing a towel over your head and inhaling steam from a bowl of hot water. Adding a few drops of lemon and eucalyptus oils to the water can help to kill the virus.
Gargle with saltwater three times daily. Stir one teaspoon of salt into one cup of warm water and gargle with the entire solution.
Viruses can't survive in a high-salt environment, so begin this at the onset of symptoms.
Take it easy. Slow down your pace and get extra sleep so your body can fight the cold faster. If not, you may find the virus hanging on longer or returning again within a few weeks of fighting it.
Treat other symptoms. If sneezing and a runny nose become bothersome, an antihistamine can help.
Decongestants can clear up excessive mucous.
Homeopathic cherry bark cough medicine not only eases fits of coughing, but it also soothes a sore throat. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen relieve feelings of generalized illness and headaches.
Fortify your immune system. Eat lots of antioxidant-rich produce and add plenty of infection-fighting garlic, onions and turmeric to your soup and other foods. Herbs with antiviral and immune boosting properties include ginger, goldenseal, echinacea and astragalus. They come in many forms, including capsules, liquids and teas. If you take medicine for other conditions, consult a knowledgeable professional before using herbal products.
Be courteous. Keep in mind that no one else wants your cold, so pay attention to preventing the spread of the virus to co-workers and family. Be sure to cover your mouth while coughing and sneezing, wash your hands frequently, refrain from shaking hands and stay home while sick.
The best way to deal with a cold is to take care of yourself and to be prepared by keeping foods and medicine on hand during cold season. It also helps to keep in mind that the misery is temporary and you'll be back on your feet in no time.
2011年11月6日星期日
Hayden escapes injury in collision
Nicky Hayden was given a clean bill of health after being checked for a potential hand injury following the first-corner crash in the Valencia MotoGP race.
The American was one of four riders caught up in the collision, which happened when Alvaro Bautista's Suzuki and Andrea Dovizioso's Honda made light contact, sending Bautista into Hayden, his Ducati team-mate Valentino Rossi, and Pramac Ducati rider Randy de Puniet.
"I felt some riders coming up the inside really fast as we approached Turn 1. Then something happened and it was just the domino effect - race over in the first corner," said Hayden, who went for x-rays on his right hand afterwards.
"I'm okay other than my hand being pretty sore. It's unfortunate."
With Ducati having been quick all weekend, Hayden said the race was a missed opportunity - especially given the mixed weather conditions.
"One of our bike's strengths is generating heat in the tyres, and that's what you need on a cold, wet track like this," he said. "Already on the warm-up lap, the bike felt good. It's easy to say now, but I honestly feel like we could have put up a decent fight today and had some fun."
Team boss Vito Guareschi described the crash as a typical racing accident made more frustrating by Ducati's promising form in practice.
"In practice, both Vale and Nicky demonstrated that they were able to ride this track well in the conditions that we had for the race, but after they both started well, they really were victims of a classic first-turn crash," he said.
"It happens, but it hurt Ducati worse than the others. There's not much else to say."
Rossi added that his main sadness was that he had not been able to make his planned tribute to his late friend Marco Simoncelli after the race.
"There's really nothing to say about today, other than that I'm sorry beyond measure not to have been able to put on Sic's T-shirt for the lap of honour," he said. "It's truly a shame."
The American was one of four riders caught up in the collision, which happened when Alvaro Bautista's Suzuki and Andrea Dovizioso's Honda made light contact, sending Bautista into Hayden, his Ducati team-mate Valentino Rossi, and Pramac Ducati rider Randy de Puniet.
"I felt some riders coming up the inside really fast as we approached Turn 1. Then something happened and it was just the domino effect - race over in the first corner," said Hayden, who went for x-rays on his right hand afterwards.
"I'm okay other than my hand being pretty sore. It's unfortunate."
With Ducati having been quick all weekend, Hayden said the race was a missed opportunity - especially given the mixed weather conditions.
"One of our bike's strengths is generating heat in the tyres, and that's what you need on a cold, wet track like this," he said. "Already on the warm-up lap, the bike felt good. It's easy to say now, but I honestly feel like we could have put up a decent fight today and had some fun."
Team boss Vito Guareschi described the crash as a typical racing accident made more frustrating by Ducati's promising form in practice.
"In practice, both Vale and Nicky demonstrated that they were able to ride this track well in the conditions that we had for the race, but after they both started well, they really were victims of a classic first-turn crash," he said.
"It happens, but it hurt Ducati worse than the others. There's not much else to say."
Rossi added that his main sadness was that he had not been able to make his planned tribute to his late friend Marco Simoncelli after the race.
"There's really nothing to say about today, other than that I'm sorry beyond measure not to have been able to put on Sic's T-shirt for the lap of honour," he said. "It's truly a shame."
2011年11月3日星期四
Antibiotics warning issued by Derbyshire health bosses
ANTIBIOTICS are not the ‘magic cure’ for flu and most coughs, colds and sore throats, which are caused by viruses, according to health experts at NHS Derbyshire.
Contrary to popular opinion, antibiotics are only effective against infections, caused by bacteria, and their overuse is contributing to a global rise in drug resistance – with more people being at risk of serious infections.
That’s the latest call from local GPs and health bosses, who are reporting a rise in the number of patients with colds and flu-like symptoms expecting to be prescribed antibiotics as they prepare for European Antibiotics Awareness Day on Friday, November 18.
Dr Bruce Laurence, acting director of public health for NHS Derbyshire County, said: “Antibiotics are only effective against infections by bacteria – so inappropriate use is simply putting others at risk, as infections can quickly build up resistance to antibiotics the more they come into contact with them.
“Using antibiotics to treat colds and coughs is unnecessary. It’s also a waste of money at a time when we need to ensure that we provide the best care possible for every pound spent. Some people will also get unwanted and even dangerous side effects from antibiotics.
“We urge anyone who has a cold, sore throat or cough over the winter to act responsibly by treating their condition appropriately. Vulnerable patients in at-risk groups, including the over 65s and pregnant women, should ensure they protect themselves against flu by having the jab.
“For patients with normal colds, coughs and sore throats lasting a week or two the best medicines are rest, warmth and having plenty to eat and drink, as these are usually self-limiting illnesses. We also recommend you talk to your pharmacist about medications that can help ease your symptoms or take simple medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Using simple handwashing techniques and ensuring you ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ are also key in stopping the spread of germs.”
Last year, 439,220 antibiotics were prescribed to patients across Derbyshire County at a cost of nearly £2million – with studies showing that a large number of antibiotics prescribed for colds, coughs and sore throats are unnecessary.
Free jabs are provided to people most at risk of developing serious complications from the flu, including the over 65s, pregnant women and those with heart disease, breathing problems, diabetes and other long-term illnesses such as asthma and diabetics. Anyone in these groups should contact their local GP.
Contrary to popular opinion, antibiotics are only effective against infections, caused by bacteria, and their overuse is contributing to a global rise in drug resistance – with more people being at risk of serious infections.
That’s the latest call from local GPs and health bosses, who are reporting a rise in the number of patients with colds and flu-like symptoms expecting to be prescribed antibiotics as they prepare for European Antibiotics Awareness Day on Friday, November 18.
Dr Bruce Laurence, acting director of public health for NHS Derbyshire County, said: “Antibiotics are only effective against infections by bacteria – so inappropriate use is simply putting others at risk, as infections can quickly build up resistance to antibiotics the more they come into contact with them.
“Using antibiotics to treat colds and coughs is unnecessary. It’s also a waste of money at a time when we need to ensure that we provide the best care possible for every pound spent. Some people will also get unwanted and even dangerous side effects from antibiotics.
“We urge anyone who has a cold, sore throat or cough over the winter to act responsibly by treating their condition appropriately. Vulnerable patients in at-risk groups, including the over 65s and pregnant women, should ensure they protect themselves against flu by having the jab.
“For patients with normal colds, coughs and sore throats lasting a week or two the best medicines are rest, warmth and having plenty to eat and drink, as these are usually self-limiting illnesses. We also recommend you talk to your pharmacist about medications that can help ease your symptoms or take simple medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Using simple handwashing techniques and ensuring you ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ are also key in stopping the spread of germs.”
Last year, 439,220 antibiotics were prescribed to patients across Derbyshire County at a cost of nearly £2million – with studies showing that a large number of antibiotics prescribed for colds, coughs and sore throats are unnecessary.
Free jabs are provided to people most at risk of developing serious complications from the flu, including the over 65s, pregnant women and those with heart disease, breathing problems, diabetes and other long-term illnesses such as asthma and diabetics. Anyone in these groups should contact their local GP.
2011年11月2日星期三
Irish's Manti Te'o fit and focused
At 2 a.m. Friday, Manti Te'o finished wee-hour film study and got on the phone with his people back in paradise. He had been dealing with a sore ankle. A loss to USC lacerated his pride. Then his coach took a cudgel to Notre Dame's upperclassmen in remarks like a nasty cut block.
Te'o needed mooring and concluded he would strip everything down and just play for the love of playing football. It was corny but curative. That afternoon the junior linebacker moved past the tumult. The next day he was cold-blooded in dismantling Navy. He resurfaced Wednesday appearing healed in all ways.
"I'm going to be honest — I was hurt," Te'o said in his first public comments since the Oct. 22 loss to USC, referring to Brian Kelly's statement about his recruited players versus inherited players last week.
"But like everybody said, this is a family, and we deal with it as a family. And we dealt with it on Friday and everything was fine. Everything was back to normal. We walked in on Saturday ready to play against Navy and demonstrated that, hey, no matter what happens, nothing can break apart a family."
It had been 10 days laden with reflection, recuperation and renewal for the Irish's tackling dervish, a span Te'o labeled a "roller-coaster." Physically, he recovered, practicing at length for the first time since injuring his ankle before the Air Force game. Mentally, he reconfigured, starting when he entered the football complex the morning after losing to USC.
Te'o walked in for treatment with tailback Jonas Gray, lamenting his performance, how he lacked focus, how he too often guessed instead of reading his keys. Six mornings later, Gray glanced Te'o's way before the Navy game and the sight was chilling.
"Just a different type of focus I've never seen from him," Gray said. "It was, 'Get out of my way.' I wouldn't want to go against him. You look at him and you're like, all right, I need to be in that mode, too."
Said receiver Theo Riddick: "He had something to prove."
He did, with a relentless 13-tackle effort. But this was a changed Te'o on a much less empirical level, too.
"I'm not that much of a yeller, I'm not that much of a rah-rah kind of guy," Te'o said. "I was never that type of player. But I found myself being more rah-rah (recently), trying to get everybody pumped, and I think by trying to be that player I lost who I was.
"So I told (defensive coordinator Bob Diaco) before the game, I hope you don't mind, but I'm just going to be pretty quiet. I'm going to be humble. If I need to say something, I'm going to say it, but I'm not going to yell. I'm not going to try to get everybody pumped up. It worked out well."
Diaco viewed it as a triumph of preparation after Te'o had been "less-than, healthwise" for a time. Te'o injured his ankle midweek before the Oct. 8 Air Force game and, apparently, Irish coaches had to manage his practice participation through the USC game two weeks later.
The limited workload threw off Te'o's timing. On Wednesday, Te'o bemoaned relegation to extensive film study with safety Harrison Smith and asking players "out there who are practicing" for tips so his performance didn't dip. The junior was full-go or near it for Navy preparation, and it showed.
"He had an opportunity to prepare himself, where he hasn't had an opportunity to prepare himself at times," Diaco said.
After Te'o turned his gaze inward, it now pivots in the other direction as the Irish (5-3) get ready to visit Wake Forest (5-3) on Saturday night.
His only lingering hurt, he said Wednesday, dates to 2008 and a Senior Day defeat for the graduating class. Te'o said his sole focus is a raucous stretch run for the current seniors, including a home finale victory in three weeks.
"That's what I owe them," Te'o said. "I owe them my best effort."
After a turbulent 10 days, he emerged untroubled and positioned to provide that.
Te'o needed mooring and concluded he would strip everything down and just play for the love of playing football. It was corny but curative. That afternoon the junior linebacker moved past the tumult. The next day he was cold-blooded in dismantling Navy. He resurfaced Wednesday appearing healed in all ways.
"I'm going to be honest — I was hurt," Te'o said in his first public comments since the Oct. 22 loss to USC, referring to Brian Kelly's statement about his recruited players versus inherited players last week.
"But like everybody said, this is a family, and we deal with it as a family. And we dealt with it on Friday and everything was fine. Everything was back to normal. We walked in on Saturday ready to play against Navy and demonstrated that, hey, no matter what happens, nothing can break apart a family."
It had been 10 days laden with reflection, recuperation and renewal for the Irish's tackling dervish, a span Te'o labeled a "roller-coaster." Physically, he recovered, practicing at length for the first time since injuring his ankle before the Air Force game. Mentally, he reconfigured, starting when he entered the football complex the morning after losing to USC.
Te'o walked in for treatment with tailback Jonas Gray, lamenting his performance, how he lacked focus, how he too often guessed instead of reading his keys. Six mornings later, Gray glanced Te'o's way before the Navy game and the sight was chilling.
"Just a different type of focus I've never seen from him," Gray said. "It was, 'Get out of my way.' I wouldn't want to go against him. You look at him and you're like, all right, I need to be in that mode, too."
Said receiver Theo Riddick: "He had something to prove."
He did, with a relentless 13-tackle effort. But this was a changed Te'o on a much less empirical level, too.
"I'm not that much of a yeller, I'm not that much of a rah-rah kind of guy," Te'o said. "I was never that type of player. But I found myself being more rah-rah (recently), trying to get everybody pumped, and I think by trying to be that player I lost who I was.
"So I told (defensive coordinator Bob Diaco) before the game, I hope you don't mind, but I'm just going to be pretty quiet. I'm going to be humble. If I need to say something, I'm going to say it, but I'm not going to yell. I'm not going to try to get everybody pumped up. It worked out well."
Diaco viewed it as a triumph of preparation after Te'o had been "less-than, healthwise" for a time. Te'o injured his ankle midweek before the Oct. 8 Air Force game and, apparently, Irish coaches had to manage his practice participation through the USC game two weeks later.
The limited workload threw off Te'o's timing. On Wednesday, Te'o bemoaned relegation to extensive film study with safety Harrison Smith and asking players "out there who are practicing" for tips so his performance didn't dip. The junior was full-go or near it for Navy preparation, and it showed.
"He had an opportunity to prepare himself, where he hasn't had an opportunity to prepare himself at times," Diaco said.
After Te'o turned his gaze inward, it now pivots in the other direction as the Irish (5-3) get ready to visit Wake Forest (5-3) on Saturday night.
His only lingering hurt, he said Wednesday, dates to 2008 and a Senior Day defeat for the graduating class. Te'o said his sole focus is a raucous stretch run for the current seniors, including a home finale victory in three weeks.
"That's what I owe them," Te'o said. "I owe them my best effort."
After a turbulent 10 days, he emerged untroubled and positioned to provide that.
2011年11月1日星期二
Boston Weather Won't Bother Manuel
Florida State junior quarterback E.J. Manuel answered questions from members of the media Monday for about 15 minutes at his weekly press conference before the Seminoles took to the practice field, and here are some of the more noteworthy things he had to say during that time:Manuel isn't worried about possibly playing in cold and windy weather in the Boston area since he grew up in Virginia Beach and should be quite used to it, plus the forecast doesn't look too bad ahead of Thursday's game at Boston College. ...
Because of the abbreviated five-day turnaround, Florida State actually practiced Sunday instead of having the day off to rest. According to Manuel, he said he felt rather good and wasn't very sore. If anything, the work allowed him to get rid of the lactic acid players tend to feel a day or two after playing a big game. ...
Freshman receiver Rashad Greene did participate in Sunday's practice, and he might be available for the Boston College game. Manuel suggested Greene is going to play, as he did Saturday when talking to reporters right after the 34-0 shutout of NC State. ...
Manuel said he appreciates the firepower he has at his disposal, be it at receiver, tight end or running back, and even though guys are telling him in the huddle they're open, it isn't a selfish bunch and they're happy for each other when they do well. ...
Running the option was again a topic of conversation, as Manuel has proven to have a very instinctive feel for that play the last few weeks. Most importantly, he wants to make sure his tailback stays in good position for the pitch, even if he's already 20 yards downfield. The 6-5, 245-pounder has shown already that he isn't afraid to be extra aggressive on the pitch and will give up his body if necessary. ...
When asked about the critical comments Jack Nicklaus made in the booth during the game, intimating that the Seminoles aren't doing a good enough job getting the ball to his grandson, freshman tight end Nick O'Leary, Manuel simply laughed it off and said he didn't want to have a legend on his bad side. ...
When it comes to breaking down tape, Manuel said he tends to focus on the other team's defensive backs. They'll give him the best indication of where to go with the ball on a given play. ...
Manuel was complimentary of his interior offensive linemen when asked about them, especially junior left guard Jacob Fahrenkrug. ...
Despite the fact that he still considers himself a jokester that likes to have fun, Manuel understands that he's expected to be a leader on this team -- THE leader, as a matter of fact. He believes that all of his teammates like him, and he likes all of his teammates. Definitely, he sees himself as a great teammate. ...
Because he and NC State quarterback Mike Glennon are friends, the two of them had a short conversation after Saturday's contest. Glennon said he didn't understand just how good FSU's defense can be. On top of that, Manuel thinks the depth and talent he faces in practice from the 'Noles along the defensive line can only make the offense better as a result.
Because of the abbreviated five-day turnaround, Florida State actually practiced Sunday instead of having the day off to rest. According to Manuel, he said he felt rather good and wasn't very sore. If anything, the work allowed him to get rid of the lactic acid players tend to feel a day or two after playing a big game. ...
Freshman receiver Rashad Greene did participate in Sunday's practice, and he might be available for the Boston College game. Manuel suggested Greene is going to play, as he did Saturday when talking to reporters right after the 34-0 shutout of NC State. ...
Manuel said he appreciates the firepower he has at his disposal, be it at receiver, tight end or running back, and even though guys are telling him in the huddle they're open, it isn't a selfish bunch and they're happy for each other when they do well. ...
Running the option was again a topic of conversation, as Manuel has proven to have a very instinctive feel for that play the last few weeks. Most importantly, he wants to make sure his tailback stays in good position for the pitch, even if he's already 20 yards downfield. The 6-5, 245-pounder has shown already that he isn't afraid to be extra aggressive on the pitch and will give up his body if necessary. ...
When asked about the critical comments Jack Nicklaus made in the booth during the game, intimating that the Seminoles aren't doing a good enough job getting the ball to his grandson, freshman tight end Nick O'Leary, Manuel simply laughed it off and said he didn't want to have a legend on his bad side. ...
When it comes to breaking down tape, Manuel said he tends to focus on the other team's defensive backs. They'll give him the best indication of where to go with the ball on a given play. ...
Manuel was complimentary of his interior offensive linemen when asked about them, especially junior left guard Jacob Fahrenkrug. ...
Despite the fact that he still considers himself a jokester that likes to have fun, Manuel understands that he's expected to be a leader on this team -- THE leader, as a matter of fact. He believes that all of his teammates like him, and he likes all of his teammates. Definitely, he sees himself as a great teammate. ...
Because he and NC State quarterback Mike Glennon are friends, the two of them had a short conversation after Saturday's contest. Glennon said he didn't understand just how good FSU's defense can be. On top of that, Manuel thinks the depth and talent he faces in practice from the 'Noles along the defensive line can only make the offense better as a result.
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