Changing weather or temperatures are often blamed for winter's coughs and sniffles. But in reality, colds, coughs and the flu are infectious diseases "caught" through transmission from one human to another.
"Mid-February is usually the peak season for infectious diseases, such as the seasonal and H1N1 flu, mononucleosis, colds and coughs," Newswise quoted Jorge Parada, medical director, infectious disease at Loyola University Health System as saying.
"And don't rely on obvious signs of illness - such as sneezing or fever as a tip off. People with infectious diseases start shedding the virus before they experience the full effect of the illness.
"Becoming too hot or too cold can cause stress to the body, weaken the defense in fighting off infections and thus make us more vulnerable.
"But a person has to be exposed to a virus or bacteria to catch it,' Parada said.
Parada feels that winter trends such as staying indoors in crowded arenas such as shopping malls or movie theatres may promote winter colds and flu.
According to him, drinking from the same wine glass or sharing dessert with the same fork may seem romantic, but also may lead to infections.
"Someone can have a cold sore that hasn't erupted yet and use lip balm which is then shared, and the cold sore virus - otherwise known as herpes - is transmitted," he said.
Albeit less frequently, shared linens also are transmitters of infections.
"A shared pillowcase, napkin or towel can also actually be a conduit for disease, especially if someone has a sore or cut," Parada said.
He also spelled a list of do's and don'ts for safe displays of affection.
The list includes giving and getting a flu shot, not sharing utensils and not kissing or having close body contact if one feels unwell.
"It's the gift that keeps on giving - you protect yourself, your loved one and you stop the virus from spreading to others.
"If that isn't sexy, and say 'I love you' I don't know what does."
"Humans can transmitsome infections through saliva. A glass, fork or napkin can act as a bridge and pass the bug along to another person when that shared object is used by one infected person and then used by another.
"Throwing up and blowing your nose is not fun; no one wants to be ill so being upfront and honest when you feel under the weather will be appreciated.
"Get that flu shot now to increase your odds for romance on Valentine's Day.
"Having a flu shot is definitely sexy. It beats the flu every time!" he added.
2012年2月9日星期四
2011年12月14日星期三
Children worst affected by chilly winds and erratic temperature
With the starting of the second fortnight of December, the phenomena of erratic temperature behaviour-remaining at around 25 degree Celsius during day time and dipping to around 7.0 degree Celsius in the night-is causing increase in cases of different ailments in children who are suffering with cold, cough, flu or the sore throat, Pneumonia, Diarrhoea etc.
Although all the private doctors of the city are witnessing heavy rush in their private clinics, things are no different at different government hospitals including Children hospital, SRN, Beli, Kalvin etc which are witnessing a sudden spurt in number of OPD patients mainly those suffering with Viral fever, Asthma or its related symptoms, cough and cold, Diarrhoea etc.
"As there has been high fluctuation in the day and night temperatures during this part of the year, this is causing it to be hot in the day and chilly during the night. These temperatures provide an ideal environment for the growth and spread of viruses and bacteria, which is the common cause for various ailments", said Dr PC Mishra, noted Pediatrician and head S N Children Hospital of MLN Medical College of the city.
He said that as the winter approaches, the days get shorter and nights longer that results in lesser exposure to sunlight that gets blocked due to the smog (in big cities like Lucknow) or fog (which would soon be coming). "This lack of sunlight weakens our body immune system thereby making it a suitable environment for the viruses to survive in the body much longer than they can during the summers when the temperatures are much higher", he added.
Winter ailments like the cold, cough, congestion, flu, and sore throat are very common and most people, including children of all ages, suffer from one or all of these as the season changes. It is particularly common to find small children sneezing or sniffling with a running nose, having fever with sore throat and or chest congestion with a blocked nose that makes it difficult to sleep at night, informed former head of the department of Medicines MLN Medical College, Dr S K Shukla,. The cold winter also brings with it different kinds of allergies and a problem of dry and itchy skin and people suffering from asthma may find their symptoms getting aggravated more during the winters, he added.
There is a popular saying that prevention is better than a cure and this is what which implies when it comes take care of children. There are many ways in which one can prevent the onset of these symptoms foremost of which is to protect immune system by eating healthy, resting properly and also doing some exercise that will help keep your body fit. Also try to get some exposure to sunlight during the day, added Shukla.
As the temperatures fluctuate between the day and night, make sure that your kid wear appropriate clothes to suit them as it gets chilly at night, it would be sensible on your part to cover them adequately to keep warm, suggests Dr Mishra. Make sure that your children are warm during the night; in particular, keep their chest, head, ears and hands warm and covered. You may need to regulate the fans or air conditioners at night, depending on the dip in temperatures. Make sure that your children do not sleep directly below the fans or next to the air conditioners, he added.
Good nutrition plays a very important role in strengthening the immunity of our body. Therefore, we need to supplement our food with lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are vital to boost the body defense mechanism in order to fight the viruses and bacteria. Vitamin C in particular, is known to be very effective in fighting germs and also to help prevent a cold and which can be found in green leafy vegetables, berries, citrus fruits (oranges, lemons), guavas, tomatoes, melons, papayas etc, suggested the Associate Professor at department of Biochemistry of Allahabad University, Dr S I Rizvi.
Similarly, Dr V B Singh said that the cold winter causes the skin to get dry, flaky and itchy and the best solution to that is to remember to drink plenty of water. We tend to drink lesser water in the winter that causes dehydration and is the reason for dry nose, lips and mouth. Make it a point to drink plenty of warm water throughout the day, or indulge yourself in hot soups of all kinds; tomato soup, spinach soup, clear chicken soup, vegetable soup etc.
Likewise, head of the department skin, MLN Medical College, Dr KG Singh, said that for dry skin, moisturize it with appropriate creams or body lotions that suit the skin of loved one.
The most effective way is to apply oil (natural oils like Jojoba and Coconut Oils) all over child's body.
This will soothe the skin and allow it to absorb the essential oils that normally get washed away when we have hot or warm water baths, the best being using luke warm water to have a bath and use mild soaps in order to retain your natural skin oil as much as possible. Remember to use a chap stick to keep your lips moistened and to prevent them from cracking and bleeding.
Although all the private doctors of the city are witnessing heavy rush in their private clinics, things are no different at different government hospitals including Children hospital, SRN, Beli, Kalvin etc which are witnessing a sudden spurt in number of OPD patients mainly those suffering with Viral fever, Asthma or its related symptoms, cough and cold, Diarrhoea etc.
"As there has been high fluctuation in the day and night temperatures during this part of the year, this is causing it to be hot in the day and chilly during the night. These temperatures provide an ideal environment for the growth and spread of viruses and bacteria, which is the common cause for various ailments", said Dr PC Mishra, noted Pediatrician and head S N Children Hospital of MLN Medical College of the city.
He said that as the winter approaches, the days get shorter and nights longer that results in lesser exposure to sunlight that gets blocked due to the smog (in big cities like Lucknow) or fog (which would soon be coming). "This lack of sunlight weakens our body immune system thereby making it a suitable environment for the viruses to survive in the body much longer than they can during the summers when the temperatures are much higher", he added.
Winter ailments like the cold, cough, congestion, flu, and sore throat are very common and most people, including children of all ages, suffer from one or all of these as the season changes. It is particularly common to find small children sneezing or sniffling with a running nose, having fever with sore throat and or chest congestion with a blocked nose that makes it difficult to sleep at night, informed former head of the department of Medicines MLN Medical College, Dr S K Shukla,. The cold winter also brings with it different kinds of allergies and a problem of dry and itchy skin and people suffering from asthma may find their symptoms getting aggravated more during the winters, he added.
There is a popular saying that prevention is better than a cure and this is what which implies when it comes take care of children. There are many ways in which one can prevent the onset of these symptoms foremost of which is to protect immune system by eating healthy, resting properly and also doing some exercise that will help keep your body fit. Also try to get some exposure to sunlight during the day, added Shukla.
As the temperatures fluctuate between the day and night, make sure that your kid wear appropriate clothes to suit them as it gets chilly at night, it would be sensible on your part to cover them adequately to keep warm, suggests Dr Mishra. Make sure that your children are warm during the night; in particular, keep their chest, head, ears and hands warm and covered. You may need to regulate the fans or air conditioners at night, depending on the dip in temperatures. Make sure that your children do not sleep directly below the fans or next to the air conditioners, he added.
Good nutrition plays a very important role in strengthening the immunity of our body. Therefore, we need to supplement our food with lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are vital to boost the body defense mechanism in order to fight the viruses and bacteria. Vitamin C in particular, is known to be very effective in fighting germs and also to help prevent a cold and which can be found in green leafy vegetables, berries, citrus fruits (oranges, lemons), guavas, tomatoes, melons, papayas etc, suggested the Associate Professor at department of Biochemistry of Allahabad University, Dr S I Rizvi.
Similarly, Dr V B Singh said that the cold winter causes the skin to get dry, flaky and itchy and the best solution to that is to remember to drink plenty of water. We tend to drink lesser water in the winter that causes dehydration and is the reason for dry nose, lips and mouth. Make it a point to drink plenty of warm water throughout the day, or indulge yourself in hot soups of all kinds; tomato soup, spinach soup, clear chicken soup, vegetable soup etc.
Likewise, head of the department skin, MLN Medical College, Dr KG Singh, said that for dry skin, moisturize it with appropriate creams or body lotions that suit the skin of loved one.
The most effective way is to apply oil (natural oils like Jojoba and Coconut Oils) all over child's body.
This will soothe the skin and allow it to absorb the essential oils that normally get washed away when we have hot or warm water baths, the best being using luke warm water to have a bath and use mild soaps in order to retain your natural skin oil as much as possible. Remember to use a chap stick to keep your lips moistened and to prevent them from cracking and bleeding.
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4月5日星期二
Cold sores linked to Alzheimer's: Self-defense?
Painful, yes. Embarrassing, maybe. But new research gives scientists a clear picture of how cold sores can lead to a health concern that's a bit more serious:
Alzheimer's disease.
That's right. The same herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) that causes cold sores on the lips, mouth, or gums can contribute to dementia, according to a study published in the March 31 issue of the journal PLoS ONE.
"Herpes infects mucous membranes, such as the lip or eye, and generates viral particles," lead author Dr. Elaine Bearer, a pathology professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, said in a written statement released in conjunction with the study. "These viral particles burst out of the cells of the mucous membrane and enter sensory nerve cells where they travel inside the nerve toward the brain."
By tagging herpesvirus particles with green fluorescent proteins and then looking at them with an electron microscope, scientists were able to watch them affect nerve cells in ways that seem to lead to Alzheimer's.
"It's no longer a matter of determining whether HSV1 is involved in cognitive decline, but rather how significant this involvement is," Bearer said. "We'll need to investigate anti-viral drugs used for acute herpes treatment to determine their ability to slow or prevent cognitive decline."
In the meantime, researchers say it's smart to treat a cold sore as quickly as possible to minimize the amount of time the virus is active. The faster a sore is treated, the faster HSV1 returns to its dormant stage.
Washing blisters with soap and water can help keep them from spreading. In addition, doctors can prescribe antiviral medications like acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacycolvir. They work best when taken just as the virus is starting to "come back."
HSV1 infections are ubiquitous in developed countries like the U.S. About 20 percent of kids are infected by age five, a rate that rises to about 60 percent in the second and third decades of life. Among old people, about 85 percent are affected.
Alzheimer's disease.
That's right. The same herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) that causes cold sores on the lips, mouth, or gums can contribute to dementia, according to a study published in the March 31 issue of the journal PLoS ONE.
"Herpes infects mucous membranes, such as the lip or eye, and generates viral particles," lead author Dr. Elaine Bearer, a pathology professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, said in a written statement released in conjunction with the study. "These viral particles burst out of the cells of the mucous membrane and enter sensory nerve cells where they travel inside the nerve toward the brain."
By tagging herpesvirus particles with green fluorescent proteins and then looking at them with an electron microscope, scientists were able to watch them affect nerve cells in ways that seem to lead to Alzheimer's.
"It's no longer a matter of determining whether HSV1 is involved in cognitive decline, but rather how significant this involvement is," Bearer said. "We'll need to investigate anti-viral drugs used for acute herpes treatment to determine their ability to slow or prevent cognitive decline."
In the meantime, researchers say it's smart to treat a cold sore as quickly as possible to minimize the amount of time the virus is active. The faster a sore is treated, the faster HSV1 returns to its dormant stage.
Washing blisters with soap and water can help keep them from spreading. In addition, doctors can prescribe antiviral medications like acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacycolvir. They work best when taken just as the virus is starting to "come back."
HSV1 infections are ubiquitous in developed countries like the U.S. About 20 percent of kids are infected by age five, a rate that rises to about 60 percent in the second and third decades of life. Among old people, about 85 percent are affected.
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