Protecting yourself from the dreaded "swine flu"

No worries about keeping the "B" on your BLT sandwich. The H1N1 influenza virus, the "swine flu" that caused hundreds of deaths around the world earlier this year, is not caused by eating pigs.

The flu virus is spread through sneezing, coughing and contact with infected individuals. The virus infects not only humans, but also pigs, birds, horses and, rarely, dogs. Sometimes, a virus can "leap" from one species to another.

When this happens, a new virus can sometimes emerge from an infected human or animal," said Dr. Chris Nelson, associate professor in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and chief of its Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.

Symptoms of the H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. About one in four of those infected also reported diarrhea and vomiting.

New vaccines to protect against H1N1 are now being tested for use this fall. To ensure full protection, Nelson says, the vaccine will probably be given in two parts, a starter dose followed by a booster about 30 days later.

However, in the event of a vaccine shortage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has established a vaccination priority list of those most at risk for serious complications from influenza. It can be viewed on the CDC Web site at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu

The CDC advises the following precautions:
· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
· Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
· If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

Another way to protect your health is to stay informed by visiting the following Web sites, which are frequently updated as the situation changes:
· CDC: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu
· Kentucky Health Alerts: http://healthalerts..ky.gov
· WHO: www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu

Osteoarthritis Pain

Osteoarthritis (OA) is common, affecting 27 million people in the United States, and accounts for 25 percent of physician office visits. By age 65, 80 percent of the U.S. population will have x-ray evidence of OA; however, only two-thirds will have symptoms. Over the last decade, hospitalizations related to OA have doubled. It is the leading chronic disability in the US. Therefore this is a serious and important clinical problem.

The cause of OA is not clear. Trauma can cause OA but genetics, lifestyle and metabolism play a role. The knees, hands, hips and back are frequently affected.

Cartilage lubricates joints and helps to absorb stress. As we age, we lose joint cartilage and underlying bone may be damaged. This may cause increasing pain. As train increases, patients may be fearful of joint movement, which may cause muscle damage.

OA patients have use-related pain, stiffness, reduced movement and feelings of unstable joints. They experience joint tender spots, swelling, cracking noises of the joint, locking up of the joint and signs of mild inflammation. Excessive warmth, redness and swelling should cause the patient to see their physician.

Currently, we do not have a treatment that reverses OA damage; treatment is symptomatic. Joints can be injected with a thick material that mimics the fluid in a joint. Patients can receive medications for their pain, and physical therapy can help with the reduction in function. The approach needs to be multidisciplinary.

At the Pain Treatment Center of the Bluegrass, we are engaged in the treatment of OA as well as clinical research in OA. John F. Peppin, D.O., F.A.C.P., Director Clinical Research Division 
The Pain Treatment Center of the BluegrassClinical Associate Professor, University of Kentucky, Associate Medical Director, Hospice of the Bluegrass
2416 Regency Road 
Lexington, Kentucky 40503 
859 278-1316 ext. 266859 260-2467
859 276-3847 FAX

Ten Questions you should ask your Pharmacist

Take a look at the prescription medications you have in your cabinet. Now, without cheating, could you tell somebody one of the side effects you may need to watch out for while taking them? How about telling them what you would do if you forgot a dose? These are only some of the things that every person should know about their medications, yet many walk out of the pharmacy with new prescriptions barely remembering the name of the medicine. Here are 10 questions you should ask your pharmacist before taking a new medication:
1. What is the name of the medication, what is its strength, and what is it used for?
2. When and how should I take my medication?
3. How long should I take it?
4. Will this interact with any of my other medications, over-the-counter products or supplements?
5. Should I avoid alcohol, other medications, certain foods, or certain activities while I am on this medication?
6. Should I expect any side effects?
7. Is it possible to develop an allergic reaction to this medication?
8. What should I do if I forget to take my medication?
9. How should I store my medication?
10. Is there a generic version of this medication available?

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Regular Check-Ups are Important

It's time to take charge of your health! Take advantage of low and or no costs screenings in your community or schedule an appointment with your health care provider to discuss what preventive health services you need and when you need them.

Many medical conditions and or diseases are preventable and or treatable and beatable! Regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends the following routine screenings:

• Breast and Cervical Cancer Early


• Detection


• Cholesterol


• Colorectal Cancer Screening


• Diabetes


• High Blood Pressure


• Immunization


• Oral Health for Adults


• Prostate Cancer Screening


• Skin Cancer

Free Prostate Screening – September 16th and December 2nd University of KY Markey Cancer Center Call 257-4488 for appointments

Obesity Linked to Vitamin D Deficiency

With sweet scents of spring in the air and the breaking sunlight alluring us outside, vitamin D deficiency is the last thing on our minds. Besides, it shouldn’t be an issue since we’re all walking more outside now to shed that winter weight. Right? Actually, vitamin D deficiency might be one of the many reasons why those pounds have seemed so stubborn.

The field of bariatric (weight loss) medicine is constantly blooming with new scientific findings. Bariatricians already know there are hundreds of reasons why someone might be struggling with their weight loss, but recently, vitamin D deficiency is being investigated as another biochemical weight-related concern. Since it’s the most common vitamin deficiency and prevalence is on the rise, it should be a big concern to us all. Now physicians also know that vitamin D deficiency is linked to obesity.

Other symptoms associated with vitamin D deficiency: depression, mood swings, forgetfulness, fatigue, weakened immunity, muscle weakness, aches and pains, bone fractures, sleep irregularities, and interference with weight loss.

Things That Decrease Vitamin D Levels:- Clothing- Window Glass (you don't generate vitamin D when sitting in your car or home) - Clouds/Shade- Sunscreen ≥ SPF 8 - Higher Latitude States (UV waves are often not strong enough to make vitamin D from September through May)- Dark Skin (needs to be exposed to the sun longer to make vitamin D)- Age >65 years (4x decrease in vitamin D conversion)- Malabsorptive & Kidney Problems- Lowered Estrogen Levels (menopause)

What Should You Do? - 10-15 minutes of sun exposure in the summer months (early morning and late afternoon) for light skin. Dark skin may need 40 minutes. Of course, too much sun exposure can lead to skin damage and skin cancers. - Dietary intake: there are only a few natural food sources of vitamin D. Therefore, most Americans receive it through fortified food products such as milk and breakfast cereals. Unfortunately, you’d have to drink 10 glasses of fortified milk daily, (1,000 extra calories) to get to minimum levels of vitamin D. Even the, it would still be in a form less readily available to the body.- Vitamin D supplements: Adequate intake of vitamin D vary based on a person’s age, however, current guidelines put the upper limit in persons with no known deficiencies to 2000 IU daily. - If you are having difficulty managing your weight, getting a vitamin D level is strongly advised. See a medical weight loss specialist (bariatrician) to see if vitamin D deficiency or other metabolic and biochemical issues might be holding back your weight loss efforts.

Medical Bariatrics of Lexington in Hamburg is home to Lexington’s only board certified bariatricians that help patients lose weight non- surgically, feel better, and live a healthier happier life in an affordable way. You can call them at (859) 263-SLIM(7546); or learn more about them at http://www.lexingtonkyweightloss.com/

Go Green and Take Action Against Violence

Statistics help us put things into perspective. Sometimes statistics can be fun. For instance, take “one in three”. There are some odd facts associated with this ratio.- One in three people illegally download music off the Internet.- One in three Americans is raised as Catholic.- One in three Australians is at risk of developing kidney disease.- Ironically, one in three people actually believe marketing statistics. However, there is one national “one in three” statistic that carries with it grave implications for young women and men. That is the statistic on relationship violence. Today, in high schools and on campuses, one in three young women and men is a victim of one or more of a whole menu of behaviors, including stalking, physical and emotional violence, and rape.

In the Green Dot program, each instance of violence or bystander nonintervention is considered a Red Dot. Green Dots are instances where a bystander takes action against violence. The types of action are defined in the Green Dot Bystanders Pledge, http://www.greendotkentucky.com/.

“A green dot is any behavior‚ choice‚ word or attitude that promotes safety for everyone and communicates utter intolerance for rape, domestic violence and stalking. A green dot is intervening in a high risk situation – a green dot is sponsoring a fundraiser for prevention efforts – a green dot is responding to a victim-blaming statement with words of support – a green dot is hanging a prevention poster in your office or business – a green dot is teaching your kids about respect– a green dot is putting a link on your website to your local prevention program - a green dot is providing safety information on the counter at your business. A green dot is simply your individual choice at any given moment to make our state safer.” The goal is simple: displace red dots with green dots. This is done by tapping into the potential of bystanders, particularly those in a group who are obvious leaders. In the Green Dot program, these leaders are taught to identify and effectively react to high-risk situations. Leaders then go out and share the message that violence is not longer accepted behavior. It brings prevention down to individual acts, thus making a solution within the reach of everyone involved.

The Green Dot Program at the UK grew from 14 participants to more than 1,400 participants in just three years. It has been adopted statewide by the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association (http://www.kdva.org/) and the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs (http://kyasap.brinkster.net/).

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