Doctor’s Senior Exercise & Health Newsletter

It’s that time of year again***

Last year in my November Newsletter, I wrote about flu prevention. This Newsletter touches on a subject that bears repeating, if only as a reminder of the importance of what can be a very disabling ailment. Each year, it seems we are faced with different strains of the flu-causing virus. The FDA tries to anticipate what virus will be most prevalent so that the companies producing the vaccines will be able to manufacture a vaccine that will be the most effective in combating the virus strain that is most apt to strike.

What makes this determination so difficult is that there are at least four strains of the flu virus to consider. Picking the right strain is a matter of investigating the flu viruses that are affecting the people in other countries, usually the Asian countries. In the year 2003, the FDA had determined the strain of virus most apt to strike would be the Fujian strain of influenza. Unfortunately this was wrong, and at least 16,000 deaths were attributed to influenza.

This year we are faced with a very frightening scenario of a virus for which there is no specific vaccine. Although it is not perfect, it has been found that the Tamiflu vaccine has helped in containing the avian flu virus to a great degree. It is the avian flu virus (bird flu) that has originated in China and several of the Asian countries. The virus affects birds and poultry and is passed from bird to bird. Viruses can mutate and the great fear is that if this occurs in the bird flu strain of virus, it can be transmitted from birds to man. It seems that this mutation has already occurred and there have been reports of 160 people being affected, with 16 deaths. Should that transference to man continue to occur without containment, the results can be catastrophic and the spread would be pandemic (an epidemic in more than one region).  The containment of the avian virus is extremely difficult because it is transmitted through poultry, and the wide use of this food staple can make it spread like wildfire, and spreading from man to man, would compound the problem a million-fold.

The FDA, Department of Health and Department of Agriculture are very aware of the possibilities of this virus entering our country. They are also helping other countries in the containment of this virus. If these countries do not succeed in eradicating the virus, the results can be more than catastrophic, the ensuing pandemic, would be one, the likes of which has not been seen since the bubonic plagues of the middle ages. There have been 3 epidemics in the last century, the worst of which occurred in 1918, causing the death of a half million people in the United States, and at least 20 million worldwide. Each year 30 to 60 million Americans catch the flu, and some 36,000 die. A study conducted by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases found no correlation between increasing vaccination rates after 1980 and declining death rates in any age group. (As published in the Archives of Internal Medicine volume 165, 2005).

The owners of poultry farms in this country are very much aware of the dangers that the spread of the bird flu to the poultry. It can only take one chicken being infected, and the bird flu would spread like wildfire. Most of the poultry growers are taking extreme measures to protect their birds. Many of them have instituted their own quarantine measures by limiting visitors and new contacts that may be inadvertently carrying the bird flu, keeping their poultry more or less in isolation. 

Last year there was a shortage of the flu vaccine because one of the companies in England manufacturing the vaccine was closed down due to contamination of the manufacturing process. This year there appears to be enough vaccine manufactured to protect all that require the flu shots. Manufacturing a vaccine to combat the bird flu virus is another story. During the past several years there were 37 companies manufacturing flu vaccines, now there are only three. Most pharmaceutical companies refuse to manufacture flu vaccines because there is not enough profit in it for them. Not only that, at the end of the flu season they are left with an overabundance of vaccine, which they will have to destroy. Just a few weeks ago our President called a meeting with several of the large pharmaceutical companies, offering them incentives to find a vaccine for the bird flu, and to start manufacturing it. The companies of course want the prices to be stable, and the Government to guarantee that they will purchase enough of it, and any over=production of the vaccine, so they will not have to destroy it.

What makes an individual come down with influenza, is because their immune systems have become weakened or in a weakened state. The immune system cannot combat the flu virus that they have been exposed too, or it cannot defend against a specific virus or viruses that have mutated and become more virulent. They won’t be protected against this virus even if they have received a flu shot, which may have been for a different strain of virus. The best defense is for each and everyone to keep their immune systems at its highest optimum levels of strength. Read how best we can accomplish this in the health hints below.

Health Hints***

Washing your hands can be one of the most important things you can do. Use a good antibacterial soap and hot water. Do not rush this, but soap up and wash thoroughly, vigorously moving the hands and fingers and count to 15 before rinsing. DO NOT DEPEND ON USING THE ANTIBACTERIAL GELS! You should wash after any of the following:

1. Visiting the bathroom. If you use a public bathroom, after washing, do not open the door by grabbing the doorknob, but do use a paper towel to do that.
2.  Wash hands after doing any household chores, such as vacuuming, cleaning and taking out the trash.
3. After doing any type of gardening, even if it’s only planting a small plant, herbs etc., or outdoor yard work.
4. In the kitchen while preparing food. Be specifically careful in cleaning up after handling meat and poultry.
5. After petting or handling your pets. Do not prepare any food or eat anything without thoroughly washing your hands.
6. After opening any doors, using the doorknob.
7. After using a phone that has been used by others. This applies to any other type of electronic equipment as well.
8. When shaking hands with others. Avoid this as much as possible.
9. Try not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth. This is the easiest way to transmit viruses or any bacterium into your body.
10. If you see anyone coughing or sneezing, stay a good distance away. While sneezing or coughing, viruses or bacteria can be expelled within at least a three feet distance, and will stay airborne for a good length of time.
11. Stay out of crowds if at all possible.
12. Eat a healthy diet, including at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. The vegetables should be the darkest greens, reds and yellow. The deeper the color the better.
13. Exercise daily to maintain your physical strength. Keep yourself moving as much as possible.
14. Nutritional supplementation of your diet is extremely important for everyone. Every individual should take a good multi-vitamin each day. In addition, during the flu season, there are supplements that will enhance the immune system. There are two such supplements manufactured by Titan Laboratories. They are: Factor Twelve: Opti-cillin and Factor One: Bio-immunizer. You can read more about these supplements at: www.doctorsexercise.com . Click on products and scroll down to the Factor Series.

Following these simple rules can go a long way in reducing the risk and severity of influenza.