The Mom Column

Studies say that the protection we receive from the whooping cough vaccine can wear off in only 5 to 10 years.  This vaccine protects us from the highly contagious illness known as pertussis.  Many adults do not think of re-immunizing themselves against disease like this.  Unfortunately unlike our children, we do not have requirements regarding vaccines.

According to AAFP:
A recent national survey revealed that more than three-quarters of adults (76 percent) didn’t know or didn’t think that whooping cough remains widespread in the United States. Many adults (61 percent) are not even aware that there is a vaccine for whooping cough. 

What exactly is whooping cough?  Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a very contagious respiratory disease causing a persistent hacking cough.  When inhaling you may hear a loud 'whooping' sound.  Thus, the name whooping cough.  It can last for three months and lead to pneumonia.  Symptoms are runny nose, congestion, fever, and severe coughing attacks.  1 in 250 people with whooping cough can develop encephalopathy.  In even rarer cases, pertussis can be deadly.

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends talking to your doctor about keeping up with the Tdap booster vaccine.

The FDA is concerned about new flavored dissolvable tobacco products and comparing them to candy.  The FDA claims these may appeal to kids and younger adults.

From NBC:
The FDA's Center for Tobacco Products wrote to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., maker of Camel cigarettes, and the smaller Star Scientific Inc. on Monday voicing concern over smokeless products that are consumed like breath mints but made from finely milled tobacco.

Are you somebody who reaches for the Bengay or IcyHot when you or your child is sore as a result of sore muscles?  Sure, these sports creams have been around for what seems like forever and are fairly harmless, right?  That isn't exactly true.  Think twice before doing this the next time.

Most of these sports creams contain the ingredient called methyl salicylate.  In large amounts (through the skin) this can cause bleeding, heart arrhythmias, and damage to the liver.

Arielle Newman, a 17-year-old cross country runner at Notre Dame Academy in New York died from an overdose of sports creams.  Although rare, experts say this is very real and suggest the following:

• Follow the label directions.  For instance the label on Bengay says do not use more than 3-4 times a day.
• Use occasionally and not regularly.  These products build up in the body.
• Only use a small amount and only when you absolutely need it.  
• Do not apply to an open wound or broken skin.
• Do not use on children.

  See more of Arielle Newman's story here.

I have to say this really shocked me.  Teen heroin use and teen deaths from heroin use are on the rise, experts say.  Dealers are making heroin cheaper and more powerful.  Experts say a small bag of heroin is usually less expensive than buying a six pack of beer.  Some teenagers are saying that they don't think they can get addicted because they believe it is less dangerous as they are snorting it and not injecting it and believe it is a 'purer' form.  Another scary fact is that the users are getting younger.  Experimenting is starting as young as middle school.  So what can you do?

• Know the warning signs of teen drug abuse. Warning Signs of Teenage Drug Abuse
• Talk to your teen and be involved in their life.  
• Know your teen's friends.  
• Keep your teen busy with activities.  
• Keep yourself informed about teens and drugs.  
• Make family time.  Remember the family dinner table?
• Be a good role model.

Other Terms for heroin:  Smack, dope, mud, black tar, big H, junk, brown sugar

Good Books to Read:

The Teen Code: How to Talk to Them about Sex, Drugs, and Everything Else--Teenagers Reveal What Works Best

How to Talk to Teens About Really Important Things: Specific Questions and Answers and Useful Things to Say

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

How to Say it to Teens

Getting Through to Your Kids

The joy of relaxing in a warm tub of bubbling water is heaven.  That is until you think about the risks associated with hot tubs.  Below are a few of the infections you can acquire from that heavenly tub of water:

• Hot Tub Folliculitis (Hot Tub Rash) - Red itchy bumps and blisters.  Skin infections and open sores can increase your risk of this rash.
• Genital Herpes - Genital Herpes can live up to 4.5 hours on a plastic seat.
• Hot Tub Lung - Bacteria rises into the air as the bubbles come to the surface and burst.  Breathing this in can cause an infection or allergic reaction resulting in cough, fever and chills, shortness of breath, fatigue, and tightness in your chest.  This can be serious and even fatal.
• Legionnaires' Disease - Similar to Hot Tub Lung but much more serious causing death in 5-30 percent of cases.

The FDA is warning the public about a counterfeit version of Alli that is being sold on the Internet.  The counterfeit version contains sibutramine instead of orlistat and the dosing directions on this package is three times the regular daily dose.  Find more information regarding this and what you can do at the FDA web site here.

With all the news about H1N1 and pneumonia I thought I would post this little tidbit about green tea and pneumonia.

A study published in the September 2009 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that Japanese woman who drank even a small amount of green tea had a lower risk of developing pneumonia, and get this, those who drank five or more cups a day may be cutting their risk by 47 percent.  The journal goes on to explain that drinking a single cup of green tea daily could cut the risk of dying from pneumonia by 41 percent. Researchers say that the compounds in green tea can destroy or inhibit the growth of viruses and other microorganisms that cause pneumonia.  It is also noted that this study was found to be true in women only, and not men.

I guess it is just another reason for us to be drinking green tea.

More details on this study can be found here.