Bones, bones, bones

We have 32 teeth if we haven’t lost any along the way, 22 internal organs and about 206 bones.

Without bones we couldn’t stand up, roll over, or breathe. In short, we couldn’t exist without bones.

But what are bones?

They may feel like smooth, lifeless objects, but they grow and can feel pain. They consist of living tissue made of calcium and phosphorus and other inorganic salts in a tough web enclosing spongy, or porous, bone tissue. The outer layer of a bone is dense and compact, but the bone tissue inside is soft because it consists of thin blades of bone that contain blood vessels and red blood marrow.

Bones are hardy.

Perhaps you’ve seen the online video of the man who was caught up in a tornado, tossed and twisted inside it and deposited on the ground about a quarter of a mile away without breaking a single bone.

Most people would not be that lucky. For some of us, even a small slip or stumble would result in a fracture. Every year more than 1.5 million fractures occur because of weakened bones in a condition known as osteoporosis. The total cost for direct medical treatment of these fractures is about $15 billion per year. Even more damaging than the cost is the crippling of otherwise healthy persons because of fractures related to osteoporosis.

Medications are available today to counteract this crippling disease, but you have to start early. Once bones are weakened or fractured due to osteoporosis, the damage can’t be reversed.

Be kind to your bones.

Brought to you compliments of Griffith Publishing

People are frightened by the possibility of the swine flu virus spreading around the world, killing thousands and making millions sick.

Any time a virus changes its structure so that it can be spread from human to human rather than from animal to animal, the potential for an epidemic rears its ugly head.  The swine flu virus has been blamed so far for the deaths of more than 150 people in Mexico since April 13. So far, people in the U.S. who have been confirmed to have the disease have recovered.

The best description of the disease that I found is offered by WebMD.

The dilemma of swine flu can be summed up in three words: “We don’t know.” It is always a potential threat when a virus leaps across species and becomes a human-borne disease carrier. The virus will modify itself and nobody knows how deadly or how easily spread it will become.

For now there is no need to panic. “Handwashing, not handwringing,” is the advice offered by one writer.

Unless you work in public health or in the pharmaceutical industry, that is. Why isn’t Mexico treating the families of swine flu victims so they won’t catch and spread the disease? Most of us can focus on living healthfully, dodging germs, and seeing a healthcare provider when we get really sick.

Brought to you by Griffith Publishing

Nobody loves getting shot, but a needle prick and a vaccination fee are a small price to pay for the assurance that you won’t come down with the disease the shot prevents.

Hepatitis A is one of the most common vaccine-preventable infections that make travelers sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The virus is found in contaminated water in most developing countries of the world. From no symptoms to a severe, disabling disease, Hepatitis A is worth a two-dose shot to avoid it. Best of all, the vaccination is good for the rest of your life.

The mosquito is responsible for more suffering than any other organism on earth, with several million deaths  attributed to mosquito-borne disease every year. Yellow fever, malaria, dengue, and West Nile virus are a few of the many diseases delivered to the human body by this common insect.

Medication is available to prevent most diseases carried by mosquitoes, but common-sense defense such as insect repellent and appropriate clothing and screening are vital in countries with an active population of infected mosquitoes.

—brought to you by BeWell and Griffith Publishing

We inherit bad genes and grow up in families that may not have been health minded. We fall in the river or get hit by a truck, but in the final analysis, we can do more to give ourselves good health than anything
going on outside of our bodies.

Being healthy or, if you’re health isn’t so good right now, healthier, is a great way to invest your time and other resources. It’s a do-it-yourself hobby that will give you endless satisfaction.

You’ll want to talk to your doctor about health concerns that bother you most. Consider your primary care
physician to be a ranking member of your health team, but don’t give away all of the responsibility.

You’re the one who needs to do the walking, make the diet changes, get the sleep you need, take necessary medication as prescribed, and follow the principles of good health.

That’s why we call it “DIY Health.”

Looking for low-cost meds?

Be careful!

You can save money by asking your doctor to allow your prescription to be filled with a generic drug. You can also save money by buying your drugs online. You can save even more by buying your prescriptions in
their generic form online from overseas sources.

Are there any risks involved here?

Generic ingredients

The active ingredient is required by law to be identical in the generic drug to what it is in the brand-name drug. This is enough to convince most people that generic drugs are just as effective as the original, but things may not always be as they seem.

For example, the American Heart Association has found that certain drugs designed to correct problems of an abnormal heartbeat do not work effectively in their generic form for all patients. Another example is that for people who suffer from seizures, in some cases the “filler” or “binder” ingredients holding the pill together were not the same and prevented the medication from having a full effect.

Overseas drugs

Some patients are concerned about drugs that are manufactured overseas. “I’ve heard that the ingredients are made in countries where they don’t inspect, don’t use modern methods, and don’t report problems in making the drugs,” one concerned patient commented.
The more information you churn on this subject, the more you may wonder if you can trust the lower-cost drugs your doctor has authorized for you.

The bottom line is that you are safe as long as you buy drugs that have been approved and inspected by the FDA. Talk to your druggist if you have questions. When you travel or purchase drugs outside the US, it’s a whole new ballgame.

Your best step is to buy drugs in the US and let your doctor know if you prefer a brand-name drug rather than a generic medication.

Flu season is just around the corner, and already we’re hearing people say, “I’m in such good health I don’t need a flu shot,” and “I’ve never had a flu shot, and I’m not starting now.”

We have to admire the gumption, but let’s face it. Flu shots save lives and keep us more active and productive during the winter season when flu germs thrive.

On August 5 of this year the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) announced its approval of the vaccine that has been developed to ward off new strains of the flu. The vaccine includes modified strains of three viruses that experts believe are most likely to cause the flu in the United States this year. Shots should be taken in October or November for the best protection.

For starters, flu (influenza) is able to spread rapidly by sneezing and coughing. The rates of infection are highest among children, but the elderly are the most likely to succumb. Last year 36,000 Americans, mostly over age 65, died from the disease, and 226,000 were hospitalized.

The Centers for Disease Control now recommends vaccination of all children aged six months to eighteen years and all adults fifty years and older. In addition, women who will be pregnant during the flu season, people suffering from a weakening chronic condition, anyone with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, nursing home and senior care residents, health care providers, people living in dormitories or other crowded conditions, and people traveling to the tropics between April and September should line up for the flu vaccination.

The peak of the flu season is in January or February, but the flu bug starts making its presence known in November and continues afflicting its victims until May. Your shot is effective for about a year.

In most cases you can count on your health clinic to provide the flu shot. Check with your doctor for scheduling details. Your state’s health department probably provides flu shots at its district clinics. You will see announcements of other organizations offering the flu vaccine this year.

Persons who are severely allergic to eggs should not take the vaccine, nor should those who have had a severe reaction to the vaccine in the past or are suffering from an illness and have a fever.

Nobody likes to be the victim of false information flying about from the Web, over the back fence, during breaks at work, or even from broadcasting and publishing professionals. Watch for the following myths and don’t believe any of them.

Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis. No, but it can stretch ligaments and reduce grip strength.

Swallow a melon seed and it will grow in your stomach. Not true.

Looking at the sun won’t hurt you. Wrong. The sun’s bright rays can cause permanent blindness.

Kids become hyperactive from eating sugar. Not true on a chronic or long-term basis.

You’ll wreck your eyes if you sit too close to the TV. Not true.

Carrots can help you see in the dark. You need carrots for healthy eyesight, but seeing in the dark isn’t a benefit of eating carrots.

There are more harmful germs in the bathroom than in any other room of the house. Wrong. The kitchen wins that contest.

Diabetic persons who take insulin for years will have a limb amputated eventually. Not true. If amputation is needed, the problem comes from the disease itself, not from insulin.

Overweight people suffer from depression more than thin ones. Not true. Research shows that people who weigh too much are the least depressed.

Home pregnancy tests are 95 percent accurate. Wrong. One in four home-tested women will have a false positive result, and one in four will have a false negative.

Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Not true. Drink plenty of water and other fluids, but four to six glasses of liquid a day are enough for most persons.

The liver becomes polluted and needs to be cleaned out. Not true. Nothing accumulates in the liver except Vitamin A.

We use only 10 percent of our brain. Wrong. All parts of the brain are vital and perform for us around the clock.

Colds and flu are more infectious before symptoms appear. Not true. They spread the easiest when the symptoms are at their worst.

Colds cause ear infections. Not possible. Colds come from viruses., and almost all ear infections come from bacteria.

Exercise prevents Alzheimer’s Disease. No evidence supports this claim.

Men benefit far more than women from marriage. Not true. Men and women have the same level of benefits from marriage.

Underarm deodorants can cause breast cancer. This myth was widely spread by email but is totally untrue.

Antibacterial soap is the best way to prevent infections. Not true. Antibacterial soap kills good and bad bacteria. Regular soap gets rid of bad bacteria.

Eat more protein and gain more muscle power. Wrong. Muscle tissue needs protein, but eating protein doesn’t build muscle.

Beer drinkers aren’t as likely to become alcoholic because there’s less alcohol in beer. Not true. It’s the fact that you’re addicted to alcohol, not the amount you’ve taken in that leads to alcoholism.

Don’t swim for an hour after eating. You might feel a sharp pain in your side after vigorous swimming, but no harm is done.

Eating chocolate makes acne worse. There is no evidence that any food, including chocolate, can cause or worsen acne.

Starve a fever, feed a cold. Half true. When you’re sick you need nutrition and lots of fluids.