Swine Flu: What do Do
by Terry Grossman, M.D.

This article will tell you what you need to know about swine flu--if

avoid catching the disease, what you can do at home if you get sick

everyday and is rapidly spreading in many places around the world

swine flu.

There have been so many cases of swine few that the government no longer has accurate statistics, but cases number in the millions. The mortality rate is about one-half of one percent and the majority of people who have died from swine flu had an underlying health

children with neurological problems such muscular dystrophy or lung

standard forms of influenza that typically occur in the United States

muscle aches, runny nose and fatigue. Most people are sick in bed with

Differences between H1N1 and ordinary influenza

The main difference between pandemic H1NI flu and ordinary or epidemic

people year round, not just in the winter like the usual flu. Also,

seasonal flu are seen in people older than 65, H1N1 flu often spares

children.

Even though this pandemic flu appears relatively mild for most people,

worried about it. Firstly, it is possible that more than a billion

low death rate, this could result in tens of

mutate and turn into a much more lethal variety capable of killing far

there is a subset of people who become critically ill very quickly

people in this group develop severe complications sometimes resulting

What to do if you get sick

Most people who get swine flu will be sick for a few days and then

the usual steps for any type of flu: rest in bed and take aspirin,

fluids to avoid dehydration.

People with an underlying health condition that places them at risk of

Tamiflu or Relenza, two prescription drugs that have been shown to be

complications from swine flu and should seek medical care immediately

be done to shorten the course, relieve symptoms and potentially help

medicine practitioner Karen Kurtak recommends a combination of 3

taken at the very onset of flu symptoms. For results, these must be

Chinese medicine to help fight infections. Dose: 8 pills 3 times a day

* Septonsil is a German homeopathic "drainage remedy" that can help

daily

2000 mg three times a day. If no stomach upset, feel free to take even

his newsletter Alternatives is inhalation of dilute hydrogen peroxide

and can be safely inhaled if properly prepared and diluted. This

the flu more quickly.

At Frontier Medical Institute we stock the above supplements and can

home use. You will need a nebulizer to aerosolize the solution so that

minutes, can be done once an hour during waking hours while you are

day shelf life and contain enough peroxide to treat an entire family

we also have a few at our clinic. For more information, call our

replace standard medical care. If you develop any complications such

utilizing these home treatments, seek medical attention immediately.

warning signs. They may occur within a few hours or a few days after

attention immediately:

* shortness of breath, either during physical activity or while

* difficulty in breathing

* bloody or colored sputum

* altered mental status

* low blood pressure.

In children, danger signs include fast or difficult breathing, lack of

Prevention

People are contagious beginning one day prior to their becoming ill

often found on solid surfaces as well as in the air, therefore,

environments. Wearing paper facemasks has not been shown to be

sleep, eat a healthful diet including plenty of fresh fruit and

food, which depress the immune system. In addition, I recommend taking

2000 units a day of vitamin D3.

available. Children will need two separate flu shots to become

first lot of 45 million doses of vaccine will be followed by 20

than 2 years old) and the old (over 65), H1N1 flu appears to be quite

particularly severe for pregnant women. People born prior to 1957 seem

they have previously developed at least partial immunity and are less

disease (asthma, emphysema) or problems with their immune system

and should strongly consider being vaccinated.

Whether you choose to get swine flu shots is a personal decision. If

however, there have been people in this age group who have contracted

risk, you should definitely consider getting vaccinated no matter what

problems such as asthma or emphysema, problems with your immune system

(chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer, kidney disease or other chronic

you need to weigh the risks against the benefits of vaccination. Since

than 2 years of age should be vaccinated.

Cholesterol: Friend or Foe?
by Diane Henry, Fitness Director

Our bodies are made up of trillions of cells, and almost all of them produce cholesterol throughout our lives. Cholesterol is integral to our cell membranes. Saturated fats and cholesterol make the cell membranes firm. Without them we would be like jellyfish. In many cells, half of the cell membranes are made up of cholesterol. Different kinds of cells need different amounts of cholesterol depending on their function. If the cell is part of a protective barrier, it will need more cholesterol to make it firmer and resistant to any kind of invader, and if the cell needs to be soft and fluid, it will have less.

All the cells in the body communicate with one another using proteins fixed to membranes. This is possible because of cholesterol. The cholesterol is like sticky glue that keeps the proteins imbedded in the membrane.

Approximatley 25% of all the cholesterol in the body is in the brain. Myelin is a fatty substance that coats every nerve cell and also provides nourishment and protection to the brain and nervous system. Myelin is fully 20% cholesterol. Memories are created and stored when brain cells form connections called synapses with one another. Synapse formation is almost entirely dependent on cholesterol.

Cholesterol is also necessary for our immune system to function properly. It relies on cholesterol to fight infections and also needs cholesterol to build itself back up after the fight.

Most of the cholesterol does not come from food. The body produces cholesterol as needed, so when you eat more cholesterol, the body simply produces less. About 85% of the blood cholesterol is created in the liver and only 15% comes from food. Even if you are eating a low cholesterol diet, your body is still producing cholesterol.

Why do some people have more cholesterol than others? The inside walls of the blood vessels are covered by endothelium. Any damaging element we are exposed to such as an infectious organism or a toxic chemical , will attack the endothelium. In response the endothelium will send a message to the liver telling it there is a wound that needs to be fixed. The liver will send LDL cholesterol to the site to repair the damage. When the wound heals, cholesterol travels back to the liver (in the form of HDL).

For the past 30 years, cholesterol has been demonized by the medical community . Yet, cholesterol is one of the most important substances in the body and we cannot live without it. So the next time you are told you have high cholesterol, you may want to look at what’s going on in your life, in addition to what your healthcare provider is recommending for treatment.

Seafood Watch iPhone App
by Karen Kurtak, L.Ac.

An article appeared in our newsletter a few months ago discussing contamination and sustainability of seafood. Part of our philosophy at the Grossman Wellness Center is to empower people to be healthier by teaching them to make their own environment healthier. For years we’ve encouraged our patients to check in occasionally with Seafood Watch www.seafoodwatch.org to stay current with research on declining fish populations and high levels of contamination. Now Seafood Watch has a GREAT, free iPhone app with current contamination and sustainability status of seafood. They’ve even gone so far to divide it into geographic regions. To find this app just search for Seafood Watch. If you don’t have an iPhone, you can still go to the website link above or below.

Read more... Seafood Watch Link for Latest Information

Benefits of Exercise in Cancer Care
by Diane Henry, Fitness Director

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, exercise may be one of the last things on your mind, but there are plenty of reasons not to ignore it, even while you are in treatment. More and more health care professionals recognize exercise as a very important part of cancer recovery and treatment, and there is plenty of research to prove why.

In the past, people who were diagnosed with cancer were often told by their doctor to rest and reduce their physical activity. This may be true if movement causes severe pain, rapid heart rate or shortness of breath, but new research has shown that exercise is not only possible during cancer treatment, but can improve physical functioning and quality of life. Too much rest can result in loss of function, strength and range of motion. Regular exercise is an effective way to counteract these negative effects. Most cancer patients notice a loss of energy. During chemotherapy and radiation, about 70% of patients have fatigue. For many, fatigue is severe and limits their activity. Inactivity leads to muscle wasting and loss of function, however studies have shown aerobic training can reduce fatigue and make it possible to do normal daily activities without major limitations. Physical activity may boost the immune systems ability to suppress cancer cells. When one exercises, weight and body fat can be reduced, which could produce a lower estrogen level. Exercise speeds the passage of food through the digestive system, possibly leaving less time for carcinogenic substances to damage the intestines and colon. Studies have shown 30-60% of cancer patients improve in depression, mood elevation, self efficacy and pain management.

While there are many reasons for being physically active during cancer treatment, each person’s exercise program should be based on what is safe, effective and enjoyable for that person. The type of cancer you have, your cancer treatment and your fitness level all factor in to your exercise prescription. Always check with your doctor before starting any exercise program. This is especially important if you are taking treatments that affect your lungs (such as bleomycin or radiation to the chest), your heart (such as doxorubicin or epirubicin) or if you have a risk of heart or lung disease.

Exercise safety and precautions for cancer survivors

• Do not exercise if you have anemia (low RBC count during your treatment)

• Do not exercise if the levels of minerals in your blood such as sodium or potassium are abnormal. This can happen if you have a lot of vomiting or diarrhea.

• Watch for unexplained weight gain, swollen ankles or shortness of breath while at rest or with only a small amount of exertion.

• If you still have a catheter, avoid water and other exposures that may cause infections. Also avoid resistance training that uses muscles in the area of the catheter to avoid dislodging it.

Diane Henry, Cancer Exercise Specialist (diane@grossmanwellness.com)

Chronic Widespread Pain Associated with Vitamin D Status (in Women)
by Terry Grossman, M.D,

Chronic widespread pain (CWP) is defined as pain that occurs in multiple regions on both sides of the body for at least three months. CWP is quite common and surveys suggest that 10 - 15% of the population suffers from CWP at any given time. A recent study from Great Britain examined the relationship between chronic widespread pain and levels of vitamin D in the bloodstream.

25(OH) vitamin D (ng/dl) Women with CWP

30-40 8.2%

10-20 14.8%

Further studies are planned to see whether taking supplemental vitamin D might be useful in the treatment of chronic widespread pain.

Read more... For More Information