Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and a significant cause of disability.
Most people are more familiar with the terms emphysema or chronic bronchitis, but COPD is the term more doctors are using today. COPD is a progressive disease, which means that it gets worse as time goes by if nothing is done to slow the course of the disease. While doctors cannot cure COPD or undo the damage to your lungs, changing your lifestyle (giving up smoking, staying physically active) and taking certain medications may help you remain active and healthy longer.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
OBESITY PRONE TO SWINE FLU?
A survey released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that obesity may be a risk factor for serious complications from the swine flu — and that people born before 1957 are less likely to catch it.
The survey looked at only 30 patients hospitalized with swine flu in California. Of those, only four were obese. So the conclusion that obesity might be an independent risk factor for severe swine flu was based on four patients! Not only that, but according to the data table contained in the CDC report, “Conditions listed are not mutually exclusive; certain patients had multiple underlying chronic diseases.” That means it’s possible some of the four obese people might also have had other risk factors, which confounds the data. Unfortunately, however, they don’t provide the details so it’s impossible to know whether the patients each were just obese or if they had obesity and one or even several other risk factors. And whether they did or did not have only obesity as a risk factor, remember that the researchers looked at only 30 people and of those only four were obese. While it may eventually be shown that obesity is a risk factor for more severe swine flu, I think we don’t yet have the data to make such sweeping conclusions.
In another announcement, the CDC is saying that people born before 1957 seem to be at lower risk for swine flu than those who are younger. The reason for this, which seems to be based on much more solid evidence than the obesity story, is that older adults may have partial immunity against the swine flu virus because they were likely to have been exposed to a somewhat similar virus that circulated between 1918 and 1957. It turns out that the 1918 influenza pandemic was due to an H1N1 flu virus, and the current swine flu is also an H1N1 variant (but not exactly the same as the earlier one). To date, only 13 percent of U.S. patients hospitalized with the new flu are age 50 or over while 37 percent of patients are between the ages of 19 and 49 years old, 18 percent are between 10 and 18 years old, and 11 percent are between 5 and 9 years old. This pattern is similar to that of the 1918 pandemic in which death rates were highest among younger rather than older adults. Similarly, those who were older in 1918 may have been exposed to another similar virus that circulated in the late 1800’s and therefore already had immunity. The CDC report on lower risk in those born after 1957 is expected to be published today, May 21.
The survey looked at only 30 patients hospitalized with swine flu in California. Of those, only four were obese. So the conclusion that obesity might be an independent risk factor for severe swine flu was based on four patients! Not only that, but according to the data table contained in the CDC report, “Conditions listed are not mutually exclusive; certain patients had multiple underlying chronic diseases.” That means it’s possible some of the four obese people might also have had other risk factors, which confounds the data. Unfortunately, however, they don’t provide the details so it’s impossible to know whether the patients each were just obese or if they had obesity and one or even several other risk factors. And whether they did or did not have only obesity as a risk factor, remember that the researchers looked at only 30 people and of those only four were obese. While it may eventually be shown that obesity is a risk factor for more severe swine flu, I think we don’t yet have the data to make such sweeping conclusions.
In another announcement, the CDC is saying that people born before 1957 seem to be at lower risk for swine flu than those who are younger. The reason for this, which seems to be based on much more solid evidence than the obesity story, is that older adults may have partial immunity against the swine flu virus because they were likely to have been exposed to a somewhat similar virus that circulated between 1918 and 1957. It turns out that the 1918 influenza pandemic was due to an H1N1 flu virus, and the current swine flu is also an H1N1 variant (but not exactly the same as the earlier one). To date, only 13 percent of U.S. patients hospitalized with the new flu are age 50 or over while 37 percent of patients are between the ages of 19 and 49 years old, 18 percent are between 10 and 18 years old, and 11 percent are between 5 and 9 years old. This pattern is similar to that of the 1918 pandemic in which death rates were highest among younger rather than older adults. Similarly, those who were older in 1918 may have been exposed to another similar virus that circulated in the late 1800’s and therefore already had immunity. The CDC report on lower risk in those born after 1957 is expected to be published today, May 21.
Friday, May 22, 2009
WHY PEOPLE SMOKE?
During the past years of my life, I asked myself why do people need to smoke and how to get rid of smoking cigarettes? When I researched from the other smokers I found myself on the same reasons as they elaborated.
I have their reasons why young people do smoke… first they want to look mature, to be like their friends and others are to experiment.
Adults smoke for other reasons. For them it is the best way to feel relaxed… or might be they may have a lot of pressures and stress from their everyday living. It involves their work, relationships to family, husband and wife and so forth.
Some of them are just saying that it gives them pleasure and makes them feel good every time they light a cigarette… some people think that smoking can help control their weight. Because for them it reduced their appetite, lessens sense of taste and smell to food…
Food tastes and smells so good if you are out of this vise. I agree with that!
I have their reasons why young people do smoke… first they want to look mature, to be like their friends and others are to experiment.
Adults smoke for other reasons. For them it is the best way to feel relaxed… or might be they may have a lot of pressures and stress from their everyday living. It involves their work, relationships to family, husband and wife and so forth.
Some of them are just saying that it gives them pleasure and makes them feel good every time they light a cigarette… some people think that smoking can help control their weight. Because for them it reduced their appetite, lessens sense of taste and smell to food…
Food tastes and smells so good if you are out of this vise. I agree with that!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Swine Flu Smoking Gun?
Swine Flu Smoking Gun? CDC was Combining Flu Viruses in 2004 - the most headline topics -- the most current issue since the day that Swine flu virus infecting and killing so many people in Mexico. Bottom line: the new flu virus contains DNA from avian, swine viruses (including elements from European and Asian viruses) and human viruses.
Now that Australia is confirmed of having 1 victim of H1N1 virus and also Japan country. TOKYO — Japanese authorities scrambled Saturday to track travellers who arrived on the same flight as three people diagnosed with the country's first confirmed cases of H1N1 flu. Australia also joined the ranks of affected countries with its first confirmed case.
Authorities in Tokyo quarantined a high school teacher and two of his teenage students who returned Friday from a school trip to Canada on a flight from the U.S. after they tested positive at the airport.
A lab at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases later confirmed they had the virus that has killed at least 47 people and sickened more than 3,100 in 30 countries, most in the U.S. and Mexico, Health and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe said.
The ministry confirmed that seven more people aboard the same flight had been taken to a hospital after they complained of feeling ill, and were undergoing tests. The ministry declined to give further details.
Since the outbreak began last month, several countries, including Japan, have screened air travellers for flu symptoms. But news reports said as many as 11 people on the Northwest Airlines flight from Detroit that landed in Tokyo on Friday avoided those screenings.
The ministry said at least 13 people -- believed to be separate from the reported 11 that the ministry was still investigating -- had gone on to other destinations in transit from that flight, and efforts were under way to contact them through the World Health Organization.
Now that Australia is confirmed of having 1 victim of H1N1 virus and also Japan country. TOKYO — Japanese authorities scrambled Saturday to track travellers who arrived on the same flight as three people diagnosed with the country's first confirmed cases of H1N1 flu. Australia also joined the ranks of affected countries with its first confirmed case.
Authorities in Tokyo quarantined a high school teacher and two of his teenage students who returned Friday from a school trip to Canada on a flight from the U.S. after they tested positive at the airport.
A lab at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases later confirmed they had the virus that has killed at least 47 people and sickened more than 3,100 in 30 countries, most in the U.S. and Mexico, Health and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe said.
The ministry confirmed that seven more people aboard the same flight had been taken to a hospital after they complained of feeling ill, and were undergoing tests. The ministry declined to give further details.
Since the outbreak began last month, several countries, including Japan, have screened air travellers for flu symptoms. But news reports said as many as 11 people on the Northwest Airlines flight from Detroit that landed in Tokyo on Friday avoided those screenings.
The ministry said at least 13 people -- believed to be separate from the reported 11 that the ministry was still investigating -- had gone on to other destinations in transit from that flight, and efforts were under way to contact them through the World Health Organization.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
ARE YOU AT HIGHEST RISK FROM H1N1 SWINE FLU?
Most U.S. cases of H1N1 referred to as swine flu have been in older children and young adults.
And also people below can be at highest risk from H1N1 Swine Flu... please kindly check below:
* Pregnant women
* Children, especially those under 12 months of age
* People with heart disease or risk factors for heart disease
* People with HIV infection
* People with chronic diseases
* People taking immune suppressing drugs, such as cancer chemotherapy or anti-rejection drugs for transplants.
* Smokers and drinkers who have weak immune system.
And also people below can be at highest risk from H1N1 Swine Flu... please kindly check below:
* Pregnant women
* Children, especially those under 12 months of age
* People with heart disease or risk factors for heart disease
* People with HIV infection
* People with chronic diseases
* People taking immune suppressing drugs, such as cancer chemotherapy or anti-rejection drugs for transplants.
* Smokers and drinkers who have weak immune system.
SWINE FLU OUTBREAKS
Like people, pigs can get influenza or medically termed as FLU but swine flu viruses are not the same as human flu viruses. Swine flu doesn't often infect people, and the rare human cases that have occurred in the past have mainly affected people who had direct contact with pigs. But the current swine flu outbreak is different. It's caused by a new swine flu virus that has changed in ways that allow it to spread from person to person -- and it's happening among people who haven't had any contact with pigs.
Others might say that Swine Flu can be typified as a respiratory disease, affecting pigs. According to World Health Organization, stating that a number of Swine Flu cases have resulted strain of H1N1 (conventional flu).
Scientifically, there are three types of viruses - A, B and C which causes influenza. Further each type has sub-types or strains, but each of the sub-type maintains the characteristic of the original virus.
Seasonal changes, especially setting of winter or ending of seasons, is a favorable time for the influenza viruses as they get active and spread among large populations.
Generally, people with strong immune system can easily recover from the effects of influenza as the body immune system fight against the viruses. With bird flu it is different as this virus strain (H5N1) makes the body produce large amounts of anti-bodies to the extent where it can kill the patient. A strong immune system will produce more antibodies than a weak immune system increasing the risk of death in healthy people.
On the other hand, Smoking can also make your immune system weak and the chance of having Swine Flu is big. Many viruses can be easily affected you and may suffer from it if not taking the right vitamins and minerals or any other protection which can help you free from this very well known disease.
Others might say that Swine Flu can be typified as a respiratory disease, affecting pigs. According to World Health Organization, stating that a number of Swine Flu cases have resulted strain of H1N1 (conventional flu).
Scientifically, there are three types of viruses - A, B and C which causes influenza. Further each type has sub-types or strains, but each of the sub-type maintains the characteristic of the original virus.
Seasonal changes, especially setting of winter or ending of seasons, is a favorable time for the influenza viruses as they get active and spread among large populations.
Generally, people with strong immune system can easily recover from the effects of influenza as the body immune system fight against the viruses. With bird flu it is different as this virus strain (H5N1) makes the body produce large amounts of anti-bodies to the extent where it can kill the patient. A strong immune system will produce more antibodies than a weak immune system increasing the risk of death in healthy people.
On the other hand, Smoking can also make your immune system weak and the chance of having Swine Flu is big. Many viruses can be easily affected you and may suffer from it if not taking the right vitamins and minerals or any other protection which can help you free from this very well known disease.
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