What is swine flu?

Swine flu is a type of influenza virus which normally affects pigs. But it has ‘crossed over’ to infect humans before, and the current strain of the virus has now affected many people in Mexico. The concern is that it seems to be spreading between people and might cause a wave of infections around the world.

There have been more than 1,600 cases of swine flu in Mexico in recent weeks, and over 100 deaths. But in other countries, where people travelling from Mexico have caught the disease, infections have been milder, and no-one has died. There have been confirmed cases in the US, in Canada and in Spain. Other suspected cases are being investigated in other countries.

What are the symptoms of swine flu?

Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of normal winter flu. People have a feverish illness, along with one or more of the following symptoms: cough, sore throat, headache, tiredness and muscle aches. Some people also lose their appetite, and some have reported vomiting and diarrhoea.

What should I do if I get symptoms?

If you’ve been to Mexico or the US, or another country that may have been affected by swine flu, the UK’s Health Protection Agency says you should keep an eye on your health for the seven days after your return. If you develop flu-like symptoms during that time, you should stay at home, and contact your GP by telephone, or phone NHS Direct. Make sure you tell them where you’ve been travelling.

You may need tests, which might be carried out at home, or in hospital. Until you have your test results, you should avoid contact with other people. You should also take sensible hygiene precautions to avoid spreading the virus.

• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, use paper tissues and dispose of them straight away.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
• Wash surfaces like door handles with a normal cleaning product.

It’s important that your children also cover their noses and mouths when coughing or sneezing, and wash their hands frequently.

How can I protect myself against swine flu?

At the time of writing, there have been no confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK. However, it’s possible the virus will spread to the UK. Taking sensible hygiene precautions, such as those listed above, will help avoid spreading or catching the virus. Frequent hand-washing has been shown in clinical studies to prevent the spread of cold and flu viruses.

What treatments work for swine flu?

The anti-viral medicines oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are being used to treat people with swine flu. Testing has shown that the swine flu virus is susceptible to these medicines.

From:

Health Protection Agency. Swine influenza advice for the public. April 2009. Available at the Health Protection Agency (accessed on 27 April 2009).

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“I had the welts that were very red, hot to the touch, extremely inflamed, blistery.”It itched profusely.
I couldn’t sleep and was waking up itching.”

Miss Ritter, from Ohio, has filed a lawsuit against Victoria’s Secret in May and claims she has been contacted by dozens of women suffering similar symptoms who are now seeking permission to join her in a class action.

Her lawyers said they purchased the same bra types that Miss Ritter had bought and had them laboratory tested. They claim the tests revealed that the bras showed traces of formaldehyde, which is used in the textile industry to make fabrics crease-resistant. The lawyers believe Miss Ritter may be allergic to formaldehyde.

A US medical Web site was flooded with complaints against the underwear company. However, a spokesman for Victoria’s Secret has denied that formaldehyde is used to produce its bras.

“We have strict quality controls around our products, and we do not use formaldehyde in our bras,”
the company said in a statement. “We are sorry that a small number of people have had an issue,’ he added.
“Customer safety and satisfaction are always our primary concerns and we take seriously any issues that
our customers may have with our products.”

Ritter, and others who seek to join her in a class action, are demanding compensation.
A judge will decide next year if a class action can proceed.

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Both White House contenders have differing opinions on the 1973 Supreme Court case that legalized abortion. Obama is pro-choice, while McCain is pro-life. Debate moderator Bob Shieffer of CBS asked the two men if they could nominate someone to the Supreme Court who disagrees with them on abortion. It’s expected that whoever is the next president, at least one of the justices will retire.

Both candidates said they wouldn’t apply a litmus test – a question asked of a potential candidate, the answer to which might determine whether the person nominating that candidate would proceed with the appointment or nomination.

“I have never … imposed a litmus test on any nominee to the court, that’s not appropriate,” McCain, R-AZ, said.

Although he said Roe v. Wade was a “bad decision,” McCain said he favors leaving states to decide whether or not they will allow the procedure, when and under what conditions. He said Supreme Court nominees should be first and foremost considered because of their qualifications, not their abortion view.

But, when pressed whether he would nominate someone who has supported abortion, McCain, calling himself “proudly pro-life,” gets a little hypocritical: “I would consider anyone in their qualifications. I do not believe that someone who has supported Roe v. Wade that would be part of those qualifications. But I certainly would not impose any litmus test.”

Obama also said no “strict litmus” test would be imposed, and said he believes the Constitution does in fact include a woman’s right to privacy. Roe v. Wade also shouldn’t be subject to state referendum for states to alter at their whim, he added.

“It is true, this is going to be one of the most consequential decisions of the next president,” the Illinois senator said. “I would not apply a litmus test but I am somebody who believes Roe v. Wade was rightly decided.”[via wowowow]

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To support breast cancer research, Sony is selling pink bundles – for example the pink VAIO notebook, the Handycam Camcorder and the Walkman –during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Two offers in support of BCRF:

$10 from the sale of each Walkman NWZ-E436FPNK, $50 from the sale of each Sony HDR-TG1 Handycam Camcorder, and $75 from the sale of each VAIO Pink SR Series Notebook bundle, sold at Sony Style in the month of October will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, for a minimum donation of $25,000 and up to a maximum of $50,000.
Sony Electronics will donate $100,000 from the sales of pink VAIO CR Series Notebook bundles and pink VAIO CS Series Notebook PCs during the month of October at participating authorized retailers.

There’s no better time, or reason, to buy yourself something. At Sony Style.

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Frank Carter was once a globe-trotting professional dancer; his world is smaller now. He battles multiple health problems, walks with a cane and rarely leaves his compact Manhattan apartment.

As an 86-year-old gay man, with no family nearby and many acquaintances long since dead, he’d seem a likely prospect for isolation.

Instead, he has kindled a deep, five-year friendship with Gigi Stoll, a fashion model-turned-photographer half his age. Stoll helps Carter with medical arrangements, writes to him when she travels overseas, and sat with him for six hours during his most recent hospitalization.

“The other guys in the hospital, no one was coming in to see them,” Carter said. “To get that gift, you have to be lucky.”

It’s not just luck. Stoll came into his life though a program that matches infirm gays and lesbians with volunteers who commit to making weekly visits.

Long overlooked by society at large, and even by younger gays, elderly gays and lesbians are emerging as distinct community, getting more help and attention as they confront challenges that differ in many ways from their heterosexual counterparts.

Advocacy groups say the estimated 2.5 million gay seniors in America are twice as likely to live alone, four times less likely to have adult children to help them, and far more fearful of discrimination from health care workers.

Many fear anti-gay animosity or bias at senior centers, in nursing homes and from health care providers. Some gay elders even keep their sexual orientation secret from the home health aides who may provide their only sustained company.

A watershed moment comes this month, when the AARP — the largest advocacy group for Americans over 50 — for the first time sponsors a major national conference focused on gay and lesbian aging. It’s being organized by SAGE (Service and Advocacy for GLBT Elders), the New York-based organization which counts Carter and Stoll among its thousands of clients and volunteers. Full Story

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Local cancer doctors emphasize that breast cancer is far more common among older women, but among women under age 40 it can be a more deadly disease, since the cancer is usually aggressive and detected at later stages.

More than 250,000 under age 40 are living with breast cancer, and more than 11,000 are expected to be diagnosed this year, according to national statistics.

While U.S. breast cancer survival rates have improved among middle-age and older adults, among women under age 40 the rate hasn’t risen substantially in more than 20 years, research shows.

Younger breast cancer patients also face challenges with diagnosis and treatment, advocates say.

Invasive cancer tends to be more aggressive in younger women, which makes early diagnosis critical. But the standard screening tool — mammography — is less reliable in women under age 40, who typically have denser breasts.

Recent studies have shown that MRI appears to be more sensitive than mammography in detecting tumors in women with an inherited susceptibility to breast cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends using it for women with at least a family history of the disease. For the average woman, though, MRI is not recommended. The screening method is ultra-sensitive and can detect benign changes that lead to unnecessary biopsies, local doctors said.

Ladies, please be diligent about self examining your breast. This can be a life saver! Click to view 5 steps of Breast Self Exam.

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According to a recent study, overweight women who wanted to lose weight needed to exercise for an hour a day, five days a week. The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, was headed by John M. Jakicic, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Health and Physical Activity at the University of Pittsburgh. The researchers found that women who exercised for an hour a day, five days a week along with a healthy diet managed a 10% weight loss over a two year span as compared with others who managed only 5%.

“It doesn’t really matter which form of exercise you do, just pick one that burns calories, and it should be one that you enjoy, so you’ll stick with it” says Dr. Jakicic. “If you can’t do 275 minutes a week, do what you can do. Everyone needs to find ways to become more active. And if you can’t do more exercise, then you may just have to be a little more diligent about what you are eating. Exercise is very important, but diet, or healthy eating behavior, still needs to be on your radar screen,” he said.

Ok! I’m off to the gym. Be back in an hour!

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