Balanced Living
August 2005
Give it Your Best Shot
August is National Immunization Awareness Month
Has this ever happened to you? On the day she’s supposed to get her measles shot, your 2-year-old wakes up with the sniffles. You or your doctor decides to hold off on the vaccination. The opportunity slips by and, for one reason or another, your child never gets that shot.
She wouldn’t be the only one. For a variety of reasons every year, nearly one million children under age 2 aren’t fully immunized against polio, whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria or other preventable diseases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most parents catch up by the time children go to school, because most schools require up-to-date immunizations. Still, many children go unprotected in their most vulnerable years.
Overcoming confusion and fear
Some parents slip because they’re confused about when vaccinations should or should not be given. “Most parents—and many physicians, as well—think that a baby with the sniffles or a low-grade fever or an ear infection should not get a shot,” says Jerold Aronson, M.D., a member of the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “These types of minor illnesses aren’t enough reason to delay an immunization.”
Some parents cite fear of side effects for skipping immunizations. The risks of the diseases prevented by vaccines are much greater than the risks of immunization, which are minimal.
Working with your doctor
Keeping your child’s immunizations up to date requires a partnership between you and your physician. Parents should map out immunization schedules with their doctors while their baby is still a newborn. A few simple suggestions can help you keep up with an immunization schedule:
- Whenever possible, have immunizations done during well-baby visits and checkups.
- Remember that two or more shots can often be given at the same time.
- Keep your own record of immunizations in a handy, secure place.
- Check your child’s immunization status at every visit to your doctor’s office.
Did you know?
Four out of 10 people over age 65 are not getting the vaccinations they need for protection from the flu.
Shots Aren’t Just for Kids
Like most adults, you’re probably happy to put some things from childhood behind you. If there’s one thing you should not chalk up to childhood, however, it’s immunizations. They are important for adults too.
What Shots Do You Need?
- Tetanus and diphtheria. Though you probably got this shot as a child, you still need a booster every 10 years.
- Measles and mumps. You need this immunization if you have not yet been vaccinated or if you have not had the measles or mumps. If you were born between 1957 and 1967, you may have gotten a short-lasting vaccine and should get another one. If you aren’t sure whether you need this shot, ask your doctor.
- Rubella. All women of childbearing age should be tested for rubella antibodies. If antibodies are not present, you should be vaccinated. It’s best if you get a rubella shot at least three months before you become pregnant.
- Influenza (flu). People ages 50 and older benefit from a flu shot each year. So do people who have diabetes or a chronic heart, lung, or kidney disease. Pregnant women who are in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during flu season should also get the shot. Health care workers and college students, who are at high risk of exposure to flu, should get this shot as well.
- Pneumonia. Generally, the same people who need a flu shot should get a pneumonia shot. Most people only need this once. Your doctor may want you to get a booster every five years.
- Hepatitis B. People at high risk for getting hepatitis B should get this immunization. Talk with your doctor about the risk factors for hepatitis B.
- Special situations. If you plan to travel outside the United States, you may need other shots to protect you. Some jobs, such as those in health care, may require you to get more shots as well. Some immunizations are unsafe for those with certain health problems. For example, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases should talk with their doctor first.
Shots aren’t fun at any age. For a little short-term discomfort, you can protect yourself and stay healthy. Check with your doctor to make sure that you are up-to-date with your shots. Be sure to discuss your concerns, possible side effects, and any allergies you have.
For more information:
www.partnersforimmunization.org
Taking Care of Yourself After Childbirth
World Breastfeeding Week is in August
After you’ve had your baby and returned home from the hospital, you are not yet finished with the physical transitions that pregnancy brings. Your body continues to change after delivery. Your breasts fill with milk and your uterus shrinks back to its regular size. Coping with these changes while you adjust to caring for a new baby can present a challenge. To stay in good health, you need to recognize which symptoms are normal and which require medical attention.
The following are some health issues that you may encounter in the first weeks after childbirth and some suggestions on how to deal with them. Call your doctor if you experience a high fever, severe pain or any other unusual symptoms.
Breast engorgement
About 72 hours after delivery, when your breast milk arrives, you may notice your breasts are hard, sore and warm. This is a normal part of early lactation and should end in about 24 hours if you are breastfeeding. If you are not, the engorgement may last up to 48 hours, until the body recognizes that it does not need to continue producing breast milk.
- Apply warm compresses to the breasts to stimulate milk flow
- Wear a well-fitting bra for support
- If breastfeeding, make sure the baby feeds from each breast, alternately
- Although a low-grade fever is normal, see your doctor if your temperature rises above 101 degrees. This could indicate mastitis
Breastfeeding
Well-meaning family and friends, aware of the many benefits of breastfeeding, sometimes pressure new mothers to breastfeed. But this may not be the right choice for everyone. Mothers who choose not to breastfeed, or find that they can’t, shouldn’t feel a sense of guilt or failure. A balanced formula should provide your baby with all the nutrients he or she needs.
If you do breastfeed, it may take a while for both you and the baby to adjust. If you experience feeding problems or are concerned about how well your baby is feeding, do not delay in alerting your pediatrician. The baby could become dehydrated if he or she is not able to get enough milk.
- If your baby is a slow feeder, rub his or her back, abdomen and legs to stimulate the rooting reflex.
- Push aside the part of your breast that covers the baby’s nose to make room for him or her to breathe comfortably.
- To get the baby to turn toward your breast, place your nipple against the baby’s cheek.
Mastitis
Mastitis, a bacterial infection that can occur in one or both breasts during breastfeeding, causes pain, tenderness and swelling. Other symptoms include an elevated temperature (above 101 degrees) and breasts that are warm and reddish. This occurs most frequently during the first month of breastfeeding.
See your obstetrician if you suspect that you have mastitis. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to clear up the infection and will advise you as to whether you can continue breastfeeding. If untreated, mastitis can result in a breast abscess that may require surgical drainage.
Sore nipples
Allowing the baby to begin sucking on the end of the nipple rather than the full nipple, or pulling the baby away from the nipple while he or she is still sucking, can harm the nipples.
If soreness does not subside as you grow accustomed to breastfeeding, check with your doctor. Cracked nipples can lead to mastitis.
- Be sure to dry your nipples after each feeding.
- Rubbing vitamin E oil on your nipples may alleviate soreness, cracking and dryness. Be careful to remove all traces of vitamin E oil before feeding the baby, however, as the oil can build up in the baby’s body and cause a metabolic reaction.
- If deep cracks develop in the nipples, or if they bleed, stop breastfeeding and see your doctor.
For more information:
www.lalecheleague.org
fhahelps.personaladvantage.com/sc/21
That’s All Wet!
Be sure you’re getting enough water especially during the long, hot summer.
It’s common knowledge that the human body requires eight glasses of water a day. So head over to the faucet right now and pour yourself a nice, cold glass. Bottoms up! Great. Now pour yourself another. And another. And another.
Hold on, you may be thinking. Nobody drinks that much water!
Summer Breezes Smoothie
a great way to get fruits and water!
1 C fat free, plain yogurt
6 medium strawberries
1 C pineapple, crushed, canned in juice
1 medium banana
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 ice cubes
1. Place all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth.
2. Serve in frosted glass.
Yield: 3 servings, serving size: 1 cup
Each serving provides: Calories: 121, Total fat: less than 1g, Saturated fat: less than 1 g, Cholesterol: 1 mg, Sodium: 64 mg, Total fiber: 2 g, Protein: 6 g, Carbohydrates: 24 g, Potassium: 483 mg
Actually, most healthy adults do—but not necessarily straight from the tap. Over the years, confusion has arisen over the body’s need for water. The eight-glass quota is accurate, but some people take it too literally. They forget that the food we eat contains water.
Roast chicken is 65 percent water, macaroni 72 percent, lettuce 96 percent. Milk, juice and soda are mostly water.
Most people needn’t make a conscious effort to drink more fluids, experts say. Healthy people with normal kidneys and a normal thirst will drink enough water.
That eight-glasses-a-day idea was fostered in the 1970s, experts say, when crash diets were a fad and diet centers urged people to drink eight glasses of water each day. Many of us generalized from that.
Still, if you do insist on getting your daily eight, it won’t harm you. For the average healthy person, whatever water you don’t need will be eliminated.
When to watch your intake
- Elderly people should monitor their fluid intake. As we age, the percentage of water in our bodies decreases. People in their 80s or 90s may not realize they’re dehydrated because their thirst mechanisms don’t work as well as they did. One way an older person can remember to drink enough: put a pitcher (about 64 ounces) of water in the refrigerator each morning; drink it by day’s end.
- Exercising? Drink fluids early and often, especially in hot weather. Don’t ignore your body’s thirst signals. Perspiration is the body’s normal mechanism for getting rid of heat, experts say, but without enough fluid in your body the mechanism is overwhelmed. If you can’t sweat properly, the result can be heat exhaustion or even heat stroke.
- When ill you may require more water. Fever can cause extra fluid loss through perspiration and rapid breathing. Diarrhea and vomiting also cause water loss. Still, people under a doctor’s care for heart or kidney conditions also should not drink too much; that can interfere with their treatment.
How thirst works
As you lose water, your blood volume declines, creating a higher salt concentration. Receptors in the brain pick up these signals and stimulate the sensation of thirst. The pituitary gland produces a hormone that signals the kidneys to put out less urine, conserving water.
The result: you get thirsty and drink fluids. If you ignore thirst, your mouth gets dry, you sweat less, your urine may get darker (more concentrated) and your skin becomes less resilient.
For more information:
https://fhahelps.personaladvantage.com/sc/13/4411
An Empty Nest
Coping when children go away to school
For many parents of grown-up children, dealing with the empty nest can be wrenching, even if the adult offspring moves across town. But when they move hundreds or thousands of miles away, parents often are at risk for disabling depression. Quite frequently, the older people are the more they are struggling with feelings of anxiety and depression, experts say. They need to express their grief, and maybe even anger, over their new situation. Then they can move on to begin building healthy, active lifestyles for themselves.
How can older parents adjust more easily? Here are some suggestions.
- Talk about your feelings. Most people who experience grief can benefit by simply describing their feelings aloud. Sit down with your significant other, a close friend or minister, and let those feelings pour out, experts say.
- Be creative about maintaining contact with your children. Take advantage of off-peak hours to check in regularly by phone. And don’t forget email. If you don’t have your own electronic mail account, your public library may allow you to send a message to your loved one free of charge.
- Become a volunteer. Ask yourself: Are your services needed at the local hospital or public school? Knowing that you’re needed can be a powerful weapon in the battle against isolation and depression.
For more information:
https://fhahelps.personaladvantage.com/sc/27
Banking Online? Get with the Times.
What you need to know about paying bills online.
The state of the art method for paying and receiving bills online is electronic bill payment and presentment (EBPP). EBPP is an electronic means of making payments and passing along billing information in a secure and real-time online environment. EBPP consists of two sides: payment and presentment. While firms such as PayPal have found a niche as the Western Unions of the Internet for handling payments, an online account is likely to provide greater control and savings over online transactions in the long run.
With EBPP, you authorize your bank to debit your account for amounts and on payment dates that you specify. You can pay your utility bills, mortgage and auto, and any other regular monthly payments.
Since EBPP keeps a log of your transactions, it also keeps your monthly statements online. This amenity cuts down on the volume of paper records you receive and maintain, and allows you to quickly retrieve archived information.
You can also use electronic bill payment to pay your federal and state income taxes. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) encourages you to submit your tax returns online using its e-file program, which handled more than 50 million tax returns in 2003. E-file is free, safe, and accurate. Most states offer similar electronic-payments systems.
Bill presentment is the other side of EBPP. Presentment is a fancy way of saying it shows you the bills. For example, your cell phone company or water utility can present a bill online rather than mail you one.
Most banks offer EBPP, often free of charge, you can check yours for more information and to get started.
For more information:
https://fhahelps.personaladvantage.com/financial/
