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5 Things You Can Do to Avoid Getting Sick This Winter!

It’s that time of year again – flu season!  And although it seems to have gotten off to a slow start this year, it never hurts to practice a little prevention.  Research has proven that taking a few preventative measures can pay off when it comes to avoiding the flu.

 

What can you do to increase the odds you’ll stay healthy this winter?

 

1. Take Vitamin C or drink more orange juice.  Vitamin C has been proven effective in boosting the body’s immune system.

 

2. If you don’t get enough sunshine during the day, take a Vitamin D supplement.  More and more research points to the benefits of Vitamin D supplementation in fighting off disease.  If you’re not getting at least 10 to 15 minutes a day of direct sunlight, pop those Vitamin D tablets!

 

3. Wash your hands!  It can’t be said enough.  This is the most basic and effective thing you can do to avoid catching the flu this year.  Use warm, soapy water and avoid touching doorknobs, public payphones, and grocery cart handles (any object that is touched by hundreds of hands per day).

 

4. Up your zinc.  Zinc helps to fight off infection and can be found in fish, poultry, eggs, milk, and unprocessed cereals.

 

5. Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.  A sleep deficient body is at a disadvantage when met with a bacteria or virus.  Get enough shuteye, and keep yourself healthy.

 

New Pure Form of Hydrocodone Has Experts Worried

According to a recent article in Time Healthland, powerful new pain medications being developed by drug companies have addiction experts worried we may be on the verge of a new surge in painkiller abuse.  Specifically, they are worried about a pure form of hydrocodone that will be available by prescription as early as next year.

 

Drug companies say this pure hydrocodone pill will help alleviate liver problems associated with high doses of acetominophen, which is an ingredient in Vicodin.  They also point out that patients will have to revisit their doctor in order to get a refill of the pure hydrocodone, whereas prescriptions for the weaker painkillers with acetominophen can be refilled up to five times between doctor visits.

 

According to the CDC, prescription painkillers led to the deaths of almost 15,000 people in 2008.

 

SOURCE: Powerful New Painkillers Have Addiction Experts Worried. Chris Hawley. Associated Press.

New York City Seeing More Whooping Cough Cases

Officials in New York City say they are seeing an alarming increase in whooping cough cases since late summer.  According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, the city has recorded 126 confirmed or probable cases of whooping cough since August.  In comparison, there were only 45 cases for the same stretch of time the prior year.

 

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection.  Formally known as pertussis, it can be a devastating illness, causing those sickened with it to make a “whooping” sound when they cough.  The young are most susceptible to dangerous complications.  Whooping cough can lead to pneumonia and even death.

 

SOURCE: Increased Cases of Whooping Cough Seen in New York City.  Associated Press.