Boost Your Immunity

In our previous post we discussed the unique circumstances surrounding Swine Flu (H1N1). The difference between Swine Flu and Seasonal Flu is what happens in the lungs. H1N1 causes a Cytokine storm or over production which leads to Sudden Respiratory distress, pneumonia and other lung problems. Seasonal Flu however does not produce the same response. So to boost immunity for this Flu season one should be aware of these differences.

Things to stay away from, because they contribute to increased Cytokine production:

Honey, Chocolate, Spirilina, Algae, Elderberry, Echinacea

Things to eat, have been known to decrease Cytokine production:

Apples, Lemons, Cranberries, Chicken Soup

Herbals

Research though limited, demonstrates certain herbals can reduce Cytokines and slow influenza production (Neuramidase Blocker).

Cytokine Reducers:

Tumeric/curcumin, Golden Seal, Green Tea-(also inhibits Influenza)

Influenza Inhibitor (Neuramidase Blocker)

Resveratrol, Vitamin D, Skull Cap

Remember H1N1 reacts differently in the body because it is brand new and most have no natural immunity.

Refer to Flu.Gov for updates to this Influenza Season.



I have put together a kit which contains the herbals mentioned in this post.

Pandemic Flu Kit

I know I will keep a kit for my family this flu season.

Swine Flu Health & You

In the U.S., seasonal flu virus(Influenza) kills about 36,000 people and hospitalizes more than 200,000. The flu season is between November to March google.org/flutrends. The seasonal flu will soon start and the swine flu(H1N1) isn't gone yet.

The fear is the Swine Flu will mutate and worsen as the regular flu season progresses. Flu.gov. Regular Influenza doesn't mutate much season to season. So virulence or deadliness is relatively low and complications arise from secondary health issues. The Swine Flu is different however. Genetically it is a recombinant virus, it has borrowed genes from different species. Human, swine, duck to be exact. To our immune system this virus doesn't exist. It therefore is stealthy and causes the immune system to react in undesirable ways.

The good news is that although contagious it has a low virility and currently with early diagnosis and treatment the outcome is healthy. The bad news is it is currently mutating and may become highly virulent. In the pig, swine flu attacks the respiratory system and pigs become lethargic, cough, etc…In humans the swine flu infects the entire lung tissue. On top of typical flu symptoms the lungs are inundated with a natural immune response that hurts us. The chemical immune response releases Chemokines and Cytokines which causes undue inflammation and other secondary symptoms responsible for the deaths so far. In fact the CDC advised physicians to consider swine flu in their differential diagnosis of patients presenting with seasonal flu and respiratory symptoms. These Chemokines and cytokines are chemical mediators from the immune system basically directing the immune response. The difference is the swine flu is brand new to our immunity and therefore causes a hyper reaction in the lungs and a "Cytokine Storm" with respiratory distress.

What this means to you? There are actions you can take to protect yourself and minimize risk and exposure. One to prevent infection and two, to better deal with the respiratory symptoms since this is the real threat to your health. Your current health state does play a role because the healthier you are the secondary respiratory effects are better handled. Because the swine flu is new even healthy individuals will contract it.

Prevention

Every day prevention includes:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. (Leave the soap on the hands for at least 10 seconds).

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way. (If you have allergies avoid rubbing the eyes).

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people. (If you are child-caring wear an N95 disposable respirator).

• Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further. (this is one of the most distinguishing indicators combined with early respiratory symptoms).

• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures. (Not dining out during a local outbreak is social distancing).

Businesses should refer to http://www.flu.gov/professional/business/index.html

Five Other Healthy Habits

• If you share toothbrush stands, consider separating toothbrushes this flu season
• Clean household items more frequently. Books, toys, door knobs, phones, keyboards and mouse, lines, etc…a study found the seasonal cold can live on keyboards
• Wash hands / wrists more frequently and longer than 10 seconds.
• Don't rub your eyes or touch your face, sneeze into a tissue and dispose of immediately
• Don't get run-down. Sleep, diet, exercise strengthen immunity
• Don't be complacent, H1N1 isn't gone yet

Who is at risk?

People less than 25, history of respiratory problems , asthma, diabetes, suppressed immunity, kidney disease, neurologic or neuromuscular disease, or if pregnant are statistically at increased risk for contracting H1N1 and having more secondary complications. Think of 15 to 50 and those with other risk factors.

The seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine are separate vaccinations. A seasonal vaccine is distributed routinely every year, the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine is in development for the fall of 2009.

http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.aspx?c=aqKGLXOAIlH&b=1015035

Pandemic flu Kit

So if H1N1 swine flu breaks out in your neighborhood you doctor will likely offer a neuramidase blocker such as Tamiflu and medical attention to reduce the cytokine storm in the lungs. If an epidemic breaks out it is probable that these pharmaceuticals' will be administered on a limited basis. I believe that certain herbals that have been researched but not tested offer afforded protection and is definitely better than doing nothing. I have put together a Swine flu kit that helps address the cytokine storm associated with the swine flu and the flu virus replication. Remember it is this undesirable immune response that causes secondary symptoms and respiratory distress. Research demonstrates certain supplements can one reduce systemic cytokines and two, slow down flu replication . Some of the ingredients are curcumin, tumeric, GARLIC, YIN CHIAO. Other mild anti-virals' are skullcap( scutellaria tea) and Resveratrol. Alternative Medicine Review u Volume 11, Number 2 u 2006, http://med- owl.com/health/H5N1-Virus-Therapy.html, I am keep a kit handy just in case.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220481721144

Remember to always refer to your primary physician if you suspect swine flu or other respiratory symptoms first. These supplements should not be taken if you are pregnant, or in pediatric patients.

We will include an update to the kits supplements and other health benefits in our next posting.


Curtis Haake D.C.

Killing Ourselves

Are we killing ourselves...one day at a time?

A 2004 study by the U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found attributable behavior lead to more than half the deaths in 2000. Things like smoking, inactivity and bad eating habits and drinking were the top three bad living choices. These top three not only kill but cost the U.S. health care system millions of dollars each year in prolonged and ongoing health care.

With a National Health Care program on the horizon we should address our role in the health care picture. After all it is our health not an insurance company's or the federal Governments. As tax paying citizens being asked to shoulder a National Health care plan we should accept a little more responsibility to our care or self care.

Health Care

Health care is just that...How we care for our health day in and day out, year to year. Lets not confuse Health care and Health Insurance. Being healthy should be connected to our emotions. It should feel good to be healthy and feel good staying healthy. All to often social health studies find that the majority of people live short term or live in the now with little thought for the future when it comes to healthy daily choices.

Health Insurance

Health Insurance is to cover medical bills for unfortunate health crisis, accidents and "life's bumps and bruises." Health insurance offers some healthy benefits such as early detection, health screens, and track health trends. For instance, if you can reflect back on blood sugar readings from the past 7 years and see a rising trend towards pre-diabetes then you could do more to prevent early diabetes. Health insurance though does not automatically make you healthy. A health insurance plan should fit your current health needs. If you require more medications your plan should offer coverage for those pharmaceuticals but also raises the question..."Why is my health picture declining and what can I do to become healthier"

Baby Steps

It takes small changes over time to achieve amazing results. Start with the top three. Stop smoking, control alcohol consumption, and become more active. More importantly try to become emotional about your health decisions. Find services or groups for support and take action. One option becoming more popular is Health Coaching services where you're health coach evaluates your health picture, from health risks to life style choices then formulates a plan and provides resources and accountability to guide you.

The Chiro-Life program at: www.trainerforce.net/chiro-life offers a comprehensive program with health coaching services and resources. With all the health products available and current medical care, the U.S. system still costs the most but ranks in the middle of industrialized nations. We may be living longer but our quality of life in the latter years is in decline. Lets stop killing ourselves and make more conscious healthy decisions and Live Healthy - Be Healthy.

Curtis J Haake D.C.
Health Coach

Health Care and You

The political buzz lately has focused on health care and health insurance. No doubt these issues need to be addressed due to poor health, financial difficulties from rising health care co
sts but what is health care defined. What is health insurance and what is your responsibility?


Before we step behind a political following and make hasty decisions on constitutional merits, what is the health climate of America? Here is some food for thought (zero calories I promise) from 2006 census figures that should shed some light on where health dollars go and our current health climate:

• Number uninsured was 47 million or 15.8 % of the U.S.population
• Number uninsured not U.S. citizens 45% of 47 million
• Age 18-24 uninsured 29.3% of 47 million
• 25-35 uninsured 26.9% of 47 million
• Earning 75,000 salary per year or more, 8.5% of 47 million (health savings accounts may not have been tabulated in the census figures)
• Mental health is the secondary cause of disability in the U.S. that accounts for 20% of all Americans
  

In 2007 the total health dollars spent (Not sure if all pharmaceutical expenses were factored in) was 2.26 trillion dollars. This figure is the big considered by some as the "big ball" of insurance money. Over the past 9 years congressional hearings, when investigating and proposing regulations on Health Saving Accounts, looked at the impact of lost health dollars in the overall national insurance pool of money...AKA the big ball of insurance money.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is just that, for the unexpected what ifs in life, for those unforeseen health crisis in life. Health insurance was never designed to make you healthy. The current health insurance model is in line with current medical health models and is very pharmaco-centric (a self contrived term for the times) and delivers post disease care or care for disease after it develops. When thinking of a health insurance policy try to match the policy to your current health and health conditions then expand that to where your health may be in 5-7 years. Health insurance is not health care but one part of it.

Health Care

Health care is actually your part every day. It is how you eat, exercise, manage stress, how happy you are in life and so much more. How we take care of ourselves is a predictor of future health crisis. Most health experts agree that up to 80% of most diseases are preventable. The younger the intervention the better the outcome. This suggests that any health care overhaul should include education to America's youth to keep future generations healthier than the previous ones.

You

Your part should involve trying to differentiate the two terms of health care and health insurance then integrate the two to form a health plan for your health. Take back control of your health by caring and improving your fitness and knowledge on better life-habits. Match a health insurance plan for you health needs now then 5-7 years in the future. Look for programs that teach or coach you on proper health strategies. When listening to politicians discussing change we should ask what affects the majority of health issues and not the more rare, obscure issues that answer to political hot buttons. After all its not just our health and health care but our children' s health too.

We should be compelled to offer prevention and preventative measures in any health care model since preventing disease offers the best intervention, lower cost, and better life quality to begin with.

Curtis Haake D.C.
Health Coach