Best of 2009 Health Stories for Women

When we have a break from the holiday rush in December, many of us reflect on the year that just passed. Some stories may have gotten lots of attention while others were overshadowed. I chose 12 of the most important (or intriguing) women’s health topics of 2009. Click on the links for the full stories.

With the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, it was a scary time for all pregnant women who naturally have weakened immune responses. They were urged to get vaccines for H1N1.

Mammograms got quite a bit of attention late this year when the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended against the screening for women under 50. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said women should keep doing what they’ve been doing for years and talk to their doctors about whether or not to have a mammogram.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued new cervical cancer screening guidelines, saying that some women may not need a Pap test each year.

A study funded by the National Cancer Institute revealed more about the lifestyle risk factors for breast cancer. Alcohol consumption and obesity were found to greatly elevate risk.

Both women and men were urged to cut added sugar intake. The American Heart Association issued new sugar intake recommendations to help reduce obesity and diabetes.

A large study showed that H2 blockers for acid reflux taken during pregnancy pose no significant threat to the fetus.

Medical professionals issued warning on use of fetal heart rate monitors, which could give some women a false sense of security and cause a delay in needed treatment.

Researchers found that in women with a family history of breast cancer, breastfeeding reduces breast cancer risk by more than 50%.

America once again got a “D” on preterm birth rates.

Good news for almost everyone: Dark chocolate was proven to reduce stress.

Depression became a suggested risk factor for bone loss.

A large-scale sleep study revealed that lack of sleep is more dangerous (heart-wise) for women than men.

(Image via stock.xchng)

Reasons to Stay Home Black Friday

As someone who doesn’t like crowds, I’ve never understood the appeal of Black Friday on November 27. The day after Thanksgiving deals are never good enough to lure me out of my house. In general, I do my holiday shopping online or during the week when stores aren’t crowded.

I can understand that Black Friday is a holiday tradition for many people. To some, it’s as serious or essential as hot cocoa or pretty bows on presents. However, there are a couple of reasons to re-consider that tradition this year.

First, as I know you’ve heard, there’s a flu pandemic. If you haven’t had vaccines (both seasonal and H1N1), you’re risking exposure as you crowd into stores, lining up at the doors and shopping elbow to elbow. I’m not suggesting becoming a recluse to avoid exposure, but skipping the crowds on November 27 could save you some misery.

If you do shop on Black Friday, remember to take hand sanitizer with you. However, the cleanest hands won’t help you if germs are in the air. Avoid fellow shoppers who are coughing or sneezing. And, of course, if you’re very sick, don’t go out! If you do sneeze, remember to cover your sneeze with your arm, not your hand. That way, you aren’t spreading germs to things you touch or hands you shake.

Finally, you may want to stay home simply to spread a message about commercialism. Buy Nothing Day, hosted by AdBusters, is going strong once again this year. Buy Nothing Day is a 24-hour moratorium on consumer spending. You can learn more at adbusters.org.

Are you shopping on Black Friday?

(Image via flickr/Vince Alongi)

H1N1, Vaccines, and Mercury

Yes, there is thimerosol in the H1N1 injectable vaccine. Yes, you are being encouraged to have the H1N1 vaccine to prevent the spread of influenza. Yes, there is a very tiny amount of mercury in thimerosol. NO, this does not cause autism.

Several years ago, some doctors made a claim that the vaccines given to children caused autism. As some parents of children with autism wanted to be able to identify a specific cause for their children’s disability, they latched on to the theory that there was a connection between the vaccines and autism. The problem is, the very doctor who made this claim first has come out to say that he was wrong. That his research was wrong. Sadly, this is still a strong belief in some sectors and many people avoid vaccines for fear of exposing their children and themselves to the imagined risk. Read more

Be Healthy While Trick or Treating

With all the news coverage about swine flu outbreaks, I think using some caution when trick or treating may be in order for Halloween this year. I guess the safest thing to do would be to lock the doors, bar the windows and huddle in your house while eating a food stockpile you put together before the outbreak. Not much fun, though. Besides, then you’d have to have your mail deposited into a little box that you sprayed heavily with disinfectant to be sure your mail carrier didn’t give you any flu germs…So, I’m thinking more of a healthy medium. Yes, go out and have fun, but try a few protective measures.

• Bring along your own containers of disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer and use them when grabbing gate latches, door handles, etc.
• If someone answers a door and is obviously sick, consider discarding any candy or items that person hands out.
• Make sure your kids remember that if they suddenly have to cough or sneeze, they should do so into an elbow or a tissue.
• Keep any sick children home, even if they’re sad they are missing out.

And if you are really concerned about having your child avoid exposure to the H1N1 flu vaccine, but don’t want people to think you’re being an alarmist, you could always suggest that your child dress up as a surgeon and wear a face mask and protective gloves during the whole trick or treating experience. (I saw a child dressed as a zombie surgeon at yesterday’s not so very haunted house event at the outlet center who was doing just that. He looked quite cute in a gross “I’m so not a fan of zombies” sort of way.)

Photo: SXC

AMA Flu Help Online

Amafluhelp.org can’t officially diagnose you, but the American Medical Association site can tell you whether or not you should seek further medical attention. It can also tell you if you likely don’t have the flu. The free resource can help you assess flu risk for adults or children, as well as provide flu vaccine advice and let you know when it’s safe to go back to work if you do have the flu.

At amafluhelp.org, you can also sign up for a scheduled health session to receive expert guidance. If you choose, you may invite your family or physician online as part of your health team. Amafluhelp.org is compatible with Microsoft’s HeathVault, allowing you to store personal medical information and connect to your pharmacy.

The site does require free registration, but you may also take it for a spin drive before registering with the AMA’s Adult Self Assessment for H1N1 flu. While the website does allow doctors to communicate with patients, the doctors still can’t prescribe medications online, though that may change in the future.

While amafluhelp.org will be helpful for patients with flu-related questions, it’s important to keep in mind that the website won’t be helpful for other conditions, such as infections that might respond to antibiotics.

Have you tried amafluhelp.org to assess your risk for flu or to gain other flu-related information?

(Image via stock.xchng)

Obama declares H1N1 emergency

According to news reports, President Barack Obama has declared an H1N1 emergency in the United States. This move was declared earlier today. By making this declaration, medical resources can be distributed as they are needed, including off-site in non-traditional methods of delivery.

There are still people who feel that the H1N1 influenza is being blown out of proportion and this will be the biggest non-event in history, but let’s look at the facts:

Flu season, which runs from November until March, kills many people every year. Flu season hasn’t even really officially begun yet, and yet, the U.S. has seen 22 deaths directly attributed to H1N1, as reported by the Centers of Disease Control:

2009 – 2010  22 (18 confirmed H1N1)**
2008-2009  147 (76 confirmed H1N1)*
2007-2008  83
2006-2007  68
2005-2006  41
2004-2005  39
2003-2004  152

Traditionally, seasonal influenzas strike the elderly and the infirm the hardest. The elderly are not the targets of this virus, it is the young healthy adults and children who are experiencing complications and dying.

Also, from the CDC website:

During week 40 (October 4-10, 2009), influenza activity increased in the U.S.

• The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the epidemic threshold.
• Eleven influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported. Ten of these deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and one was associated with an influenza A virus, for which subtype is undetermined.

I’m giving the flu vaccine next week to my coworkers and I’ll be getting it myself. I want my family vaccinated. I want to do whatever I can to keep them healthy. Naysayers can go on about how we need to fight viruses and strengthen our immune systems. Catching this flu and fighting it does nothing for our immune system except make us immune to this influenza the next time it comes around – maybe.

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Image: Newscom.com

Many Older African Americans Avoid Flu Shot

A study has found older African Americans are less likely to get a flu shot than are older non-Hispanic whites. It’s not uncommon to hear about differences in certain illnesses and approach to illnesses, depending on race or culture, or even genetics. For example, it’s known that African Americans have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension). However, when it’s a behavior, such as avoiding a vaccination, it’s important for the medical community to understand why this is happening.

Researchers in Buffalo, NY, looked at the reasons why older African Americans may be reluctant to get a flu shot and they found several factors:

• Many thought that vaccines provided life-long immunity, not just a few months
• It wasn’t understood by many that there were different forms of influenza, which is why vaccines change from year to year
• Some think the vaccine causes the flu
• 75% had been vaccinated against influenza at some time in their life
• 50% had a flu vaccine last year

There is also a distrust among the older population because of the history of vaccinations and studies from the government and mistreatment of their community. This may be the hardest part to fight because once trust is lost, it’s harder to regain then getting it in the first place.

Learning this information shows researchers that it’s important that influenza and influenza vaccine information be targeted to the areas of the population that need it most. The only way to increase compliance is through education.

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Source: Despite risk, older African-Americans more likely than others to avoid flu vaccine

Image: PhotoXpress.com

Early Retirement at Genetics and Health

I find it very interesting that today’s big news has to do with why only humans have the capacity for language. First found in a vocally-impaired family, scientists discovered a large gene they named “TOSPEAK” that may explain how humans are the only primates to develop language.

Interesting I say because effective today, Genetics and Health will be retired, and in a nostalgic way, this is my last time “to-speak”.

Even then, the field of genetics has never been so exciting as these times. Genetics has spread into the language of cancer, HIV/AIDS, behavior/psychological issues from smoking to addictions, from autism to chronic health problems, infections like the H1N1 and MRSA, organic versus modified foods, our children’s sex, paternity issues, and what “bad” genes our children might carry. We’re using genetics to tell us how we want to live as we grow old. We’re “viewing” our genome through personalized medicine to help us prepare for what diseases we’re at risk of getting, and passing on. And did you know that people react to medicine in different ways based on certain genes they carry? Uh-huh.

And yet, genetics still lacks the audience it needs to be well understood and accepted as part of our healthcare decisions. Today, I read that physicians still don’t utilize genetics in providing treatment for their patients. And many are misinformed about the H1N1 flu virus and its vaccine so they’re scared to get immunized. They have concerns that are totally understandable and yet scary, as the world deals with more than 5,000 deaths from the H1N1 virus as of today.

Anyway, I am rambling on when I should be saying goodbye. I will definitely continue speak for genetics at some other venues. Hopefully someday the world will learn, too.

Talk to you later.

Firing Parents?

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Autism Speaks will hold a forum on November 13 to discuss challenges facing adults with autism and possible strategies and solutions. The Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism Town Hall will be held at AS’s

Chicago location or remotely through the Virtual Town Hall. See more information here.

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I did an interesting (at least as far as the composition of the audience went; I’m just assuming they enjoyed it) presentation earlier this week at the Laurelmead residence in Providence, R.I. The event was set up by a former professor of mine — a sweet guy, and I’m delighted to be back in touch with him and his wife after all these years — and attracted some 30 senior residents of Laurelmead. I usually speak to teachers, parents, future sped teachers, and other professionals, and had never had an audience like this one. Some were grandparents wondering how to interact with their autistic grandchildren and some were just plain curious about a family lifestyle that’s making more and more headlines. I thank them for their attention, and I hope they found the presentation helpful and entertaining.

Thanks too to Vox readers who were saddened to hear we’d not be doing this blog after November 1.

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Congrats to the Phoenix-based Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), a non-profit working to advance research and provide support for individuals with autism and their families, which has secured a $100,000 grant as the winner of the 2009 Arizona Benefits grant, funded by health benefits company Humana Inc. With the award, SARRC will create GardenWorks, a community-based program designed to engage individuals with ASDs in developing and sustaining a revenue-producing co-op garden. SARRC hopes to teach gardening and landscaping skills those with ASDs can use for work, while community members will be encouraged to mentor those individuals.

Tylenol May Reduce Vaccines’ Effects

Most parents (including this one) would give a child Tylenol right after a routine vaccination. But that may not be such a good idea, according to a new study published in Lancet.

Giving infants Tylenol (generic – paracetamol) to prevent fever after a vaccination may reduce the vaccine’s effectiveness, a new research has found.

Parents usually give Tylenol before or immediately after a routine shot so the child does not get a fever. However, this may not be a good idea since fever is usually the body’s natural immune response to the vaccine. In a Czech study published in Lancet (online October 16), 459 infants were followed after routine vaccination against polio, pneumonia, meningitis, whopping cough, tetanus and other childhood diseases. Half of the babies were given paracetamol within the first day after vaccination. These children did not develop fever, but their levels of antibody were lowered than the group who were not given any pain killers. The antibody levels remained low even after booster shots were given twelve months later.

An editorial wrote that the study makes "a compelling case against" routine use of fever-lowering medicines during immunization. The study did not look at whether immunity was lowered when paracetamol was given after fever developed, so there is no way to tell if the vaccine was as effective in this case.

This new finding is so relevant in light of the seasonal flu and the H1N1 vaccinations. So what’s a parent to do in case fever does develop?

(I found the article that mentioned this study at Associated Press/Yahoo! and I assumed the writer was given advance notice before the article is published tomorrow. Once I get a copy of the paper and the editorial, I will update this post. Maybe we can find some guidelines about what to do in case fever does develop. STAY TUNED.)

 

Image: Zuma Press

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