Flu Shot

What is the flu?

The flu (influenza) is a respiratory infection. It is caused by influenza viruses that infect your nose, throat, and lungs. These viruses can spread from person to person.

Most people with the flu get better on their own, without medical care. But for some people, the flu is serious. It can cause complications and sometimes even death. People who are 65 and older, under age 5, pregnant, or have certain health conditions are at higher risk of flu complications.

Getting vaccinated against the flu each year is best way to lower your risk of the flu and its complications.

There are many reasons to get a flu shot each year:

• It may keep you from getting sick with the flu.
• If you do get the flu, it may be less severe. You may also be less likely to have complications or need to be hospitalized with the flu.
• If you have certain chronic health conditions, getting a flu shot may help prevent the flu from making your condition worse. For example, if you have COPD or diabetes, the flu can worsen your condition so much that you might need to be hospitalized. Getting a flu shot can lower this risk.
• Getting the vaccine during pregnancy not only helps protect you from the flu during and after pregnancy. It also helps protect your baby from flu during their first few months of life.
• It has been shown to lower the risk of severe life-threatening flu in children.
• It may also protect the people around you, including those who are at higher risk of complications.

The flu vaccine causes your immune system to make antibodies about two weeks after you get the shot. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the flu viruses that are in the vaccine.

The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual flu shots for everyone 6 months and older, with a few rare exceptions.

Flu shots are especially important for people who are at high risk of developing serious complications from the flu.

There are different types of flu vaccines. There are injectable vaccines (shots) and nasal spray vaccines. There are also some vaccines especially for people 65 and older. Ask your health care provider which one is right for you.

There are some people who should not get a flu shot:

• Children younger than 6 months of age.
• Have severe, life-threatening allergies to flu vaccine or any ingredient in the vaccine. This might include gelatin, antibiotics, or other ingredients.

Some people need to talk to their provider before they get a flu shot. They include people who:

• Have an allergy to any of the ingredients in the vaccine.
• Have ever had Guillain-Barre syndrome(GBS). Some people with a history of GBS should not get a flu vaccine.

If you are moderately or severely ill, you usually need to wait until you recover before getting a flu shot.

You need to get a flu shot every year because:

• Your immune protection from the vaccine declines over time. You need to get the shot every year to boost that protection.
• Flu viruses are constantly changing, so every year, the flu vaccine is updated. The flu vaccine will include protection against the viruses that will most likely be common during the upcoming flu season.

For most people who need only one dose of the flu vaccine for the season, September and October are usually good times to get it. It's best to be vaccinated by the end of October.

Some children need two doses of the flu vaccine. They should get their first dose as soon as the vaccine is available. They need to get the second dose at least four weeks after the first.

If you are pregnant, talk to your provider about when to get the vaccine. When you should get it can vary, based on how far along you are in your pregnancy.

Flu vaccines have been shown to be safe. But like any medical product, they can cause side effects. If you have any side effects, they are usually mild and go away on their own within a few days. Common side effects include:

• Soreness, redness, and/or swelling from the shot
• Headache
• Fever
• Nausea
• Muscle aches

The flu shot, like other injections, can occasionally cause fainting. In rare cases, some people have a serious allergic reaction.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Foodborne Illness

Each year, around 48 million people in the United States get sick from contaminated food. Common causes include bacteria and viruses. Less often, the cause may be a parasite or a harmful chemical, such as a high amount of pesticides. Symptoms of foodborne illness depend on the cause. They can be mild or serious. They usually include:

• Upset stomach
• Abdominal cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Dehydration

Most foodborne illnesses are acute. This means that they happen suddenly and last a short time.

It takes several steps to get food from the farm or fishery to your dining table. Contamination can happen during any of these steps. For example, it can happen to:

• Raw meat during slaughter
• Fruits and vegetables when they are growing or when they are processed
• Refrigerated foods when they are left on a loading dock in warm weather

But it can also happen in your kitchen if you leave food out for more than 2 hours at room temperature. Handling food safely can help prevent foodborne illnesses.

Most people with foodborne illness get better on their own. It is important to replace lost fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration. If your health care provider can diagnose the specific cause, you may get medicines such as antibiotics to treat it. For more serious illness, you may need treatment at a hospital.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Foot Health

Each step you take involves a complex network of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This, combined with all of the weight they carry, explains why feet can have problems. To keep your feet healthy:

• Examine your feet regularly
• Wear comfortable shoes that fit
• Wash your feet daily with soap and lukewarm water
• Trim your toenails straight across and not too short

Your foot health can be a clue to your overall health. For example, joint stiffness could mean arthritis. Tingling or numbness could be a sign of diabetes. Swelling might indicate kidney disease, heart disease, or high blood pressure.

Good foot care and regular foot checks are an important part of your health care. If you have foot problems, be sure to talk to your doctor.

NIH: National Institute on Aging

Gallbladder Cancer

Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ under your liver. It stores bile, a fluid made by your liver to digest fat. As your stomach and intestines digest food, your gallbladder releases bile through a tube called the common bile duct. The duct connects your gallbladder and liver to your small intestine.

Cancer of the gallbladder is rare. It is more common in women and Native Americans. Symptoms include

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
• Pain above the stomach
• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Bloating
• Lumps in the abdomen

It is hard to diagnose gallbladder cancer in its early stages. Sometimes doctors find it when they remove the gallbladder for another reason. But people with gallstones rarely have gallbladder cancer. Because it is often found late, it can be hard to treat gallbladder cancer. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Gallbladder Diseases

Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ under your liver. It stores bile, a fluid made by your liver to digest fat. As your stomach and intestines digest food, your gallbladder releases bile through a tube called the common bile duct. The duct connects your gallbladder and liver to your small intestine.

Your gallbladder is most likely to give you trouble if something blocks the flow of bile through the bile ducts. That is usually a gallstone. Gallstones form when substances in bile harden. Rarely, you can also get cancer in your gallbladder.

Many gallbladder problems get better with removal of the gallbladder. Fortunately, you can live without a gallbladder. Bile has other ways of reaching your small intestine.