All of us know about AIDS and the terrible toll this infection has taken around the world over the past two to three decades. Most of us are aware that tuberculosis remains a major threat. How many of us realize the extent of the worldwide spread of hepatitis?
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently established the first World Hepatitis Day which was observed on July 28, 2011. Among the nearly seven billion people living on this planet, nearly 500 million suffer from chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C. That figure translates to 7% of the world’s population.
There are several different types of hepatitis virus ranging from hepatitis A to G. All can cause inflammation of the liver and lead to yellow jaundice, nausea, lethargy and weight loss. Severe cases can be fatal. If a person’s body successfully fights off the infection, the individual recovers within a few weeks and the infection is viewed as “acute.” If the infection persists for six months or longer, it is termed “chronic” and will often last for years and even decades. According to the WHO, approximately one million people died from chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C last year.
If there’s good news to be found in this regard, it’s that a large majority of hepatitis cases are preventable. There are effective vaccines available against hepatitis A and hepatitis B. These vaccines are commonly given to infants and children in the United States (and hopefully, someday, to children throughout the world). Several types of hepatitis are totally preventable by practicing safe sex, by not injecting drugs of abuse, and by not sharing razors or blood-sugar-testing devices.
For further information about acute or chronic hepatitis, go to http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis. By the time we reach the second World Hepatitis Day in July 2012, it will be interesting to see how we have fared both in the U.S. and in the rest of the world against this under-recognized epidemic.
Brad Gascoigne, M.D.
Smart Readers Health Column
Passport Health Northern Ohio, Local News
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Daily Beast ranks Cleveland as the #7 sickest city
Online news site The Daily Beast compiled a list of the 20 sickest cities in America.
Cleveland came in at #7.
The index took into consideration a variety of factors, including a city's SDI Health ranking, statewide vaccination coverage, Influenza and pneumonia deaths per 100,000 people and estimated flu activity during the rest of flu season.
Cleveland's vaccination rate is under 65%. Vaccination is the cheapest and most effective forms of preventative medicine available and can not only keep you out of the hospital, but can save your life. Don't put it off!
Source: The Daily Beast
Cleveland came in at #7.
The index took into consideration a variety of factors, including a city's SDI Health ranking, statewide vaccination coverage, Influenza and pneumonia deaths per 100,000 people and estimated flu activity during the rest of flu season.
Cleveland's vaccination rate is under 65%. Vaccination is the cheapest and most effective forms of preventative medicine available and can not only keep you out of the hospital, but can save your life. Don't put it off!
Source: The Daily Beast
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Flu on the rise in Northeast Ohio
After a relatively uneventful start of flu season in the United States, it looks like the seasonal flu is finally starting to strike Northeast Ohio. The CDC is now showing that flu is widespread in 30 states - including Ohio.
"Cuyahoga County saw a doubling in flu cases last week, said Richard Stacklin, a researcher with the county Board of Health." The CDC this year offers a universal recommendation for flu vaccination. It's cheap, quick, and the most effective way of ensuring you don't get the flu this winter.
Passport Health still carries the flu vaccine. Call our office at 216.295.9400 for an appointment. Mention this blog and receive $5 off.
Source: Cleveland.com
"Cuyahoga County saw a doubling in flu cases last week, said Richard Stacklin, a researcher with the county Board of Health." The CDC this year offers a universal recommendation for flu vaccination. It's cheap, quick, and the most effective way of ensuring you don't get the flu this winter.
Passport Health still carries the flu vaccine. Call our office at 216.295.9400 for an appointment. Mention this blog and receive $5 off.
Source: Cleveland.com
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Vaccines and Autism: A Story of Medicine, Science and Fear
We can't emphasize enough the importance of routine vaccinations for children. Vaccines are the most effective and most economical way to prevent deadly diseases - they helped us exterminate the scourge of smallpox and nearly eliminate polio.
Diane Rehm's show from February 2 talks about the fear associated with vaccines and addresses much of the misinformation surrounding them. I encourage everyone to listen to this important program in order to understand the truth about vaccines and the risks we face as a society by choosing not to vaccinate our children against preventable illnesses.
Click the listen link on this page to hear the episode of the Diane Rehm show from NPR/WAMU.
If you or your child are not up-to-date on routine vaccines--particularly for critical illnesses such as whooping cough--please call Passport Health to schedule an appointment today.
Diane Rehm's show from February 2 talks about the fear associated with vaccines and addresses much of the misinformation surrounding them. I encourage everyone to listen to this important program in order to understand the truth about vaccines and the risks we face as a society by choosing not to vaccinate our children against preventable illnesses.
Click the listen link on this page to hear the episode of the Diane Rehm show from NPR/WAMU.
If you or your child are not up-to-date on routine vaccines--particularly for critical illnesses such as whooping cough--please call Passport Health to schedule an appointment today.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The flu vaccine: separating the truth from myth
There's a lot of misinformation out there about flu vaccines. It's important to know what the truth it as we make decisions about the health and wellness of our families.
The article linked below was published in this morning's edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and addresses the following three myths about the flu vaccine:
1) Flu myth: The flu shot gives you the flu. "But the shot itself giving you the flu? Impossible, all three docs say."
2) Only unhealthy/old/sick/infirm people are really in danger from the flu. "...while it's true that the very young, the elderly, pregnant women and those with certain chronic health conditions are at greatest risk from influenza, healthy people get seriously ill and even die from the flu every year."
3) Flu myth: The flu vaccine is dangerous. "Study after study after study has shown no link between vaccines and autism,"
4) Flu myth: I got vaccinated last year, so I don't need a shot this year. "...last year's vaccine may offer you some protection this year, Congeni says, but it's unlikely you'll be fully protected." Some people are lucky enough to only have mild illness or have what is called a "subclinical" infection, one that is so mild it doesn't even cause noticeable symptoms
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2011/01/the_flu_vaccine_separating_the.html
The article linked below was published in this morning's edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and addresses the following three myths about the flu vaccine:
1) Flu myth: The flu shot gives you the flu. "But the shot itself giving you the flu? Impossible, all three docs say."
2) Only unhealthy/old/sick/infirm people are really in danger from the flu. "...while it's true that the very young, the elderly, pregnant women and those with certain chronic health conditions are at greatest risk from influenza, healthy people get seriously ill and even die from the flu every year."
3) Flu myth: The flu vaccine is dangerous. "Study after study after study has shown no link between vaccines and autism,"
4) Flu myth: I got vaccinated last year, so I don't need a shot this year. "...last year's vaccine may offer you some protection this year, Congeni says, but it's unlikely you'll be fully protected." Some people are lucky enough to only have mild illness or have what is called a "subclinical" infection, one that is so mild it doesn't even cause noticeable symptoms
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2011/01/the_flu_vaccine_separating_the.html
Thursday, January 20, 2011
George Clooney Contracted Malaria In Sudan
Don't be like George Clooney and travel unprepared to the Sudan. The actor recently contracted malaria on a recent trip. Make sure that when you travel to malaria-stricken regions, you bring along proper anti-malaria medication!
Malaria caught on camera breaking and entering cell
From the New Scientist:
"The video above captures the moment when a malaria parasite invades a human red blood cell - the first time the event has been caught in moving pictures."
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