Should I get a flu shot?

What exactly is the flu shot?  The flu shot contains dead flu viruses.  These viruses cannot cause the flu because once again they are dead.  The idea behind the flu shot is to "teach" your immune system what the flu virus looks like so that when confronted with a live flu virus your immune system will recognize it and attack and kill it thus protecting you against the flu.  The flu shot in my town can be found for around $25.  I think that avoiding a week or two of misery and the need to buy a medicine call tamiflu which will cost you at least $100 is well worth the price of a small shot.

Why do they have a new flu shot each year?  The answer to that is simple.  Viruses and bacteria can mutate or change.  If you have heard of a super bug or antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, they are examples of mutations in the bugs that make us sick.  According to the CDC,
"There are two reasons for getting a yearly flu vaccine:

• The first reason is that because flu viruses are constantly changing, flu vaccines may be updated from one season to the next to protect against the most recent and most commonly circulating viruses.
• The second reason that annual vaccination is recommended is that a person’s immune protection from vaccination declines over time and annual vaccination is needed for optimal protection."

So when should you get your flu shot?  Flu season usually peaks in December and can start as early as October and last into May.  So get the flu shot as soon as it becomes available in your community.

Lastly what are the side effects of the flu shot?  Again I will refer to the CDC.

"Different side effects can be associated with the flu shot and LAIV.
The flu shot: The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. Some minor side effects that could occur are:

• Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
• Fever (low grade)
• Aches

If these problems occur, they begin soon after the shot and usually last 1 to 2 days. Almost all people who receive influenza vaccine have no serious problems from it. However, on rare occasions, flu vaccination can cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. As of July 1, 2005, people who think that they have been injured by the flu shot can file a claim for compensation from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).
The nasal spray (also called LAIV or FluMist®): The viruses in the nasal-spray vaccine are weakened and do not cause severe symptoms often associated with influenza illness. (In clinical studies, transmission of vaccine viruses to close contacts has occurred only rarely.)
In children, side effects from LAIV (FluMist®) can include:

• runny nose
• wheezing
• headache
• vomiting
• muscle aches
• fever

In adults, side effects from LAIV (FluMist®) can include

• runny nose
• headache
• sore throat
• cough

More information about the safety of flu vaccines is available at Influenza Vaccine Safety."

For my money I am getting a flu shot every year.  I just think it is the smart thing to do.  If you want to read more about the flu check out www.cdc.gov/flu/.  That is all.

My book

Its done!!!!!  YEAH I'm very excited.  Here is the link to my book on Lulu.http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/JeremyHodgeDMD

Please let me know what you think!!

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Lazy Men

I saw a post on Facebook the other day that talked about basically a superwoman.  It talked about how she got up early, got the kids ready, fed them breakfast, did their hair, made sure their backpacks are ready to go for school, and herded them out the door all the while the husband scratched himself and got served breakfast and left for work.  Then she does all the household chores, balanced the checkbook, laundry, rotated the tires on the car, roofed the house, solved world hunger and developed an emission free fuel source.  Then she made dinner with a smile helped with home work etc.  The husband comes home from work does nothing but watch TV and eat the dinner his wife prepared.  Then she had to make love to him and she did it without complaining.  PHEW!  She is one busy lady. 

My first reaction to that post was that I was a little offended.  In my house I participate in raising the kids I help with the laundry, I cook some of the meals, I help clean, I help get the kids up and ready for school.  I do my best to help in all aspects of home life.  I help with homework and music practice.  Now I admit my wife does most of the work but that is simply because I am at my job.  When I come home I help out.  For example yesterday I came home for lunch and I noticed the clothes dryer stopped and there was a load waiting in the washer.  I took the clothes out of the dryer folded them and put them away.  I also took the clothes out of the washer and started them drying.

I know there are men out there who don't treat their wives well at all!!  I know there are some who don't lift a finger to help around the house and act like a king waiting on his servants!!!  Those men disgust me!!!!  I often wonder what they would do should their wife suddenly be gone for any reason.  I know women work very hard and I am not trying to say they don't.  My wife runs from sun up to sun down.  My point is that there are some men who run right along side their wives helping and supporting each other as they go through life. 

If your a lazy pig husband as described in the post I saw on Facebook you need to change and stop taking you wife for granted.  If you do the best you can to help in every aspect of home life good for you!!!!!

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Coping with the death of a loved one

I am not sure what it is lately but I have had people all around me dying.  It is a very odd feeling.  I haven't lost a parent or anyone really close to me thanks goodness.  But I have had several friends lose someone close to them and had two extended family deaths on both my side and my wife's side of the family.  I almost feel like I am the center of a bulls eye and the darts keep getting a little closer.  All this death has caused me to reflect on how people deal and or cope with the death of loved ones.

I know coping is very different for everyone so I am going to tell you how I do it, and how I hope I will be able to cope when it comes time for me to lose someone close to me such as a parent.  I believe that we are children of God, I know this actually.  Because we are children of God I believe that the whole point to this life is for us to see what we are made of, in other words how do we deal with hardship and grief and pain and morality.  I also believe that God loves us far more than we could ever possible comprehend in this life, and that he knows each of us very well, better than we know ourselves.  That being said here is how I look at it when I am faced with a death.  I look at it like they have finished the marathon, they have crossed the finish line and the reward is to live in peace and comfort and never ending happiness.  I really think that with this perspective it is much easier to cope with the loss of a loved one.  Even with children, they came to earth they lived as long as they needed to and they are done.  But most important of all I know we can all be reunited when we die.  I know we will see them again and that we will never have to be separated again.

I know that I packed a lot of different thoughts into a small paragraph, if you should have any questions on what I believe please leave me a comment and I will be happy to either explain more or point you towards the information.

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The best places to eat

I am not a culinary expert by any means.  That being said, I do think that I know good food when I taste it.
-I went to a Ruth's Chris Steak House with my wife on two different occasions.  The first time we loved it.  The staff was very attentive and it was an incredible meal.  The steak was to die for.  The second time around not so much.  My steak was still great but my wife's was not so great.  Plus the second time we went the staff all but ignored us it was such a stark contrast from our first experience.  But my steak was still amazing. 

-The Carnegie Deli is one stop I have to make if I am in Las Vegas.  I absolutely love the Reuben sandwich there.  Always a huge hit with me!!
-In Arizona down in Tuscon at a restaurant called El Guero Canelo resides the best hot dog on the planet.  It is called the Sonoran dog.  If you don't like hot dogs you will like this one, if you do like them this will become the standard you measure all other dogs by.  If you are even close to Tuscon you have to go.
- Jackson Hole Wyoming.  Billy's Burgers.  Just get one, you can thank me later.

These are just a few of my favorites, if you are close to any of them give them a try.

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Heart attack signs and symptoms in women

A very good friend of mine suffered a heart attack just the other day.  She is a young female, and it got me thinking about recent literature I have seen indicating that women can have some very different symptoms from what men typically experience when it comes to a heart attack.  There are many stories out there about how women can suffer a heart attack and get a misdiagnosis.  I looked on WebMD and found a story about a lady from New Jersey who was experiencing "a feeling of indigestion and extreme fatigue. Later, she had nausea, vomiting and fainting."  But she never experienced the typical symptoms of chest pain or pressure.  In fact one study found that nearly half of all women who have a heart attack never experience chest pain.

So I thought I would try to find and list all of the symptoms of a heart attack.  Because according to one study the average heart attack sufferer arrives at the hospital almost five hours after the symptoms start.  Which can significantly increase their chances of dying.  It is extremely important to become familiar with the warning signs of the number one killer of women in the United States.


The average heart attack sufferer gets to the hospital almost five hours after the onset of symptoms. This delay significantly increases their chances of dying. That's why it's so important to know the warning signs of a heart attack and what to do if you experience them. Being educated could save your life.




Common Warning Signs include but are not limited to:

Knowing these common warning signs of a heart attack could help save your life:

-Chest pressure, tightness, and heaviness

-Pain in shoulders, neck, jaw, or arms

-Lightheadedness

-Fainting

-Paleness


-Sweating

-Nausea

-Shortness of breath with or without chest pain


Studies on what doctors call cardiac events in women reveal that many women may experience early signs or symptoms of heart trouble in the days, weeks, or even months leading up to a heart attack. Unfortunately, many of these signs may be dismissed as nothing out of the ordinary, by both women and their doctors. The most common early warning signs include:


Unusual fatigue:  In one study, more than 70% of the women surveyed experienced marked fatigue in the days or weeks prior to their heart attacks.

Sleep disturbances:  A recent study revealed that almost half of the women who had recently suffered a heart attack also experienced sleep disturbances in the days or weeks leading up to their attacks.

Indigestion.

Anxiety.

Back pain.

Weakness.

Lets face it, all of us experience some these symptoms from time to time, have a bad week and anxiety sets in or fatigue or even indigestion.  So how do you know if the symptoms you are experiencing are serious?  Pay attention to your body.  Note the common aches and pains you have, take notice of things in your life and connect them with any anxiety your feel or sleep loss you experience. Basically just be in tune with your body.  Not f you experience changes in your energy level, comfort, or sleep habits, that are out of the ordinary and make you worry, you should discuss your concerns with your health care provider, especially if you have heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, a smoking habit, or a sedentary lifestyle. 

I also encourage you to search the Internet and learn about the causes and how to prevent heart attacks for yourself and those you love especially women as they experience.

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Thrive not just survive

Often times in life it seems we get so busy with work, school, kids, grand kids, church, friends, etc. that we don't take time to enjoy the simple things in life.  The other day I was riding in the car with my wife and she was reading a book and she would periodically share parts of the book with me.  One sentence she read to me was, The key to happiness in life is learning to thrive not just survive.  I am quoting from memory but that was essentially it.

I really had to stop and think about that for a minute.  There are so many things in life that are beyond our control.  We never know from day to day or minute to minute if something bad will happen to us or some one we know.  We never know when tragedy will strike or hardship will reign supreme in our lives.  The only thing that is certain is that we will all experience tragedy and hardship.

So how do we thrive instead of just survive when the bad times come?  I am not 100% sure I have the answer.  But I often think that it is all about how we look at it.  When events in life come we have the choice to be angry or be happy.  Let me give you an example.  When I was a kid I would ask my dad to tell me a story at bed time.  I used to say if he could make me laugh the story was over.  Well as you can imagine I would do my best to not laugh, and I was quite good at it.  I was taking a happy event and nullifying it.  Now I know this is very different from a tragic event in life but I believe that the same principal applies.  We choose how we feel.  It isn't always an easy choice but I truly believe we choose how we feel.

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