Healthcare workers, food handlers, those who use or inject illegal drugs or participate in casual sexual practices and people who have recently been incarcerated are at the highest risk. The gay community is also disproportionately represented in a higher risk category. Anyone who has not been vaccinated for Hepatitis A is potentially at risk as well.
Getting vaccinated and practicing good personal hygiene and proper sanitation are the best ways to protect yourself and your family. Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease. Pediatricians now routinely vaccinate children for Hepatitis A along with all the other typical childhood vaccines. However, this practice only began within the last 15 years, many adults have not been vaccinated and there is now a focus on increasing vaccinations with the adult population. The Lakes Urgent Care staff strongly urges that all adults and children be vaccinated against hepatitis A. Contact your primary care physician, pediatrician or local health department to obtain the vaccine, which is a series of 2 injections given 6 months apart. Protection after the 2 vaccines is nearly 100%. Lakes Urgent Care can also provide the vaccination.
There is plenty of evidence to suggest that “man’s best friend”, the family dog, has several beneficial health effects for human beings including the potential to boost the immune system. It is postulated that dogs can actually act like a probiotic, helping us to develop bacterial colonies, which in turn augments the activity of our immune systems.
In addition to the potential for her improving her immune systems, there are numerous other secondary health benefits to having a four-legged companion. With the commitment to walking her dog on a daily basis, they can help keep you fit and active. This in turn can help her lose weight and also potentially improved her social life because of interactions with other dog owners. Having the companionship and unconditional love of a dog can add significant meaning and purpose for individuals that are now empty nesters and even help prevent the onset of depression. There are many studies that have proven that owning a dog can also help reduce hypertension. Of course there are now many different breeds that are being trained to assist individuals who have physical and mental challenges, better known as service dogs.
What dog owner doesn’t love that energetic, enthusiastic greeting when coming home from a long stressful day, topped off with a wet tongue kiss? Contrary popular believe, the bacterial counts on our pet’s mouth is actually worse than the human mouth. More importantly, the type of bacteria that dogs carry is significantly different than the bacteria that typically reside inside and on our bodies. There are whole host of diseases which are potentially carried by animals, also known as zoonotic diseases. In general, there is a low likelihood of transmission of zoonosis, and an occasional single lick is not likely to cause significant harm. However, the best medical wisdom and recommendation is to avoid those wet sloppy kisses from Fido on your face which carries the greatest area of transmission risk. So in summary, having a family dog has many positive health benefits, just limit or eliminate the number of wet kisses on your face!
Aside from good hand hygiene, adequate sleep, proper diet and regular exercise, vaccinations are the best way to protect our children from potentially devastating and lethal diseases. From early childhood to the teen years, there are 16 vaccines which can help prevent unnecessary illness or hospitalization. Staying current with the right vaccines is even more important if your child has any underlying chronic health conditions which may expose them to a greater risk of contracting these vaccine preventable diseases. Because of the large number of vaccines that are available, it is best that you speak about this very important issue with your child’s pediatrician or primary care physician who can be your best resource and helped guide appropriate vaccination.
In recent years, there has been a significant amount of opinion and even misinformation shared in public about potential complications from receiving vaccines. It’s critically important to understand the true evidence-based science, but for brevity here, I would reassure everyone that vaccines are absolutely safe and have not been proven to cause autism or other genetic anomalies. Most importantly, the best way you can protect your own child from those who are not vaccinated, is give them the appropriate vaccines. Once a child or adult has been vaccinated, their risk of contracting a disease from an unvaccinated individual is essentially eradicated. Vaccines assist our body’s incredible immune system to develop immunities and antibodies that prevent specific infections.
There are highly effective vaccines capable of preventing meningitis, which is a severe and potentially lethal infection of the brain and spinal cord. There is an increased incidence of risk associated with meningitis and college-aged young adults due to a variety of risk factors in this age group. In addition to this vaccine, be aware that several childhood vaccines have the potential to wear off over time and may require a booster vaccine to assure continued immunity. Your primary care physician can be an excellent source of information for the correct vaccinations at each stage of our lives. In addition there are some excellent resources at the Centers for Disease Control website. Lakes Urgent Care also provides many adult vaccines and can be an additional resource for adults to obtain vaccines in a cost effective, friendly environment.
It’s beneficial to get your body properly hydrated before you start exercising. Try to consume 17 to 20 ounces of water two to three hours before you start and another eight ounces about a half hour before exercising. If you are engaging in strenuous exercise to the point where you are sweating, drink an extra 12 ounces of water for every thirty minutes of exercise. Some people can’t handle a stomach full of liquid if they are exercising strenuously, and if that’s the case, then adjust these numbers down a bit until you find the consumption level that works for you. Finally, drink another eight ounces within a half hour after you are finished. Again, this can be adjusted up or down based on your age and weight, how strenuously you are exercising and if you are exercising in hot and humid conditions.
The easiest way to know if you are properly hydrated is to look at your urine. If it’s clear or a pale-yellow color, then you are properly hydrated. Dry skin is another sign of dehydration. If your mouth is dry, you aren’t hydrated enough to keep the mucus membranes in your mouth lubricated and your body is likely not producing enough saliva. Bloodshot eyes are another clue. Over consumption of alcohol can cause bloodshot eyes, because alcohol dehydrates you. If your joints are aching, that could be a sign of dehydration. Your cartilage and spinal discs are about 80% water so by staying hydrated, you are keeping your joints lubricated. If you aren’t well-hydrated, you may feel fatigued and lethargic. When your body is dehydrated it “borrows” water from your blood causing you to feel fatigued. If you aren’t drinking enough water, you may also feel constipated or have frequent heartburn or indigestion.