Flu Activity Remains High

Transcription

1 Influenza (The Flu)

2 Flu Activity Remains High Year round, the proportion of people seeing a doctor for flu-like symptoms is about 2% Right now, the rate is almost 6%, the 7 th straight week above normal The most common type of flu this year is Influenza A 30% of cases are Influenza A H1N1 (included in this year s flu vaccine) 70% of cases are Influenza A H3N2 (Not included in this year s vaccine) H3N2 causes more severe symptoms, infections and deaths than Influenza A H1N1 or influenza B virus

3 Quick Review: What is the flu? Influenza is a viral illness That means antibiotics WILL NOT be effective in treating it In 2013, 30% of patients with flu symptoms were given unnecessary antibiotics Symptoms: A 100 o F or higher fever or feeling feverish (but not everyone with the flu has a fever) A cough and/or sore throat. A runny or stuffy nose. Headaches and/or body aches. Chills. Fatigue. Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea (most common in children)

4 Why does flu occur during the winter? Traditionally, the explanation is that people congregate indoors during the winter so virus is more easily transmitted New theory we are outdoors less during the winter (and wearing more clothes outside) so vitamin D levels are lower in the winter Vitamin D is important for immune system function. Low vitamin D levels = increased risk of infection

5 Vitamin D Clinical Research Supplemental vitamin D (1200 IU daily) in school children helped reduce the incidence Influenza Type A by 8% Some children received supplemental vitamin D from their parents BEFORE enrolling in the trial If look at only children who had NO supplemental vitamin D prior to the study, the risk of infection was reduced almost 60% In a separate study in adults, higher vitamin D levels was associated with a 50% reduction in respiratory infections

6 Other Natural Flu Fighters Echinacea, andrographis, pelargonium Echinacea shown in cell studies to kill H3N2 (this year s flu strain) extremely effectively, without creating any resistance. After just two treatments with an antiviral drug, 100% of the viruses had developed drug resistance Elderberry shown to reduce influenza symptoms in 93% of cases within 2-3 days, while placebo group took 6 days to recover In an animal model of Influenza Type A, treatment with compounds from andrographis significantly reduced symptoms and improved lung function Concentrated plant oils ravintsara, myrtle, bay, thyme Have potent antiviral activity and have been used as traditional treatments for colds and flu

7 Quick News Headline Artificial Sweeteners

8 Artificial Sweeteners and Type 2 Diabetes Many people switch to non-caloric artificial sweeteners to cut their sugar intake Example: aspartame (Nutra Sweet) and saccharin (Sweet N Low) A 2009 study reported that daily consumption of diet soda increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 67% (even after controlling for diet and lifestyle factors)

9 Why do artificial sweeteners increase blood sugar levels? A new study found a possible explanation artificial sweeteners change the gut environment (the intestinal biome), destroying helpful gut bacteria which help keep blood sugar levels down To test their ideas, researchers gave healthy volunteers 10 packets daily (roughly equivalent to the average American daily sugar intake) Over half the volunteers had significant increases in blood sugar levels Some became pre-diabetic within a few days In a separate study, researchers removed intestinal bacteria from mice fed artificial sweeteners and transplanted the bacteria into mice never exposed to artificial sweeteners These mice developed blood sugar problems JUST LIKE the mice who had originally been fed the artificial sweeteners This is proof that artificial sweeteners are changing the gut bacteria in a way that leads to high blood sugar and diabetes

10 Quick News Headline Honeybees Against MRSA

11 Antibiotics from Honey Swedish researchers recently discovered 13 unique lactic acid bacteria in fresh honey that is strongly active against several human pathogens They tested these compounds AND conventional antibiotic drugs against 3 dangerous pathogens (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)) Results: Strongly inhibited all three pathogens Most of the time inhibited pathogens BETTER than the drugs! Quote from the lead researcher: Honey is better than or just as effective as many of the widely used antibiotics in wound treatment today. Another advantage over antibiotics is that honey is active against a wide variety of pathogens, while many antibiotics are active only against a specific bacteria. The fresher and the less processed the honey, the more likely it is to have potent antimicrobial properties. Highly refined, processed honey will not likely be active.