Comments on: Dear Mark: Flu Shots http://www.marksdailyapple.com/flu-shots/ Serving up health and fitness insights (daily, of course) with a side of irreverence. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:51:54 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: Dawn http://www.marksdailyapple.com/flu-shots/#comment-474529 Dawn Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:22:18 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2172#comment-474529 I work as a nurse in a hospital. I have had the flu twice in the last 20 years. I have had the flu shot twice in the last twenty years. The same two years. This seems statistically improbable to be only a coincidence. I am definitely afraid to get vaccinated again but it's being pushed upon us. Soon it will probably be mandatory. I don't agree with this. I work as a nurse in a hospital. I have had the flu twice in the last 20 years. I have had the flu shot twice in the last twenty years. The same two years. This seems statistically improbable to be only a coincidence. I am definitely afraid to get vaccinated again but it’s being pushed upon us. Soon it will probably be mandatory. I don’t agree with this.

]]> By: Ginger Soup with Scallops and Shrimp | Mark's Daily Apple http://www.marksdailyapple.com/flu-shots/#comment-461243 Ginger Soup with Scallops and Shrimp | Mark's Daily Apple Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:42:41 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2172#comment-461243 [...] aromatic, slightly spicy ginger. Ginger has long been thought to be a natural immune booster. With flu season on the horizon, homemade soup with ginger broth is exactly what your body needs. Health benefits [...] [...] aromatic, slightly spicy ginger. Ginger has long been thought to be a natural immune booster. With flu season on the horizon, homemade soup with ginger broth is exactly what your body needs. Health benefits [...]

]]> By: Jean V http://www.marksdailyapple.com/flu-shots/#comment-451664 Jean V Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:25:00 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2172#comment-451664 Thanks, J. I spend a lot of time trying to explain the difference between statistical evidence and anecdotal evidence. I wish our schools would do a better job on this. Someone will say, "My mother smoked and we all turned out fine." and I want to bang my head on the desk. Low-birth-weight in the babies of mothers who smoke is not 100%. However, the incidence of low-birth-weight babies is DOUBLE in women who smoke vs. women who do not smoke during pregnancy. Vis a vis flu shots: no offense, folks, but your headache or rash is meaningless when discussing the best health practices for a nation of over 300 million souls! Epidemiology isn't about you as an individual, it's about gathering statistical evidence on a large population. Thanks, J. I spend a lot of time trying to explain the difference between statistical evidence and anecdotal evidence. I wish our schools would do a better job on this. Someone will say, “My mother smoked and we all turned out fine.” and I want to bang my head on the desk. Low-birth-weight in the babies of mothers who smoke is not 100%. However, the incidence of low-birth-weight babies is DOUBLE in women who smoke vs. women who do not smoke during pregnancy. Vis a vis flu shots: no offense, folks, but your headache or rash is meaningless when discussing the best health practices for a nation of over 300 million souls! Epidemiology isn’t about you as an individual, it’s about gathering statistical evidence on a large population.

]]> By: Jean V http://www.marksdailyapple.com/flu-shots/#comment-451659 Jean V Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:16:35 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2172#comment-451659 I do get the flu shot most years, as I am diabetic and I know this impacts my immune system. I think a lot of anecdotal testimonies about reactions to the flu shot are just that - anecdotal. If you look at past pandemics (Google the flu pandemic of 1918) you quickly discover that a STRONG immune system can also be a danger in a flu pandemic. That is, strapping young and healthy folks often drowned in their own body's immune response (pneumonia or bodily fluids in the lungs.) In many diaries and letters from that time, medical witnesses (nurses, army doctors) described someone young and healthy (e.g. a soldier in his early 20's, a high school football star, a healthy young policeman) dying of pneumonia within 48 hours of flu symptoms. They drowned, basically. I am willing to do my part to prevent being a vector for the flu within the population, and to keep myself healthy enough to help others when the time comes. It's not all about me, eh? I do get the flu shot most years, as I am diabetic and I know this impacts my immune system. I think a lot of anecdotal testimonies about reactions to the flu shot are just that – anecdotal. If you look at past pandemics (Google the flu pandemic of 1918) you quickly discover that a STRONG immune system can also be a danger in a flu pandemic. That is, strapping young and healthy folks often drowned in their own body’s immune response (pneumonia or bodily fluids in the lungs.) In many diaries and letters from that time, medical witnesses (nurses, army doctors) described someone young and healthy (e.g. a soldier in his early 20’s, a high school football star, a healthy young policeman) dying of pneumonia within 48 hours of flu symptoms. They drowned, basically. I am willing to do my part to prevent being a vector for the flu within the population, and to keep myself healthy enough to help others when the time comes. It’s not all about me, eh?

]]> By: Jeanmarie http://www.marksdailyapple.com/flu-shots/#comment-451642 Jeanmarie Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:29:42 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2172#comment-451642 Questioning the wisdom of flu vaccines doesn't make one crazy. In fact lots of very educated people who have looked into the issue choose not to get flu shots. I have had one that I remember, but don't plan to do it again. If you are happy with your choice to get shots, that's great. What one eats does, however, have a bearing on the discussion. Having a strong immune system is irreplaceable, and nutrition is a huge determinant of that. Actually allowing your immune system to grapple with disease is in fact important to keeping it functioning. (I am not against all vaccines under all circumstances, but flu is a fast-changing virus and scientists have to guess each year which virus will predominate and make their vaccines to match they one they hope will be dominant.) Beyond nutrition and a healthful lifestyle (rest, exercise, sunlight), common sense hygiene and cleanliness also help prevent the spread of disease. Touching dirty glasses isn't really a risk unless you then stick your fingers in your eyes, mouth or nose. Questioning the wisdom of flu vaccines doesn’t make one crazy. In fact lots of very educated people who have looked into the issue choose not to get flu shots. I have had one that I remember, but don’t plan to do it again. If you are happy with your choice to get shots, that’s great. What one eats does, however, have a bearing on the discussion. Having a strong immune system is irreplaceable, and nutrition is a huge determinant of that. Actually allowing your immune system to grapple with disease is in fact important to keeping it functioning. (I am not against all vaccines under all circumstances, but flu is a fast-changing virus and scientists have to guess each year which virus will predominate and make their vaccines to match they one they hope will be dominant.) Beyond nutrition and a healthful lifestyle (rest, exercise, sunlight), common sense hygiene and cleanliness also help prevent the spread of disease. Touching dirty glasses isn’t really a risk unless you then stick your fingers in your eyes, mouth or nose.

]]> By: Jeanmarie Todd http://www.marksdailyapple.com/flu-shots/#comment-451635 Jeanmarie Todd Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:19:50 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2172#comment-451635 Flu can kill, but in the case of the 1918 flu epidemic, evidence has come to light that most of the deaths in that terrible period were due to secondary infections and among people already suffering from malnutrition or other problems. The public health hazard is overblown. If you believe in getting a flu shot, you should get one. If you think it will protect you, don't worry about what the rest of us do. Either it protects you and is worth the risk, or it doesn't, so then why would you take the risk of bad reactions? There is just no way for vaccine development and production to keep up with fast-mutating viruses like influenza. All that *really* protects you is a strong immune system. I'd rather risk being down with the flu for awhile to give my immune system a workout. Meanwhile I'm working on building it up nutritionally and through a healthful lifestyle. And if someone is sick, they should stay home and not pass it around. Flu can kill, but in the case of the 1918 flu epidemic, evidence has come to light that most of the deaths in that terrible period were due to secondary infections and among people already suffering from malnutrition or other problems.

The public health hazard is overblown. If you believe in getting a flu shot, you should get one. If you think it will protect you, don’t worry about what the rest of us do. Either it protects you and is worth the risk, or it doesn’t, so then why would you take the risk of bad reactions? There is just no way for vaccine development and production to keep up with fast-mutating viruses like influenza. All that *really* protects you is a strong immune system. I’d rather risk being down with the flu for awhile to give my immune system a workout. Meanwhile I’m working on building it up nutritionally and through a healthful lifestyle. And if someone is sick, they should stay home and not pass it around.

]]> By: mamabear http://www.marksdailyapple.com/flu-shots/#comment-449394 mamabear Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:40:58 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2172#comment-449394 I will say it one more time, as I did last year. I took my doctors suggestion that the Flu shot was beneficial. Exactly one week to the day, I came down with the Shingles. NO ONE can definitely say, one had nothing to do with the other. Love you Mark & all the good you do. Now it is up to us to follow. I will say it one more time, as I did last year. I took my doctors suggestion that the Flu shot was beneficial. Exactly one week to the day, I came down with the Shingles. NO ONE can definitely say, one had nothing to do with the other. Love you Mark & all the good you do. Now it is up to us to follow.

]]> By: Canibais e Reis » Blog Archive » “Alimentação em tempos de gripe”, uma proposta da Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação da Univ. do Porto, mas fará algum sentido esta proposta? http://www.marksdailyapple.com/flu-shots/#comment-434530 Canibais e Reis » Blog Archive » “Alimentação em tempos de gripe”, uma proposta da Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação da Univ. do Porto, mas fará algum sentido esta proposta? Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:34:58 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2172#comment-434530 [...] it through the flu season (Mark Sisson) 9 Natural cold and flu remedies, plus one (Mark Sisson) Dear Mark: flu shots Swine flu: should you be worried and how to be prepared? How do you repair your immune system after [...] [...] it through the flu season (Mark Sisson) 9 Natural cold and flu remedies, plus one (Mark Sisson) Dear Mark: flu shots Swine flu: should you be worried and how to be prepared? How do you repair your immune system after [...]

]]> By: augustin http://www.marksdailyapple.com/flu-shots/#comment-392624 augustin Tue, 26 May 2009 20:26:43 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2172#comment-392624 mine are always free. mine are always free.

]]> By: augustin http://www.marksdailyapple.com/flu-shots/#comment-392622 augustin Tue, 26 May 2009 20:25:30 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/?p=2172#comment-392622 you are soo wrong..Cant even believe you said such nonsense. Sopme of you people absolute baffle the #%^%$#@ out of me. you are soo wrong..Cant even believe you said such nonsense. Sopme of you people absolute baffle the #%^%$#@ out of me.

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