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You wake up one morning and you don’t quite feel like yourself. You think you might be coming down with something. Is it just a cold? The flu? Strep? A stomach virus? Or are you perhaps just sleep-deprived and not feeling your best? You have to make a decision, either to go to work or call in sick. If you’re contagious you could put your co-workers at risk and hurt productivity in the workplace. If you’re not, you could still work and not get behind on things you’ll have to catch up on later.

What should you do? Go to work or stay home? Here are some signs that it might be a better idea to call in sick rather than potentially affecting others with your illness.

Reasons You Should Probably Stay Home From Work

1. You can’t do your job. For example, if your illness requires you to take medication, will that medication affect your ability to work? If you’re a delivery driver and you’re on medication that makes you drowsy, it could be unsafe to drive. You might put yourself as well as others at risk.
2. Going to work might make you sicker. If you don’t rest at all to get well, you could become sicker and be out of work even longer. That’s not good for your company. And if you don’t get paid sick leave, it’s not good for you either. Losing one day’s pay would be preferable to several. Based on a report cited on MedicineNet.com, a 2006 study by the Society for Human Resources Management showed that around a third of companies don’t offer any paid sick time. So the temptation to get back on your feet is understandable. Just know that it might make things worse.
3. You’re contagious. In some cases you’ll know you’re contagious. For example, if you see a doctor and find out you have strep throat they’ll probably give you antibiotics. And for the first 24 – 48 hours after starting the antibiotic regimen, you can still be contagious. In that case, you know to stay home from work so you don’t infect others. Sometimes you won’t know you’re contagious though, so it’s best to take general precautions if you do go to work (some of which we’ll discuss below).

Don't spread illness in the workplace. - Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

Cold or Flu?

Many workers get colds during the fall and winter months. And they don’t consider it a good enough reason to stay home from work. But cold symptoms and flu symptoms can be very similar. And in the latter case, it’s very important to stay home rather than passing the flu virus around among your co-workers. Here are some symptoms of the flu according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that can separate it from the common cold. If you have these symptoms in addition to traditional cold-like symptoms, it might be a good idea to stay home and get well before going back to work.

1. Fever
2. Body aches
3. Extreme tiredness
4. A dry cough

If you do still go to work with a cold or other respiratory illness, there are some things you can do to help prevent the spread of that illness. For example, you should:

1. Avoid close contact with others.
2. Wash your hands frequently throughout the day.
3. Don’t touch your mouth or nose, especially with a respiratory illness.
4. Cover your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze.

No matter how tempting it might be to go to work to clear up projects or get paid, sometimes it just doesn’t make sense to do that and you’re better off staying home. Remember, it isn’t just about you. If you’re contagious or your illness or medications make you unable to do your job safely, you could also be a risk to others. When in doubt, take a sick day and see your doctor for an official diagnosis and treatment recommendation.

One more slice!

Why do we Overeat?

Many parents encourage their children to “clean their plates.” They are expected to eat every bite of food placed before them. As adults these individuals have trouble not finishing their servings. Others don’t want to seem rude to a gracious host; they eat past the point of comfort. Some people haven’t learned an alternate way to cope with stress and anxiety.

Overeaters may lack a sensitivity to stomach fullness. The over-stuffed feeling doesn’t register until 20 or even 30 minutes after you’ve had your last bite. By then it’s too late. Normal feelings of fullness leave you secure and contented. Being stuffed is miserable.

How to Regain Your Sense of Fullness

Normal eaters eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full. They are not tempted by excessive snacking because they are still satisfied from their last meal. They are hungry at mealtime, because they haven’t snacked. Those keenly aware of their fullness signal stop when they are full – even when Grandma brings out her famous apple pie. The thought of lifting the fork for one bite seems painful.

If you’ve habitually ignored your fullness signals, or have lost touch with your signals – you can regain this connectivity. How? Monitor your fullness sensations. It may be very faint after a moderate amount of food. If you keep eating does it go away?

There are different signals. Some people report bloating of the lips or face rather than a stomach signal. Some feel closure at the back of the mouth or weakening in the limbs. Discomfort in the gut is too late. If you eat to satisfaction you should feel content, secure, and full 20 to 30 minutes after a meal. If you eat to the point of fullness, ignoring your subtle signal, you’ll feel stuffed later.

Another warning: the painfully stuffed feeling is alleviated by – gasp – starting to eat again! A normal eater would never think of eating more after feeling uncomfortably full. The overeater turns to food again. The overeater relies on food to salve any discomfort, even that brought on by eating too much!

If you have a strong taste urge and a weak fullness signal it is important to get in touch with your body. The non-diet philosophy of eating when you are hungry and stopping when you’re full is altruistic.

This method is both simple and straightforward, focusing on developing a healthy relationship with food rather than focusing on weight loss or dress size. Listen to your fullness signal. Stop eating when you first notice it.

Have a drink of cold water. Feel it in your mouth as it destimulates your taste buds. Feel it slide down the esophagus to settle and soothe the stomach. Some find brushing their teeth shortly after a meal also helps discourage snacking and signals the body that meal time is over.

By: Terra L. Fletcher

How does it feel when traveling to a far away place where we know nobody and don’t even know the language? It can be quite unnerving.  It is the same with a hospital visit.  Health problems are bound to arise at some point or other and getting admitted in a hospital can be a scary prospect.

In such a scenario, the nurses who clean, feed and take care of other necessities, and the friendly doctors become our guides and friends.  Patients tend to share things with them and start trusting them.

You would be shocked to learn that as many as 98,000 people die in hospitals in the United States each year, only due to medical errors. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that about 99,000 people die from hospital acquired infections each year.

Patient vigilance is the key to come out safe from a hospital stay.  According to the president of the mid-Maryland chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association, Cindy Sellers O’Brien, “The patients that do better are the ones that take an active role in their health care.  They have the better outcomes [because] they take more ownership.”

The American Hospital Association says that patients play a very important role.  They say, “While we are striving for perfection in the way we deliver care, we know we fall short of that mark – but patients can help us get better. They can – and should – ask questions when something does not seem quite right.”

The medical errors caused by hospitals prove to be most dangerous for children. Figures show that one in 15 children that are hospitalized end up being victims of medication errors. Parents need to watch over their child’s hospital care to ensure no mistakes are made.

With so many dangers in the hospitals, how do you protect yourself and your family?

Here are a few tips given by the nurses who work in the hospitals:

Keep The List Of Medications Being Taken

This is said to be crucial when visiting a hospital.  You should always keep a list of medications being taken by each family member at all times and update it as required.  This list has to be taken to the hospital when you are going to the emergency room or being admitted in the hospital.  The best thing is to have this list ready in the wallet at all times. It helps even if you fall somewhere and someone has to take you to the ER.

Make Sure Your Name Is Right

Ensuring that the hospital gets your name right is critical to getting appropriate treatment.  This is important not only when a surgery is being performed but also when the patient is given medications or blood.  Imagine being given the wrong type of blood just because of mistaken identity.

Check On Every Medication You Are Given

You will need to double check the name of the medication, the dosage and the timing when the medicine is given to you.  I know many of you feel that they cannot interfere with such things, but it has to be done if you want to be safe.  There have been many cases where patients were given medicines they were allergic to, which can result in a fatal outcome.

Ensure Everyone Washes Their Hands

If you think every nurse and every doctor does this, then you are mistaken.  Even in the major hospitals, these things are not followed at times.  Hand washing lapses happen all the time and as you know doctors and nurses pick up nasty germs that are transmitted to other patients.

Yes, this can be an uncomfortable situation where you may worry about spoiling the relationship with your doctor or the nurse, but it needs to be done diplomatically.  You can say how you have had a bad experience with doctors not washing their hands and that you are paranoid about it.  But remember, above everything else, you have a right to make sure they did wash their hands.

If You Sense Something Wrong, Speak Out

For example, if there is a medication written on the chart that you know could harm you or your family member who is the patient, make sure to let them know and remove that. Do not ever keep quiet if you think something is wrong. In doing so, you really don’t have to be mean and accusing, but be confident and convincing.

Just because a hospital looks clean and nice doesn’t mean it is. Just because doctors and nurses look professional doesn’t mean they are. Over the years, little progress has been made implementing key measures for the safety of patients.  That’s why patients, their family members and friends need to be watchful at all times.

Patient vigilance plays a crucial role in ensuring your safety.  You should keep your eyes and ears open at all times and never have the attitude that the doctors and nurses know everything. Yes, they do know everything, but they can be careless or simply make a mistake.  While it may be a small mistake for them, it could lead to dangerous consequences for you or your family.

Image: Scandblue (via Flickr)

Having moved away from whole foods for the past many years, fast foods are now a staple in American culture; especially the hamburger. These yummy instant eats have gotten a lot of bad rep in the last few years, primarily for being high in fat and deficient in essential nutrients.

But the major problem turns out to be not the artery-clogging saturated fats that we are worried about, but the beef that goes into the making of a hamburger.

For most hamburger lovers, ground beef is just a chunk of meat cut from a cow and run through a grinder to be made into cutlets.  If only things were that simple!

Image: Jemby (via Flickr)

The reality of the hamburger can be shocking. The fact is that a single portion of hamburger meat is often a combination of a variety of grades of meat from different parts of cows that mostly are not from the same slaughterhouse.

All these mix-and-match combinations make the meat vulnerable to E. coli contamination.

In 1994, a new rule barred grocers and meat companies from selling ground  beef tainted by the virulent strain of E. coli. An incident at Jack in the Box restaurants where four children died after consuming hamburgers that contained tainted beef led to the formation of this rule.

However, even today tens of thousands of people continue to fall sick every year from eating hamburgers made from contaminated meat, sometimes with dangerous consequences, like the unfortunate 22-year-old Stephanie Smith, a children’s dance instructor.

A simple hamburger ruined her nervous system and left her paralyzed. Little did Stephanie’s mother know that the beef used in the hamburgers she was grilling for her daughter at home were tainted with E. coli. Starting with stomach cramps and aches, it led to her kidneys shutting down and she was knocked unconscious by seizures. Doctors had to put her in a coma for nine weeks to save her. She finally emerged alive, but paralyzed from waist down. The road ahead is challenging and her kidneys are at high risk of failure. Regaining the basic life skills is now a struggle – all because of eating something she loved since she was a kid.

The frozen hamburger that Stephanie ate was from Cargill, the food giant, labeled “American Chef’s Selection Angus Beef Patties.”

An investigation into the confidential logs and other records at Cargill showed that the their hamburgers were made from beef obtained from different slaughterhouse trimmings in Nebraska, Uruguay and Texas; as well as a mash-like product made from scraps that were ground together at a plant.

This summer alone, contamination of ground beef led to its recall from nearly 3,000 grocers in 41 states. Meat companies can reduce the cost of ground beef by almost 25% from using a combination of sources, than they could have if cuts of whole meat were used. These low-grade ingredients are cut from different areas of the cow that have the potential to come in contact with feces, which carries E. coli.

What about the testing that is supposed to go into this beef before it is allowed to be used in the making of a hamburger? What testing?

As shocking as it may sound, the fact is that, unwritten agreements between companies ensure testing is not done.

According to a food safety expert at the University of Minnesota, “Ground beef is not a completely safe product.” Food scientists warn that it only takes a few stray cells of this pathogen to make someone sick, and the federal guidance to ensure meat is cooked thoroughly and to wash up afterward is not enough.

The victim of this mushy meat business, Stephanie, was admitted to the hospital in excruciating pain, five days after the family’s Sunday dinner of hamburgers. Dr. Phillip, a pathogen expert says, “I’ve had women tell me that E. coli is more painful than childbirth.” Despite her determination, doctors are of the opinion that she may never be able to walk again.

Who would ever think that the seemingly harmless hamburger that we feed our children so affectionately can ruin their lives.

This must make you think twice before your next hamburger trip! May be it’s time you started making ground beef at home. Even if it doesn’t taste like the frozen burgers from Cargill, it’s certainly a safer and healthier alternative.

Credit: Dikiy (via Flickr)

Media portrays the changing fashion in all its glory and potentially influences health-related behaviors, especially so in young adults when peer pressure is the strongest.  One such health behavior is smoking. A recent survey in Canada reveals that the young men and women between the ages of 20-24 have the highest smoking rate.

While the younger generation pays a deaf ear to the harmful effects of smoking; researchers say that lighting a single cigarette can have serious adverse effects on young adults.

Harmful Effects Of Smoking

Researchers at McGill University Health Center found that smoking one cigarette increases the stiffness of the arteries in 18 to 30 year olds by a whopping 25%.

For us to be able to help our children get out of this habit, it is important to gain knowledge of what happens in our body when arteries become stiff.

The main function of the arteries is to carry fully oxygenated blood to the various parts of the body. The arteries have valves in them that stop the blood from flowing in a wrong direction. The arteries begin at the heart and they have to function properly to keep us healthy. There are serious health problems related to the non-functioning of arteries, such as plaque buildup that happens due to too much consumption of fatty foods, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, cholesterol, weight, diabetes and age.  On the other hand, when arteries become stiff or rigid, they increase resistance in the blood vessels, making the heart work harder.  The stiffer the artery the greater the risk for stroke or heart disease.

You may wonder what’s new with these results, as we always knew that smoking was bad for the health and the heart.  This study emphasizes the fact that even smoking just a few cigarettes a day can have a major impact on the health of the arteries. You can no longer say; just a couple of cigarettes per day are acceptable.  It is not!

Electronic Cigarettes: The Solution?

In such a scenario, the electronic cigarette (E-cigarette) is considered to be perfect solution by many today. It was invented in 2003 by a Beijing-based company.

An electronic cigarette is also known as a personal vaporizer.  It is a battery device that contains cartridges filled with nicotine, other chemicals and flavor, and provides doses of this nicotine solution through vaporization.  In addition to delivering nicotine, this vapor also provides the exact flavor of inhaled tobacco smoke as well as the same feeling and sensation of actually smoking a cigarette, but without the use of tobacco, smoke or combustion.

Most electronic cigarettes look similar to a cigarette or a cigar or a pipe, and the most common design is one that looks like a ballpoint pen.  They come with refillable and replaceable parts; however, there are also several disposable electronic cigarettes available today.

What Is The FDA’s Take On E-Cigarettes?

There was a recent announcement by the FDA that their laboratory analysis revealed that electronic cigarettes contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, which is an ingredient used in antifreeze.  This analysis was done with a sample of cartridges from two leading electronic cigarettes brands.  They found diethylene glycol in one sample and in the other, carcinogens.

Marketing Of These Products

These e-cigarettes are targeted at young adults who can buy them online or in shopping malls.  The worst part of the whole thing is that no health warnings are given on these products. They also come in different flavors, such as mint and chocolate that would appeal to youngsters.

In conclusion, it is important for everyone to understand that health experts express their concern that these cigarettes could easily increase tobacco use an nicotine addiction in youngsters.

Learning all this worries me because when I was in South Africa recently, I noticed my friend’s son smoking an e-cigarette.  Guess what! That was a gift from his mother who gave it to him in an attempt to get him to stop smoking cigarettes.

As of now things are not really clear about e-cigarettes; although, they are claimed by manufacturers to be a blessing in disguise.  It helps to keep our eyes open and see what FDA and other experts have to say in the future when further tests are conducted. Our children’s health is out responsibility!

That continuous use of steroids is not good for health and causes side effects, is a known fact. But these potentially dangerous products are taken by many body builders.

The worst thing about taking steroids and the reason for so many side effects is that they are mostly taken without any supervision from a qualified physician. Not only does this irresponsible use of steroids lead to serious health problems but also in some cases, death.

FDA Warning To Consumers

Recently, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to consumers that products being marketed specifically for body building and claim to contain steroids or steroid-like substances, were not reviewed or approved by the FDA and can be potentially harmful.

These products are sold both in retail as well as online. They are promoted as hormone products or as alternatives to anabolic steroids to increase strength and muscle mass. The manufacturers make these products seem genuine by labeling them as dietary supplements, which they are NOT. They contain synthetic steroids or steroid like ingredients and are also not effective in most cases. In fact, they can be potentially harmful but the products are sold with misleading labels with no clear directions of use. This means they are in effect, illegally marketed.

Dangerous Body Building Products In The Market

In their warning letter, FDA listed a few body building products that are not considered safe. These products are either marketed as anabolic steroids or as similar to anabolic steroids:

• TREN-Xtreme
• MASS Xtreme
• ESTRO Xtreme
• AH-89-Xtreme
• HMG Xtreme
• MMA-3 Xtreme
• VNS-9 Xtreme
• TT-40-Xtreme

FDA received several reports of people; especially men between the ages 20 and 55, having suffered from liver injury, pulmonary embolism, kidney failure or stroke.

Major Health Problems Caused

Many people may be unaware of the fact that products containing anabolic steroids have the potential to cause acute liver injury. They may also cause several long-term health problems not only in men but women and children too, such as male infertility due to decreased sperm count, production of abnormal sperm, decrease in natural testosterone production, shrinkage of the testes, male breast enlargement, adverse changes in blood lipid levels, short stature in children and increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

In women, the side effects of steroids are slightly different and affect the woman’s hormonal system. It leads to masculinity in women, thickening of the vocal cords resulting in a deeper male voice, facial hair growth, enlargement of the clitoris, male pattern baldness, breast shrinkage, infertility, menstrual irregularities and the unfortunate thing is that most of these effects are irreversible.

While most of the negative effects can be reversed with the discontinuation of steroids, there are some irreversible effects like the impairment of the immune system, which is usually not detected until after the usage is stopped. Anabolic steroids could even cause the development of various cancers.

The FDA is also in the process of finding other such products in the market and has even issued a search warrant to American Cellular Laboratories Inc., which markets many of these unapproved new misbranded products.

Symptoms

Due to the potential for extremely serious health risks, if someone is on these products, it helps to be aware of the symptoms. The main symptoms are nausea, fever, weakness or fatigue, chest pain, abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, shortness of breath or change in urine color.

Body Builders And Athletes

Athletes often use these products to improve sports performance and also to recover from training and other events. What many of them are not aware of is that in young athletes involved in either body building or some other sport, these steroids will cause an early end to bone growth and limit the final body height.

Both men and women body builders on anabolic steroids experience increased aggression, altered libido, rage reactions, psychosis, depression, mania, anxiety, panic disorders and many other addictions.

Recently, a decade long study was completed and the results send a chill up the spine. Most of these body building products where they claim to have used anabolic steroids have not actually used steroids, but other prescription drugs that are far more dangerous than the actual steroids. We have seen the side effects of steroids, which can at times be lethal, but these are worse.

It is surprising that with so much information on anabolic steroids pertaining to the health issues and legal implications available, it is seen that many professionals fall for the false claims made by the product manufacturers and continue to use them. This problem is widespread and needs to be controlled. The bottom line is to avoid taking steroids. It is possible to build a body and build lean muscle the healthy way.

Most of us believe that age-related mental decline is just something we have to accept as we get older. Thankfully, that’s not the case. With a little dedication, there are several prevention steps you can take to keep your brain sharp at any age.

Here are some tips to keep the noggin feeling young and fresh.

1.    Hit the gym—Many scientists believe physical exercise is the single most important factor to maintaining your mental health. This is because exercise stimulates blood flow to the brain; proper circulation is key to keeping your mind stimulated and operating at its full potential. Exercise can even promote cell growth in the brain, and it keeps you alert.

2.    Challenge your mind—Just because you’re no longer in school doesn’t mean you should stop learning. The second you stop challenging your brain is the second you start the mental decline process. Challenge your mind by learning a new language, reading books regularly, or even learning how to play a musical instrument. Think of this as exercise for your brain. Routine brain exercise leads to a stronger, healthier mind.

3.    Be a healthy eater—Eating junk food doesn’t just make you physically unhealthy, it hampers your mental function too. A diet rich in brain foods will give your mind the nutrients it needs to develop properly and to fight off age-related mental decline. A few good brain foods are blueberries, broccoli, coffee, and avocados.

4.    Manage your stress—Did you know stress can actually damage healthy brain cells? Not only that, when you’re stressed, you can’t focus as well as you normally can. Furthermore, stress unchecked can turn to depression and other serious health issues.

5.    Get plenty of rest—For your brain to function properly, it needs to get “recharged” every night. If you don’t get enough sleep, your brain will lack sharpness. That being said, make sure you don’t oversleep as too much sleep can be just as harmful.

6.    Don’t be a loner—Having friends is important for several reasons. First, the verbal interaction is essential to keeping your mind sharp. Communication causes you to think and solve problems on your feet. Furthermore, having a strong group of friends helps prevent depression, a common mental health issue.

7.    Mix up your daily routine—Doing the same exact thing day in and day out not only gets boring, but it also allows your brain to go on autopilot. Mix things up. Drive a different route to work. Find a new extracurricular activity to take up. Switching things up will keep your mind active and sharp.

What do you do to keep your mind sharp? Share your favorite tips with us in the replies.

I have shocking news for you. Many of the foods that are often marketed as “healthy” really aren’t good for you at all. Shocking, right? I mean who would have ever imagined that a company would stretch the truth or use misleading information in their advertisements?

Okay, enough of the sarcasm, let’s get down to business. Which foods have been tricking you into thinking they were good for you? Here are the top 7 culprits.

1.    Granola bars—We’ve all seen the commercials: The super fit mom on her way to work in the morning choosing her oh-so-healthy granola bar over the evil fast food breakfast. Unfortunately, most granola bars are stripped of nearly all their fiber, and they’re often crammed with sugar. Even the healthiest granola bars (the ones that don’t have chocolate chips, sugar frosting, etc.) still have very low levels of protein and fiber.

2.    Fast food salads—As we all are growing more aware of our expanding waistlines, those benevolent folks at the fast food chains are here to help us make healthy eating decisions. No more greasy burgers for you! Now, you can get a nice salad from the drive-thru and feel good about yourself. Until you read this. These salads are full of high-fat dressing, fried meats, croutons, and even sugar. In fact, a Crispy Bacon Ranch Salad at McDonalds has more fat and calories than a Big Mac.

3.    Yogurt cups—Always check the label on yogurt before you buy it. Many (especially those fruit-on-the-bottom ones) are crammed full of sugar. Some contain just as much fat and calories as ice cream.

4.    Fruit juice—Loaded with high fructose corn syrup, most fruit juices are nothing more than an overdose of sugar. Instead, try to make your own fruit juice at home.

5.    Fat-free snacks—Once again, here comes sugar. In order to make ‘low fat” or “fat-free” snacks appetizing, manufacturers load the products with sugar. Always read labels.

6.    Cereal—Are you starting to notice the theme here? More sugar. Even many of the so-called “healthy” cereal options still have too much sugar in them. Don’t be fooled by a cereal box with the “whole grain” label. Check the ingredients: often times, you’ll find that sugar appears far in front of whole grains.

7.    Bagels—Another refined bread product that can increase blood sugar levels excessively. Some experts say a bagel is the equivalent of 6 slices of bread. They are also often very high in calories.

Did any of the foods on this list surprise you?

Millions of Americans are going on a diet and using weight loss pills and more than $30 billion is spent each year on the various weight loss pills, foods and drinks. The choice of weight loss pills has always been a tough one. There are so many pills in the market that it can be a daunting task, trying to decide which pills are safe, and most people base their decision on going with pills that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

But what about the ones not approved by the FDA? How safe are they?

What happened recently can question the safety of drugs/supplements not approved by the FDA. FDA told consumers to stop using the weight-loss pills – Hydroxycut. Fourteen of Hydroxycut’s products have been recalled, excluding “Hoodia” and “Cleanse” formulas. Many of these are fat burners, energy enhancers and diet aids.

Here are the recalled products:

× Hydroxycut 24
× Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
× Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
× Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
× Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
× Hydroxycut Carb Control
× Hydroxycut Natural
× Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
× Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
× Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
× Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
× Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
× Hydroxycut Caffeine–Free Rapid Release Caplets
× Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed

Before we go ahead, we must caution you to stay away from all these products and visit a physician, if you have been using them for a long time.

Some of them are said to have the potential to cause jaundice and liver failure. People were asked to stop taking them with immediate effect and to call the doctor if anyone suspects they are affected.

The reason the manufacturer, Lovate Health Sciences had to recall these drugs is because FDA received several reports that these weight-loss pills caused serious health problems, including the death of a 19-year-old man. This death actually occurred in 2007, but it was only reported in 2009. There are also said to be other major health problems associated with Hydroxycut, which include seizures, rhabdomyolysis (muscle damage) that can lead to kidney failure and cardiovascular problems. The previous major recall was in 2007, of an infant cough syrup that was considered dangerous if an overdose was given.

While Hydroxycut is not a pharmaceutical prescription medication and not strictly regulated by the FDA, it has many regulations. What this means is that, Hydroxycut was tested only by private companies contracted by the manufacturer.

Since the products contain many ingredients, experts are not yet able to pinpoint if and any ingredients are responsible. Tests are still going on, the results of which can determine the extent of possible danger of Hydroxycut. Consumers have the right to return the pills they already bought.

The manufacturer issued a statement saying, “While this is a small number of reports relative to the many millions of people who have used Hydroxycut products over the years, out of an abundance of caution and because consumer safety is our top priority, we are voluntarily recalling these Hydroxycut-branded products.”

An industry expert says that the reports of health problems do not as yet prove the cause and effect, as it is just a simple association as of now. He said that they are yet to learn if it is a random occurrence or not.

The sad thing about this whole issue is that the dangers of Hydroxycut were felt as far back as 2005. There were two men who had to be taken to the emergency room with complaints of fever, fatigue, jaundice and vomiting. They were healthy otherwise and have not traveled out of the country, had no other risk factors for liver disease. They were found to have not taken any other over-the-counter or prescription medications other than Hydroxycut. The physicians at Cleveland Clinic Foundation also urged caution in using Hydroxycut, because one of the ingredients in Hydroxycut was not safe.

It may come as a shock that all this was happening in 2005, yet this is recalled only now in 2009. If these negative effects were made public earlier, many people would have been saved from liver injuries resulting from the use of Hydroxycut. The manufacturer, instead of warning the customers, continued to sell them claiming to have used high quality and safe ingredients.

Now the question that is in all our minds is, “Are the other diet pills safe?” This uncertainty can be quite scary.

The high alert raised by the World Health Organization (WHO), placing the current incidence of swine flu one level below Pandemic, may sound scary but it could be because the H1N1 virus seems very similar to the deadly Spanish flu virus that let almost 50 million people dead in 1918. But then experts believe there can be no comparison, as understanding of diseases, their transmission and the checks that are put in place is completely different now than it was a century ago. Our public health disaster response – screening, quarantine and awareness campaigns are all far advanced.

So far, 15 countries have reported human infections of the multi-strain swine flu and a little more than 100 people have died from the infection, mostly in Mexico, which is where the outbreak of swine flu started.

What Is Swine Flu?

Swine Flu or swine influenza is a respiratory disease that causes influenza in pigs. Although, these viruses may be present among swine all around the year, the outbreaks usually occur during the fall and winter months just like influenza strikes humans during these months.

Are Pig Farms Responsible For This Outbreak Of Swine Flu?

While swine flu viruses are not generally said to infect humans, there have been a few human infections here and there. These infections have mostly occurred in people who are directly exposed to pigs. Even in the past, there have been a few cases where one person spread swine flu to other people. There was supposedly an outbreak of swine flu in 1988 in pigs and it lead to human infections. It was also documented that health care workers taking care of the patients with swine flu suffered from the transmission of the virus. However, there has never before been a community outbreak.

In this outbreak, Edgar Hernandez from Mexico is the first confirmed case of swine flu. He is said to have been infected from a gigantic pig farm in Mexico, which is one of the chain of pig farms that are controlled by Smithfield, one of the world’s biggest pig breeders and pork processors. Each of these pig farms has about 50,000 pigs.

After the break of swine flu, Smithfield issued a statement saying their facilities are not the origin of the current swine flu epidemic. The samples are being tested at the University of Mexico.

The question that is being asked is whether a pig farm can generate such new virus strains? Experts are of the opinion that it is very difficult to identify the exact source of origin of a virus. The larger the farm the more swine viruses that are present and there is more interaction between pigs and humans, leading to a higher likelihood of transfer of the virus from pigs to humans.

It is said that with such large numbers of pigs, the excreta produced is thousands of gallons, and this is toxic not only because of the different kinds of bacteria and viruses but also because of the cocktail of chemicals that are pumped into the pigs as well as the chemicals used to clean up their pens. The excreta along with dead pigs, is stored in huge lagoons surrounding the farms, and has been seen to seep into the groundwater and overflow during rains. Smithfield holds has been held responsible for environmental pollution on 23 counts, including the destruction of many river systems in North Carolina, and had to pay the biggest ever penalties in 2000.

So the likelihood that the swine flu outbreak, which is just a breath away from being declared a global pandemic, is a result of corporate greed and negligence, according to reports.

Are Pork Products Safe?

WHO made it very clear that no influenza viruses are capable of surviving the heat at which pork is normally cooked. According to WHO’s food safety scientist, influenza viruses are not known to be transmissible to people through eating processed pork, so that makes not only cooked pork but also processed pork products like ham, bacon, sausages and salami completely safe to for consumption.

Swine Flu Vaccine

WHO revealed that N1H1 is a new strain of swine influenza virus, and there is no vaccine to contain it yet. Scientists have started working on the vaccine, which may take another 6 to 9 months for the whole process to complete; which includes first identifying the organism and then commercialization.

The infected person should receive treatment within 48 hours. Beyond this period, the virus gets inside the cells and drugs will fail to act and prevent it. Prompt treatment is very important. If a passenger who has swine flu travels in a flight, there is a big risk of transmitting it to other passengers just like seasonal flu through sneezing or coughing.

Symptoms For Swine Flu

The symptoms are said to be similar to the seasonal influenza; which includes fever coughing, lack of appetite and lethargy. Some people with swine fly were also seen to have a sore throat, runny nose, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.

Precautions To Be Taken

People may become infected if they touch something that has flu viruses (through sneezing and coughing) on it and touch their nose or mouth with the same hand.

It is advised to:

• Wash hands frequently
• Avoid contact with infected persons and animals
• Stay away from people with cold or influenza like symptoms
• Stay away from pigs
• Avoid touching the mouth or nose without washing hands

There are two main tasks at hand; one is to break the cycle of transmission of the virus and the other is to develop a vaccine. Towards breaking the cycle, passengers are being screened at airports and people are warned of the flu-affected areas. Hundreds of people were quarantined in a Hong Kong Hotel after a Mexican tested positive for the deadly flu. Scientists at various centers have already started working on the vaccine and it should be a matter of months before they have a solution for this and hopefully, before it turns into a pandemic.