With change in the air, now is the time for immunizations

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, change is in the air.

This time of year, that change is called fall, a time to get those last outdoor activities completed before the dead of winter sets in.

It is also the time for annual vaccinations, such as influenza and pneumonia. The vaccinations have been around for years, so naturally, we think we know all about them. We may have a good working knowledge of vaccinations, but Travis Johnson, community health director, said influenza is one of the most overlooked diseases.

?As adults, it will slow us down, but most people forget about how many people die from the flu,? he said. ?Often times, they come into the hospital with influenza but it turns into pneumonia.

?We see influenza and hear about it often. It?s always out there and around,? Johnson continued. ?But it is a misunderstood disease. Having a headache or a stomach ache for a day is not the flu. It is an incredibly strong virus and a very real thing.?

He said influenza presents the biggest risk to older adults and very young children.

It used to be that flu vaccinations were not available until October, but the clock has turned ahead. Johnson said Henry County Public Health received its first shipment of dosages last week.

He noted that there have been times the vaccine has not been nearly as effective, comparing it to compiling a fiscal-year budget months before the fiscal year begins.

?Some years, the vaccine is more effective than in other years,? he remarked. ?Pharmaceutical companies are guessing in the spring which (influenza) strain will be prevalent. Last year, the vaccination was very effective. The year before it was not as effective.?

Although influenza is generally regarded as a winter disease, Johnson said the virus is around all the time, just easier spread in the winter. That is why vaccinations are good for one year. ?The original misconception was that it only lasted a month, but it lasts a full year.

?In the fall and winter, people are inside more behind closed doors and windows,? Johnson remarked. ?Because of people being closed in, flu spreads more rapidly.

The vaccine is fully effective within two weeks after administered, he commented.

?Another myth is that a flu shot will give you the flu,? Johnson said. ?It actually tricks the body into thinking it is getting the flu.?

Johnson said Medicare and insurance companies will pay for the flu vaccination. Formerly, public health was unable to accept third-party insurance claims, but he said the agency ?is working diligently? to get it changed over so private insurance will cover the vaccine.

While getting the influenza shot, Johnson said don?t forget about the pneumonia vaccination. He said one is available for children with booster shots later in life and there are a couple of different vaccines for adults.

As long as you?re getting ?stuck,? the health director said if you haven?t had a tetanus shot in the past 10 years, you are due.

?Because a lot of people are working in the gardens and fields in the fall, it is good to be up to date on the tetanus shot and that shot also includes vaccination against pertussis (whooping cough),? he urged.

As for fall health tips, Johnson said to be especially careful on the roads due to tractors, school buses and animals roaming the roads.

October is ?Breast Cancer Awareness Month? and Johnson said there will be several promotions during the month. The program, ?Care for Yourself? will provide funding for women who can?t afford breast and cervical cancer screens.

Live Healthy Iowa, a state program which promotes programs for healthy living, will sponsor the ?Healthiest State Walk? Wednesday, Oct. 5. This year?s theme is ?Step It Walk? and each Iowa community is asked to have a 30-minute walk. Mt. Pleasant?s walk will be at noon from Central Park to Iowa Wesleyan University and back.

Healthy Henry County Communities also will be hosting a ?Healthy Halloween Walk? Sunday, Oct. 23, from 2-5 p.m. at East Lake Park.

Some fall health tips from Web/MD include starting something new, such as a new exercise regimen or even skin care. With the dryness of winter weather approaching, it?s important to get a head start on moisturizing the skin to protect it from winter cracking.

Other suggestions include:

? Schedule an appointment with your doctor to get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked and to see if your blood glucose levels are healthy.

? Manage the more demanding fall schedules by synchronizing your internal sleep-wake clock to the outside environment.

In the morning, get outside within five minutes of getting up and expose yourself to bright light for 30 minutes. At night, avoid bright light within two to three hours of bedtime because it might delay your sleep onset. This will keep you alert in the morning and make you sleepy at night.

? If you do one thing to improve your diet this fall, eat three cups of beans each week. Besides being a comfort food, beans add flavor and texture to soups, chili and casseroles. They?re also a great salad topper.

Beans are rich in protein, iron, folic acid, fiber and potassium.

? Fall is a good time to come back together after the summer scattering of vacations and busy schedules ? a great time to relax with friends.

Soothe away stress by making contact in person or by phone with someone you care about, someone you haven?t talked to in a while because life got in the way. The positive emotions will make you feel good, and when joy and stress meet up, the joy wins out.

? Improve your fitness this fall. Try a less-conventional workout to spruce up your regimen.

Break out of your fitness rut by taking a ballroom dance class or a mind-body workout such as yoga, Pilates or Tai chi. You?ll be energized and more likely to stick with it.

Johnson said the fall season sometimes provides a challenge to remain active.

?It gets cooler, but you have to keep that motivation to stay involved and moving,? he stressed. ?It?s still a long way until the dead of winter.?