Influenza (flu) is a contagious disease that

spreads around the U.S. every winter, usu-

ally between October and May. Flu is caused
by the influenza virus and can be spread
by coughing, sneezing and close contact.
Anyone can get flu, but the risk of getting flu
is highest among children. Symptoms come
on suddenly and may last several days. They
can include:
Fever/chills Sore throat
Muscle aches Fatigue
Cough Headache
Runny or stuffy nose
Flu can make some people much sicker than
others. These people include young children,
people 65 and older, pregnant women, and
people with certain health conditions such
as heart, lung or kidney disease, or a weak-
ened immune system. Flu vaccine is especially
important for these people and anyone in
close contact with them. Flu can also lead to
pneumonia and make existing medical condi-
tions worse. It can cause diarrhea and seizures
in children. Each year thousands of people
in the U.S. die from flu, and many more are
hospitalized.
Flu vaccine is the best protection we have
from flu and its complications. It also helps
prevent spreading flu from person to person.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
Arm Yourself with the Flu Vaccine
BE A FLU FIGHTER
Flu Immunization Awareness Month
Fall Allergies:
What Gets Us Sneezing
This Time of Year?
Which Foods (Really)
Cause Gas?
Senior Health:
Help Prevent Falls
at Home
WHATS INSIDE
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FREE Take One
September 2014
H E A L T H
HEALTH smart September 2014
2
Digestive Health
Which Foods (Really) Cause Gas?
Most foods that contain carbohydrates can
cause gas. In contrast, fats and proteins cause
little gas. Foods that produce gas in one
person may not cause gas in someone else,
depending on how well individuals digest car-
bohydrates and the type of bacteria present
in the intestines. Some foods that may cause
gas include:
Beans
Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower,
cabbage, Brussels sprouts, onions, mush-
rooms, artichokes and asparagus
Fruits such as pears, apples and peaches
Whole grains such as whole wheat and
bran
Sodas; fruit drinks, especially apple juice
and pear juice; and other drinks that con-
tain high-fructose corn syrup, a sweetener
made from corn
Milk and milk products such as cheese, ice
cream and yogurt
Packaged foods such as bread, cereal
and salad dressing that contain small
amounts of lactose, a sugar found in milk
and foods made with milk
Sugar-free candies and gums that contain
sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol
and xylitol
Source: National Institutes of Health
Most toddlers sleep about 12 hours by age three.
At this age, they can have difficulty falling or staying
asleep. They can fight sleep because they dont like
the separation from their parents. They often have
a favorite toy to help them sleep, while a night light
helps those who are afraid of the dark.
Children ages 4 to 6 tend to sleep between 10
and 11 hours per night, and almost all children of
this age have some difficulty in sleeping. They may
resist going to bed and may wake up in the night.
They are sometimes afraid of the dark, and may wet
the bed or sleepwalk now and then. Again, a rou-
tine helps, together with reassurance and support
without over-dramatizing the issue.
Source: The Sleep Council UK
Fall Allergies
What Gets Us Sneezing This Time of Year?
Kids and ZZZs
How Much Sleep Does My
Toddler or Young Child Need?
Why do so many of us suffer from
allergies in the fall? Ragweed is often
the culprit, according to Warner Carr,
M.D., an allergist and fellow of the
American College of Allergy, Asthma
& Immunology. Seasonal allergies are
mostly due to pollen, and what pollinates
in the fall is ragweed.
Fall pollen counts are getting higher each
year, Carr notes. But there are differ-
ent theories as to why. The prevailing
theory has to do with our seasons, he
explains. Theres a warming trend in
our environment, so were seeing a much
more favorable growing environment for
weeds.
If youre experiencing seasonal allergy
symptoms, its not the ragweed in your
yard or your neighbors yard thats to
blame, Carr notes. Pollen blankets an
entire area like smoke from a fire, he
says. Your first line of defense is over-
the-counter nasal antihistamines and
other medications that treat symptoms.
But the best way to fight seasonal aller-
gies over the long term is to see an aller-
gist for an accurate diagnosis, and per-
haps immunotherapy or allergy shots,
he says.
Sources: Weather.com; American College
of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
HEALTH smart September 2014
3
If you are recovering from surgery or need
long-term care for a chronic illness, you may
be interested in working with a healthcare
agency. If youre considering such an agency,
youll want to ask the following questions:
Is the agency licensed by the state? Most
states but not all require agencies to
be licensed and reviewed regularly.
Reviews may be available on request
through your state health department.
Is the agency certified by Medicare to
meet federal requirements for health and
safety? If not, ask why.
What type of employee screening is done?
Can the agency provide references? Ask
for a list of doctors, hospital discharge
planners or other professionals who have
experience with the agency, as well as a
list of former clients. Ask doctors, family
and friends for agency recommendations.
Is the agency accredited by a governing
agency such as The Joint Commission, an
independent group that evaluates and
accredits healthcare organizations and
programs that voluntarily request review?
If so, ask to see the results of the most
recent survey.
Source: Mayo Clinic
Hiring a Home
Healthcare Agency
Do Your Homework
and Ask Questions
Help Prevent Falls at Home
Pregnancy Fact or Fiction?
Does an Unborn Baby Steal
Calcium from Moms Body?
SENIOR HEALTH UPDATE
This checklist is a handy reminder about areas of the home where falls commonly occur.
Use it to make simple changes that can help keep family members safe.
Stairways
Make sure all handrails are securely fastened.
Both sides of the steps should have handrails.
Floors and rugs
Make sure all floor boards are even and that
rugs, including area rugs, are secured to the
floor with tacks, non-skid pads or double-
sided tape.
Use non-skid floor wax.
Bathroom
Be sure that you can move safely in the
bathroom area, and in and out of the tub or
shower.
Remove soap build-up in the tub or shower on
a regular basis.
Place non-slip strips in the bath/shower.
Install adjustable-height shower heads.
Mount grab bars on the walls at the toilet, bath and shower
with secure reinforcements to prevent the bars from coming
loose.
Secure bath mats with non-slip, double-sided rug tape.
Kitchen
Things that you use frequently, such as dishes and food items, should be easy to reach.
If you have to use a step stool, make sure that it has a bar at the top to hold onto.
Source: Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
A common belief is that an unborn baby takes cal-
cium from a womans teeth, which causes tooth
decay. This is not true. During pregnancy, women
may be at greater risk for developing tooth decay
because they eat more frequently to prevent nausea.
Tooth decay during pregnancy is 100% preventable.
More-frequent brushing and regular dental care are
important. If left untreated, tooth decay can cause
toothaches and can lead to tooth loss.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
The best thing you can do to help get chronic
pain under control is to talk about it honestly.
Discuss with your doctor and your loved ones
what you are feeling. This means telling them:
Where you have pain
What it feels like (sharp, dull, throbbing,
constant, burning or shooting)
How strong your pain is
How long it lasts
What lessens your pain or makes it worse
When it happens (what time of day, what
youre doing and whats going on)
If it gets in the way of daily activities
You may be asked to describe and rate your
pain. This provides a way to assess your pain
threshold and measure how well your pain-
control plan is working. Your doctor may
ask you to describe your pain in a number of
ways. A pain scale is the most common way.
The scale uses the numbers 0 to 10, where 0
is no pain, and 10 is the worst. You can also
use words to describe pain, such as pinching,
stinging or aching. The most important thing
is to not suffer with pain silently. Talk with
your doctor.
Source: National Cancer Institute
HEALTH smart September 2014
4
Treating Coughs and
Colds in Young Children
Home Remedies Often
the Best, Says AAP
Over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medi-
cations can cause serious side effects in young
children. The Food and Drug Administration has
recommended that OTC cough and cold medi-
cines never be used in children under age 4. From
ages 4 to 6, they should be used only if recom-
mended by your childs doctor. After age 6, the
medicines are safe to use, but its important to
follow dosage instructions. Check all ingredients
and make sure you dont give different products
that may contain some of the same ingredients.
This can lead to overdose.
Fortunately, you can treat coughs and colds in
young children without these medicines. Here
are a few tips from the American Academy of
Pediatrics: Encourage your child to drink plenty of
fluids. Use saline spray or drops to loosen dried
mucous in the nose, followed by gentle blowing
or suctioning. For coughs, give warm, clear fluids.
Exposure to the warm mist from a shower can
help with coughing spasms. A humidifier in the
bedroom can help. Talk with your doctor if symp-
toms continue or worsen.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
Health Marts Health Smart newsletter is not intended as medical, legal
or regulatory advice. The information provided is intended to educate
and inform. Please consult with your physician or other licensed
professional for advice. Health Mart and its affiliates and member
pharmacies disclaim all liability arising from or related to reliance
on information contained in Health Marts Health Smart newsletter.
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