Everywhere an Oink, Oink!

It seems the airwaves of radio and television have contracted the swine flu. No matter where you turn, the media is infected with swine flu-related talk and hype. In order to be politically correct and not offend any pigs, we should call the swine flu the H1N1 virus. Am I concerned about swine flu? Yes, but only to the same degree I am concerned about any flu. Later in the column, I will discuss steps you can take to prevent the spread of swine flu and other airborne person to person diseases.
However, first I would like to address influenza from a historical perspective. To better understand our obsession with the H1N1 virus and the current media frenzy on swine flu, we must review how the government and the media have dealt with health issues of the past.
In 1918, the influenza epidemic killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide- over three times the number of people killed in World War I. The flu afflicted more than 25% of the U. S. population and decreased the life expectancy by 12 years. The flu did not discriminate based on age, race, sex or location. It ran rampant in urban, rural and even the remotest parts of Alaska.
In 1976, two recruits at Fort Dix, New Jersey came down with flu like illness which was thought to be very similar to the 1918 pandemic known as “swine flu”. Only 24 hours after reporting symptoms, on February 5th 1976 19-year old Pvt. David Lewis was dead from influenza. Once again the President, the CDC, and the media jumped to the fear of a great plague.
In 1981, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) was diagnosed in at least 8 young men in California. It is thought the current AIDS pandemic actually started in the late 1970s and that this period of silence to 1981 is in part responsible for some 100 to 300 thousand people becoming infected with HIV. As we can see, it is important to report early and get the word out to as many people as possible so we are able to protect ourselves as much as possible.
In 2005, the World Health Organization warned us of the H5N1 virus (bird flu) and, more recently, of the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic scare. I guess I would rather be bombarded with information so I can make informed decisions about my health. My only fear is we will become callous to an overzealous media calling wolf too many times.
Influenza is a serious health issue with a significant impact to the economy. So, let’s look at ways to protect ourselves everyday from the flu. Your best protection is to get the “flu-shot” every year. The flu usually spreads from person to person via respiratory droplets. It is important to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and to then throw the tissue away. Wash your hands with soap and water after you cough or sneeze, or use alcohol-based cleaners. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as they are excellent routes of transmission.
Keep your eyes and ears open to stay informed about national and world health issues. Use a little common sense, protect your health, and most importantly- WASH YOUR HANDS!

Howard Baker, RN BSN
For questions, comments, or suggestions on topics you want to read about please email me at: howard@howardsbaker.com

Planting Good Health

I often reflect on fond childhood memories of my Grandfather and Great Aunt Vicky whom I spent a lot of time with. Both lived very long productive, healthy lives pretty much up until the day they died. I remember going to spend weeks with my Aunt Vicky on her farm, where there was no running water, no indoor plumbing and she cooked on a wood burning stove. We would lay awake at night and listen to nature and tell haint tales, and funny Arshmen* stories, laughing and talking till we fell off to sleep. The next morning we would awaken to the sounds of chickens crowing and the smell of fresh eggs cooking as we watched the morning dew rise off the fields. As these fond memories unfold in my mind like watching a movie, I realize this is where I learned the importance of a balance between nature and life. We would build a fire in the stove early in the morning, scramble the eggs we gathered the night before, pull up fresh water from the well and laugh and talk to one another.
Farms and family teach us so much, and it saddens me as I realize that as a society we have grown away from the basic foundations that taught us the cycles of life, the importance of clean water and the delicate balance each play not only on the farm but in the suburbs. A few years ago I was lucky to have a praying mantis lay her eggs in a shrub at the edge of my house, and the next spring I was fortunate to watch as hundreds of tiny mantis scurried in and out of this bush as they came to life. I stopped using pesticides, taking advantage of the mantis, and started applying beneficial nematodes. My lawn’s once fall nemesis-the mole- didn’t return last year except in one small corner of the lawn where I did not apply the nematodes. In years past my neighbors thought I was nuts as I declared war on the mole with traps, repellents and buzzers. To my dismay I never caught a single mole and saw no evidence that my efforts were victorious in driving the mole past the battle lines drawn in the lawn. Last fall, I declared victory against the mole. I will keep you posted if I am able to declare victory in the coming months against the June Bug.
My great grandmother, Granny Hightower, died the year they took her garden away from her at age 88. My grandfather died the year the family staked his beans in an effort to protect him from the summer heat. Gardening is a connection to family, friends, and nature. It is a continuous learning- an adventure of sensory and aesthetic stimulation- that keeps us young, gives us challenges, goals and a sense of accomplishment. A garden is life. It’s an accomplishment and a model of our role as curators of mother earth.
Encourage a garden- large or small, a flowerbed at the edge of the house or a container on the edge of the deck or patio. It isn’t about the number or size; it is about growing and caring for something that gives us hope and a feeling of accomplishment, a contribution, community pride and a sense of belonging. A gardener is full of life- nurture and encourage them. They will live longer, healthier, happier and fuller lives and enrich the lives around them.
Last week Michelle Obama planted a garden with children on the South lawn of The White House. I hope this garden grows across the country and reaps more than Mrs. Obama ever dreamed possible. It’s more than a garden; it’s an invitation to grow together.

*Arshmen: Appalachian folklore about adventures of wee Irishmen
Howard Baker, RN BSN

For questions, comments, or suggestions on topics you want to read about please email me at: howard@howardsbaker.com

Would You Wrestle An Alligator?

Would you jump in a pen and wrestle a half crazed alligator? Probably not! Well, March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. The sad thing is that in 60% of the cases colorectal cancer is preventable with routine screenings.
So, who is at risk for colorectal cancer? You are considered to be at average risk if you are 50 years old or older with no other risk factors. Men have an average lifetime risk of colorectal cancer of about one in seventeen; whereas, women’s risk is about one in nineteen. People at higher risk are those with a close family member such as a parent, sibling or child who has had the disease, or if they have had colorectal cancer or precancerous polyps before. Race also plays a significant role. Blacks are more likely than any other racial group to develop colorectal cancer and have lower survival rates. Most healthcare providers agree that if you’re black screening should start at age 45 instead of 50.
It is thought that a high fat, low-fiber diet can increase your likelihood of colorectal cancer. Obesity, diabetes, and heavy alcohol intake can also increase your risk. A sedentary lifestyle can also put you at a higher risk, as well as the good health nemesis-smoking! It has also been shown that people of Ashkenazi ancestry (Jews of Eastern European decent) are more likely to develop colorectal cancer. In 2006, in Poland it was found that men were more likely to have larger polyps at a younger age and the study’s authors recommended screening begin at age 40 for men.
Signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer usually do not appear until the disease has progressed to the advanced stages which also reduce your chances of a cure. When polyps and early stage cancers are found and removed before symptoms are noticed, you increase your five year survival rate by 90%. Symptoms include: a change in bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation; narrow, pencil-thin stools; rectal bleeding or blood in your stools; persistent abdominal pain, gas, cramps or discomfort; feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely; or unexplained weight loss. These symptoms could have many different meanings to your health, so you should seek the advice of your healthcare provider if you experience any of the above symptoms.
You might have a chance of taking that half crazed alligator by the tail and smacking him on the nose a time or two and escaping with a few minor scratches, but why take the risk? You could also never get tested for colorectal cancer and never contract the disease. However, I personally wouldn’t take my chances with either. A bite in your tail in either case could mean a lot of pain and suffering that could have been prevented by using a little common sense. Take your life by the tail-be proactive, know your risks, don’t play the odds, and get tested. It may simply save your life.
Howard Baker, RN BSN
For questions, comments, or suggestions on topics you want to read about please email me at: howard@howardsbaker.com

Titanic Risks

There are so many things I wanted to write about this week. April is a time to think about numerous important subjects such as Youth Sports Safety, Earth Day, Alcohol Awareness, Women’s Eye Health and Child Abuse Prevention Month. But the topic that woke me up out of a sound sleep at 3 in the morning was Cancer Control Month. The first therapeutic relationship I developed as a nursing student was with a cancer patient. I know I have written about cancer prevention in the past weeks- on ways to protect your skin and the importance of colorectal screenings. These writings are not simply about publishing a newspaper column. They are about informing and making a difference in my community and making a difference in someone’s life- maybe even yours.
This weekend I had the honor and privilege of caring for a man I had seen from diagnosis, through treatment, to end of life. I will always remember his sense of humor, his smile and his positive attitude. As I went about my nursing duties his hands touched my arm and he said, “Help me”. In that moment my heart swelled with an overwhelming compassion for life and for another human being. I realize what is important in life. Wealth, accomplishment, and debt are not important in the final moments of life. Family, hope and health are what matter. In these moments people don’t think about the roads that led to this point or the reasons why. What we think about are the comforts of the end.
What if we could know now what we will know then? Would seeing the end of our life influence the things we do in between? In the novel “A Christmas Carol”, Ebenezer Scrooge was lucky to be able to see how the choices in his life would impact not only his life but also how they would affect the lives around him. This insight gave Ebenezer the opportunity to make adjustments before it was too late. What if we could see how the choices we make would impact our lives and the lives around us? Would we be inspired and motivated to make a change?
Ninety seven years ago this week the Titanic sunk, and out of the 2,227 people who were on board 1,522 people died. Knowing what you know today, would you buy a ticket and board the Titanic? On the one hand you might have a great adventure and go down in history as a survivor of the Titanic; however, on the other hand you die on a cold night in the icy waters. Cigarette smoking involves similar life-threatening risk as it is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States. As a result, smoking related deaths are the most preventable cause of premature death in our society. Cigarette smoking kills more Americans than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide, and illegal drugs-combined.
Whether it’s Cancer Control Month or not, it is important we do our part in cancer prevention and control. If you smoke, the single most important thing you can do to prolong your life and decrease your days of illness is to stop smoking. For free help in quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. You have nothing to lose and possibly everything to gain. If you don’t smoke, log on to www.cancer.org or call the Preston Medical Library at 865-305-9525 and find out other ways you might reduce your risk of cancer. The Preston Medical Library will send you information in the mail free of charge.
Do not think you are “unsinkable” or that tragedy will not happen to you. I have witnessed firsthand the sadness smoking brings and leaves behind. Don’t let smoking be your ticket aboard the Titanic.
Howard Baker, RN BSN
For questions, comments, or suggestions on topics you want to read about please email me at: howard@howardsbaker.