Vim & Vigor - Winter 2008 - (Page 38)

caused by bacteria in the bloodstream, and meningitis, when the bacteria invade the brain. ❋ side effects Some people worry they’ll get the ﬂu or pneumonia from the vaccines—it won’t happen. But you may experience some mild discomfort, including soreness, redness or swelling where the injection was given and a slight fever or headache that lasts about a day after the injection. ❋ prevention In addition to the vaccine, there are steps everyone can take to avoid the ﬂu, Mootrey says: • Maintain a healthy lifestyle and a strong immune system by eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains and exercising moderately. • Prevent spreading the ﬂu virus by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Wash your hands with soap and water, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. • Avoid contact with people who have the ﬂu, measles or chickenpox. All of these infections can lead to pneumonia in older adults because of their weaker immune systems. ❋ timing Because the predominant ﬂu virus strain and its antibodies change annually around the world, seniors are advised to get a ﬂu vaccination each year. To ensure early prevention, the best time to get vaccinated is in October or November, Mootrey says. However, the supply of vaccinations has increased over the past years, she adds, so if you haven’t received your vaccination by March, there should still be plenty of vaccines available. Most seniors who have had problems with their lungs, heart, liver or kidneys, or who have diabetes or a suppressed immune system, should have only one dose of the pneumonia vaccine under normal circumstances. A second dose may be given to those with serious medical conditions. the caregiver connection ❋ protection The ﬂu vaccine protects only against the ﬂu virus—not against the “stomach ﬂu,” which affects the stomach and small intestine and is really gastroenteritis, not ﬂu. While symptoms, including muscle aches and mild fever, are similar between the two, don’t make assumptions. Mootrey suggests seniors who exhibit signs of the ﬂu visit a physician to receive a proper diagnosis. By comparison, the pneuFor facts on St. Anthony Senior monia vaccine protects against Health Centers, call the pneumococcal bacteria, 303-825-1234. For flu the most common bacteria that shot clinics, turn to page 3. causes pneumonia. It also ﬁghts diseases such as bacteremia, care for seniors go Because older adults are at greater risk of influenza complications, all patients at St. Anthony Senior Health Centers are urged to get flu shots—and so are their family members. “We recommend anyone over age 50 get an influenza shot every year,” says St. Anthony North Senior Health Center geriatrician Thomas Cain, M.D. “We also strongly encourage those caring for seniors to get vaccinated.” By protecting themselves against the virus early, he says, they eliminate the risk of infecting the elders for whom they’re responsible. “Anything we can do to keep older adults healthy is important,” Cain says. “One of the main effects of aging is that people have fewer reserves to fight off or bounce back from an illness.” TOP PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK PETERMAN 38 vim & vigor · winte r 2 008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2008

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2008 Contents Friendly Faces For Your Health 'Tis the Season to be Safe Eat Your Veggies Joint Effort Fresh Beginnings Decades of Opportunity Keeping Score Your Big Give Roll Up Your Sleeve Tidings of Comfort and Health Blueprint for Safety The Smoke-Free Mom-to-Be Childbirth Trends Moms Choosing Midwives Community Sections Dollars & Sense Ask the Experts

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2008

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