Important information about the flu

Have you gotten your flu shot?  Don't be one of those people who "claim" that they get the flu from the flu shot because that is just not true!  

 

Flu outbreak: Why are so many not getting vaccinated?

The CDC recommends everyone who is over the age of 6 months get a flu vaccine.  The people most at risk for developing complications from the flu include people over the age of 65, pregnant women, and those with asthma, emphysema and chronic lung disease. However, the majority of Americans do not get the flu shot each year – with only 46 percent getting the vaccine by the end of March 2012.  And, the success rates are fairly positive –  flu shots were shown to be 67 percent effective in preventing the flu.

So why do so many people skip getting the vaccine?  According to one doctor, people do not actively reject the vaccine.  Instead they are merely unsure of whether or not they really need it.

Myths vs. facts
“There’s a growing problem called ‘vaccine hesitancy,’” Dr. Frank Esper, a viral respiratory disease expert at UH Case Medical Center in Ohio, told FoxNews.com.  “They’re not truly against getting the shot.  But, with all these people online saying, ‘Watch out for this, be careful about that,’ – they’re hesitant to receive the flu vaccine, and then they never get it done.”

According to Esper, with numerous websites, blogs, and podcasts perpetuating false information about the flu vaccine online, it’s easy for people to doubt the vaccine’s safety or believe it was not tested accurately.  Many fear the vaccine will cause adverse side effects, which is an unrealistic fear, Esper said.

“There were certain vaccines in the past that did cause problems,” Esper said, alluding to a 1976 vaccine that caused Guillian-Barre syndrome (a neurologic disorder) in a small amount of people.

“It happens once, and people start saying how the [vaccine can cause severe problems].  But all these vaccines that we are producing in the U.S have been tested for this problem, and all sorts of other problems and have been well proven to be safe and effective,” Esper added.

Apart from the hesitancy surrounding the flu vaccine, there are also a number of propagated myths associated with the shot.

 The biggest one: You can get the flu from getting the flu shot.
Because the flu vaccine is developed utilizing parts of the influenza virus, many people believe the virus in the vaccine can ultimately make them sick. But Esper laid that myth to rest.

“The flu shot has absolutely no live virus in there,” Esper said.  “It’s a bunch of pieces and parts.  Think of it as if I take the flu, chop it up into little bits and put those bits into the shot.  You cannot get the flu from the shot because it doesn’t contain all the parts of the flu virus.”

To emphasize his point, Esper noted a person cannot get the flu from the flu shot, “no more than you can get three tires and a carburetor and drive a car.”

However, just because a person does get the flu vaccine doesn’t mean he or she won’t still get sick.  However, many people can mistake flu-like symptoms for the flu virus.  Esper noted there are many different viruses capable of causing disease, so people shouldn’t necessarily assume that if they are sneezing and coughing, they caught the flu virus.

Another myth people have is they think they cannot get the flu.  People who haven’t had the flu in years’ past think they are somehow immune to the virus – a mind set that is potentially unsafe for not only themselves, but others around them.
“The answer to that is, ‘Well you may not have gotten sickly,’” Esper said. “Just like the flu can cause really bad disease, you can actually just have a little bit of a runny nose and nothing else – and that’s still the flu.  It’s still something you caught and you can spread to others.”

Credit:  http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/01/10/flu-outbreak-why-are-so-many-not-getting-vaccinated/

Some key things to know about the flu season:

THE SITUATION: The annual flu season hit about a month early this year, and illness is now widespread in 47 states. Many cases are caused by a flu strain that tends to make people sicker. But so far experts say it's too early to know whether this will end up being a bad season. Maybe not: There are signs the flu may have already peaked in a few states, though it's too early to tell for sure, health officials say.

THE VACCINE: This season's vaccine is well matched to the circulating strains, and there's still some available. It is 62 percent effective, according to government study results released Friday, which is pretty good for a flu vaccine. Health officials are urging people to get vaccinated; it's recommended for everyone 6 months or older.

THE DEFENSE: Besides getting a flu shot, wash hands with soap and warm water, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Keep away from sick people.

THE TREATMENT: Most people will get a mild case and can help themselves and protect others by staying home and resting. But people with severe symptoms should see a doctor. They may be given antiviral drugs or other medications to ease symptoms.

COLD OR FLU?: Influenza is not the only bug making people sick. The cold virus and a nasty stomach virus are also going around. It can sometimes be hard to tell the difference, but cold symptoms include stuffy or runny nose, sore throat and sneezing. Flu usually involves fever, along with chills, headache and moderate-to-severe body aches and tiredness. Symptoms can come on rapidly, within three to six hours.

Facebook:

Sniffly, stuffy, sneezy and achy and want someone to blame, just to make yourself feel mildly better? There’s now an app for that.
“Help, I Have the Flu” is a new Facebook app that trolls through friends’ profiles looking for keywords such as ‘sneezing,’ ‘coughing,’ and ‘vomiting’ as well as check-ins to find the culprit who may have passed on the virus.

“Hello. I’m sorry you have the flu,” reads the app. “Nothing will make you feel better like finding somebody to blame.”

Clicking on the “Who Made Me Sick” button on the Facebook page will track down prime suspects, such as those who’ve mentioned the word ‘flu’ in their status updates or those who’ve had multiple late night posts, as sleep deprivation, the app reasons, puts people at increased risk for catching a cold.

The app also allows users to send a message to the offending virus-spreader or purchase remedies from the healthcare company that runs the app, Help Remedies in the US.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has an app that tracks flu activity reports in the US through podcasts and feeds, while the Flu Defender provides handy tips on how to protect yourself this season.

Cold and Flu Coupons for you!

$2 Off Sudafed Product Coupon
$1 Off Chloreseptic Product Coupon
$1 Off Robitussin Product Coupon
$2 -$3 Off Theraflu Product Coupons
$1 Off ZarBee’s Cough Syrup Coupon
$1 Off Little Remedies Product Coupon
$1 Off Tylenol Coupon
$1 Off Advil Product Coupon – Use the scroll bar to switch between products – middle of the page.
$1 Off Excedrin Extra Strength Coupon

Recommending the Right Products for Cold and Flu Season:
http://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/issue/2010/November2010/OTCFocus_ColdandFlu-1110

This year I recommend:
http://conversationswithcarolyn.blogspot.com/2013/01/cordicin-is-best-cold-and-flu-tablets.html

I hope you have gotten your flu shot and that you are staying home from public places since this has been ruled an epidemic.  You can still get the flu even if you had the flu shot.  I hope that you feel better soon if you are sick.

Goal One... Lose 20 lbs by the summer or more with Fitness Pal!

I just made a commitment to my #1 HEALTH GOAL for the New Year!  During the holidays I did some food reviews and made a lot of cookies and gained 20 lbs. (also ate comfort food while my husband was in the hospital at the beginning of the month for a colonectomy)

These are not my images but rather all the credit goes to: FITNESS PAL

The following images are descriptive of a sample FREE Fitness Pal!

Are you interested in joining me and using My Fitness Pal for free?  All you have to do is go here to join:  http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

I like to follow WEB MD for choosing the foods that I eat!  You can too by going here:  http://www.webmd.com/diet/default.htm

I'm going to be sharing great recipes for losing weight during this time.  For now, check out the recipes on the WEB MD link.
Click here:  http://www.webmd.com/search/search_results/default.aspx?query=diet%20recipes

Add a comment if you are choosing to lose weight as a GOAL this year and if you are using the FREE My Fitness Pal!  Thanks and best wishes!

GOAL SETTING for the NEW YEAR and NOT Resolutions! 2013!

We made it!  Remember those RESOLUTIONS that you made in 2012?  How many did you break by March of 2012?  Diet resolutions, resolutions to the Lord, resolutions to your family and friends...  it can be upsetting if we look at the past, so let's look forward to the FUTURE!  But don't erase anything from 2012 because it was meant to help you grow in some way! Let's make GOALS in 2013 and do it the right way... no resolutions because we break those.  Just hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals!

 HEALTHY GOALS:

1. Protect the Heart!
       Why is it important?

"1.  Because your heart is extremely valuable. We don’t guard worthless things. I take my garbage to the street every Wednesday night. It is picked up on Thursday morning. It sits on the sidewalk all night, completely unguarded. Why? Because it is worthless.

1. Not so with your heart. It is the essence of who you are. It is your authentic self—the core of your being. It is where all your dreams, your desires, and your passions live. It is that part of you that connects with God and other people.
   Just like your physical body, if your heart—your spiritual heart—dies, your leadership dies. This is why Solomon says, “Above all else.” He doesn’t say, “If you get around to it” or “It would be nice if.” No, he says, make it your top priority.
2. Because your heart is the source of everything you do. King Solomon says it is the “wellspring of life.” In other words, it is the source of everything else in your life. Your heart overflows into thoughts, words, and actions. In Tennessee, where I live, we have thousands and thousands of natural springs, where water flows to the surface of the earth from deep under the ground. It then accumulates in pools or runs off into creeks and streams.
   If you plug up the spring, you stop the flow of water. If you poison the water, the flow becomes toxic. In either situation, you threaten life downstream. Everything depends on the condition of the spring.
   Likewise, if your heart is unhealthy, it has an impact on everything else. It threatens your family, your friends, your ministry, your career, and, indeed, your legacy. It is, therefore, imperative that you guard it.
3. Because your heart is under constant attack. When Solomon says to guard your heart, he implies that you are living in a combat zone—one in which there are casualties. Many of us are oblivious to the reality of this war. We have an enemy who is bent on our destruction. He not only opposes God, but he opposes everything that is aligned with Him—including us."        http://michaelhyatt.com/three-reasons-why-you-must-guard-your-heart.html  to read more!

 Michael  goes on to share about "The Four Disciplines of the Heart" 
My friend was under attack. He had just discovered that one of his board members was campaigning to unseat him. Worse, one of his children had just been diagnosed with a chronic disease. As a result of these issues, he was struggling with the typical symptoms of stress—insomnia, indigestion, and back pain.

He was ready to throw in the towel. And, who could blame him? Life is hard.
This is why leaders must understand the importance of their heart and why they must guard it. In times of adversity and temptation, a healthy heart is essential to survival.
How can leaders cultivate a healthy heart? I would suggest four disciplines:

1. The Discipline of Reflection. We live in a busy and noisy world that will suck the life out of us if we let it. This is why it is essential that we intentionally pull away to a quiet place, pause, and reflect. If Jesus did this (see, for example, Mark 1:35), how much more important is it for us? I believe this is best done by reading the Bible and praying. I have also found it helpful to read other spiritual writings, especially those of the desert fathers. Anything outside of our own time gives us much-needed perspective, as C.S. Lewis notes in his Introduction to On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius.
2. The Discipline of Rest. God has built rest into our very physiology. We are made to shut down for a third of the daily cycle. One of the quickest ways to lose perspective is to cheat ourselves out of this God-given “off switch.” But practicing the discipline of rest requires more than a biologically-induced pause. It requires deliberate choices: deciding to rest one day in seven and choosing to take our allotted vacations. I believe it even involves fasting—giving our bodies a break from the tyranny of our appetites.
3. The Discipline of Recreation. There is a difference between amusement and recreation. The former leaves us more tired than we started. (Ever taken a trip to Disney World and come back more exhausted than you left?) Yet the latter refreshes us and grounds us. Recreation involves any activity that gives us the opportunity to express our creativity. For some, it might involve painting, writing, or playing a musical instrument. For others, it might even involve rebuilding an engine or baking a cake. These activities never seem urgent, but they are vitally important.
4. The Discipline of Relationships. Arguably, this is the most important. You and I were made to live in relationship to others. In fact, the very foundation of reality is relational. Before the world was created, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, lived together in perfect love and unity. But in a world of social media and faux connections, we must be intentional about building authentic relationships and real community. This means making time—quality time—for our family members and friends. It means taking the initiative to invest in those we love.

I realize that I have only scratched the surface. This topic is worthy of an entire book. My hope in writing this short post is simply to put your heart on your radar, so that you will nurture it and find it to be a resource in the challenging times ahead. 

Question: Which of these disciplines is most important to you in nurturing your heart? 

 Lifestrong shares the importance:

Lifestrong shares: 

Your heart is a muscle that sits on the left side of your chest. It is about the size of your fist, and it beats, on average, about 70 times each minute. When you start to work, your muscles need more oxygen and sugar to make fuel. Your heart works faster to deliver these components to your muscles. When you relax at the end of the day, your heart slows down because your body does not need as much fuel. A healthy heart keeps all your body systems working.

How the Heart Works

Your heart is the central point for blood to release waste products and recharge with oxygen. Returning blood fills the right upper chamber, or atrium, of the heart. Next the muscle contraction pushes the blood down into the lower chamber or ventricle. From the ventricle, blood is pumped into the lungs to drop off waste products and pick up fresh oxygen. Oxygenated blood returns to the left upper chamber of the heart. The next heartbeat pushes it into the left ventricle, and then out into the body. The electrical system of the heart sends signals that cause the muscle to contract. The signal begins at the sinoatrial node, or SA node, and travels down through muscle fibers in the ventricles to make them contract.

Irregular Heartbeats

If your heart is not healthy you can experience many problems. If the electrical system of your heart does not work properly, you could have an irregular heartbeat. Your heart could pump too fast or too slow. A fast heart rate is tachycardia. A slow heart rate is bradycardia. If the heart pumps too slowly, blood does not circulate fast enough to give your tissues and organs the needed oxygen and nutrients.

Weak Heart Muscle

Heart muscle is typically very strong. If the muscle becomes damaged from a heart attack or lack of oxygen to an area of the muscle, it becomes weak. This is heart failure. This prevents the heart from contracting hard enough to push blood out into your circulatory system, or to pump blood through the lungs to pick up oxygen.

Heart Health

There are many diseases and conditions that affect the way your heart works. Each one can cause different symptoms, but they all alter the way your heart works. Once your heart is damaged, all of your body tissues and organs suffer the consequences. Lack of oxygen and nutrients to body tissues causes them to start deteriorating. Lack of circulation to the brain alters your level of consciousness. It is important to keep your heart healthy and strong to keep your brain and body healthy.

References

• Texas Heart Institute: The Heartbeat
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What is Arrhythmia?
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What is Heart Failure?

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/428510-why-is-it-important-to-keep-your-heart-healthy/#ixzz2GwBLwjCE

Cordicin® is the best cold and flu tablets that I’ve ever had! Review 01/07/13

Cordicin® is the best cold and flu tablets that I’ve ever had!

Wow! Talk about the perfect timing! Coricidin® HBP Cold and Flu Tablets came at just the right time! I contracted the highly contageous norovirus http://www.keyt.com/news/local/Health-Officials-Investigate-Norovirus-Outbreak-182285881.html and I got it from the nursing

home that my Mother In Law lives in. So I ran to the box and coupons and went through 2 boxes of it (used a coupon) and took a friend

shopping with me and gave her a coupon for it as well.
 
She is a couponer like me and we stood outside the grocery store and handed out coupons for the product to people who were really bundled up and showing signs of the flu or norovirus. She bought a lot of packaged soup and we stood at out table and handed out all the coupons she had for this product and so did I and we handed them an envelope of soup too. She had extra coupons from the Sunday inserts of the LA Times, andI mean a lot, because we were there for 2 hours and she used the Coricidin® HBP Cold and Flu Tablets coupons and I took a lot from my inserts

and altogether we had passes out 80 something coupons! I waited til I was over the norovirus to sit out there and just chat casually with the people who sat in our chairs and talked about the (norovirus) because we had a survey and a fact sheet about the norovirus and the flu (and what it doesn't cover).
 
We shared the following information with the many people that stopped by our table on a piece of paper and we had memorized the lines so we could quote without having to do too much of a "pitch" but if you knew me and my coupon friend, we could talk bears into WARM WOOL jackets in the summer! We also had it on the paper that asked them how familiar they were with the product.
 
I shared from my personal experience and people actually said to us that they are going to the drugstore right next to the grocery store and get their flu shot! We had them use the tablets to take the quiz: http://www.coricidinhbp.com/coricidin/home/index.jspa and the COMMERCIAL

was going over and over again on a LAPTOP so they could see for themselves.
 
 
 
Coricidin® HBP Cold and Flu Tablets This medicine is specially designed for people with High Blood Pressure.
 
Coricidin® HBP Cold & Flu Tablets Temporarily relieve runny nose and sneezing due to the common cold.
 
Temporarily relieve minor aches, pains and headaches associated with a cold or flu.
 
Temporarily reduces fever.
 
On our survey we asked the interested people, "What would I want to know before I get this product." We had a fact sheet there with the Coricidin® HBP Cold and Flu Tablets facts that are in the paragraph above this one. We also had them sign an agreement that they know we are NOT Dr's and that before starting any new medication they ask their Dr. if this is a product that they could add to the present medications or not.
 
For a follow-up we pointed them to: http://www.amazon.com/Coricidin-People-Blood-Pressure-Tablets/dp/B000052X48 where they could find the product and consider other Coricidin® products. We had some TABLETS on the table that friends had lent to us so that we could let them go to the Coricidin® homepage and read what we had already shared with them AND they could see the commericial on TV and ads in magazines and where to get coupons for this product! On the second laptop we allowed them to sign up on the computer and TAKE the quiz right there so that they were getting the information on the spot and not waiting til they went home. Anyone who came out of the store with the product we handed out a candy cane! And of course the coupon went with it!
 
I had a statement written out to tell them that I am a Bzz Agent and do not represent the product itself and that my information came from the homepage of Coricidin® and told them how to become a Bzz Agent like me!
 
We counted 70+ boxes going out the door of the grocery store where we were set up. Yay!

YES, every person I spoke with in person or communicated with online mentioned in this BzzReport knows that I'm a BzzAgent and that I received a product sample, coupon, collateral or other special premium from BzzAgent.

Bzz Agent/Private Selection® Holiday Party and Campaign

 

Hi everyone!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!  2013... woo hoo!  We had a wonderful New Year's Eve get together and New Year's Day and Night to ourselves to indulge.   And boy did we and we still are enjoying so much!  Let me show you in pictures and text all that we tried and what we are still trying.  

Private Selection® is determined to bring you food crafted from the finest ingredients available. Offering a wide variety of artisan-inspired options, Private Selection® will help you prepare the best menu of the holiday season. Created for those with the finest tastes in gourmet fare, you'll find everything you need for your holiday party, from appetizers to the main course, right through to after dinner coffee.  And we enjoy our Private Selection® so much from coffee in the morning to meals during the day and night and crackers and cheese anytime. We buy our Private Selection® from Ralph's but it can be bought at these fine grocery stores:  Kroger, Dillow's, King Soopers, Hilander, Smith's, Baker's, Fry's, City Market, Scott's and FredMeyer.  I think you can find that you may shop at one of these great stores and can find the same Private Selection® products and much more!  

My neighbors and friends and family know that I'm a Bzz Agent and so they are usually humming around the place during the holidays or asking me on the street what I've tried recently that I would recommend!  I think they are always happy to try a new recipe that I've tried or a new product or more of the same thing that they've tried at my house so I always let them know of the campaigns ahead of time!  

With my Private Selection^® Holiday Bzz Kit, I can run to Ralph's (Kroger) and grab the goods I need for a perfect New Year's Eve party and then New Year's Day and Night and next day with my husband. 

The Bzz Kit included:

1 -  4.4 Oz Box of Classic Water Crisps crackers
1 - 11Oz Bag of Costa Rican Tarrazu coffee
1 -  Coupon for a Free Private Selection pre-sliced deli cheese
1 -  Coupon for a Free jar of Private Selection Pasta Sauce
1 -  Coupon for a Free jar of Private Selection Olives
1 – Coupon for $.75 off Private Selection yogurt
5 – 20% off Coupons so friends and family can save on Private Selection offerings

What's The Bzz?

  Refined. Refreshed. Reimagined. (something that we did not plate for the party and are looking forward to trying again in the near future! We have tried the basil tomato sauce and loved it in the past!)
Private Selection^® can help turn those party planning Ho Hums back into some Ho Ho Hos. With an array artisan-inspired offerings, Private Selection^® allows you to serve your guests gourmet fare right from your own home.  Exclusively available at the Kroger family of stores, let Private Selection^® set the perfect tone for your guests this holiday season.  We did and we're going to have to do some impressing next year too only with a bigger party!  

How we prepare for a Holiday Party in our house:

Fwa La!  You have a new scene filled with all the Private Selection^® and some of our other Private Selection^® and Kroger foods that are ready for the party!

Cheese and Crackers and Olives and coupons!

Adorable Dog of Honor in her Black Attire!

A table spread of the artisan fare of Private Selection^®

Just the Facts

The holidays are a time of sharing. So when you gather with your friends and family to share laughs, drinks and presents don't forget to share these Private Selection^® facts, too:

• The Private Selection^® brand is inspired by food enthusiasts and uses only the highest quality ingredients
• It can be found exclusively available at the Kroger family of stores
• Rich NEW flavors of Private Selection^® coffee include Sumatra, Costa Rican, Vanilla, and Toffee Nut
• Private Selection^® cheeses are available in great tasting varieties including Garlic & Herb Monterey Jack, Blue Marbled White Cheddar, Buffalo Monterey Jack, Blue Marbled Pepper Jack and others
• A full range of Private Selection^® premium offerings can be found throughout the store, including Angus meats, fresh & frozen seafood, deli meats & cheeses, ice cream, appetizers, desserts, candy, coffee, crackers, , cookies, pasta and pasta sauce, and much more.

The incredible Private Selection^®yogurt and wheat crackers.

The Private Selection^® 

Crew! 

All ready for the party!

Side view of the table and set up! We're ready to eat and drink and have fun with friends and neighbors!

  The Scoop:

Cheese, crackers, scoop!

The Perfect (and Painless) Party
It's not news to anyone that the holiday season can be just about the busiest time of the year. But by incorporating the gourmet offerings from Private Selection^® you can serve your guests delicious and easy dishes.

First Course
As your guests arrive lay out some appetizers for them to snack on such as Private Selection^® Jalepeno or Garlic Stuffed Olives. Perfectly whet the appetite for dinner by pairing them with a variety of crackers (like the ones in your kit!) and some gourmet cheeses to sample.

My table set up with everything from this Private Selection^®campaign. 

Dinner
Easy to make and serve, plus sure to please the entire crowd, keep things simple with a pasta dish as your main course. With a variety of Private Selection^® Pasta Sauces to choose from, the possibilities are near endless.

    (We ate the Private Selection^® Fettucine  with the Private Selection® aldredo sauce and didn't get any pictures then. Next time we'll come back and update with pictures of us trying this again, it was delicious!)

After Dinner
Whether you choose the Costa Rican, Carmel Truffle, Seattle House Blend, or another Private Selection^® coffee blend, you'll warm your guests up for their trip home or perk them up for some spirited after dinner action.

My husband with a cup of Caramel Truffle! 

 

I am an unpaid, non-attorney, non-spokesperson for Private Selection or Kroger Brands. I’m a Bzz Agent that received great food, coupons and Ralph's costumer in exchange for my honest opinion. I would only put pictures of  my husband in here that he agreed to and none of the guests to violate their photo privacy.