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| Important Decisions for September |
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by Bob Blumm, MA, PA-C, DFAAPA - September 12, 2011
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The month of September is one of those pivotal months due to events and seasonal changes. We start this month with preparation for a Labor Day Picnic and quickly move into the preparation for school, for those that have children. This includes all the supplies that you failed to purchase in August, school uniforms or clothes, backpacks and of course getting that college freshman off to their designated school. All of these actions apply to family members and the question is; what have you done for yourself?
In the month of September, it is suggested that you prepare for the upcoming fall and winter seasons by getting your personal Influenza immunization. Why September? Because this immunization takes at least an average of two weeks to become effective in a protective manner, and October and November are heavy Flu months. As a clinician you will be examining these patients in your offices and clinics as well as encountering them in hospitals and acute care facilities. There is the added incentive of the fact that your kids will be coming home with all sorts of strange bugs, and October is a heavy conference month, which means being in rooms with hundreds of other people and traveling on planes and trains with no new air being forced through the systems. Remember that influenza is contagious due to droplet transmission by sneezing, coughing, shaking hands of all the new people you will meet and in general because you are meeting the main vector, people.
For those who have experienced influenza, you may have had a light course of an unforgettable course. It can make you sick for a few days or for a week or more. This interferes with your responsibilities at home and on the job. Also remember that this can be life threatening in those under age 2 or those who are elderly. The usual presentation is weakness, coughing or sneezing, joint pain, lethargy, fever, headache, sore throat. The best treatment is prevention, which is why I have this under the “to do” list for September. The influenza immunization has a high although not perfect probability of saving you from a week of severe sickness. There are drugs that one can take to shorten the course but they always seem to be under scrutiny. Certain pain medications such as NSAIDS can be helpful but they are certainly not deterrents and chills. Not all patients present exactly alike and some have multiple symptoms without having all of the signs and symptoms.
I guess the last question is: can the flu shot make me sick? Hypothetically you cannot get the flu from an immunization as it is made from a weakened or killed virus. Some people may develop inflammation at the site of injection, have headaches and a runny nose of feel a bit off for a day or so but this is nothing in comparison to actually coming down with influenza. What else can you do to prevent this disease? I suggest carrying one of the available OTC anti-microbial hand washes or washing your hands frequently. Stay out of crowds if you can prevent transmission by this route, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and encourage your loved ones and friends to do likewise. Develop good personal hygiene as well as sleep hygiene, which means getting the proper amount of sleep and taking your supplements and eating healthy. Drink plenty of water, flavored or unflavored, as proper hydration is always a positive adjunct. You could also make a copy of this article and give it to your friends and family. Have a healthy season.
Robert M. Blumm has received national recognition as a distinguished fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). He is the past president of the Association of Plastic Surgery Physician Assistants, and was past-president of the American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants, past president of the American College of Clinicians and NYSSPA, as well as Chairman of the Surgical Congress of the AAPA. In addition, Bob received the John Kirklin MD Award for Professional Excellence from the American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants. Along with his associate, Dr. Acker, Bob was the first recipient of the AAPA PAragon Physician-PA Partnership Award. He has been a contributing author of three textbooks, written 300 plus articles and is a sought out conference speaker throughout the United States.
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
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