Antidepressants – The Most Prescribed Drugs in the U.S.

This article is from www.mercola.com

As yoga teachers - it is important to help students understand the power of yoga, meditation and healing to release healthy neurotransmitters, keep them in a positive state of mind and not need all these drugs. Exercise is key to releasing depression and especially inversions in yoga. Downward facing dog, dolphin, headstands, handstands on the wall, legs up the wall, and savasana are excellent at releasing the energy that "depresses" them.

Antidepressants – The Most Prescribed Drugs in the U.S.
As reported by the National Center for Health Statistics, antidepressants have become the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. They're prescribed more than drugs to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, or headaches.
Out of 2.4 billion drugs prescribed in visits to doctors and hospitals in 2005, 118 million were for antidepressants.
According to the authors of the above study, the increase in antidepressant drug prescriptions is in part due to expanded insurance coverage and greater familiarity with the drugs among primary care doctors.

What this really translates into is that the right palms have been sufficiently greased by the pharmaceutical giants, so their drugs are now covered at maximum price by insurance companies, and their sales reps have done a marvelous job of spreading propaganda to doctors who are frequently too pressed for time to do their own research and far more easily influenced by this persuasion then even they realize.

Whereas severe depression can indeed progress to suicide if left untreated, antidepressant drugs have been shown to CAUSE both suicidal and homicidal thoughts and behaviors. For example, seven of the last 12 school shootings were done by children who were either on antidepressants, or going through withdrawal.
UK banned nearly all antidepressants in kids in 2004, due to the increased risk of suicide. The United States, however, is still allowing Big Pharma to rake in the profits from these deadly, mind-altering drugs. And, they keep thinking up ways to push them on even more people who do not truly need them, such as pregnant women who are deemed potential candidates for post-partum depression.

Science has Already Proven Antidepressants Ineffective
The drastic increase in antidepressant drug use is really quite perplexing, considering the fact that numerous studies have already shown that up to 75 percent of the benefits of antidepressants can be duplicated by a placebo.
Not only do these drugs not work as advertised, but the evidence is quite clear that most of these drugs do in fact increase your risk of suicide and violence.
Since depression can be a terminal illness, why would you want to take a drug that would actually increase your risk of killing yourself or someone else?
Your physical health can also be severely compromised when taking these drugs. Studies have shown antidepressants can harm your immune system, and raise your risk of type 2 diabetes by two to three times in high-risk groups.

So Why are Prescriptions for Antidepressants Skyrocketing?
Last year, the state of Texas sued a pharmaceutical company for using false advertising and improper influence to get its products on the now-mandatory adult protocol, the Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP). (Any maker of a psychiatric drug wants to get their drug on that list.)
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the newer drugs chosen for the protocol are ten times more expensive than traditional drugs, but have no substantial advantage.

In short, shenanigans like this -- using false advertising, and unduly influencing key positions -- likely have a lot to do with the dramatic increase in antidepressant sales.

Controversy about off-label promotion of psychotropics in children has also broken out across the U.S.
For example, late last year, New Jersey state assemblyman Michael Coherty wrote to the state department of health, asking about the policy that permitted the NJ Medicaid program to spend $73 million between 2000 and 2007 on antipsychotic drugs for children under the age of 18 although the drugs are not FDA approved for pediatric use.
Lawsuits are pending in several states over the issues of improper marketing and failure to disclose serious side effects, which caused state programs to overpay for drugs like Zyprexa, Seroquel, and Risperdal.

It’s not just the drugs prescribed, but the diagnoses that are in question, particularly in children. Six million children have been diagnosed with serious psychiatric disorders warranting drug treatment -- 1 million with bipolar disorder, long believed to occur only in adults.
Psychiatric Drugs for Kids – A Prescription for Disaster
In 2007 alone, half a million children and teenagers were given at least one prescription for an antipsychotic, including 20,500 under the age of six. American children are also about three times more likely to be prescribed psychotropic medication than children in Europe.

And in one of the most defenseless groups -- children in the foster care system -- kids as young as three years old are screened for mental illnesses and put on psychiatric drugs for disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression with horrifying frequency.
For example, among children in foster care:
• 55 percent in Florida
• 60 percent in Texas, and
• 75 percent in Massachusetts are on psychiatric drugs

Psychotropic drugs, by definition, chemically alter your mind, emotions, and behavior. Many commonly prescribed drugs, such as Prozac, Paxil, Ritalin, Zyprexa, Depakote and others are not approved for use in children. The fact that they’re used off-label is alarming considering that even when prescribed properly, the side effects of these drugs are dizzying:
• Anxiety, depression, impulsivity and obsession
• Anger, compulsion, temper tantrums and mood instability
• Social awkwardness, withdrawal, tics
• Sleep disturbances
• Separation anxiety
• Behavior problems
• Inattention and distractibility

Getting to the Root of Your Mental or Emotional Health Problem
Like many of you, I have been personally affected by depression. Someone very near and dear to me suffered from this problem many years ago, and actually made several unsuccessful suicide attempts that were truly devastating.
Ultimately, it was energetic techniques that assisted this person in full recovery from depression. A very advanced form of cranial osteopathy was administered by a skilled physician. However, there are other similar tools, which I’ve found can make an enormous difference if you suffer from depression or any other kind of emotional dysfunction.

For serious problems, it would be prudent to not treat yourself with energy tapping techniques but to contact a trained health care professional. Here’s a helpful list of certified practitioners worldwide.

I strongly believe that energy psychology is the single most important tool to resolve depression, but its effectiveness will certainly be significantly improved if combined with an appropriate Nutritional Type diet, along with dramatically lowered intake of sugar, grains, and processed foods. This is particularly true for children. I have treated many hundreds of children with behavioral and mental disorders and have consistently seen them improve once underlying toxicities and food changes were addressed.

Artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives can have a very negative impact on your mental state as well as your physical health.
A powerful essential for good mental health is omega-3 fats, so you’ll want to make sure you take a high-quality, animal-based omega-3 supplement like krill oil. If you haven't read Dr. Stoll's enlightened book on the topic of treating depression with omega-3, then I highly recommend it.

Last but certainly not least, exercise is clearly one of the best-kept secrets for depression. Says Dr. James Gordon, a world-renowned expert in using mind-body medicine to heal depression, anxiety and psychological trauma:
“What we’re finding in the research on physical exercise is that physical exercise is at least as good as antidepressants for helping people who are depressed… Physical exercise changes the level of serotonin in your brain… increases your level of “feel good” hormones, the endorphins. You can actually change your brain with exercise. So it’s got to be part of everybody’s treatment, everybody’s plan.”

Kidney Stones in Children - Poor Diets!

When pediatric urologist Barry Duel began practicing 11 years ago, it was rare to see a healthy child with kidney stones. These days, he sees two to three new children with stones a month.

Craig Langman, head of the department of kidney diseases at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, has 800 pediatric patients in his files with kidney stones. More than half of them are from the past five years. Kidney stones are small, hard masses of mineral and acid salts that separate from the urine and solidify in the kidney. Most commonly, they are made of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate, although other types exist.

Urine typically contains chemicals such as citrate, magnesium and pyrophosphate that prevent these crystals from forming. Stone patients can have low levels of these chemicals, causing stone formation. Stones can also form when a person is dehydrated, lacking the fluid to flush the minerals that form stones.

Root causes

Most urologists believe that the rise in rates is linked to the increase in childhood obesity and poor diets.

* Obesity. High levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and insulin affect acidity of the urine. Studies at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas have shown that people with metabolic syndrome -- characterized by obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol -- are at an increased risk for kidney stones. High levels of insulin, in particular, correlate with higher urine acid levels, which can cause uric acid stones.
* Too much dietary sodium. Most stones are made of calcium, and an abundance of sodium causes the body to release more calcium into the urine. Physicians worry that sodium intake in children is on the rise because they are drinking more sodas, eating more often at restaurants and noshing on more convenience foods.
* Lack of dietary calcium. This may seem counterintuitive because stones are made of calcium, but if children have a low calcium intake, it can cause their gastrointestinal tract to overabsorb the chemical oxalate, a component of stones.

Several measures can help decrease the likelihood of a stone recurring again. Drinking lots of fluids (mainly water) keeps chemicals such as calcium oxalate from reaching high concentrations in the urine. Drinking lemonade, which contains citrate, helps prevent calcium from crystallizing in the urine. Physicians also recommend reducing salt intake and ensuring children are getting their recommended calcium, which is 800 milligrams for children ages 4 to 8 and 1,300 milligrams for ages 9 to 18.

Medical treatments include the use of diuretics; Langman says he has had success prescribing Thiazide, a diuretic that blocks the kidney's excretion of calcium.

More information on kidney stones can be found on the National Kidney Foundation's website at www.kidney.org.

Source: LA Times

Excessive Cola Consumption Can Lead To Super-sized Muscle Problems, Warn Doctors

Doctors have issued a warning about excessive cola consumption after noticing an increase in the number of patients suffering from muscle problems, according to the June issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice.
“We are consuming more soft drinks than ever before and a number of health issues have already been identified including tooth problems, bone demineralisation and the development of metabolic syndrome and diabetes” says Dr Moses Elisaf from the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Ioannina, Greece.

“Evidence is increasing to suggest that excessive cola consumption can also lead to hypokalaemia, in which the blood potassium levels fall, causing an adverse effect on vital muscle functions.”

A research review carried out by Dr Elisaf and his colleagues has shown that symptoms can range from mild weakness to profound paralysis. Luckily all the patients studied made a rapid and full recovery after they stopped drinking cola and took oral or intravenous potassium.

The case studies looked at patients whose consumption ranged from two to nine litres of cola a day.

They included two pregnant women who were admitted with low potassium levels.

The first, a 21 year-old woman, was consuming up to three litres of cola a day and complained of fatigue, appetite loss and persistent vomiting. An electrocardiagram also revealed she had a heart blockage, while blood tests showed she had low potassium levels.

The second also had low potassium levels and was suffering from increasing muscular weakness. It turned out she had been drinking up to seven litres of cola a day for the last 10 months.

In a commentary on the paper, Dr Clifford Packer from the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Centre in Ohio relates the strange case of the ostrich farmer who returned from the Australian outback with muscle weakness. He had been drinking four litres of cola a day for the last three years and drank up to 10 litres a day when he was in the outback, causing a rapid reduction in his potassium levels.

He also relates a puzzling case he saw in his own clinical practice, which was solved when the patient turned up at his office with a two-litre bottle of cola in the basket of his electric scooter. It turned out he routinely drank up to four litres a day. He refused to stop drinking cola, but halved his consumption and the muscle weakness he had been complaining of improved.

In 2007 the worldwide annual consumption of soft drinks reached 552 billion litres, the equivalent of just under 83 litres per person per year, and this is projected to increase to 95 litres per person per year by 2012. However the figure has already reached an average of 212 litres per person per year in the United States.

It appears that hypokalaemia can be caused by excessive consumption of three of the most common ingredients in cola drinks – glucose, fructose and caffeine.

“The individual role of each of these ingredients in the pathophysiology of cola-induced hypokalaemia has not been determined and may vary in different patients” says Dr Elisaf.

“However in most of the cases we looked at for our review, caffeine intoxication was thought to play the most important role. This has been borne out by case studies that focus on other products that contain high levels of caffeine but no glucose or fructose.

“Despite this, caffeine free cola products can also cause hypokalaemia because the fructose they contain can cause diarrhoea.”

The authors argue that in an era when portion sizes are becoming bigger and bigger, the excessive consumption of cola products has real public health implications.

“Although most patients recover when they stop drinking cola and take potassium supplements, cola-induced chronic hypokalaemia can make them more susceptible to potentially fatal complications, such as an irregular heartbeat” says Dr Elisaf.

“In addition, excessive consumption of any kind of cola can lead to a range of health problems including fatigue, loss of productivity and muscular symptoms that vary from mild weakness to profound paralysis.

“We believe that further studies are needed to establish how much is too much when it comes to the daily consumption of cola drinks.”

Dr Packer agrees that the problem needs to be addressed.

“Cola drinks need to be added to the physician’s checklist of drugs and substances that can cause hypokalaemia” he says.

“And the soft drink industry needs to promote safe and moderate use of its products for all age groups, reduce serving sizes and pay heed to the rising call for healthier drinks.”

Open Doors - 108 Sun Salutation Fundraiser

Open Doors Event

Yoga In The Park
108 Sun Salutations - 2 1/2 Hours Vinyasa Flow

Sunday June 14, 2009 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
West Suburban YMCA-Outside Field
267 Church Street, Newton, MA

$25 Preregistration/$35 Day Of Event
-All Donations Welcome-
Call Center For Balance at 617-527-0247

2 1/2 Hour Vinyasa Flow with Open Doors Power Yoga Studios
Instructors including Richard Lanza and Shawn Cornelison
All Levels of Practice Are Welcome

Your Wellness Now! Expo - May 30, 2009

Your Wellness Now! Expo
May 30th 10 - 5pm

To attend is free

Showcasing 60+ exhibitors divided into five major zones, including:
. Local Health & Wellness Professionals
· Indoor & Outdoor Fitness and Recreation
· Green Sustainable Living
· Organic & Natural Products · Health and Beauty.

10:00 All Hands Drumming for Children
11:00 Info & Demo by muscular therapist Jeffrey Spratt:
"Upper back and neck pain - how, why and what you can do."
11:30 Info & Demo about the benefits of Yoga by Kristin Dooner, Fitness 4 Your Soul
12:00 Freanna playing music during lunch

All Afternoon Healthy Lunch options will be available to purchased at the expo.

1:00 Adults: Meditation with Nancy Campbell at outdoor Labyrinth
2:00 Yoga for the Young Athlete demo by Kristin Dooner, Fitness 4 Your Soul
3:00 T'ai Chi demo by Peggy Leung, RN of the South Shore YMCA
4:00 Belly Dancing Demo by Amirah

Held at the First Congregational Church of Hanover, United Church of Christ.
515 Hanover Street, Hanover Center.

For Vendor Information please call 781 834 2728 limited space!

Women Have Better Immune System Than Men

When it comes to immunity, men may not have been dealt an equal hand. The latest study by Dr. Maya Saleh, of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre and McGill University, shows that women have a more powerful immune system than men. In fact, the production of estrogen by females could have a beneficial effect on the innate inflammatory response against bacterial pathogens. These surprising results were published May 11 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
More specifically, estrogen naturally produced in women seems to block the production of an enzyme called Caspase-12, which itself blocks the inflammatory process. The presence of estrogen would therefore have a beneficial effect on innate immunity, which represents the body's first line of defence against pathogenic organisms. "These results demonstrate that women have a more powerful inflammatory response than men," said Dr. Saleh.

This study was conducted on mice that lack the Caspase-12 gene, meaning that the mice were extremely resistant to infection. The human Caspase-12 gene was implanted in a group of male and female mice, yet only the males became more prone to infection. "We were very surprised by these results, and we determined that the estrogen produced by the female mice blocked the expression of the human Caspase-12 gene," explained Dr. Saleh. "We were also able to locate where the estrogen receptor binds on the gene in order to block its expression, which indicates that the hormone exerts direct action in this case."

Since these experiments were conducted using a human gene, the researchers consider these results to be applicable to humans. This feature of the female innate immune system might have evolved to better protect women's reproductive role.

The positive effect of natural estrogen on our resistence to infection is also exhibited with synthetic hormones such as 17-beta-estradiol. This finding might therefore open the door to new therapeutic applications that reinforce the immune system, but a question remains: will men be amenable to the idea of being treated with an exclusively female hormone?

Source: ScienceDaily. McGill University Health Centre (2009, May 12). Women Have A More Powerful Immune System Than Men, Study Shows. ScienceDaily.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090511180740.htm

Massage After Exercise Does Not Remove Lactic Acid

Massage After Exercise Myth Busted
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090507164405.htm

A Queen’s University research team has blown open the myth that massage after exercise improves circulation to the muscle and assists in the removal of lactic acid and other waste products.
“This dispels a common belief in the general public about the way in which massage is beneficial,” says Kinesiology and Health Studies professor Michael Tschakovsky. “It also dispels that belief among people in the physical therapy profession. All the physical therapy professionals that I have talked to, when asked what massage does, answer that it improves muscle blood flow and helps get rid of lactic acid. Ours is the first study to challenge this and rigorously test its validity.”

The belief that massage aids in the removal of lactic acid from muscle tissue is so pervasive it is even listed on the Canadian Sports Massage Therapists website as one of the benefits of massage, despite there being absolutely no scientific research to back this up.

Kinesiology MSc candidate Vicky Wiltshire and Dr. Tschakovsky set out to discover if this untested hypothesis was true, and their results show that massage actually impairs blood flow to the muscle after exercise, and that it therefore also impairs the removal of lactic acid from muscle after exercise.

This study will be presented at the annual American College of Sports Medicine conference in Seattle, Washington May 27-30, 2009

Cape Cod Canal - Biking and Yoga Event - May 23rd

Enjoy a 7-mile scenic bike ride along the Cape Cod Canal where you will take in the fresh ocean air while witnessing breathtaking views along the Cape Cod Canal. The bike ride will end at the Sandwich Yoga studio with a Mixed-Level Hatha Yoga class that will stretch the body and relax the soul. Join us for this wonderful morning of biking and yoga. This is a perfect way to enjoy the spring weather by combining your love of biking with a yoga class!

Instructor/Guide: Donna Larson
Cost: $35/non-members, $25/members
Date/Time: Saturday, May 23rd (rain date: May 24th @ 11 am)

10:00 am -12:30 pm (Duration will be approximately 2 ½ hours, but may vary depending on weather conditions, wind direction, and cyclist ability)

What to Bring:
• A Bike (mountain or road bike, any bike will do!) & Helmet
• Water
• Shoes or sneakers for biking, sunglasses, sunscreen
• Yoga mat (optional)

The Sanctuary of Sandwich
6 Merchants Road, Unit #8
Sandwich MA
(508) 296-3619

M.R.E.T Water - Molecular Resonance Effect Technology Activated Water

http://www.bioprodownloads.com/flash/iH20/?keepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=510&width=735

Watch this video from Biopro Technology on this water. They now sell these devices. (I do too - at a much less cost!)


I have been drinking MRET water for 3 years now. And I know it is a major reason why I have so much energy, can fly almost every week and not get jet lag and have young skin and hair. This water super hydrates the cells, bringing extra microclusters of oxygen particles to the cells and helps both hydrate them and detoxify them. Some of these photos show cells before and after MRET. One is of red blood cells clumped together in what is called a rouleux effect - then unclumped after MRET water. The other is the SARS virus (purple photos) before and after.

I have access to these activators - if you want one contact me. They are over $700.00 online from www.bioprotechnology.com In this day of the H1N1 Swine flu - this water will be more and more important for us to drink!

Hydroxycut Products Recall

[Posted 05/01/2009] FDA warned consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products by Iovate Health Sciences, Inc. Hydroxycut products are associated with a number of serious liver injuries. Hydroxycut products are dietary supplements that are marketed for weight-loss, as fat burners, as energy-enhancers, as low carb diet aids, and for water loss under the Iovate and MuscleTech brand names.

FDA has received 23 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplant. One death due to liver failure has been reported to FDA. Other health problems reported include seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure.

The agency has not yet determined which ingredients, dosages, or other health-related factors may be associated with risks related to these Hydroxycut products. The FDA continues to investigate the potential relationship between Hydroxycut dietary supplements and liver injury or other potentially serious side effects.

20 Questions About H1N1 (Swine Flu)

Here are some questions and answers about H1N1. Since yoga classes group people together and equipment like mats, blocks and straps may be shared - make sure you bring some alcohol hand hygiene product to class - and maybe a container of chlorox bleach wipes to offer to students to clean their hands and equipment. Everyone has to participate in controlling the spread of the virus - even in yoga rooms!

04/30/2009
With more outbreaks of the new strain of swine flu come outbreaks of misinformation and rumor. Below are 20 questions answered by infectious disease expert Charles Ericsson, MD, professor of internal medicine and director of travel medicine at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Also, Robert Emery, DrPH, vice president for safety, health, environment and risk management at UT Health Science Center and associate professor in the UT School of Public Health explains common sense preparedness and prevention of illness.

1. How do symptoms of swine flu differ from other types of flu?
None, really, although this flu might include gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea and vomiting), as well as the usual respiratory symptoms. The basic symptoms for swine flu are similar to the seasonal flu we are vaccinated for each year, which may include:
*Fever (greater than 100°F or 37.8°C)
*Sore throat
*Cough
*Stuffy nose
*Chills
*Headache and body aches
*Fatigue

2. If I felt flu-like, how would I know if I had swine flu?
You wouldn't really, nor would your physician know for sure without a respiratory specimen taken within the first four to five days. The specimen would then be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cases so far in the U.S. have been relatively mild compared to the illness described in patients in Mexico. We do not yet know why the U.S. cases have been milder. The important point is to call your doctor if you think you have the flu. Prescription anti-viral drugs such as TamiFlu or Relenza can be called in by your doctor. Unless you are:
*exceptionally ill with flu-like symptoms
*are chronically ill
*immune-suppressed
*quite elderly
*or have a very young child, under age 2
It is best not to report to the hospital, clinic or doctor's office, where you could risk spreading the disease. Again, call your doctor first to get instructions as to what you need to do next.

3. How long are people contagious?
Adults are potentially contagious for the length of time one has symptoms, up to seven days following the beginning of illness. The “shedding stage” of the virus is during the first four to five days of illness. Children can be considered contagious longer, up to 10 days. The initial incubation period is 24 to 48 hours.

4. Is there medication for this?
Yes, Tamiflu or Relenza have shown to be effective against these recently reported strains of swine flu. Altogether, there are four anti-viral drugs that we commonly use to treat various strains of flu.

5. Can I start taking medicine for it now, just in case I get it later?
That is not presently advised. Preventive medication might be advised for very special circumstances where a person had to expose themselves to potentially ill people during an epidemic (which we do not yet have here). Such people might include ER workers. An outbreak in a nursing home, for instance, might lead to protecting all the other residents with a drug like TamiFlu. For the general public, the current answer is no to prophylactic (preventative) use with anti-viral medications. Its coverage time is limited. Do not confuse over-the-counter “cold and flu” preparations for anti-flu medications that require a prescription.

6. Are the symptoms in children different from adult symptoms?
Though the basic symptoms are similar, the signs of potentially life-threatening complications differ. The CDC advises those with these symptoms to seek emergency care immediately:
Emergency warning signs in children are:
*Fast breathing or trouble breathing
*Bluish skin color
*Not drinking enough fluids
*Not waking up or interacting
*Being very irritable
*Fever with a rash
Emergency warning signs in adults are:
*Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
*Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
*Sudden dizziness
*Confusion
*Severe or persistent vomiting

7. Is there a vaccine?
Not yet, but the CDC has this current strain of virus and will consider whether to add it to next year’s flu vaccine as time goes on.

8. If I took the swine flu vaccine in the swine flu scare during the 70s, would that cover me? What about this year's flu shot I just took?
We don’t know yet. Previous vaccines could be expected to afford only partial, incomplete protection at best. This new strain of the swine flu virus (H1N1) actually has a mixture of swine and avian components (not to be confused with the deadly avian flu of Southeast Asia).

9. Can I catch it from pigs?
No. This strain is one that is communicable through human-to-human contact. It is a mutated form of a swine virus.

10. Can I catch it from eating pork?
Absolutely not! Swine flu is not transmitted by food. It is not a so-called foodborne illness. Bacon, ham and other pork products are safe to eat, assuming they are prepared properly. An internal temperature of 160 degrees for cooked meat will kill any bacteria or virus. Swine flu is transmitted by airborne droplets from an infected person’s sneeze or cough; or from germs on hands, or germ-laden surfaces. Eating pork will not give you swine flu any more than eating chicken will give you bird flu.
11. How does it cross from a pig to a human?
The swine virus mutates so that it can infect humans and be spread by humans.

12. Can it kill me?
Deaths have been reported from the Mexico City outbreak. So far the cases in the U.S. have been mild and there have been no deaths as of this writing (April 27) We do not know all the factors geographically and demographically that may contribute to the mildness or severity of this flu. But, like seasonal flu, there is the potential for serious outcomes.

13. Why the big concern if the regular flu kills 35,000 people a year, which is why we are all encouraged to get a flu shot?
This is a new flu strain that our bodies have not been exposed to before. The flu strains that the CDC creates a vaccine for each year all have the potential to cause great harm, especially in elderly, pediatric and chronically ill patients. This particular flu strain has struck seemingly healthy, young adults, with some resulting in death in Mexico. It also appears to be quite contagious. We will know more about this strain in the coming days.

14. How is it different from avian (bird) flu?
Avian flu so far has had difficulty infecting humans unless they are exposed intensely to birds, because the virus has not mutated in a way that makes it transmissible by humans to other humans. This virus has origins genetically from both pigs and birds, and the big difference from the avian flu is that this swine virus can be transmitted readily from human to human.

15. Is this just another scare that will go away like bird flu?
Bird flu is a theoretical threat and will need a mutation to be able to be transmitted among humans to become a serious threat. The present "swine/avian" virus clearly has already caused a major outbreak in Mexico City and San Luis Potosi, Mexico and has spread to places in the U.S. (California, New York, Texas, Kansas and Ohio). What is not clear yet is whether this virus will result in a so-called pandemic—worldwide spread with major outbreaks -- or whether it will fizzle out. But, even if it fizzles out, there is logical concern that it might re-emerge next flu season.

16. Should I cancel my vacation to Mexico?
At this writing, the situation is very fluid, changeable. I suggest checking frequently with the CDC Web site for possible travel alerts. I probably would not travel to Mexico City for a vacation that could easily be rescheduled, if for no other reason than the city has tried to limit access to crowded or public places where transmission might be facilitated. That does not sound like a very pleasant vacation to me! Having said that, there are more than 4,000 flights to Mexico from the US and none have been cancelled as of this writing. However, some international airports in Europe and Asia are stepping up precautions and issuing alerts. Again, check the CDC’s Travel Alerts page.

17. What if I'm on a plane? Should I wear a mask?
Not necessary. The air on a plane is filtered. Transmission might occur if someone sitting close to you coughs or sneezes on you. The newer designs of aircraft airflow keep the air in a top-down flow, not forced air from front to back. However, if you do have a respiratory illness, it might be best not to travel.

18. How long does the germ live on surfaces, like on my desk if someone sneezes in my office?
Influenza virus survives only minutes on inanimate objects or hands, so these are very inefficient ways to spread the illness. Influenza is most easily spread by droplets that come into contact with our mucus membranes such as when someone coughs or sneezes in our faces. If we shake hands with an infected person who has just wiped their nose and then we rather quickly rub our nose or eyes with our own hand, then we could get the flu. So, good hand washing does play a role in diminishing the spread of the disease.

19. Other than hand washing and covering my mouth if I sneeze or cough, what can I do to take care of myself and others?
If you are ill, stay home. Control your sneezes and coughs. If you cough into your hand, remember the virus could be live on your hand at least for a few minutes, so wash your hands before touching anyone else. If you get symptoms suggesting the flu, call your doctor, who can call in a prescription for medication to treat the flu. Resist going to the doctor’s office or a hospital ER for influenza symptoms unless you are seriously ill. You do not want to spread the disease to others.

20. What else can I do?
Keep in touch with the most recent CDC messages through the following links:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/general_info.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/whatsnew.htm
Go to the sources of verifiable information such as WHO (World Health Organization) or the CDC.
Most important, be alert, not panicked.
“There is a huge difference between preparedness and paranoia”, says Dr. Robert Emery, occupational health expert at the UT School of Public Health at Houston. “Although we’re dealing with a new strain of flu, a set of universally applicable preventive measures exist that can be employed right away by everyone to help stop the spread of this disease”
Proper hand hygiene:
There’s a right way and useless way to wash hands—and wash away—micro-organisms. The object is to break down the protective membranes of germs, dislodge them from your hands and let them go down the drain. Plain soap in the right hands is strong stuff.
*Lather well with a bar of soap or squirt a coin size of liquid soap in the palm of your hand.
*Vigorously rub your hands together, soap up between your fingers, AND your wrists, front and back for 15 seconds. Sing the first chorus of any song you know and that’ll take you through the 15 seconds.
*Rinse under warm, RUNNING water. Remember, the object is to dislodge germs. The force of water is key.
*Dry thoroughly your hands with a disposable towel or under the blower, again, rubbing your hands together.
*Discard the towel.
If you’re using alcohol-based gels as hand cleansers:
Put a dime-sized amount in one hand:
*Vigorously rub your hands together and in between your fingers until the GEL IS DRY—about 30 seconds.
*DO NOT touch your face!
Once your hands are clean, do not touch your face, nose, eyes or lips.
Rubbing your eyes and nose provides a freeway for microorganisms and good breeding ground once they’ve arrived.
Cover your cough
If you must cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a tissue, your sleeve or your hand.
Throw the tissue away in a waste basket. Do not leave discarded tissues on your desk or other surfaces.
Then, wash you hands thoroughly.
The throw-it-away part is essential.
Microorganisms live a life span from a few seconds to days on inanimate surfaces such as desks, table tops, faucets...tissues. If your tissues are scattered on your coffee table, they then are in contact with community surfaces. Both the tissues and the surface it sits on can spread germs to the person who touches the coffee table.
If you begin to feel ill: feverish, achy, have a dry, painful cough, sore throat, go home from school or work and call your healthcare provider for further instructions.
If you feel sick with flu-like symptoms and you care for the very young or the very elderly or the chronically ill, inform your healthcare provider when you call their office.
If you have recently traveled to Mexico or to one of the areas worldwide that has reported a swine flu outbreak, inform your healthcare provider. He or she may prefer to treat you with prescription anti-viral medications from home, or may request that you come in for a visit. Follow instructions from your healthcare providers.