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You may be a healthy adult who hasn’t had the flu since you were a child — or maybe you’ve never had the flu.
Even if you get the flu, you figure you’ll recover and be fine.
But if you haven’t had a flu shot and you’re exposed to the flu virus, you won’t know for a day or two that you’re sick — and during those two days, you’re infectious.
“You could be exposing other people who have risk factors and who could die from the flu,” says Sue Gustafson, director of infection prevention at MultiCare Health System.
Those most at risk include people with medical conditions such as asthma and chronic lung disease, those with a weakened immune system, pregnant women, children and the elderly.
On average, influenza leads to more than 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths each year, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Last year in Washington, 157 people died of laboratory-confirmed influenza, including one child, Gustafson says.
“Protect others,” she says. “That’s why we get the flu vaccine.”

Why get the flu shot now?

Although flu activity is low in the United States right now, it’s best to get your flu shot early to give it time to be effective, Gustafson says.
The flu vaccine contains inactivated flu virus, which cannot give you infection. This prompts an immune response — that is, your body recognizes something foreign and reacts by producing antibodies to get rid of it. If you’re later exposed to the live virus, your body will be able to recognize it and quickly launch an immune attack to kill the virus.
This immune response takes a period of time to fully develop, which is why it’s important to get the flu shot early, Gustafson says.
It only takes a few minutes to get a flu shot, she says. And the side effects are usually no worse than a sore arm or feeling tired for a couple of days afterward.
Those are normal reactions, and a small price for the protection you’re giving yourself — and others around you, Gustafson says.

Who should get the flu shot, and where?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone six months old and older.
You can get your flu shot by making an appointment with your primary care or pediatric provider, visiting a pharmacy that offers the vaccine or visiting one of MultiCare’s walk-in clinics.

Pharmacies that offer the flu shot typically accept most forms of insurance, but be sure to let your primary care doctor know you received your flu shot so it can be added to your record.
MultiCare Health System offers convenient walk-in options:
• MultiCare Express Clinic in Lakewood, 5700 100th St. SW. (inside Rite-Aid store). Monday-Friday 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Convenient medical care for a wide range of minor conditions, plus vaccinations, sports physicals and more for adults and kids 2 years and older (vaccines are for patients 19 years and older). No appointment needed.
• MultiCare Immunization Clinic at South Hill Mall, 3500 S. Meridian. Free and low-cost immunizations for children and adults. No appointments are necessary. The kiosk is open five days a week. Children: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m., and every second Saturday, 11:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults: Tuesday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m., and every other Saturday, 11:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

 

Source: MultiCare Health System

Getting a flu shot means those most at risk from the illness won't get sick from you.
Getting a flu shot means those most at risk from the illness won’t get sick from you.
srmedia by — December 16, 2015 in Health & Fitness

One of the challenges we may face as we get older is the development of hearing loss. One in three people over the age of 60, and half of the population over the age of 80, have some degree of hearing loss.
It may surprise you that hearing loss is not a condition reserved for the elderly, though. Half of all people with hearing loss are under the age of 60, and a growing number of youth are being diagnosed with hearing loss.
Newborns are screened for hearing loss before they leave the hospital. Approximately two babies per 1,000 are diagnosed with hearing loss. That’s more than 3,000 babies each year in Washington alone.
Why is this so important?
Hearing loss can affect all aspects of our lives: communication, learning, social interactions and even emotional health.
Hearing loss is communication loss. Communication loss occurs when people cannot exchange their thoughts and ideas effectively. When communication is difficult, relationships can suffer. When relationships suffer, people can feel isolated from one another.
Hearing loss is a family matter because it affects everyone in the family.
Communication loss can be fatiguing. It takes extra effort to make sure your listener understands you. It can also be exhausting for the listener to try to figure out what you mean, too. This can sometimes cause communication to be limited to “just the facts, ma’am.”
When there is less communication about feelings, hopes, fears and dreams, or reflecting on an event, something important is lost.
Treating hearing and communication loss
One of the keys to maintaining good communication is to identify hearing loss when it exists. An audiologist can evaluate your hearing and explain the results for you. An ear, nose and throat physician can determine if medical intervention is possible.
Some conditions that cause hearing loss do respond to medical treatment. Other conditions, such as hearing loss associated with age, generally are not medically treatable. When the hearing loss will not respond to medical intervention, your audiologist can provide treatment with hearing aids and/or other assistive listening devices.
It’s important to treat hearing loss as soon as it is identified. A baby diagnosed in the first weeks of life should receive hearing aids as soon as possible, and well before the first birthday. We don’t want that little one to miss out on anything.
It is important for adults to receive help as soon as possible, too. Sometimes adults delay getting hearing aids due to concerns about how others will perceive them. However, untreated hearing loss shows much more than any hearing device.
Tips for communicating
Use of good communication strategies can also go a long way toward maintaining good relationships among family members. If you are a communication partner for someone with hearing loss, consider using the following tips:
• Say the name of the person you wish to speak to, in order to get his/her attention.
• Maintain eye contact. Face-to-face communication adds information such as facial expressions, gestures and body language that help clarify what the speaker is saying.
• If your listener appears to have difficulty understanding, try to rephrase what you are saying. Misunderstood: “Your doctor appointment is next Friday.” Understood: “You have an appointment with the doctor next week. It’s on Friday.”
• An effective way to ensure that a message was understood is to have the listener repeat or verify what he/she heard: “The phone number is ….”
• Choose quiet environments when you want to have meaningful discussions. Noisy environments are challenging for everyone. This is especially true for people with hearing loss.
• Pay attention to how well your family member with hearing loss interacts with others when you are gathered in group situations. Too many people speaking at once can be overwhelming and frustrating. Ask people to take turns speaking so that everyone can hear each other better.
Communication partners play an important role in providing support to their family members with hearing loss. Good communication is a family matter.
Dr. Joni Johnson, who wrote this article,

An audiologist should be consulted when hearing starts to go.
An audiologist should be consulted when hearing starts to go.

is a board-certified audiologist specializing in pediatric and educational audiology. Johnson is particularly interested in helping families who have a member with hearing loss develop healthy communication partnerships. She practices at MultiCare Gig Harbor – ENT Specialists.

Contributing Author by — November 18, 2015 in Health & Fitness

Good news: We’re all living longer. According to the U.S. Administration for Community Living, our nation’s demographic profile shows a 24.7 percent increase in people 65 and older. We’re also keeping our teeth longer thanks to advancements in technology, access to care and fluoridated water.
The bad news is that our teeth can require more care as they age with us. Chronic, long-term conditions affecting seniors can require medications that cause dry-mouth. Seniors are also more susceptible to cavities, gum disease and other dental troubles. But all is not lost.
There are a number of ways to enjoy healthier smiles longer:
• Visit the dentist regularly. Your dentist can help keep gum disease and tooth decay in check, and a healthy mouth can help reduce your risk of stroke, heart attack and complications with diabetes.
• Talk to your doctor and pharmacist about dry mouth. Caused by common prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, dry mouth impacts roughly 33 percent of seniors. Negative effects include difficulty swallowing and speaking, irritation of the tongue, increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
• Brush two times a day for two minutes and floss nightly. Surprisingly, 47 percent of the over-50 population doesn’t floss daily, even though it helps to clean 40 percent of the surface of your teeth. If mobility in your hands is a challenge, try an electric toothbrush or flossing stick. And finally, limit sugary, between-meal snacks, however tempting, and drink plenty of water. Because Medicare doesn’t cover dental, prevention is especially important.
• Make sure your dentures and partial dentures receive routine cleaning and care. This can prevent infections, not to mention bad breath.
• If transportation is an issue, talk to friends, family and neighbors about getting a lift to your next medical and dental appointments. Your local senior center may also have information about services that can help with this type of transportation need. Don’t forego a visit because you’re afraid to ask for a ride. Your health is worth it.
Start a conversation – with your dentist. Talk to your dentist about your overall health and about any medications you are taking. Your dentist is part of your overall healthcare team. Don’t be afraid to discuss any issues you may be having.
Smile. People who smile are happier, healthier, have less stress and make others around them happier. Share your smile with a loved one or stranger today.
No matter your age, good oral health is important at every stage of life. A recent study found that 34 percent of seniors only brush their teeth once a day. Forgetting this simple but important task can negatively impact oral and overall health. For more information about oral health for older adults, visit www.seniorsoralhealth.org, an educational resource developed by the Washington Dental Service Foundation, which is funded by Delta Dental of Washington.

Dr. Kyle Dosch wrote this article. He

Delta Dental of Washington’s mascot, the Tooth Fairy, surprised residents at the Quail Park senior community in Lynnwood with flowers, dental floss and tooth brushes as a reminder of good oral health.
Delta Dental of Washington’s mascot, the Tooth Fairy, surprised residents at the Quail Park senior community in Lynnwood with flowers, dental floss and tooth brushes as a reminder of good oral health.

is the dental director at Delta Dental of Washington.

Contributing Author by — October 8, 2015 in Health & Fitness

Coffee can be an occasional treat or a daily crutch. No matter your form of this vice, there are both healthy and unhealthy options to be had.
The recent price hike at a popular coffee chain — and a new study linking the consumption of sugary beverages to some 184,000 deaths worldwide per year — presents a great opportunity for habitual coffee/espresso drinkers to cut back or rethink their beverage choices.
Caffeine is the first thing we think about when we talk about coffee, but what about sugar? Most people are familiar with the amount of sugar found in soda or juice, but we don’t always think about what’s in our coffee.
Consider these popular Starbucks drinks and their sugar content. For comparison, a can of Coca-Cola contains 39 grams of sugar, or about 10 teaspoons.
Grande Vanilla Latte: 35g
Grande Caramel Macchiato: 32g
Grande Mocha: 35g
Grande White Chocolate Mocha: 59g
Grande Mocha Frappuccino: 61g

Drink these types of beverages daily? You may want to shield your eyes. One Grande Vanilla Latte every day for a year is equivalent to 26.5 pounds of sugar and 12,776 calories from sugar alone.
Now that we know how much sugar is in these delicious drinks, let’s talk about tips for cutting back, plus alternatives.

Ease into it

Modifying coffee habits is no easy feat. You may do best to ease into it.
If you currently order a flavored latte, consider ordering it “half sweet.” This will save you about 4 teaspoons of sugar and give your palate a chance to adjust to the new level of sweetness and the bitterness of coffee (which most grow to love!).
You can also order “one-pump” lattes to add just a hint of sweetness (and only about 1 teaspoon of sugar). As you’re able, work yourself down to ordering just a plain latte, preferably with nonfat milk (or a nondairy alternative). To sweeten the deal (pun intended), plain lattes are usually $0.50 to $1.00 less expensive than their flavored counterparts.
A secret many coffee aficionados and baristas know to order is an Americano, a drink of espresso shots and hot water. Americanos, both hot and iced, are generally about $1.00 less than lattes.
You can add a dash of nonfat milk, soy milk or coconut milk to an Americano if desired. If you like your coffee a touch sweet, consider adding stevia, honey or even a “pump” of your favorite flavor.
Americanos are a great choice because you have much more control over the sugar, and depending on the creamer you choose, the fat content.

Drink drip to regain control
Last but not least we have the die-hard coffee-lover favorite, drip coffee. Anyone who drinks drip knows the cost savings over flavored drinks. Even with their increase in cost at Starbucks, they’re still less expensive than a latte, mocha or Frappucino.
Drip coffee can also be ordered as a hot or iced drink. As with an Americano, you can choose to add nonfat, soy or coconut milk and a touch of sweetener if you’d like. This gives you much more control over the amount of sugar and fat in your coffee.
Unfortunately, no matter how we slice it, coffee from coffee shops is expensive. It’s worthwhile to consider preparing your coffee at home. You can most certainly use a cup- or pod-based system if that is easy for you. In my house, we opt for the old-fashioned coffee maker.

Tips for brewing at home

When making coffee at home, avoid coffee creamers, which have long lists of ingredients that are hard to pronounce. Instead, add nonfat, 1% or a nondairy milk of your choice, and stevia or honey to sweeten.
My favorite way to sweeten coffee is by adding a dash of cinnamon. Vanilla, Grade B maple syrup or unsweetened vanilla-flavored nondairy milk (such as almond or coconut) are also great choices.
Trending around the nation is a new, and still somewhat unknown, phenomenon of making a coconut-oil “latte” at home. After years of being a coffee drinker (and admitted coffee snob), this is by far my favorite way to enjoy coffee!
Coconut oil has received accolades and recognition in the past few years for its health and beauty benefits. Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides, which are easily broken down in the body to be used as energy. It has been shown to be beneficial for heart health, metabolism, immune support and more. Coconut oil is an excellent oil to cook with, and as it turns out, delicious in coffee as well.

Coconut-oil latte

Ingredients
1 cup brewed coffee
1 tsp coconut oil
dash of cinnamon, maple syrup, vanilla or honey (optional)
nonfat or nondairy milk (optional)

Combine coffee, coconut oil (which you can find in the baking aisle or health food section of the grocery store) and other ingredients as desired in a blender, then blend for 30 seconds or until frothy.

Voila! You have a frothy, creamy, delicious and slightly sweet treat. If you’d like, you can also add a dash of cinnamon, nonfat or nondairy milk, maple syrup, vanilla or honey for a little extra boost. I drink mine with a splash of almond milk and a dash of cinnamon.

Don’t own a blender? Shake it up in a Mason jar instead.

What is your favorite way to enjoy a low-sugar or sugar-free coffee?

 

Chelsey Lindahl, who wrote this article, is a wellness dietitian at

A latte made with coconut oil is a health option to caffeine.
A latte made with coconut oil is a health option to caffeine.

MultiCare Center for Healthy Living, which helps educate families in Pierce County about healthy lifestyle choices.

Contributing Author by — September 15, 2015 in Health & Fitness