When did people become so weak.....

Early B.

Early, what area of health care do you work in?

I own a home health care company. The average age of our clients is about 82. As you can tell, I'm not too fond of hospitals. Most of our clients that have gone into the hospital don't come out or leave worse off. I may be biased, but in many instances I think we can take better care of them in their own home.

PhantomOG

Originally posted by Early B.

Now, I think the whole concept of flu shots is ridiculous. Sometimes the American medical system operates **** backwards. Why treat symptoms before they occur without addressing the causes? The causes include stress, poor diet, polluted air, lack of exercise, sedentary lifestlye, lack of sleep, not drinking enough water, sexual excesses, smoking, drinking, etc. I work in health care and take care of elderly people, and they don't need a damn flu shot. The best way to prevent the elderly from dying is to keep them them out of the hospital because it's a great place to kill someone without guilt, shame or responsibility (but that's another rant...).

woah... i agree that the whole "flu shot" thing is probably overblown but your list of *causes* is misinformation.

From the CDC website:
What is the flu?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine each fall.

How Flu Spreads
The flu spreads in respiratory droplets caused by coughing and sneezing. It usually spreads from person to person, though occasionally a person may become infected by touching something with virus on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
Adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before getting symptoms and up to 7 days after getting sick. That means that you can give someone the flu before you know you’re sick as well as while you are sick.


Now I'm sure improving your lifestyle habits does help in improving your immune system and might even lower your chances of getting the flu *virus*, but the *virus* is the cause, not poor lifestyle.

Danny Tse

I went over to my friend's place last Friday for coffee and chat....guess what? He works at a scientist for Chiron. While he agrees infants/kids and senior citizens should get the flu shot, he said the flu shot is really not necessary for healthy adults. Apparently, the flu shot is only good for certain strain of the flu virus. Each year, the vaccine in the flu shot is determined by which strain of the flu virus has the greatest chance of spreading (I forget to ask him who makes the decision....CDC? Chiron?) So even if you get the flu shot, there's the chance that you will come down with the flu because another strain of the flu virus has got you.

He recommended a herbal alternative which can be purchased from Walmart. I forget what it was but it's like a vitamin. He's been recommending it to me for years.

Edit: BTW, my friend tells me that an all-staff meeting with the CEO is happening this week. Wonder what's happening?

madmax

One of the Giant food stores here has a big sign outside. It says "This store will no longer offer flu shots". I think they mean in the future. Why would this be? Because healthy middle aged people are causing them so much grief over running out. For once I agree with Brett.

dcarlson

I must have missed something. When and how did Demiurge get banned???

RuSsMaN

I was just noticing that too, what gives?

PhantomOG

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
I was just noticing that too, what gives?

there was a thread in Music and Movies on The Day After Tomorrow DVD in which he got very overheated in discussing his opinion on the movie. I assume it was the potty mouth that got him banned. Seems silly to get so worked up discussing a stupid movie.

Early B.

woah... i agree that the whole "flu shot" thing is probably overblown but your list of *causes* is misinformation.

You'll have to excuse my confused way of writing. The "causes" I refer to are for poor health, in general. But the so-called flu is always around -- it's just that people catch it when they are susceptible or vulnerable to it. A person's immune system is unable to ward it off. For instance, HIV/AIDS patients have highly compromised immune systems, so they are much more susceptible to contracting TB, another contagious little bug. So that's why children and the elderly are encouraged to get the flu shot, because their immune systems are more fragile than adults. So if this is correct, can we truly say that a virus is the "cause" of the flu?

PhantomOG

Originally posted by Early B.
...So if this is correct, can we truly say that a virus is the "cause" of the flu?

absolutely. if the flu virus is not introduced into your system you will not catch the flu, period, regardless of your lifestyle choices or state of your immune system.

Flu Facts

Frank Z

My wife is a diabetic and gets one every year. The flu can be deadly for diabetics so we don't take the chance.

Tour2ma

Originally posted by dcarlson
I must have missed something. When and how did Demiurge get banned???

Maybe it was this post?

Nothing else I can see lately other than some minor league cussing...

sowen010599

I have NEVER had a flu shot. For that matter, I've seen more people get sick from the shot than the flu. If I get sick, oh damn well. It's not the first time, won't be the last either.