October 2006

Rio Grande Chapter Newsletter

Wooping Cough

The incidence of whooping cough (pertussis) in the United States is increasing, and health officials need to intensify efforts to re-immunize adolescents and adults with booster vaccines, new research suggests. The findings, expected to be presented on Oct. 12 at the Infectious Diseases Society of America annual meeting in Toronto, also concluded that too many doctors fail to make the correct diagnosis in people with pertussis. In the mid-1970s, about 1,000 cases of pertussis were reported each year in the United States. By 2004, more than 25,000 cases were reported. Pertussis can be deadly. Other studies expected to be presented at the meeting highlight the problem, including the fact the pertussis is more common among minorities, especially Hispanics. For more information about Pertussis go to: http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZP
WVII1AC&sub_cat=286  , MSN Health Day News

Lung Cancer Can Run in the Family

While smoking is far and away the biggest risk factor for lung cancer, having a close relative who has been diagnosed with the disease nearly doubles your risk of developing the deadly disease. A new study in the October issue of Chest found that people with a first-degree relative -- that means mother, father or sibling -- who had lung cancer had a 95 percent higher risk of developing the disease themselves. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 180,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States, and nearly 170,000 Americans die from the disease annually. It's the second leading cause of death for men and the third leading cause of death for women, according to the CDC. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of the disease, according to the National Institutes of Health, though not everyone who gets lung cancer is a smoker or former smoker. For more information go to: http://health.msn.com/centers/lungcancer/articlepage.aspx?cp-
documentid=100146787

Flu Vaccines

Yup, It is that time of year again… Time to get the flu shot. According to the CDC, this flu season, more vaccine than ever will be available across America. October marks the beginning of the six-month stretch when all become susceptible to the flu. Although it is urged that children and the elderly get vaccinated, the CDC recommends that everyone get the vaccination, just to be on the safe side. Check with your local health care center for vaccination dates.


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