Folks,

You all know that the ticks are bad this year. I think its related to the water and heat we are seeing. So here is a quick link to a CDC site I use to remind myself how to lower the exposure to them and deal with one should it connect with you.

 

The CDC advice is here : Stop Ticks to Avoid Lyme and Other Tickborne Diseases

 

Note that the technique for removal is important. By pulling them away from you around their head areas you are less apt to squeeze their stomach contents back into you. So notice the diagram in the article about removal.

 

Now I have always been curious how they get on you. I actually saw one run up a board I was reaching for and do a springing back flip right on to my pants from around 2 feet away. That was amazing to see and I never realized they actually jump at you. 

 

I can tell you that the DEET sprays really do work. In another experiment I saw them literally run away from an area I sprayed with a deterrent. 

 

Now we are one of the neighbors who encourage deer to come visit with us. Deer are one of the major carriers of the blacklegged tick which is a primary host for Lyme disease. Mice are also a significant carrier. I worry a little less about this because the primary area these are found and Lyme disease is prominent is in the Northeast and Midwest. I still would not go hug a deer but worry less about Lyme disease here in the south.

 

So use that bug spray and look for the little buggers when you work outside.

 

mark

Just before that rainstorm came through last weekend we saw a most unusual pollen storm. The pines had one last expression for us to enjoy as the wnd came ripping through the ridges.

 

Check out the pollen storm in this picture.

 

How did we know this yellow cloud was from the pines? The one right next to our deck generated a thick cloud when that wind started. Here is the culprit....

 

Mark

These days your health records are almost all online. Not all of them are automated well but they are available by law. Some health organizations provide the records online and others will still mail you some form of the data if you ask for it. The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC in HHS) recently came out with a nice guide to walk through the steps on how to get access to or get a copy of your records.

 

Its one thing to get the records, often so you can share your whole history with a new doctor, but quite another task to understand what you are looking at. The guide helps with that as well. For example, how do you interpret a lab result or a diagnostic code (better known as the ICD-10 code) if an interpretation or acceptable range does not come with the information. 

 

Go read through the guide here: https://www.healthit.gov/how-to-get-your-health-record/

Walk through the progressive tabs for all the information "Intro" > "Get it" > "Check it" > "Use it".....

 

....and if you ever want to know what a LOINC code is ask me. You wil be the hit of the porch party knowing this :)

 

Today's my birthday, and I'm celebrating everything about my life!!!!  Where do I start?

 

A....abundance

B....beauty all around me

C....companionship

D....Daddy

E....energy

F....friends and family

G....goodness in the world

H....health

I....inspiration

J....Jon

K....kindness

L....love

M....Momma

N....nature

O....opportunities

P....peace

Q....quiet

R....relationships

S....sisters times 3

T....trust

U....understanding

V....vitality

W....wisdom

X....excitement

Y....yoga

Z....zest

 

Thank you for sharing my meditation.  Maybe you can add your own thoughts to mine.

 

LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Yep!  It's that time of year:  time to open the windows and get some fresh air!!!  It's also time to sweep out winter, literally!!!  It has gone on long enough!!

 

I subscribe to the Farmer's Almanac, and got this email with some great NATURAL cleaners and ideas.  Some we already know, but there are some new ones too.

 

Go to     Spring cleaning tips   for some fresh ideas, and get busy!!!!

 

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

I didn't think it up....I'm just saying....

 

HERE'S TO OUR GOOD HEALTH!!!

 

You know it's Christmas time when Momma makes her famous cheese biscuits.

 

Here she was last week grating cheese to make the biscuits.  We've had cheese biscuits all our lives.

 

I'll share the recipe because it's so simple.  But don't think for a moment that it is easy.  It takes years of practice, and just the right touch.  Check in the recipe section, under cheese.  ;))

 

I'm sharing this picture today because it's Momma's birthday.  She was born on this date in 1923.  Quick, do the math!!!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Momma!!!!

 

On Monday, while we were all inside making soup, knitting hats, shivering against the cold,  our friend Al was riding his bike up Brasstown Bald.  He even took a picture for posterity.  I know you've seen Al riding his bike all over our mountain.  It's the first thing he does when he gets to Five Forks:  a celebratory ride, twice around the loop!!

 

We used to think "that guy is crazy,"  But now we know that he's dedicated to exercise and good health.  And he loves a good, brisk bike ride.

 

And speaking of dedication, we'll talk about Patty Tegtman next.   ;)~   She's the marathon runner.  

 

BE HEALTHY, BE HAPPY!!!

I am not an expert in this field, but I have several friends and relatives coping with Alzheimer's disease and dementia:  as patients and as caregivers.   I want to be better equipped to communicate with them.  Better equipped to communicate with the patients AND their caregivers.

 

I subscribe to Alzheimer's Reading Room and i get occasional readings delivered to my inbox.  I don't know how, but they are often VERY timely and appropriate for what's happening.  The readings are almost personal to me.  Today's reading especially spoke to me, that's why I thought I'd share.  4 lessons I learned

 

If you have loved ones with dementia or know someone who cares for Alzheimer's or dementia patients, then Alzheimer's Disease has touched your life.  There is so much we don't understand, but it's so helpful to learn from someone who has been there, done that.  

 

I have this hope that if I can learn about something vicariously, and really understand it, then maybe I won't have to experience it myself.  So far it's working.  At the very least, I'm learning to be kinder, maybe more patient.  I need that.

 

LIVE WELL!!

 

 

Folks,

I have to keep up with Gerry and get a few more posts out here. It is indeed hard, with the depth of her knowledge about gardening that she is sharing with us, to keep up and find a new topic. So, I decided to start writing about health and public health which is another area that I hang out in these days. Health can indeed be a controversial topic but information is worth sharing to help you make decisions with a little more data from at least one corner of the thinking. There is such amazing experience and knowledge in this neighborhood and I encourage others to offer views to teach all of us. For example, I have had wonderful discussions on energy resources and generation that have expanded my thinking considerably.

 

Todays topic is to give you and idea what CDC is saying they predict the next flu critters are going to be and their vaccine recommendations.

 

OK, I respectfully admit that not all believe that vaccinations are a good thing, but as a scientist I see where populations both here in the US and across the world have been healthier way more than not when vaccinations are used. Even to the point where horrible diseases have been eliminated like smallpox across the world. Im always up for a discussion to hear other views about this so please add a comment to this blog on other views.

 

The execution of vaccines is not 100% perfect in all people and all ages. There is too much variance in how we all work and I cant deny that the quest for revenue drives some things to market faster than the comfort zone of the scientists and regulators who are trying to keep everyone safe.   I even know Dr Jeff Koplan who many of you know had a huge issue with rotavirus vaccine in the 90s. I watched as the causes were discovered and the vaccine adjusted to not hurt children ever again. You have not heard about this vaccine hurting children since because we learn and stay on the quest to keep our population healthy and safe from evolving threats using data and information we gather over time.

 

Lets get back to the topic at hand. CDC is focusing on three viruses that they predict will have prevalence this year, being Influenza A (H3N2), Influenza A (H1N1), and Influenza B (various strains). I give you these silly names of the viruses so you may recognize what the vaccines are supposed to protect against this year. The names like H3N2 verses H1N1 represent genetic differences in the flu virus and they vary in how sick we get from them. 

 

I am often asked how the CDC predicts what to put into a vaccine each year. I am a data person so what we do is track what has actually happened with what viruses over the years and surprisingly we see very consistent patterns. These patterns allow CDC to expect that most of the sickness will probably be due to certain viruses each year. Is it perfect? No, but its proven by our data to be more effective every year when we use this information to lower more people from getting sick when using better "cocktails" of the right vaccines. Its not hard to say that data can be faked and interpreted wrong, but all I can tell you is what I see in the health of the population as we get smarter about using data over time.

 

OK, so whats the reason for this blog. Many reasons really. One, why just believe the TV commercial that says get a flu shot when you can learn a little more about what is threatening you how you can be protected. Second, I know that Flu is very infectious so if I can give more information about what we know, from the scientist view, then it worth sharing to help you decide to protect yourselves and your neighbors. And.... last, You will be quite impressive in the next neighborhood picnic to share  that you know that this year H3N2 and H1N1 are the flu viruses we are getting vaccines for :)

 

There is a very detailed CDC report on the recommendations to clinicians this year on what to vaccinate for. You can read this report here: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/rr/rr6602a1.htm?s_cid=rr6602a1_w There is a ton of hard to understand information in this report but it can be fun to wade through to pick up useful things.

 

One thing that I saw that you may want to challenge you doctor about is to not use the LAIV4 vaccine on you. Here is the quote that recommends against it: "In light of its low effectiveness against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in the United States during the 2013–14 and 2015–16 seasons, for the 2017–18 season, ACIP continues the recommendation that LAIV4 should not be used. Because LAIV4 is still a licensed vaccine that might be available and that some providers might elect to use, for informational purposes only, reference is made in this report to previous recommendations for its use." You may also find it useful to read the sections that talk about age groups and what is expected to be seen and how to vaccinate for this year.

 

Indeed, this may be a deep blog article, but its always fun to dive into a new area to learn and explore. Also, get vaccinated if you also think it can help our population stay healthier or if you are in a high risk group.

 

mark