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What is Lockjaw?

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Just my luck… I get bit by a dog at the local dog park and my last tetanus booster shot was in 1999. Though the vaccine can last as long as ten years, experts suggest a booster every seven or eight years to be on the safe side. Tetanus — also known as lockjaw — is a disease caused by bacteria that can be found in dust, soil, and manure. These bacteria live all over the world and can enter the human body through even the tiniest wound. You may associate the disease with stepping on a rusty nail — … Continue reading →

First Aid: Puncture Wounds

I moved to a new apartment in the middle of January. It’s got new everything, including carpeting. The other night, I found a carpet nail that wasn’t quite nailed all the way down… with the bottom my foot. You know what that means: it’s time to learn about first aid for puncture wounds! Minor puncture wounds generally don’t bleed a whole lot. The big danger with puncture wounds is the risk of infection. Whatever caused the wound may be full of bacteria — especially if the object has been in the dirt, like a nail or tack. Animal bites are … Continue reading →

New Five-in-One Vaccine Approved

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new combination vaccine for children. The combination vaccine covers five different diseases — and could reduce the number of shots needed for infants by as much as a third. The combination vaccine is known as Pentacel and is manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur. It is a four-dose vaccine series that protects against five different diseases: Diphtheria Tetanus Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) Polio Influenza type B Pentacel is safe for children two months of age and older. Most childhood vaccines are completed before the age of eighteen months. The U.S. Food … Continue reading →

Why You Might Want to Think About Buying Pampers

I was recently told by the executive membership director at Costco that to date, I’ve spent a whopping $3,000 in Costco last year. If you consider that I buy most of my groceries there, that’s not too bad. All the same, I can confidently assert that a large portion of that money is spent on diapers and wipes. If I’m already having to spend the money anyways, I’m all for spending it on something that’s going to help someone else. Enter Pampers. You may have seen the commercials already. A heavily accented voice (Salma Hayek) begins talking while you see … Continue reading →

Vaccines That Grown-Ups May Miss

Immunization isn’t just for childhood. In fact, immunization experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control say that some childhood vaccines may not last a lifetime. Here are a few vaccinations that may need a booster. Tetanus — you should be getting a tetanus booster every year. Now you also have the option of extra protection in the form of the Tdap booster, which also includes protection against whooping cough and diphtheria. Pertussis (whooping cough) has been making a comeback over the last twenty years — more than twenty-five thousand cases were reported in the U.S. in 2005. CDC experts … Continue reading →

All About Blood Pressure

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I got my blood pressure checked when I was getting my tetanus booster shot after I got bit at the dog park a few weeks ago. The nurse rattled off some numbers, and I asked, “Is that good?” She said yes. Lucky me! We all have blood pressure — without it, our blood wouldn’t circulate, bringing oxygen and other resources to our organs. There are actually two forces in the blood pressure, which is why we get a reading like 110 over 80. The first number is the systolic pressure, the pressure when the heart beats to pumps blood into … Continue reading →

Recommended Vaccines For Adults

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Regular immunizations have virtually wiped out diseases that used to cause serious problems in the general population. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommend several vaccinations for adults. Tetanus/Diphtheria (also known as Td) — protects against tetanus (lockjaw) and diphtheria. The initial vaccination is a three dose series. The first dose now, the second dose four weeks later, and the third dose six to twelve months after the second. Adults also need a booster shot every ten years or so. Influenza (also known as the flu shot) — a yearly vaccination to protect against the flu. Recommended for adults over … Continue reading →

Babies & Vaccines

Here’s a little breakdown on the information associated with each time of vaccination your baby will receive. While the vaccinations are broken out over the first two years of life, there are so many of them that keeping them straight can be difficult. Here’s a way to keep them all straight: DTaP is designed to protect your baby against diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw) and pertussis (whooping cough). HepA protects against the viral hepatitis A that can cause jaundice, stomach pain and diarrhea HepB protects against hepatitis B that is a viral illness potentially passed from mother to child Hib is vaccination … Continue reading →