There are now more options for your yearly flu vaccine. While you can get a 'flu shot' that has been the traditional method for flu vaccination, a newer vaccine that allows you to receive the flu vaccine via a nasal spray is also available for those of us with needle phobias.

Importantly, the flu vaccine is not for everyone. Flu vaccines are not approved for children under 6 months of age.  While most other people can receive a flu vaccine, you need to discuss vaccination with your health care provide if you:

• Have a severe egg allergy.
• Have previously had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.
• Developed Guillane-Barre within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
• People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.

Additionally, the nasal spray vaccine, or FluMist, can only be taken by in children, adolescents, and adults 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. Persons with a weakened immune system and certain other chronic diseases may not be able to recieve the FluMist vaccine.  Asthmatics and children under 5 with recurrent wheezing may also want to avoid the nasal spray as it may worsen asthma in some individuals.

Additionally, you want want to consider some recent research before you choose which vaccine to take this year. In a study released this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, the flu shot was twice as effective as the nasal spray in preventing flu in healthy adults. While the nasal spray was less effective in this study, the nasal spray is still more protective than doing nothing if you have a needle phobia.

Remeber, a flu vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the flu this year.

Are you worried about the swine flu? Does your runny nose, scratchy throat and decreased energy make you feel feverish and give you a sudden urge to go to the ER out of concern for H1N1? Many health care officials are worried about just that according to a press release from the Loyola University Health System.

“When you are sick with the flu or any other contagious illness, the best thing to do is stay home, rest and avoid contact with other people as much as possible,” said Dr. Mark Cichon, director of emergency medical services at Loyola University Health System in Maywood, IL. “If you think you have H1N1, call your physician or a health-care advice line first. They can determine if an examination, influenza testing or treatment is needed.”

Additionally, if you don't have the flu or don't have a very serious case, you run the chance of actually getting the flu or some other respiratory illness from other patients there.

In adults, emergency symptoms that would make you want to seek care in an emergency room include:

• Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
• Chest or abdominal pain
• Dizziness, confusion, or not thinking right
• Severe vomiting or diarrhea that you are not able to manage at home

“If you have none of those symptoms, you have no need to seek emergency care,” Cichon said. “A key rule to follow is if you have symptoms that wouldn’t normally cause you to go to an emergency room, you probably don’t need to go to one. If you still have some concerns, the best thing to do is consult your family practitioner.”

Hopefully these common sense tips may help you avoid unneeded time and exposure in your local ER.

With ragweed allergy season in full gear, you may be heading to your doctors office soon. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology suggests these things to get the most out of your next doctor's visit:

• Educate Yourself: The more you know about your asthma the more you can proactively partner with your doctor to improve your asthma. If you do not know where to get the best information, ask your doctor for an information prescription.




• Keep good records: Track symptoms with a symptom diary and bring it to your appointment to show your doctor.




• Ask questions to get more out of your visit: Clear communication is essential and using these questions will help you improve communication with your doctor.




• Be proactive: Bring questions with you to your visit. If you do not understand make sure you speak up and ask the doctor to explain again.
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As you may have heard before, 23 million Americans have asthma and the number seems to continue to be getting bigger. One thought as to why this is called the hygiene hypothesis.

The hygiene hypothesis suggests that our super clean world deprives our immune system of the ability to distinguish between harmless and potentially harmful irritants.

Supporters of the hygiene hypothesis point to research that shows children growing up on farms develop less asthma and allergic disease than kids growing up in cities. These children are exposed to more germs, specifically a component of germs called endotoxins. These endotoxins stimulate your child's immune system and decrease overall inflammation related to allergy.

There are other competing theories and potential causes of the increase in asthma. Some research has pointed to the use of antibiotics and acetaminophen in early life may contribute. While others have pointed to obesity or low vitamin D levels as possible contributors.

While the exact reason for worsening asthma is not known, look at your muddy, smelly children returning form the play ground and think that maybe that activity was important for their overall health and well being.

_Sources:

_{American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology A Little Dirt May Be Good For Your Kids}