Health & Wellness - Steven P. Timmons [CITYSunTimes December 2009]

Steven P. Timmons is a compounding chemist and consultant for Mountain View Pharmacy. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Stanford University and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University.

Feeling Good

Make The Most Of Your Doctor Visit

Doctor Visit

Most people don’t think to prepare for visits to the doctor. But preparation and good communication between you and your health professional are important ways to help make sure you get the best possible health care.
A basic plan for your visit can also help:

Before going to the doctor, make a list of the things you want to discuss.
Think about how you’re going to describe your symptoms.
Put your questions in order so you’re sure to ask about the most important ones first.
During your visit, make sure you understand what the medical tests you are getting are for.
When a doctor makes a diagnosis, make sure you understand your condition and fully discuss your treatment options.
If you’re not comfortable or unable to do these things yourself, consider bringing a family member or friend and let them know in advance what you want from your visit.

For more information, visit health.nih.gov.

CST Logo

CITYSunTimes Web Exclusives December 2009
Read the full SECTION

HEALTH & WELLNESS

WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW, CAN’T HELP YOU

no vaccine

Is Canada Saying “No!” To The Flu Vaccine, But “Yes” To Vitamin D3?

By Steven P. Timmons

Some interesting data has been collected in many Canadian provinces that are prompting Canadian health officials to rethink their recommendations on vaccinating for the regular flu this season. It seems that a group from the British Columbia Centers for Disease Control noticed that there was a higher rate of infection with the swine flu virus (H1N1) in those people who had received their regular seasonal flu shot last fall. These researchers asked officials in Quebec and Ontario to analyze their data, and the same association was found. In fact, it seems that those people who had received the regular flu vaccine last year seemed to be at twice the risk of contracting the new H1N1 strain this year.
The data has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, but it has caused several provinces to delay the release of the regular flu vaccine to the general public, except to those over 65 or in long term care facilities. Many news agencies have reported these decisions, including the Irish Independent, CBC news in Canada and National Public Radio.
Our own Center for Disease Control has released a media statement, which basically states that no other country has yet found similar results and that therefore they are not altering their recommendations based on the Canadian finding.
Whether the Canadian data turns out to be valid, it is encouraging to me that health officials in Canada are at least willing to look at scientific studies that might be at odds with the economic welfare of the pharmaceutical industry. In fact, the Public Health Agency of Canada is actually investigating the role of vitamin D in preventing the swine flu. The agency began a study on vitamin D and its influence on seasonal influenza, and is now extending its study to encompass the swine flu.
There have been several studies linking low vitamin D3 levels with an increased incidence of contracting seasonal flu. Some of the best reviews of these studies are available on-line, such as those written by John J. Cannell in the Virology Journal of February, 2008. Many researchers and our own pharmacy have been recommending a dose of 5,000 to 10,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily, which is similar to the amount of D3 that would be created by sun exposure in a more natural pre-modern culture, where much of our body would have been exposed to the sun. Studies have been done on life-guards and on other sun-exposed populations to show that such levels are natural levels.
Some doctors have even advocated doses of 50,000 units per day for three days for people who suspect a recent exposure to a flu virus. It is very simple to measure blood levels of vitamin D3 and to use these levels to help adjust your supplementation. Ask a knowledgeable doctor to help you manage your vitamin D3 level and hopefully decrease your risk of disease.

HEALTH & WELLNESS Web Exclusive | CITYSunTimes December 2009