I heard recently from the news that the second wave of H1N1 has been declared over in Canada. To be honest, we haven't seen too many concerned patients clamouring for H1N1 treatments or for information regarding the vaccine since the initial scare. The Canadian government had ordered enough vaccines for every single Canadian. As a result of the low vaccination rates, I believe we ended up donating much of the vaccines to other countries.
I haven't had to answer an H1N1 question for so long, but two interesting notes came to my attention this week.
1) A patient here at the clinic (who reads European & Russian newspapers) informed us that there were big investigations getting started in Europe regarding the involvement of the pharmaceutical industry's reach and their ability to influence the World Health Organization. That sounded far-fetched to me (as I'm not one to believe in conspiracy theories). But it appears that an inquiry is being launched. This is news that has yet to appear here in North America. You can read more about this here.
2) Apparently pregnant women in Hong Kong have stopped getting the H1N1 vaccine. This has happened as news of 3 fetal deaths occurring in the last month after women received the H1N1 shot. I believe that at least one of these women had an underlying complication.
Frankly, I don't know enough about what's happening in Asian or Europe to make a well-informed commentary, but for those of you who would like to do further research, send me an email or links for what you find and I'll try to post relevant information for our readers.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Showing posts with label Swine Flu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swine Flu. Show all posts
H1N1 Update
The job of public health officials is to do what they think is best for the majority of the population. But lately they are coming under increased scrutiny over the H1N1 vaccine campaign. Ontario's former medical officer of health is even getting in on this action. He has some harsh words to say, but to be frank, they seem dead on.
However, it's tough being a politician or a public health official that has to make big decisions in a short amount of time. They were doing what they thought was best. It's a damn if you do, damn if you don't scenario. But buying enough H1N1 vaccines for EVERY Canadian seemed like over-kill to me even before the pandemic started. Sure enough, approximately 35 million of the 50.4 million vaccines bought will not be used. Either we let it go to waste or we donate it to less well off nations. Some still believe that a second wave could be coming which I don't know. All I can say is that this flu season hasn't been that bad.
On a related note, anti-viral drugs like Tamiflu which is made from a Chinese spice called 'Star Anise' are used to treat influenza, but a recently published article in the British Medical Journal found that these drugs have only modest benefits with "reduction of illness by about one day."
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
However, it's tough being a politician or a public health official that has to make big decisions in a short amount of time. They were doing what they thought was best. It's a damn if you do, damn if you don't scenario. But buying enough H1N1 vaccines for EVERY Canadian seemed like over-kill to me even before the pandemic started. Sure enough, approximately 35 million of the 50.4 million vaccines bought will not be used. Either we let it go to waste or we donate it to less well off nations. Some still believe that a second wave could be coming which I don't know. All I can say is that this flu season hasn't been that bad.
On a related note, anti-viral drugs like Tamiflu which is made from a Chinese spice called 'Star Anise' are used to treat influenza, but a recently published article in the British Medical Journal found that these drugs have only modest benefits with "reduction of illness by about one day."
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Update: H1N1 & Flu Vaccinations - should we or shouldn't we? Pros & Cons
In light of the recent death of a 13 year old boy in Toronto, I've gotten a lot of questions about whether we should vaccinate. Should we vaccinate for H1N1? Seasonal flu shots?
The public is looking for answers and unfortunately I cannot make that decision for you. I do understand your frustration though with so many conflicting points of views, what is one to think. There are possible pros and cons (some theoretical & some not) for getting the vaccine(s) and for not getting the vaccine(s). Parents and individuals need to sift through this information and be at peace with the decision that they make.
Hopefully I can shed some light on this topic.
Dual flu & H1N1 vaccinations:
Ontario and a few other provinces have decided to separate the two and in Ontario, public health officials have decided to delay the seasonal flu vaccine in light of some preliminary (Cdn) data showing that those who received the seasonal flu shot last year had an increased risk of contracting H1N1. In addition, the seasonal flu does not usually lead to fatalities in healthy adults and the young.
Pros & Cons of H1N1 vaccinations:
PROS
CONS
Other things to Note
Statistics seem to indicate that many people born before 1957 already have immunity to the H1N1 swine flu as scientists hypothesize that the kind of flu that infected individuals before this date was more like the swine flu. The H1N1 virus was the culprit in the 1918 flu pandemic and continued to circulate in the population til 1957, when an H2N2 virus displaced it as the dominant virus.
Health Canada's full description of the H1N1 vaccine by GlaxoSmithKline can be found here. This is a must read if you want to form your own opinions. It's pretty frank and quite thorough. Hope you like science!
I found this CBC article to be pretty informative. Dr. Jim Wright at the University of British Columbia makes an interesting point.
If you want to read about the "anti-vaccine" side, you will want to read Dr. Tom Jefferson, MD interview.
A list of vaccine clinics in Peel Region & Toronto. You can even check wait times. If you're not in one of the at risk groups, please let pregnant women, health care workers, the elderly and parents with kids go first. There's nothing worse than seeing a pregnant lady or an elderly person waiting in line for 4-6 hrs with no place to rest.
There are many people who consider themselves healthy because they have no overt signs & symptoms of disease. But I often tell my patients that health is more than the absence of disease. A person who isn't sleeping properly or has a poor diet and is under constant stress is not in a healthy state of being. If you fall in this category, you are definitely putting yourself at greater risk of contracting the flu. Make sure that you're doing everything you can to optimize your health. Naturopathic doctors can certainly help you with this and have many tools to help you should you fall ill.
Important Warning Signs you should be Aware of
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
The public is looking for answers and unfortunately I cannot make that decision for you. I do understand your frustration though with so many conflicting points of views, what is one to think. There are possible pros and cons (some theoretical & some not) for getting the vaccine(s) and for not getting the vaccine(s). Parents and individuals need to sift through this information and be at peace with the decision that they make.
Hopefully I can shed some light on this topic.
Dual flu & H1N1 vaccinations:
Ontario and a few other provinces have decided to separate the two and in Ontario, public health officials have decided to delay the seasonal flu vaccine in light of some preliminary (Cdn) data showing that those who received the seasonal flu shot last year had an increased risk of contracting H1N1. In addition, the seasonal flu does not usually lead to fatalities in healthy adults and the young.
Pros & Cons of H1N1 vaccinations:
PROS
- H1N1 can affect certain segments of the population more severely than the seasonal flu (ie. pregnant women, young children). The elderly and immunocompromised individuals have always been at greater risk of complications from the seasonal flu virus.
- Technically, this vaccine should be more effective than the seasonal flu shot because there is no guess work involved as to which strains should be used. In the past few years, the seasonal flu shot has been largely ineffective. To be fair, the "gold standard" of evidence-based double-blind placebo control trial studies, that are often lacking from natural therapies (and thus used by many to dissuade people from using natural medicine), are not really used to test flu vaccines. If you go to the CBC article that I have linked below, you can read about what Dr. Jim Wright from the University of British Columbia has to say about this.
CONS
- Preservatives/adjuvants (ie. thimerosol, squalene) are in the vaccines being given out. Only pregnant women are being given adjuvant-free vaccines. There is debate about whether these pose any risk.
- Some people believe that the H1N1 vaccines were rushed to production and not enough research has been done on them. However, to be fair, the same process used to create seasonal flu shots were used for the H1N1 vaccines so if you have/don't have concerns about the seasonal flu shot, then those same arguments for or against still hold for the H1N1 vaccine.
- One con in general regarding vaccines (1 in one million) is the risk of contracting Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), where certain neurological symptoms appear.
- People with egg allergies should not get the flu shot
- This vaccine is not recommended for children less than 6 months old
- Many believe that the swine flu risks have been exaggerated and the statistics seem to indicate that so far. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that 250 000 - 500 000 people die every year from influenza (seasonal) vs. 5000 deaths this year to H1N1. CBS recently ran a story stating that "the swine flu cases were seriously overestimated." Most people who do get the swine flu will recover. Unfortunately, we are in an age of constant media where we see the worst case scenarios all the time. Having said that, even though the risks are low these worst-case scenarios are present. The CBC recently ran two worst-case scenario stories: 1) the death of the 13 year old boy 2) a gentleman who got GBS from the flu shot and has had complications with his health ever since.
Other things to Note
Statistics seem to indicate that many people born before 1957 already have immunity to the H1N1 swine flu as scientists hypothesize that the kind of flu that infected individuals before this date was more like the swine flu. The H1N1 virus was the culprit in the 1918 flu pandemic and continued to circulate in the population til 1957, when an H2N2 virus displaced it as the dominant virus.
Health Canada's full description of the H1N1 vaccine by GlaxoSmithKline can be found here. This is a must read if you want to form your own opinions. It's pretty frank and quite thorough. Hope you like science!
I found this CBC article to be pretty informative. Dr. Jim Wright at the University of British Columbia makes an interesting point.
If you want to read about the "anti-vaccine" side, you will want to read Dr. Tom Jefferson, MD interview.
A list of vaccine clinics in Peel Region & Toronto. You can even check wait times. If you're not in one of the at risk groups, please let pregnant women, health care workers, the elderly and parents with kids go first. There's nothing worse than seeing a pregnant lady or an elderly person waiting in line for 4-6 hrs with no place to rest.
There are many people who consider themselves healthy because they have no overt signs & symptoms of disease. But I often tell my patients that health is more than the absence of disease. A person who isn't sleeping properly or has a poor diet and is under constant stress is not in a healthy state of being. If you fall in this category, you are definitely putting yourself at greater risk of contracting the flu. Make sure that you're doing everything you can to optimize your health. Naturopathic doctors can certainly help you with this and have many tools to help you should you fall ill.
Important Warning Signs you should be Aware of
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says patients showing these symptoms should seek medical care immediately.
CHILDREN: Fast or troubled breathing; skin turning bluish; not drinking enough fluids; being unusually hard to wake up or not interacting; being so irritable that the child doesn't want to be held, flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough; fever with a rash.
ADULTS: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen; severe or persistent vomiting; sudden dizziness; confusion.
Know the Difference between a Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms
| Symptom | Cold | H1N1 Flu |
| Fever | Fever is rare with a cold. | Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the H1N1 flu. |
| Coughing | A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold. | A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the H1N1 flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough). |
| Aches | Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold. | Severe aches and pains are common with the H1N1 flu. |
| Stuffy Nose | Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. | Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu. |
| Chills | Chills are uncommon with a cold. | 60% of people who have the H1N1 flu experience chills. |
| Tiredness | Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold. | Tiredness is moderate to severe with the H1N1 flu. |
| Sneezing | Sneezing is commonly present with a cold. | Sneezing is not common with the H1N1 flu. |
| Sudden Symptoms | Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days. | The H1N1 flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains. |
| Headache | A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. | A headache is very common with the H1N1 flu, present in 80% of flu cases. |
| Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea | Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are fairly uncommon with a cold | Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are sometimes present in H1N1 flu. |
| Chest Discomfort | Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold. | Chest discomfort is often severe with the H1N1 flu. |
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Activia Yogurt: Healthy profits from false advertising? What you should know about probiotics.
Many people know about the benefits of probiotics - the healthy bacteria found in your gastrointestinal tract as well as in fermented foods such as sauerkraut, fermented soy products and of course yogurt. In fact, Danone - the makers of popular brands such as Activia and DanActive was the first the tout the benefits of it probiotic yogurt. It was advertised as helping to keep you regular and good for the immune system.
A lawsuit filed back in January 2008 alleged that Danone's own studies failed to support its own advertised claims. And this month, Danone has agreed to set aside a $35 million dollar fund to reimburse customers in an out of court settlement and denies any wrongdoing. Danone has agreed to make changes to how it advertises its yogurt line.
Does this mean that probiotics don't work? No! As my patients already know, I'm a big fan of probiotics especially for certain digestive & immune related conditions. But what people don't know is that the therapeutic dose required to treat diseases vary and that it matters what strain of probiotics you're taking. Certain strains have been shown to be effective at combating MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) which is found in a number of hospitals. Recently, the journal Pediatrics published a study showing that a combination of two specific strains of probiotics was more much more effective at preventing the FLU vs. a single strain of probiotics and even more effective than no probiotics (ie. placebo). The key to probiotic therapy is to know how to effectively dose the probiotics and with which strains. Naturopathic doctors are certainly adept at this and have access to these different strains. I currently have many of my patients & myself on the exact strains published in the journal of Pediatrics for those of us who wish to reduce the risk of catching the flu. Also, I'm hoping that it decreases the risk of catching H1N1 should that get out of hand. Let's hope for the best though.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
A lawsuit filed back in January 2008 alleged that Danone's own studies failed to support its own advertised claims. And this month, Danone has agreed to set aside a $35 million dollar fund to reimburse customers in an out of court settlement and denies any wrongdoing. Danone has agreed to make changes to how it advertises its yogurt line.
Does this mean that probiotics don't work? No! As my patients already know, I'm a big fan of probiotics especially for certain digestive & immune related conditions. But what people don't know is that the therapeutic dose required to treat diseases vary and that it matters what strain of probiotics you're taking. Certain strains have been shown to be effective at combating MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) which is found in a number of hospitals. Recently, the journal Pediatrics published a study showing that a combination of two specific strains of probiotics was more much more effective at preventing the FLU vs. a single strain of probiotics and even more effective than no probiotics (ie. placebo). The key to probiotic therapy is to know how to effectively dose the probiotics and with which strains. Naturopathic doctors are certainly adept at this and have access to these different strains. I currently have many of my patients & myself on the exact strains published in the journal of Pediatrics for those of us who wish to reduce the risk of catching the flu. Also, I'm hoping that it decreases the risk of catching H1N1 should that get out of hand. Let's hope for the best though.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Pandemic Alert (H1N1): Peel Region & Toronto statistics & more Naturopathic Advice
It's official, the World Health Organization has officially declared the H1N1 to be a pandemic. Here's some current information for those of you in my home province of Ontario, Canada:
Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health, states that 484 cases of H1N1 flu virus have been confirmed since Friday, bringing the total number of cases in Ontario to 1,562.
Almost all of the cases reported to date are considered mild. The vast majority of the individuals concerned have recovered.
To date, two people, who had the H1N1 virus and chronic medical conditions, have died. Ten people who have the H1N1 flu virus were in hospital as of June 9, a number of whom have underlying medical conditions.
The Ontario cases involve 808 males and 750 females (the gender of four cases is unknown) with an age range of 1 to 97. The average age of the individuals is 21.
Here's the breakdown of the cases in the surrounding regions of the GTA:
| Health Unit | New Confirmed Cases | Total Confirmed Cases |
| Toronto | 159 | 669 |
| Peel Region | 116 | 302 |
| York Region | 71 | 230 |
| Halton | 38 | 126 |
Durham Region | 22 | 53 |
Hamilton | 3 | 10 |
According to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, symptoms of H1N1 are similar to seasonal influenza (flu) including headache, chills and cough followed by fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches and fatigue, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may occur in adults as well as in children. In more severe cases, or in people with chronic conditions, complications such as pneumonia may develop.
If you are experiencing these symptoms you should immediately contact your health care provider, including your Naturopathic Doctor (ND), or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. Do not leave your home if possible until you have spoken to your health care provider or a Telehealth nurse. People should only go to Emergency Rooms if they have severe symptoms.
Naturopathic Perspective:
A strong immune system not only reduces the risk of getting sick, but may also reduce the severity of illness if you do get sick.
Although viruses such as influenza don’t respond to antibiotics, there are anti-viral therapies your Naturopathic Doctor can suggest to you to support your immune systems ability to fight viruses and therefore lessen the severity of many illnesses caused by viruses.
Supporting your immune system
The human body has a natural ability to respond to viruses that attack it. These defense mechanisms can sometimes be weakened and require additional support to effectively respond when you are exposed to viruses. A weakened immune system is a particular concern when new viruses like the H1N1 Swine Flu emerge. Your Naturopathic Doctor can work with you to assess the current status of your health, and support your immune system using advanced natural therapies.
You can do simple things to help your body avoid the flu or other viruses. Here are some basics:
Be proactive Book a prevention appointment with your health care provider so he/she can advise you what to keep on hand and how to use alternatives to pharmaceuticals to stimulate and support your immune system. Everyone is different and there are many ways to support the immune system naturally - find an individualized treatment plan that works for you, thus helping you to achieve the best results.
You are what you eat Food is fuel for your body and all its work. Eating a diet high in complete protein, essential fatty acids (EFAs), complex carbohydrates, and plenty of fruits and vegetables is important to support a strong immune system. It is particularly important to avoid processed or sugary foods.
Hands off Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly is one of the simplest ways to keep germs at bay. Proper hand washing involves at least 20 seconds of scrubbing with soap and hot water. Avoid touching your face since germs often enter the body through the nose, eyes and mouth. Use a tissue or your sleeve for sneezing and coughing—avoid using your hands to cover your mouth or nose.
Keeping the barrier intact Mucous membranes (such as the lining of your nose) must be moist to act as an effective barrier to bacteria and viruses. Using a humidifier in your home or office, or even taking a hot shower helps to keep membranes moist. Staying hydrated on the inside is also extremely important. Make sure you are drinking a minimum of 2 litres of water per day.
Both feet on the ground We all lead busy and stressful lives, and while it’s not possible to avoid all stress, it is important to find a way to achieve balance and reduce stress. Get a full night’s sleep, have an outlet for stress, and make your health and happiness a priority.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
Swine Flu: Some advice from Naturopathic Doctors
I'm certainly not one for fear-mongering, however the World Health Organization has just raised the alert level for swine flu to a five out of a possible six, indicating widespread human-to-human transmission which means that the estimated probability of a pandemic is high.
However, there is no need for panic, but we should keep ourselves informed. Please download our patient handout in the News & Resources section of our website to learn about the the swine flu, symptoms you need to watch out for and precautions you can take.
EVENTS
FREE Talk at Chapters Indigo (Mississauga, Square One)
Sat. May 2, 2009 at 2pm
Dr. Koo, ND will doing a lecture on Stress Management.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
However, there is no need for panic, but we should keep ourselves informed. Please download our patient handout in the News & Resources section of our website to learn about the the swine flu, symptoms you need to watch out for and precautions you can take.
EVENTS
FREE Talk at Chapters Indigo (Mississauga, Square One)
Sat. May 2, 2009 at 2pm
Dr. Koo, ND will doing a lecture on Stress Management.
Yours in health,
Ian Koo, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Essentials Health Centre
"The care you want, the health you need"
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