Taking Care of You and Your Family this Season
Elsie Osei-Nkansah, MD, practices Family Medicine at Mission Vista Family Health
Elsie Osei-Nkansah, MD
Should I get the flu or whooping cough vaccine? I’ve heard there is a possibility that I could get either if I get the vaccine.
As the season for respiratory viruses settles in, primary care providers recommend the flu and whooping cough vaccinations for their adult and pediatric patients. I encourage my patients to receive the flu vaccine, not only to protect the individual receiving it, but also those family members, friends and colleagues who might be around them the most. Influenza is not a trivial virus; it can cause complications like pneumonia, common in patients with chronic medical illnesses like asthma, diabetes, heart disease and also in the elderly, young children and pregnant women.
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection more severe in infants and children. The vaccination is more commonly known as Tdap and is recommended every ten years for pregnant women and anyone who may be in close contact with children. That means grandparents!
The viruses included in both the flu and whopping cough–or Tdap–vaccines are inactivated, so they are not the actual live virus, and you will not get the flu or whooping cough from receiving the vaccine.
Remember, it’s important to protect yourself and loved ones from the flu and whooping cough, which can often lead to extended absences from school, work and time at home.
In the winter my skin becomes so dry and itchy. What can I do to keep this from happening?
Dry skin in the winter is due to the low temperatures and low humidity, and most of the time, dry skin is just dry skin that you can resolve with over-the-counter moisturizers.
Dry skin may also be caused by body changes, medical conditions or treatments. These include:
Increasing age—75 percent of people over 64 have dry skin
Hormonal changes
An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
Diabetes
Malnutrition, which might result from an eating disorder
Family history of dry skin
Other health problems
While some serious diseases can cause dry skin, don’t be alarmed. Most people who have dry skin are perfectly healthy. But even normal dry skin shouldn’t be ignored, since it can lead to further problems. Untreated dry skin can result in dermatitis, which causes swelling and redness. If the skin becomes severely cracked, it can also become infected, and that requires more extensive treatment. For dry skin that’s a result of environmental factors such as a change in temperature, I recommend a lotion that includes an emolient, such as Aveeno or Eucerin.
If your dry skin doesn’t resolve with normal dry skin treatment or is especially severe, it’s best to see your doctor. This could be a result of an underlying health problem.
Does taking vitamins really help me stay healthy?
First and foremost, one multivitamin with 100 percent daily value of the recommended nutrients will not replace all the nutrients you need, and your nutritional needs should be met by eating a variety of foods as outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (health.gov/dietaryguidelines). There are a number of additional factors to consider such as an individual’s diet, exercise, and, for women, if they may be pregnant, which all contribute to the nutrients our bodies need to achieve optimal health.
In some cases, vitamin or mineral supplements or fortified foods may be useful for providing nutrients that may otherwise be eaten in less than recommended amounts. If you are already eating the recommended amount of a certain nutrient, you may not get any further health benefit from taking a supplement. It is important to note that vitamin/mineral supplements are not a replacement for a healthful diet. Remember that in addition to vitamins and minerals, foods also contain numerous naturally occurring substances that can help protect your health. In general, I recommend a daily multivitamin for adults ages 18 and older. Children as young as five or six might opt for a chewable vitamin.
Before beginning any vitamin regimen it is important to always first ask your doctor. You may think side effects happen only with prescription medicines, but some dietary supplements can cause side effects if taken with other medications or if certain health conditions exist. Plus, filling the gaps of nutrients you’re not naturally getting every day from food sources does not protect against chronic disease. You can learn how to eat healthy and manage your nutrition by visiting the US Department of Agriculture’s Choose My Plate website at choosemyplate.gov.
Please speak with your primary care doctor or provider for appropriate diagnosis and formal recommendation regarding the flu and whooping cough vaccinations, ways to combat dry skin and the incorporation of vitamins into your daily routine.