A Deadly Strand

More deaths are linked to MRSA infections than AIDS.  MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. 

You can contract this infection from surfaces and skin to skin contact,  i.e. sexual intercourse. Treatment includes going to your Doctor to have the infection lanced, cultured, drained, cleaned and dressed. Cipro and/or Bactrum are usually prescribed. It is IMPERATIVE you finish all your prescribed antibiotics or you risk the return of this nasty infection.  More than 90,000 Americans get potentially deadly MRSA infections every year and in 2005, nearly 19,000 Americans died from MRSA infections.

There are two known types of MRSA. You may have heard of Healthcare-Associated (HA-MRSA), which occurs in hospitals and nursing homes.  This Healthcare-Associated (HA-MRSA) superbug, has become resistant to last-line antibiotics used to treat infections. Although it has not spread so far, doctors say the risk that HA-MRSA could eventually overwhelm even our last-line drugs is a very serious one.....branding it a dangerous organism in hospitals.

The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging
 Diseases in a World Out of Balance

American researchers have found since 2002 there have been 12 cases of the antibiotic resistant superbug CC5.  This deadly cluster of HA-MRSA bacteria,  called CC5 has become proficient at picking up resistance genes that makes it resistant to vancomycin - the last line of defence for hospital-acquired infections. HA-MRSA strains are the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections in the United States, and clonal cluster 5 (CC5) is the predominant lineage responsible for these infections. 

A newer type of MRSA is Community-Associated (CA-MRSA), which has recently begun to spread in public settings like gyms, locker rooms, households and schools. People can carry CA-MRSA and not have any symptoms. These "carriers" can also transmit the bacteria to other people. CA- MRSA can be easily spread through skin-to-skin contact and by touching contaminated items. This is why it is crucial to take measures to help reduce the spread of MRSA using these practical steps.

•  Scrub up - Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds - the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice - or use an alcohol-based hand rub sanitizer. 

• Wipe it down - Use a disinfecting bleach solution to wipe down and disinfect hard surfaces. Make sure to use clean cloths to avoid spreading MRSA from one surface to another. (3/4 cup of disinfecting bleach diluted in 1 gallon of water)

•  Cover your cuts - Keep any nicks or wounds covered with a clean, dry bandage until healed. 

• Keep to yourself - Do not share personal items, like towels or razors, that come into contact with bare skin.

•  Use a barrier - Keep a towel or clothing between skin and shared equipment.

 

CA-MRSA, like other staph bacteria, can cause skin infections such as pimples, rashes, abscesses, boils or what can look like a spider bite. These infections are usually warm, painful, red or swollen.  Unlike HA-MRSA, most CA-MRSA infections can be treated with several types of antibiotics, including some that can be taken by mouth.  Occasionally, CA-MRSA can cause blood stream infections, joint infections, pneumonia, other severe infections or death in an otherwise healthy person. 

Living in hot and humid climates causes folks to sweat a lot. It is important to bathe daily. Sometimes more than once daily when sweating, especially if you work outdoor.  Always keep a close watch on your skin for small pus bumps. Athletes should also keep a close watch on their skin since they share equipment, have close contact with other athletes and get hot and sweaty during practice and games.

MRSA-Killer Bug. What you need to know to protect yourself.

You do not want this infection while enjoying your summer vacation, so prevention and early intervention is key.  We can never remind our children too many times to wash their hands. Hand washing is the most proactive measure we can use in the prevention of this deadly bacteria.  Frequent hand washing and keeping any breaks on the skin washed and dry is the first line of defense.

Please understand that I’m not trying to scare you. It’s just important that you know the potential that these infections can have. MRSA can become serious and even life threatening and these infections should not be taken lightly. On the other hand, you have many powerful treatment and prevention options, many of which are very easy to use. To prevent MRSA skin infections, always practice good hygiene.  However, if you show any unusual skin abrasions, SEE YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY!

 

Knowledge is the key to keeping you and your family safe.  

Have a wonderfully, enjoyable, germ-free  summer.

What is "Vaping?"

Most of us know someone who smokes tobacco cigarettes and we probably have, on more than one occasion, suggested to them to stop smoking for their health.  Well, as you might imagine, it is not that simple, but there is a healthy alternative. Introduce them to Blu Cigs, an E-Cigarette. E-Cigarette is short for electronic cigarette and E-Cigarette smokers are called "Vapers."

Blu Cigs are E-Cigarettes that are safe for the environment and carry no  "second hand" smoke warning.  Blu Cigs contains only five ingredients instead of the over 7,000 ingredients in tobacco cigarettes.   You are able to smoke virtually anywhere.  In fact E-Cigarettes do not affect the health of people around "vapers,"  however, always be aware of those around you as a common courtesy. 

With Blu Cigs you are not exposing yourself or those around you to the thousands of dangerous toxins and chemicals found in tobacco cigarettes.  Blu Cigs simply produce a water vapor – meaning you can enjoy a cigarette without the worry of offending others. All the objections associated with tobacco cigarettes become obsolete with the use of E-Cigarettes.

As with anything else,  new technology takes time to get accustomed to, but now you can keep “smoking” without the stink and tar that goes with tobacco cigarettes.  Now you can enjoy Blu Cigs without hesitation.  Just call it "Vaping" instead of "Smoking" and enjoy!

Displaying My Magazines in a Nice Way

Guest post written by Alyssa Herman

I subscribe to several different magazines and am pretty good about reading all of them. But that normally takes me the whole month before I get a new magazine. So I keep several magazines around for quite a while in my apartment. I think that it really bothers my one roommate who's very into organization and cleanliness. I know that I need to do something about it so that it looks a bit nicer as a result. So I decided I was in the market for a magazine rack. I had one of those wimpy paper standup folders for magazines, but that clearly wasn't cutting it. While I was searching for a new magazine rack that would hold lots and lots of magazines I saw some stuff on debt consolidation and after I looked through it a little bit I decided to go on the site and get some help with doing that for my finances. One of the best parts of shopping for stuff like a magazine rack is seeing all the cool innovative ideas that people have come up with in the past for it.

Alternative Treatment for Prostate Cancer

There are various methods of treatment now available for prostate cancer.  High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is considered one of the most effective alternatives by many in the medical profession. High Intensity Focused Ultrasound or HIFU is a new treatment for prostate cancer.  HIFU is a minimally invasive technique that uses ultrasound in a very sophisticated way.  The treatment is administered with a specialized process that is similar to a light being shown on a piece of paper with a magnifying glass.   The high intensity ultrasonic beams are applied to the cancerous prostate area via computer controls.  Then, at the same time ultrasound imaging is used to identify the prostate as not to damage the good organs and tissue.  The destroyed cancerous tissue is dispelled with the urine over time.

If you are interested in alternatives that are available, review these prostate cancer treatment options:

Cryotherapy:  2-3 hour procedure with possible overnight stay using controlled freeze and thaw cycles; 4-20% chance of incontinence; 40-100% chance of impotence; 78% disease free survival at 1 year survival; 60% disease free survival at 5-7 years.

Radical Prostatectomy: 2-3 day hospital stay with major surgery to remove prostate; catheter for 2-3 weeks for open surgery; 4-34% chance of incontinence; 51-80% chance of impotence; 85-91% disease free survival at 2 years; 68-72% disease free survival at 10 years.

External Beam Radiation:  6-8 weeks treatment beaming radiation through healthy tissues; bowel problems more common; 4-7% chance of incontinence; 41-62% chance of impotence; 55-65% disease free survival at 5 years;  49% disease free survival at 10 years.

Internal Radiation Seeds(Brachytherapy):  1-2 hour procedure with possible overnight stay using implants of radiation seeds in the prostate;  3-18% chance of incontinence; 44-58% chance of impotence; 85-91% disease free survival at 10-12 years.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU): 2-3 hour procedure performed on outpatient basis using precision focused ultrasound waves;  0-2% chance of incontinence; 20-30% chance of impotence; 87% disease free survival at 6 months; 94% disease free survival at 4 years.

There is no surgery involved, so there is no cutting, bleeding, or time necessary for healing.  The entire HIFU procedure generally lasts about two to three hours with no overnight stay.  Once in the recovery room for about an hour, the patient is able to walk out of the hospital to go home.

Teen Drug Abuse

One of the most critical health issues facing our younger generation today is drug and alcohol abuse. In an effort to find more and more thrills, young people are turning to methods that are truly dangerous and addictive. Plus, to save money and get a cheap high, teens are using drugs like synthetic marijuana, methamphetamine, and laughing gas.  This can in no way be healthy or safe and the Atlanta Drug Abuse Rehab Centers  are here to help them with this epidemic.

If you have noticed a disappearance of money or other valuables; or your teen withdraws from the family and is increasingly hostile and often caught in one or many lies, your teen could be facing a future filled with pain, sickness and maybe even death.  Here at Atlanta Drug Rehab we focus on helping the entire family because drug abuse affects everyone in the family. 

Learn to recognize the harmful signs of drug abuse such as huge swings in mood or behavior, easily defensive, refusal to admit there is a problem with drugs, and constant trouble at school or with authorities.  If your son or daughter is facing any of these problems, he or she may have an addiction to drugs. An excellent choice for their recovery is Atlanta Drug Rehab .  

 

Why allow another day to pass without considering the warning signs listed above?  Together we can start your teen on the road to a healthier and happier future. Call the Atlanta Drug Abuse Rehab Centers  today.