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T he R ancho S anta F e News
MARCH 1, 2019
Study: Influenza linked to increased heart attack risk Ask the Doctors
Dr. Elizabeth Ko Dr. Eve Glazier
DEAR DOCTOR: Last year, my best friend, who was home in bed with a bad case of the flu, died of a heart attack. He was fit, strong and relatively young -- only 42 years old -- and his death was a shock. But now research suggests having the flu actually increases the risk of a heart attack. Can we protect ourselves? DEAR READER: We're very sorry for your loss and understand why it would be shocking. When we think of the complications that arise from the flu, it's usually something like an ear or sinus infection. When things get more serious, flu can lead to pneumonia. However, inflammation caused by the influenza virus can affect the body in even more severe and unexpected ways. This includes developing encephalitis or myocarditis, which are inflammation of the brain and the heart respectively, or sepsis, a full-body inflammatory response that can lead to multiple-organ failure and death. Individuals with the flu can also sometimes experience a worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as asthma or heart disease. Now, as you mention, researchers have uncovered what they believe is a surprisingly strong connection between influenza infection and heart attack. In a study published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto reported that in the seven days following a lab-confirmed diagnosis of influenza, heart attacks were six more times as likely as they were either a year prior to or following the diagnosis. The researchers arrived at
this conclusion using details from hospital admissions in Ontario between 2008 and 2015. They analyzed data from individuals with confirmed cases of influenza, as well as 364 heart attacks. According to the data, the hospital saw 3.3 heart attack admissions per week in the year before and after a flu diagnosis. But during the week of a flu diagnosis, the heart attack rate rose to 20 admissions per week. Of the 332 people in the study who had a heart attack during the seven-day window following a flu diagnosis, 69 percent had not received a flu shot that year. The data also suggested that individuals older than 65 were at a slightly higher risk than younger people of suffering a post-flu heart attack. Other acute respiratory infections can also increase heart attack risk, although not as sharply as influenza, according to the study. Previous studies have tied influenza infection to a three-fold increase in the risk of stroke. This range of extreme complications is believed to arise in response to the sudden and systemic inflammation that accompanies an acute respiratory infection. The best way to protect yourself against the flu is by getting your annual flu shot. Research has shown that hospitalizations and deaths are markedly lower among people who get a flu vaccine when compared with those who do not. People who get the flu despite being vaccinated tend to have milder and shorter illnesses. Anyone who experiences heart attack symptoms during or shortly after an acute respiratory illness, including chest pain, arrhythmia, shortness of breath, exhaustion or edema, should seek immediate medical care.
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Eve Glazier, M.D., MBA, is an internist and associate professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Elizabeth Ko, M.D., is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health.
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A CERT MEMBER attends to a building failure victim during a mock drill during the February CERT Academy.
Courtesy photo
CERT Academy hosts residents of 3 cities By Staff
REGION — Three local-resident Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) from Encinitas, Solana Beach and Rancho Santa Fe were combined for one of the largest CERT Academy training sessions in three years. The CERT Academy is available free to residents twice a year, and includes training by the fire depart-
ments of all three communities. The February Academy final drill included the rapid and correct assessment of a three-story building failure, locating more than 18 injured victims, triaging injuries and exiting victims safely to emergency medical aid zones. Participation totaled 50 people. The Academy serves to better prepare members for disasters or
emergencys, wherever they may be, and possibly assist in support of first responders. CERTs are provided with basic safety gear in a backpack. The training is hands-on, classroom and online, including disaster prep, search and rescue, medical, psychology, terrorism, fire suppression and home/business safety. For further information and Academy sign-up, visit enccert.org.
Report: CCE an option for North County cities
Exotic animal sanctuary hit hard by rains
ego County, although several other cities including San Diego are exploring the option. Other than Solana Beach residents, residents and businesses must purchase their electricity from San Diego Gas & Electric. CCE advocates consistently champion adding competition to the energy market, which results in financial savings for CCE customers and more local control over power supply sources and rate levels. The report for the four cities shows an overall 2 percent bill reduction, while also building reserves for local programs or additional rate reductions, according to the study. The study measured various issues such as exit fees (known as the Power Charge Indifferent Adjustment), renewable energy sources and future generation, non-renewable energy costs, capacity, reserves and operating, administrative and start-up costs. The latest ruling from the California Public Utilities Commission on exit fees has led to decreased revenue in Solana Beach, The Coast News reported in December. Additionally, the study found start-up costs could be “fully” recovered in the first three years and would help in cities meeting their Climate Action Plan and state goals of reaching 100 percent renewable energy by 2035. For projected costs,
ALPINE — An exotic animal sanctuary and educational facility, just 50 miles east of San Diego, on 93 acres outside of Alpine, Lions Tigers & Bears is home to more than 60 rescued big cats, bears and other exotic animals who have been neglected and abused in captivity. “The powerful storm system that has swept across our region, has taken a toll on our sanctuary grounds — and left a huge mess in its wake,” said Bobbi Brink, founder and director of Lions Tigers & Bears. “Fortunately, all of our animals are safely contained in their lockdowns and safety ‘bedrooms.’ However, the rest of the property is not so fortunate.” Every habitat pool on the property has flooded, and has mixed with mud, meaning the pool filters and pumps are clogged, and cannot be used. The high levels of sediment in the pools will ruin them. In addition, muddy rivers have been carved throughout the property and the barn, which includes a gift shop and surgery room, has flooded along with the downstairs office and volunteer area. A major clean-up effort is going to be needed. The sanctuary includes tigers, lions, leopards, mountain lions, bobcats, black bears, grizzly bears and more.
By Steve Puterski
REGION — A draft technical feasibility study released on Feb. 15 reveals Community Choice Energy is financially possible and could yield considerable benefits. Four cities — Carlsbad, Encinitas, Del Mar and Oceanside — partnered in the study to determine whether an alternative power provider was an option. The Encinitas City Council received the report on Feb. 13, while Carlsbad, Oceanside and Del Mar city councils will receive it in the next week and in early March, respectively. The report was conducted by EES Consulting, Inc., in Kirkland, Washington. Each of the four cities contributed to the costs of the report, which totaled $104,515.20. Currently, there are 19 CCEs throughout the state covering dozens of cities and counties, according to the Clean Power Exchange website. The study also looked each city individually, and whether they could provide a stand-alone CCE, also known as Community Choice Aggregation, to its residents. Only Del Mar, due to its small population, was found not to be feasible. If all four cities were to band together, the start-up cost would be roughly $16 million. Currently, only Solana Beach has a CCE in San Di-
the study looked at market purchases over a 20-year period at $0.0471 cents per megawatt per hour, assuming a 4 percent discount rate. Renewable costs, however, vary from $0.035 cents to $0.06 cents per megawatt per hour for wind and solar, while geothermal power costs between $0.07 and $0.10. Geothermal, though, holds a higher capacity, thus can bring additional value to a CCE for base load resources. According to Jason Haber, Carlsbad’s assistant to the city manager, each City Council has several options. In Carlsbad, the council is expected to act on an agenda item regarding governance, which will be another report detailing those options, such as forming a joint-powers agreement, joining an existing JPA and how voting structures and other dynamics may work. The final technical study is expected to be released in April, Haber said. He added these early reports and actions do not constitute any city approving a CCA. Much more information is needed, he stressed. Of the four cities, Carlsbad consumes the most power per year, at 735 gigawatts, followed by Oceanside (703), Encinitas (258) and Del Mar (30). A multi-city public workshop is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 14 in Carlsbad.
By Staff