Bugman

from Prime Time Monthly October 2020

Herb Doc

Ask The Bugman

Email questions to AskTheBugman.com or call (505)385-2820

Long-term weather forecasts predict we’re in for a warm fall and possibly a warm winter. Without cold temperatures keeping pests at bay, they are likely to be more active than usual. However, it is inadvisable to have your house sprayed with pesticides,

ANSWER TO #5145 which can, if repeated over time, compromise your immune system. So, the best option is to prevent pests from entering your home in the first place.

The first step to pest-proofing your home is to install door sweeps on all outside doors that need them. If you can slide a piece of paper under a door, it needs a door sweep. Also, add a door sweep to a door connecting the interior of the home to the garage. Pick up any debris or stacks of “stuff” you may have sitting around the house. Those areas make good hiding places for cockroaches, scorpions and centipedes. If you have firewood, stack it outside, away from the house as it will attract black widows. It is also a good idea to cover firewood with black plastic and stack it in the sun. The heat under the plastic will keep spiders and insects from hanging out in the firewood.

Be sure to trim tree branches to keep them from touching the roof, as acrobat ants and carpenter ants will otherwise use them as highways to gain access. Also, you should sweep down any spider webs around the outside of the house.

As for the garage, you will probably find that the door doesn’t close tightly and never will. There are almost always small areas at either side of the door where insects or rodents can get in. As mentioned earlier, make sure there are door sweeps on the door entering the house. Put Niban Bait in any areas behind storage or shelves where roaches can hide. Niban will last three or four months, so you only need to apply it a couple of times a year. Niban is made from boric acid and is available online.

Remember to keep all of your sink, tub and floor drains closed at night. This will prevent cockroaches from coming up the drains from the sewer system or septic tank. If you don’t have a drain cover, you can fill a Ziploc bag with water and place it over the drain. That will keep the roaches out.

Keep anything that pests can hide in or under away from your house. Don’t leave outside lights on any longer than necessary, as they attract insects. Check your home every few months to make sure all of the work you did is still in place and effective.

You don’t need pesticides to control most pests. If you have any pest questions, you can contact me at askthebugman2013@gmail. com. I have handbooks I will share with you that will give you more information on dealing with pests safely and effectively.

It’s time to bring the heat! Visit Mountain West Sales and mention this ad for $100 off a Vermont Castings, Harman or Quadrafire fireplace insert or freestanding stove this fall.*

October 2020

Coronavirus Versus Flu: How To Tell The Difference

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you explain the differences between the coronavirus and seasonal flu? I’m 70-years-old, and usually get a standard flu shot, but would like to find out what else I can do to protect myself this winter.

Worried Senior

Dear Worried,

Great question! Because of the dual danger of Influenza (flu) and COVID-19, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently warned that this fall and winter could be the worst ever for public health. Understanding this, knowing the differences and similarities between the viruses, and knowing what you can do to protect yourself is the best way to stay healthy and safe through this difficult time.

Flu vs COVID

Because many of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, so testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. With that said, here are some similarities and differences you should know.

For starters, seasonal flu symptoms come on pretty quickly, whereas COVID-19 develops gradually over a period of a few days and then either fades out or gets worse. Common shared symptoms include fever, sore throat, muscle aches, cough, headache, fatigue and even chest pain. Pinkeye and a dry cough are associated with COVID-19, while it’s now thought that a fever is more likely with the flu, as are diarrhea and nausea.

Many people are having their temperatures taken these days before entering public spaces. But fever occurs in only half of COVID-19 cases. Fever does not rule out COVID-19, but the absence of fever makes flu unlikely.

You’re also unlikely to have a runny or stuffy nose with the flu, but you may with COVID-19. What sometimes happens within the nose with COVID-19 is loss of smell and, often as a consequence, loss of taste, too.

To learn more about the similarities and differences between flu and COVID-19, visit the CDC website at CDC.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19. htm.

How to Protect Yourself

While there is currently no vaccine available yet to prevent COVID-19, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. So, stay home as much as you can. If you have to go out, wear a mask and keep at least 6 feet away from other people. And every time you come home, wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.

There’s also evidence that suggests that people who are deficient in vitamin D may be at higher risk of getting COVID-19, than those with sufficient levels. So, make sure you take in around 800 to 1,000 international units (IUs) of vitamin D from food or supplements daily, and get outside as much as you can.

And to help guard against the flu this year, you should consider getting a flu shot that’s specifically designed for people 65 and older. The “Fluzone High Dose Quadrivalent” or the “FLUAD Quadrivalent” are the two options that provide extra protection beyond what a standard flu shot offers. You only need one flu shot, and if you haven’t already gotten it, you should do it now because takes up to two weeks to build immunity after you receive it.

Pneumonia Vaccines

If you haven’t been vaccinated for pneumonia, you should also consider getting the pneumococcal vaccines. Both flu and COVID-19 can lead to pneumonia, which hospitalizes around 250,000 Americans, and kills around 50,000 people each year. But these numbers could be much higher this year.

The CDC recommends that all seniors, 65 or older, get two vaccinations – Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23. Both vaccines, which are administered one year apart, protect against different strains of the bacteria to provide maximum protection.

Medicare Part B covers both flu and pneumonia shots.

To locate a vaccination site that offers any of these shots, visit VaccineFinder.org and type in your location.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

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October in New Mexico includes the smell of roasting chile, falling leaves, chilly mornings - and flu season. Of course, this year, that annual virus may be complicated by the Covid-19.

New and Pre-owned Homes Available

The Centers for Disease Control recommends everyone over the age of 6 months to get the flu shot. So, if you are reading this, you need a flu shot. Those at greatest risk are children younger than 5 years old, adults over 65 and pregnant women. Since children younger than 6 months can’t receive the vaccine, it is very important for those who care for them to be vaccinated. This also includes the children who live with or are around these children. Multi-generational family homes are especially at high risk.

Certain medical conditions also increase a person’s risk for having complications from the flu. Illnesses like asthma, chronic lung disease (COPD, emphysema, cystic fibrosis), heart disease, kidney problems, liver problems, auto-immune illnesses, cancers, obesity and diabetes are included on the list. If you have one of these conditions, it is even more important to get your flu shot immediately.

If you are concerned about catching the flu from the shot, don’t be; it’s not possible. The vaccine contains an inactive, or killed, virus—it can’t cause disease. Sometimes a person can get mild flu symptoms, but those are not indicative of the flu. Getting the flu can be much worse, even deadly.

Also, if you have egg allergies, a cell–based flu vaccine is now available that is safe for you. In a study this summer of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older, this cell-based vaccine provided greater protection against flurelated hospitalizations than the standard-dose, egg-based vaccine.

If safety venturing out into the community is an obstacle, or if you don’t have a primary care provider, a number of clinics are offering drive-by flu shots.

Getting the flu shot helps you, your family and the community.

As always, please consult your health care provider to decide which type of flu vaccine is right for you. Wear face coverings, maintain physical distance and wash your hands frequently. Be safe and be well.