October 2009
Local Physician Wins Gold Medal
Where caring counts. Feel the difference.
TM
Vol. 25 No. 5
What to Do About H1N1 Flu By Diana Yu, M.D., public health officer for Mason and Thurston Counties
W
e have seasonal influenza every winter, but the novel H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) is a new virus, so few people have immunity against it. I urge everyone to take extra steps to protect themselves from getting or spreading the flu. H1N1 influenza, like seasonal flu, is spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs on another person. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever of more than 101 degrees, severe body aches, a cough, and a sore throat lasting three to four days. Coughing and fatigue might last a week or two. Some individuals also might have headaches, vomiting, and diarrhea. The sudden high fever and cough are key. A person can start showing symptoms one to four days after being exposed to influenza. Sick people are contagious from the day before they have symptoms up to a week after – perhaps as long as three weeks in young children or people with immunity problems.
How to Keep From Getting the Flu
Training with the shot put is local physician and senior track athlete, Christopher Penoyar, D.O. He recently won a gold medal at the 2009 National Senior Games, and is planning to compete at the 2010 World Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships in the spring.
Who says age will prevent you from stay-
ing active? Not Christopher Penoyar, D.O. This board-certified family physician recently won a gold medal at the 2009 National Senior Games. He has practiced family and osteopathic medicine at his clinic in Shelton for 20 years. However, medicine isn’t the only thing he enjoys practicing these days. At 57, Dr. Penoyar also has fun practicing throwing events. Back in high school, he competed in the shot put on the track team. Then, just five years ago, he picked up the sport again. The following year he started throwing the discus, too. In 2005, torn tendons in both legs got in his way of competing in the 2005 and 2007 National Senior Championships, which only take place every other year. Still, he didn’t let this hurdle slow him down. All those years of training paid off this summer. In early August, Dr. Penoyar earned a gold medal at the 2009 Continued on page 6…
Influenza is spread from person to person. Coughing and sneezing releases thousands of droplets, exposing persons within 3 to 6 feet to the virus. The best protection is to avoid exposure. Examples of things you can do: 1. Avoid people who are ill. 2. Stay more than 3 feet away from someone who might be sick. 3. Wash your hands frequently. If you are at high risk of severe illness due to influenza, your healthcare provider can prescribe medicine that may prevent you from getting the flu after exposure. The best protection for those at risk for complications from influenza is for people who are around them to be vaccinated. Individuals most at risk for severe illness or possible death due to influenza are people with pre-existing chronic diseases such as those that affect the heart, lungs, liver or kidneys; people who are immune compromised; people with neuromuscular disease, diabetes, or asthma; and people who smoke, especially those younger than 50. Pregnant women and children younger than 5 also are at high risk.
If You Get the Flu
If you have influenza, stay home from work or school for at least 24 hours after your last fever. Always cover your coughs and sneezes. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Continued on page 2….
34% of Common Cancers Preventable If all Americans would agree to 1) eat a nutritious diet, 2) exercise, and 3) keep body fat under control, 34 percent of the most common cancers could be prevented, according to a report from the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Cancer Institute for Cancer Research. Those three lifestyle changes, according to the study, would prevent 38 percent of breast, 45 percent of colorectal, 36 percent of lung, 39 percent of pancreatic, 69 percent of esophageal, 63 percent of mouth and throat, 70 percent of endometrial, 25 percent of kidney, 21 percent of gallbladder, 15 percent of liver, and 11 percent of prostate cancers. The above figures refer to the effect on the population of the lifestyle changes and not an individual’s risk. [SOURCE: Miranda Hitti, “1 in 3 common cancers may be preventable,” WebMD Health News, February 26, 2009]