Airline Illness? Pets & Health.
Posted on November 2, 2013 by bob in NewsUCanUse
Can Airplane Air Make You Sick?
It’s a common assumption that an enclosed aircraft cabin with its recirculated air exposes passengers to cold viruses or other infectious agents expelled by sneezes or coughs. But research suggests air on a plane is generally not a cause for worry. More important is who sits near you.
Fresh air may sound cleaner, but 50% or more of recirculated air travels through high-efficiency filters that eliminate 97 to 99% of the bacteria, viruses, fungi and dust, with most of the air circulating side-to-side in sections of the plane, rather than the length of the cabin. This limits exposure to airborne particles.
A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that on flights from San Francisco to Denver, passengers in airplanes with recirculated air reported no more colds than passengers in planes using fresh air.
However, your proximity to someone with a cold or flu does seem to matter. The risk of becoming newly infected on board an airplane is most closely associated with sitting within two rows of an already infected person, during a flight of eight hours or more. The overall risk is similar to the risk in other confined spaces such as a bus, train or classroom.
You may not always be able to avoid being close to someone who’s coughing and sneezing, but good hygiene can help prevent infections. The most effective antidote is washing your hands before eating and not touching your nose, eyes or mouth during the flight. (Johns Hopkins Healthy Alert, Sept., 2013)
Risks of Daily Aspirin Therapy
Many people take a daily low-dose aspirin to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The benefit, however, may be modest at best in people without symptoms or a history of CVD, and long-term aspirin use carries a risk of side effects, especially gastrointestinal bleeding.
Researchers findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, determined that aspirin use was significantly associated with an increased risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding episodes. Those taking aspirin also had an increased risk of cerebral hemorrhaging (which can lead to a stroke). Researchers concluded the potential harm associated with aspirin use might well outweigh its benefit. Given the side effects associated with long-term aspirin use, discuss your risk for cardiovascular disease with your doctor before embarking on this preventive regimen. (Johns Hopkins Health Alert, Oct. 2013)
Pets and Your Health
Pet ownership, which can decrease loneliness and increase opportunities for socialization, exercise and outdoor activities, may translate into measurable perks. Among them:
Lower blood pressure. Pet owners tend to have lower blood pressure overall.
Increased physical activity. Dog walkers were less likely to be overweight or obese.
Better lipid profile. Dog owners tend to have lower total cholesterol and lower triglyceride levels and were less likely to smoke.
Reduced stress. Pet ownership was associated with better tolerance for, and faster recovery from, stressful situations (also seen in owners of other pets including birds, fish, goats, chimps and snakes).
Improved survival in people with cardiovascular disease. Pet owners, particularly people with dogs, enjoyed longer survival and decreased mortality than those without pets. The cardiovascular benefits of pet ownership for people with established cardiovascular disease seems mostly due to the benefits of exercise obtained from walking a dog. The American Heart Association cautions against pet adoption, rescue or purchase of a pet strictly for heart health. (John Hopkins Health Alert, Sept. 2013)
Calcium Supplements
In recent years, studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding whether calcium supplements used to prevent fractures increase the risk of heart attack. An assessment of the scientific literature by a U. of California, San Francisco researcher, in the New England Journal of Medicine, says patients and health care practitioners should focus on getting calcium from the diet, rather than supplements, when possible.
“Osteoporosis may result from inadequate calcium intake and it’s quite common for certain segments of our population, such as the elderly, to consume less than the recommend amount,” said Douglas C. Bauer, MD. “But a high calcium diet should be the preferred method to receive adequate amounts of the nutrient.”
Calcium supplement side effects include indigestion and minor constipation. Recent studies have offered contradictory results regarding whether calcium supplements can also lead to an increase risk of heart attacks.
