The hype about flu shots

So, I started this about a month ago...a few days late, and a few bucks short, here is my February Rant

It is that time of year again, when we are all couped up indoors and sniffleing and snotting all over each other. There has been a lot of chatter about flu shots, and what they do for you during this wonderful time of the year. Here is my insight:

I am not sure how many folks out there are "deficient" in the flu virus, but I am pretty certain that we all have the little critters all over us at any given point in time. It seems as though many people are excited to add the little virus to themselves via a vaccine. Why aren't we sick all the time? Most of the time, our bodies have the ability to cope with a little flu bug. There are common misnomers that people get sick from being outside while it is cold, or they get sick because they are around others when they are sick...well, that is just not the case. I can attest to doing 6 hour bike rides in temps less than 20 degrees out on the road on a windy day and remaining completely healthy (Micah can back me up on this one). The problem is not what we are surrounded by, but rather what we surround ourselves by. If you eat junk, sit on the couch, feel sorry for yourself all the time, and put yourself in the situations listed above then you will probably get sick (among many other things). Poor diets, lack of exercise, high stress lives, and a chemical-based environment all lead to immunosuppression. When our immune systems are depressed and we are then exposed to the "bad little bugs", then we have a higher chance of becoming sick. So, don't be suprised if you don't take care of yourself, then go get a flu shot to take care of the flu for the year, if you get sick...because you are still exposing yourself to harsh conditions.

Maybe you don't understand what is in a flu vaccine...the intramuscular injection hosts an inactivated (aka dead) virus strain, you will also find a plethora of heavy metals. Of these, mercury seems to be the most popular with the press; mercury has been dubbed as a potent neurotoxin, which has been linked to many cases of autism (not to mention ADD/ADHD). There is another treatment; this time with a "weak" virus (live attenuated) strain that is inhaled through the nostrils...yummy! Are dead viruses injected into our bodies better for us than live viruses outside our bodies??? At least the live viruses have to fight to get in; the dead ones (who still release toxic burdens to our bodies...ever been sick after a flu shot?) have a "Get out of Jail Free Card, pass GO and collect your 200 bones!)

What ever happened to the good old chicken pox parties? The Simpsons even did an episode on the subject. Oh yeah, they came up with a vaccine for that too. This article shows just how much control our government has over our health...or illness. It is a shame the CDC and FDA do not implement more wellness/prevention programs. Some of you may say that vaccines offer prevention; I couldn't agree more when considering nursing home residents. They do not have a chance with the conditions in which they live. Dormant, close harbored, and sickly conditions (not to mention awful food, lack of exercise, and poor sleep) is enough to give even the healthiest person a little fever. BTW, fevers are bad?!? Wrong, this is your body's first aggressive line of defense against invaders. So, why do we take fever reducers when we have a little bit of a temp? I couldn't even begin to tell you. Another example: last February, I got hit hard with something nasty (evidently, chiropractic school is a lot like a nursing home; you stick a bunch of people together for a long period of time, stress their immune systems to the max and you get sick). So, 104 degree temp for a two days...102-103 for another and then back to normal. No fever reducers, no cold medicines (which wouldn't have helped anyway); just a ton of rest, a lot of water, a little elderberry, and a lot of love from my wife (and my pets). Thankfully my sickness began on a Friday, school was canceled for snow on Monday, and I was recovered by Tuesday. Now, I realize that I had an ideal situation to recover, and not everyone has the ability to take 4 days of bed rest...however, 90% of the time taking the common cold or flu medicines wouldn't have you back in the ring any sooner. Sorry, off my tangent.

Moral of the story: eat well, sleep well, live well = being well (most of the time). Consider your lifestyle as a preventative, rather than an injection or inhalant. Each day you are exposed to "bad bugs", your body builds up a little larger immune barrier towards them (so long as you are not immunosuppresed to begin with).

Rant is off: sorry, back to life. I have been studying my a$$ off for boards which are coming to kick me in the nutz on Saturday and Sunday the 15th and 16th of March. I am not sure I have ever studied so much in my life (aside from Biochem part duex). I feel like I have been ran over by a really big truck, followed by some little kid riding up and doing a bunny hop and landing right on my head. Good news: it will all be over @ this time next week (it is March 9th, contrary to my post heading).

Other things are well; K loves her new job and her new car (which I still need to put pics up of). We have began a new project: a spiffy bathroom rehab for both the upstairs and down stairs is on the horizon. Parker may be getting a new playmate soon. We should find out in a few days if we were chosen for an adoption/rescue.

I am really excited about the weather making a turn around. I hope it dries up soon, so I can go mountain biking. I have really been craving some saddle time; I have been running and getting my core work on, but I am hankerin' for some bicycle practice. Lots of other stuff has happened too, but it is not like I am any good at filling people in anyway.

Until next season

-the Colonel