By Roy M. Arnold MD

It’s Fall again! As the days become cooler and the leaves begin to turn, it’s important to remember that now is the time to receive your annual flu shot, so that your body will have developed immunity by the time flu season arrives in December.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all persons over age 6 months receive an annual flu immunization. This immunization protects against the most likely strains of flu expected for this year’s season. While any number of arguments against taking the flu vaccine can be raised, the facts are straightforward: Flu vaccine prevents illness, decreases the chance of hospitalization and even death from influenza. This article will attempt to answer most of the questions people might have about flu vaccine.

I’m Healthy. Why do I need a flu shot? Influenza (flu) is a contagious disease which affects the lungs and can lead to serious illness, including pneumonia. Even healthy people can get sick enough to miss work or school for a significant amount of time or even be hospitalized. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. Pregnant women, young children, older people, and people with certain chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes and heart disease are at increased risk of serious flu-related complications, so getting a yearly flu vaccine is especially important for them.

Is the vaccine safe? Yes. The flu vaccine is safe. They have been given to hundreds of millions of people for more than 50 years and have a very good safety track record.

Will the flu vaccine give me the flu? No. The flu vaccine cannot cause flu illness; however, it can cause mild side effects that may be mistaken for flu. For example, people vaccinated with the flu shot may feel achy and may have a sore arm where the shot was given. People vaccinated with the nasal spray flu vaccine may have a stuffy nose and sore throat. These side effects are NOT the flu. If experienced at all, these effects are usually mild and last only 1-2 days.

If I get the flu, won’t I recover quickly? Not necessarily. Influenza can be serious and anyone can become sick with flu and experience serious complications. But even if you bounce back quickly, others around you might not be so lucky. Older people, young children, pregnant women and people with medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease and lung disease are at especially high risk from the flu. Kids, teens and adults who are active and healthy also can get very sick from flu and spread it to others. Some people can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, you can still spread the virus to others. Don’t be the one spreading flu to those you care about.

Can’t I wait and get vaccinated when/if flu hits my community? It is best to get vaccinated before flu begins to spread. It takes about two weeks for the flu vaccine to provide full protection, so the sooner you get vaccinated, the more likely it is that you will be fully protected once flu begins to circulate in your community.

Why do I need a shot every year? Two reasons:

a) The first reason is that because flu viruses are constantly changing, flu vaccines may be updated from one season to the next to protect against the viruses research indicates may be most common during the upcoming flu season.

b) The second reason that annual vaccination is recommended is that a person’s immune protection from the vaccine declines over time. Annual vaccination is needed for optimal protection.

Does it work 100%? No, but it certainly minimizes your chances of getting sick from the most likely strains of flu expected to hit during the season. Other respiratory viruses for which there are no vaccines may also be circulating and you might catch one of those.

Besides getting a flu shot, there are a few things you can do to avoid getting sick during respiratory disease season. First – hand washing or sanitizers. Anytime you touch inanimate objects, they might contain flu virus particles that could be spread to you. Second – avoid close contact with persons who appear to have a cold or cough. If you are sick, stay home and avoid exposing the public or your co-workers.

Finally, eat a healthy diet and keep in shape during flu season. It will boost your immune system. Flu vaccine may be obtained from your primary healthcare provider, or at many pharmacies. Insurance covers flu vaccines in most cases. No more excuses – get your flu shot!

The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation’s Early College High School is hosting an Open House for current eighth graders and their families on Monday, October 14, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Ivy Tech Community College in Room 107.

Early College is program that allows high school students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and an associate’s degree or up to 60 hours toward a bachelor’s degree. New for 2014 Early College will be expanding its program to include Career and Technical Education (CTE) Early College Pathways.   Early College is in partnership with Ivy Tech, University of Evansville, and the Southern Indiana Career and Technical Center.  For more information or an application please visit:www.evscschools.com/earlycollege  More information on Early College High School can be found at www.evscschools.com/earlycollege.

Three weeks after a life changing operation, Charlie and Mitch are both on the mend. Charlie says his biggest side effect following surgery is fatigue. Mitch, who has a 12-inch incision on the right side of his body, says walking is still tough but overall he is feeling better each day.

Just three weeks ago, the two men were in quite a different situation. Dressed in hospital gowns and fasting after a delicious steak dinner, Charlie and Mitch were on their way to surgery. As the donor, Charlie went first. The surgeons at IU Health University Hospital’s Transplant Center, used laparoscopic methods to detach Charlie’s kidney. Next, they made a small incision across his abdomen to allow for removal of the kidney. While this was taking place, Mitch was in the adjoining surgery suite. His surgeons made a 12 inch incision to accommodate the new kidney. In a highly rehearsed and synchronized process, surgeons took Charlie’s kidney out of his body, walked it through the shared surgical suite door, and placed it in Mitch’s body. Transplant complete.

Although the surgery was a success, Charlie and Mitch still had several obstacles to overcome. First, they had to recover from surgery – pain management, the fog of anesthesia, and routine exercises to prevent pneumonia and blood clots. Second, their bodies had to learn how to function with only one kidney. This part was easier for Charlie since his other kidney was still perfectly intact. Mitch, as the organ recipient, was placed on anti-rejection medication, given large amounts of IV fluids to stimulate the new kidney, and closely monitored for any sign of infection.

The pair recovered in their own hospital rooms and both admit to not remembering much about the hours following surgery. Charlie says the reality of what they had done didn’t hit until a couple of days later. “Once I got to hear from Mitch and knew he was doing well, that was the moment that it really hit. We did this. We’re going to have a good outcome,” he said.  Charlie added that it wasn’t until the car ride home from the hospital that his emotions overwhelmed him. He had just saved a man’s life by giving him a kidney. His selfless action would give a father more time with his children and a husband more time with his wife.

Although Charlie was discharged from the hospital three days after surgery, Mitch stayed at IU for an additional two days. Before he could go home, the doctors needed to see proof that Mitch’s new kidney was working and that his anti-rejection medication was adjusted to the proper level. Eight liters of urine output by the second day and a satisfactory creatinine* level allowed Mitch to get his discharge orders and head back home.

What Happens Next?
Both Mitch and Charlie will continue to recover for a few more weeks. Charlie hopes to be medically cleared by his surgeon on October 10th and return to work soon thereafter. Mitch has another four to eight weeks of monitored visits with the IU Transplant Center. After that, he can check-in regularly with Deaconess Clinic to monitor his kidney function. For him, the first six months following the transplant are the most critical.

While the men took center stage throughout this saga, behind the scenes their wives and children were also building strong bonds. The two families have visited a few times since returning home. The kids enjoy playing together and the parents are making plans to attend a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game next season.

Local reporter, Erin Meyer, remarked that while most organ recipients never meet their donors, Mitch gets to visit with his on a regular basis. This unexpected relationship may be the most amazing thing about this story. Thanks to the selflessness and compassion of one man, two families have been forever joined through the most precious gift of life.

*According to the Mayo Clinic, creatinine is a chemical waste product produced by muscle metabolism. Healthy kidneys filter creatinine and other waste products from the blood. The filtered waste leaves the body through urine. Increased creatinine levels in the blood can indicate kidney failure.

(HealthDay News) — Genetics do not play a major role in determining whether people are right- or left-handed, a new study says.

About 10 percent of people worldwide are left-handed, but the reasons why people favor one hand over the other remain unclear.

In an effort to learn more, researchers conducted genetic analyses of nearly 4,000 twins in the United Kingdom, but were unable to find a strong genetic factor in determining handedness.

The study was published recently in the journal Heredity.

Even though they didn’t find a strong genetic influence on handedness, the researchers noted that it is widely believed that handedness is not just the result of choice or learning. Therefore, it’s likely that genetic factors play at least a minor role in determining handedness.

Another recent study, published in the journal PLoS Genetics, has found that genetics do play a part in handedness, along with environment.

“It is likely that there are many relatively weak genetic factors in handedness, rather than any strong factors, and much bigger studies than our own will be needed to identify such genes unambiguously,” John Armour of the University of Nottingham, co-author of the latest study, said in a university news release.

“As a consequence, even if these genes are identified in the future, it is very unlikely that handedness could be usefully predicted by analysis of human DNA,” he added.

More information

The Nemours Foundation has more about being left-handed.

Indiana Court of Appeals to Hear Oral Arguments at Shepard Academy
Monday, October 7
1:30 p.m.

Randall T. Shepard Academy for Law & Social Justice, Harrison High School, 211 Fielding Rd.

Presenting oral arguments before the Indiana Court of Appeals is usually something seasoned lawyers do, but students enrolled in the EVSC’s Randall T. Shepard Academy for Law and Social Justice will have the opportunity Monday to present oral arguments before the judges as they visit the school. Students will have the opportunity to eat lunch with the judges around 12:30 and then oral arguments will begin around 1:30 p.m.

Media interested in covering the event, must receive permission prior to the event from the Indiana Court of Appeals. Please fax your request to Court Administrator Steve Lancaster, 317-233-4627. In addition, there are some regulations that must be followed:

• All cameras must be tripod-mounted and the operators must remain in place throughout the hearing.
• Camera movement is limited to the judges and the arguing attorneys. No audience shots allowed.
• No flash, strobes or other distracting lights or sounds.
• Cameras and tape recorders cannot be used during the Q/A period that follows oral argument.
• Print journalists don’t have to ask the court’s permission to cover the argument, but the Q/A session is off limits.