Thoughts of the Moment

People-wise, I used to think overcrowded places are not good.  I have lived and walked in places where I rubbed shoulders with others...  When I went out to buy things, I can't even seem to move forward.  I exerted a lot of energy and ounces of sweat to do certain things.  That was then...

Now, I live in a very spacious county.  I have come to think that human indeed is gregarious in nature.  We need socialization to get by.  Yet with over-abundance of acquaintance, one may not notice it.  One may feel annoyed with the presence of another person.  At this point, I realized that more people is better than few.  In a place where I live, considering the population, I wish I got the power to do things.  I wish to bring in a lot of people - people who has nowhere to go, no place to call home, much more,  no means to make one.  This place needs people to tend acres of land.

What a contradicting balance! In other parts of the globe, some cities and nations struggle with over-population and simply over-crowding.  In this place though, some neighborhood is a mile or half away.  Without a company, many suffer depression.  In crowded places, depression is an unlikely disorder to have.  How can one have it, when it can be remedied by ever-constant gossiping with neighbors?   For sufferers, depression can be remedied by going to psychiatrist and undergoing treatment.  This means shelling out hard-earned money.

I can not help to reminisce my past journey.  I used to be very annoyed with traffic, smell of my seatmate, fast-paced life of big cities and a lot more.  But then, these things only affirmed the fact that there are people everywhere and  I need to cope up.  I used to feel the challenging urge of the situation.  I think I can do something. 

I believe big cities are good training ground for harnessing one's ability and attitude. The presence of a healthy competition will make people do their best.  Of course, if there is good, there would always be bad effects.  Big cities attracts all sorts of personalities.  It is always on the go.  One may long for peace and serenity once in a while.  But if still able, it is best to keep up with the dealings of this worldly world.  When one retires, it is the time when one can live in tranquility if he so desired.

Should I Get A Flu Shot?

Retrospect

Less than a century ago, many people around the world had died of influenza (simply called as Flu) caused by Spanish Influenza Virus. Flu is a contagious disease caused by influenza virus and spread through sneezing, coughing, or nasal secretions.  When Influenza Virus afflicted many people in Mexico last year, neighbouring countries and those affected

had been on alert.  This kind of Flu has never been ordinary.  It caused a high rate of mortality for people in all ages.  With such virulence, the virus which caused the illness was identified in quite a short time.  Not short enough though for those who had met his demise. 

The strain was identified as H1N1 also known as Swine Flu Virus.   The name was given due to similarity of the viral genes that afflict swine or pigs.  There were few cases of swine flu here in Kansas, but other states had more.  Health authorities of the country had recognized the presence of an epidemic and tried to work fast and hard to create a vaccine against it.

Getting to know Flu Vaccine

Flu vaccines at present are usually grown from fertilized chicken eggs.  Some people are allergic to eggs, as such other sources for vaccine growth are being explored and tried.  The current (2010-2011) vaccine has 3 strains present – A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and Influenza B. 

There are two types of vaccines available for use.  One is used as a nasal spray, while the other is given through shots.  Nasal Spray makes use of live, weakened influenza virus.  It is sprayed into the nostrils.  Since it is live, the body tends to produce more antibodies (a protective mechanism of the body against flu or other infecting agents), thereby making it primed and ready for the flu virus whenever it will attack the body.  It is recommended for healthy people from 2 years old up to 49 years of age, not pregnant and without serious health problems. 

The other is commonly known as Flu Shot, which is made up of inactivated or killed influenza virus. Since it made used of a killed virus, the body has little chance of getting infected.  However, it is contraindicated for people suffering from Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Getting these vaccines does not necessarily mean a person will not get sick of influenza.  Scientists have long found out that viruses mutate all the time.  Flu virus is considered to be rapidly changing.  This is the main reason why it is given to people each year.  Every year, the strain of influenza virus varies from one country to another.  As such, strains present in the vaccine differ too depending upon the virus present in that place.

For an easy understanding of the mechanism of Flu vaccine, try to consider a door lock.   Flu vaccine works like lock and key.  There is only one set of keys for each lock.  It is quite specific.  The body after 2 weeks of vaccination produce antibodies that prevent the person from suffering flu.  But then, these antibodies are specific to the exact strain present in the vaccine.  Given that there are many strains of influenza virus, these vaccines could not totally prevent the onslaught of illness.  However, scientists claimed that it still could lessen the effect of other flu causing viruses.   It is recommended by health authorities worldwide most especially to elderly and children more than 6 months.

Side Effects

According to CDC website, side-effects for Nasal Spray Vaccine include: runny nose or nasal congestion, headache and muscle ache, fever, wheezing, cough, chills, tiredness/weakness, sore throat, abdominal pain or occasional vomiting or diarrhoea.  Flu Shot side-effects include: puncture site soreness, redness or swelling, hoarseness, sore, red or itchy eyes, cough, fever, aches and in a very rare case, life-threatening allergic reaction.

Controversy

In order to keep the vaccine sterile, a mercury-based preservative called thimerosal, has been widely used since 1930s.  Mercury is considered toxic in large doses and had been studied and linked to various conditions such as autism, seizures, mental retardation, hyperactivity, dyslexia, etc. A famous TV personality had once come out in a popular show to speak against vaccine.  She claimed that the thimerosal in the vaccine had caused her son to be autistic. 

Well, multitude of studies had never affirmed the linked of mercury much more trace amount of it to autisms.  Today though, thimerosal is not extensively used as before in vaccines. Even so, recent researches on thimerosal had not yield deleterious effects.  It does not pose a serious threat to the health status of a person.  It is wise to remember that most of our teeth fillings used to be made of mercury-based amalgam, yet many of those who had amalgam tooth filling lived up to old age.   As for children, vaccines have proven to be useful since the dawn of plague.  Consider polio.  If not for the use of vaccines, many babies and children would have died like what happened long ago.  If there is any way we can prevent a disease to occur, why put our health much more our life at risk? 

Lastly, the big question, “Should I get a Flu Shot?”  Only the owner of the body can decide.  Just take heed that Prevention has always been better than Cure.

 

Youths Our Hope

In today’s epoch of global industrialization, it is a must to be equipped with knowledge and skills to survive and to live a comfortable life.

The world today is ruled by literate people and the trend of enrichment upon one’s social status is mostly attained by intelligence and hard-work.  People can see the proof of man’s desire to create something more.  Look round!  There are skyscrapers everywhere.

Along with the advancement in civilization is the increase of the crime rates in each nation.  It certainly does not bid a good environment for our young generation.  These innocent creatures are simply unsophisticated to understand and to differentiate between good and evil.

Young generation has no experience of harsh realities of life.  As such, it is important that they should be educated and be given enough attention particularly those who are impoverished.

Let’s give emphasis on the development of our children.  Let our society as a whole provides a conducive place for developing good citizens of the country.  Let education reach all children and the opportunity to lead a good life.  Let’s work hard so that it will not be disillusionment for parents who wanted to give a bright future for their children despite the pitiful circumstance some people exist.

For a nation to become successful, to grow in power and to reach its desired goals, investing and capitalizing in the young minds of today’s children is a great tool to achieve this ends.  The youth of today will certainly be the front runners of the future.

What should become a society run by child abuse and unhealthy surroundings for the future inhabitants of our land?  Surely, all bad things will sow seeds of hatred and contempt upon the youth and this could be a straight way to creating a society run by anarchy.  Chaos will rule.  No one will care upon another.

We do not want these things to happen.  We want something more – something productive and one that can be proud of.  Let’s join hands in the taking care of our children.  Let’s give them the chance to exercise their rights and make sure that they deserve it.  This world evolves fast.   We will never notice the passage of time.  After quite awhile, we may not be around to see and oversee the next generation.  What is important though, is that, we made our legacy. After all, the youths are the hope of the future.