As the number of cases of COVID continues to surge, the other winter respiratory infections are at historic lows. Clinical labs in the United States testing more than 20,000 nasal swabs for influenza found that only 40, just .2% came back positive. Last year at this time, 11% of the…
A poll taken by the New York City Board of Health found that half of the older residents in central Brooklyn believe that the flu vaccine actually causes rather than prevents the flu. As a result, fewer than 40% of Brooklyn residents over age 65 have lined up for the…
Each winter I get calls from my patients who have developed a bad cold on vacation. Now a study presented in San Fransisco reported on the presence of living cold viruses in hotel rooms. Volunteers with active colds stayed overnight in a clean hotel room. The next morning, researchers found…
An intriguing study out of Holland suggested that cholesterol-lowering statins may decrease the complications of influenza. Researchers found that people who took statins had 30% less pneumonia and more than a 50% decrease in deaths from all causes. These benefits were apparent in all people on statins irrespective of age,…
One of the most difficult conversations I can have with my patients is the role of their pets in their asthma and allergies. Cherished dogs and cats are truly part of the family and the need to place them out of the home for health reasons is emotionally painful. Now…
In a study from Veterans Affairs, men who are chronically angry were found to have reduced lung function. Hostile men had lower lung function at the start of the study and continued to lose lung function at a faster rate as time went by. Just why anger and hostility affect…
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends against the use of two well-known anti-viral agents for treatment or prevention of the flu this year. Doctors report widespread viral resistance to amantadine and rimantadine. The two newer antivirals, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are still effective and recommended to prevent…