Stress Relief from an Unlikely Source (NAPSA)—Throughout the Year, Millions of People Struggle with Stress
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Honor Dr. King By Serving On His Holiday (NAPSA)—The dream Dr. Mar- tin Luther King, Jr. had for a bet- ter future for all people continues Prevent Influenza. Get Vaccinated! to inspire new generations of (NAPSA)—As many as one in “Getting vaccinated each sea- Americans. five Americans is infected with son is important because the That is why Congress voted in influenza, a serious respiratory influenza viruses change every 1994 to transform the national hol- disease, every year. Now is the year,” said LJ Tan, PhD, Cochair iday in Dr. King’s honor—which in time to protect yourself and your of the National Influenza Vaccine 2007 takes place on January 15— family from this severe and Summit. “A new influenza vaccine into a day of community service. sometimes deadly illness. is made before each season to help “During his lifetime, Dr. King Vaccination is the best way to provide the best protection.” sought to forge the common ground prevent the spread of the About Influenza on which people from all walks of influenza virus each season. The Influenza symptoms can life could join together to address Centers for Disease Control and include fever (usually high), dry important social and community Prevention (CDC) urge anyone cough, headache, runny or stuffy issues,” said David Eisner, CEO of An effort is under way to trans- who wishes to reduce their risk nose, sore throat and muscle the Corporation for National and form the celebration of Dr. Martin for the flu to get vaccinated now. cinate every person meeting the aches. It also can cause extreme Community Service, the federal Luther King, Jr.’s birthday from a Influenza immunization is criteria for receiving influenza tiredness that may last days or agency that leads the national effort day off to a day on—a national especially important for people vaccination. This recommenda- weeks. to promote community service on day of service. 50 years of age and older, chil- tion is particularly important for Anyone can get the influenza King Day. “Dr. King believed that dren 6 months up to 5 years of health care workers and others in virus. It is spread from person to service to others was the great many other ways to become age, anyone with a chronic health close contact with persons at high person, mostly by coughing and equalizer, breaking down long- engaged.” condition (such as asthma or dia- risk for influenza complications. sneezing. People (including standing biases and barriers while Just as they have in years past, betes) and pregnant women. “Now is the time to make sure young children) can spread the helping to solve critical community hundreds of thousands of citizens Close contacts of these groups you and your loved ones are pro- virus to others before symptoms problems. He also recognized how across the country will spend the (like health care workers, par- tected against influenza and its appear and for many days after serving others can empower those King Holiday cleaning parks, ents, siblings, grandparents and serious complications, which can they begin. who decide to give of their time and painting classrooms, delivering babysitters) should also get include pneumonia,” said National Although vaccination is the talents.” meals to seniors, building play- influenza vaccination. Foundation for Infectious Diseases first line of defense against Said Eisner, “As Dr. King him- grounds, serving meals at home- Experts are predicting that (NFID) Medical Director Susan J. influenza, prescription antiviral self put it, ‘Everybody can be great less shelters and performing more than 100 million doses of Rehm, MD. “Getting immunized medications may be helpful in because everybody can serve.’ ” countless other acts of service. influenza vaccine will be avail- will help prevent missed work and preventing and controlling the Eisner noted that many of the Most service projects also include able this year—more than ever school days, as well as trips to the spread of influenza. Antivirals same problems that Dr. King con- time to reflect on Dr. King’s life before. Influenza normally does doctor or hospital caused by the can also be used for those who fronted—poverty, racial inequal- and teachings. not peak until February each influenza virus.” cannot receive influenza vaccine ity, generational despair—remain “Our goal is to transform the year, and vaccination is still ben- NFID recently did a survey of because of egg allergies. as significant challenges for our holiday from a day off to a day eficial even when the flu begins Americans and found that many For More Information nation, and that volunteering on—and in that way to foster a to be seen in your area. believe that by December it is too To learn more, talk to your often is one of the most effective greater sense of community and CDC recommends that anyone late to get vaccinated. This is health care professional or visit ways we have to overcome those caring,” Eisner said. “We encour- desiring to avoid influenza alarming because vaccination the NFID Web site, www.nfid.org, hurdles. age everyone to demonstrate their should get vaccinated. Influenza should continue throughout the CDC Web site, www.cdc.gov, or the “For example, an estimated 15 greatness on January 15, and vaccination still remains the best winter to help prevent spreading National Influenza Vaccine million youths from disadvan- throughout the year, and to experi- way to prevent influenza, and the illness among friends, family Summit Web site, www.Prevent taged circumstances are in need of ence the satisfaction that results health care providers should vac- and coworkers. Influenza.org. a caring adult in their lives,” Eis- from helping others.” ner said. “Deciding to become a King Day of Service is spon- mentor, and beginning your com- sored by the Corporation for mitment on the King Holiday, National and Community Service would be a great way to honor Dr. and The King Center. To learn King’s legacy. But there are so more, visit www.mlkday.gov. Stress Relief From An Unlikely Source (NAPSA)—Throughout the year, millions of people struggle with stress. But many of them have found Protecting Children With Quick Diagnosis a surprising way to tackle the prob- (NAPSA)—With cough and cold lem: video games. It may seem season back in swing, parents with unlikely, but it can happen, as long infants and small children should Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, as you keep it casual. be on the lookout for a common is the only moon in the solar sys- These are not your children’s virus that may lead to potentially tem known to have an atmos- games, which are more likely to serious complications—RSV (respi- increase adrenaline levels due to phere of any substance. ratory syncytial virus). Nearly half their frenetic, competitive nature of all children are infected during and “in-your-face” imagery. These Casual computer games like their first year of life, and almost are “casual” games: family- “Bejeweled” pictured above have all children get an RSV infection friendly word, puzzle and simple been shown to provide therapeu- *** tic stress relief. by the age of two. According to the Put love first. Entertain action games, such as “Bejeweled” American Academy of Pediatrics, thoughts that give life. And and “Talismania.” An August 2006 puter games can help people RSV is the leading cause of bron- when a thought or resentment, survey of casual game players develop new cellular brain connec- chiolitis and pneumonia among conducted by Information Solu- tions, thereby helping to keep the or hurt, or fear comes your way, children under two years old. tions Group found that fully 88 brain active and vital,” says Dr. have another thought that is RSV is a virus that causes acute percent of players derive stress Carl Arinoldo, a New York-based respiratory illness in patients of all more powerful—a thought that relief from playing such games. psychologist and author who spe- ages. While symptoms usually is love. Available for personal comput- cializes in stress management. resemble the common cold and are —Mary Manin Morrissey ers, cell phones, video iPods and “And by seriously attending to the fought off in a matter of days, cold- *** video game consoles, casual word and puzzle games, people like symptoms accompanied by games are now played regularly can control stress by cognitively wheezing or difficulty breathing by over 150 million consumers— ‘blocking out’ the negative stresses may be indicative of RSV. Among A new diagnostic test for RSV more than 65 percent of whom of the day.” those at greatest risk from RSV can help children get proper are women and more than two- Take Gail Nichols, a 40-some- are babies born prematurely, as medical attention, quickly, in the thirds are 35 or older. These thing full-time mother and part- well as children with lung or heart same office visit. games are suitable for all ages, time service dog trainer from St. disease. Infants that attend child nize the benefits of utilizing rapid are inexpensive (usually $20 or Marys, Kan., who suffers from care or day care, and those with RSV tests to aid clinical diagnosis less) and can be loaded directly early onset Alzheimer’s and occa- school-age siblings also have an and management of patient care. onto a computer or mobile device sional bouts of severe depression. increased risk for RSV infections. The new QuickVue RSV test allows in a couple of minutes. “For me, playing games like RSV is highly contagious. It can for the rapid, qualitative detection Some games, such as “Bejew- ‘Bejeweled’ is very relaxing, since be spread when a person coughs or of RSV directly from specimens eled 2” and “Chuzzle,” actually there’s no competition or worry sneezes, and it can live on surfaces from symptomatic pediatric The jaguar symbolized include a “Zen Mode” in which the about points.