Our Commitment: The health ministry at Wye Parish is directed to the well being of the whole person; mind, body and spirit. The goal is to create a health ministry assisting members of the congregation and community in achieving the fullness of life promised in the Gospel of John 10:10. In ancient times, both the health and spiritual care of the Church community were managed by religious orders. As time went on, health care focus gradually shifted to the medical field and the church concentrated on spiritual healing. Today the idea of an association between medicine and the Church may seem an unlikely combination, but it is supported by scripture and tradition, which address the theological basis for a spirituality of wholeness. Several recent medical studies have demonstrated a positive effect of prayer on recovery from certain afflictions.
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. Do you know someone with an alcohol or drug problem? Perhaps Wye Parish can help that person. An Alcoholic Anonymous program is hosted by Wye Parish. This program is sometimes referred to as a 12-step group for persons responding to substance abuse. On Tuesday evenings the "You Are Not Alone" meeting begins at 8:30 p.m. at St. Luke's Parish House, Queenstown. The groups is open to anyone. Further information and contact persons are available by calling the parish office. "Keep coming back, it works!" Acorn which addresses drug rehabilitation meets at Old Wye on Thursdays at 8:30 p.m.
ADULTS, ARE YOUR IMMUNIZATIONS
UP-TO-DATE? As adults we often think of immunizations for the children, but
not for ourselves. Reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association,
December 5, 2007, Vol. 298, No. 21, p. 2477, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention reports the “Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule – United States,
October 2007-September 2008.” All recommendations must be reviewed with your
physician since there are exceptions for certain medical problems and previous
medical exposures. The recommendations are presented for age groups 19-49 years,
5-64 years and 65 or greater years.
Tetanus (lock jaw), diphtheria and pertussis (whopping cough): one dose
of tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years; all age groups.
Human Pappilomavirus (causally related to cervical cancer): all females
26 years and under.
Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles): all age groups if no
exposure to or experience with these infections in the past.
Varicella (chicken pox): all age groups if no experience with chicken
pox.
Influenza: all age groups, one dose annually.
Pneumococcal (polysaccharide): all age groups, number of doses varies.
Hepatitis A and B: all age groups.
Meningoccal (mengiococcal meningitis can be a fatal disease or result in
severe permanent complications, especially neurological damage): all age groups;
especially recommended for students living in college dormitories.
Herpes Zoster (shingles): all adults 65 years and older; some adults less
than 65 years.
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS PURCHASED ON THE WEB MAY BE EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), US consumers are often attracted to overseas pharmacies looking for a bargain. At least 45% of foreign drugs intercepted by the FDA are available in the USA as FDA-approved generic drugs, often available through national pharmacy chains that fill generic prescriptions for $4 each and considerably less expensive than through Internet pharmacies. The FDA, in foreign drugs, found safety problems including inadequate labeling, unsafe packaging or inappropriate doses. Keep in mind that the generic standard dose is +/- 20% of the brand name drug dose, so check with your physician before using a generic drug which, especially in children, could lead to over or under dosing in certain diseases. Complete lists of intercepted drugs with cost and safety issues can be accessed at www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01663.html. (JAMA, August 22-29, 2007, Vol. 208, No. 8, page 853.)
DOES IT HELP TO USE ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP TO STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS? A study published in "Clinical Infectious Diseases, " September 2007 examines the efficacy of antibacterial hand soap when compared with plain soap. Triclosan or triclocarbon (a common additive to antibacterial soaps purchased over the counter) containing soaps were compared with plain soaps in preventing infectious illnesses of cough, fever and diarrhea. In the 27 publications reviewed by this article, there was no difference in the types of bacteria left on the hands after washing with either type of soap. None of the cited studies tested antibacterial soaps for those at high risk of infection, e.g. in senior citizens or in those with abnormal immune systems, other types of hand sanitizers or products containing other antiseptics. The studies also did not evaluate the effect on illnesses produced by viruses which cause many cases of cough, fever and diarrhea. Excerpt from "The Washington Post, August 28, 20007."
THE COMMON COLD. Oh, That Nasty Winter Common Cold.
How did I get it and how do I avoid it? Common myths and falsehoods versus facts.
Exposure to cold weather and or going outside with wet hair caused my cold.
There is no evidence that exposure to inclement weather with or without wet hair increases the chance of being
infected with a virus that causes the common cold.
Recovery from a common cold produces immunity against recurrent infections
throughout the year. Adults develop about 4 and children develop about 8 colds
per year. As you reach adulthood you have developed immunity to the viruses to
which you have been exposed, thereby decreasing the number of infections you are
apt to acquire.
Being tired and run-down causes colds. Healthy people become infected with the
common cold viruses as frequently as those with problems with their immune
system.
That virus going around the office infected me. More likely you picked up the
infection at home. Most evidence suggests that the hands transmit cold viruses, so
touching your eyes or your nose is more likely the cause.
I kissed someone with a cold and that is how I became infected. The lining of
the mouth is resistant to the cold viruses, so unless you kissed and rubbed
noses, the kiss probably is not the culprit.
If researchers know so much, how do I prevent a common cold? Both adults and
children should be encouraged to wash hands frequently. If you sneeze, sneeze
into your sleeve or the crook of your elbow, not into your hands. If facilities
for washing hands are not available carry a virus-killing hand lotion which has been
shown to decrease the transmission of viruses.
As you suffer through your common cold
remember that it is caused by a virus and that viruses do not respond to
antibiotics. The good news is that you will recover in about 7 days with any
type of treatment and in about a week with no treatment. Also, keep in
mind there is an incubation period of 7-14 days from exposure until development
of symptoms and people can be contagious a few days before developing symptoms..
Helpful web sites: www.commoncold.org; www.familydoctor.org/073xml;
www.lungsusa.org; www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/community/know-and-do.htm;
www3.niad.nih.gov/healthscience/healthtopics/colds.
Abstracted from “The Washington Post” of 1/30/2007.
FATTY ACIDS. From Vol.3, No.4, Winter, 2005 edition
of "Council Connections," a publication of the American Heart Association,
pp.30-31 is an interesting article on trans fatty acids. Simply,
there are two types of fatty acids, cis (which are thought to be good for you,
if not taken in excess) and trans (which have been associated with an increased
risk of cardiovascular disease). The term cis refers to a component of the
fatty acid on the same side as another component and the term trans refers to a
component of the fatty acid on the opposite side of the same component.
Trans fatty acid intake results in increased bad cholesterol thus the
recommendation is made to decrease trans fatty acids as much as possible.
Trans fatty acids in the U.S. diet come from partially hydrogenated fats used
commercially for baked goods, snack foods, fried foods and stick margarine.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, sources of trans fatty acids are
as follows: cakes, cookies, crackers, pies, bread, etc. - 40%; animal products -
21%; margarine - 17% (note that butter has no trans fatty acids); fried
potatoes - 8%; potato chips, corn chips, popcorn - 5%; household
shortening - 4%; salad dressing - 3%; breakfast cereal - 1%; candy - 1%.
The contents of trans fatty acids for most packaged foods will be listed
beginning January, 2006. For cholesterol dietary management one must
consider the intake of the sum of total saturated fatty acids plus trans fatty
acids, keeping the latter as low as possible. Thus, another item of
concern when planning your menus. Bon appetite.