Epidemic Influenza And Vitamin D

Medical News Today ^ | 09/15/2006 | Dr. J. J. Cannell

[stylin19a]

The last pandemic, the Hong Kong flu, occurred in 1968 - killing 34,000 Americans. In 1918, the Great Flu Epidemic killed more than 500,000 Americans.

are these comparisons even valid against what might happen today ?

medicine in 1968 was better than 1918 and today it's better than 1968.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Interesting, worth the read.

[Orange1998]

No wonder those tanning salons are busy in the winter.

[ThePythonicCow]

Catastrophe science ain't science - it's politics.

Some of it is political nonsense, some of it is useful science.

Similarly, some conspiracy theories are well founded, and some political hokum.

Similarly, some stories in the New York Times are legitimate reporting, and some communist propaganda.

... and besides ... there are two things on this thread: (1) predictions of a future influenza pandemic, which I'd guess is what you're disparaging, and (2) medical analysis of the affects of Vitamin D, which I'd guess more of the respondents to this thread are finding useful (more useful at least than your reaction <grin>.)

[Lancey Howard]

Really interesting. Thanks for posting.

FRegards,
LH

[ThePythonicCow]

medicine in 1968 was better than 1918 and today it's better than 1968.

Well, some better, some worse, and perhaps not a whole lot different in its ability to treat the flu.

[swmobuffalo]

“Catastrophe science ain’t science - it’s politics.”

so buy some Vitamin D and experiment for yourself.

[ThePythonicCow]

She's not going off the vitamins.

A proper vitamin and nutrition (avoid the overly refined carbs, fats and oils) regimen definitely helps mental clarity.

I had gotten off my vitamin regimen of many years (because my wife found the box of pills that I always had on the kitchen counter to be ugly ;). My mental clarity, as measured by how many hours a day I could productively write computer programs, my job, had declined dramatically.

I divorced the wife, got back the vitamins, and am feeling younger, healthier and more alert than I have in years. Numerous minor ailments have gone away. Though still doing not a lick of exercise or enforcing any "diet" to reduce caloric intake, my weight has dropped thirty pounds and my blood pressure has normalized.

Take good care of your mom.

[pankot]

My urologist recently found my low levels of Vitamin D were causing kidney stones. Hmm. What else might this cure?

[Razz Barry]

With this news tanning beds will become a tax deduction.

[Joya]

I remember seeing this article last year. Thanks for the reminder. I will now try to be more diligent about taking my VitD pills.

[lonestar]

I have my 91 YO mom on vit. C and CELL FOOD—also a mineral supplement.She has dementia but otherwise is healthy—no Rx meds. I’m adding D tomorrow. She gets no sun.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the ping.

[ThePythonicCow]

Dang - now I can't get the visual of your grandmother walking around nude out of my mind ... thanks a bunch <grin>.

[Razz Barry]

Well, let me help. Benjamin Franklin took air baths. He’d walk around, indoors, nude. Does that help?

[Running On Empty]

Ping

[ThePythonicCow]

Well, a yeah, that helps ... unfortunately ;).

[grey_whiskers]

Like, *PING*, dude!

Cheers!

[Think free or die]

Thank you for this posting. It's very thought provoking. I've already printed off a copy to send to my 87 year old Dad. He has survived a heart attack (June '06) and struggles a great deal with depression - especially in the winter months when sunlight is scarce. He's always spent a lot of time outdoors in the summer months, although less in recent years as he's become a bit unsteady on his feet. Adding Vitamin D to his diet might be very helpful, from the sound of it. Studying some of the scientific literature on it might well keep him busy through the winter too!

I think I'll give it a go as well - I'd love to get some relief from chronic headaches and maybe pick up a little mental energy in the winter.

[SatinDoll]

WOW! What an eye opener.

I can’t go out in the sun. My skin is very susceptible to sun damage. I used to get lots of colds and had influenza every year despite annual flu shots.

Three years ago I started supplementing with Vitamin D. I take about 1000 units daily. I’ve had fewer colds and only had the flu once, last year, and it wasn’t a serious case, just 24 hours of feeling like poop.

Since it won’t hurt I think I’ll up my dosage a bit.