CDC says vaccine is safe

CDC says vaccine is safe
Arkansas is among 25 states which have placed their orders for swine flu vaccine and the first doses should start arriving Tuesday. The first 600-thousand doses will all be nasal spray. The vaccines are being made available earlier than anticipated, but the CDC is confident in their safety.

"Safety is a top priority for us and I want people to know is that no corners have been cut at all. The h1n1 vaccine is being produced exactly the same way that the seasonal flu vaccines are produced with exactly the same careful oversight,” says Anne Schuchat.

The CDC also reminds you to get your seasonal flu shot now.

Vinegar to help your blood sugar
Just a few drops of vinegar every day could help keep your blood sugar levels in check. A recent study found people with type two diabetes who took two tablets of cider vinegar before bed lowered their glucose levels the next morning by four-to-six percent. The main ingredient of cider vinegar is acetic acid, which appears to help the body process sugar. However, that acid could damage your teeth and throat tissue so be sure to dilute it with water.

Mental health drugs being prescribed by family doctors
More than half of all mental health drug prescriptions are written by family doctors not psychiatrists. This is important because research suggests that most people treated for depression are more likely to get better care in psychiatric settings than from a family doctor. The majority of drugs prescribed are mainly for treating ADHD or psychosis. The study also showed pediatricians write a quarter of all stimulant prescriptions.


Doctor on Call: Kidney stone prevention
John from Gurdon asks: “I have bouts with kidney stones. One time it was so intense I had to be rushed to the emergency room. What can I do to prevent them?"

Dr. Oksana Melnyk from Baptist Health Family Clinic says, “Doctors do not always know what causes a stone to form. While certain foods may promote stone formation in people who are susceptible, scientists do not believe that eating any specific food causes stones to form in people who are not susceptible. A person with a family history of kidney stones may be more likely to develop stones. Urinary tract infections, kidney disorders such as cystic kidney diseases, and certain metabolic disorders such as hyperparathyroidism, gout are also linked to stone formation.”