LilSugar

Are You Up to Date on All Your Shots? What You Need to Know

Leta Shy — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:20:01 PST

While February is the month when most people get the flu, hopefully you've already gotten your annual flu shot. But what about the rest of the lesser-known recommended vaccines for adults?

Recently I was surprised when during a routine appointment my doctor told me that because of a recent whooping cough outbreak I should get a Tdap shot, which also contains the booster doses for tetanus and diphtheria. I never think about nonflu vaccines very much, so I probably wouldn't have known that people my age needed one if she hadn't said anything.

I'm sure many of you are the same. In fact, adult vaccinations are so much lower than they should be that a recent CDC study found that most clinics don't even stock all the required vaccines for adults. But, actually, the CDC recommends that we get certain vaccinations long after we turn 18.

Want to know which vaccines you may need to get? Read on to see if you're up to date on your shots.

When Did You Get Your Last Tetanus Shot?

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:00:54 PDT

Do you remember getting a tetanus shot as a kid? They were so painful. When explaining why a tetanus shot is important, people always mention stepping on a rusty nail. Apparently rusty nails aren't the only things to worry about. Tetanus is a disease caused by bacteria that live in dust, animal waste, or soil. If you get a cut, burn, splinter, puncture, insect bite, or any other break in your skin, your wound can become infected with these bacteria. When the bacterial spores multiply in your body, they create a poison that affects your muscles and causes uncontrollable spasms. It can even affect your breathing and result in death. Yikes!

As a child, you most likely were vaccinated by the time you were 6 years old. Every 10 years after that you should get a booster shot. Since I'm sure many of you are walking around barefoot this Summer, I was wondering . . .

Walking Barefoot? Make Sure You've Had a Tetanus Shot

FitSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:00:24 PDT

Nothing beats walking barefoot in the grass - it's the definition of Summer. Most of the time your feet make contact soft, warm, clean grass and soil, but not all the time. A cut or puncture from some sharp object can be extremely painful, but contracting Tetanus from your wound is much worse. Getting pricked by a rusty nail, as most people think, isn't the only way to get this infectious disease. It's happens when a wound becomes infected by bacterial spores that live in soil, dust, and animal waste. That means insect bites, splinters, scrapes, burns, and yes, stepping on a rusty nail are all ways you can get tetanus. The disease causes severe, uncontrollable muscle spasms. The jaw can become locked by muscle spasms, causing this disease to sometimes be called lockjaw. In severe cases, the muscles used to breathe can spasm, causing lack of oxygen to the brain, which can lead to death.

Tetanus is easily prevented though, by arming yourself with a tetanus shot. After you receive the initial series of shots when you're a kid, an adult should get a tetanus shot every 10 years. Are you protected? If you can't remember how many years it's been since you've had this shot, call your doctor.

Five Facts About Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus

LilSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:00:14 PST

It is rare for a child to die of tetanus in the United States, but around the world one child dies every three minutes from the completely preventable illness. The painful death can be prevented with a vaccine that costs between just five and seven cents. Caryl M. Stern, the president and CEO of US Fund for UNICEF and mother of three has made it her mission to make the number of fatalities zero. As a mom, I also believe in zero. Do you? Check out this slideshow to learn five reasons why you should.

Source

Lil Links: Salma Hayek Is Helping Save Babies and Raising One

LilSugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:00:44 PST

Alpha Mom interviews Salma Hayek on her work with UNICEF (Part 1) - Alpha Mom
Alpha Mom talks to Salma about raising Valentina (Part 2) - Alpha Mom
Hugh Jackman's got a biker baby! - Celebrity Baby Blog
Maggie Gyllenhaal isn't a leave-them-in-their-cribs-to-cry type of mama - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Do you let your kids watch TV and play video games? - Cookie
Do you have a preconception checklist? - Fit Pregnancy
How Sarah Palin came up with her children's names - Parentdish
Pregnancy old wives' tales examined - Health
Should you tell your children about past drug use? - Momversation
Sex: All my husband wants for Valentine's Day - Cafe Mom

Would You Breastfeed a Sick Baby Like Salma Hayek Did?

LilSugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:00:08 PST

While on a UNICEF mission in Africa to raise awareness for tetanus in partnership with Pampers, actress and producer Salma Hayek showed a mother's compassion to an ailing one-week-old baby. The humanitarian nursed the hungry baby. Would you do the same?

Salma Hayek Breastfeeds Sick Baby on UNICEF Trip

LilSugar — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:00:33 PST

One child around the world dies every three minutes from a completely preventable illness - tetanus. A recent ABC news report followed actress and producer Salma Hayek to Africa on a UNICEF mission to raise awareness for tetanus in partnership with Pampers. Salma stood bedside with a young mother as her seven-day-old daughter, Fatima, took her last breath. Had the woman be given a vaccine that costs just seven cents while pregnant, the newborn's life would have been spared.

At another clinic, Salma was so moved by a sick one-week-old born on the same date as her own daughter, Valentina, 1, that she picked up the hungry child and nursed him.

Mommy Bloggers and UNICEF Unite to Wipe Out Tetanus

LilSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:00:46 PDT

As mothers, it is our instinct to help those we see in harm's way - the fallen child on the playground, the lost lil one in the supermarket or the tot running toward traffic, but it's hard to assist those that we do not see, people who struggle just to survive. At the Pampers Mommy Blogger Event earlier this month, I had the great pleasure of meeting Caryl Stern, the President and CEO of the US Fund for UNICEF. She is both an inspiring woman and a mother of three who is committed to wiping out tetanus, which killed 140,000 babies and 30,000 mothers last year. These deaths are preventable with a vaccine that costs five cents.

Pampers has partnered with UNICEF on this cause and allowed us to screen an internal video they made for their employees. After watching this footage of Bryan McCleary (director of external relations for P&G baby care) in Angola, there was not a dry eye in the room or a blogger who wasn't committed to making a difference. We asked that Pampers release this video so we could share it with our readers and inspire them to join the movement to help fellow mothers and babies around the world. Please be warned that there is an image of a baby who contracted tetanus in the tape.
To find out how you can contribute to wiping out tetanus,

When Did You Get Your Last Tetanus Shot?

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:30:00 PDT

As a child, you most likely were vaccinated by the time you were six years old. Every 10 years after that you should get a booster shot. Since I'm sure many of you are walking around barefoot this Summer, I was wondering . . .

Source

DrSugar Answers: How Often Am I Supposed to Go to the Gyno?

DrSugar — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:35:11 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's answering questions about the often dreaded annual gynecological exam.

Dear DrSugar,
I am confused about how frequently I am supposed to have a pap smear. I am 28 and mine have always been normal, and I am now married and monogamous. Should I have a pap every year or every other year? Do the recommendations change with age? If I don't need a pap smear should I still see a gynecologist for an annual exam? Thanks!
- Annually Confused

First of all, thank you for asking such a great question! I am inspired by your proactive approach to preventative care, of which pap smears and annual exams are very important - especially for young women! So let's review the guidelines for these preventative measures.