In the news
The resurgence of tuberculosis. Should we worry?
During the 19th century tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of death throughout the world. Three of my own grandparents died of the disease and the fourth undoubtedly had it, as did many, if not most of the population of that era.
Although the bacterium responsible for TB can invade any part of the body, it usually affects the lungs, producing a chronic cough that allows it to spread continually to others, especially in crowded conditions. In healthy persons who become infected, only 5-10% will develop actual disease. Most infected persons recover naturally but the organism commonly finds sanctuary in the lungs, staying viable, and breaking free when the host’s immune system falters because of age, poor nutrition, HIV infection, chemotherapy or a variety of other factors.
Tuberculosis is a disease of the poor, as evidenced by the huge number of cases in Africa and Asia. Fewer than 20,000 cases occur annually in the United States and the majority of these victims were born outside of this country. Now that the COVID pandemic has subsided TB has regained its place as the leading infectious cause of death worldwide.
Why are so many health authorities concerned? A major source of anxiety is the fact that in developing countries the uncontrolled use of anti-tuberculosis drugs has led to strains that are resistant to nearly all currently available antibiotics. Millions of persons cross our borders each year as visitors, students, documented workers and those who arrive without permission, most of whom come from countries where tuberculosis is present in at least a quarter of the population.
Persons born in this country are at low risk of infection and even lower risk of illness. The classic hallmarks of the disease are persistent cough, fever, nightsweats, weight loss and bloody sputum. Disease can occur with milder symptoms, and all persons who work in the healthcare field, or with children or the elderly, should receive a tuberculosis skin test every year.
Lifestyle
Cold season is here. Do supplements help you to avoid them or shorten them?
It’s likely that you will endure one or two colds this winter. For those of you who are old enough to be on Medicare it should be a little consolation that your decades of encounters with a variety of cold viruses have left you with some degree of immunity, and if we take steps to maintain our immune system and overall health, we are far less likely to experience as many colds as our grand- and great-grandchildren.
There are many supplements that have been touted over the years as cold preventatives or modifiers, including vitamin C, elderberry, zinc, garlic, echinacea, etc. That there are so many should be a clue that there is no magic bullet among them. Many studies have been poorly done but their “results” have found enthusiastic audiences notwithstanding. On the other hand, some quality studies have found value from certain supplements but none has been very significant. Shortening cold symptoms for half a day may be statistically accurate but practically useless. On the other hand real benefit has been found when persons are deficient in the supplement in question, e.g. zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D.
The best cold preventative is a healthy diet, rich in antioxidants, plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and omega-3 fish oil.
And a little red wine, of course.
