Posts Tagged ‘Antibodies’

Pros and Cons of a Herpes Blood Test

Comments: 0December 21st, 2010 by admin



A new herpes blood test has just come onto the market and is the center of much controversy. The most accurate method of determining if you have herpes or not is by doing a direct swab from an open sore, be it oral or genital. This will tell you if you have Type One or Type Two herpes. However, the herpes blood test cannot determine accurately between the two types.

The herpes blood test actually tests for antibodies, which your body should have created when it first recognized the disease. While this tells you that you have been infected with the herpes simplex virus in the past, it will not be able to tell you how long you have been infected. The herpes blood test doesn’t detect if the virus is in your body, either, only the antibodies, so it can’t be used to tell you what type you have or where it is.

While you may be experiencing symptoms that seem to be herpes-related, this doesn’t mean that you have the virus. The herpes blood test cannot tell you if your symptoms are being caused by herpes or something else. The best way is to swap a sore to see if what you are experiencing is caused by HPV. If so, then you can begin treatment.

So, what good is a herpes blood test? Well, it gives the doctor a better idea of whether or not herpes is a possibility to consider. If no antibodies are detected, chances are that you don’t have it. However, some people can be carriers and not realize it, having never experienced an outbreak or anything else and the herpes blood test can let them know that there is a very good possibility that they are infected and may be passing the infection on to others.

There are actually specific herpes blood tests for Type One or Type Two herpes that will tell you if you have had problems with these types of the virus in the past. The blood tests are more accurate than a general herpes blood test and will be administered if the doctor has reason to believe that you are suffering from one particular type of herpes, genital or oral.

The herpes blood tests available are still not up to par with the actual swab test. However, if you aren’t sure about whether or not you have been exposed, they can be useful in determining this. Herpes blood tests are also very useful in that they can determine if you are a potential carrier of the disease.

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The Fastest Cancer Killer

Comments: 0May 19th, 2010 by admin



“Multiple Myeloma” is a Cancer in the bone marrow. It is part of a broad group of diseases called Hematological malignancies. It is a malignancy of the plasma cells. These are the cells that bring out antibodies for the immune system.

It’s called “Multiple Myeloma” because the cells gather in many places in the body and then it grows out of control. “MM” brings extreme pain in the bones and deterioration of the bones. It brings pain in the spine and ribs which usually gets worse with activity. Plus it can and it does cause kidney problems. Persistent localized pain may indicate a pathological bone fracture. It may also be spinal cord compression. The breakdown of bone also leads to release of calcium into the blood, leading to” Hypercalcemia”.

It increases infection, what is then followed by Death! 40,000 Americans suffer from this disease, with close to 14,000 new cases last year. It’s the fastest growing type of cancer, in the USA. It’s most common in the aged person, and gaining in the younger persons. There is NO cure, not yet. Though it is regarded as incurable, remissions can be induced with steroids. Chemo therapy, Stem Cell transplants, and Thalidomide.

“Multiple Myeloma” is not called a “Bone Cancer,” because it begins in the blood cells, and then goes on to effect the bones.

There is no exact known cause, but it does appear to have something to do with the overall environment. Studies are of course ongoing today with the this kind of Cancer. This is known as the Fastest Killer!

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Herpes and Pregnancy – How to Safeguard Your Unborn Baby

Comments: 0January 27th, 2010 by admin



Herpes and pregnancy can occur at the same time. In fact 20% to 25% of pregnant women worldwide have genital herpes – some are active and some are asymptomatic.

Although the mothers-to-be are not at risk, the unborn baby may be in danger.

The degree of risk the baby faces is dependent on three major factors:
The herpes infection timeline. Whether antibodies are present in the mother-to-be. Whether there has been enough time for antibodies to develop in the baby before the onset of labor. Let me explain:

As a result of a herpes primary infection, the system produces antibodies to the particular type of virus involved.

If a woman contracts herpes, approximately six weeks after the primary outbreak the resultant antibodies in her system will prevent infection of an additional form of her particular HSV infection.

What’s more important regarding herpes and pregnancy, after six to nine weeks, the baby will acquire antibodies via the placenta.

Once that has happened, it is extremely difficult for cross infection to occur while the infant is still in the womb. It also makes it unlikely that the baby will become infected if the mother happens to be in the viral shedding stage during birth.

The Herpes Infection Timeline

There are three possible scenarios if herpes and pregnancy coincide:
If the woman had herpes before becoming pregnant, antibodies will be present in her system and she will transfer them to the fetus. If the mother is in the viral shedding stage during labor, there is less than a 1% chance of the baby becoming infected during vaginal birth. If primary infection occurred shortly before, or during the first trimester of pregnancy, the unborn baby is at risk. Since it takes approximately 6 weeks for antibodies to appear, there is a 3% chance of the infant becoming infected by viral shedding during vaginal birth. In rare cases, transmission could occur via the placenta. In this instance there is a 5% possibility of the baby being born with serious birth defects. If primary infection occurred during the second or third trimester of the pregnancy, this situation presents the highest risk of transferring the virus to the baby during vaginal birth. In this scenario, if the virus is shedding during labor, there is an up to 50% chance of the infant acquiring neonatal disease. Therefore a Caesarian section, rather than vaginal birth is essential. In the case of a first outbreak during pregnancy, the doctor should call for a “Western blot” blood test in order to:

a) Identify the type of virus.

b) To tell whether the outbreak was a non-primary first occurrence, or a primary outbreak.

Since the immune system is suppressed during pregnancy, 80% of herpes positive pregnant women will experience an average of 3 outbreaks during the gestation period.

Herpes Treatment During Pregnancy

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend daily suppressive antiviral therapy to be given to herpes positive women from the 36th week of pregnancy.

This limits HSV recurrence and shedding during childbirth, thereby reducing the need for caesarean section.

Since the drug ‘acyclovir’ was subjected to a clinical study of 1000 pregnant women in which there were no increases in birth defects, it remains the drug of choice during pregnancy.

For women infected during the second or third trimester, daily suppressive treatment with antiviral herpes medicine as described above, should be considered. For others, this antiviral therapy is recommended during the final 10 days prior to delivery.

This will all but eliminate the chances of viral shedding while giving birth.

Herpes and Pregnancy – Vaginal Delivery or Cesarean Section?
Vaginal birth presents the greatest risk of cross transmission between mother and child. If lesions are detected on either the cervix, inside walls of the vagina, urethra or on the vulva prior to delivery, a Cesarean section would be necessary. As a safety precaution, women infected during the second or third trimester of pregnancy should seriously consider opting for a Cesarean section. This would virtually eliminate the chances of the baby becoming infected by viral shedding. If a woman has oral herpes lesions, they should be covered with an occlusive dressing before vaginal delivery. In other cases there is less than a 1% chance of the baby suffering from neonatal disease, so a vaginal delivery would be the logical option for most women.
Herpes and Pregnancy – Precautions During Pregnancy

If both you and your partner appear to be herpes negative, the following is worth discussing:
Since 90% of herpes positive victims have never had a primary outbreak, both of you should consider having a herpes blood test.

This would be a sensible precaution against unwittingly transmitting the virus either way during the shedding process. Alternatively, you might both consider taking daily antiviral medication throughout your pregnancy.
A latex condom should be used during vaginal, anal or oral sex in order to reduce the chances of transmission. Skip all sexual contact if either you or your partner has a herpes outbreak or experiences prodromal symptoms (tingling, itching or pain in the area of an impending outbreak). If either of you has oral herpes, avoid skin-to-skin contact with the infected area. Abstain from sex altogether during the third trimester of your pregnancy.

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Facts About the Flu Shot

Comments: 0November 23rd, 2009 by admin



In order to protect yourself from the influenza virus, you may be considering getting a flu shot this year. In order to help you make an informed decision, here are some facts about flu shots and vaccines in general.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) advises that the single best way to protect yourself is to get a flu shot or the nasal spray flu vaccine every year, but it should be noted that there is some controversy about the safety of flu shots and other vaccines. Most of the controversy involves an ingredient called thimerosal, which is commonly used by manufacturers of the flu shot and other vaccines as a preservative. Thimerosal is a mercury based preservative and over the last twenty years or so, it has been removed from many health care products in order to protect public health. Most recently, doctors and scientists believe that they have established a link between thimerosal presence in vaccines and autism. Because of this link, New York recently passed a bill banning the use of thimerosal in vaccines or flu shots to be given to young children and pregnant women.

Thimerosal is a known neurotoxin, meaning it is a poison that damages or destroys nerve tissue. In small amounts, the human body can deal with the poison, but in larger amounts it can cause illness and death. A yearly flu shot alone may not contain enough mercury to cause problems, but because of environmental pollution, yearly flu shots are not the only source of possible mercury contamination. It is the possible effects of mercury from many sources including a yearly flu shot that causes concern. Preservative free flu shots are currently available for adults and children, but you may need to request them specifically.

Flu shots contain dead influenza viruses. About two weeks after receiving a flu shot, antibodies providing protection against some strains of the influenza virus develop in the body. By studying the strains of the virus that are currently circulating, committees of the FDA and the World Health Organization decide which strains should be including in the flu shots for the upcoming year. Currently there is no flu shot that provides protection from the avian influenza strains of the virus.

The nasal spray flu vaccine, which is sometimes preferred over the flu shots, contains a live, weakened flu virus and is approved for use in healthy people from 5 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant. Like the flu shot, the nasal spray vaccine is only effective in preventing certain strains of the flu virus and does not protect against avian flu.

The CDC recommends that there are some people who should not take the flu shot or the nasal spray vaccine without consulting a physician. This bears mention because some pharmacies offer flu shots prior to the beginning of the flu season. If you are allergic to eggs, had a reaction to a flu shot in the past, developed Guillain-Barre syndrome after a flu shot in the past or if you currently have a fever or other illness, you should consult your physician before taking a flu shot or a nasal spray vaccine. In addition flu shots are not approved for use in children under the age of 6 months.

Side effects of flu shots include fever, aches, soreness, redness or swelling at the point where the shot was given. The nasal spray vaccine which contains live virus can cause the following side effects in adults; runny nose, headache, sore throat and cough. In children the nasal spray vaccine can also cause vomiting, muscle aches and fever. Flu shots may also be associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a disease in which the body damages it’s own nerve cells, resulting in muscle weakness, paralysis and sometimes permanent nerve damage. The swine flu shots in 1976 were the first to be associated with the syndrome. A study of subsequent flu shot vaccines suggested that some people who take the flu shot may be at risk of developing the syndrome.

The CDC further advises that people can protect themselves from the risk of contracting the flu and other viruses by practicing good health habits (wash hands frequently, avoid touching the mouth or nose after touching public surfaces, avoid people who are sick), getting proper nutrition, getting adequate rest and regular exercise. Because of the controversy surrounding the flu shot, many people focus on proper nutrition, vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements that boost and protect the immune system. Andrographis paniculata, beta glucan, olive leaf extract, quercetin, bilberry extract, L-cysteine, magnesium, manganese and zinc may all contribute to a healthier immune system. Regular use of products containing these ingredients is considered by many in both the conventional and natural medicine communities to be an effective alternative to the yearly flu shots. These products alone cannot guarantee proper nutrition, but by eating a well-balanced diet, taking a daily multi-vitamin and an immune system booster, an annual flu shot for a healthy adult or teenager may be unnecessary.

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Food Allergies Rotation Diet

Comments: 0October 3rd, 2009 by admin



Did you know that when you eat a lot of the same food items you could develop a food allergy? More so if you are prone to food allergies in the first place, you can develop it to new ones that have been introduced to your diet. To prevent new food allergies from occurring or to just prevent any more it is important that you try a allergies rotation diet. For those who are chronic sufferers of such allergies they are usually put on a rotation diet that will help them stay away from such allergies, but make it possible to eat. You will find with multiple food allergies the rotation diet allows you to have a system that is easy to stick with. You will be able to avoid potentially dangerous situations if you stick with the recommended rotation diet.

This diet has a person with multiple food allergies eat on an every four day basis. In other words on Monday you had chicken, rice, and milk. These eatables are okay as you have been tested and found clean for allergies related to these foods. However for the next four days you are not allowed to have any chicken, milk, or rice in a meal. Even if you just supplement one item from the menu you are still risking a food allergy to some type. Most individuals who develop such allergies are told to just eliminate those from their diet. What they should be told is that the rotation diet is the best way to start eating properly. For someone prone to food allergies they can develop more problems to food and experience a lot more pain. In fact what could happen is the individual after four years of eliminating certain eatables from their diet and only eating what is left can have a new allergy or allergies, which means they are back to finding something else they can eat.

You will also find in the same vain that if you stop eating a particular item on a regular basis you may be able to go back to eating that after a considerable time. When you rotate your diet you are masking the antibodies your body has a problem with. This means that you have less chance of being affected by it. For those that have a mild or borderline allergy it can be important to start on this type of diet.

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Posted in Allergy And Sinus

Are Yearly Flu Shots Beneficial Or Bogus?

Comments: 0February 5th, 2009 by admin



Every year around this time, everyone from public officials to health journalists start talking about flu shots. It seems that flu shots are recommended for just about everyone these days, but are they truly beneficial? The Centers for Disease Control and other respected health organizations are strong proponents of flu shots, but conflicting opinions exist among researchers. I’ve looked at the evidence in order to present you with a balanced view of the issue.

What a Flu Shot Does

There are actually two forms of flu vaccinations-the traditional shot and a nasal spray. The shot contains dead flu viruses, which encourage your body to produce the antibodies to ward off live viruses that you may come in contact with. The nasal spray contains weak flu viruses, which prompts an immune response throughout your body. You will not actually get the flu, but may it be possible to pass the virus onto others. Pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses or compromised immune systems are encouraged to get the flu shot, but are not eligible for the spray.

The reason yearly flu shots are required is that different strains of the flu virus become dominant each flu season. Your vaccine from last year may be ineffective against the strains of flu virus currently circulating. Scientists determine which strains are strongest for a given year and formulate the flu vaccine accordingly.

The Conventional Wisdom

The Centers for Disease Control affirms that yearly vaccinations are the best way to prevent contracting a virus. According to their data, the vaccine is effective 70 to 90 percent of the time for healthy people younger than 65. These can be less effective in older people because they tend to produce fewer antibodies in response to the vaccine.

Still, getting the flu shot is better than not getting it, according to recommendations from the Mayo Clinic. For older adults who don’t live in a nursing home (where viruses can be easily passed among residents), the vaccination is estimated to be 30 to 70 percent effective at preventing flu-related hospitalizations. What’s also very important to note is that it prevents complications from flu, such as pneumonia, which is a major hazard to older people.

The flu vaccine is recommended for people aged 6 months to 19 years, and 50 and over. It is recommended for anyone with a chronic condition or a weakened immune system. Because of the prevalence of viruses in nursing homes, residents are encouraged to get the flu vaccine. Pregnant women and health care workers are also encouraged to do so.

You should not get a flu shot if you’ve had these conditions in the past; prior allergic reaction to vaccines, an allergy to eggs; experienced Guillaim-Barre, an autoimmune syndrome, or who have a fever (It’s best to wait until a fever subsides).

Contrary Arguments

Perhaps the strongest argument against flu shots is that they may not prevent you from contracting flu. Italian researchers reviewed 71 studies on the efficacy of the vaccine and found it to be only 45 percent effective at preventing flu, hospitalizations and flu-related deaths. It is difficult to develop a highly effective vaccine year after year due to the constant adaptations of the virus. Some years’ vaccines have better success rates than others.

One argument is that getting yearly flu shots makes the immune system less able to fight a strain of the virus that may not be covered by the vaccine. However, even some skeptics agree that flu shots are valuable for staving off complications in elderly people who are stricken with the flu. Evidence also points to benefits of vaccinating children who are often the most likely to spread viruses to older people in their household.

Ultimately, the decision to get a flu shot or not is up to you. Weigh your individual health needs and do not hesitate to discuss the question with your doctor. As with so many questions in life, the answer is neither black nor white-I hope my straightforward analysis can help you navigate the grey area.

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Institute For Healthy Aging

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