State of Health

So recently at my daughter's elementary school there has been an outbreak of gastrointestinal sickness.  My daughter even got it to some level this last Friday and it turns out a total of 11 of the 26 kids in her class also got something.   It's been so bad at the school that the principal has sent out automated voice messages on both Friday and Monday explaining the situation and reminding everyone to keep their child at home for at 48 hours following the last of the symptoms.  And he even brought in the county health department to help disinfect the school.

School Advisory Health Notice

Now what is interesting in my opinion is that part if not all of this could be prevented with just some of the suggestions they give in the advisory notice.
The primary one is the washing of hands.  And not just passing it under some water and then declaring your done but, actually spending 20 seconds to rub your hands back and forth.

It also specifies when you should be washing your hands - i.e. after going to the bathroom, helping someone that is sick, etc.

All this should be common sense but, you'd be surprised at the number of adults that don't even wash their hands after going to the bathroom.  I just don't get it.  Were they not taught as children about this or what?

I've seen an older gentleman at work that once done with the facilities just straight up and leaves the bathroom.  NO stopping to wipe his hand etc.  I can understand that when out in nature on a camping trip with limited access to facilities you might cut some corners or the like.  But, at an office building with plenty of soap and paper towels available it just is down right gross.
Now that guy is not likely getting himself sick so much as he is leaving his germs and other bacteria who knows where around for other to come in contact with.  Thus increasing the chance that those of us who are washing our hands end up getting sick.
Have you seen some of those people that open the door to the restroom with a paper towel in their hands?  I understand why now.

So as this epidemic at school spreads my wife comments on the fact they hand out awards for those that have had 100% attendance.  But, she mentions that especially in the lower grades like in elementary school it's just a joke.  How many times has a person ended up going to school sick just so they can make sure they qualify for the 100% award.

So how do you help promote children to attend school regularly (i.e. as much as possible) while still helping them not to pass around sickness or infecting people by having them stay home?
Since my daughter has a genetic condition she'll be missing a day or two of school here and there over the years with various appoints with the orthopedist, eye doctor, and the geneticist among others.  So maybe we are jaded or have a shewed view on this whole missing school thing.  But, it does drive us nuts thinking that just so some kid can try and qualify for a perfect attendance award they are getting others sick when it is not necessary.

But, how many adults do the same things at work?  How many times do you go in with a cold because you do not want to eat up sick time or vacation time.  Most if not all of have done it at some point.

So what is the current state of health in the United States?  It seems to be very broken.  But, is it that much worse or better then other countries?




For starters the cost of health care is causing many a problem.  Since things are so expensive and the co-pays are through the roof for the small or cheaper plans many a person only goes to the doctor when absolutely necessary.  And in some cases you don't even trust some of the diagnoses that the doctor is handing out.  They seem to be shooting in the dark at times.   We even find this with our orthopedist and he is one of the best in the country dealing with thing like pseudoarthrosis.  But, in that case it is so rare that even the best have minimal direct contact or knowledge on the subject.  But, for the average cold or a stomach bug you'd expect different.

So many a person avoids going down to the doctor and "wasting" their time to just be told to get some over the counter medications.  And for all the great new medicines and drugs that have been created over the last decade we haven't really seen much, if any change in the medicines available to treat such things a colds, flu, and the like.  I guess you can't make much money on them.
I used to read the labels a lot back in the day when I worked the health and beauty department.  And now a days I still read the labels a lot.  Not much has changed.  The main/active ingredient(s)  have basically not changed.  Some of the combinations have changed a little, but for the more part the nasal decongestant is still the same as it was 20 years ago.  Things like the mucus removers that due to advertising appear to be a newer are just the same old ingredients in higher dosages.

Combine that with all the processed food we are now consuming and it is no wonder the colds we get seem to be stronger, last longer and cause us grief.  How many of you take a daily vitamin and think that your getting the missing stuff so your OK?  I'm kind of doing it knowing full well that I should be eating more fruits and vegetables and less soda.  But, that in the end turns out to be expensive.

When it is cheaper to buy peaches in the can then to get them fresh you know your in trouble; even when they are in season.  So it is hard to live a health life style if you have a tight budget.  It is not wholly impossible but, you have to make an effort to get there.

I'd like to end with just a few things from God's Health Law otherwise known as "The Word of Wisdom" by those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
This "Word of Wisdom" (Doctrine and Covenants 89)  is not just a word of advise on things to not consume like alcohol, tobacco and hot drinks, but, is also a guide to better health and good eating.  It is full of good advise on what to eat and how to be healthy.  It was very much before it's time back in 1833.  Back then no one really knew about the harmful effect of smoking, the consequences on ones body of consuming alcohol and other such things.  Research and science has advanced much since that day but, to that end the principals and teachings provided in these 21 short verses have all proven themselves out.


So I'll just highlight a few verses for your review.  You might just find a thing or two that will help you be more healthy and avoid ending up being in a situation like that at my daughter's elementary school.


Things to avoid consuming though there is so much more on how to live healthy.

 5 That inasmuch as any man ^adrinketh ^bwine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.

 6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, ^apure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.

 7 And, again, ^astrong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.

 8 And again, tobacco is not for the ^abody, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.

 9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.

A word on meat and the consumption there of.

 12 Yea, ^aflesh also of ^bbeasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used ^csparingly;

 13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be ^aused, only in times of winter, or of cold, or ^bfamine.

And grain to be a staple.  Just as meat is to be used sparingly.
 14 All ^agrain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;

Now a little on herbs, and fruit.  Dump those grapefruit diets and the like.  Eat a balanced variety of fruits and vegetables.

 10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome ^aherbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—

 11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with ^aprudence and ^bthanksgiving.

And lastly the great promise(s)

 19 And shall ^afind ^bwisdom and great ^ctreasures of ^dknowledge, even hidden treasures;

 20 And shall ^arun and not be ^bweary, and shall walk and not faint.

Buaidh - NO - Bas