The Water Mafia

Good morning to all.  We're in for a wet weekend here as Florence gives us a glancing blow.  We're not as bad off as Jeanette (Donna's sister) who lives in Raleigh, so keep her and her family in your thoughts.  Hope everyone else is safe and dry.   

In other news, I just attended CPR/AED training this morning.  If you fall dead on the floor in front of me, I actually have a clue of what to do :)

Here's the latest health news from the Army's Public Health Center:

• the CDC recommends that everyone get a flu shot by the end of October.  However, if you're an early adopter (like I usually am), there's a new study out that says the effectiveness of the vaccine drops 16% for every 28 days after you've been vaccinated.  So, if you get the shot this weekend for example, by 1 Jan the effectiveness of your vaccine has dropped by 50%.  The authors of the study do not necessarily recommend, however, delaying your vaccination until late November.
• if you remember last week's story about African swine flu in pig populations across the globe -- but especially in China -- then you'll be interested to hear that the Chinese Communist Party is now arresting citizens on charges of "rumor-mongering" for discussing the topic.  The virus is almost 100% fatal in pigs, but reportedly harmless for humans.  Regardless -- and here's my personal agenda here -- please stop buying goods from China...they do not have our best interests at heart.
• the FDA is fighting back against a huge 75% increase in e-cigarette use among high schoolers.
• Colorado's attorney general is suing the manufacturer (Purdue Pharma) of oxycontin for their role in causing the opioid epidemic
• positive attitude and optimism can improve your health.  Regular physical activity and a balanced diets can contribute.
• Men's sperm counts across the globe are down 50% from the last 4 decades.  The only good news from study authors is that "there is a lot of redundancy built into reproduction".  Interpret that as you will...let your imagination run riot.
• Global water security -- and access to potable water -- is an increasing concern as populations soar.  In Karachi, India, enterprising crooks started siphoning off fresh water 10 years ago from government pipes that went to residents of the city's slums residents.  Now, those residents are forced to purchase from water mafias what they should be receiving for free.  They have 2 options:  fresh water for $150 a month (more than most residents make) or polluted water for $20 a month that has to be boiled.  16 million people live in Karachi.  The city's chief water engineer estimates that they can only supply a third of the city's requirement to begin with, and about a third of THAT is stolen by the water mafia.  Child mortality is high, and many suffer severe stomach pains/diarrhea, but they spend so much on the water that they can't afford medical care.
• Life expectancy in England has gone up, but not so much the quality of that life.  Average life expectancy 79.6 years for men and 83.2 for women, but they can only expect to live 63 of those years in good health.  Smoking, heart attacks and strokes are going down, but obesity, dementia, hearing and sight loss, and muscle and joint problems are going up.
• the EPA is changing its name from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Environmental Profit Agency.  EPA seeks to ease requirements on oil and gas companies to inspect their methane production facilities for leaks.  The EPA estimates that reducing inspections will save those companies almost $500M in costs, and will only cause $54M in worsened air quality and the impact on human health.  So, unless you're one of those suffering a stroke, chronic bronchitis, or premature death from the increased pollution, be cheered that that the oil companies are making tons more money for their shareholders.
• the Trump administration is also trying to eliminate workplace inspections for 39,000 workers at plants where nuclear weapons are made and stored.  Makes me sleep better at night. 
• 7 stats now have obesity rates of 35% or higher:  Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and West Virginia

For lunch, I'm going for the salad today.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.