5 days ago
NEW YORK (NBC) -- Healthbeat Headlines, week of 11/15/09.
A Mexican study earlier this year confirms that kids and young adults are particularly vulnerable to the H1N1 virus. It appears to be deadliest, however, among the elderly.
The research is based on more than 6,300 flu-like illnesses reported in Mexico City between April and July 2009.
Those under the age of 40 were most likely to be infected, but mortality rates were highest among the elderly.
The study also found the risk for getting the flu was 35% lower among those who'd received the seasonal flu shot.
The CDC, however, disagrees with that finding.
Experts say that because the H1N1 strain is new and hasn't been a part of previous seasonal vaccines, it is impossible for the seasonal flu shots to protect against it.
In Canada, the story of a man who got H1N1 suggests resistance to the anti-viral Tamiflu is possible when people take it to prevent the flu.
Canadian doctors published a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine about a man with lung disease who took Tamiflu because his asthmatic son had contracted the swine flu.
A day later, the father developed flu symptoms.
Both later made full recoveries.
Baby Boomers may have more aches, pains and disabilities than previous generations.
Using data from the '90s, UCLA researchers looked at how well people over age 60 were able to perform daily activities, such as walking, preparing meals and getting dressed.
By the age of 70, many had developed disabilities.
Those who were already over 70 and even as old as 80 did not develop as many physical problems.
Researchers say those who were in their 60s at the time may have spent more of their lives being overweight than those who were older.
Hookah pipe smoking may be catching on with teens... and even middle schoolers.
Researchers at the University of Florida have found 11% of High Schoolers and 4% of Middle Schoolers in Florida have tried hookah.
Hookah pipes burn charcoal and tobacco.
Air is drawn in through the tobacco and into the pipe, where it passes through water.
Doctors say smokers mistakenly believe it is safe thinking the water filters the smoke, and that hookah does not contain tobacco.
The World Health Organization says users may smoke the equivalent of 100 or more cigarettes in one 20 to 80 minutes hookah session.
