Posted on 12/26/2005 1:15:29 PM PST by WKB
People in Alabama, particularly in the Birmingham area, should not be surprised if they find themselves coughing and sneezing this time of year.
Two recent studies found that people in the south are more susceptible to respiratory diseases and Birmingham is one of the worst cities in the country for respiratory problems, The Birmingham News reported Sunday.
The first study, an analysis conducted recently by Sperling's BestPlaces, ranked the 50 worst cities in the nation for respiratory infections - problems like sinusitis, sore throats, bronchitis and common colds. Eight of the top 10 cities were in the South.
The Birmingham area ranked No. 3, behind No. 1 Greenville, S.C., and No. 2, Nashville.
The study was based on three factors: prescription rates for antibiotics, reports from doctors' offices and rates of antibiotic resistant infections.
The study calculated that each year, 9.2 percent of the Birmingham area's residents were affected by respiratory illnesses, with chronic airway obstruction and bronchitis the most prevalent.
Bert Sperling, who led the study, said the results were surprising. He thought respiratory illnesses would be more prevalent in the northern cities where people would be forced inside with others by the cold.
The other recent study was based upon medical research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That study noted respiratory syncytial virus began its seasonal peak in the South in mid-October and reaches its highest levels in the south.
Dr. Scott Elledge, an ear, nose and throat physician who practices at Baptist Montclair Medical Center in Birmingham, said there are some simple rules for preventing respiratory disease, and getting treatment.
First of all, people should practice good hygiene, which means washing their hands often.
If you get ill, he said, even with a cold, stay home for two or three days after the symptoms begin. That's when the illness is usually most infectious. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
"When you're sick, if you stay at home and avoid contact with others, you're doing your colleagues at work a favor and the rest of your family a favor," Elledge said. "Everyone wants to keep working, but yet they're not doing the community any favors when they go back to work ill."
Elledge also said people who are prescribed antibiotics for an infection should follow their doctor's instructions and take the medicine as prescribed.
could it be because so many people smoke there?
See #3
Well, I can tell you washing hands doesn't prevent it. Being around snotty nosed little kids I wash my hands at least two dozen times while at work every day and bathe as soon as I get home. I was, and still am, sick as a dog through Christmas sneezing and hacking up gunk you really don't want to know about. Thankfully, it's 80 degrees today so the windows opened to air out the house.
High pollen counts?
You are just gonna have to get off those cigs, dear :>)
Wellllll,
The pollen count in pine tree country is like 2000x the average, which may explain some things.
I believe there was a study some years back indicating higher heart problems and cancer in the Delta Counties of MS, and probably AR and LA as well. Something about the cotton defoliation et all over time. Interesting.
Merry Christmas!
Cigs? Not this babe. It's soley snotty nosed little kid germs. On the positive side, mommy dearest dropped off a couple gifts with the usual strings attached, but from fear of catching something, left within 30 minutes, hehehe!!!
It's the left after the steel mills and coal industry.
and you didn't even need a govment grant
to figure it out; :>)
Little kids are germ magnets. Period.
On the positive side, mommy dearest dropped off a couple gifts with the usual strings attached, but from fear of catching something, left within 30 minutes, hehehe!!!
I've got a pretty nasty cold myself right now and my mom won't even come inside, she'll just drop homemade soup off at my door and leave.
I think I've sneezed about 50 times today.
Oh well.
I think it's our type of pollen and the distinct 4 seasons.
Nashville has virtually no pollution sans automobiles and the smoking rate is probably somewhat above Colorado but less than North Carolina.
Nashville has worse allergen related problems than Jackson btw.
the distinct 4 seasons.
yep, Hot\dry and cold\wet :>)
I don't know about Nashville, but I do know that Tuscaloosa has a humongo mold problem. Hubby had a horrible time living there. We moved to Jackson, and his headaches and fevers stopped immediately. We moved back to T-town, and he became ill again. We still love the place.
I believe that pine tree pollen is not very allergenic.
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