That's not entirely true.

It's only evolution if you survive, and then go on to have children.

Evolution in humans is in regression. The reduction in prepubescent mortality due to improved health care has resulted in the highest levels of genetic weakness since the dawn of time. In a few thousand years, it wouldn't surprise me if we're looking for undiscovered tribes in the depths of the jungle in order to find viable breeding stock - assuming we haven't destroyed the jungles and tribes by then.

In the year 2525, if man is still alive...

That's niche!

I agree but as i am gonna die before then it's still Evo

I'm not going to get vaccinated, mostly because I don't want to put up with the symptoms that you get after the vaccination (when I was vaccinated against flu a few years ago I might just as well have had the flu) but also partly because I'd rather take my chances and only get treated if I actually get the thing, it's also partly because I don't subscribe to the whole "swine flu is the worserest kind of flu evah" scaremongering and then also because there's no guarantee that it'll do anything, and also because the vaccination won't be available until at least October (the WHO are now saying) and also because I have no "underlying health problems" which everyone has had so far (apart from Chloe, although that's still under investigation and she was a little girl anyway) and also partly because I'd much rather than any vaccine there is, which has been proved to work, was given to people who need it.

Chances are, if I catch it, I'll spend a few days in bed with a fever while my body does its thing, I have a strong immune system anyway (it's just a bit over-reactive sometimes) and then I'll get better. Just like with normal flu.

Not only that, but I tend to get chest infections after a bad cold of proper flu.

It will be a bit late. A vaccination isn’t a cure, it’s a preventative measure. If you already have swine flu, and you get vaccinated, it’s going to be like fighting a fire by tossing a cooling bucket of petrol on it.

Oh, you spotted it I didn't mean vaccinated, I meant treated but I'd obviously typed the word "vaccinated" too many times and my fingers just went for it automagically. I'll fix my original post.

Just for those who haven't seen the news item, the postmortem has shown has shown that H1N1 had nothing to do with his death. Although I was somewhat confused when they said he died of 'natural causes', since it seems to me dying of an infection is much more of a natural cause than, say, being shot.

Jon

I think I’ll stop watching the news.

Whenever someone dies, they either say that the person has had “underlying health issues” but has not said what they are. I think it’s important to know - did they have a stubbed toe, or something more serious? I have no way of knowing. I guess this information is being withheld to stop people like me panicking, but I do find the shroud of secrecy equally concerning.

I am constantly being reminded that I am at risk. Yes, I have had a doctor in the past define my asthma using the word “chronic” but it’s well under (medical) control, thank you.

If people who are otherwise healthy, they bang on even more about the mildness of the illness, a few deaths are expected AND people with respiratory problems are at risk. The emphasis seems to be stronger at this point. There is very little focus on telling me, and indeed others in this “at risk” category what to actually do. If the government and media are going the point the gun at my head, the least they can do is tell me how to dodge the bullet.

The more I read or hear, the more vulnerable I am being led to believe I am. I bet I’m not the only one. It‘s all getting very negative.

As far as I know, his description was perfectly accurate. IIRC, you can classify illnesses in two ways; 'Acute' which means you get something once, you treat it and then it's done and 'Chronic' which means it's a continuing condition that will need to be treated over a period of time. Is strikes me asthma is almost by definition 'chronic', since we don't have any way of actually 'curing' it.

Jon

I heard about this issue this morning. He died of a PE (lung clot to you and me). He was unfortunate enough to have swine flu at the same time.



That's confidentiality for you.

If you're a closet homosexual living with AIDS and you don't anyone to know, we won't tell anyone unless we have to (ie forced by law). The records stay confidential unless they're released to the public.

You can assume those with 'underlying health issues' had anything from asthma to metastic cancer to decompensated alcoholic liver disease. 'Stubbed toe' isn't really a notable health issue unless there was an infection that then spread throughout the body.

Not everyone who has asthma have it for their entire lives. Children commonly used to, and to a degree, still do develop asthma at a young age, only to no longer become asthmatic by the time they have reached or passed adolescence. Some adults develop asthma later in life, sometimes as a result of a trigger, other times, not. Yet some people have asthma since childhood until well into old age. Furthermore, not everyone needs treatment for their asthma - some used medication for immediate symptomatic relief, others need more than inhalers and need tablets too.

Given the wide range of 'asthma', it'd be nice, as a health professional, to know where you are in this 'range'.

I was diagnosed with asthma at the age of six, though if you ask my parents, I was showing symptoms before that, but it was not spotted. In fact, it was diagnosed as a result of me being part of a study of children with asthma - I was in the control group, but my results indicated otherwise. I don’t know why my GP at the time didn’t pick up on it. As I have said in previous posts, it’s under control, I know my triggers, so I’m fairly confident that I’m doing OK with it, as are my current GP and asthma clinic nurse.

My mother is asthmatic, but she grew out of it in her early twenties.

I'm in the "needs to use Salbutamol (100 micrograms per actuation) inhaler at least once a day and occasionally needs to be put on 40mg of Prednisolone for a fortnight" category. I'm also on Beclemetasone (100 micrograms per actuation) inhaler (two "puffs" twice a day).

I have no idea if that's mild or what not, so will be interesting to compare with others here.

I was diagnosed with asthma at 19, having never had it before. My GP says it is highly unlikely that I will "grow out of it" since I developed it as an adult. It also ruined a potential career in the RAF. As above it took a while to get diagnosed with it (despite having classic signs) and it was eventually only spotted by accident when I was in hospital for a chest x-ray.

If we are trading drug habits ... Symbicort once a day, with the flexibility to add to the dosage if I need it, and Salbutamol as needed. Since I’ve been on the Symbicort, the Salbutamol use has dropped dramatically. It’s a significant event if I need it these days.