Latest news with #JenniferBrull
USA Today
04-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
How do you get the bird flu? What medical experts want you to know right now
How do you get the bird flu? What medical experts want you to know right now Show Caption Hide Caption Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posts endorsement of measles MMR vaccine on X Health and Human Services secretary, and vaccine skeptic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports measles vaccine after visiting West Texas. Headlines as of late have sounded alarms about the spread of the avian flu, known more colloquially as the bird flu. Over the last year, a highly pathogenic avian influenza, A(H5N1), has sporadically been reported in wild birds, poultry and dairy cows across the United States, Canada and some other countries. Despite this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the "risk to the general public from these viruses remains low." Only four people in the U.S. have been identified as being infected with this virus, all with mild-to-moderate cases, per the CDC. "It's important to know that the current risk for bird flu in people is low," says Dr. Jennifer Brull, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). "We are seeing that dairy cattle and poultry farms are the most common sources of exposure, although that is still very low." Still, the last five years have made many increasingly vigilant about viruses spreading. If you're still concerned about encountering the bird flu, here's what medical experts want you to know. Good to know: As bird flu continues to spread, is there a vaccine for humans? How do you get bird flu? Bird flu is a virus that is spread from bird to bird, but occasionally, strains can transform into a virus that humans can contract and spread, according to the AAFP. "Most people who get infected with bird flu have close contact with infected birds or bird droppings," Brull says. That means those who work with poultry and those who eat raw or undercooked meat or eggs from infected birds are at a higher risk of contracting the disease. You can also spread bird flu by swimming in water contaminated with bird droppings or by touching a surface where an infected bird has landed. Bird flu spreads by touching your nose, eyes or mouth, by inhaling moisture droplets or dust particles or by consuming undercooked infected meat or eggs. But it's rare for the bird flu to be transferred from one human to another, according to the AAFP. In order to do so, the virus must transform into a human flu virus. Huh: Americans may have had bird flu and not even know it, new study suggests What are the symptoms of bird flu? Symptoms of the bird flu usually appear between two days and a week after being exposed, according to the AAFP. They're usually similar to seasonal flu symptoms, which include fever, cough, sore throat, headache, achy muscles and pink eye. More serious symptoms can include severe respiratory issues, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mental confusion and seizures. People who are pregnant, have weakened immune symptoms or are over the age of 65 have a higher risk of developing a serious illness. "If you suspect you or someone you know has come down with bird flu after being exposed to an infected animal, reach out to your family physician and they can help confirm or rule out bird flu," Brull says.
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
What BMI does and doesn't say about your health, according to doctors
What BMI does and doesn't say about your health, according to doctors Show Caption Hide Caption Ozempic warning: Experts warn of side effects from weight loss drug Experts are warning of the possible side effects of popular diabetes medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro when used for weight loss. At your last physical, your doctor may have recorded your body mass index (BMI). That statistic has long been thought of as an indicator of how healthy someone is. While it's still helpful, the truth is a little more complicated, doctors say. "It's not the only factor we look at, nor is it the best way to tell if patients are at a healthy weight," says Dr. Jennifer Brull, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "There are some people whose BMIs may not be a good reflection of how much body fat they have." Here's what to know about different levels of BMI and what that actually means for your health. The fastest way to lose weight? Diets, pills and the conversation we need to have What is a healthy BMI? That depends. BMI is calculated using a person's weight and height, with the idea that it can show if a person's weight is healthy based on an estimation of their body fat percentage. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these are the BMI categories for adults 20 and older: Underweight: BMI is less than 18.5 BMI is less than 18.5 Healthy Weight: 18.5 to less than 25 18.5 to less than 25 Overweight: 25 to less than 30 25 to less than 30 Obesity: 30 or greater Class 1 Obesity: 30 to less than 35 Class 2 Obesity: 35 to less than 40 Class 3 Obesity: 40 or greater 30 or greater One issue with this sort of calculation is that BMI can't actually distinguish between fat, muscle and bone mass, according to the CDC. "A BMI that is low could mean a person doesn't have enough body fat. A high BMI could mean that they have too much body fat," Brull says, though she notes that "every body is different and BMI isn't one-size-fits-all." In case you didn't see: Travis Kelce, Jake Gyllenhaal and why BMI is problematic. It needs to change, panel says. Can I be overweight on the BMI and still healthy? While many doctors do consider BMI, Brull notes that it's a small portion of the conversation rather than the end-all-be-all. It's also important to consider factors such as the patient's diet, physical activity level, their relationship with food and wellness and even their socioeconomic status. "This includes where they live, income, access to nutritious meals and grocery stores that carry fresh foods, transportation access and health literacy," Brull says. "BMI should be used as a screening tool and as a starting point for a conversation with a family doctor about weight." Take athletes for example. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has made headlines in the past for being technically obese by BMI standards at 6 feet, 5 inches and around 265 pounds, despite the fact that he has a super-muscular build and regularly works out. Older adults can also be an exception: They tend to lose muscle mass and therefore could have a higher percentage of body fat, according to the AAFP. "We know that muscle weighs more than fat, so their weight may not be a good indicator of how much fat they have in their body," Brull says. "Patients who suffer from being overweight or obese can face stigma. Focusing too much on weight rather than taking a more holistic approach can be detrimental to the care of all patients. Addressing these health risks require a customized, sensitive approach from a family physician."
USA Today
01-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
What to know about the hep B vaccine
What to know about the hep B vaccine Show Caption Hide Caption Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posts endorsement of measles MMR vaccine on X Health and Human Services secretary, and vaccine skeptic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports measles vaccine after visiting West Texas. Hepatitis B is a liver infection that inflames the organ and impacts its ability to function. It can be either acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term), and is estimated to impact between 880,000 and 1.89 million people in the United States. Those who leave chronic hepatitis B untreated have a 25% to 40% risk of developing liver cancer at some point in their lives, according to the Hepatitis B Foundation. The good news: There's a vaccine for hepatitis B that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), can help to prevent millions of deaths worldwide. The bad news: Only about 1/3 of American adults are currently vaccinated. "Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives," says Dr. Jennifer Brull, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). "They are one of our best tools to prevent severe illness, hospitalizations and death in our communities. ... Being vaccinated against diseases helps build a community of immunity and protects those more vulnerable to disease who may not be able to get vaccinated." Here's what health experts want you to know about hepatitis B and how vaccinations can help prevent its spread. Elsewhere in vaccines: What experts need you to know about the MMR vaccine What is hepatitis B? Hepatitis B is a contagious liver infection that's transmitted through blood, semen or another type of bodily fluid from a person who's infected with the virus, according to the CDC. The severity can range from a "mild, short-term, acute illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, long-term, chronic infection," the CDC adds. Those at higher risk include healthcare workers, drug users, travelers in areas where the infection is widespread and people who have multiple sex partners. "The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to always have protected sex – use a condom – and, if you use intravenous IV drugs, avoid sharing needles," Brull says. Plus: "Preventing perinatal hepatitis B is important because most people with hepatitis B got infected as infants or young children when their immune systems were not fully developed," according to the CDC. What is Tdap? Here's what you need to know to stay protected against whooping cough Is there a vaccine for hep B? Yes, there is a vaccine for hepatitis B; it's usually administered in a series of two to three shots over the course of six months, which provides long-term protection. The CDC recognizes the hepatitis B vaccine as the best way to prevent getting infected and recommends it to essentially any age group that hasn't been vaccinated yet: infants, children and adolescents under 19, adults 19 to 59 and adults 60 and older with risk factors for hepatitis B. It's also safe to receive while pregnant. Vaccines as a whole work by imitating an infection to teach the body how to recognize and defend itself from disease without experiencing the dangers of an actual infection, according to the CDC. "They do so by exposing the body to an active ingredient called an antigen which triggers an immune response," Brull says. Depending on the vaccine, "this immune response can protect you for many years or your entire life."
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
What doctors want you to know about weight and weight loss
What doctors want you to know about weight and weight loss Show Caption Hide Caption Ozempic warning: Experts warn of side effects from weight loss drug Experts are warning of the possible side effects of popular diabetes medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro when used for weight loss. Weight is an eternally-pressing topic, but conversations around GLP-1s and other weight loss drugs have brought it to the forefront even more. Body mass index (BMI) is the tool doctors use to calculate whether someone is underweight, at a healthy weight, overweight or obese. But because BMI calculations can't tell the difference between body fat, muscle and bone mass, it's not always the best way to actually tell if a patient is healthy, many medical experts argue. "We know that muscle weighs more than fat, so their weight may not be a good indicator of how much fat they have in their body," says Dr. Jennifer Brull, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "Patients who suffer from being overweight or obese can face stigma. Focusing too much on weight rather than taking a more holistic approach can be detrimental to the care of all patients. Addressing these health risks require a customized, sensitive approach from a family physician." Here's what medical experts want you to know about being overweight and how it relates to your health. The fastest way to lose weight? Diets, pills and the conversation we need to have What is considered overweight? BMI is calculated using a person's weight and height, with the idea that it can show if a person's weight is healthy based on an estimation of their body fat percentage. "A BMI that is low could mean a person doesn't have enough body fat. A high BMI could mean that they have too much body fat," Brull says, though she notes that "every body is different and BMI isn't one-size-fits-all." Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these are the BMI categories for adults 20 and older: Underweight: BMI is less than 18.5 BMI is less than 18.5 Healthy Weight: 18.5 to less than 25 18.5 to less than 25 Overweight: 25 to less than 30 25 to less than 30 Obesity: 30 or greater Class 1 Obesity: 30 to less than 35 Class 2 Obesity: 35 to less than 40 Class 3 Obesity: 40 or greater 30 or greater Seen this yet? Travis Kelce, Jake Gyllenhaal and why BMI is problematic. It needs to change, panel says. How to lose weight Health experts stress that tactics to lose large amounts of weight quickly are either inaccurate or unsustainable. "There's not a magical food or drink that can help you lose body fat," dietitian Caroline Thomason previously told USA TODAY. "Unfortunately, the boring basics still work for weight loss: Diet and exercise are the two most important factors you can change to lose weight." For those looking to lose weight, Thomason recommends starting with the following daily lifestyle tweaks:
