Just a Kiss? 4 Infections Transmitted Through Kissing

You may think a kiss is just a kiss, but in reality, it can be much more. Smooching can be romantic, but it can also transmit a variety of infections.

"When I think of the infectious risk of kissing, what comes to mind are viral infections," says Bruce Hirsch, MD, attending physician in infectious diseases at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York.

Believe it or not, bacterial infections are much less likely to be transmitted through kissing, Hirsch says. "You don't think of bacteria as a major problem," he says.

A variety of respiratory illnesses can be transmitted from one person to the another through kissing, says Jorge Parada, MD, an infectious disease expert at Loyola University Health System in Maywood, Illinois. "Any infectious disease that would be shed from the airways of the body could be transmitted in a kiss," he says.

Before you lock lips with someone, consider that the following all may be transmitted through kissing:

1. Herpes simplex virus type 1. This virus, spread not just through sharing kisses but sharing towels and eating utensils, is the culprit that causes cold sores. (These are quite different from canker sores, which are inside the mouth and aren't contagious.) Once you get herpes simplex, the virus remains dormant in the nerve cells and can be reactivated by everything from sun exposure to stress.

2. Infectious mononucleosis. Famously known as the kissing disease, this illness is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. It's transmitted through saliva and is most common in 15 to 17-year-olds.

"What happens is that high concentrations of virus are shared in the saliva and oral secretions," Hirsch explains. Mono typically causes a sore throat, swollen glands, and fatigue that persists for several weeks.

3. Colds. Just as there are over 100 viruses that cause a cold, so there are myriad ways to catch a cold. If you're around a cold victim who talks, coughs or sneezes, you may be the next unlucky victim. Colds also are spread through hand to hand contact (like sharing utensils or towels), but you can also catch a cold through kissing, Hirsch says.

4. Flu. You can not only spread this virus to others who are up to six feet away, but you can get flu even by touching an object that has some virus on it - and then touching your mouth or nose. You can also get it from kissing someone with the flu, Parada says, and you may not even know the other person is sick. A person starts being contagious a day before  he develops symptoms, and continues to be contagious for up to a week after getting sick.

While it's sometimes apparent when someone has a contagious illness--there's a visible cold sore on their lip, or they're coughing and sneezing--it's not always easy to tell.

"A person has viral shedding even before they have any outward manifestation of a cold sore," Parada says. So you could kiss someone with perfectly normal looking lips and wind up with herpes simplex.

One thing you don't have to worry about catching from a kiss is gingivitis, or gum disease. "That has more to do with somebody's personal hygiene," Parada says. "It has more to do with the care that you take of your teeth."

Sources:

"Cold sores: Causes." The Mayo Clinic.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cold-sore/DS00358/DSECTION=causes

"Common cold: causes. The Mayo Clinic."

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/common-cold/DS00056/DSECTION=causes

"How Flu Spreads." National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. National Institutes of Health.

http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/Flu/understandingFlu/Pages/howFluSpreads.aspx

Diabetes and Driving: Questions Answered

Deciding if a person with diabetes is at risk while driving should be done on an individual basis, according to a new position statement from the American Diabetes Association. The statement, which appears in the magazine Diabetes Care and was reported by msnbc.com, says assessing a driver's ability to drive safely should be "tied to concrete evidence of risk, rather than on a diagnosis of diabetes alone."

The annual update of the ADA's Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes contains a section on driving and diabetes that calls for "individual assessment by a health care professional knowledgeable in diabetes" when considering restrictions for licensure.

"This country needs a far more consistent, fair, and equitable means of determining driving risk when it comes to people with diabetes," said Daniel Lorber, MD, FACP, CDE, according to msnbc.com.

Added Lorber, who's director of endocrinology at New York Hospital of Queens in Flushing, New York: "The vast majority of people with diabetes have no problems driving safely whatsoever, and should not be held to restrictions that may interfere with their ability to work or live an otherwise normal life."

However, individuals with diabetes should always take certain precautions before they get behind the wheel-and while driving. Before you even get into the car to drive, test your blood sugar, says Alison Massey, MS, RD, LDN, CDE, registered dietitian and diabetes educator at the Center for Endocrinology at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. 

Ideally, your blood sugar should be above 70 mg., she says. If it's lower, eat a snack before you drive. And take your diabetes supplies with you in the car so you'll be able to check your blood sugar periodically during long drives, Massey says.

Take along some sweets as well. "I recommend that you have snacks in the car," says Mary Ellen Roberts, DNP, of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. "Keep hard candy or even a tube of gel icing that you can squirt under your tongue if feel yourself developing hypoglycemia."

If you suddenly feel hypoglycemic, pull your car over to a safe location immediately, says Massey. Test your blood sugar and if it's low, treat it with 15 grams of a fast-acting carbohydrate (4 glucose tablets or 4 ounces of juice or regular soda, for instance.) Wait 15 minutes and then retest your blood sugar to make sure it's gone up to the target range before starting to drive again.

Watch out for high blood sugar, too, if you're planning to drive. Hyperglycemia can cause symptoms like blurry vision, Massey says. "It could potentially impact your visual acuity, which is important for safe driving," she explains.

And, says Spyros Mezitis, MD, of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, high blood sugar also can cause weakness and lethargy - two reasons to not get behind the wheel. "If your blood sugar is over 300, you should not be driving," he says. If you have diabetic complications like retinopathy or neuropathy, these could impact your driving ability, too. "A diminished sensation in the hands and feet can certainly impact one's ability to drive safely in regards to operating the steering wheel and pushing the pedals," Massey says. "And diabetic retinopathy can impact vision in different ways."

To determine if your eye disease is advanced to the point where you should not be driving, get regular eye exams from your ophthalmologist and discuss any changes you've noticed in your vision, Massey advises.

Source:

"Driving and diabetes: one size does not fit all." 20 December 2011. Marketwire. Msnbc.com. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45741348\

10 Healthy, Kid-Friendly Kitchen Must-Haves

Want your kids to start enjoying the healthy meals and snacks you prepare for them? You may need to rethink your grocery shopping list. If you're buying the same items week in and week out, your child may be bored with your cooking. Switch things up a bit, nutrition experts suggest, by buying the makings for meals kids will love despite the fact that the meals are healthy.

Here's what to add to your list, suggest experts Bonnie Taub-Dix, RD, author of Read It Before You Eat It, Vandana R. Sheth, RD, CDE, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and Karen Ansel, MS, RD, CDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

●Frozen berries. Even when it's not berry season, you can treat your child to nutritious shakes and smoothies made with strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. "These get kids going in the morning, and they are a great hunger squasher in the afternoon," says Taub-Dix. Berries are a powerhouse of antioxidants and vitamins, and they require no peeling or slicing. You can also turn them into a breakfast parfait by layering them with yogurt and crunchy granola.

●Greek yogurt. It's got protein, plus calcium and potassium, and its thick texture makes it a natural for dips. "Make a savory dip by adding a little soup mix to it," advises Taub-Dix. "Or serve as is with apple slices or other fruits." It's also a tasty, healthy alternative to sour cream for topping potatoes, burritos, and tacos, says Ansel.

●Almond butter. For something a little different from peanut butter, try this creamy spread, a good source of fiber, protein, and B vitamins. "Almonds have a higher fiber content than other nuts, and they contain calcium as well as healthy fats," Taub-Dix explains. Besides spreading it on toast or English muffins, you can put it on apple slices for a filling and sweet snack.

●Jicama. It's flavorful and crunchy, and great to serve with hummus or guacamole for dipping. If your kids are getting bored with carrots and celery, give this veggie a place on your table.

●Mangoes. This nutrient-loaded fruit looks like sunshine and tastes so sweet, it's a natural dessert. Try a sundae with lowfat frozen yogurt topped with diced fresh mangoes; make kabobs with chunks of mangoes, whole strawberries, and pineapple chunks (cut tips off skewers before serving to kids); or pack some wedges in your child's lunchbox for dessert.

●Dried fruits. Raisins aren't the only dried fruit to pack for kids to snack on. Pick up some fiber-rich dried cranberries, blueberries, figs, and dates. "Besides a lot of fiber, dried fruit has potassium and antioxidants," says Sheth.  Mix dried fruit with nuts and seeds for a high-fiber, healthy snack.

●Sweet potatoes. These are "super kid friendly," Ansel says. She suggests peeling them and slicing into strips, then tossing with olive oil and baking for a healthy alternative to French fries.

●Bagged coleslaw mix. Not only is this convenient, but it's got fiber and vitamins. "Lighten up coleslaw by swapping full fat mayo for non-fat Greek yogurt and canola oil in the dressing," Ansel says. "Coleslaw makes a great side dish, or use it to add crunch to sandwiches, burgers, and fish tacos."

●Avocadoes. A great source of heart-healthy nutrients like monounsaturated fat, potassium, and fiber, this is the main ingredient in guacamole, Ansel says. Serve the guac with red pepper strips for dipping, she suggests. "The healthy fat in the avocado will help your child absorb fat-soluble nutrients in the peppers," she says.

●Edamame. "Forget about trying to get your kids to eat their peas," Ansel says. "It's much more fun for them to pop open these edamame pods. Not only are they packed with protein, they're an outstanding source of fiber, too."

●Tomato sauce. Don't think of this antioxidant-rich sauce just for pasta, Ansel says. Use it to top veggies or grilled chicken breasts, too. Or for a healthy (and surprising!) breakfast, top toasted English muffin halves with tomato sauce and grated skim mozzarella, then broil until the cheese is melted.