Viewpoint: Turning 72, Now What Do I Do?

?? Saturday, I turn 72. When I was born, in 1952, the life expectancy for me was 65.8 years. My actuarial table, according to an organization called Senior Living, says that since I made it to 72, odds are I’ll live till I am 84. Guess I need to plan on writing another 624 Viewpoints.

?? With the exception of my dad, who died in his 70’s, the men on his side of the family get pretty old. I had an uncle who died at 105. Grandpa was in his mid90’s, as was great grandpa.

?? ?The only medication I was on for very long was blood pressure medicine; and I haven’t taken that for years because I discovered a natural herbal way to treat blood pressure.

?? ?So, I got to thinking about things I should do to make it easier to get to age 84. Most of you know me. Who would I turn to but the Center for Disease Control (CDC)?

?? Tell me CDC, how do I stay nice and healthy?

?? ?First suggestion on the list was the COVID-19 vaccination. Well, I got COVID twice, so far, and it wasn’t bad. But it was scary; you know ,with 67 trillion people dying. I think it was something like that.

?? ?The CDC will tell you that these are very rare, but they have had side effects including anaphylaxis, which is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction causing breathing problems, hives and low blood pressure. They say 0.3 percent of people experienced this side effect.

?? The second is GBS which is a rare side effect that can cause the immune system to attack healthy nerve cells. Symptoms can include paralysis. No percentage given on that one.

?? ?Third is myocarditis and pericarditis. That occurs when your heart muscle is inflamed. Most doctors associate those with Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.

?? Thrombosis is a rare side effect that causes blood clots and increased blood clotting which can be life threatening. Johnson and Johnson were the winner as most common in the side effect lottery.

?? The second most recommended vaccine is the annual flu shot. I may have had one of those once but I can’t remember for sure.

?? The CDC assures us that in the years the flu shots have been available, they are pretty darn safe. Of course, you could have an allergic reaction in which you could experience difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, swelling around the lips or eyes, hives, paleness, weakness, and a fast heart beat or dizziness. Again, the CDC says those occurrences are very rare.

?? ?They do say, however, that if you think it is a severe allergic reaction you should call 911, or get to the nearest hospital if you can drive with the swelling around your eyes.

?We are running out of space so we will just cover #3: the shingles vaccine.

?? From the CDC: Shingrix causes a strong response in your immune system, helping your body create a strong defense against shingles. As a result, the vaccine may produce temporary side effects which usually last 2 to 3 day. This might affect your ability to do normal daily activities.

?? ?Some people felt tired, had muscle pain, a headache, shivering, fever, stomach pain, or nausea. Some people who got Shingrix experienced side effects that prevented them from doing regular activities. Symptoms went away on their own in about 2 to 3 days.

?? Don’t stop- keep reading.

?? Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a serious nervous system disorder, has been reported very rarely after Shingrix. There is also a very small increased risk of GBS after having shingles. H-m-m-m-m.

?? ?Here’s what I know. Half of the people in the United States trust the CDC. Less than half trust other medical providers. The health system has a place and I use it, but it is broken. And the phrase, Buyer Beware, is appropriate at any age.

?? Just a few thoughts. Hope to write again at 73.

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