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While most people are aware of the need to vaccinate children, immunizations for adults are just as important. But unfortunately, adult immunization rates are well below government goals. According to the American College of Physicians, 40,000 to 50,000 adults die from vaccine preventable diseases each year in the U.S. Knowing what vaccines to get and when to get them can be tricky, especially if you have a complicated medical history. “By talking to your internist, you can assess your vaccination status and find out what steps you need to take to stay healthy,” says David L. Bronson, MD, FACP, president, American College of Physicians, a national organization of internal medicine physicians. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Be proactive and ask your physician at your next appointment what shots you are due to receive.

Here are some recommended immunizations to discuss:

Flu / Influenza

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all adults receive the influenza vaccine each year. Despite the wide accessibility of the shot, which is often administered in workplaces and retailers, only 39 percent of adults received the vaccine in the 2011-2012 flu season. This season, be sure to protect yourself against the flu. The vaccine is especially important for seniors and those with chronic conditions for whom the flu can be life-threatening. Just be aware that not all forms of the vaccine are recommended for everyone. If you have an immune system disorder or are pregnant, talk with your physician.

Tetanus, Diphtheria & Whooping Cough

According to the CDC, 5 percent of adults with whooping cough are hospitalized or have complications, including pneumonia and death. Protect yourself against this dangerous disease, as well as diphtheria and tetanus by getting the Tdap vaccination. Follow up with booster tetanus (Td) shots every 10 years. Tdap vaccination is recommended for nearly all adults, including persons 65 years and older; but is especially important for pregnant women, adults who are in contact with infants, and health care professionals. If you are not sure if you’re due, check with your doctor about getting vaccinated. 

Measles, Mumps & Rubella

If you never had these diseases as a child, nor were immunized against them, talk with your internist. These diseases, which can have serious complications for adults, are highly contagious and can be caught just by talking with an infected person. One series of two shots protects you.

Pneumococcal

Infections of the lungs, blood, or brain caused by this bacteria lead to 22,000 deaths each year in the U.S. A single shot protects against them. If you have chronic health conditions or you're over 65 and your pneumococcal vaccination was more than five years ago, ask your internist if you need a booster. More information on adult immunizations can be found at www.acponline.org. So much of your health is based on chance. Keeping up with adult vaccinations is one way you can take control of your health and safety. If you can’t remember the last time you were immunized, talk to your doctor about getting back on track.

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Veterans Day is coming, an annual opportunity for communities and families to honor former U.S. service members. And as these heroes age, it’s important to keep their stories and sacrifices alive by listening and learning.

Here are some great ways to commemorate veterans this holiday:

Listen to a Story

You may not think about it much, but everyone has a lesson to share and a story to offer. World War II for example, which killed and injured more people than any other war in human history, impacted an entire generation -- from soldiers on the frontlines of battle, to children at home participating in the war effort. Learn about both world history and your family’s history by talking to older relatives and friends about their experiences and trials. You may even consider tape recording the conversation so you can share the personal account with others. If you have a story yourself, consider writing it down or retelling it at the next family gathering.

Read a War Memoir

While reading and understanding the past is possible by delving into a standard-issue textbook, there is nothing like an eyewitness account to get a true feel for a crucial time in history. Such accounts can deliver a unique perspective on a familiar story. The tales you discover can help you better connect with history. One such book, the newly released “Terror Before Dawn: A Child At War,” by Anne Raghnild Fagerberg and William Sterling Williams, presents Fagerberg’s account of her childhood experience during World War II under Nazi rule in Norway. Williams, Fagerberg’s son, found her notes after she died of cancer in 1998. She had completed her story shortly before she passed away. Though only a child during the war, Fagerberg did what she could to contribute to winning the war, distributing newspapers and literature of the underground resistance movement. “The reflections of a war survivor offer lessons about courage, survival, rebuilding and freedom,” says Williams. “Her piece of history needed to be preserved.” More information can be found at such websites as www.amazon.com by searching for “Terror Before Dawn.”

Teach Your Children

No one is too young to learn about and honor the past. While children might enjoy a holiday parade, be sure to explain the true meaning of the day so they understand the reason for all the fanfare. Many schools choose to honor veterans by inviting them to speak at assemblies and before history classes. Find out what programs are happening at your school. Visit www.va.gov/kids for ideas on how to talk to kids about war, history and the sacrifice of veterans. Don’t let this Veterans Day pass by unrecognized. Take the time to honor the past.

(StatePoint)

 Putting yourself first may be the key to improving your relationships with others. While this may not sound like an intuitive way to improve your friendships, some experts now believe that by connecting with who we are at the core, we can become more aware of how our feelings govern our interactions and make better choices in the way we communicate. Transformation coach Sally Anderson, author of “Freefall: Living Life Beyond the Edge” (Morgan James Publishing 2012), believes that many of us act with a “default identity,” a way of being that is shaped by our past pain and experiences and our unrecognized feelings. She says that this disassociation from who we really are can be a source of dysfunction in our relationships. But recognizing these problems can be challenging, experts warn. You must be prepared for some honest reflection.

Some of the signs that you’re allowing your unconscious thoughts to sabotage your relationships include:

 • Making the assumption that the other person is in the wrong when your expectations are not met.

 • Placing conditions on your love.

• Displaying a victim mentality.

• Feeling powerless.

• Being resentful.

• Reacting defensively.

• Listening to others in a negative context.

• Becoming withdrawn in your relationships.

• Questioning your commitment to others. The failure to recognize the source of your feelings is a lot like the annoying static you hear when you aren’t properly tuned in to a radio station. So instead of just reacting the next time you’re upset with someone, try tuning-in to yourself. You may find your first reaction isn’t the best reaction. This awareness is crucial to better communication and functional relationships, according to Anderson, who advises taking the following helpful steps:

• Commit to an empowered relationship, don’t just want one.

• Realize that forgiving is not condoning an act.

• Know that when someone specifically aims judgment at you personally, it never has anything to do with you. Quite the contrary, it says more about them than it does about you!

• Take responsibility for your own emotional and mental state and avoid placing blame on others.

• Love unconditionally.

• Be willing to transform yourself. “Extraordinary relationships are possible for those willing to be open, transform themselves, truly listen, and love unconditionally,” says Anderson. “By doing so, we can achieve a level of insight into ourselves and one another that we never thought possible.” For more tips on how self-awareness can improve your relationships, visit www.freefallselfimprovement.com. It just may be that you need to focus more on yourself to become better at dealing with others.