The Healthy Geezer

Q

A

ACROSS

1 -- Valley, Calif. 5 Indent key 8 Booty 12 Portent 13 Hot temper 14 Corduroy ridge 15 Arm of the Arctic Ocean 17 Desire 18 Sub detector 19 Sun ower State 21 Study all night 24 Pvt.’s superior 25 Salamander 28 Canal feature 30 Acapulco gold 33 “The Greatest” 34 Continental cash 35 “Awesome!” 36 Sweetie 37 Apple computer 38 Memory unit 39 A billion years 41 Crazy 43 Treat badly 46 Available 50 Contented sounds 51 Left the band 54 “-- Rhythm” 55 Actress Mendes 56 Now, on a memo 57 Cuts o 58 Gym unit 59 Egyptian deity

DOWN

1 Scatters seeds 2 Texter’s “As I see it” 3 Chow -4 Unbroken 5 “-- the season ...” 6 Exist 7 Toucan’s feature 8 Tried to hit a homer 9 Veteran’s tale 10 Pond growth 11 Pop music’s Bee -16 Goof up 20 Requests 22 Grad 23 Aesopian ending 25 “Unh-unh” 26 “Evil Woman” gp. 27 Port authority? 29 Designer Chanel 31 Squealer 32 Poetic tribute 34 Drei minus zwei 38 Dwarf tree 40 Expels 42 Camp bed 43 Postal delivery 44 “Othello” villain 45 Ornamental jug 47 Pitch 48 Jai -49 Band in Boston? 52 Prior night 53 Snooze

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers di er from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

The Healthy Geezer Germs are everywhere — even on pets

BY FRED CICETTI

Q

Is it my imagination, but am I getting fewer fevers than I did when I was younger?

AThe immune system doesn’t function as e ciently in older adults as it does in younger people. The body’s fever response to infection is not always automatic in elderly people. More than 20% of adults over age 65 who have serious bacterial infections do not have fevers.

This brings us to germs, which are de ned as microbes that cause disease. Infectious diseases caused by microbes are the leading cause of death.

Microbes are microscopic organisms that are everywhere. Some microbes cause disease. Others are essential for health. Most microbes belong to one of four major groups: bacteria, viruses, fungi or protozoa.

Bacteria are made up of only one cell. Less than 1% of them cause diseases in humans. Harmless bacteria live in human intestines, where they help to digest food. Foods such as yogurt and cheese, are made using bacteria.

Some bacteria produce dangerous poisons. Botulism, a severe form of food poisoning, is caused by toxins from bacteria. However, several vaccines are made from bacterial toxins.

Viruses are among the smallest microbes. They consist of one or more molecules that contain the virus’ genes surrounded by a protein coat. Most viruses cause disease. They invade normal cells then multiply.

There are millions of types of fungi. The most familiar ones are mushrooms, yeast, mold and mildew. Some live in the human body, usually without causing illness. In fact, only about half of all types of fungi cause disease in humans. Penicillin and other antibiotics, which kill harmful bacteria in our bodies, are made from fungi.

Protozoa are a group of microscopic one-celled animals. In humans, protozoa usually cause disease. Some protozoa, like plankton, are food for marine animals. Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite.

You can get infected by germs from other people in many ways, including transmission through the air from coughing or sneezing; direct contact such as kissing or sexual intercourse; and touching infectious material on a doorknob, telephone, automated teller machine or a diaper.

A variety of germs come from household pets. Dog and cat saliva can contain any of more than 100 germs that can make you sick.

Mosquitoes may be the most common insect carriers of disease. Mosquitoes can transmit malaria. Fleas that pick up bacteria from rodents and can then transmit the plague to humans. The tiny deer tick can infect humans with Lyme disease.

We become immune to germs naturally and arti cially. Before birth, we received natural immunity from our mothers. Once we are exposed to a germ, we develop natural immunity to it from special cells in our immune systems. Arti cial immunity can come from vaccines.

Most infections caused by microbes fall into three major groups: acute infections, chronic infections and latent infections. The common cold is an acute infection. Hepatitis C, which affects the liver, is a chronic viral infection. Chickenpox is an example of a latent infection that can emerge many years later and causes a disease called “shingles.”

Hand-washing is a simple and e ective way to stop the transmission of germs. Health care experts recommend scrubbing your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.

It is especially important to wash your hands before touching food, after coughing or sneezing, after changing a diaper, and after using the toilet.