Weekly Health Quiz - Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Quiz 1

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

According to the CDC (Jul 2014)

"Whooping cough is very contagious and most severe for babies." 
"There are two vaccines used in the United States to help prevent pertussis: DTaP and Tdap. Both also provide protection against tetanus and diphtheria."
"Children younger than _____ old get DTaP, while older children and adults get Tdap .""CDC recommends that all adults ____ of age and older who didn't get Tdap as a preteen or teen should also get one dose of Tdap."
Before assumming that you received the Tdap vaccine, note that this was not avialable "before 2005." "Before 2005, the only booster available contained protection against tetanus and diphtheria (called Td), and was recommended for teens and adults every 10 years. "*

a) 7 years ; 19 years
b) 7 years ; 50 years
c) 12 years ; 19 years
d) 12 years ; 50 years


Answer(s) and source(s)
a) 7 years ; 19 years

CDC: Pertussis http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pertussis/

*  http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/prevention.html

Weekly Health Quiz - Breast Cancer Risks

Breast Cancer

SmartzBlox / DoctorzBlox Weekly Health Quiz

According to the CDC (Aug 2013), which of the following (among several others) are risk factors for developing breast cancer?

a) "Not getting regular exercise."
b) "Drinking alcohol (more than one drink a day)."
c) "Being overweight (increases risk for breast cancer after menopause)."
d) "Long-term use of hormone-replacement therapy."
e) all of the above




Answer: (e) all of the above
Source: CDC 2013
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/risk_factors.htm

Oct 11, 2013; revised Aug 17, 2014

Weekly Health Quiz - High Fructose Corn Syrup

"Sugar" (Sucrose) vs High Fructose Corn Syrup

Sucrose, or "table sugar" is a sugar disaccharide composed of equal amounts of glucose (aka dextrose or d-glucose) and fructose.

Therefore, common table "sugar" contains 50% fructose and 50% glucose.  Fructose makes up 70% of the sugars in apples and is the primary or majority sugar in many fruits. (1)

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contains the monosaccharides glucose and fructose in varying amounts depending on the formulation.
The common formulations of HFCS contain either
____ fructose (for baking) or
____ fructose (for soft drinks) (1,2)

a) 22% ; 25% (nearly half the amount in "sugar")
b) 42% ; 55% (similar amounts to common "sugar")
c) 62% ; 75%                    d) 92% ; 95% (nearly twice the amount in "sugar")

Sources
(1) http://www.realfooduniversity.com/best-sweetener/
(2) http://nutrition.about.com/od/grainsandcereals/f/fructosesyrup.htm

additional resource:  http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/sugar2.htm

Answer: (b) 42% ; 55% (similar amounts to common "sugar")

(c) 2013 zBlox.com / SmartzBlox / DoctorzBlox
Oct 5, 2013 ; revised Aug 10, 2014

Weekly Health Quiz - Salt

Salt

DoctorzBlox / SmartzBlox Weekly Health Quiz - Sep 28, 2013
Sodium (Salt)

According to the CDC (2012)

"Americans eat on average about 3,300 mg of sodium a day. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend limiting sodium to less than _____ mg a day, and about 6 out of 10 adults should further limit sodium to ____ mg a day."  In contrast, the American Heart Association (2011) gives a single recommendation for sodium (the lower of the two above numbers).

a) 1,800 ; 1,200
b) 2,300 ; 1,500
c) 2,500 ; 2,000
d) 3,000 ; 2,500

Answer: (b) 2,300 ; 1,500
AHA: "1,500 mg a day"

Sources:
"Where's the sodium? There's too much in many common foods" - Feb 2012
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/VitalSigns/Sodium/

AHA (2011)
"1,500 mg a day"
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Sodium-Salt-or-Sodium-Chloride_UCM_303290_Article.jsp#mainContent

(c) 2013 SmartzBlox / zBlox.com