The flu is spread when a person who has the virus sneezes or coughs into the air or onto a surface. When someone breathes in or touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth after touching an item contaminated with the virus, he or she may contract the flu.

Respiratory Health Association applauds Illinois Governor Pat Quinn for taking action to restrict the sale of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) to minors. Senate Bill 1756 ensures that e-cigarettes will be subject to the same laws as conventional cigarettes and other tobacco products when it comes to selling to minors.

A new report from the American Cancer Society shows a steady decline in the death rate from cancer in the U.S. over the past 20 years. “Cancer Statistics, 2014, ”shows the rate for men and women combined fell 20 percent from its peak in 1991 to 2010 – the most recent year for which data is available.

An asthma action plan is a written document developed by a healthcare provider and a person who has asthma (or a parent/guardian of a child with asthma). The plan outlines the steps that should be taken to prevent and handle an asthma episode and is customized for each individual with asthma.

The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) has spent 2013 saluting members of the United States military and veterans, because they suffer from tinnitus disproportionately from the rest of the civilian population. For the past five years, tinnitus has been the number one service-connected disability for veterans from all periods of service and is particularly prevalent in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

Hundreds of people were in close proximity to the deafening bomb blasts at the Boston Marathon, and many have been treated at local hospitals for serious ear injuries. But hearing specialists say an untold number of other people could be suffering from hearing loss or ringing in their ears, called tinnitus, though they did not seek out medical help immediately.

Eight patients enrolled in a Mindfulness-Based Tinnitus Stress Reduction (MBSR) program experienced improvement in their symptoms and in how they perceived their disease, according to a Reuters Health news report.

Hyperacusis is a condition that causes a person to be unable to tolerate everyday noise levels without pain. This condition may be initiated by a disease, by an acoustic trauma event (loud noise exposure), or induced by certain drugs. Hyperacusis Research is the only non-profit dedicated to researching noise-induced pain, which is an under-recognized consequence of overexposure to noise.

From the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team website: “Sunday, November 27th 2005 in a dramatic overtime win, the Seahawks defeated the New York Giants who were called for 11 false start penalties and 3 missed field goals — Courtesy of the 12th MAN’s vocal support.

Earlier this fall, Seattle Seahawks fans at CenturyLink Field broke the world record for loudest stadium crowd with a brain-rattling 136.6 decibels. Weeks later, Kansas City Chiefs fans at Arrowhead Stadium upped the antie with 137.5 piercing decibels of their own.