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How to Avoid Catching Swine Flu
This article is the extensive review on the methods to avoid catching Swine F...
How to Avoid Catching Swine Flu
Ganja S. RaiJuly 2009
Maejo UniversityThailand
After the SARS virus and the Avian Flu, the latest alien visiting the earth is H1N1 Flu.Now that the alien has reached a global epidemic level and continues to claim hundredsof lives daily, many people around the world are becoming anxious that they might catchthe H1N1 flu (aka Swine Flu). It is impossible to go anywhere without hearing about theswine flu. It is all over the newspapers, TV and a popular conversation piece. Because of the daunting scares associated with the H1N1 virus and swine flu epidemic, you may bewondering if there is anything that you can do to prevent the swine flu from affecting youand your family.Basically, there are three things one can do to prevent or minimize the chances of gettingboth the swine flu and the seasonal flu.1.
The first one is to practice good personal hygiene and follow strict sanitationprocedures.2.
The second regime to keep the virus at bay is to stay healthy by boosting ournatural immune system to fight back the alien. We can develop our bodyimmunity by eating the right foods in sufficient quantity.3.
The last but not the least regime is to relax. The stress weakens immunity.
Who is at Risk for Swine Flu?
It is important to realize that many people who have Swine Flu are better in a couple of days. People with good healthy immune systems should be able to fight off a swine fluinfection. Swine flu may become more of a problem for those who have compromisedimmune systems, the elderly, children and women who are pregnant; these groups of people are not able to fight off the infection as easily. In addition like the seasonal flu,swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions, often seen inthe elderly. Parents and caregivers need to watch those with compromised immunesystems, chronic medical conditions, the elderly, children and women who are pregnant.
I. Good Personal Hygiene and Sanitation Procedures.
The swine flu virus is spread in a similar way to any seasonal flu virus. It can be spreadfrom person to person via airborne germs expelled when an infected person coughs orsneezes and even by touching the objects that have virus on them. The followingmeasures recommended by CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) canhelp to prevent catching flu virus:1.
Wash your hands often with warm water and antibacterial soap.2.
If you are unable to wash your hands regularly, carry an alcohol-based hand washor hand sanitizer (that kills germs) with you and use it regularly.3.
Avoid touching foreign surfaces and public items like such as door knobs andpublic phones, escalator rails, switches/buttons of lift or books and news papers inlibrary. The Swine flu virus is also transferred as you shak
e someone‟s hand.
If you cannot avoid them wash your hands with water and soap or use handsanitizers.4.
Avoid touching your face, especially the areas around your eyes, nose and mouth.5.
Always cover your mouth with tissue papers when you cough or sneeze andproperly dispose them and wash your hands immediately after doing so.6.
Avoid areas or people that may be contaminated.7.
Stay away from people who are sick with flu (at least 6 feet away!).8.
If you need to visit a contaminated area or feel you are at high risk for contractingthe disease, consider wearing aface mask,surgical mask or respirator.
Did you know you could get the flu after handling money?
A2008 articlepublished in the American Society for Microbiology on the "Survival of Influenza Virus on Banknotes" is viewed in a new light with the H1N1 virus. Theauthors concluded that "unusual environmental contamination should be considered inthe setting of pandemic preparedness." They found remnants of influenza virus survivingon paper money for 10 or more days!According to the study, three things need to happen for any flu virus to be transmittedfrom one person to the next by handling money.
A person who has the virus needs to sneeze or cough onto the bill or blow theirnose so mucus stays on the currency.
A second person needs to touch the money while the virus is still viable (alive).
The second person then needs to put his or her contaminated hand in their mouthor pick their nose thereby getting the virus into their mucous membranes.The bottom line in making sure that you don't pick up the flu virus from money is to
make sure you wash your hands frequently
. You might consider keeping handsanitizer with you to use after handling money.
II. Foods that Strengthen the Body Immune System and Help Protect Against Swine Flu
It is likely that a weakened immune system could make you more susceptible to a virus,and that eating well can give your body the best chance of fighting back. There are waysto protect your health in general that can make you less likely to contract the swine fluvirus such as eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of fluids and getting enough vitamins in your daily diet. In such a difficult time it isimportant to rely on both science and natural healing systems to prevent the swine fluvirus. Science recognizes that 80% of your immune system is actually living in thedigestive tract. Much of what our bodies need to fight off infection is in glorious foods.What we eat may help to optimize the strength of the membranes in your ears, nose andthroat to form an internal physical barrier against invading organisms. Proper nutrition isimportant for an energetic immune system.As Dr Nick Phin, the head of Pandemic Flu Planning at the Health Protection Agency,
explains: “A person who
is malnourished is likely to be more susceptible to infectionsand for most people, a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet will be an important factor
in helping to maintain a healthy immune system.”
1. Protein and the Epithelial Cells
Protein-rich foods like meat, chicken, eggs and fish, milk, dairy foods, pulse, vegetables,nuts, seeds and soya-based foods all supply vital nourishment for the epithelial cells inthese membranes. Three average-sized servings a day of any of these are important tomain
tain the integrity of these “barrier” tissues.
. If you are a vegetarian, try canned anddry beans, lentils or soy products such as meatless burgers and tofu or fortified soy milk.
2. Vitamin A and the Respiratory Membranes
Eating plenty of bright orange and dark green fruits and vegetables such as carrots andpumpkins, apricots, mangoes, spinach and cabbage will keep levels of vitamin A toppedup. Vitamin A is needed for making respiratory membranes strong.
3. Vitamin C and the Macrophage Cells
If the virus does penetrate these physical barriers, it is the job of white blood cells toengulf and eat viral invaders. Vitamin C appears to be especially important in playing arole in mobilizing bug-eating macrophage cells, as well as having its own specific anti-viral properties. Given that we cannot store this nutrient in our bodies, ensuring that somevitamin C-rich foods are on the menu each day is important. This can be anything from
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How to Avoid Catching Swine Flu
This article is the extensive review on the methods to avoid catching Swine Flu by folllowing both sanitation measures and eating healthy foods
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