Archive - 2009

Swine Flu, H1N1 or the 2009 Influenza A Virus - no matter what you call this flu, you do not want to catch it this year. Since October 2008, the Center for Disease Control has characterized over 2,100 seasonal flu viruses and nearly 500 H1N1 flu cases in the United States of America. In just this last week, the CDC reported one influenza-associated pediatric death; this death was associated with the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. Regardless of the particular type of flu you are trying to avoid, there are many small decisions you can make on an every day basis to reduce the risk of getting the flu. According to the CDC, the spreading of the 2009 H1N1 virus occurs in the same way that the seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are mostly spread through by coughing or sneezing in public. Occasionally, some may even become infected by touching something, like an object or surface, containing flu viruses on it, and then touching their own nose or mouth. The main steps that should be taken to prevent the flu, whether seasonal or the H1N1, include covering your mouth when sneezing or coughing, washing your hands, and eating a healthy diet.

Health professionals have been trained to cough into their sleeves. This is a wonderful, health promoting practice more people should try to embrace. Everyone could stand to be a little more considerate and careful when they sneeze or cough in public. Just turning your head to the side and coughing over your shoulder is not good enough to stop the spread of germs. Because the 2009 H1N1 and most other flu viruses are contagious, we should take every possible effort to decrease the germs we spread. The CDC has suggested two ways to cover our coughs and help fight the spread of germs. First of all, make an effort to cover your cough and mouth with a tissue, then immediately throw the tissue away. If you cannot grab a tissue or paper towel quick enough, cough into the sleeve of your upper arm. The CDC recommends not coughing or sneezing into your hands. This makes perfect sense because when you sneeze into your hands, for example, you just spread all of those germs all over the most used part of your body, thus potentially spreading even more germs than sneezing into the air would have done.

Speaking of germs on the hands, it is extremely important to regularly wash your hands, particularly after coughing, sneezing or using the restroom. A satisfactory washing of the hands consists of washing one's hands for at least 20 seconds under warm water with soap. The water needs to be warm to the touch, but not hot enough that it burns or is uncomfortable. The heat of the water helps fight off germs. The use of soap and a tough scrub on the hands for 20 seconds further helps to kill bacteria. Try to scrub between the knuckles and under fingernail tips. A good way to make sure you are washing your hands for a long enough period of time is to sing a short nursery song, like the ABC's. Children's songs usually last about 20 seconds and make for a fun way to time yourself.

Making healthy food choices is another fantastic way to avoid the flu. There are many ways you could boost your immune system and help keep the flu away. Eating alkalinizing foods is a great immune booster because they are anti-inflammatory. Anti-oxidant rich foods, like fruits and vegetables, are excellent in preventing chronic inflammation. If you want to make your diet more alkaline rich, try to eat more lean meats, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Adding green tea, cold pressed olive oil and drinking lots of water to flush out harmful toxins are also recommendations for fighting off the flu.

Obviously, preventing the flu is much easier than treating it. So, be careful and limit unnecessary contact with potentially germ covered surfaces. Cough into tissues, wash your hands and eat powerful anti-oxidant containing foods. While these remedies may seem obvious, sometimes they are east to forget. It is especially important to make healthy choices during flu-season, particularly with the threats of the H1N1 again. Be sure to take your protective measures today, tomorrow and every day.

Courtney Lewis is the manager of the bath and body workshop where you can learn how Bath Salts work. Follow the link to learn more about her most recent venture, the bath and body gift basket store, Sweetly You.