Flu Season

It is flu season again - don't forget to head out for your flu shot. I've had it every year for the last four years, with good results.

Look To The Internet For Emotional Wellness

My father was a 'walking dead man.' He retired about 10 years ago, and until this summer he did nothing but veg in front of the television. He worked as much as possible for friends, but for the most part, his depression robbed him of his vitality and interest in life.

This ended last summer when my son, in a most unusual way, 'woke him up.' How? I have parental control on my computer. My parents don't. So, my dad walked in on my son playing online casino. There was no cash involved, but my dad, in his 'guy' fashion decided to teach my son how to play.

Now, they are often visiting sites like pro360 looking for new poker sites. Of course, the rule is no cash involved. And, the rule is sticking. Even though my dad and son live so far apart they can only meet once a year, they meet every night on a different poker site.

Would I have chosen this venue? Never. But, it has worked for both of them. My son is learning how quickly lady luck turns, and my father is involved in his grandson's life.

Important Facts About the Flu

The flu is a respiratory infection, despite the fact that it causes full body pain, digestive upsets, and headaches. The flu can sweep through entire communities in a matter of days, moving through schools, work places, and shopping centers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 5 to 20 percent of Americans are infected with the flu during each flu season, typically from November to March. Children are two to three times more likely than adults to become ill. The CDC estimates that 200,000 people are hospitalized each year and about 36,000 people die from the flu and its complication.

The danger of the flu is that it spreads to epidemic proportions within days, and it mutates, making it difficult to prevent. Each strain of flu reacts differently in the body, making it impossible to predict how the next epidemic will hit society.

The government is now encouraging people to cough into their upper arm, or sleeve, if they do not have a tissue. They should also wipe their hands after they cough. This prevents the spread of the disease between people working in close proximity of each other.

Hand washing needs to be done with a soap based, or alcohol based hand cleaner. The new bacterial cleaners may not work unless they are alcohol based.

The elderly, newborn babies, and people with certain chronic illnesses, however, the flu and its complications can be life-threatening. The danger caused by an out-break dependsd on the virus strain.

Flu is caused by a variety of influenza viruses. Researchers identified the first strains in the 1930s. They classify influenza viruses into types A, B, and C.
• Type A is the most common and causes the serious epidemics.
• Type B outbreaks can cause epidemics, but the symptoms are milder than those in type A.
• Type C viruses, has never been connected with an epidemic.
There is no cure for the flu. The only plan of action is plenty of bed rest, drinking fluids, and taking medications that alleviate the symptoms.
This is followed by careful attention to symptoms. The flu can turn into a bacterial infection, resulting in pneumonia, within hours. It is important to remember that complications can appear after the patient starts to feel better.

Complications include a high fever, shaking, chills, chest pains, and may include vomiting and diarrhea. A doctor should be consulted if coughing produces a yellow-green mucus, especially if it is expectorated from the body. This means, that it is coughed hard from the body with force, sending it several feet away – if the patient did not have a tissue.

It is important to remember that influenza A virus is resistant to Rimantadine and amantadine. The CDC recommends that you not take these medicines to treat the flu. Avoid giving aspirin to children and adolescents with the flu, and do not take antibiotics.

IF a pandemic breaks out, visit http://www.pandemicflu.gov/ to learn the news, and learn what you can do to protect yourself and your family. This site tracks the all forms of the flu, and has tutorials to help people protect themselves in case of a flu pandemic.

Surviving the Flu

An aggressive flu hit the western United States over the holidays. The California and Utah health departments reported widespread outbreaks in the first part of the year and a rash of cases have cropped up in nearby states. The most vulnerable are babies, the elderly, and people who have trouble breathing. These people should see a doctor, according to Roger Baxter, the chief of infectious diseases for Kaiser Permanente's Northern California region.

The flu can cause death, especially in the very young and very old. However, the flu strains have become more dangerous, resulting in serious complications for some people.

The bright spot, says Joseph Bresee, an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is that the vaccine seems to be working well against the most prevalent strain of flu.

The fist step to preventing a serious bout of the flue is to get a flue shot early in the year. There are many myths associated with the flu shot. The shot is safe and it is effective.

It is important to get the shot early in the season as it typically takes two weeks for the body to build immunity.

Cleanliness is vitally important. There is no solid proof that anti-bacterial hand washes prevent the flu, but they do help. It is a common myth that the flu is air-born. Most flu strains are passed on by touch. The most important thing is to clean surfaces daily. This includes commonly touched surfaces like the telephone, door handles, the remote control, light switches, faucets, cell phones, car steering wheels, and keyboards.

Viruses are transferred by touch, but they enter the body through the nasal passages, eyes, and mouth. This is why washing should be done several times a day in the flu system. The area around the finger nails, nose, and mouth should be given extra attention.

People need to remember that they will bring most viruses home from work, the market, and friend’s homes. It is important to keep gloves clean, and to leave all outdoor clothing in a closet at the front of the house.

Caution is the key. The old saying, ‘it is better to be safe than sorry,’ applies to protecting a home from viruses.

Avoiding sick people should be a key focus. This can be impossible. The next best thing is to avoid touching common surfaces like copier buttons, doorknobs, and bathroom fixtures. If there is someone at home in a high risk category, then wearing plastic gloves in the bathrooms, is not an excessive caution.

Many people overlook the most common methods of preventing the flu. Reduce stress, sleep eight hours, exercise, eat well, and maintaining a positive mindset will improve your immune system. Changing bedding frequently in the flu season will decrease the amount of bacteria and viruses the body needs to deal with.

Once the body is protected, and the total level of viruses and bacteria it needs to fight are decreased, then supplements can be added. These can range from ginger and peppermint, to herbal remedies, or drugs.

Author: Ethan Miller advises on health issues from his web site http://www.lowcarbrescue. He invites you to receive his FREE health information guide here com at http://asthmaroom.com

Boosting the Immune System

A strong immune system is vital for a long, healthy, and active life. A strong immune system is important to good health. You can help your immune system remain strong by following these easy tips.

The immune system is built around white bloodcells, amino acids and specialized organs. Its is designed to eliminate and destroy virus, toxins, dead cells, and mutated cells like cancer cells.

Release Toxins

Clean the natural exits that clean toxins from your body. This includes the bowels and the skin. Drink pure water to increase the urine is clear. This will require five pints of water a day. You should also have a bowl movement every day.

Clean the sweat from your body. Sweating a couple times a week will expedite cleaning toxins from the body, but only if the sweat is cleaned away. If sweat is not cleaned away, or the skin pours are blocked, then toxins are trapped in the fat muscles under the skin.

Clean the Blood

There are several foods that help clean the blood. The blood is the heart of the immune system. While 70 per cent of your immune system is in your bowels, the blood is responsible for white blood cell creation and cleaning away toxins.

Season Changes

Herbs and tonics are often prescribed during a season change to help adapt to the new climate. By planning ahead you can reduce the frequency and severity of catching the common cold and flu. Herbs that help are astragalus, ganoderma and cordyceps.

Use herb supplements. Natural products have different levels of the compounds that help the immune system, and they may include toxins.

Garlic has a good reputation, but most people will never eat enough to help. Ginger, onions, and citric fruits are good. The most important habit should be eating a well balanced diet that includes different colors of fruits and vegetables.

Keep in mind that while these herbs are effective individually, they should be prescribed in the content of an herbal formula to enhance synergistic action and minimize possible side-effects.

Reduce Sugar Intake

Only 8 tbsp. of sugar, or one can of soda, will reduce the body’s ability to create white blood cells and kill germs by 40 percent. The immune-suppressing effect of sugar begins within thirty minutes and may last for five hours.


Alcohol

Alcohol harms the body's immune system in two ways. First, it deprives the body of immune- boosting nutrients. Second, it can reduce the ability of white cells to kill germs.

Three or more drinks damage to the immune system.

Cut Fat

Obesity may lead to a depressed immune system effecting the white blood cell’s ability to multiply, produce antibodies, and rush to the site of an infection.

Emotions

A recent experiment in the New England Journal of Medicine (Cohen '91) confirmed that this is a correlation between emotions and the immune system. The researcher gave almost 400 people a psychological stress questionnaire designed to measure helplessness and negative emotions.

He then gave them nose drops containing cold virus. The chances of getting cold symptoms turned out be amazingly predictable from the test scores.

So, if you want to be healthy, watch your diet, stay away from alcohol an sugar, and find something to smile about.

Sinus Infection and Ginger

The flu often causes a bad case of sinus infection. This itself can lead to breathing, sleeping, and lung problems. Many people suffer with sinus infection then go on a bout of antibiotics. However, there is an easier way.

Eating ginger, candied ginger, and drinking ginger beer, or at the least, ginger ale, will help combat the infection. Ginger seems to have the ability to burn through the infection, bringing relief.

High quality peppermint will do the same, but i prefer ginger.

Ginger is a blessing for people who suffer from breathing problems, and have recurring sinus infections. It is far cheaper than over-the-counter drugs, and it works to burn out the infection instead of just covering the symptoms.