Last week . Flu sick. Bed was my best friend for days–something, thankfully, to which I am not accustomed.
I received an email forward from my friend Theresa, the kind I typically barely read before clicking "delete"; in this case, something about health. B u t because I'm respecting the whole Swine Flu thing a bit more than I did, say, two weeks ago, I read it. It contained information that was new to me, and I figured if I hadn't heard some of this, maybe a few of you hadn't either. {Thanks to who directed me to the original source!}
Regardless, following these directives won't hurt you and they might just help you. Feel free to cut and paste and forward to everyone in your address book. They'll probably ignore it but you might just be saving a life ;).
Tips to help prevent contracting Swine Flu/H1N1
- The
only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global
epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into
contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not
so much of a problem as proliferation is. - While
you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection,
in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and
development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully
highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead
of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
- Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
- "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap <– that made me giggle).
- Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't
trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the
throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.
Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt
water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on
an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and
powerful preventative method. - Clean your nostrils at least once every day with
warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti
(very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose
hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in
warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population. - Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C
(Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin
C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption. - Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. Drinking
warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse
direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the
stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
Was this stuff news to you? Some of these suggestions were completely new to me!
I posted the SAME forwarded email. The source (that a reader found for me) is at the bottom of my post. http://amysfinerthings.com/preventing-swine-flu
yep. I posted it, too. but I’ll go back and add the original source. so glad to have that now!
I AM a firm believer in boosting our natural immunities (as I explain in my post).
And I HAVE been squirting salt water up my nose, much to my hubby’s amusement. 😉
http://www.writingmomof3.com/2009/10/tips-for-preventing-h1n1-swine-flu.html
I passed it on Facebook. Great tips!
Many people scoff at me, but I am ALL about the saline nasal spray twice a day. It has not only cut down on the number of colds I get in the winter, but it seems to have cut down on the frequency of regular flu I have gotten in the last few years.
As for gargling, I will start now!
Thanks…going to put a link to your post on my FB.
Thanks, Robin. That’s helpful. It occurs to me, though, that wine should do the same thing that gargling with salt water does. I’m just sayin’ . . .
I read that the virus can stay alive in your nose up to 7 days – even when no more symptoms
Okay, I try REALLY, REALLY, hard not to poke fun at my husband. Too much. But I have to share. HAVE TO.
Hubs was sick when I got home from taking the kids to my mom’s house this weekend. Not with the flu but with a head cold. And above all else (of all things) he is demanding foods loaded with PROTEIN because he needs to get better. (Protein??) Lots of PROTEIN and lots of vitamins. I suggested vitamin C and offered to bring some orange juice and he replied “I’m sick woman – I need protein!!”
Tonight he requested something with lots of fresh vegetables. Well, I’m not going to argue about that. But I’m also making sure he gets plenty of fluids and vitamin C and all the other stuff!
You really think you’ve heard it all. And then you hear something that just bewilders and astounds you all over again. 😉
Isn’t is amazing what we continue to learn?
I have always believed in gargling with warm salt water but the Doctor on the Today Show said that it does not do a thing to help. She said it was a waste of time. I think the vitamin C is a real good idea and of course washing hands and keeping your hands away from your face. Which is hard for me to do, I’ve discovered. Did you have the swine flu?
Very informative! I learned a few new things. Hope you are feeling better!
I did not know several of these. But I am going to start doing these things and having my family do them too! Better to be safe than sorry.
That is an interesting list of preventative measures with some that make sense but I have not seen before. Anything we can do to slow the spread of flu means less people in the hospital fighting for their lives.
As far as saline spray in the nose is concerned, anything that can keep optimal moisture levels in the nose keeps us from getting an itchy nose which in turn avoids touching the nose and face. When things get cooler and drier in the fall a humidifier can be very helpful.
This is great info. We aren’t getting the vaccines so were doing all we can to prevent contracting this. I will try to do the salt water thing. *shudder* 🙂