Help stop the spread of the flu
By Brooke Strickland
Writer for FEP International
It’s that time of year again: cold and flu season. But, the flu bug that is going around now is not the same as it has always been. As we have all heard, the H1N1 virus strain is not a friendly one and has been linked to severe sickness and even death. The Department of Health and Human Services is working together with other government departments to help monitor and hopefully curtail the multiplication of this virus. However, the most important part of slowing down the outbreaks that occur begin by each person taking the time to remember to make prevention part of their daily routine, whether it be in their homes, workplaces, schools, or any other public place.
Here are some tips and precautions to keep from getting the flu this year.
* Get your flu shot: Vaccines for the flu as well as the H1N1 strain will be available this fall. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health, the CDC, and the Food and Drug Administration are working to make sure all vaccines are safe and effective. [1]
* Wash your hands: Stay cleanly. Wash your hands often with hot, soapy water to disinfect yourself from the germs that inhabit your hands. If you do not have access to this, carry some alcohol-based hand sanitizer and use this to eliminate germ spreading.
* Stay home if you’re sick: This seems like a no-brainer, but many employees feel like they can’t miss work because they will get behind on their work. Even though this may be the case, do yourself and the others around you a favor and stay home. H1N1 can spread very quickly, and going out in public when you are sick can pose a serious threat to those around you.
Looking for some natural ways to prepare? Read below.
* Take your vitamins: If you do not already take vitamins, now is the time to start. Vitamins are good for your body as a whole and can also help build your immune system to be stronger. Increasing your intake of vitamin C is key to preparing for the cold and flu season.
* Limit alcohol intake: This can make you more susceptible to developing a cold or flu, as drinking alcohol can damage the liver and cause dehydration, making it harder to drain your body of germs.
* Increase water intake: Replenish your body’s water supply by drinking lots of water each day. The recommended amount is 8-10 glasses a day.
* Yogurt does a body good: Recent studies have shown that eating a cup of low fat yogurt a day can help protect and build up your immune system, reducing susceptibility to colds by up to 25 percent. [2]
* Try not to stress: Stress drains your immune system, leaving you more likely to catch what is going around. So take a deep breath, relax, and try your best not to stress.
Sweat it out: We all know that exercise is good for you. Not only does it build strong bones and muscles, it is also very important to We all know that exercise is good for you. It gets your blood pumping and can help build strong bones and muscles. But it is also very important to exercise in order to help build up a healthy immune system. So make sure to incorporate at least a little physical activity into your daily routine.
To learn more about the flu season and ways to prevent the spread of the flu, go to www.flu.gov.
References
[1] 5 Things You Can Do to Help Prevent the Spread of H1N1 and Seasonal Flu. Department of Health and Human Services.
[2] Natural ways to prepare for flu and cold season. EmaxHealth. Accessed on the Web September 28, 2009. http://www.emaxhealth.com/1357/90/33857/natural-ways-prepare-flu-and-cold-season.html
Here are some tips and precautions to keep from getting the flu this year.
* Get your flu shot: Vaccines for the flu as well as the H1N1 strain will be available this fall. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health, the CDC, and the Food and Drug Administration are working to make sure all vaccines are safe and effective. [1]
* Wash your hands: Stay cleanly. Wash your hands often with hot, soapy water to disinfect yourself from the germs that inhabit your hands. If you do not have access to this, carry some alcohol-based hand sanitizer and use this to eliminate germ spreading.
* Stay home if you’re sick: This seems like a no-brainer, but many employees feel like they can’t miss work because they will get behind on their work. Even though this may be the case, do yourself and the others around you a favor and stay home. H1N1 can spread very quickly, and going out in public when you are sick can pose a serious threat to those around you.
Looking for some natural ways to prepare? Read below.
* Take your vitamins: If you do not already take vitamins, now is the time to start. Vitamins are good for your body as a whole and can also help build your immune system to be stronger. Increasing your intake of vitamin C is key to preparing for the cold and flu season.
* Limit alcohol intake: This can make you more susceptible to developing a cold or flu, as drinking alcohol can damage the liver and cause dehydration, making it harder to drain your body of germs.
* Increase water intake: Replenish your body’s water supply by drinking lots of water each day. The recommended amount is 8-10 glasses a day.
* Yogurt does a body good: Recent studies have shown that eating a cup of low fat yogurt a day can help protect and build up your immune system, reducing susceptibility to colds by up to 25 percent. [2]
* Try not to stress: Stress drains your immune system, leaving you more likely to catch what is going around. So take a deep breath, relax, and try your best not to stress.
Sweat it out: We all know that exercise is good for you. Not only does it build strong bones and muscles, it is also very important to We all know that exercise is good for you. It gets your blood pumping and can help build strong bones and muscles. But it is also very important to exercise in order to help build up a healthy immune system. So make sure to incorporate at least a little physical activity into your daily routine.
To learn more about the flu season and ways to prevent the spread of the flu, go to www.flu.gov.
References
[1] 5 Things You Can Do to Help Prevent the Spread of H1N1 and Seasonal Flu. Department of Health and Human Services.
[2] Natural ways to prepare for flu and cold season. EmaxHealth. Accessed on the Web September 28, 2009. http://www.emaxhealth.com/1357/90/33857/natural-ways-prepare-flu-and-cold-season.html
posted by MedRounds Publications at 6:41 PM
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