Avoiding the Flu
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you have probably heard of the Swine flu, more recently known as H1N1. This flu has been much hyped in the media, and terror spread across the nation last June when the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic. Fear is beginning to mount again, as fall approaches and children of all ages return to school and university. Since this virus has been shown to spread very rapidly, containing it is a major concern among academic institutions and nations around the world.
Though it’s easy to get caught up in the hype, remember that the media is not really looking out for your best interests. As in all things, they are trying to boost ratings and make a buck, and they long ago determined that the best way to do this is to scare you! What better way than with the health of your children? (Have you ever noticed that they love to get you glued to the edge of your chair by trumpeting, “Up next, the newest threat to your child’s safety!”)
H1N1 is not really new. In fact, many other flus have been referred to as “H1N1.” The H1N1 outbreak in Mexico in April of this year, commonly referred to as the “swine flu,” was actually, as is the case every year, a mutation of previous flus. It is technically a mutation from a human, a bird, and a swine flu.
What can you do to avoid the Swine flu, and whichever “common” flu is headed our way this fall? Try this:
1. Don’t panic. Stress is one of the worst things for your health. Stress and worry actually weaken your immune system. They also keep you from sleeping well, which further wears down the body’s defenses. Worry will not solve anything. As they say, the best defense is a good offense.
2. Use common sense. If you are sick, stay home! If a co-worker comes to work obviously ill, consider asking him or her to go home. Keep your children home if they are ill.
Remember that the common flu that circulates every year kills over 36,000 Americans annually. That’s an average of 1000 deaths per week in the U.S. alone during flu season. This past spring, it is estimated that H1N1 killed 700 people worldwide. Is it really as terrifying as the media is making it out to be? Maybe, but maybe not.
3. Employ good hygiene. Wash your hands frequently, but remember that antibacterial soaps are generally very drying to the skin and because of this they can actually weaken your defenses by leaving tiny cracks in your skin which allow germs to enter your body. Contrary to conventional wisdom, killing every germ in sight (or out of sight, as is actually the case) may not be to your benefit. Our bodies need to exercise their immune systems, just like we need to exercise our muscles. “Use it or lose it,” as they say. A sterile environment was never intended for human inhabitants. Think twice before you chase your children around with bottles of diluted bleach or Lysol. Wash your hands often, but not obsessively, and opt for regular old soap and water, which is much less likely to breach the body’s number one defense: the skin! Be sure to rub your hands together for 20-30 seconds, when washing. And, if you don’t have soap and water available, remember that recent studies have shown that the act of rubbing the hands together when we wash them is actually what annihilates the most germs. If you are lacking soap and water, rub your hands together vigorously for 30 seconds, or rub them on your pants (provided your pants are fairly clean).
Keep your hands out of your eyes, nose, ears and mouth. These openings into the body are not as well defended because they’re not covered by skin. The eyes and nose are especially susceptible. If you have just been in the subway, or have shaken someone’s hand, for example, try to avoid rubbing your eye until after you’ve washed your hands. Remember, you may be touching your face without even realizing it; studies have shown that people touch their faces an average of 15 times an hour!
Always cover your cough or sneeze, and don’t be afraid to ask others to do so! It is tiny droplets of spittle that transmit many illnesses, so avoiding them is key to avoiding the flu.
4. Take care of your immune system, so it will take care of you! Sleep! Americans are notoriously sleep-deprived. You are doing yourself a great disservice if you burn the candle at both ends. Not only will it age you faster, it will weaken your immune system. Sleep is when your body repairs itself and replenishes the enzymes and hormones that keep you going daily. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, you are sending an invitation to every germ you meet.
Take your vitamins and minerals. The antioxidants (A/beta-carotene, C, E, selenium, etc) are especially important in supporting the immune system, and so is the mineral zinc, but in truth a balance of all vitamins and minerals is always important, so a good quality multivitamin and mineral taken daily is important, especially during flu season. Don’t overdo it! In our culture, it is all too common to think, “If some is good, more must be better.” Just be consistent: take your multi every day, and always drink plenty of water.
Don’t smoke. Cigarettes paralyze the little hairs, called cilia, that line the respiratory tract, including the nose and throat. These cilia are another of the body’s defenses against invaders; they constantly sweep upward and outward, ridding the body of viruses before they can infect you.
Limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol can weaken the immune system, because it causes the body to utilize some vitamins faster than it otherwise would. Alcohol is also notorious for interrupting sleep.
Remember: A person with a healthy immune system comes in contact with just as many germs as anyone else. The difference? A person with a healthy immune system is able to fight off the germs, and may never have any idea he or she was even infected. Don’t make the mistake of believing that some people are just luckier and avoid germs. The truth is that their immune systems simply fight off the bacteria and viruses that come their way, while a suppressed immune system isn’t capable of mounting the appropriate response to invaders.
Another word to the wise: don’t over-stimulate your immune system on a regular basis. Sure, antioxidants, echinacea, goldenseal, certain mushrooms, and many other herbs and plant extracts can be extremely beneficial in treating a flu, but if you take these things “preventively,” you may not get a boost from them when you actually need it. If the immune system is constantly stimulated, it may not be able to mount the appropriate response when you contract the flu and need it to come to your defense! Think of the immune system as a trusty workhorse. If well fed, watered, and allowed to sleep, it should serve you well every day. Immune stimulants are like a horsewhip. It may be okay to employ the whip now and then, but if you use it constantly, eventually your poor, exhausted horse will not be able to go on and will collapse at your feet! The immune system should be allowed to respond normally to the daily needs of the body, and should only be stimulated when you first feel a flu coming on.
5. Don’t wait to seek medical attention! Naturopathic medicine is extremely effective at treating the flu, but it is most effective if used as early as possible in the disease. If you are beginning to feel a bit under the weather, get in to see your naturopath immediately! He or she will have many suggestions to shore up your immune system, and your flu will probably be shorter and less serious than it will be if you wait to seek treatment. If you tend to catch every cold or flu, consider making an appointment before flu season starts, to see if there are underlying reasons your immune system isn’t working as well as it should.