DrDeClutterBlog.com

Swine Flu. Are you freaking-stressed out??? Stop. Don’t freak out!

The bottom line is,  you need to take precautions. But, you’ll notice that these steps aren’t much different from what we should do everyday to have a very healthy and happy life. Some are a few steps up from the regular flu that we’re all aware of each year. (By the way – did you know that our “regular flu” kills over 36,000 people a year in the US alone!?)

Just the few bits of information that you’ve heard in overkill already are:

1. CAUSE: The swine flu is caused by the influenza A (subtype H1N1) virus that normally causes respiratory infections in pigs. 

2. VACCINE: This virus is not the same as the previously identified human form of influenza A subtype H1N1, and it is not expected that this year’s influenza vaccine, which does protect against the human H1N1 flu will provide good protection against the swine flu.

3. WORST CASE SCENARIO: Of greatest concern is the possibility of a repeat of the famous influenza pandemic of 1918-19 that killed about 50 million people in the worst global epidemic in human history. That pandemic of “Spanish flu” (an avian variant of influenza A H1N1)  killed more people than died during World War I, and more than died during the four years of the “Black Death” or bubonic plague, from 1347-1351. 

4. MAN-MADE-BIO-ENGINEERED? We don’t know, and who would tell?

5. AFFECTS HEALTHY PEOPLE MORE THAN NOT: This strain is counter-intuitive. The healthy young body over reacts to it and shuts down. “Regular flu” affects weaker bodies.

6. LESS THAN WORST CASE SCENARIO: This could be a sub-pandemic, creating havoc everywhere, but not massive death.

7. ON A GOOD NOTE: Viruses diminish in strength over time. Since this virus hasn’t rampaged thousands already (that we know of), it may already be waning. We won’t know until we know. It has only “traveled” because of air traffic. No planes, no travel. Too late.

8. WHAT TO DO: Prevention is the magic bullet since flu shots and over-the-counter-flu medications don’t cover the strain completely anyway.

PREVENTION: Common sense measures that are the same as with other flu outbreaks.

1. Wash Hands
And wash them often, in hot soapy water, and for the amount of time it takes you to sing “Happy Birthday” twice (15-20 seconds). You can use alcohol/germ killing gels (see more on this here), but hot soapy water + friction + time is the key.

2. Avoid Contact with Sick People
Stay clear of mucus, flem and spit. Flu virus is spread when particles dispersed into the air through a cough or sneeze reach someone else’s nose. So if you’re coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth (and then wash your hands), and if you have to be around someone who is sick, try to stay a few feet away from them and avoid physical contact.

3. Face Mask
Even these minimal paper masks will provide some help in preventing those who HAVE the flu from spreading it through the virus carrying droplets in coughs and sneezes. Unfortunately, those masks are ineffective when it comes to protecting those uninfected individuals from inhaling the virus.

4. Get Enough Sleep 
Get around 8 hours of good rest each night to keep your immune system in top flu-fighting shape.

5. Keep Hydrated
Drink 8-10 8-oz. glasses of water each day to flush toxins from your system and maintain good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.

6. Eat Immune-Boosting Foods
Keeping your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection is important in flu prevention. Fatty foods can slow your metabolism, make you feel sluggish, and compromise your immune system. So stick with whole grains, colorful vegetables, and vitamin-rich fruits.

7. Avoid Alcohol
In addition to being a mood depressant, alcohol is an immune suppressant that can actually decrease your resistance to viral infections like swine flu. For women, alcohol suppresses estrogen production, which further impairs the immune system. So avoid alcoholic beverages to keep your immune system strong. Plus, it’s easy to lose attention to preventative methods with a few too many.

8. Keep Physically Active
Mild to moderate exercise—for example brisk walking for 30-40 minutes 3-4 times a week—supports the immune system by increasing circulation, oxygenating the body, purging toxins through sweat, and releasing tension and stress.

9. Be Vigilant of Surfaces
Surfaces, chairs and pens especially – be aware of what public surfaces you touch, when you’ve shaken hands with someone, or when you’re using something like a pen that others have recently used–and don’t touch your face until you’ve had a chance to wash your hands. TIP: Carry your own pen to use and not “community” pens.

10. Know When to Get Help
Swine flu can look like regular flu, so don’t feel like you necessarily are infected if you’re exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Call your doctor first before going in as they may be overwhelmed with normal patients, and depending on the area, overwhelmed with people questioning swine flu symptoms. Then, follow your doctors guidance to go in, etc. especially if you live in an area where there are documented cases, or if your symptoms are severe.

11. Keep it in Perspective
Keep your concern and vigilance over swine flu in perspective to keep it from taking over your mind and body. This is not about taking it lightly, but keeping it in line with all others viruses and events that bring about fatalities and chaos, in waves and in our daily living: car accidents, plane crashes, anthrax, Ebola, etc. Too much information and information overload from TV, radio, papers, Internet, etc. can set your adrenaline reeling and your thinking off balance.

12. Stop Scaring Yourself, and Others
Fear, and so stress releases hormones into our bodies that can compromise our immune systems and actually make us more susceptible to viruses like swine flu. Don’t freak out! Keep fear at bay by doing what you can (see all the above) and get on with everyday life. Don’t keep talking about it, don’t keep reading about it, don’t keep thinking about. Do what you can do, and enjoy life!

Remember, you can’t get back the time you were catastrophizing about this. This too shall pass, and then there will be something else, like always!

My condolences to all humans affected and dying from this virus.

And, my sadness for all the pigs being killed who have nothing to do with it.