Worried about H1N1?

[MarcM]

This information may serve you well..... I dont know how spot on this all is, but some of it seems like good advice. Any thoughts?

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):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *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.

4. Similar to 3 above, *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.*

5. *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.

6. *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.

[Levis]

#5 explains why I got the flu the ONE day I didn't have any tea

[edna]

Thank you, Marc...

I don't know about tamiflu or other stuff, but I was told by doctors that tylenol was just as good in people who are healthy... it should only really worry people with breathing or lungs problems.

I hope I won't get it a second time this winter when everybody will... I already got the swine flu in August...

[Jenny]

Thanks for posting that. I don't know how I'm gonna got the 5 year old to gargle with salt or to do the nostril thing, but I could try that stuff. My 5 year old cannot keep her hands out of her mouth, especially since she has another tooth that's getting loose.

[skybluesky]

I like that slapping is allowable face touching.

[pinkstones]

I'm not worried about swine flu, no. I do most of those things anyway, just because I can't stand getting sick and avoid it all costs.

[MarcM]

A once of prevention and all that.....

Jenny, the warm drinks should help with the no gargling. Mya loves mint tea.

[skybluesky]

I wonder if number 4 is on par with why you put Zycam on the inside of your nose. I always thought that was weird.