Thursday, October 29, 2009

Tips for Preventing H1N1 or Swine Flu....

After a recent visit to the allergist who gave us some tips on avoiding the swine flu and having received this great e-mail with additional suggestions I thought I would pass this information along to my readers.... I learned a few new tips & I hope these will help you all stay healthy too!

Prevent Swine Flu - Good Advice

By Dr. Vinay Goyal ~ Presently, he is heading the Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).

The only portals of entry for the H1N1 virus (or any virus for that
matter) are the nostrils and mouth/throat.

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:

1. Frequent hand-washing



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

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. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.



4. Clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt
water. 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. Sinus rinse kits are available at the drug store and
relatively inexpensive. (neti pots)



5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C
(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 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.



Please feel free to share this information on your blogs, facebook, twitter etc...

3 comments:

Jona Giammalva said...

Great post Kristen!! So very do-able (and everyone should own a neti pot!).

Jane Carlstrom said...

Great overview and seems to be on spot. Yes, the salt water is so good and so simple.

Jenn said...

Very helpful, Thanks!