This time of the year respiratory flu, influenza, is usually in high gear, but it seems this year it’s still waiting in the wings to strike us when we aren’t looking. Or should I say, not paying attention? Now I want to be clear that I am talking about cough, fever, head ache, and muscle ache flu; not vomiting and diarrhea, intestinal flu. Most cases of intestinal flu are actually food poisoning; we can discuss that in a later post.
Consider that every year influenza causes more than 36,000 deaths in the United States, more than 114,000 hospitalizations, and untold days off of work. Depending on the severity of the epidemic, between 15 and 40 percent of school kids get the flu each year, and half of them end up seeing a doctor. Just think of what that costs. What a waste! Let’s have a look at some of the ways to keep from getting the flu or any other infectious disease.
1) Wash your hands. How many times did your mother tell you to wash them? And now how many times did your son or daughter tell you they aren’t dirty? But they are! You don’t have to be a “hand washing freak”, but every time you shake hands, give a hi-five, touch a door know or another person, you pick up germs. Now, germs won’t make you sick if they stay on your hands, but they don’t! They go where ever your hands go, into your eyes, nose, mouth, or on to your sandwich, cookie, or burger. So unless someone coughs or sneezes directly into our face, they don’t give us the flu, we give it to ourselves! Oh, and the same is true for colds! Nothing beats frequent washing of your hands, not just before meals, after using the toilet, and at bed time, but many other times during the day. If you aren’t near a sink and are shaking lots of hands or otherwise contacting lots of people, use a hand sanitizer, concentrate or wipe, to clean your hands and wipe off your door knobs, desktops, phones, and other items you share with others.
2) Get a flu shot every year. And no, flu shots don’t cause the flu. The shots are made from parts of killed viruses or in some cases from viruses too weak to cause disease, but strong enough to cause your body to make antibodies to the virus. No foreign chemicals are injected into your body to weaken it; some vaccines contain preservatives to keep bacteria from growing in the vaccine, but most vaccines today are available without preservatives. With most health plans immunizations are free.
3) Don’t smoke tobacco or dope! Smoke damages the surface of your lungs and respiratory tract and paralyzes the cilia (little hair-like structure lining these organs) which sweep dust, bacteria, and viruses out of the lungs and windpipe! Smoke also weakens your immune system. Being with others who smoke, even if you don’t, increases your chance of getting flu or other respiratory illness.
4) Keep your hand out of your eyes, nose and mouth. Even if you wash often, developing the habit of touching your face will cause you to push some germs into these organs without thinking, and “wham-o” you’ll get sick!
5) Improve your general health habits. Be sure you eat five fruits or veggies every day, exercise daily, and get plenty of sleep. Keep your hydration up helps, too. Drink enough water so that your urine is clear, not yellow.
Following these guidelines should prevent most cases of flu. Hopefully we will never again see a flu as bad as the 1918 epidemic, but the viruses are similar and anything can happen. Prevention is always the best medicine.
In the 1918 world-wide flu epidemic at least 40 million, and perhaps as many as 100 million people died. If you want to read a great book about that epidemic check out John Barry’s book, The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, or Flu: The Story Of The Great Influenza Pandemic by Gina Kolata. These are great reads; I couldn’t put them down, but they are a bit long. For a brief review of this deadly flu read pages 201 – 203 in Messengers in Denim, that’s short and easy!