Cold and Flu Season Prevention Measures
Legal LawYou should know that each year the FDA tries to determine which strain of the flu will prevail during the following season. By the time they have determined the type of vaccine to be made, the virus has begun to mutate, leaving people with weakened immune systems vulnerable to catching the flu or a serious cold. The viruses that cause influenza spread so rapidly that 30 to 60 million Americans contract it each year and about 36,000 die. It mutates so fast that no one becomes completely immune. The immune system has no defense against specific viruses or viruses, which have mutated and become more virulent. This is why many people who have received flu shots still get the flu. The fact is, flu shots may be of no value if the person has a severely impaired immune system. A study by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases found no correlation between the increase in vaccination rates after 1980 and the decrease in mortality rates in any age group. (As published in Archives of Internal Medicine volume 165, 2005)
There are two reasons why a person can be a victim of the flu:
1. Your immune system is weak or weakened.
2. Your immune system cannot defend itself against a specific virus or viruses that you have
mutated and becomes more virulent, and cannot afford protection because
have been immunized against a different strain of virus.
People with weakened or compromised immune systems are not only prone to catching a cold or the flu, but are also at serious risk of developing bronchitis, pneumonia, and sinus problems. Therefore, it is everyone’s responsibility to keep your immune system at an optimal peak level to protect against invading bacteria and viruses. Basically, it is like wearing body armor when we are in a battle zone, because we are constantly surrounded by invading bacteria and viruses seeking to invade our bodies. How we put this body armor to work is discussed in the health tips below.
Health Tips ***
One of the most important things you can do is wash your hands thoroughly and often, especially after the following:
Visiting the bathroom, after handling your pets, after using telephones or any type of equipment used by others, after handling and preparing food, after doing housework and cleaning, vacuuming, taking out the trash, etc., after any gardening or yard work at work, after buying and using a shopping cart, after greeting others by shaking hands, avoid kissing when greeting friends.
It is important to keep your hands away from your eyes, mouth, and face. If possible, try to stay away from crowds or gatherings whenever possible. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is extremely beneficial for maintaining a healthy immune system. Don’t overload your body with excess calories. Not only does this affect the immune system, it will increase weight and make all of your body’s systems work harder. Calculating how many calories you should consume daily is simple, just multiply your weight by 6.7 and then add 487. Then multiply that number by 1.6. This will not only strengthen your immune system, but will also increase your longevity. There are many foods that will help improve and maintain the immune system. These in particular are the foods that you need to add to your diet that will help strengthen your immune system. Fish, flax, yogurt, oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, cantaloupe, figs, apricots, chillies, blueberries, cherries, sweet potatoes, yams, red peppers, tomato, onion, honey, walnuts, all varieties. It is also mandatory that you stay well hydrated throughout the day. Drink water and stay away from cola and other carbonated beverages. Make sure you get enough rest so you don’t put undue strain on your immune system. Adding the right supplements to your diet is a must because most people will not get enough antioxidants like vitamin A, C, E, and beta-carotene in their diet. Also, a herbal supplement can be very effective in strengthening your immune system.
Following a regimen like the one described above will give you the best possible protection against the flu or a severe cold, bronchitis, sinusitis, or pneumonia.