You had the flu last winter and the winter before that. If there’s one thing you know for sure it’s this: you don’t want to get it again this year. The bone-racking aches and pains, the chills, fever, coughs, and fatigue laid you out flat.

And when the flu hits your household, it knocks everyone down – kids and adults alike – for at least a week, sometimes two.

If you can’t afford to lose time to the flu, or if someone in your family has a medical condition that could be complicated by getting influenza, there are flu treatments you can take to reduce your chances of getting sick. And reduce your chances of passing the flu on to the rest of your family and your coworkers.

The Flu Bug Is Many Bugs

The flu is actually a number of viruses that infect the respiratory tract. Two main types of flu cause the outbreaks we experience every fall/winter: Influenza A and Influenza B.

This is important to note because some drugs only target Influenza A. Others target both A and B. Once your doctor has diagnosed you and determined the kind of flu that’s doing the rounds in your community, you can decide on the best type of flu treatment for your situation.

The Flu Shot

As you probably know by now, the flu shot is the single best thing you can do to prevent getting influenza. But the flu shot, while very effective, doesn’t protect everyone. So you could still contract the flu. What then?

While it’s true there is no cure for influenza, there are several medications that can reduce your chances of getting the flu AND reduce the severity of the symptoms and the length of time you are sick.

Flu Treatments

eDrugstore.md specializes in Tamiflu and several other flu treatments you can take before you catch the flu or up to 48 hours after symptoms appear. Your doctor or one of our licensed online medical consultants can help you determine the best flu treatment. And we’ll help you purchase it right here for less than you’d pay elsewhere.

Tamiflu

Prevents or reduces the severity of Influenza A and B. Tablet form.

Relenza

Prevents or reduces the severity of Influenza A and B. Inhaled.

http://www.google.com

Cold and flu are the most commonly occurring illnesses in the entire world, with more than 1 billion colds per year reported in the United States alone. The common cold is a self-limit

ed illness caused by any 1 of more than 200 viruses. You usually do not need to call your doctor if you catch a cold. For more severe symptoms or a prolonged duration of symptoms, you should visit your doctor. An office visit will usually be fine.

I. How to protect yourself from cold and flu

1. Stop stress – Pushing yourself too hard depresses the immune system. When your defenses are down, you are vulnerable to a cold or flu virus.

2. Healthy diet – A healthy diet is important to keep your immune system strong. Avoid junk food and consume more fruits, vegetables and plenty of non-caffeinated liquids.

3. Taking vitamin C daily – During cold season, taking extra vitamin C helps to strengthen your defenses against cold viruses. This helps to reduce the severity of cold symptoms. Be sure to wash your hand after using any office equipment, especially when one of your co-workers have colds.

II. If you have a cold

1. Drink a lot of hot fluids Traditionally, a family member who has cold or flu is only allowed to take hot chicken soup and chicken congee, avoiding all the hard to digest and cold foods. No one knows why but it works more effectively. Hot tea also keep the nasal passages open.

2. Take an antihistamine to relieve stuffy nose.

3. Treat coughs with the right cough medicine Coughs that produce phlegm can be treated by the ingredient guaifenesin which loosens the mucus that causes you to cough. If you have a dry and irritating cough, dextromethorphan might be used to suppress it during the night so you can sleep. Unless absolutely necessary do not use antibiotics. Overuse of antibiotics do more harm than good to your body.

III. Prevention and Treatment with Foods

A.Here are some foods that can be eaten regularly so you can strengthen up your immune system and kill the bugs before they can attack.

1. Chicken soup

No one knows how, but it works. It was nothing compared to the improvement after intake of chicken soup, our body might need to negate the effects of steam from hot water and hot chicken soup. If you look closer to any chicken soup recipe, you can see there are a lot of garlic, onions, peppers, etc which are natural remedies helping to improve immune system.

2. Contessa

Mix regular tea with 1 teaspoon of honey, congac, butter each and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and drink them while it is hot before bed time. You will see the difference when you wake up in the morning.

3. Honey and apple cider vinegar

Mix 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar and an equal amount of honey. It is particularly effective for a cold with a sore throat.

4. Tea, cinnamon, sage and bay leaves

Prepare tea by steeping equal parts of cinnamon, sage, and bay leaves in hot water. Strain and before drinking the tea add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and honey.

5. Sunflower seeds

Boil 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds in 5 cups of water until there is about 2 cups of water left in the pot. Then add 2 cups of honey and 1/2 cup of gin. Take 2 teaspoons three times a day just before mealtime.

6. Drink a lot of non dairy liquid, so you can keep flushing out your system.

B. Prevention and Treatment with Nutritional Supplements

Here are some nutrients that have proven record of preventing cold and flu. Keep these nutrients in mind when the cold and flu season comes.

1. Vitamin C

This nutrient strengthens the immune system, accelerating its ability to combat harmful substances. Bowel tolerance doses can be taken orally and more can be taken with out this effect when administered intravenously.

2. Bioflavonoids

Working together with vitamin C, Bioflavonoids assists in the management of cold and flu by reducing the severity and duration of symptoms, helping to maintain and strengthen capillary and connective tissues. It also has an effectiveness of relieving varicose and surface veins.

3.DHEA

This adrenal hormone offers immune enhancing qualities and helps fight viruses.

4.Zinc

Zinc plays an important role in preventing and treating cold and flu. It is required by the thymus gland that is a major link in the immune system, helping to produce highly differentiated and educated cells that can fight off the onslaught of new bacteria and viruses.

5. Shark liver oil

Seagate shark liver oil has one of the highest natural levels of Omega 3 fatty acids in the world. Deficiencies in these fatty acids have been noticed in studies involving people having nervous disorders. Shark liver oil also helps in boosting the production of virus fighting cytokines and alkylglycerols make shark liver oil the natural fighter of antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal forces.

6.Melatonin

Melatonin has the ability to trigger T-helper-cell production. T-helper-cells are necessary for the immune system in recognizing cancer cells, viruses, bacteria and fungi.

There are many more nutrients which have a power in strengthening your immune system, helping to fend of cold and flu such as medical mushroom, gamma- Linoleic acid, and etc.

C. Prevention and Treatment with With Herbs

Here are some herbs that might help to prevent cold and flu:

1.Echinacea

Echinacea boosts the immune system to help prevent cold, flu, allergies and minor upper respiratory infections therefore it has an effectiveness of treating cold, flu & sinus relief.

3.Greentea

Green tea contains antioxidants that can help to boost immune function, therefore with immune system strengthening substances green tea protects your body from getting cold or flu. A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition showed that subjects taking a special preparation of green tea as a capsule experienced 23% less of getting cold and flu overall and 36% fewer sick days.

4.Goldenseal

Goldensea provides nutrients that enhance the immune system and help fight the cold and flu, shortening the duration of colds and flu. It also is one of the most popular herbal combinations for respiratory issues, used by Native Americans for centuries.

5.Astragalus

Astralagus has been used in Asia to prevent cold and flu for more than 2,000 years. This herb stimulates the body’s production of interferon, which is a potent immune protein that boosts your ability to fight infections and diseases.

6.Peppermint

Peppermint is an expectorant and a decongestant. It may offer some relief for mild asthma attacks, lessening bronchial constriction and making it easier to breathe. Peppermint promotes sweating, which could possibly help regulate body temperature during a fever, which is good news during cold and flu season.

D. Treatment with Homeopathy

Homeopathy have been proven to help relieve cold or flu. The homeopathy physician analyzes many factors, including the speed of onset of symptom, sensation, how the patient looks and his or her mental state.

1.Early stages of cold and flu

a) Aconite

This remedy is often prescribed for robust people, as well as those who eat meat often. Only 30c pellets under the tongue is needed to get a cold to disappear.

b) Belladonna

Belladonna is a remedy for serious symptoms of cold, flu, infection and sore throat.

c) Ferrum phosphoricum

This remedy is for people with a weak immune system. Cold and flu symptoms are not vague but uncomfortable. There might be a slight earache, running nose and a mild sore throat.

2. Mid-stage of cold and flu

a) Allium Cepa

People with mid stage of cold are given allium cepa when their eyes are watery and clear but nose is red and irritated. Other symptoms include multiple sneezes and burning nasal discharge.

b)Natrum Muriaticum

Person has a thick, clear fluid discharge that resembles raw egg white. Lips are dry and cracked with cold sores on the side or outside of the mouth.

3. For advanced stages of cold and flu

a) Arsenicum Album

People with symptoms of burning eyes, sinus, irritation in the nose, sneezing, extreme chill, restlessness and fever. This person feels worse at night and better in the morning.

b) Mercurius vivus

The cold is already in the advanced stage and the immune system is weakened. People have soar throats that feel with swallowing, as well as sneezing, bad cough, and night sweats.

c) Hepar Sulph

This remedy helps deep colds and flu when this turns into infection and sinusitis. The person is very chilly and there is often mucus in the lung with thick and yellow discharge. Antibiotics may be used.

I hope this information will help. If you want to read more, please visit my home page:

http://medicaladvisorjournals.blogspot.com/

http://coldandflutips.blogspot.com/

All rights reserved. Any reproducing of this article must have all the links intact.

Swine H1N1 Flu:2009

Dr.Kedar Karki

 

Swine flu , now known as the 2009 H1N1 flu, is caused by the orthomyxovirus which usually affects pigs but viral mutations allows the virus to cross species to other hosts like humans. The swine influenza virus (SIV) is another example of cross species viral infection which was previously seen with other Zoonotic infections like in civets to humans SARS or Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome and from birds to humans as seen with avian (bird) flu.

 

Unlike SARS and bird flu, swine flu has mutated to the point where the virus can now spread from human-to-human. This current mutation is the cause of the global scare of the recent 2009 outbreak which is feared to become a pandemic. With the popularity of air travel, infected passengers from one region can easily travel to other nations and result in new outbreaks occurring in regions that were not prone to swine flu.

 

The current human-to-human transmission of swine flu is caused by droplet spread through the contact with infected body fluids as in saliva or mucus when sneezing.

 

How is Swine Flu H1N1 Spread?

 

 

The incubation period (time between exposure and onset of symptoms) is still uncertain, but it appears to be 3-4 days.

All flus are spread by droplets that spray out as a person sneezes or coughs. You can catch Swine Flu H1N1 or any flu virus if:

You are standing within three feet of an uncovered cough or sneeze and droplets make contact with you or if you inhale them. The droplets land on hard surfaces, like a desk top or keyboard. Even after the droplet dries a flu virus could live for over an hour. You can catch the virus by touching an infected surface then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. You can give to the flu to somebody else by touching their eyes, nose, or mouth if the virus is on your hand. Somebody coughs sneezes or blows their nose into a tissue, and the wet tissue makes contact with their hand or the tissue tears and the contents make contact with their hand. If they touch hard surfaces or shake hands before they wash their hands then they could spread a virus. Flu viruses can also be spread by handling a contaminated cloth handkerchief then touching people or surfaces. An infected person touches their eyes, nose or mouth then touches other surfaces, objects or people before washing their hands.

 

This is not the same Swine Flu virus people were immunized against in the 1970’s. There is a vaccine for the 2009 Swine Flu Influenza A H1N1 virus under development but even with fast tracking it will take months before it is ready for human trial.

Swine Flu H1N1 is not spread by pigs and you cannot catch Swine Flu H1N1 by eating pork or using medications that are derived from pigs (porcine).

 

Symptoms of Swine Flu

 

Swine flu infection causes symptoms that are similar to the symptoms of influenza infection as seen during the annual ‘flu’ season. This may result in many cases of swine flu being misdiagnosed as a common cold or the ‘flu’ and if infected persons do not seek professional medical treatment, the infection can spread further in the general population.

 

The general symptoms of swine flu include:

 

Fever with or without chills. Sore throat. Respiratory symptoms, usually a cough or less frequently as dyspnoea (difficulty breathing) or pneumonia. Fatigue and lethargy Myalgia (general body aches) Headaches Diarrhea Vomiting

The current swine flu epidemic has seen gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting that are more severe than previous swine flu outbreaks. Unfortunately these gastrointestinal symptoms may often be misdiagnosed as a ‘gastric flu’ and it is important to consult with your medical practitioner if your symptoms persist.

 

 

 

 

 

Preventing the Spread of Swine Flu H1N1

 

 

According to the CDC, proper hand washing is the most effective means of preventing the spread of disease.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also considered effective. Use disposable tissues, clean your hands after every use. Cough into your elbow or shoulder if you do not have a tissue. Preventative treatments (such as Tamiflu) are not recommended for healthy people as this could potentially lead to resistance. Only seek treatment if you have symptoms. People with flu- like symptoms should avoid public places. If your child’s school is closed do not place your child in group settings such as daycare. If there are confirmed cases in your area, limit exposure by avoiding public places and clean your hands often while out and upon returning home. An infected person is contagious about 1 day before they have symptoms so follow proper hand washing guidelines or use alcohol based hand sanitizers often to prevent the accidental spread of the flu. The contagious period lasts for about 7 days after symptoms start, probably longer in children.

http://www.google.com

From what we currently know, the swine flu virus is similar to an ordinary flu as it comes to how it spreads among the population. People are able to come into contact with germs from a person who is already infected and who sneezes or perhaps coughs. If you would then touch your nose or eyes for example then you could get infected by the flue.

This is why it is of the upmost importance that people frequently was their hands as this can prevent a lot of illnesses including this particular one. Many people are not aware that they can spread the flue even before they themselves are aware that they have fallen victim to it.

Although the swine flu might have originated from pigs, most people who are infected have actually gotten infected from other people

The good thing is that there is treatment available for people which have this particular strain of flue. The two main types of drugs that are used by health care professionals are Relenza and Tamiflu.

It is worth noting that people have indeed recovered from it without taking any form of medication however if people do take either Relenza or Tamiflu then this should be done within two days after the symptoms begin..

Medical companies together with various government organizations are in the process of creating a swine flu vaccine however it will be at least several months before an actual working vaccine is released onto the market. We should also not forget that this illness has only been around for a few months so it does take time to successfully develop a vaccine.

Many people in the US and Europe do get an annual flu vaccine. Please note that if you did receive this then you will not be protected against the particular type of influenza.

http://www.google.com

Avian flu is caused due to the H5N1 virus which is transmitted from the saliva, fecal matter of the birds. The disease is highly contagious and causes death of birds and poultry population. The virus is lethal and assumes the proportion of pandemic, which can wipe out the entire population of birds and poultry. The virus also spreads to the human beings if they are in contact with the sick bird or poultry. Human beings are also afflicted by the virus which can even be life threatening.

 

Avian influenza is flu infection in birds. The disease is of concern to humans, who have no immunity against it. The virus that causes this infection in birds can mutate (change) to easily infect humans. Such mutation can start a deadly worldwide epidemic.

 

Avian’ refers to birds and ‘flu’ is the common name for influenza. Some countries (particularly in Asia) have been affected by bird flu infecting their poultry stocks, and a small number of people have caught the bird flu virus from being in close contact with infected chickens. There have only been a small number of incidents of bird flu in the UK where it has been found in poultry and a couple of wild birds. All cases of bird flu in the UK have been well controlled and there have been no cases of human illness associated with any incidents.

 

Avian influenza (also referred to as avian flu or bird flu) refers to type A strains of the influenza virus that infect birds. Avian flu occurs worldwide and was first identified over 100 years ago. Normally avian flu viruses don’t infect species other than birds and pigs. In 1997, however, the first documented human case of avian flu occurred in Hong Kong. Avian flu causes severe symptoms and can result in death.

 

Influenza is contagious. Viruses that cause influenza spread from person to person mainly by airborne droplets of respiratory fluids that are sent through the air when someone infected with the virus coughs or sneezes. Other people inhale the airborne virus and can become infected. In some cases, the flu can be spread when someone touches a surface (e.g., doorknobs, countertops, telephones) that has the virus on it and then touches his or her nose, mouth or eyes. The flu is most easily spread in crowded places such as schools and offices.

 

Transmission of the virus from birds to humans occurs when birds such as turkeys, geese, and domestic chickens come in contact with the virus from food, water, or particles contaminated with the virus. The virus can be shed in the droppings of migratory birds since they are natural carriers and is able to survive for three months in cool temperatures. It can also survive in water at 0°C for more than 30 days and at 22°C for up to 4 days. If a person working closely with these animals inhales dust particles containing the virus or by other means, they could develop the bird flu.

 

For now, the primary treatment option remains the flu drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu), which works by preventing the virus from multiplying. It’s not clear how effective Tamiflu will prove against H5N1. Another antiviral flu drug, zanamivir (Relenza), may be an alternative. However, viruses may become resistant to both of these drugs.

 

http://www.google.com