I have undertaken a few steps towards my well being in light of the Swine Flu alarm. First we must all do our best to prevent the spread of the virus. Second, we must take care of ourselves unless medical care is necessary. So here are some thoughts…
What can you do to minimize the chance of contracting Swine Flu? First is to wash you hands frequently. The virus is transmitted through direct contact. So if you are in public and touching things, well before you handle food, touch your face or touch anyone else - Wash Your Hands. Wash frequently and wash them well. You will also want to wipe down surfaces around you - car door handles, shopping carts, door handles around the house, etc. Be cautious and a little paranoid for these next few weeks. Panic isn’t going to help, but a little caution and planning will make your (or your loved one’s) life better and increase your odds of averting or surviving this unpleasantness.
In my experience, I find that drinking liquids - water, juices, etc. in large quantities help prevent and minimize the odds of contracting a flu. Avoid alcohol and sugary drinks….at least for a few months until things have passed.
Some other things you may want to do to minimize exposure is reduce your contact with the general public. Plan your outings and shopping to load up on a week or two of highly nutritional food. Stock up on vitamins and fruit juices. Invest/spend your money on good things for your body. Especially if you fall ill, you will want to remain at home to reduce infecting other, but more important, you will feel like crap. So, get your list together and go shop today! Be sure to add some extra Tylenol, Advil or other pain reliever (not aspirin) to ameliorate some symptoms. I swear by Tylenol Cold/Flu formula when I get a virus. You may want to avoid large public gatherings…sporting events, concerts, schools etc. for the time being. I will also minimize my visits to restaurants and places where strangers are handling my food, beverages, personal belongings etc. I am going to miss the Health Club, but the thought of suffering with a flu is motivating! I will have to do Yoga and weights at home!
People who eat well and exercise will suffer less than those who are already in compromised health. If you are feeling bunk, load up on liquids and nutritious foods. Try and set yourself up with soups - strong flavored chicken soup with plenty of veggies and a bit of extra salt can make you feel better. I also find that Gatorade helps with the electrolytes that your body loses during illness. Also, I might suggest putting Mucinex in your shopping basket.
The biggest risk the Swine Flu presents is its respiratory component. Mucinex could help with respiratory congestion.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have a lot more info on prevention and care. I hope everyone stays healthy and maybe we can share tips with one another. I also hope that this Flu Pandemic is more hype than reality. But, this time I am taking a few precautions…Now I am off to wash my hands….
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