What is swine flu?

Swine flu (swine influenza) is a disease of pigs. It is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by one of many Influenza A viruses. It is spread among pigs by direct and indirect contact, aerosols, and from pigs that are infected but do not have symptoms. Most commonly, swine flu is of the H1N1 influenza subtype. However, they can sometimes come from the other types, such as H1N2, H3N1, and H3N2.

The current outbreak of swine flu that has infected humans is of the H1N1 type – this type is not as dangerous as some others.

When swine flu is a disease for pigs, why are humans contracted?

Pigs have a lot in common with humans, some pig parts are used in human medicine because human DNA will combine with Pig DNA and grow which makes these medical miracles possible and in this case made it possible for the Pig Flu to combine with human Flu virus.

Do we have a specific swine flu vaccine?

No – not for humans.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine influenza in humans?

They are similar to those of regular flu, and include:

• Body aches
• Chills
• Cough
• Diarrhea (less common)
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Temperature (fever)
• Tiredness (fatigue)
• Vomiting (less common)

What medications are there?

There are some drugs around that can effectively treat swine flu infection in humans – and many types of flu infections in humans. There are two main types:

• adamantanes (amantadine and remantadine)
• inhibitors of influenza neuraminidase (oseltamivir and zanamivir)

Most previous swine influenza human cases recovered completely without the need for medical attention.

So what can you do to protect yourself?

1. Wash your hands frequently

Use the antibacterial soaps to cleanse your hands. Wash them often, at least 15 seconds and rinse with running water.

2. Get enough sleep

Try to get atleast 8 hours of good sleep every night to keep your immune system in top flu-fighting shape.

3. Keep hydrated

Drink 6-8 glasses of water per day, this will keep you well hydrated and flush out the bad toxins in your body leading to a better immune system.

4. Boost your immune system

Eating plenty of fruit and vegetable provides the body with right minerals and vitamins used to build a strong immune system. This will act as a natural barrier to prevent the swine flu but may not stop it completely.

5. Keep informed

The government is taking necessary steps to prevent the pandemic and periodically release guidelines to keep the pandemic away. Please make sure to keep up to date on the information and act in a calm manner.

6. Avoid alcohol

Apart from being a mood depressant, alcohol is an immune suppressant that can actually decrease your resistance to viral infections like swine flu. So stay away from alcoholic drinks so that your immune system may be strong.

7. Be physically active

Moderate exercise can support the immune system by increasing circulation and oxygenating the body. For example brisk walking for 30-40 minutes 3-4 times a week will significantly perk up your immunity.

8. Keep away from sick people

Flu virus spreads when particles dispersed into the air through a cough or sneeze reach someone else’s nose. So if you have to be around someone who is sick, try to stay a few feet away from them and especially, avoid physical contact.

9. Know when to get help

Consult your doctor if you have a cough and fever and follow their instructions, including taking medicine as prescribed.

10. Avoid crowded areas

Try to avoid unnecessary trips outside. Moreover, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

11. Stay stress free

Try to stay stress free. This may sound hard to do but meditation, hypnosis or other relaxation techniques are proven to reduce illness and boost the bodys natural immune system.

If I am infected, how can I stop others from becoming infected?

• Limit your contact with other people
• Do not go to work or school
• When you cough or sneeze cover your mouth with a tissue. If you do not have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose.
• Put your used tissues in a waste basket
• Wash your hands and face regularly
• Keep all surfaces you have touched clean
• Follow your doctor’s instructions

Source: Internet

Tags: Awareness, Health, Help, People, Swine Flu

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 at 8:43 am and is filed under People & Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.