Can Vitamin D Prevent Swine Flu?

A possible connection between vitamin D and Swine flu is the subject of a major Canadian study, which researchers say could eventually lead to the use of the vitamin as a flu preventative.

The study, sponsored by the Public Health Agency of Canada, began in 2008. It originally focused on the role that the vitamin plays in severe seasonal influenza in general, but PHAC recently announced that the study will now be adapted to include the N1H1 or Swine flu virus.

The study will build on existing research that started in the 1940s, looking for an association between D vitamin levels and serious seasonal influenza. Decades of early studies and a growing body of epidemiological evidence indicate that low levels of the vitamin are definitely correlated with susceptibility to flu viruses.

PHEA said the current study will probably be continued through three flu seasons in order to collect sufficient sample data. Ultimately, the goal is to see if the vitamin can be used to mitigate severe seasonal influenza, the PHEA announcement said.

The N1H1 virus, which is a substrain of a virus commonly found in pigs, is transmitted from person to person in the same way that other flu viruses are transmitted. Symptoms of the N1H1 virus are also the same as symptoms of other flu strains and include headache, coughing, chills, fever, muscle pain, weakness, and general discomfort.

In most cases the virus is relatively mild, but as with all seasonal flu strains, the very young, the very old, and people with underlying heath conditions can be very much at risk.

The global outbreak of N1H1 virus began in Mexico in April, 2009 and spread rapidly. In June the World Health Organization declared the outbreak to be a pandemic. The virus spread through the southern hemisphere with unprecedented speed, and at the same time cases were confirmed throughout the US and other countries.

The virus has been confirmed in every state in the US. On September 3 the Centers for Disease Control reported more than 9,000 people hospitalized because of the virus, and said a total of 583 deaths were attributed to the flu virus in the US.

Concerns remain that a variation of the virus will recirculate through the world during the upcoming flu season. In late August the WHO predicted a huge increase of cases worldwide throughout the remainder of 2009 and well into 2010. According to the WHO some countries could see the number of cases double every few days until the peak period of transmission has passed.

Medical experts agree that vitamin D benefits flu immunity - keeping vitamin D levels high is one of the best things you can do for yourself during cold and flu season. Are you getting enough vitamin D to keep your immune system working at its best? Find out more at Vitamin D Benefits.

Swine Flu Vaccination - Why it Might Be Dangerous?

The world is currently on edge with the development of the H1N1 flu and is awaiting the upcoming flu season. Everyday we hear talk about the swine flu vaccination but many people don't trust these vaccines that are quickly being rushed to market. What are the potential dangers that you should know about and what can you do to protect your family's health as an alternative?

Swine Flu in 1976

Swine flu was first discovered in 1976 when a 19 year old private in the Army at Fort Dix became extremely ill and then was dead within 24 hours. Swine flu was announced and within weeks drug companies wanted to inoculate the entire country with a swine flu vaccination. Mass vaccinations started and within weeks people that took the shot were developing Guillain-Barré syndrome, a paralyzing nerve disease. 500 people came down with this disease and 30 people died. The only death from the swine flu was the 19 year old private David Lewis.

There are many ingredients added to vaccines that can have very negative effects on human beings and there are long and short term effects. The drug companies are making billions of dollars on drugs though and not everyone trusts industries that are so heavily motivated by money. Is the swine flu vaccination going to save us or just put billions in the pockets of drug companies?

Swine Flu 2009

So once again there is a mad rush to create a vaccine to inoculate every man, woman, and child just like in 1976. Have the drug companies learned anything or are we the end users still taking a gamble? The World Health Organization is assuring everyone that there will be no complications from the H1N1 flu vaccination but if that is true then why are the drug companies that are manufacturing the vaccine not going to be held liable for any compensation claims that anyone may suffer.

European countries and the United States have granted indemnity to the companies to encourage them to rush this out to market to secure enough doses for October. Supposedly the states will be asked to pick up the bill for any compensation claims. Asked to pick up the bill? How exactly is that going to work? It makes things very sticky and many states in the U.S. are already struggling with money so how do they plan to compensate health claims made against a possible swine flu vaccination gone wrong?

Take initiative and prepare yourself

It's amazing how much fear is being promoted on the news about the H1N1 flu and how there is silence on things you can do to help prevent catching it. Aside from washing hands which seems to be the only thing they promote there are solid strategies to help strengthen your own immune system giving you an edge. There is no guarantee you will even be able to get a swine flu vaccination if you want one so what can you do for yourself today?

Taking Vitamin C is a cheap way to strengthen your overall immune system. Vitamin D has actually been shown in clinical settings to help prevent people from even catching the H1N1 flu. There are millions of people around the world that are now privy to this information on Vitamin D and trying to spread the word. The final supplement you can add is Echinacea. This herb has been used for centuries to strengthen immune systems.

Don't wait around for a swine flu vaccination, start protecting yourself today with sound nutrition and some healthy supplements to help strengthen your immunity to flu.

Rick Porter is a fitness solutions expert with 25 years of training experience interested in helping people maintain their health and fitness. For more tips on how to protect yourself and your family go to http://www.swine-flu-update.org/

Tags: swine flu, swine flu symptoms, swine flu vaccine, swine flu vaccination, h1n1 virus

Swine Flu (H1N1) Vaccinations For Pregnant Women?

In our society we are very concerned about the health of pregnant women. We generally tend to not want to use them as experimental subjects because of the general fragility of the child in the womb. However we are in a unique situation in that we have a new virus that is especially dangerous to young children and children in the womb.

The question that expecting mothers and fathers are asking themselves now is should we vaccinate the mother against potential infection by the H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu?

Although the swine flu is new to the US as of 2009 the process used to create the vaccine that has been rushed into production to help protect against it is well timed tested. It is the same process is used to create vaccines for the seasonal flu that most people in the US receive each year. The vaccine that is, not the flu.

In fact, the vaccine is remarkably effective against the seasonal flu. And it is also very safe for most people. The question this year is how the vaccine for H1N1 will be different, if at all, from the seasonal flu vaccine. So far, evidence shows that people who tolerate seasonal flu vaccine also tolerate the H1N1 vaccine very well.

One additional wrinkle will be that people will need to get two vaccines, not just one. Vaccine for H1N1 and seasonal flu have not been combined so it will be two separate shots, perhaps two separate visits at two different locations. This is obviously an inconvenience but should be relatively small compared to the consequences of getting infected with swine flu.

So if you are pregnant you really should consider taking the extra step in talking with your physician about getting the swine flu vaccine. If you are in a situation where you are around a lot of children, or are in a medical setting, that leans you more towards getting the vaccine over not. If you work around a lot of children, and you were to get infected, and you could potentially infect many children who have relatively low immunity to this particular strain of flu. If you're a medical setting than you obviously have potential for much more exposure to anyone who has this new variant of the flu.

It's very understandable that pregnant woman would be concerned about getting a new vaccine and how it may affect their unborn child. But caution seems to argue in favor the vaccine rather than against it. In any case, consult your physician before making a final decision.

Perry's latest project is at http://WaterSoftener-Reviews.com where you can find special insight on how people really go about writing water softener reviews. You will be able to find real experience with purchasing, using and installing water softeners for the home.

Tags: swine flu, swine flu prevention, pregnant women, swine flu vaccination, swine flu vaccine

Preventing Swine Flu in College Dorms - 9 Steps That Work

Increased exposure to a greater number of people puts college coeds at greater risk for contracting contagious diseases. And the most recent step by college officials to quarantine students on campus because of a Swine Flu outbreak is a scary example of how fast an airborne or contact disease can spread. Here are a few effective tips towards staying healthy, yet still being able to enjoy college dorm life.

1. Disinfect frequently used surfaces regularly. This should include door knobs, draw pulls, TV remotes, computer keyboard and mouse, phone, iPod, Blackberry, laptop, and other hand held devices.

Your normal routine of opening and closing doors, books, desks, chairs collects a ton of germs on your hands. If you then talk on you phone while using your hands to eat a snack, you've just transferred a lot of potential harm from outside to inside your body.

2. Avoid those who are coughing or sneezing. This is particularly good advice for you if they are not covering their mouths. One of the ways the Swine Flu virus spreads is when droplets from the infected host are inhaled by others; and these droplets can travel as far as 6 feet.

3. Be fussy about who you allow in your room. If you have a sick friend, invite them back when they are well rather than let them come into your area while they are obviously still contagious.

4. Wash your hands frequently. With all the modern technology, this old-fashioned, low tech piece of advice still works to combat germs. Lather up well, and sing the Happy Birthday song to make sure you've washed long enough to kill the germs.

5. Invest in hand sanitizer. For those times when hand washing is not possible, keep some in your back pack, car, your friends' car, and your room. Offer it freely to help those you come in closest contact with to stay healthy. Always use it before using your hands to eat, after sneezing, or blowing your nose.

6. When you are ill stay put. Pampering yourself with plenty of rest and fluids, and limiting your exposure to others will get you back on track faster than toughing it out which will lower your resistance even more. If you are not better pretty quickly, and are experiencing symptoms that seem out of the ordinary, seek professional help fast.

7. Carry a small pack of tissues with you. Use them to cover your mouth when sneezing and coughing. This will keep your hands cleaner, making you less contagious. Dispose of the tissues immediately. Empty the trash can frequently and avoid touching them again when you dispose of them.

8. Change the air in your room. Air can easily become stale, and letting new air in and the old air out can keep airborne pollutants from accumulating. This is only an option

9. Invest in a dorm room air purifier. A small, portable, light weight, but heavy duty air purifier in your dorm room can work 24 hours a day to remove airborne pollutants. Bacteria and viruses as small as .3 microns as well as odors, and particulates can be constantly eliminated whether anyone is there or not. Keeping the air clean keeps resistance high, and if you do encounter a brush with the flu, your body will be more able to fight it off.

An excellent air purifier for college dorm rooms is offered by PurerAir.com, the Dorm Room Air Purifier. See it now at http://purerair.com/dorm_air_purifier.html.

Tags: swine flu, college dorms, swine flu symptoms, swine flu vaccine

Boost Your Immunity to Counter Swine Flu!

Among hoards of mails circulated on World Wide Web, few are really important. Well, it does not mean people who are circulating these mails have bad intentions. Many people want to come forth with certain things that can free us all of the swine flu (H1N1) scare and impart health. But while trusting these mails, it is definitely necessary to seek expertise and not trust any and all mails. You obviously want to help yourself and not fall prey to heavy side effects from the drugs.

For example, taking Tamiflu whenever you suffer from flu-like symptoms is not good at all. Rather, experts have said that taking Tamiflu merely with onset of sneezing or coughing may lead to serious side effects. Moreover, in children, these drugs must be used with caution only with expert advice. So, if you are thinking to store Tamiflu in advance, you may be wrong.

Swine flu found in people with low resistance power!

This is the reason it is better to dwell upon ideas that are talking to boost your immunity. In this swine flu scenario, it is better if you are able to cope with the increasing viral infection by enhancing your resistance power. Even it is found so far that people who succumbed to swine flu have low or compromised immunity due to one or more reasons. Therefore there is no need to fret the threat if you are immune to the viral attack.

Enhance your immunity and don't panic!

No wonder therapies like homeopathy and Ayurveda have lot to do with this swine flu (H1N1). These are the therapies that are traditionally known to boost the immunity. They act upon the body as well as mind to relieve you of swine flu anxiety as well. The following homeopathic remedies are very crucial in reducing swine flu scare. They do act as the best preventive tools against swine flu:

• Gelsemium

• Arsenicum album

• Rhus tox

• Pulsatilla

• Eupatorium perfoliatum

• Bryonia etc

The anxious state of mind or panic lowers the immunity and so the swine flu threat is higher in people with excessive anxiety about swine flu. Relax! Do not equate swine flu with death. Instead act now and increase your bodily resistance to curb all such future viral and bacterial attacks.

Think about future problems now!

We are all doing every possible thing to avoid the occurrence of swine flu and putting face masks despite experts shouting that masks are not of much use. Have you thought what if some other infection crops up suddenly after swine flu? Well, I absolutely do not want to create fear among masses. Rather, I want you all to be solidly built so that you will repel any and every infection that may come your way. We all know global warming and uncertainty of rains are creating havoc in our life. Who knows what is there in store tomorrow? We cannot sit silent without doing anything. We must take action now to avoid all such future hassles so that we will not need to dig a well when we face scarcity!

What can we do to build our immunity stronger?

Let's list the points:

(1) Do not panic. It is possible if you learn to manage your stress well. Stressed individuals face graver risks. Here too you can seek help from homeopathy which acts on your mind and psyche effectively.

(2) Avoid harsh medications that take away your strength and act only temporarily. What we mean by this is, if you or your child develops a habit of taking high doses of antibiotics and anti-virals for common colds and fevers how will your build your resistance power? If you suppress every expression of your body by harsh medicine, you will never realize that your body has a mechanism to cope with these external attacks. Moreover, your body will forget how to react to a foreign stimulus and will need higher and higher antibiotics every time in future. So, try natural and holistic medicines like homeopathy that act from inside out and are mildest.

(3) Enhance your physical activity. Free radicals are thought to be one of the reasons for catching infections early. Regular exercise reduces free radicals and enhances anti-oxidants in circulation. This in turn makes you immune to viral attacks like swine flu.

(4) Eat healthy. Vegetarianism must be emphasized. Also eat more raw veggies, green veggies and sprouts that make your diet complete.

(5) Homeopathic constitutional medicines are prescribed by experts after carefully considering the physical, mental, and emotional sphere of a person and they act wonderfully well to enhance the overall resistance power.

(6) Last but not the least, live your life calmly. While running behind money and power, realize where you are heading. Live a life fully and devote more time to activities that you like. Happier you are; more will be your immunity! Try it!

Dr. Shreya is a well-known Homeopath of India and has her online clinic. For further details about her services and homeopathic system of medicine, please visit her site- http://www.drshreya.com

Tags: swine flu symptoms, h1n1 virus, swine flu vaccine, swine flu prevention

Pandemic Planning For Swine Flu - How Can I Stop a Pandemic?

Pandemic planning for swine flu is up to the government right? If they are taking care of it what could I possibly do? You and I and everyone else can do a lot actually. People often forget "the government" is just a bunch of people just like you and I, no wiser than any of your neighbors and no more powerful than any other organization. When it comes to most crisis situations the government is about as powerful and organized as your local high school foot ball team so "ignore the man behind the curtain".

The people that will make the biggest impact on whether swine flu passes by harmlessly off the coast or slams into the United States like hurricane Katrina are the citizens that prepare to head it off. Do we really want to leave it up to the government to fix the levees when there is so much we can do ourselves.

Pandemic planning for swine flu begins at home.

• Spread the word. Find out as much as you can about signs and symptoms, vaccinations and where to get them, and treatment options. Once you have talk it over with your family. They need to know as much as you do especially kids. Children are the most susceptible to infection and most likely to spread the disease.
• The drug that helps "cure" H1N1 is in short supply so there may be restrictions in your state on prescribing it. You need to know if that will affect you or anyone you care about before you need to take it. Call your doctor. If it's not available plan accordingly.
• Keep your hands clean. Personal hygiene is the first line of defense. Once again children will be the likely culprit. Tell your kids how important it is to wash their hands often, cough into their sleeves, and try to avoid other kids showing symptoms. A good tip is to provide yourself and your kids alcohol based hand sanitizer gel. It requires no water and kills germs and bacteria your hands come in contact with.

It's not the government that gave us the important information we need to start planning for H1N1. It's a few scientists that specialize in the creepy subject to begin with. Once they realized how dangerous the situation was they started ringing some bells and the media took it from there. Of course it took some people dieing for anyone to pay attention in the first place but we're listening now. Some of us anyway.

Swine Flu is serious business and I'm not just trying to scare you. The fact is any Flu prevention tips are good information and Swine Flu precautions save lives. The Swine Flu is scary. It targets people 25 and younger and small children are especially vulnerable. I touched on some of the basics but this subject deserves real attention. To find out more take a look at http://www.how-to-prevent-swine-flu.info In depth comprehensive information on pandemic planning for swine flu is available and I strongly recommend you take advantage of it before you "need" to.