Renew You!

Shoo the flu bug away this winter with these stay-healthy tips!

This cold and flu season has been notable because of the recurrence of the H1N1 virus that first surfaced in early 2009. Fears of a flu pandemic on the level of The Spanish Flu in 1918 have lessened (a few thousand have lost their lives due to H1N1 compared to millions in 1918), but we’re only halfway through the season, so we’re not out of the woods yet.

While H1N1 hasn’t infected as many people as some feared, it is still a real threat to those most likely to succumb to it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that the following groups of people should receive H1N1 immunity shots:

• Pregnant women
• People living with or caring for children younger than 6 months old
• Healthcare and EMS personnel
• People between 6 months and 24 years old
• People 25 to 64 who are at higher risk due to chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems

Individuals older than 65 accounted for just 1% of early estimates of those who contracted the virus, leading to the belief that the older population has an immunity to the virus either through an early exposure to a similar virus or years of immunity shots.

Aside from receiving a shot, here are the best ways to stay healthy during the homestretch of this year’s flu season.

Wash your hands. The CDC says this is the most important procedure for preventing the spread of the virus. Our hands are the most likely vessel for the virus to move into (or out of) our bodies.  Keeping them clean, either through hand washing or sanitizers, greatly reduces the risk of infection. This is also why it’s suggested that people sneeze into their sleeves and not their hands.

Eat well and get rest. Your immune system is your best defense against the flu virus, and it needs a healthy diet and proper rest to function properly. A diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats and a night’s sleep of 7-8 hours will help your system function at its optimum level.  

Exercise. Cardiovascular activity helps produce the body’s natural virus-killing cells. Regular exercise will boost your immune system, and if one does contract the H1N1 virus, it may reduce the severity of the symptoms and length of illness.

How are you protecting yourself from the flu?