Tip to your Health: Preventing H1N1

In the midst of flu season and the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, here are a few simple and effective preventative measures to practice while you are still healthy:

1. Frequent hand washing.

2. “Hands- off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of your face unless you are eating, bathing or slapping. The only portals of entry are nostrils and mouth/ throat.

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water or Listerine. H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferation and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Do not underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Clean your nostrils at least once a day with warm salt water. Blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton swabs dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down the viral population. Neti pots and sinus rinse kits are available at the drug store and relatively inexpensive (under $15).

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C. If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also contains Zinc to boost absorption.

6. Drink warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc.). Drinking warm liquids has similar effects as gargling but in the reverse direction. The warm liquids wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

In a global epidemic of this nature, it is almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not the problem as much as the proliferation of the infection. These preventative measures serve to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections. Stay healthy!