SUMMARY: Experts have lots of unanswered questions about this flu season, but they believe it will be unlike any other, with multiple viruses circulating. "This year we are in uncharted territory," says Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Thomas Frieden. "What will happen in the coming weeks and months will only become clear in the weeks and months ahead."Questions that have answers include...
What is Novel H1N1 (swine flu)? It is a flu virus never before seen in humans, and it is spreading around the world. The World Health Organization has labeled the disease a pandemic.
What are the symptoms? Fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and possibly diarrhea. Most people recover without hospitalization, but some people may need intensive care and may not even survive.
How does it differ from seasonal flu? While seasonal flu is most dangerous for the very young and the very old, H1N1 takes its greatest toll on people younger than 25, pregnant women, and people with asthma, diabetes, immune deficiencies and other chronic conditions.
How long can an infected person spread the virus to others? Nobody knows, but a person becomes infectious about a day before symptoms begin. The CDC recommends people stay home for 24 hours after the fever goes down without treatment.
Can I protect myself from getting sick? A vaccine for H1N1 was due this month with the groups most at risk urged to move to the head of the line. Children and adults are advised to get vaccines for both H1N1 and seasonal flu (seasonal flu itself kills 36,000 people a year). One expert also advises that children get vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia, a major causes of deaths in previous flu epidemics.
Who should get the vaccines? Swine flu: Pregnant women, people who care for children younger than 6 months, health care workers, young people 6 months to 24 years, and older people with chronic medical conditions or weakened immunity. Seasonal flu: Infants, young people 6 months to 19 years; people who care for infants; pregnant women; people 50 and older; people with chronic disease, health care workers, and others who want to reduce their risk of getting sick.
Is vaccine the only option? Besides getting vaccinated, other good advice includes covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or cough into your elbow); cleaning hands often with soap and water or sanitizer; keeping hands away from eyes, nose, and mouth; and, if sick, keeping away from others.
What can I do to prepare? Pay attention to the news to see if it makes sense to avoid public gatherings. Stock up on food, fluids, tissues, sanitizers, medicine and other household items in case someone in the family gets sick.
What are some signs of a severe illness? Trouble breathing; gray or bluish skin; not drinking enough fluids; vomiting; not waking up or interacting with others; being irritable; not wanting to be held (children); pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen (adults); improvement followed by a reoccurrence of fever and cough.
Should I stay home or go to work? You may go to work if you're feeling okay and aren't needed at home. If you are sick but otherwise healthy and not suffering any respiratory symptoms, you should stay at home. But, in this case, take fever-reducing medicine, get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids. More serious symptoms may require seeking medical help.
To read the entire article click on this link to USA TODAY.
COMMENT: This is just another reminder of the original sin of Adam and Eve and the reason we have illness in the world. God didn’t create the world with health problems like influenza.
Yet, a far more serious problem for human beings than even the worst of medical problems are the spiritual problems that unfortunately are afflicting a majority of the world’s peoples. Worshippers of false gods including those who have placed their faith in the doctrines of evolution theory have a serious ailment that will bring eternal death unless they turn to Jesus Christ. Christ offered His life as a full payment for our sins, a complete cure for the spiritual problems that have sickened our souls. We can accept this free and full remedy for sin, or we can reject it to our everlasting regret.
Jesus talked about spiritual sickness when we said in Matthew 9:12 , "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” We can all be doctors and nurses in the sense of trying to lead the spiritually sick to health through the spreading of the Gospel. May God bless our efforts!
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
What food type can lower blood pressure by counteracting unhealthy sodium?Potassium. The American Dietetic Association recommends getting 4,700 mg of potassium a day. Some foods high in potassium include: one baked potato (1,000 mg), one medium banana (420 mg), cantaloupes, brown rice, apples, and lima beans. (picture from Wikimedia Commons)
Source: Spry magazine (October, 2009)
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1 comments:
My child came home from school saying that they learned to cough and sneeze into their elbow with Germy Wormie, and I was totally taken aback. I always covered with my hands. But I went to the website and now I get it, hands touch, elbows don't!! Kids can touch 300 surfaces in 1/2 hour and they hate to wash their hands. This is a simple thing that can make a huge difference.
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