BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Family Health Avoiding the Flu Bug!

Test your knowledge of influenza prevention by taking this quiz from the BellaOnline Public Health site:

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Get your flu shot,Influenza (flu) is a viral infection tha causes a fever,runny nose,cough,headache,a feeling of illness (malaise),and inflammation of the lining of the nose and airways,

Prevention;
A person exposed to an influenza virus produces antibodies, which protect against reinfection by that particular virus. Vaccination against influenza every year, however, is the best way to avoid contracting influenza.Influenza vaccines contain inactivated (or killed) influenza virus strains or viral particles . A vaccine may be monovalent (one strain) or polyvalent(usually three strains) A monovalent vaaccine permits a larger dose against a new virus strain,and a polyvalent vaccine boosts resistance against more than one strain. A different vaccine is introduced every year based on predictions of which strains are most likely to cause influenza. The predictions take into account the strain of virus that predominated during the previous flu season and the strain causing disease in other parts of the world in the current preseason. Vaccination is particularly important for those who are likely to become very ill if infected. In the USA, vaccinations should take place during the fall, so that levels of the antibodies will be highest during the peak influenza months, November through March

I think one secret to not getting the flu or colds or any sickness is keeping the immune system healthy all year long with good nutrition, good health habits and plenty of exercise.

Here are some recipes to help boost the immune system and you can take these natural remedies at the first sign of a cold or flu to shorten the time you are ill.

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I have asthma and I have had Pneumonis twice and any number of lung infections. My immune system has never been good. The doctor tells me that my respiratory problems could be due in part to the fact that my Mother was a smoker and lived in a home where everyone smoked when she was pregnant with me. Thankfully she gave me up for adoption and my exposure to that ended there.

I take the flu shot and pneumonia shot every year. I am so glad to see that my daughter who is now 10 seems to be fine. She has had bronchitis once, by the time I was 10, I had it probabaly half dozen times. I was sick every winter.

I have been VERY careful to NOT allow anyone to smoke around her, while I was pregnant I was ready to cram the cigarrette down someones throat. Pregnancy made me a tad bit agressive when it came to safety issues for my child.

I haven't had anything like this since I stopped working in a crowded office building.

The couple of times that i got a flu shot, i got sick. I now just try to keep my immune system strong through good nutrition.

Some things are just the luck of the draw meaning that if its your time then its just your time.

Just simply washing your hands a lot and not touching your face with your hands when you're out someplace is one of the easiest things you can do to protect yourself from flu germs.

I also tell myself constantly that I'm healthy and my immunity protects me from germs. I think mental attitude does a lot. Some people think they catch everything that's "going around", like it's a platter of snacks that you have to eat from. If it "goes around" it's going to land on me-which I refuse to believe.

Wayne Dyer talks about this in some of his books, protecting yourself though your thoughts about illness.

Have you ever thought about how hard it is NOT to touch your face? We do it like a thousand times a day w/out even realizing it. The way I first noticed it was when I worked as a surgical technologist (several years back). And once you are gloved, you can only touch basically your chest area - cuase that's the only part that is still considered sterile.

When I first started I think I had to reglove at least once a surgery because I would push my goggles up, swipe at my hair under my hat, brush my nose. It was crazy!

Then I worked with my mom in her catering business, and while the standards weren't nearly as strict - I was kind of already in the habit - so I would notcie whenever my hand headed towards my face, or whenver a co-wroker's, then I'd make them go wach their hands.

We just don't even realize how often we scratch our nose, rub our lips, or brush back our hair - because it is such a natural motion.

Michelle, I used to be a surgical tech too! Having a runny nose was the worst!-lol.

Ever since I read about catching colds by touching your eyes or face, I don't do it at all. If my nose itches, I use a tissue or my sleeve to scratch it now. I also never eat when I'm out-like samples in stores or snacks, unless I can wash my hands first.

I've noticed that some grocery stores are starting to put disinfectant wipes near the grocery carts to wipe the handles. Great idea!