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December 7, 2004
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| Casey Ferguson Mesa Legend |
| Taking extra health precautions during flu season may effectively prevent the flu when vaccines are unavailable. |
Flu may be preventable
Rita Kasha
Mesa Legend
Millions of Americans have been denied the flu shot this year due to shortages. However, many have taken extreme measures to obtain the vaccine, including waiting in long lines early in the morning or paying extravagant amounts of money. Fortunately, there are other ways to prevent catching the flu from November through March.
Jim Slocum, 19, isn’t going to get the shot due to past experiences. “When I got the flu shot last year, I got the flu! I would rather try to prevent it myself, instead of getting the shot and then getting the flu because of it. I was getting the shot to prevent the virus, not get the flu.”
According to advice from VitaCost.com, constant hand-washing with warm water and soap throughout the day is an effective deterrent. When a sink isn’t available, hand wipes work just as well.
Even though the flu is airborne, it is often passed by hands.
When coughing or sneezing, mouths should be covered with a shirt or napkin. If the sneeze or cough comes in contact with the hands, they should be washed immediately. No matter how much the hands are washed a day, touching the face should be avoided.
Alissa Day, a nursing major at Mesa Community College said, “I used to get sick all the time because I used to work at a day care and it was a germ fest. I hated getting sick all the time because I missed so much school and work. We weren’t able to wash our hands constantly because that would mean we would have to stop watching the kids for a second. The only option we had was to invest our money in anti-bacterial hand gel.”
Plenty of rest, eating healthy, drinking plenty of fluids, and exercising, can all help a healthy immune system to battle flu symptoms. Exercising four to five times a day builds up the immune system and lessens the chance of catching the flu.
Consuming one to two quarts of water a day is important, because it flushes out and re-hydrates the system. Urine should always be clear and not yellow.
Yogurt, which contains acidophilus, fights diseases and contains enzymes that are necessary for tissue repair.
Quitting smoking can promote a healthier.
Too much alcohol should be avoided. Alcohol dehydrates the body and causes germs to leave the body slower.
Sugar, fructose, and simple carbohydrates, should be steered away from.
Relaxing for 30 minutes a day can help keep the immune system strong.
Watching television is not considered relaxing. Meditating or laying in a quiet room is recommended.
If a person is infected by the virus, it usually lasts from seven to ten days. Rest, fluids, medications, and healthy foods, are essential for beating the flu.
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