News Swine Flu

Stress in modern day life is nearly impossible to avoid even without the worries of whether you’ll come down with Swine Flu (H1N1).  Stress makes the body more susceptible to catching a virus.  Here are a few tips to decrease stress in your life.

Take a few minutes for quiet time.
We’re surrounded by noise.  The TV’s always going.  The radio gets turned on the moment we get in the car.  The loud speakers blare as we grocery shop.  It’s a noisy world and that noise can add to stress levels.  Enjoy the peacefulness of quiet.  Intentionally spend 15 to 30 minutes in peaceful silence.  You don’t even have to do anything but listen to the silence if you don’t want to.

Start Your Day on a Positive Note
Don’t get bogged down by last night’s dishes, early morning laundry chores or racing around the house to get yourself ready for work.  That’s just starting your day loaded with stress.  Start the day by reading from your favorite inspirational book.  Have a cup of coffee on your back porch looking at the sun rise. Take a few moments and write in your journal.  The world will wait and you will be ready for it.

Take Time for Yourself Every Day.
Do something you enjoy every day.  It can be something as simple as taking a walk with your puppy pal, or stroking your kitty cat.  Value yourself by giving yourself a treat.  If you love to garden but just haven’t had the time.  Make the time. Buy an assortment of herbs and pots and potter for a bit. Doing something you like is a great stress buster.

You can’t prevent the Swine Flu (H1N1) but you can decrease the odds that you’ll get it if you de-stress your life.

Uncategorized Conditions and Diseases, Infectious disease, Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, Swine influenza

Viruses are not alive the way a plant or an animal is alive.  They do not consume, excrete waste product, grow, or react to their environment.  They do however reproduce themselves, but only in a host cell.  A specific type of  virus will only reproduce in a  specific type of host cell. There are viruses that affect just about every type of organism.  It may be better to think of viruses as active and de-activated rather than alive or dead.

Viruses are the cause of Swine Flu (H1N1), other types of influenza, ebola, HIV, rabies, herpes, common cold, measles, chicken pox, polio, and more.

Ultraviolet light used in water purifiers and air filters does deactivate or kill viruses.  Ultraviolet light represents the frequency of light between 200 nanometers (nm) and 400 nm.  You can’t see it with the naked eye.  The most effective frequency for killing viruses and bacteria is between 254 nm and 265 nm.

The viruses are deactivated because the light causes genetic damage.  The virus can no longer reproduce itself.  Ultraviolet lights used in home filters need to be wiped off every six months.  Some systems are closed and signal that the bulb needs to be changed.  They use about the same amount of energy as a 40 watt incandescent bulb.

Should you use an air filter that uses ultraviolet light? That depends on how often you’re exposed to people who may be sick, how much the air in your home is circulated, and other factors.   Many modern homes are virtually sealed air systems in the winter when the heat is on or during the summer with air conditioning.  This closed system doesn’t allow the viruses to dissipate but keeps them trapped within your home.

Uncategorized Infectious disease, Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, Swine influenza, Virus

Think about the 2009 Swine Flu (N1H1) and it’s scary. Schools are closing, quarantines at airports, and all those face masks. There are several common sense ways you can get down the chances of coming down with Swine Flu.

1. Wash your hands. It’s one of the best and most effective ways to prevent disease. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds using warm to hot water and soap. It doesn’t have to be an antibacterial soap because Swine Flu (N1H1) is caused by a virus not a bacteria. If you’re out and about and don’t have access to soap and water use a hand sanitizer gel that is alcohol based. Use a generous dollop and rub on your hands until it evaporates.

2. Stay away from crowds. Swine Flu (N1H1) is air born within a 6 foot distance. The virus is carried on water droplets that are expelled from the nasal passages, throat and lungs through sneezing, coughing and breathing. If you aren’t where the crowds are you won’t be exposed as much.

3. Don’t touch your mouth or nose with your hands, use a tissue. Swine Flu (N1H1) is spread through the virus being introduced to the host – that’s you. If the virus is on your hand because you touched a surface that someone else did who had the virus and then touch your nose or mouth you increase the chances of getting sick yourself. Use the tissue only once and throw it away after the usage.

Use these common sense rules to decrease the chance you’ll get sick.

Uncategorized Health, Infectious disease, Swine influenza