The Health Blog Online

There has been a great deal of influenza activity in the world and in the news since the spring of 2009, as the swine flu continues to make headlines everywhere. Since the spread of this particular flu has turned into a pandemic, fear has also been spreading with each death it leaves in its wake. People are analyzing the symptoms in order to seek treatment immediately, yet because the symptoms of H1N1 and the regular flu are almost exactly the same, this is resulting in a plethora of unnecessary visits to doctors’ offices, walk-in-clinics and emergency rooms.

The main swine flu symptoms include a cough, a sore throat, body aches and general fatigue, a fever and respiratory problems. As you can see, these H1N1 symptoms are virtually identical to those of other forms of influenza. Anyone who’s had the flu will remember feeling very tired for a few days, their joints being sore, experiencing pain in their sinuses, and having a high fever. So what differences are there between H1N1 and regular influenza?

The main difference between symptoms of swine flu and symptoms of the normal flu is the presence of diarrhea and/or vomiting. This is only for determining if an adult has H1N1, and even then it is not a guarantee. You could have this strain and not be throwing up or experiencing diarrhea. Or, you could have the regular flu and be unable to hold food down and have very loose bowel movements. The only way to be 100% certain that you have H1N1 is though testing of your blood.

If you find that you have H1N1 symptoms, then you’ll need to take precautions to deal with them. You can’t take antibiotics because H1N1 is a virus, and it can’t be stopped with antibiotics. Instead, you have to treat the symptoms. Taking lots of vitamins, particularly vitamins C and D to boost the immune system will help. Health care providers all recommend that you rest your body by staying at home in bed, so you can use your strength to fight the illness, which also helps to keep the virus from spreading any further.

If you are concerned about getting swine flu, then you should take appropriate steps before you get any symptoms. Vaccines have now been developed and those are a solution for some people. For those who don’t trust vaccines for treating the flu, then other steps should be taken to boost the immune system. Take vitamins, exercise regularly, wash your hands regularly when interacting with others or after being in public places, disinfect commonly touched surfaces in the home and get enough rest so that your body is strong enough to fight infections that may come your way.

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No one likes coming down with a cold. It can disrupt anyone’s life. You have a terrible cough, congestion and might even be running a fever. So you decide to wait it out but it only seems to be getting worse. You may need to consider that you have something a bit more serious than the typical bug that is going around. You need to seek medical attention to determine whether or not you have the H1N1 flu. It can be deadly to high risk individuals who have lowered immune systems. It can also be dangerous to young children. But there is a lot of misinformation out there about this strain of the flu so you need to have the facts before you begin to panic. This article can help you understand what the virus is and how you can protect yourself, and your family, from feeling the effects.

How is it different than other strains or varieties of the common flu?

The common flu often only has one strain or genetic strand that identifies it. And it is normal for a person to come into contact with the average flu strain and not have to worry overly about their health. There are always some exceptions, such as those individuals that are already suffering from poor health. The H1N1 virus has seemed to target younger individuals more so than the elderly. It has caused many deaths but these were individuals who did not receive proper treatment and had other health problems that seemed to worsen with the onset of this particular flu strain. But generally all strains of flu do have common genes or common symptoms and are often hard for physicians and clinics to distinguish between the common flu and this new hybrid. It requires further testing and so many people may have the common flu but are treated as if it were the H1N1.

Is H1N1 dangerous?

Any flu or cold can become dangerous if it is not treated properly. The H1N1 is no different and if you follow the same basic practices then you can eliminate much of the danger that has been associated with this particular flu strain. There are some people that are in more danger than others. People with compromised immune systems, the elderly and the young often suffer most with this particular strain and have a harder recovery time. But if you go to the doctor when you first come down with the symptoms or start to feel poorly, the doctor can help speed up your recovery time. You can also practice some basic safety precautions to help eliminate the chance you do come down with the flu. You can use alcohol sanitizer when you are out and unable to use soap and water to wash your hands. If a friend or family member has the flu then you should wear a face mask when visiting. You should always cover your mouth or nose when you cough or sneeze. It is basic sanitary practices that can make all the difference.

What steps can I take to prevent the H1N1 flu?

Sometimes it is the most basic and practical steps that can prevent infection from anything that is contagious. The first and most important step you can take to prevent any strain of the flu is to wash your hands often. Hot soap and water is the most effective way to prevent infection. The second step is to wash the surfaces of your home with a disinfectant. This will kill any germs present. If you happen to be out and about and cannot wash your hands, use a hand sanitizer that has a high alcohol percentage to kill the germs. If you know someone who has the H1N1 virus, or any flu virus, you should not visit them while they are contagious. Simple steps such as not touching your face or covering your nose and mouth will go a long way to preventing you from becoming ill with the flu.

What can I do to help myself if I do come down with the flu?

Any flu can be life threatening if not treated properly. One of the biggest dangers is dehydration. It is important to keep taking in liquids even when you do not feel like drinking. If you are running a fever you need to take a fever reducer such as Tylenol. You can also help boost your immune system with Vitamin C. If you catch the flu early enough you can get a shot of Tamiflu from your physician. The Tamiflu shot will help shorten the duration of the flu. The most important thing you can do besides keep up your liquid intake is to rest. Rest can do wonders for the body and can help it repair itself and fight the flu.

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