Written by AnnI have been living with someone with the H1N1 virus for ten days now, and I am not sick. My fingers are crossed that the rest of my family can avoid contracting this flu, but our chances are not good. We have been washing our hands and avoiding the kisses and hugs, and our sick girl has been very careful about coughing and sneezing in our direction. The following advice, credited to Dr. Vinay Goyal is circulating the Internet. We have taken these precautions and so far, so good.The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):1. Frequent hand-washing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.2. “Hands-off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face.3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water, Listerine, or a hydrogen peroxide solution. H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water, or hydrogen peroxide. Blowing the nose softly once a day and swabbing both nostrils with Q-tips dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C.6. Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.Have you caught the H1N1 virus? Are you caring for a someone with the flu? Did you get the vaccine? Tell us your story.
Tags: Dr. Vinay Goyal, Flu Virus, H1N1 Flu, Tamiflu, The Flu, Tips to Avoid the Flu
Thanks so much for these tips, Ann. I work in the health care field and I am exposed to all kinds of things every day. I wash my hands all the time, but the gargling and nasal saline are great tips. Also, I read that you should wash your hands after you have used the alcohol based hand sanitizers 3 times in a row–because it starts to build a film on your hands that actually attracts germs.
Praying that your girl feels better soon(that is harder than being sick yourself).
Hope everyone stays well, and this pandemic is over soon.
Thanks for YOUR tip Wendy. I’ll pass it along. Sometimes the hand sanitizer is the only thing we have available. I didn’t know it builds up, but it makes sense that it would.
My older daughter is feeling much better, thanks. She went to school today and is glad the weekend is here. Despite being bored and stir-crazy, it’s hard to get back to a full day. She has good teachers who will help her make up all the work she missed (7 school days + the weekend.)
My youngest was feeling poorly, but I am not so sure it’s the flu. This time we have the anti-viral meds to give her right away, so that should help if it is.
I also am a health care professional and I am dealing with this flu season on a daily basis at work. These are great tips and some I have never heard of . I have heard about the hand sanitizers possibly attracting germs if overused but the companies that sell these products probably will not admit to that. If this is true, they need to post that information on their product.
My son was recently hospitalized for several days with respiratory problems possibly related to the flu. His cultures came back negative for both the H1N1 and seasonal flu, however the doctor said there is a 30 % chance of a false negative and believes based on symptoms that my son had one or the other. He was quite sick. He is out of the hospital now and feeling much better. He has asthma but has not really been bothered by it in years.
We will be running vaccination clinics for the next month or so and I plan on taking the seasonal flu vaccine this week. So far, we only have the nasal mist for the H1N1 and I am too old to take that. If the H1N1 vaccine (injection) becomes available to our group, I definitely plan on taking it.
My mom used to make us gargle with salt water during flu season! I never knew she really knew anything, I just thought it was an old wives tale. Ann, I’m glad your daughter is feeling better, and hope the younger daughter feels better soon!
I’ve never had a flu shot period, but my parents, brothers, and best friend are all urging me to get the H1N1 shot because of asthma and because I have had pneumonia a couple of times in the past. I hate shots with a passion, I’m terrified of needles. I’m really torn, I haven’t had the flu since my first year in law school but I work with kids and there are already sporadic outbreaks in the communities I work in. I had flu-like symptoms a couple of weeks ago (with a headache that rivaled a migraine) but tested negative for H1N1. I’m probably just going to use these tips and pray I don’t get it.
I’m probably just going to use these tips and pray I don’t get it. – Erin Kate
Same here, Erin Kate. I have never done the flu shot thing. I don’t work with children or other populations that are susceptible plus I am so young
, I have never felt the need or the inclination. I am holding steady to this decision for at least this year. I have heard there are shortages — our building was scheduled to have a clinic, but cancelled it due to lack of the vaccine. I am too lazy to call all over trying to get the shot. If I get sick, it will definitely be my own fault and I know that!
As for the tips, these are awesome and include ones I have not heard before. I will try #3 and #4 and also be aware of build-up from Purrell, etc. (which I apply about 10 times a day in the hopes it is doing some good). Go figure…..
Ann,
These are really good tips. I work with kids so I have to be extra careful. I carry hand sanitizer around on my keychain now. That’s something I never thought I’d do!
Companies don’t tell us much about side effects of hand sanitizers because they want to sell a lot, even if they are not more effective than regular hand washing (even with cold water).
It is harmful to youngest (under 5) beacause they might put their hands in their mouth and some of the product enter a little in the skin. Those products are midly toxic (like alcool), adults can take it if it is occasionnally, but kids shouldn’t use them at all.
And regular use of these products are also in part the cause of microbia resistance we have these days.
The tips from Dr. Vinay Goyal are really interesting and relatively easy to apply, except the one “no hands to face” definitively not natural to most people including me… And it wouldn’t be natural not kissing my kids when they are sicks either. Maybe I’d rather work to enforce my immune system
Ann -
Great tips – simple! Am going to get some Listerine today!
Ann, I hope everyone in your household is feeling good and over it by now. Thanks for all the tips. We have been washing our hands constantly. At my daughter’s school, they pass around hand-sanitizer twice a day. They had someone come in and give a talk about not sharing food, coughing away, etc.
I won’t be getting the vaccine. I’m not sure about my little girl yet. I’m leaning towards no for now.
I gave up the “no kisses” rule recently, Camille. Any tips for immunity boosters? I could use some.
Great tips. I will try the saline gargling and nasal treatments (I already try to do neti pots for my allergies; they really do help). Thanks so much, Wendy, for the tip about hand sanitizer – I use it all the time.
Unfortunately, I think I’m getting a cold anyway. I may fight it off yet – we’ll see.
I changed my mind and had my daughter vaccinated. It made me too nervous not to. It was the nasal mist one.