Written by Ann
I 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.

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