This flu is going around here and I don’t know anyone that got bird flu. But this is the flu alright. I suddenly feel achy, shivery, restless, etc. What do I do first, then what do I do later today or tomorrow?

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I have been trying to inform some of my friends on the dangers the swine flu vaccine but its either falling on deaf ears or im worrying those that have taking it, So im thinking perhaps i should just not say anything at all. Also people i know that have got it say they are fine so im wondering myself if i am just going over board on the whole issue!

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I know this is probably a “no brainer” but I missed Monday so I don’t know if I should miss today. I have a doctors appointment after class to find out for sure if I have H1N1.
What would you do?
My symptoms include fatigue, bad cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, chills, diarrhea, and head aches, but no fever.
I read on the CDC website that you can have the flu without the fever.
I’m also 32 weeks pregnant

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Daily we hear about the flu season and the H1N1 swine flu virus.  We all ask ourselves the question, should I get the H1N1 flu shot?  If I am harmed by the vaccine, what legal recourse do I have?  What safety tests have been conducted on the vaccine?  These are very important questions to ask yourself.  You need to provide the answers given here to your customers visiting your business internet money online opportunity web site.

Here are 4 questions and answers to consider before being vaccinated or panicking about the H1N1 swine flu.

1.  If you are harmed by the vaccine do you have any legal recourse in the event of an adverse reaction?  In 2001 a law was passed granting those who develop and recommend vaccines during a “health emergency” immunity from any legal prosecution.   This law granted the pharmaceutical companies a free pass since without the potential to lose billions of dollars in lawsuits they have far less motivation to spend millions testing the H1N1 vaccine.

2.  What safety tests have been completed on the H1N1 vaccine before it will be administered?  Though the safety of vaccines in general can be questioned, it usually takes immunologists 18 months to create and test a vaccine, the H1N1 vaccine was developed for distribution in less than 5 months.  Testing thus far has included only 6,000 people.  Of these, not all have even received the same vaccine with the same ingredients.  Also, because testing is done on volunteers there is no way to accurately test the effect of the vaccine on certain age groups such as pregnant mothers, the elderly and those at higher risk.  One manufacturer of the H1N1 vaccine admitted to the Associated Press that the vaccine will be available to the public before trial testing is even completed.

3.  Which is the higher risk, taking the vaccine or getting the swine flu?  Except in those with a severely compromised immune system, the swine flu would likely result in no more than regular flu symptoms and a possible 1 or 2 days missed from work or school.   The effect of an adverse reaction to the vaccine can be very severe and possibly fatal. One type reaction is getting Guillian Barre Syndrome, a neurological disease that causes partial paralysis and is associated with many vaccines including the flu vaccine.  It was the most common form of injury from the swine flu vaccine administered in the 70’s.  Before any medicine or vaccine is taken one should weigh the risks versus the benefits.

4.  What can you do to protect yourself against the H1N1 flu and seasonal flu naturally?  You can answer this question yourself by reading the following facts.  Germs on their own do not make you sick, lowered body defenses do.  Keep your body strong physically, nutritionally and mentally and observe good hygiene and you will have protection against the swine flu.  Vitamin D is a powerful defender against viruses.  Your body derives Vitamin D from sunlight and thus as it gets colder and we get less and less our defenses against viruses can decrease – thus why we have a “flu season.”  Increasing your Vitamin D levels and/or using other different natural supplements can protect you naturally, without risk and more effectively than the vaccine.  Maintain a healthy nervous system.

So will you put yourself and family at risk by taking the H1N1 swine flu shot and possibly even get the flu as has been the case in Canada or stay healthy and take precautions to avoid getting it?  This is your decision but in either case be sure and tell the facts to your customers at your business internet money online opportunity web site.

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Whether or not to get a flu shot is one of those questions that is debated every year around the same time that Halloween decorations start showing up on people’s front lawns. People will discuss the pros and cons of getting the flu shot on the bus, on the subway, on the street, at work, while having lunch, and anywhere else where two or more people congregate. The debate starts to become part of news stories too. Some people think a flu shot is necessary and will do their best to make sure they receive one. Other people think it is a waste of time and money along with being a poke in the arm that they don’t need.

Whether or not you get a flu shot is a personal decision but information from the Centers For Disease Control and Protection recommend that certain groups of high risk individuals receive a flu vaccination every year. Those people include:

- People who are 65 years old or older and anyone who lives in a nursing home

- People with chronic heart or lung conditions that are 6 months or older

- People with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, a compromised immune system, or anyone who needs regular medical care that is 6 months or older

- Children from 6 months to 18 years that are on long term aspirin therapy and all children who are 6 months to 23 months old

- Women who will be pregnant during the flu season

- People with a condition that has the possibility of compromising their respiratory function such as a brain injury, brain disease, spinal cord injury, seizure disorders and other nerve or muscle disorders that make it difficult for a person to breathe or swallow

My mother is in the high risk category. She’s over 65 years old and is on kidney dialysis. Everyone at her dialysis center was offered a flu shot as a service so that everyone at the center was protected. The health care professionals working at the center also got flu shots.

It is also recommended that people from 50 to 64 years of age receive a flu shot even though this age group isn’t considered high risk.

The flu shot is also recommended for people who routinely come in close contact with people in the high risk group, such as the health care professionals who work at my mother’s dialysis center. Because I’m a caregiver for my mother it was recommended that I get a flu shot too. Although I’m neither a strong believer in getting or not getting a flu shot I got one just in case it could prevent me from getting it and passing it on to my mother.

Other members of my family have differing opinions on whether or not to get the flu shot although, unlike myself, the rest of my family seems to have a strong opinion one way or the other. Although both my mother and father receive the flu shot without fail every year and strongly believe in getting it, my aunt never gets a flu shot. She’s 82 years old and is doing fine. My daughter lives in a college dorm. The college recommends the flu shot for all students living in dorms (not a bad idea in my mind because a college dorm can be a hotbed of germs or it at least seems that way when I look into some of the very messy dorm rooms) but my daughter doesn’t get the flu shot and hasn’t come down with the flu during the three years she’s lived in the dorm. My in-laws both get a flu shot every year, but my husband’s grandparents do not. And my oldest son is adamant that a person should never get a flu shot (http://www.microflu.com/fluvaccinerisksandbenefits).

If you do get a flu shot the best time to receive it is from the latter part of September through the middle of November, although getting a flu shot almost any time during the season will still give a person some protection from the flu or influenza. But the flu shot doesn’t give a person protection or effectiveness against the flu for about two weeks after receiving it. And in order to receive the maximum protection from the flu a person needs to get a flu shot every year.

Flu season runs from about November through April although January to February seems to be the peak time of the flu season. That’s when you’ll start to hear reports on the news about what parts of the United States are reporting large numbers of flu cases.

What is in a flu shot? It varies each year. In the United States the Public Health Service determines which three strains of the flu are most likely to spread and be a problem during the upcoming flu season. Purified viruses of those three strains are grown in egg cultures that are noninfectious and inactive. Those purified viruses are the flu shot or flu vaccination. The shot stimulates an immune reaction which is said to give a person up to a 70% protection from those strains of the flu.

Why do some health care professionals feel that receiving a flu shot is so important? One reason is that the flu (influenza) is very contagious. It can also be very deadly. It is the fifth leading cause of death among the elderly killing as many as 70,000 people a year.

Whether or not you receive a flu shot is something only you can decide. Consider the pros and cons and decide what is right for you.

Disclaimer: this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat illness and disease; nor is it intended as dispensation of medical advice.

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Olive Leaf for cold relief has been used for centuries, going back as far as the ancient Egyptians, and one of the foundation extracts in herbal medicine. Just how effective it can be may surprise you.

 Olive leaf for flu symptom relief is also popular, as any natural remedy that can help with infections is far kinder to the body than expensive chemical concoctions that increase the toxic burden on the body.

Olive extracts main ingredient is oleuropein and responsible for most of its healing abilities. It is powerful antioxidant and antiviral substance and has been shown to be as effective as modern day antibiotics but without the side effects including a weakened immune system for up to six months, making olive leaf for cold relief an ideal solution.

Studies shave shown that it can prevent infection from taking hold as opposed to curing it, and so strengthening the immune system and maintaining the correct balance within the body. No other naturally occurring substance has shown itself to be so effective.

Apart from using olive leaf for flu relief, you may be interested to know that it can lower high blood pressure, one of today’s biggest killers, lower the bad or LDL cholesterol levels and help to protect the heart from disease.

And so the list goes on with it being a natural energy booster to the point where many athletes take it to increase their endurance naturally before a big event.

So you can see the many health benefits to be had, not just using olive leaf for cold relief, but helping you to maintain optimum health.

When selecting an olive extract product, make sure it is produced from 20% oleuropein for the maximum impact. Many I have seen on the market only have 15% or less, and this makes a big difference in the quality of the benefits you will receive.

A high quality nutritional supplement is considered the best way to take it, as when combined with many other synergistic herbs and vitamins, its power is enhanced considerably, and you receive the benefits from all the other ingredients.

It’s easy to see why olive leaf for cold relief is becoming so popular, but don’t forget all the other amazing benefits it has to offer as well!

Visit my website today to learn more about how to choose a quality olive extract supplement.

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We continue to be inundated with information about the flu season and the H1N1 swine flu virus.  We all ask ourselves the question, should I get the H1N1 flu shot?  Why is it such an issue?  Is there reason to suspect as many people have gotten sick as we are told?  These are very important questions to ask yourself.  You need to provide the answers provided here to your customers visiting your business internet money online opportunity web site.

Here are 3 things to consider before being vaccinated or panicking about the swine flu.

1.  The World Health Organization (WHO) did not declare the swine flu a pandemic because of the number of hospitalizations or deaths.  The WHO classified it as a pandemic based only upon the virus being present in multiple countries worldwide.  Even the mildest virus detected in enough places worldwide would receive the same classification.   Your business internet money online opportunity must provide this information on your H1N1 virus website to help people understand if there is a true risk associated with the virus.

2.  Experts say that the number of swine flu cases has been significantly overestimated mainly because the symptoms of swine flu are identical to that of the seasonal flu.  How are the differences determined?  Do you or I know the difference between the swine flu and seasonal flu when we call or see our doctor?  The latest figures as of September 2009 according to the WHO estimate only 300,000 laboratory confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus and 3,917 deaths worldwide.  The WHO’s latest calculations for regular influenza outbreaks estimate annually there are around 3-5 million cases of severe flu-related illness, and about 250,000 to 500,000 deaths globally.  Is this an exaggeration to make you panic and get the flu shot?  Again make sure you business internet money online opportunity website explains the facts.

3. The swine flu epidemic has happened before and we must get vaccinated.  This claim dates back to 1976 when an Army recruit felt sick and weak and died during a training hike.  After the autopsy revealed the presence of the H1N1 virus, later named swine flu,  a swine flu vaccine was immediately created and administered to 46 million Americans.  At least 25 people died from the vaccine, more than 500 became paralyzed and the US government paid out over $3.5 billion in damages to those harmed by it.  It should be noted that not 1 person, vaccinated or not, died from the swine flu, including other soldiers at the base who became infected with the virus.

So will you put yourself and family at risk by taking the H1N1 swine flu shot and possibly even get the flu as has been the case in Canada or stay healthy and take precautions to avoid getting it?  This is your decision but in either case be sure and tell the facts to your customers at your business internet money online opportunity web site.

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Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a potentially fatal illness that has garnered a great deal of media attention. But, although you may have heard of the illness, you may still be wondering how to recognize the symptoms and how to differentiate it from other types of flu. In order to better understand the symptoms, it is helpful to have a greater understanding of the disease itself.

As with other forms of flu you are already familiar with, bird flu is spread by a virus. Generally, the symptoms are treated by keeping the patient more comfortable as the body fights off the disease.

The bird flu virus is carried in the intestines of wild birds. These birds, however, do not exhibit any symptoms from the disease. Domesticated birds, such as ducks, chickens, and turkeys, on the other hand, can become very ill and will even die from the disease.

The symptoms for those birds with a mild case include ruffled feathers and a decrease in egg production. In a severe case, however, birds will generally die within 48 hours as the virus systematically shuts down various organs within the bird’s body.

In order to become infected with bird flu, a bird must come into contact with the excretions from a contaminated bird. This can include direct contact as well as contact with materials or other items that came in contact with the excretions. Although humans generally do not catch a virus from a bird, there have been more than 100 documented cases of humans with bird flu reported since 1997. Most of these cases were the result of the human coming in direct contact with a bird that was infected.

Recognizing bird flu symptoms can be quite difficult because some individuals that have been infected by the virus have exhibited symptoms that are normally associated with the flu. These symptoms include, cough, fever and sore throat. Other symptoms that are not typically associated with the flu include, eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (i.e. acute respiratory distress syndrome)and other life threatening complications.

A person exhibiting bird flu symptoms must undergo testing in order to confirm that the illness is the result of a bird flu virus. Although it is potentially deadly for the infected person, the bigger concern surrounding the disease is the possibility of mutation while in a human and becoming better capable of spreading from human to human. In this case, it would be difficult for scientists to prevent the spread of the disease because there are currently no vaccinations against the virus and because viruses tend to become resistant to medications used to treat them.

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