COPING WITH FLU

Its all around you. When somebody sneezed near you, you no longer say "Bless You". You'd scream, "Stay away from me!" and move away from the place. You can run but you cannot hide. Much of this paranoia is because of the dreaded novel influenza A (H1N1) or more commonly known as Swine Flu which is now spread all over the world, and regarded as a pandemic.

When the disease first broke out in the spring of 2009, thousands of pigs were slaughtered all over the world to "prevent" the disease outbreak. Swine flu, as it was initially named, made people to link the flu to pigs which resulted in the massacre. Then the medical experts and other governing agencies became more careful and adopted the term A (H1N1) influenza, just to protect the pigs. The human toll of this flu strain is really phenomenal. Nearly 7800 people have died in little over 6 months. Its flu season in many countries, and you find the whole place infested with sick people. Masks were frantically used by every person out in the open, and it can reach insane heights, like this picture I got by email (Although I believe it is a fake one). In spite of preventive measures for flu and cold being recommended by doctors and other health professionals, they still spread. Keeping up with the flu season, this article is with a view to dispel some myths about flu and catching a cold, in general.

Myth: Bathing in cold water causes pneumonia/flu (or) eating ice, ice cold water causes pneumonia.

Fact: Catching a cold in the rain, in ice, by getting under the cold water etc. are all old wives' tales. The "cold" in the cold water/ice etc. should not be confused with catching a cold, which is caused by a virus. However, if you stay out in the cold for too long, your body's immune system may become weakened, and the virus causing the cold/flu will attack it. That being said, the body's immune system can be weakened by a variety of factors, not just ice/cold water/cool air. Even in the peak of summer at a hot country, you can catch a flu. It is also to be noted that the Rhino virus (which causes common cold) morphs continuously and every time we get a cold it is because of a new strain of virus which our body's immune system has not seen. And the whole process of our "suffering" is part of our body's natural immune system to fight the virus, so that the next time it comes to our body we will be immune to it. So, catching a cold by playing in the cold water, or ice is a big fat lie.

Myth: Washing hands regularly prevents flu/cold.

Fact: Washing them regularly is a recommended method to keep the viruses at bay, but they are not foolproof. In a recent study at the University of Maryland, it was found that alcohol based hand sanitizers worked far better than any other hand cleaners. Yet, they don't prevent flu- they just aid in minimizing the chances of getting yourself affected.

Myth: There are medicines for common cold

Fact: There isn't any medicine which you can pop into your mouth and voila- the disease is cured. As far as cold is concerned, all medicines can do is to alleviate the symptoms of cold. If you are coughing and sneezing a lot- it will probably reduce it a bit. The symptoms of cold (cough, sneeze, fever, etc.) are all body's way of fighting the virus and strengthening the immune system. The medicines aid to reduce the bodily suffering a bit, but are not a cure. If you can remember those Ads, they only promise "temporary relief", and not complete cure- there cannot be a medicine to prevent or to cure cold because the virus is constantly evolving. Like my granny said, "It takes a week to cure cold with medicines, and it takes 7 days to cure cold without medicines".

Myth: If you have swine flu, you have a high chance of dying soon

Fact: People with high obesity, diabetes, asthma, heart disease, very small children or people with weak immune system, or pregnant people are generally at risk contracting diseases. If they contract swine flu (or any other infection or disease), they will be at risk and are more likely to die. Though swine flu has taken the lives of thousands, you have to put it in perspective with other diseases like malaria, normal flu, typhoid etc. and the number of people dead from other diseases are much more than swine flu.

Myth: Flu shots prevent flu and cold permanently

Fact: Flu shots makes your body immune against only a certain particular strain(s) of virus causing flu. Usually, flu shots are administered at the beginning of the flu season (Nov-April), or beginning of summer. Only those strains which are actively present at that time are being protected against. Flu vaccine is only for a particular season because different flu strains can circulate each season. Once you're given a flu shot, the virus strain which is prevalent at that time won't affect you. However, strains evolve continuously and after sometime a new strain could affect you (for which you are not immunized). Therefore flu shots are given every "flu season".

Here's a useful tip to minimize the spreading of flu. When sneezing, don't cover your face with your hands- rather sneeze into the sleeve of your hand (near the elbow). This way, your hands are less infected and hence lesser are the chances for you to spread germs.

And I will be your slave for life if you can keep your eyes open and sneeze! Achhoooooo..... "Gesundheit".

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