Month: April 2022

Swine Flu H1N1 Virus – What You Need to Know About It

Swine flu is currently responsible for the most recent pandemic in the US, Mexico and a many other countries. However this is not the first time that the swine flu has been a problem. Swine flu was responsible for a pandemic in the early 1900s as well as a small outbreak in the mid 1950s. There are many different strains of this flu and you can receive a vaccination against it.

The most recent version of this flu, which is actually a form of influenza, is the H1N1 strain. The main countries that have been affected include Mexico, the United States and Canada. This most recent strain is particularly dangerous because it is also affecting people that are in perfect health and are not immune compromised. Normally those that are affected by the flu are the elderly and those in poor health.

Many doctors say that some of the deaths related to H1N1 could have been prevented if treatment was not delayed. If you can recognize and catch the symptoms early on then you can easily treat the flu. The flu is not only causing concern for individual’s health but also to the economy as the swine flu is causing the markets to panic and fluctuate wildly.

Though it is not certain where the swine flu originated it is though that it was from a pig farm owned by Smithfield foods. This disease is generally only found in pigs but it is possible for the disease to pass to humans if the human has a lot of contact with pigs. Pigs are very susceptible to the flu as they can catch the flu from humans, other pigs and birds.

Swine flu is an airborne disease and spread from …

Avoid Influenza This Season – Get a Flu Shot

The flu season is upon us and there will be many people either trying to fight the flu or ignoring it. Ignoring the flu is not a good idea as it is a dangerous disease. Between the years 1979 and 2001 there were more then two hundred thousand people hospitalized with the flu or its complications each year. And between the years 1990 and 1999 about thirty six thousand people succumbed to the disease each year. The disease is most likely to attack the senior community.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the best thing to do to ward off the flu is to have a flu shot every year. They suggest that anyone six months or older should have a flu vaccination.

If you feel tired and sluggish, your muscles ache, you have a headache and feel nauseous and feverish; you may have the flu. Physicians will no doubt recommend plenty of bed rest, and a nutritious but light diet along with the flu vaccination, especially if you live in large metropolitan areas such as New York City.

Influenza, most commonly known as the flu, is an upper respiratory infection that causes illness and in many cases complications. The flu virus most often attacks children and seniors. The flu vaccination is the best way to prevent contracting influenza.

Since the introduction of the pandemic H1N1 virus (the swine flu) the flu shots that were administered had to be done in two parts. However, to make it easier, this year’s flu shots will have the protection against H1N1 virus included. This year’s flu vaccine will guard against two other flu viruses for which separate injection had to be given as well.

The flu vaccine is available between …

The Normal Blood Pressure for Men Analyzed

There is no difference between the normal blood pressure for men and women. It is the pressure exerted on the arteries as the heart pumps the blood through them. Regularly checking will ensure that there is no damage being done to your vital organs, such as the heart. The normal blood pressure for adults is 120/80mm Hg. The top reading, called the systolic, should be 120mm Hg or less and for the diastolic, the reading should not exceed 80mm Hg. These readings are considered to be normal. It is very unlikely that the reading will be exactly as given above, but if a range close to 120/80mm Hg is shown on three consecutive readings, then it can be accepted as being normal.

It can be hard work trying to keep blood pressure at a normal level constantly, due to the lifestyles most of us lead. The habits that we have fallen into such as using tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy and irregular diet, stress, and no exercise, are all factors that are not only detrimental to your blood circulation, but they can also affect other aspects of your health in a negative way.

It has been medically proven that exercising regularly will help to control your blood pressure. The fitter you are, the easier it will be to control it. Many families have a history of hypertension, and if you are from one of them you are also very likely to suffer from this condition. To combat this, it is important that you start at an early age to take care of your body by eating well and exercising regularly.

One of the main reasons for high blood pressure is the use of tobacco. It not only affects hypertension, but is damaging to the heart …

Effective Natural Herbal Remedies for High Blood Pressure, Hypertension

Wake up! The last option remaining is herbal remedies for high blood pressure. Yes, you must have tried all possible treatments for your frustrating high BP and probably must have given up by now. It isn’t easy to get rid of the haunting disease. It gets the hell out of you, leaving you embarrassed and frustrated. So you will be extremely happy to hear that there’s still an option left: Simple, uncomplicated herbal remedies for high BP.

High blood pressure (hypertension) is known as the disease of our epoch, often regarded as silent killer. With time, its incidence is drastically increasing. It may lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, kidney failure, stroke and other health problems. In this chronic medical condition, the systemic arterial BP is elevated. Except for a meager number of cases which are caused by some conditions that affect the kidneys, arteries, heart or endocrine system, the cause of most of the high BP cases cannot be found. Of course preventive measures like regular and controlled diet, physical exercises, relaxation therapy, meditation etc. must be observed. But if you are reading this, it’s obvious that they all must not have worked. Anyway don’t lose hope as one option is still left and that’s herbal remedies for high blood pressure.

Garlic is regarded as one of the most effective herbal remedies for high blood pressure, considered to be excellent for thrombosis, hardening of arteries and high blood cholesterol. However, garlic supplements should only be used under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner as it is seen to thin the blood, reducing its ability to clot.

Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) is a coronary vasodilator. It protects the heart, strengthens circulation and helps to maintain the health and tone heart …

Control HBP and Protect Yourself From a Silent Killer – Part 1

Protect yourself against a “silent killer” by knowing the facts. Although millions of Americans are afflicted by high blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension, it largely remains as a silent killer because of the absence of symptoms. Thus, you may be walking around with a HBP without even knowing it.

HBP is a known leading cause of heart attacks, strokes and chronic kidney diseases (CKD). On one hand, chronic kidney diseases also cause HBP. The good news is HBP can be controlled! And it follows that if you are in control you minimize the risk of these complications. Recommended measures to control HBP include: losing excess weight, consuming less salt, getting more active, and quitting the cigarettes.

But before going any further let us define HBP. According to MedicineNet HBP occurs when repeated elevated blood pressure exceeds 140 over 90 mmHg (systolic pressure above 140 with a diastolic pressure above 90). It further states that it can cause blood vessel changes in the retina, thickening of the heart muscle, kidney failure and brain damage.

In relation to kidney diseases, HBP speeds up the loss of kidney function. Tests to find out kidney damage as a result of HBP include measuring the amount of protein in the urine and by estimating the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) from a blood test. Normal functioning kidneys keep protein in the body. However, damaged kidneys result to protein leaking into urine. Persistent protein in the urine occurs when two positive tests for protein is detected in the urine over several weeks. Meanwhile, a low GFR means your kidneys are not capable of removing wastes from your body.

These tests are very important because most people who have HBP don’t even know that they are …

Flu Prevention Tips

Nearly everyone has experienced a bout with the flu. The best way to ward off the flu is to protect yourself from becoming infected in the first place. Taking the right precautions can spare you from having to spend time in bed feeling terrible. The good news in all this is that it’s not hard to avoid this virus.

Of course, frequent hand washing is a must. Make sure your hands are clean before you eat. Keep your fingers out of your mouth, eyes, and nose, especially if you have touched railings, elevator buttons, public computers, or any other objects that others touch. Keep your distance from infected people.

Drink plenty of fluids and maintain a healthy diet. This will help keep your immune system functioning at its best. Take vitamin supplements daily. This will also help your body ward off infections. Zinc and vitamin C are especially effective in boosting the immune system. They will give your body the necessary boost to prevent viral infections.

Research suggests that elderberry extract can also help with prevention efforts. This herb has a history that goes back hundreds of years as a natural medicine. It was first used for making wine, syrups, marmalades, and other desserts. It is also a popular treatment for vision and respiratory ailments.

Scientists attending the 15th Annual Conference on Antiviral Research analyzed the ability of elderberry extract in the prevention of influenza. The results were published in The Journal of Alternative Complimentary Medicine. According to the results, this herb prevents influenza infections by preventing the virus from connecting to host cells.

Eat fresh fruits and vegetables but first thoroughly wash them. However, avoid eating fruits and vegetables at restaurants during flu season.

You can also take steps to physically protect yourself from infection. You …

What is the Difference Between Epidemic and Pandemic Level Outbreaks?

Both epidemic and pandemic refer to the proliferation of contagious diseases among a given population. There are basically two differences between epidemic and pandemic. A much larger population is affected by a pandemic, and it affects a bigger region or area, and sometimes could affect the entire global population.

The difference between epidemic and pandemic is that an epidemic usually occurs when an illness pervades over an unusual number of persons, or more than what is expected. A pandemic, meanwhile, affects a larger group of the population, or much more than an epidemic.

The flu, for example, becomes prevalent in a particular area or locality, or perhaps a city or county. This becomes an epidemic. Larger in scope, if the disease or illness, or in this instance the swine flu virus, bears across countries, and even permeates different continents and spreads through different populations, this turns into a pandemic.

The difference between epidemic and pandemic can also be determined by the concentration levels or incidence of the spread of disease. It could be that an illness or disease has spread across an entire nation, but the concentration level is not pronounced. This is an epidemic.

But once the prevalence or the concentration becomes so high, then even if it is confined in a single country, this can already be considered as a pandemic outbreak. An epidemic turns into a pandemic when the spread of the disease goes out of hand and gets relatively out of control.

Swine Flu Vaccinations

the H1N1 vaccine has become available in the United States, but at levels far below what hase been promised. While the supply is increasing daily, it has been a real, nail-biting effort to get enough vaccinations to cover the people who …

Nursing Care For Flu Patients

Swine flu has been given a significant amount of attention in the media in recent months as healthcare workers and the general public prepare for the next wave of flu infection to hit the U.S.

Understanding how the flu virus can cause infection in the body and the resulting symptoms can greatly increase your chances of detecting the virus early on to minimize the potential complications that can arise.

There are a lot of articles on the web right now that play into the media attention being given to Swine Flu. These articles emphasize the risks of contracting Swine Flu, the death rates in countries with minimal health care, and the need to protect the population from this flu.

But what is a virus? How does a virus work? How does it go about making us sick?

It’s good to know the death rates and risk of the virus, but we also need to have an idea of what to expect when we contract a virus. Knowing how the virus goes about infecting the cell and causing damage to the body gives us an indication of ways we can prevent the virus from attacking us in the future.

We also need to know the symptoms of viral infection. Just informing people that there is a risk of swine flu infection is not helpful. People need to understand the symptoms that are expressed when we contract the Swine Flu, and the symptoms of potential complications to the flu that need to be watched for.

Viruses are basically just a set of genetic information collected in a protective coating that uses a host cell to reproduce. As they do this, they cause negative affects in the body that we perceive as illness.

There are multiple types of …