Doc Health Plan - One of the greatest advances in the history of Medicine was the discovery of microorganisms and their connection to disease. Less than 150 years ago, surgeons were performing surgery without even washing their hands. The death rate from infection was very high. Major communicable diseases were spread from person to person without any check at all. Once the connection between these little unseen killers and the havoc they create in the human body was realized, we entered a whole new era of health and longer life.Today, a lot of viruses were being reported to have infected humans. One is SARS, and now, the H1N1 Swine flu virus that is currently being considered as pandemic. The threat of a pandemic is sweeping the world, through a new strain of swine flu. Many deaths have been recorded in Mexico. Several other countries also have suspect cases reported, from as far apart as France, Hong Kong, Canada, Israel and New Zealand.
Swine influenza (also called swine flu, hog flu, and pig flu) is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus (SIV) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs. As of 2009, the known SIV strains include influenza C and the subtypes of influenza A known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3.
Swine influenza virus is common throughout pig populations worldwide. Transmission of the virus from pigs to humans is not common and does not always lead to human influenza, often resulting only in the production of antibodies in the blood. If transmission does cause human influenza, it is called zoonotic swine flu. People with regular exposure to pigs are at increased risk of swine flu infection. The meat of an infected animal poses no risk of infection when properly cooked.
Here are simple precautions you need to use to provide self-protection against the threatened pandemic:
Make sure you cover your nose and mouth if you sneeze or cough. Ensure you get rid of the tissue in the rubbish can after you use it. Keep a mask handy in case anyone sneezes or coughs around you.
Just one sneeze thrusts 100,000 droplets into the air at around 90 mph, landing on everything around you. British researchers have found that in a subway train during rush hour, as many as 10% of all commuters can come in contact with the spray and residue from just one sneeze. 150 commuters may become ill from one uncovered sneeze, or cough. The rush of air from a cough travels at speeds of nearly 600 mph.
Always wash your hands frequently, for up to 20 seconds, with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Always wash your hands thoroughly prior to eating and whenever possible do not eat with your hands.
It is estimated over 80% of all infections are spread by hands. If you are not able to wash your hands, resort to using hand-sanitizers with 60% alcohol content. These are available in handy pocket size containers.
Attempt to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth and definitely avoid kissing on the cheeks.
Germs are passed more quickly that way than any other method of transmission.
Try to stay away from sick people. Isolation and keeping your distance are your most efficient protective measures.
If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with other people, to keep them from becoming infected.
Keep aware and recognize any abnormal symptoms. If you are in doubt, go and seek professional advice.
Make sure you eat well, be careful of your sleep habits and take regular exercise. Increase your daily dose of vitamin C and practice good hygiene.
It has long been recommended that hands be washed with soap and hot water in a number of situations. Surgeons scrub their hands with antibacterial soap and hot water for a long time before donning gloves. This shows the importance of hand cleaning since unless the gloves are punctured, the hands are protected. Laws require food handlers and medical personnel to wash their hands with soap and hot water before beginning work and after visiting the bathroom.
Hand sanitizers are products that are intended for use when hand washing is impossible or impractical. Most hand sanitizers are made from an alcohol based gel that can be applied directly to the hand and rubbed in and dried without the use of water. Do hand sanitizers prevent disease and illness? Since a substance containing at least 65% alcohol by volume, and most hand sanitizers do, kills almost 99% percent of all bacterial and virus that it comes into contact with, the answer would have to be a resounding yes.
