Heath Bites

College students in the midst of finals and holiday preparations beware: ‘tis the season of sniffling, hacking, aching, exhausting and congesting. The time of the flu has arrived.

Influenza, commonly referred to as “the flu,” is a contagious health condition caused by the influenza virus. Different from a cold and far more severe, the flu typically hits like a ton of bricks and can include, but isn’t limited to, these symptoms: fever, headache, extreme fatigue, dry coughing, sore throat, nasal congestion, body aches and vomiting. Commonly referred to as “flu-like symptoms,” they vary in degrees for most people, sometimes severe, sometimes on the same level as a cold; some people experience it for weeks on end while others only have to deal with it for 24 hours.

The flu attacks approximately ten to twenty percent of the U.S. population each year, and of this total, 114,000 have been admitted to the hospital as a direct result, while 20,000 even die from the virus. This widespread epidemic can be accounted for by the way it’s spread: due to its being exceedingly contagious, people with the flu send the virus into the air when they cough, sneeze or speak. The virus enters the nose, throat and lungs of others; and once in the damp interior of the body where conditions are ideal for replication, the virus multiplies. This is why someone can be so violently affected with the flu when they have been around an infectious person who seems to be recovering. Adults can spread influenza for three to seven days after the symptoms surface, and children are contagious for seven or more days.

A person with the flu cannot take an antibiotic to banish it from the system, but they can take over the counter medications to relieve the symptoms. The best way to find relief is to follow the age-old advice of mom and grandma: “rest, and drink plenty of liquids.” And never forget the chicken soup.

Much of the flu can be prevented by yearly flu shots. However, there are opposing views on their effectiveness, and whether or not adults and children really should be taking the vaccine. One reason for not getting the flu shot is that there are three types of influenza viruses out there: A, B, and C; and getting the vaccine only prevents against one of these strains. Influenza A and B are viruses most commonly associated with flu-like symptoms, while influenza C is a mild illness of the respiratory system and not nearly as contagious. Currently, there’s not even a vaccine for type C influenza. In addition, flu vaccines are made from the viruses of the previous year. Some argue that a vaccine from the year before couldn’t possibly be effective against the flu of the current year.

There are other reasons given against influenza immunization, which is the practice of injecting weakened amounts of the disease germ, so that the body will produce heightened levels of antibodies that will combat the disease. Some contend that natural immunity to sicknesses can only take place when the disease develops in its natural way. The explanation they give is that the natural route of antibody production is either bypassed or aggravated by the injection of the virus, and effective immunity against the disease does not develop. Moreover, there have been a few alarming findings in relation to vaccines. One example comes from Dr.Hurbert Snow, senior surgeon at the Cancer Hospital of London. He says, “In recent years many men and women at the prime of life dropped dead suddenly. I am convinced that some 80 percent of these deaths are caused by the vaccinations they have undergone. They are well known to cause grave and permanent disease to the heart. The coroner always hushes it up as ‘natural causes’.” Some findings have also linked vaccinations to cancer.

The bottom line is, people have to judge for themselves. While there are findings against flu immunizations, many have had no problems with the vaccinations. True, there are side effects to getting immunized. These may include soreness at the site of the vaccination, fever, fatigue and muscle pain. Side effects can last anywhere from six to twelve hours after the vaccine was administered to two days. However, some may consider these effects less difficult to deal with than the side effects of the flu itself. It truly is a matter of choice.

There are some groups who are strongly encouraged to get immunized against influenza. These include people older than 50 years; adults and children older than 6 months who have chronic heart or lung conditions; adults and children older than 6 months who have regular care for and/or have to be hospitalized for diabetes, kidney diseases, and HIV/AIDS. If one doesn’t fall into any of these categories, they could probably get by without the flu vaccine. However, there is always the possibility of being affected every winter season, and other times of the year as well. Natural ways to prevent against the virus include eating a diet that has plenty of fruits, grains, vegetables, seeds and nuts. Fresh air, exercise, plenty of rest and stress relief are also strongly encouraged. Taking these steps may very well lead you on the way to a flu-free life. Just don’t forget the chicken soup.