Influenza – Four More Questions To Clear Up With Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with influenza, you may wish you go over the following four questions with your physician:
1. How can I prevent myself from coming down with influenza?
Getting the flu vaccine is the best method to keep yourself safe in the flu season. However, you must consult a doctor to see if you are eligible for the vaccine. (People allergic to the vaccine, allergic to eggs, children under 6 months of age, those exhibiting flu symptoms and people who have had the Guillain-Barre syndrome are not eligible for flu shots).
Similarly, there are nasal spray vaccines also available. Consult with your doctor to check on your eligibility for the nasal spray vaccine.
However, there are other effective ways to prevent yourself from getting sick with flu, such as keeping good hygiene practices:
• Washing hands frequently with soap or alcohol based hand sanitizers
• Not touching eyes, mouth or nose after touching potentially infected surfaces
• Keeping your mouth and nose covered with a mask when near an infected person or place
Other methods include:
• Avoiding contact with those infected or long exposures to public places
• Staying home if you have the flu symptoms so that you do not infect others
• Minimizing smoking
• Using disinfectant solutions to mop the floors at home
• Eating healthy foods and especially increasing the intake of vitamin C
• Exercising regularly
• Sleeping adequate number of hours
• Drinking plenty of fluids
2. Are there any alternative medicines I can use at home to help me get relief?
There is a wide range of alternative therapies that address flu prevention, treatment and relief. Consult your doctor before trying them. Mainstream medicine is still in stages of testing the efficacy, safety and claims of these therapies and prescriptions. Relief is offered by aromatherapy, Ayurveda, acupressure, reflexology, hydrotherapy, herbal preparations, Chinese medicine, nutrition and naturopathy. To try them, you can look up a local licensed practitioner of the field.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
Add a Comment2 Comments
Very good! Thank you for demonstrating there are more ways to prevent catching the flu rather than injecting a dose of mercury into our body.
January 4, 2011 - 8:36pmThis Comment
Dear Happycaldwell
January 4, 2011 - 9:00pmThank you for your words of encouragement!
Best,