“Stay away from anyone who is coughing or sneezing!”
“Don’t go to Mexico!”
“Don’t touch anything!”
“Put on a mask!”
We’ve all heard the numerous warnings about the swine flu and how to avoid catching it. The media has updated the public daily with new warnings, vaccine updates, deaths and regulations. But has the media gone too far? Have people in general gotten worked up over nothing? Is everyone just paranoid?
The bottom line is, people need to know how to be prepared for any type of disease or infection, but sometimes the issue gets overplayed, which can lead to paranoia. Sometimes it can even lead to annoyance. For example, Facebook has a page called “Not Panicking Over Swine Flu.”
Those who are most likely to catch the swine flu have a reason to be worried, though worrying and overreacting usually accomplish nothing, except to annoy those around and possibly cause anxiety problems.
In one Fox News article, the issue of paranoia versus preparedness was brought up. Fox stated the possibility of the government creating a quarantine, though personally I haven’t heard anything about this. Considering the swine flu doesn’t seem more deadly than the seasonal flu, a quarantine would probably be more of a move in favor of paranoia instead of preparedness. More people probably die from car crashes than the swine flu. Should bad drivers be quarantined? Besides, vaccines are coming for those who truly need it.
A Washington Post article was completely devoted to swine flu paranoia and talked about people buying hand sanitizer like crazy, wearing face masks and wrapping poles in the bus with newspapers in order to avoid touching them. OK, so maybe the bus isn’t that clean and maybe hand sanitizer is a good idea once in a while, but really? Don’t be afraid to breathe some fresh air. Maybe just stay away from that person coughing like a maniac and the pole in the bus that someone just sneezed on or that just looks discolored and sticky.
Cut the paranoia out of your life and see how horrible relaxing and forgetting about the swine flu can be. Sure, keep updated with the news, but don’t read into the paranoia and exaggeration that can be commonplace.
Here are some ways you can be prepared but not be paranoid:
1) Read swine flu news but compare it to other sources. Learn to identify any exaggerations.
2) Do avoid coughing, sneezing and sick people. This is just for good health in general. Or just make sure they know to cough and sneeze into a tissue and not on you.
3) Keep up personal hygiene. You should be using antibacterial soap in general, not just because there’s the swine flu scare. Hand sanitizer is a good choice as well, but don’t go crazy with it.
4) If you think you are in danger of getting the swine flu or are around people who are susceptible, then it is probably advisable to get a shot when the vaccine arrives.
5) Don’t live in fear. There is only so much you can do to prevent the swine flu. Just try your best and don’t overreact if you do get sick. Just go to your doctor to get your case confirmed and get an antiviral shot if necessary. Also, get a lot of sleep and drink fluids. Get the specific swine flu shot ASAP.
6) Boost your immune system with antioxidants, such as blueberries, blackberries, grapes, mangos, broccoli and carrots, according to the International Food Information Council Web site. Even if this doesn’t prevent the swine flu, at least you won’t have multiple sicknesses.
Sources:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,538774,00.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/30/AR2009043004009.html
http://doihaveswineflu.org/
http://www.ific.org/publications/factsheets/antioxidantfs.cfm