Keeping Your Immune System Strong

With the winter season quickly approaching,  keeping your immune system strong  is important .  There are several things you can do which will help minimize your risk of developing a cold  or the flu over the next several months.

First, eating a diet high  in fruits and vegetables will help optimize your immunity.  Consuming plant based foods which vary in color, such as red tomatoes, purple grapes or  orange carrots,  can  ensure a diverse intake of antioxidants.  A healthy diet  will give the body the tools necessary to fight off  bacteria and viruses.

Sleeping  at least 7 to 8 hours of each night is crucial  for a healthy immune system.   It is during the sleeping hours that the body repairs and heals itself from the damage done on a daily basis.  Poor sleep contributes  to poor health.

Keeping stress under control is also very important. When our body is mentally and physically stressed, cortisol, the primary stress hormone, is released in excess into the bloodstream.  Cortisol, a natural steroid,  suppresses the immune system  making one more susceptible to infection.

Studies show vitamin C  can reduce the duration of the common cold by up to 12% in adults and  21% in children.  Supplementing with 500 mg to 1000 mg of vitamin C  daily should be considered.

The Cochrane Collaboration, an independent research group,  has shown that  the mineral  zinc reduces risk of contracting a cold when taken within 24 hours of exposure.  Daily supplementation also appears to help prevent the need of  developing an  infection requiring antibiotic treatment.

Vitamin D supplementation also helps reduce the risk of developing influenza according to scientists.  The lack of sunshine, and ultimately blood levels of vitamin D,  likely accounts for the higher  incidence of upper respiratory infections during the winter months.  Ask your doctor to check your vitamin D levels before supplementing with doses higher than 2,000 IU per day.

Lastly, some people may also benefit from the influenza vaccine. Interestingly, the studies are not as overwhelmingly favorable as expected.   However, the best evidence reports that between 33 to 100 people need to be vaccinated  against the seasonal flu in order to prevent one extra infection with the virus. Even when vaccinated, one is never 100% protected from developing the flu.

As always, prevention is always the best medicine. Please talk with your healthcare provider before making and changes to your healthcare regimen.

 

Supreme Court Sides With Vaccine Maker – in Washington-Watch, Washington Watch from MedPage Today

Medical News: Supreme Court Sides With Vaccine Maker – If a chid suffers a side effect resulting in injury, hospitalization or even death, the pharmaceutical company is not liable for their products adverse effect. in Washington-Watch, Washington Watch from MedPage Today.

Do you have a cough, fever, chills, sore throat, post nasal drip, bodyaches?

Health Tip: Consider a Strawberry Banana Cabbage smoothie  to help increase your immunity. Smoothies are a great alternative for young children and help create healthy dietary habits while prevent disease.  Learn more about the Industrial Vitamix Smoothie Blender designed for home use.

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Do you have a head cold, cough, body aches and it body aches all over- does this sound familiar?

Do you have a bad cough that is leading to vomiting?  if so, you may have whooping cough (read more about this here).

This is influenza season and virus season. Some become dehydrated and may need intravenous fluids.  Even though   you may have had your flu shot, you can still get flu-like illnesses. No one is 100% protected against infections.

I have seen many patients with stuffy noses, post nasal drip (you know you have this if your are clearing your throat all the time), sore throat, cough, body aches and a few with  vomiting and diarrhea.   A visit to your doctor may be of benefit.

Fortunately, only a few will  develop bacterial sinus infections, bacterial bronchitis or even pneumonia.  For some, this virus may prove fatal.

Generally, less than 10% of those with a viral infection will need antibiotics, most just need time and fluids.

Also, its real important to note that the only  throat infection that needs antibiotics is strept throat.  No matter how bad your throat hurts, antibiotics won’t help unless you test positive for strept. See your doctor  if you are not sure.

If my patient does not have a bacterial infection, I simply recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil).

How can you prevent these from occurring in the first place? First, make sure your vitamin D levels are adequate. Most people need to take 2,000-4,000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily. Ask your doctor to check your vitamin D blood levels before taking in excess of 2,000 IU daily. To learn more about vitamin D and how it can strengthen you immune system, read Vitamin D Prescription on Kindle.

Also, consider zinc supplementation which has been shown to be beneficial according to recent studies.

Also, consider influenza vaccination, which may also decrease risk.   However, the studies are not as clear cut as one thinks.

Cochrane reviewers, an independent research group concluded this when asked whether vaccines were helpful in preventing the flu for healthy people. “Influenza vaccines have a modest effect in reducing influenza symptoms and working days lost. There is no evidence that they affect complications, such as pneumonia, or transmission.”(cochrane). Ask  your doctor if the flu shot is right for you.

FYI: The above  symptoms are generally caused by a virus called, adenovirus. In addition to the above symptoms, adenovirus can cause gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis (pink eye), rash and whole body aches.  Another type of virus that can cause infection and common cold symptoms are known as the corona virus (no relation to the beer).

* Always consult your physician if you have a medical problem, the above it not my medical advice..

From the CDC website: Adenoviruses are medium-sized (90-100 nm), nonenveloped icosohedral viruses containing double-stranded DNA. There are 49 immunologically distinct types (6 subgenera: A through F) that can cause human infections. Adenoviruses are unusually stable to chemical or physical agents and adverse pH conditions, allowing for prolonged survival outside of the body.

Flu Vaccine Side Effect in Young Woman

Studies have also shown that optimizing Vitamin D can help minimize risk of swine flu infection. Read more about it, Vitamin D Prescription by Dr. Eric Madrid

NY Nurses Protests Swine Flu Vaccine-

Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet.com
Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Albany nurses and other health professionals are planning to stage a rally next week to protest a state regulation that mandates they will lose their jobs if they refuse to take the swine flu shot, as fears grow about the vaccine’s dangerous ingredients and government plans to forcibly inoculate whole populations with the H1N1 jab.

Earlier today we reported on the case of “Clare,” a daycare worker in Albany who, despite having minimal contact with hospital staff who work in a separate building, an exemption allowed in the official decree, was ordered to take the seasonal flu shot on the spot or be fired. She was also advised that the same procedure would be in place for the swine flu shot, as is outlined in the New York State Department of Health’s emergency regulation issued in August.

Now nurses across the state are standing up against government intimidation to take the shot, pointing out that the vaccine has not been properly tested and contains mercury, squalene and other dangerous additives….

…read more: http://www.prisonplanet.com/nurses-plan-rally-to-protest-mandatory-swine-flu-shot.html