US Medical Supplies Blog

Everyone hates catching the flu. The fatigue, the headaches, missing work (or even worse, missing the weekend), everything about it is just dismal. People usually do what they can to avoid catching the flu, but this year a new strain of influenza is making people even sicker: H1N1. This strain of influenza, sometimes called “swine flu,” is characterized by most of the same symptoms as the flu. Unfortunately, the symptoms are more intense and the recovery period seems to be longer, sometimes as long as a week or more. Also, vaccinations for the disease have only recently surfaced, so the disease has been spreading quickly.

Taking all of this into account, it makes sense for you to take more precaution than usual to avoid contracting the disease, particularly if you are pregnant, a senior citizen, or have small children. You already know the basics: cover your mouth when you cough, wash your hands, and stay away from people who are sick. Here are a few tips for avoiding the flu that go above and beyond the typical “common sense” approach.

1. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands. This will kill more bacteria when you wash your hands and help protect you from the disease.

2. This one can be tough: Keep your hands away from your face. Your hand may be carrying germs that may cause you to catch the flu; and touching your eyes, nose, or mouth will give those germs the access they need to make you sick. So, when you’re sitting at your desk at work, don’t prop your head up on your hands!

3. Spray Lysol everywhere. On your doorknobs, your kitchen, your bathrooms, and in your car.

4. Stay away from hospitals unless it’s a real emergency. You’ll come into contact with lots of sick people there, so stay away. While you’re at it, stay away from airplanes, buses, and trains if possible.

5. Take your vitamins! Many healthy adults don’t bother with multivitamin or vitamin C supplements. If you think you’re at risk of becoming sick, that’s something you can do to help your body build up resistance.

Remember to follow this advice in addition to your own “common sense” precautionary measures. Make sure you see your doctor if you get sick. Hopefully you won’t contract H1N1, but if you do, don’t worry about it too much. It won’t be fun or pretty, but you’ll survive.