Swine Flu Prevention Tips

As swine flu continues to spread, experts from the Centers for Disease Control to the World Health Organization to neighborhood doctors are echoing the call for everyone to practice smart flu prevention techniques. Here are 10 ways to keep your body boosted and your immune system ready to fight infection.

Swine Flu Prevention Tip 1#

=Wash Your Hands

And wash them often, in hot soapy water, and for the amount of time it takes you to sing "Happy Birthday" twice (15-20 seconds).

Swine Flu Prevention Tip 2#

=Get Enough Sleep

This means slightly different things to different people, but try to get 8 hours of good rest each night to keep your immune system in top flu-fighting shape.

Swine Flu Prevention Tip 3#

=Keep Hydrated

Drink 8-10 8-oz. glasses of water each day to flush toxins from your system and maintain good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.

Swine Flu Prevention Tip 4#

=Eat Immune-Boosting Foods

Keeping your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection is important in flu prevention. Fatty foods can slow your metabolism, make you feel sluggish, and compromise your immune system. So stick with whole grains, colorful vegetables, and vitamin-rich fruits.

Swine Flu Prevention Tip 5#

=Avoid Alcohol

In addition to being a mood depressant, alcohol is an immune suppressant that can actually decrease your resistance to viral infections like swine flu. For women, alcohol suppresses estrogen production, which further impairs the immune system. So avoid alcoholic beverages to keep your immune system strong.

Swine Flu Prevention Tip 6#

=Keep Physically Active

Mild to moderate exercise--for example brisk walking for 30-40 minutes 3-4 times a week--supports the immune system by increasing circulation, oxygenating the body, purging toxins through sweat, and releasing tension and stress. So get moving!

Swine Flu Prevention Tip 7#

=Be Vigilant of Surfaces

This is as much a mindfulness exercise as anything else. Be aware of what public surfaces you touch, when you've shaken hands with someone, or when you're using something like a pen that others have recently used--and don't touch your face until you've had a chance to wash your hands.

Swine Flu Prevention Tip 8#

=Avoid Contact with Sick People

A more blunt way to put this is, don't get spit on. Flu virus is spread when particles dispersed into the air through a cough or sneeze reach someone else's nose. So if you're coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth (and then wash your hands), and if you have to be around someone who is sick, try to stay a few feet away from them and avoid physical contact.

Swine Flu Prevention Tip 9#

=Know When to Get Help

Swine flu can look like regular flu, so don't feel like you necessarily are infected if you're exhibiting flu-like symptoms. But do go to your doctor if you live in an area where there are documented cases, or if your symptoms are severe.

Swine Flu Prevention Tip 10#

=Keep it in Perspective

Stress releases hormones into our bodies that can compromise our immune systems and actually make us more susceptible to viruses like swine flu. So keep your concern and vigilance over swine flu in perspective to keep it from taking over your mind and body. Click here for some statistics to keep the swine flu scare in perspective. And click here for tips on calming swine flu (and other) fears.