5 Things YOU Can Do About "Flu" and "Cold" Viruses

It is mid October now and I'm hearing reports of MANY people ill with viruses: cold or flu.  I spoke with an ER provider last week who said they're seeing 3x the usual number of people and was frustrated by people coming in who didn't need to come in.  So for all: contact your local health department by phone or website if you wonder about the symptoms of influenza versus cold viruses and then what 'secondary' illnesses can happen that might need treatment if you chose to go that route (such as antibiotics).  Other clinics may have helpful websites:  Our local Primary Care Partners has a website that they update about 'what we're seeing' in Grand Junction, for instance.  

Let's get back to focusing on influenza (and cold) virus.  So far what we are hearing is that H1N1 in it's current form (that has not mutated) is not being any more problematic to any one person statistically than the influenzas that go around every year.  There are a lot of people who have it and it does appear to be more problematic for younger than older.  There also are cold viruses going around, and the strategies below can work on your behalf for any type of virus.  If a person has a cold virus it is not appropriate to treat it with antibiotics unless it has gone into a 'secondary infection' such as bronchitis or there is a sinus infection.  Consult your medical provider and local health information sources (such as health department) if you have questions.

It's great if people read this BEFORE they get exposed, as these are somewhat preventative or you'll want to have them on hand.  Milton Hammerly, MD, provided this information related to an article about influenza virus.  He was my 'integrative medicine' MD in Denver back in the mid 1990s and influential on my health (in a good way!) which eventually provided the direction of my career path in creating Lumigrate.com).  He went into hospital system administration as the director of innovation, and went on to begin a PhD in conflict resolution.  (So the link to his website, which was originally furnished with this blog in 2009 was removed in our 2011 flu season review.)

"It goes without saying that the usual recommendations for good hygiene and preventive immunizations (if available, effective & safe) will reduce the likelihood of getting sick during flu season.  I'm glad to hear you're writing something that will share additional steps people can take to improve their odds of staying healthy this coming flu season.  ... Any self-care measures people can use to prevent or minimize illness could be very valuable.  In the bigger scheme of things, self-care has an important role to play in health care reform.  Continuing down the path of passive treatments for illness, after the fact, is unsustainable and illogical."
 
The five interventions Dr. Hammerly suggests are

1. Relaxation techniques lower stress response/cortisol and improve immune function
2. Vit D 1,000-2,000 IU per day compensates for the seasonal decline in sunshine we receive in fall/winter that reduces immune function
3. Umcka at the first sign of infectious symptoms to stimulate immune function, if there is no underlying autoimmune disease, shortens both duration & severity of symptoms
4. Colostrum during flu season for passive immune support
5. It is also important to make sure you get adequate rest (7-8 hours of sleep per night) for optimal immune function.  Insufficient sleep has been shown to raise cortisol levels and lower immune function.

Thanks, Dr. Hammerly!  Now, for YOU reading, please help other people learn about this by forwarding this link to people, posting on your facebook tweeting, and good old-fashioned 'talking it up', and let's hope people stay as well as possible this flu season!  

Link to the previous/first blog about flu I wrote on Lumigrate.com: 

www.lumigrate.com/blog/news-coverage-h1n1-and-health-care-generally

Link to The Denver Post article by Nancy Lofholf, Western Slope Bureau Staff Writer:

www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_13284305