Bronchitis Symptoms include the inflammation of the windpipe and bronchial tubes, after a bout of cold or flu. It is commonly caused by a virus; less often, bacteria; and even more rarely a fungus. You get the virus from germs in the air, or on people’s hands. Sometimes a door knob, or an escalator’s hand rail can carry the germs. When you breathe the viruses in, you get sick.

You are more likely to get bronchitis if you work around unhealthy environments (such as those filled with chemicals and smoke) as your bronchial tubes may already be damaged. If you get bronchitis from working in an atmosphere that has pollutants or irritants, sometimes removing yourself from the environment can cure any bronchitis you may have developed.

You can prevent bronchitis by washing your hands regularly. Making sure children cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, and washing their hands afterwards can also help prevent the spread of bronchitis. Hand sanitisers can be found in many supermarkets nowadays, and they come in a little bottle you can carry in your bag – using this regularly can help disinfect hands when shopping, for example, by killing germs that can be picked up from a shopping trolley.

Ceasing smoking can prevent chronic bronchitis (where someone has a recurrent cough producing mucous on most days of the month, for months – sometimes years). Smoking is the most common cause of chronic bronchitis (80% of chronic bronchitis is caused by smoking). People who smoke also have a harder time recovering from acute bronchitis and other infections involving the lungs. However if you stop smoking early enough, the damage caused can sometimes be reversed.

Also, repeated bouts of acute bronchitis can also cause chronic bronchitis. If you have chronic bronchitis but do not smoke, try to limit your exposure to second-hand smoke and other pollutants or irritants. If you suffer from reflux, see a doctor who can prescribe medication to help stop it, as the constant acids bubbling up into your airways can cause bronchitis.

Getting an annual flu and pneumococcal vaccine can also help prevent contracting bronchitis (as you don’t
get the flu, which can lead to bronchitis).
Bronchitis symptoms can be distressing, but by knowing how it is spread and how you can help prevent it, you can lessen the impact.

Vaccines contribute to significant reduction of childhood diseases such as Diptheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough, Polio, Haemophilus Influenzae type-b and Hepatitis B to name a few. Parents should take the time to learn the facts about the benefits and risks of vaccination.

Also, learn about the potential consequences of not vaccinating against certain diseases. As a service provider, plain language should be used in communicating information about vaccines and their use to an individual. Printed information should also be available to compliment any verbal explanations.

Parents should know that the risk of having a reaction to a vaccine is much smaller than the risk of serious illness that comes with infectious diseases. Some parents are surprised to learn that children can die of measles, chicken pox, whooping cough and other vaccine-preventable diseases. The bacteria or virus that causes vaccine-preventable diseases and death still exists and can be passed on to people who are not protected by vaccines.

In Australia and the United States Of America, vaccine coverage rate is high as a result of successful vaccination programs. Infant deaths caused by childhood diseases have almost disappeared.

Vaccination not only protects individuals, but also others in the community, by increasing the general level of immunity and minimising the spread of infection. Vaccines may contain live, (attenuated) or killed (inactivated) forms of disease causing bacteria or viruses. They trigger a response by the body’s immune system when injected or given by mouth. Vaccines stimulate the body to make antibodies – proteins that specifically recognize and target the disease causing bacteria and viruses, and help eliminate them from the body. It is important that the public be made aware of the proven effectiveness of immunisation to save lives and prevent serious illness.

Occupational Health and Safety have put in place strict guidelines for the development of vaccines. The vaccines are developed with the highest safety standards. Every Service Provider should have an anaphylaxis response kit ready at all times. Vaccine storage is strictly monitored in purpose-built refrigerators with a 24hour temperature monitoring gauge. Vaccines being transported from main storage facility to external clinics, use the cold chain transport system.

Diptheria – Can infect the throat, causing a thick covering that can lead to problems with breathing, paralysis, or heart failure.

Tetanus (Lockjaw) – Caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani. The bacteria are spread from the environment to open wounds where they can enter the blood stream. Toxins can cause muscle spasms, lockjaw, difficulty speaking/breathing, stiffness and pain in the shoulders, back and neck.

Whooping Cough – Is caused by a highly infectious bacteria spread by droplet and causing upper respiratory and lung infections. Symptoms include coughing and ‘whooping’. Complications of the disease is lack of oxygen to the brain leading to brain damage and possible death.

Polio -Is caused by a virus, and symptoms of the disease include headache, nausea and vomiting, tiredness, neck and back stiffness and severe muscle pain. Polio can cause meningitis and paralysis.

Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib) – Commonly found in the upper respiratory tract (lungs and windpipe), Hib can cause infection in children under 2 years, because they do not have the necessary antibodies to fight this infection. Hib infection can cause meningitis (an infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord), epiglottitis (severe swelling of the throat), arthritis and pneumonia.

Hepatitis B – Hepatitis B can cause liver infections and damage, liver cancer and death. Symptoms include, weakness, tiredness, poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal discomfort, pain, muscle and joint pain, skin rashes, jaundice.

Pneumococcal Infections – The bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae can cause meningitis (infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord), pneumonia, septiacaemia (blood infection), and middle ear and sinus infections. Symptoms can include vomiting, sensitivity to light, neck stiffness, poor appetite, confusion, irritability and drowsiness. May include fever, coughing and difficulty in breathing.

Varicella (Chickenpox) – chickenpox is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is a member of the herpes group of viruses. Symptoms can include a rash that turns into open itchy, lesions which will crust over. Complications can include skin infection of the lesions, scarring, pneumonia, difficulty walking and balancing, meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord), encephalitis (brain infection).

Measles – A highly infectious disease, measles is caused by the Morbillivirus. It is spread from person to person through droplets in the air. Measles is a respiratory infection that causes skin rash and flu-like symptoms. Also fever, cough, runny nose, and, inflammation of the eye are common symptoms. Complications of measles include ear, brain and lung infections, which can lead to brain damage and death.

Mumps – Caused by a virus, mumps is a salivary gland infection. the mumps virus is passed through air droplets and contact with the saliva of an infected person. Common symptoms include fever, headache and swollen glands, especially salivary glands. It can effect other glands such as the testicles. ovaries, pancreas, liver and brain. It can also cause sterility in some men, and lead to deafness in some people.

Rubella (German Measles) – Caused by a virus. this virus is spread from person to person through droplets in the air. It is an infection of the skin and lymph nodes. Symptoms can include rash, lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph glands), and joint pain which sometimes leads to arthritis. Rubella infection during pregnancy can lead to birth defects.

Meningococcal Infections – Caused by a number of different strains of the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, it is a serious disease. It is a leading cause of bacgterial meningitis in children 2 – 18 years old in the United States. Meningitis is an infection of fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can also cause septicaemia, pneumonia, arthritis and conjunctivitis. Symptoms include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, confusion, irritability and drowsiness.

Rotavirus – Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children, causing around half of all hospitalised causes of gastroenteritis in children less than 5 years of age. This viral infection of the stomach and intestines can cause severe diarrhoea and vomiting, and fever, which may lead to serious dehydration. The illness can begin abruptly and up to one third of affected children have a temperature of higher than 390 C in the first few days of the illness.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection – Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name for a group of viruses that cause skin warts, genital warts and some cancers. Many different types of HPV can affect different parts of the body. HPV types that can cause genital warts or cervical cancer can be spread by direct skin-to-skin contact during all types of sexual activity with a person who has the virus. Symptoms of cervical cancer, includes abnormal and precancerous vaginal and vulvar lesions, and genital warts in females ages 9 to 26. Gardasil is licensed for the prevention of cervical cancer.

All of the above are preventable childhood diseases. Common possible side effects from the vaccinations include soreness, redness, warmth and swelling at the injection site, fever, irritability, drowsiness, mild rash, loss of appetite, muscle aches, diarrhoea or vomiting.

You as the parent must tell your Health Care Provider beforehand if:
Your child has a known or weakened immune system, is allergic to any of the ingredients of the vaccine, or has ever had an allergic reaction after getting a dose of the vaccine. Or if your child is moderately or severely ill or had a reaction to the antibotics neomycin, streptomycin, polymyxin B, gelatin, or eggs.

Vaccination recommended for routine childhood immunization is listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule and funded for children under the Immunise Australia and USA Program.

Vaccination is an important step in getting children off to a healthy start and has contributed to a significant reduction in many childhood diseases. Children or adults can be re-vaccinated (with some, but not all vaccines) if their immunity from the vaccines falls to a low level or if previous research has shown that a booster vaccination is required for long-term protection.

It’s important to remember that vaccines are many times safer than the diseases they prevent!!

It’s that time again…either the kids or the parents start to feel under the weather. It isn’t hard to know that an illness is coming on. You know it’s either the cold or the flu and know full well that the next week is going to be a living nightmare. But, how can you tell the difference between the cold and flu? And, what do you do when you figure it out?

Both the cold and the flu are respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. The cold lasts a little bit longer, usually one week. The flu is much more intense, but only lasts about 4 – 5 days. Yet, the flu is more serious.

The cold always begins with the inhalation through the nostrils of a tiny strand of the cold virus floating around somewhere, or an object. The virus starts in the nostrils. Your body then tries fighting it off by sending out mucous and making you sneeze and cough a lot. The symptoms get worse in the next 48 hours, then finally start to mellow out. However, it is contagious about 2 days before you get the common symptoms up to a few days after the symptoms go away. So, it is contagious for almost 2 weeks.

The flu, on the other hand, comes on much more sudden. The flu contains more body aches, fever, tiredness, dry cough (verses a wet and mucous cough), headaches and chills. It is contagious for about 5 days to a week, depending on the health of the infected person. The flu is often times confused with the stomach flu, which is totally different. The stomach flu has symptoms of stomach problems and is quick and goes away swiftly, whereas the actual flu (influenza) is more serious.

To help your cold, the best thing you can do is get plenty of water and rest. If your body is telling you it is tired or thirsty, you cannot ignore it. When you cough and sneeze, your body releases fluids and your body becomes dry. Drinking plenty of fluids rebuilds your body and helps thin down the mucous. Taking too much medicine can actually do the opposite effect you want. Your body can actually get used to the medicine and build up a tolerance. But, even if you have a tolerance to the medicine, taking more than the recommended dosage can have serious side effects. The best thing you can do is just to drink plenty of water, get sleep, and eat some chicken noodle soup.

For the flu, you should always just be prepared and take the flu shot about every October. But, if you still do come down with the flu, taking antiviral medicine is best. And, just like the cold, getting plenty of rest and fluids are a necessity. Make sure when you have the flu to NOT take aspirin. Taking aspirin with the flu can cause Reye syndrome, and in some cases, can be fatal. Instead, take Tylenol. Tylenol contains no aspirin and instead uses a more safe form of pain relief. If problems persist for more than a week or a fever reaches above 103 degrees, see your doctor. And, when in doubt, see a doctor anyways!

So, the old traditions your Grandma tells you when you are sick still work the best. Modern medicine only temporarily relieves the pain, and eventually may cause more harm than good, aside from some special flu medication. Just make sure you get all the sleep your body tells you to, drink water, and get chicken noodle soup made for you. If you can, let your loved ones spoil you! You will need it and deserve it!

Recently I came down with a cold, flu, and some heavy chest congestion. My 8-year daughter also became sick.

One of the Natural Remedies I used was Eucalyptus Oil, which helped to reduce the chest congestion and the symptoms of the flu.

Herbalists use this oil to treat colds, coughs, and other respiratory ailments. Eucalyptus helps to loosen phlegm and improve lung function.

The active ingredient in eucalyptus oil is cineol or euclyptol.

The oil is a fine decongestant and has strong germicidal and antibacterial effects. Some other uses for Eucalyptus are skin problems, muscle, and nerve pain. It has been used as diuretic, and to lower blood sugar.

Here’s how I use this oil to help me when I have a cold with cough and chest congestion. Just before bedtime, I rub the oil on my chest and throat. Then I wrap a cloth around my neck to keep it warm and to help the eucalyptus to penetrate the skin.

If you have EMU oil, you can add a drop or two of EMU to the eucalyptus oil to help it penetrate your skin faster and deeper. EMU oil has the property of penetrating the skin and moving deep into your tissues and to carry any other substances that are mix with it into the skin.

I use plenty of eucalyptus oil in the rub, but some of you might react to it so just rub a little to see it you will be ok with it. If you use eucalyptus oil with other oils, it becomes less irritating.

Eucalyptus oil can also be used in a steam inhalation to help with colds or flu.You can also mix eucalyptus with tea tree oil and massage your chest and back when you have the flu.

You can also mix eucalyptus with thyme, rosemary and lemon and diffuse it into the room when you are sick with the flu or cold.

Only use eucalyptus for the time need to clear you cold. Long-term use of this oil has an effect on the liver.

Do not use eucalyptus oil on children under 6 years.

Almost all of us suffer from cough periodically and a variety of factors contributes to it. Antitussive medications, which are commonly known as cough suppressants, helps prevent activation of coughing reflex, and thereby provide relief from coughing. There are two types of coughs, the dry cough and the productive cough and it is the former which is treated through antitussives, while the latter is treated through expectorants.

Persistent dry cough can make hell for the affected person. Being a common ailment, a number of antitussives are available for treating it. However, every antitussive directly acts on the point of brain which stimulates cough reflex. These medicines are best suited to cure coughs that act alongside flu, colds etc while people suffering from coughs arising from asthma, lung diseases and emphysema are not at all administered with these drugs.

Most antitussives contain sedatives. Narcotics like codeine and heroin used to be a common sedative, but the latter is presently banned from medicinal purposes. Sedatives provides effective relief from cough and pain, but they can have an addictive effective too. Presently, the most popular and common antitussive medicine is dextromethorphan, which contains safe ingredients and can be bought without any prescriptions from the doctor. In addition, it comes in liquid form as well as capsules, tablets and lozenges. The medicine is suited to fight prolonged dry cough and provides temporary respite from cough arising out of bronchial irritation and mild throat infection.

Normally, it is children who get infected from coughs and colds. It is estimated that ten percent of all children in the United States get affected every week. It is advised that great care should be taken while administering cough drugs to children. The age and physical condition of the child has to be invariably factored in while determining the type and dosage to be administered. In addition, if the child still could not recover and is showing signs like fever, sore throat, rashes etc, there is a need to conduct further examinations to determine whether any other ailment is affecting the child.

The normal side effect of most antitussive medication is that they induce addiction, but occasionally, extended drowsiness and stomach upsets can also crop up. Dextromethorphan can occasionally cause vomiting too. In spite of the fact that antitussives are comparatively less harmful, overdose can lead to severe giddiness, breathing problems and can also result in total disorientation of senses leading to unconsciousness.

Here was are, already about to enter this year’s flu season. No one wants to get the flu of course, but I know that no matter how hard I try, it seems I usually end up getting it. In fact, every year 5 to 20 percent of Americans suffer from the flu. If you’re young and healthy, your best bet is the flu shot. This vaccine reduces your chance of getting the flu by 70 to 90 percent.

Unfortunately, getting a flu shot does not guarantee protection. It can also take two to four weeks for your body to produce an adequate number of antibodies, so it’s important to get the shot early. Generally, flu season runs from November to April, peaking in late December and early March.

If you’re unable to get a flu shot, or even if you want to take extra precautious, here are some tips to follow to avoid getting sick:

Wash your hands often. One of the most common ways people get sick is by rubbing their nose or eyes after they have been contaminated with the virus

Routinely clean and disinfect surface areas, children’s toys, and any other objects that small children put in their mouths

Use disposable tissues to wipe yours and your children’s noses

Get plenty of rest

Avoid close contact with people who are sick

If you do get sick, be sure to drink plenty of hot liquids to soothe your throat and re-hydrate your body. Stay home to prevent others from getting sick and get plenty of rest.

What are Antibiotics?

The word “antibiotics” comes from the Greek anti (“against”) and bios (“life”). Antibiotics are drugs that either destroy bacteria or prevent their reproduction. Antibiotics that kill bacteria are called “bactericidal” and the ones that stop the growth of bacteria are called “bacteriostatic”.

Since penicillin’s introduction during the 1940s, scientists developed numerous other antibiotics. Today, over 100 different antibiotics are available. About 90% of antibiotics are made from living organisms such as bacteria, others are produced synthetically, either in whole or in part.

Antibiotics classification

Although there are several classification schemes for antibiotics, based on bacterial spectrum (broad, narrow) or route of administration (injectable, oral, topical), or type of activity (bactericidal, bacteriostatic), the most useful is based on chemical structure. Antibiotics within a structural class will generally have similar patterns of effectiveness, toxicity, and allergic potential.

Most commonly used types of antibiotics are: Penicillins, Fluoroquinolones, Cephalosporins, Macrolides, and Tetracyclines. While each class is composed of multiple drugs, each drug is unique in some way.

Penicillins

The penicillins are the oldest class of antibiotics. Penicillins have a common chemical structure which they share with the cephalopsorins. Penicillins are generally bactericidal, inhibiting formation of the cell wall.

There are four types of penicillins:
The natural pencillins are based on the original penicillin-G structure. Penicillin-G types are effective against gram-positive strains of streptococci, staphylococci, and some gram-negative bacteria such as meningococcus. Penicillinase-resistant penicillins are active even in the presence of the bacterial enzyme that inactivates most natural penicillins. Extended spectrum penicillins which are effective against a wider range of bacteria. Aminopenicillins such as ampicillin and amoxicillin have an extended spectrum of action compared with the natural penicillins.
Penicillins side effects

Penicillins are among the least toxic drugs known. The most common side effect of penicillin is diarrhea. Nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach are also common. In rare cases penicillins can cause immediate and delayed allergic reactions – specifically, skin rashes, fever, and anaphylactic shock. Penicillins are classed as category B during pregnancy.

Cephalosporins

Cephalosporins have a mechanism of action identical to that of the penicillins. However, the basic chemical structure of the penicillins and cephalosporins differs in other respects, resulting in some difference in the spectrum of antibacterial activity. Like the penicillins, cephalosporins interfere with synthesis of the bacterial cell wall and so are bactericidal.

Cephalosporins are among the most diverse classes of antibiotics, they are grouped into “generations” by their antimicrobial properties. Each generation has a broader spectrum of activity than the one before.

The first generation cephalosporins include: cephalothin, cefazolin, cephapirin, cephradine, cephalexin, cefadroxil. Their spectrums of activity are quite similar. They possess generally excellent coverage against most gram-positive pathogens and variable to poor coverage against most gram negative pathogens.

The second generation cephalosporins include: cefaclor, cefamandole, cefonicid, ceforanide, cefuroxime. In addition to the gram-positive spectrum of the first generation cephalosporins, these agents have expanded gram-negative spectrum. Cefoxitin and cefotetan also have good activity against Bacteroides fragilis.

The third generation cephalosporins have much expanded gram-negative activity. However, some members of this group have decreased activity against gram-positive organisms. The third generation cephalosporins include: cefcapene, cefdaloxime, cefditoren, cefetamet, cefixime, cefmenoxime, cefodizime, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, cefpimizole, cefpodoxime, ceftibuten, ceftriaxone. They have the advantage of convenient dosing schedules, but they are expensive.

The fourth generation cephalosporins are extended-spectrum agents with similar activity against gram-positive organisms as first-generation cephalosporins. They also have a greater resistance to beta-lactamases (bacterial enzymes that may destroy antibiotic before it can do its work) than the third generation cephalosporins. Many fourth generation cephalosporins can cross blood brain barrier and are effective in meningitis. The fourth generation cephalosporins include: cefclidine, cefepime, cefluprenam, cefozopran, cefpirome, cefquinome.

Cephalosporin side effects

Cephalosporins generally cause few side effects. Common side effects associated these drugs include: diarrhoea, nausea, mild stomach cramps or upset. Approximately 5Ц10% of patients with allergic hypersensitivity to penicillins will also have cross-reactivity with cephalosporins. Thus, cephalosporin antibiotics are contraindicated in people with a history of allergic reactions (urticaria, anaphylaxis, interstitial nephritis, etc) to penicillins or cephalosporins. Cephalosporin antibiotics are classed as pregnancy category B.

Fluoroquinolones

Fluoroquinolones are the newest class of antibiotics. Their generic name often contains the root “floxacin”. They are synthetic antibiotics that belong to the family of antibiotics called quinolones. The older quinolones are not well absorbed and are used to treat mostly urinary tract infections. The newer fluoroquinolones are broad-spectrum bacteriocidal drugs that are chemically unrelated to the penicillins or the cephaloprosins. Because of their excellent absorption fluoroquinolones can be administered not only by intravenous but orally as well.

Commonly used fluoroquinolones include ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, lomefloxacin, norfloxacin, sparfloxacin, clinafloxacin, gatifloxacin, ofloxacin, trovafloxacin.

Fluoroquinolones side effects

Fluoroquinolones are well tolerated and relatively safe. The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain. Other more serious but less common side effects are central nervous system effects (headache, confusion and dizziness), phototoxicity (more common with lomefloxacin and sparfloxacin). All drugs in this class have been associated with convulsions. Fluoroquinolones are classed as pregnancy category C.

Tetracyclines

Tetracyclines got their name because they share a chemical structure that has four rings. They are derived from a species of Streptomyces bacteria. Tetracycline antibiotics are broad-spectrum bacteriostatic agents, that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis. Tetracyclines may be effective against a wide variety of microorganisms, including rickettsia and amebic parasites.

Tetracyclines are used in the treatment of infections of the respiratory tract, sinuses, middle ear, urinary tract, skin, intestines. Tetracyclines also are used to treat Gonorrhoea. Their most common current use is in the treatment of moderately severe acne and rosacea.

The most commonly prescribed tetracycline antibiotics are: tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, oxytetracycline.

Tetracycline side effects

Drugs in the tetracycline class become toxic over time. Expired drugs can cause a dangerous syndrome resulting in damage to the kidneys.

Common side effects associated with tetracyclines include cramps or burning of the stomach, diarrhea, sore mouth or tongue. Tetracyclines can cause skin photosensitivity, which increases the risk of sunburn under exposure to UV light. This may be of particular importance for those intending to take on holidays long-term doxycyline as a malaria prophylaxis. Rarely, tetracyclines may cause allergic reactions. Very rarely severe headache and vision problems may be signs of dangerous secondary intracranial hypertension.

Tetracycline antibiotics should not be used in children under the age of 8, and specifically during periods of tooth development. Tetracyclines are classed as pregnancy category D. Use during pregnancy may cause alterations in bone development.

Macrolides

The macrolide antibiotics are derived from Streptomyces bacteria, and got their name because they all have a macrocyclic lactone chemical structure. The macrolides are bacteriostatic, binding with bacterial ribosomes to inhibit protein synthesis. Erythromycin, the prototype of this class, has a spectrum and use similar to penicillin. Macrolide antibiotics are used to treat respiratory tract infections (such as pharyngitis, sinusitis, and bronchitis), genital, gastrointestinal tract, and skin infections.

The most commonly prescribed macrolide antibiotics are: erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, roxithromycin, troleandomycin.

Macrolides side effects

Side effects associated with macrolides include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; infrequently, there may be temporary auditory impairment. Azithromycin has been rarely associated with allergic reactions, including angioedema, anaphylaxis, and dermatologic reactions. Oral erythromycin may be highly irritating to the stomach and when given by injection may cause severe phlebitis. Macrolide antibiotics should be used with caution in patients with liver dysfunction. Pregnancy category B: Azithromycin, erythromycin. Pregnancy category C: Clarithromycin, dirithromycin, troleandomycin.

It’s autumn, and that means cold and flu (influenza) season for many Americans. Flu outbreaks usually begin in the late fall and early winter each year. Once an outbreak reaches an area, it spreads quickly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized each year because of the flu, and about 36,000 people die each year because of the flu.

Medical costs are rising, and thousands of people file bankruptcy each year as a result of unmanageable and steep medical bills. Staying healthy is key to avoid high medical costs. Even small steps such as avoiding the flu and colds can keep you from contracting a more serious illness such as pneumonia, bronchitis or other more costly illnesses to treat.

Follow these affordable and easy guidelines to stay healthy and avoid the common cold and flu this fall and winter:

Get The Flu Shot

Obviously, this is the best way to prevent the flu. Each year, millions of Americans protect themselves from the flu virus by taking this preventative step. The vaccine comes in the traditional injection, usually in the arm, and a nasal spray.

Check in your community for where the shot is offered. Many large pharmacies, schools, clinics and doctor’s offices offer the flu shot.

Wash Your Hands – Often

This is absolutely the best way to prevent the spread of germs that causes colds. Everything you touch from keyboards to door knobs carry germs that can cause an infection. When washing your hands, use the hottest water you can stand and antibacterial soap. You should scrub vigorously for about 30 seconds, or the length of time it takes you to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice. Dry your hands and use the paper towel to turn the faucet off and open the restroom door.

* Avoid touching your face, mouth, eyes and nose without washing your hands first.

* Wash your hands after touching keypads, money and pens in public places.

* At home and work, sanitize your keyboard, desk phone and cell phone.

Exercise

Regular exercise keeps your heart healthy and your immune system strong. Thirty minutes of cardio such as walking, jogging or running just a few times a week can boost your immune system, which will help you fight off infections.

Take Vitamins and Eat Healthy Foods

Taking a multivitamin every day, eating nutritious foods and staying hydrated are great preventative measures to take against colds. A body that has all of vitamins and minerals it needs will fight off infection more quickly than one that does not.

Relax

Reduce your stress. Strong links have been made between stress levels and immune system functioning. Your immune system weakens with the more stress you carry, and this makes you more susceptible to colds.

Stay Home If You’re Sick

If you have contracted a virus, such as the flu or the common cold, it can take up to 7 – 10 days to convalesce. During that time, you are contagious and can easily spread your infection. If possible, stay home from work, school and errands in public places to avoid giving your infection to others.

There are no guarantees or fool-proof methods to keep from getting sick. However, if you follow these tips, you can certainly increase your odds of staying healthy and avoiding greater medical complications and high medical bills.

Saunas have been a popular topic for many years. The use of a sauna has been practiced by many people all over the world and many health benefits have been realized by them. This article is designed to look at the advantages of a dry sauna.

The many benefits of using a dry sauna are plentiful. Studies show that by using a sauna on a regular basis you can rid your body of many toxins. The dry sauna has benefit in that it makes you really sweat. Since you are sweating it causes your body to work harder to replace that sweat. This is good because it will make your heart work harder in order for your body to do its job.

Our bodies have many metal toxins that we pick up through the environment. The dry sauna can help to remove many of these toxins through our sweat glands. Your body has a natural system to allow this through your kidneys by way of urine, but when we cause our bodies to sweat we are riding ourselves of even more of those nasty toxins.

It has also been discovered that by using a dry sauna to produce higher body temperatures and sweat that you can actually kill many viruses that attack your body when you get a cold or flu. Some scientists say that many viruses simply cannot live under high temperatures, thus making the dry sauna a great medicine for some sicknesses. Of course some diseases get into our system quickly and make us too weak to do much, but many people depend on saunas to help them combat many of the common illnesses that others suffer.

Studies show that people who work out regularly and cause themselves to sweat are much less likely to get cancer. People who use dry saunas are less likely to suffer as many colds and flues as others who do not use them. It used to be that every one sat in the steam room or went to the whirlpool after a good workout.

Many health clubs are installing dry saunas to aid people in their quest for healthier lifestyles. They have found that the sweat can also help with weight loss and clearer skin. You will always find debates when ever someone makes a claim that their technique is better than others. Do your own research and perhaps try a dry sauna out at your local spa or club and see if your can see and feel the difference.

It’s interesting how a discussion about vaccination can quickly become heated and sometimes even hostile. Would the same debate rage over an antibiotic or an antihypertensive medicine if there was evidence the drug was causing harm? When it becomes obvious that thousands have been injured by a drug such as Vioxx, it is removed from the market. We stop the use of drugs until they are proven safe. And we sue.

Not so with vaccines. Vaccines are promoted with fanfare until they are statistically proven to cause harm to a large number of persons. The thousands of individuals who suffer from vaccine reactions in proportion to the millions who have been vaccinated are not considered to be a mathematically significant statistic. However, the more than $1billion that has been paid to vaccine-injured persons shows that safety is not all that is it promoted to be. Why the double standard?

Vaccination is built around a “belief system.” We believe vaccines are safe; we believe vaccines are important to health; we believe the stories that vaccines are solely responsible for the elimination of smallpox and polio. And we really want to believe that our doctors have read all the available information on vaccines–pro and con–and are telling us the complete truth about vaccines.

However, belief is based on faith, not necessarily on fact. For example, we want to believe that vaccinating our children will keep them from getting sick with measles or chickenpox. However, there is a plethora of information documenting this is not necessarily so.

Why is there an almost desperate need to defend the current belief–and trust–in vaccines? The public’s view of disease seems to be similar to our current view on terrorism: Random attacks that are potentially deadly. The media hawks this view of childhood illnesses and the need for vaccines. Pharma sells it, doctors push it, and educational institutions reinforce it. They keep selling it because most readily buy into it, without question. There is a “just in case” or “better be safe than sorry” mentality when it comes to vaccination and illness with children.* After nearly 200 years of use, fear still sells vaccination.

What do we really know about vaccines? A review of the literature and the CDC documents reveals the following:

1. Vaccine safety studies are relatively small and include only healthy children. However when a vaccine trial has been completed, vaccines are given to ALL children, regardless of the condition of their health, family history or genetics.

2. Vaccine safety studies are short. Most clinical trials monitor for side effects a paltry 21 days, sometimes, it is only for 5 days. It can take months before immune system complications appear. This arbitrary deadline, established by the FDA, precludes associating vaccines with chronic health disorders. “Safe” is a designation given based on limited information.

3. Vaccine safety studies do not use a true placebo.One of the Gold Standards in medical research is the “placebo-controlled” trial. An inactive substance such as a sugar pill is given as a placebo to one group of participants, while the treatment group is given the new drug. The data is analyzed to compare the number of side effects that occurred in those given the drug compared to the numbers of side effects that occurred in those given the placebo. However, the “placebo” used in vaccine research is not an inert substance such as sterile water; it is another vaccine. Inert, sterile water doesn’t cause a reaction; as substitute vaccine can. If both groups of babies in a trial have the same number of reactions, the study reports that the vaccine “is as safe as a placebo.” This is deceptive science.

4. Vaccine-induced antibodies do not correlate with protection. In fact, the esteemed journal, Vaccine stated this clearly “…It is known that, in many instances, antigen-specific antibody titers do not correlate with protection.” The full reference can be found at PMID: 11587808

Vaccination has been accepted as safe, effective and protective. The shots can be described as a medical “sacred cows,” by definition, “a medical procedure unreasonably immune to criticism.” The strong response is the a reaction to a suggestion that the “cow” should be “sacrificed.” It is heresy to suggest that the status quo is wrong.

When Copernicus insisted that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the solar system, it went against the philosophical and religious beliefs held during the medieval times. When two other Italian scientists of the time, Galileo and Bruno, embraced Copernican theory their comments were considered blasphemous. Bruno was tried before the Inquisition, condemned and burned at the stake in 1600. Thirty years later, Galileo was brought forward and in front of his “Betters,” was forced to renounce his beliefs under the threat of torture and death. Even after his confession, he was sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of his days.

The more one investigates vaccination and studies the adverse effects that have been attributed to vaccines, the more one becomes a Copernican heretic, speaking out against the status quo can have deadly consequences. I have personally invested more than 8,000 hours in revealing the truth about vaccines. If the result of this inquiry and exposure is to be called a heretic, than I am in wonderful company.
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*My thanks to Judy Converse for these insights.