Fw: Prevention of Swine Flu

[Guest guest]

Someone sent me this about prevention of swine flu or whatever you want to call

it.

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid

specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in

institutions like Hinduja Hospital, Bombay Hospital, Saifee Hospital, Tata

Memorial etc.

Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and

Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).

The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense

and is important for all of you to know

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a

global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact

with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a

problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1

infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and

development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully

highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of

focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official

communications).

2. " Hands-off-the-face " approach. Resist all temptations to touch

any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you

don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the

throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple

gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same

effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't

underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day

with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very

good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day

and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very

effective in bringing down viral population.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin

C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C

tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids

has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off

proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot

survive, proliferate or do any harm.

FYI,

Lottie Duthu