H1N1 has been our first pandemic flu since....? I actually don't remember the last pandemic flu we have had. This strain of the flu was first detected in individuals in the US this past April, and with its' growth in areas around the world the World Health Organization (WHO) gave it the pandemic label in June of 2009. However, even with this scary label of "pandemic," this illness does not have to be fatal if we take some simple and logical precautions.

First, and foremost, the flu virus remains alive and active for anywhere between 2 to 8 hours after contamination. That means that any surface in your home can stay infected with either the H1N1 flu or seasonal flu for that period of time. How many people touch your doorknob in an 8-hour period of time? How many of those individuals fall into the risk categories?  

Many of the households in the United States have children or elderly living in them, and these are the family members we need to protect the most. Here is a list of the most common and effective ways to prevent the flu virus from contaminating your home: 

• First and foremost it is important to have frequent hand washing with soap and warm water for a minimum of 20 seconds at a pop. If frequent hand washing is unrealistic, such as in the workplace, it is important to always have a hand sanitizer handy to use in between hand washings. 
• Try to keep children from touching their eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible to prevent germ contamination from their hands and fingers. 
• Be vigilant about wiping down all hard surfaces, especially those in common areas, with a household disinfectant at the highest potency deemed safe. Pay special attention to remember areas in bedrooms and bathrooms in addition to family rooms and kitchens. Not only will you be killing unsafe and pesky germs, your home will smell lemon fresh! 
• Dispose of any tissues used during the illness immediately after use and wash your hands thoroughly after contact with them.

If unfortunately you have contracted either the H1N1 or seasonal flu, it is best to have healthy family members, if possible, care for your children or elderly relatives. If you are sick, and unfortunately have no one else to care for your children, please follow these simple guidelines to protect your children's health.  

• Wear a face mask over your mouth and nose to prevent the spread of germs from coughing. 
• Wash hands frequently. 
• Do not touch yours or your children's eyes, nose, or mouth. 
• If you are breastfeeding an infant, do not quit, as no known passing of the virus has been detected through breast milk. Just make sure that your skin is clean and sanitary for your baby prior to feeding.  

Remember, the flu season is here and can be dangerous; however, it can be managed if you decide to remain vigilant and alert to the potential dangers around you and your loved ones.

This article has been featured at Ezine Articles and can be seen at: http://EzineArticles.com/?id=3304048.

Pregnant Women - What You Want To Know About the H1N1 Flu

Compared to the general population, pregnant and expecting women are more likely to catch the flu than any other population in the U.S. Even scarier than this, a pregnant woman with the H1N1 virus is more likely to have to be admitted to a hospital, more likely to have serious illness, and are more likely to die from H1N1 than any other of our populations. In fact, there have been many cases in the U.S. of deaths to pregnant women from this virus.

A pregnant woman experiences many changes in her body during pregnancy to her immune system, heart, and lungs, making her very susceptible to severe illnesses.  A woman’s systems do not change back to normal until about 2 weeks after giving birth. Because of this, an expecting woman needs to avoid close contact with any person experiencing an illness.

This is not good news for those expecting; however, there is no reason to panic if you start to experience flu-like symptoms. It is important to have a plan in place for reaching your doctor quickly by telephone if you think you have the flu.

If You Experience Any Of These Symptoms, Contact Your Physician Right Away:

• ·      Fever
  
• ·      Cough
  
• ·      Sore Throat
  
• ·      Runny or Stuffy Nose
  
• ·      Body Aches
  
• ·      Headaches
  
• ·      Chills, or
  
• ·      Fatigue (abnormal from your regular fatigue level)
  

Please note that a fever should be treated right away. Begin taking acetaminophen immediately when a fever is recognized as it can cause severe problems for both the baby and the pregnant woman. Also, a woman who has given birth or lost a pregnancy within the past 2 weeks of contracting the flu is in additional risk for complications, including death, and should contact her doctor immediately if experiencing flu-like symptoms.

Although the presence of these symptoms may not mean that you have the flu, it is always better to be safe than sorry; however, if it is indicative of the flu, treatment is most successful if instigated within 48 hours of the symptom occurrence.  If you do become sick with the flu, do not leave your home except to seek medical care. Also, do not leave your home until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without the use of any fever reducing medications.

Flu vaccinations are the best way to prevent getting any of the flu viruses. Antiviral medications are the only prevention for severe illness. Both the vaccines and medications have been deemed safe for pregnant women to take. There are TWO (2) flu vaccines that should be received by pregnant women - the H1N1 Flu and the Seasonal Flu - and are available in two forms:

• ·      Arm Injection (dead virus) – RECOMMENDED FOR PREGNANT WOMEN
  
• ·      Nasal Mist (live vaccine) – NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PREGNANT WOMEN
  

The H1N1 and Seasonal flu vaccine contains thimerosal, a mercury preservative that helps to keep the vaccine sanitary, and has not been shown to cause any harm to a pregnant woman or her baby. However, because some women are concerned about taking thimerosal during pregnancy, companies have made a preservative-free vaccine for both the H1N1 and Seasonal flu in single dose syringes for pregnant women and children.

For a pregnant woman who already has the H1N1 flu, the antiviral Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza) have been shown to be the most effective ways to make the illness milder and prevent serious health problems that can occur.  A pregnant woman should not delay or deny herself treatment from these medications from fear of residual affects to her baby; the harm is far greater to have the illness and go untreated than to treat with a doctor’s recommended regime.

This articles has been featured on Ezine Articles and can be found at http://EzineArticles.com/?id=3257534.