Live A Healthy

One banana packs a potassium punch of at least 450 mg. At more than 20 percent of your necessary daily value, that's a lot of the vital mineral. But the banana's reputation as a potassium powerhouse is a bit overblown. Many other common foods--such as beans, potatoes and halibut--contain much more potassium. Of course, that doesn't mean bananas aren't generally healthy. In fact, they're one of the healthiest fruits around.

1. Step 1

   Know Your Stuff
   
   Be aware of the basics of influenza as an illness. Influenza ("the flu") is a virus that changes and mutates every year depending on where in the world you are located. You need annual protection from this seasonal strain of flu virus. In general, a flu virus is fairly hardy and is easy to pass to another person by touching a contaminated surface, coming into contact with someone already infected or by airborne inoculation.
   
   To protect yourself against the flu: stay home if you are sick; avoid crowds; stay away from people with acute illness; wash your hands frequently; and get plenty of rest, a proper diet and exercise.
   
   If you are a smoker, stopping is always the best option; however, cutting down will help reduce your chances of getting the flu. Remember, any tobacco product use always damages your lung tissue and leaves the respiratory tract more susceptible to picking up a virus or illness.
   
   Frequent hand washing or use of an alcohol-based sanitizer is a good way to prevent many illnesses. Give everyone a gentle reminder in your household of the necessity of this simple act of prevention.
   
   See articles below in Resources for further reference.

2. Step 2

   Get Vaccinated Against the Seasonal Flu
   
   One of the hidden benefits of the H1N1 virus is that the public is now more aware of the need for annual seasonal flu vaccines. Get your vaccine today.
   
   While there is a lot of talk about potential "dangers" associated with flu vaccine, it is important to remember the scientific fact that there is no clinical study to support the doomsayers. Not one! No credible research study has ever produced any evidence that flu vaccines or the use of the preservative thimeorsal (a mercury-based product) has caused autism or any other significant adverse reactions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is constantly examining this issue, and you can catch up on the latest data at their Web site (see Resources). Bottom line: vaccines are safe and prevent very harmful illnesses!
   
   With all the public awareness of flu and prevention, any vaccine can be hard to find in some areas. You may call your local public health department or Visiting Nurses Association for more information in your area. You can also visit RightHealth to locate vaccine (free and otherwise) in your area (see Resources).

3. Step 3

   Protect Yourself From the H1N1 Virus
   
   H1N1 is an unusual or novel strain of influenza that first appeared in April 2009. Currently, there is no known natural immunity to H1N1. The symptoms of infection are the typical flu-related symptoms such as fever greater than 100 degrees F with cough, sore throat, stuffy nose and sometime diarrhea and vomiting. Scientists believe that people are contagious with H1N1 one day before symptoms appear and up to seven days after diagnosis is confirmed.
   
   H1N1 is diagnosed along the lines of clinical symptoms outlined above along with a nasal culture. The value of doing this labor-intensive testing and postponing treatment, however, is not likely the best way for clinicians to proceed according to a recent report on Newsday.com. Testing, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, is best reserved for selected individuals with multiple medical problems or highly unusual cases.
   
   What it all boils down to is that it is better to get treated sooner rather than later, and knowing the exact strain of which flu virus is making you sick is rather academic. There isn't any need to panic over this approach. In medicine, we frequently treat many flu or viral conditions presumptively before a conclusive test, because viruses run a certain course, and the earlier treatment is started, the better off the patient will be. To find out the latest about prevention research specific to H1N1, visit Swine Flu Reporter (see Resources).
   
   The availability of H1N1 vaccine is in short supply due to demand and the unforeseen long manufacturing process, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging clinicians to follow very strict guidelines on who should get the vaccine. This approach will help those at the highest risk and also help the general population. Vaccinating high-risk populations is a demonstration of the concept of "herd immunity". Simply put, if the most vulnerable of the herd are vaccinated, they will not get the disease, so it will not pass on to those in the general population.
   
   H1N1 is a serious virus and it needs the public's attention, but remember, while it is a "novel" strain of influenza, it is still a flu virus. Using common sense, eating a balanced diet, resting and avoiding people known to be ill may be the best prevention interventions of all.