'Tis the sneezin'

By Elissa Lash
Published: October 16, 2008

You're dropping your child off at school and notice that over half the class is absent. Many children have runny noses that they wipe on their hands and sleeves whenever the teacher, who has red-rimmed eyes and a rattling cough, isn't looking. You arrive at work and are greeted by a cacophony of sniffling and sneezing. Your co-workers attempt to be productive as they hack and sputter into crumpled tissues. Later, as you stand in line in at Reliable or Cronig's, you notice that carts are being filled with chicken soup, ibuprofen, orange juice, and tissues. The flu - it seems inevitable.

Influenza, the flu, is caused by viruses infecting the respiratory tract, and is highly contagious and easily spread from person to person by breathing in droplets from coughing or sneezing, or touching something with flu virus and then touching the mouth or nose. You are able to infect someone else before your own symptoms occur, and up to five days after becoming sick.

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Symptoms include headache and muscle ache, fever, fatigue, and respiratory symptoms such as cough, sore throat, and runny or stuffy nose. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhea, can sometimes be part of influenza, particularly in children. What is commonly called "stomach flu," where the main symptoms are stomach and intestinal distress, is actually a separate gastrointestinal illness caused by other microorganisms.

While most of us will recover from a flu infection in one to two weeks, it can be inconvenient, uncomfortable, and extremely dangerous, especially for the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those who are immuno-compromised or have chronic health issues like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. But it is not necessarily inevitable. There are many ways to prevent flu infection and keep your family healthy this winter.

Prevention

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends the "flu shot" or nasal-spray flu vaccine: "the single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year."

Shots are approved for those six months of age and older, including healthy individuals and those with chronic medical conditions.

The spray, also called LAIV (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine), is approved for use in healthy people aged 2-49 who are not pregnant. It's important to recognize that this doesn't guarantee that someone won't get the flu. However, it's reported that getting vaccinated will shorten the duration of and decrease the severity of a flu infection. (For more information, visit cdc.gov/flu.)

Flu Prevention Measures

-Flu Vaccine
-Hand hygiene
-Cough etiquette
-Stay home when sick
-Low sugar, healthy diet and supplementswhen appropriate

Flu Treatment

-Stay home to avoid infecting others
-Rest
-Drink plenty of liquids - good choices include; decaffeinated tea, broth, water, juice
-Avoid alcohol, tobacco, aspirin, and antibiotics (unless recommended by your health-care provider)
-Consult your health-care provider early

mass.gov/dph/flu

Donna Rheaume, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Health, states, "The best thing you can do for your family and community is to practice flu prevention, including getting vaccinated, following good hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and staying home when you're sick. Prevention goes a long way to cut down on transmission and to protect at-risk populations in our communities."

A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine (September 2008) showed that pregnant women who receive the influenza vaccine provide immunity for their newborns as well. Ms. Rheaume reported that Massachusetts has a "record amount of vaccine available this year. Last year on there was a problem with the match and strain. This year the vaccine is more comprehensive and will be widely available to the public."

Although all Martha's Vineyard physicians consulted recommend the flu vaccine, they reported that some people still do not get vaccinated. People may think that influenza infection is merely a nuisance without the possibility of serious health consequences. Or, because of the response to being vaccinated 40 or more years ago when the vaccine was not as highly purified as they are today, they believe that the vaccine causes side effects or even causes the flu.

Medical research shows that most people have no serous side effects from the vaccine, other than possible soreness at the site of the shot, and less than 10 percent report low grade fever the day after receiving the vaccination.

Dr. Dardanella Slavin, a chiropractor at Integrated Healthcare in Vineyard Haven, advises boosting the immune system through diet in preparation for flu season. "I encourage eating lots of fruits and vegetables, grass-fed meats, avoiding white flour and sugar, especially for kids, and supplementing with a high vitamin cod liver oil. I also recommend using coconut oil in cooking because it's anti-microbial." Avoiding aspirin, alcohol, tobacco, and antibiotics is also recommended. Dr. Slavin encourages staying well-rested, and reducing stress.

It's not too early to speak with your healthcare provider about the flu vaccine and other ways to keep yourself and our community healthy this winter.

Vineyard Haven resident Elissa Lash is a freelance writer specializing in health-related issues. She is a certified yoga instructor, and a trained and certified birth Doula.