This message, currently in circulation, is written by a world renowned medical doctor who visited last week to lecture on the topic H1N1 (SWINE FLU),its origin and precautions. He is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in and contributed to in several world renowned institutions.
- The Message...........
- "Thanks to media hype about H1N1, several people who trust me
- have either approached or called me for advice. The hype in the
- media about the utility of face masks and N95 respirators as
- a tool for general protection against H1N1 can't be deplored
- enough. Yesterday, a friend who listened wanted me to write
- down briefly what I advised so that he could tell others in
- similar words. Hence this short email to friends whom I have
- advised recently (and others whom I haven't yet). Please
- realize that this is not an official advice, especially the
- one about face masks or N95.
- Most N95 respirators are designed to filter 95% particulates
- of 0.3µ, while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1µ. Hence,
- dependence on N95 to protect against H1N1 is like protecting
- against rain with an
- umbrella made20of mosquito net.
- Tamiflu does not kill but prevents H1N1 from further
- proliferation till the virus limits itself in about 1-2
- weeks (its natural cycle). H1N1, like other Influenza A
- viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and
- proliferates (only) there. 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).
- * Don't you love that one?
- 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.
- All these are simple ways to prevent, within means of most
- households, and certainly much less painful than to wait in
- long queues outside public hospitals."
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