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Friday, November 30, 2012

Let's Prepare for...Getting Sick

Original Article

Hopefully you won't get sick this cold and flu season, but you should be prepared for that eventuality nonetheless.  Here's some things you can do to prepare for that possibility:

  • Get a flu shot.
  • Add some extra money to your emergency fund (especially if you don't get paid sick leave).
  • Put together a "sick kit".  Include a thermometer, cough drops, Thera Flu, Tylenol, Sudafed, a box of Kleenex, Zinc lozenges, a bottle of Vitamin C, acidophilous tablets, Carmex, Vicks Vapo-rub, and some echinacea, 
  • Put together a small stock of food that you would want to eat and drink if you get sick: canned soup, Pedialite, Gatoraid, teabags, etc.
  • Have a small stock of these germ-buster products: nitrile gloves, face masks, Clorox wipes.
  • If you have children add children's pain reliever/fever reducer to your sick kit.  Also keep on hand coloring books and crayons as well as other activities that children can do while they are recuperating.
  • Know that the best way to treat your average cold or flu is to rest quietly and sleep as much as possible.  Don't forget to stay hydrated which is also very curative.
  • If you get sick and have a chronic illness which requires daily medication, be sure to ask your doctor what to do in the event that you either vomit up your medication or forget to take it.  Ditto if you are taking birth control pills.
  • Don't automatically reach for an antibiotic if you become ill.  Many of these seasonal illnesses are caused by viruses not bacteria so an antibiotic won't help (unless you have strep throat which is a bacterial infection).  Overusing antibiotics encourages antibiotic-resistant infections and illnesses. 
  • For a severe case of the flu which causes a very high fever, dehydration, severe dizziness, shortness of breath, or other life-threatening symptoms, don't hesitate to call 911 or go to the emergency room.
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5 comments:

  1. What thinking person says get a flu shot?
    Actually, noone!!
    Doesn't work, contains hazardous waste levels of mercury (50,000 ppb mercury in thimerosal perservative). Causes immune suppression, a host of other potential side effects. Often, causes the flu.
    Instead, learn to think outside the box:

    http://tinyurl.com/lvxveo




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  2. Good logical sensible advice.

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  3. Ironic! This anti-science thinking is loony and you would be better off to say nothing rather then make yourself appear a fool. The entire thermerosal issue was pure BS from the start and the first clue should have been the starlets with bust sizes larger then their IQs who were speaking up about it. But there is good news. Unlike childhood vaccines which everyone should get to protect all of us you can indeed choose not to get a flu shot and it won't affect me or my children. So I don't really care if you get a flu shot or not but you really need to make another appointment with your psychiatrist.

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  4. Do NOT get a flu shot. Focus on bolstering your immune system in other (natural) ways, which will help you against a range of illnesses, not just one or two strains of flu.

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  5. Most of the "natural" ways are pure voodoo and snake oil. Sadly people are easily mislead and as a result they believe in this BS in the face of scientific evidence. I am not opposed to taking steps to improve your overall health. Eat a good and varied diet, get excercise. see your doctor when you have problems and get your shots as prescribed. The flu shot is effective against the flu viruses it is designed to protect us from. some years a different unexpected flu shows up and in those years the shot does not protect you from that flu. But in general it is one of the best things you can do to protect yourself from the flu. It's your choice, get it or don't get it. But don't try to justify your reasons with luddite anti-science hob-goblin BS that you read on Mercola's web site.

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