It's Not the Pigs Fault
By: Natalie Anderson
May 07, 2009
The Swine Flu or more scientifically known as A(H1N1), may be just as simple as the regular flu. Many people predicted that this flu would cause a world wide pandemic of chaos and horror! But it just doesn’t seem to be living up to “The Twilight Zone” standards, which for many is a relief. Having to close down schools, shut down transportation systems and hand out millions of masks is something the government would love to avoid doing.
Many people wonder if they are in jeopardy of getting the Swine Flu. First, you can't get the Swine Flu by eating pork or by being near a pig. Ashland alumni Doug Minnick gives his input on swine flu, “ It just seems to me that this year's flu season is longer than usual, and with the outbreak of another flu strain, it makes people nervous.”
The symptoms for this flu are as listed: fever of 100 or more, coughing, runny nose and/or sore throat, joint aches, severe headaches, vomiting and/or diarrhea, lethargy and lack of appetite. Are you mistaking your allergies or rough day after work with Swine Flu? Could your bad headache or cough really be the beginnings of A(H1N1)? You could just have the regular old flu or a bad day which brings on stress which can bring on many of those symptoms. But if you have few or all of these symptoms you should consult your physician immediately.
Registered Nurse Kay Muskat says, “AH1N1 should be treated as the regular flu. Keep your hands washed especially before you touch your face to put makeup on or put contacts in. Carry some hand sanitizer so you can keep your hands clean at all times.” Just remember to wash your hands often and after you go to the bathroom, get plenty of rest, keep up on vitamins such as C and D and always have a plan on how to deal with your stress because stress can weaken your immune system and make it easier for you to get sick.
Whether the Swine Flu becomes a pandemic or not, living a healthy lifestyle will help prevent you from getting sick from whatever life throws at you.
