Swine Flu and Your Immune System

With any viral illness that is contagious from one person to another, the immune system is directly related as to whether or not a person gets sick. Whether faced with influenza, the common cold, a stomach virus, the chicken pox and more, your biggest safety precaution is built into your own body. In the face of the current crisis with Swine Flu, understanding the role of your immune system can mean even more.

 

    First, it is important to understand what the Swine Flu is. This particular outbreak of the illness came from swine in Mexico. What happens is the highly contagious disease is passed from swine to a human. Once this happens, the human version of the Swine Flu is formed and passed from one person to the next. Exhibiting stronger versions of the symptoms of regular influenza, Swine Flu includes high fever, aches, pains, headache, sore throat, coughing and sneezing. The biggest problem with the swine flu is that Flu shots have no effect on the illness. It is easily passed from person to person through touch or through the air. The outbreak of the Swine Flu has spread quickly to countries around the world, and has sent people scurrying to buy hand sanitizer and medical masks.

 

    As with any version of influenza, the best precaution is a strong immune system. The reason elderly and babies tend to get sick quicker is simply because of a weaker immune system. You can boost your immune system with supplements, such as Vitamin C, which will make your system even stronger. Generally, a healthy adult will have a strong enough immune system to help them ward off the Swine Flu. However, if your immune system has been compromised in any ways – if you have recently been ill, recently had surgery, are elderly, or deal with specific health conditions like HIV, it is imperative to both do things to boost the immune system and to avoid contamination. 

 

     Your immune system is a built in fighter that produces antibodies who attack invading germs. The immune system works well everyday to ward off a number of colds and stomach viruses. But, the system can be compromised, like people who have recently been sick. So, it is important to try to boost your immune system by taking a supplement or drinking juices high in vitamin C.