Use Your Immune System to Prevent Flu!!!

Arm yourself with knowledge and a lot of sanitizer!

Are you afraid of getting sick this flu season? Does the thought of getting the flu shot send shivers down your spine? Are all the given side effects and warnings of the H1N1 vaccinations making your head spin? Here are some tips to help you beat the flu season, and boost your immune system for the rest of the year.



                                                                          

Instructions

When it comes to sleep, think quality over quantity

Get Plenty of Quality Rest. Today's hectic lifestyles make it very difficult to get a full night of sleep. Resting allows the body to perform essential functions such as cell regeneration and repair. If you can't get a lot of sleep, try to increase your quality of sleep. Try to minimize distractions in your bedroom (i.e. flashing lights or noisy electronics). This will allow you to fall into a deeper sleep which will rejuvenate your body faster and more efficiently.

Antioxidants boost your immune system

Eat and Drink Smart. Eating well may be difficult, especially during the holidays. Digestion requires a lot of energy from the body so try and eat lighter during the flu season. The less energy spent digesting food can be used to help defend your body against outside temperature changes and increased germ activity. Try reducing your protein intake and include more fruits and vegetables to your diet. They are low in fat and rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants can boost your immune system. You can also take supplemental vitamins and minerals to compensate for the reduction of proteins. Also, make sure to get plenty of liquids, especially water. Water will help detoxify your body.

Exercise does a body good

Exercise routinely. Exercising will help boost your immune system by improving your circulatory system and strengthening your heart. Increasing your blood circulation will allow your body you immune system to respond to attacks on your body sooner. Exercise also helps to release certain hormones to increase mental activity. Increasing your mental activity will help your body react to any sickness more effectively.

Frequently wash your hands

Always Sanitize. Make sure to sanitize your hands periodically throughout the day in ADDITION to washing after the restroom. Sanitizing will kill any of the germs on your hands, which may end up near your face, and eventually inside your body. When using water and soap, make sure to wash for at least a minute with warm water. This ensure that you are effectively killing the germs off your hands. When choosing a hand sanitizer, make sure the label read at least 60% alcohol. If you choose a non-alcohol hand sanitizer, then make sure the label reads that it kills up to 99.9% of germs.

Be aware of illnesses around you

Be Cautious Around Others. Take note when the people around you begin to cough or sneeze. Remember, being cautious and avoiding are two different concepts. You don't want to offend your friends or co-workers by running away when you hear them sniffle. Just try to keep your distance when possible and sanitize after any interaction.

Listen to your body

Listen to your body. If you begin to start feeling the flu symptoms, take some over-the-counter medication immediately (i.e. Tylenol or Advil). This will help you body fight off the germs that are causing you to feel bad. If you have an aversion to taking medication, then enjoy a hot cup of tea. The caffeine in the tea will gently increase your blood flow, which will help your immune system effectively fight off any germs in your body. Plus, the warm liquid will help relax your body and mind.

The Five Steps of a Breast Self-Exam

Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.
Here's what you should look for:

Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color

Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling

If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor's attention:
Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin

A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)

Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling
 

                                                                                                   

 

 

Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.

 

 

tep 3: While you're at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                      

 

 

Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.

Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.

Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you've reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.

                                                                                                       

Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in Step 4.