H1N1 Flu Prevention: 6 Simple Tips
Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS, DRM, DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid Specialist) with over 20 years of clinical 
experience. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital, Bombay Hospital, Saifee Hospital, Tata Memorial etc. He currently directs the Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid Clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad.
Dr. Goyal’s recent communication about H1N1 flu prevention is making its way around the Internet. His advice is very logical and could save your life; therefore, I’m reposting the content here:
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth / throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, you can prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections by following some very simple steps.
- Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
- “Hands-off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat or bathe).
- 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.
- Use a neti pot: Similar to tip #3, rinse 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. More on using a neti pot. - Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C. If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
- Drink lots of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc). 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.
Please forward this to friends, family and co-workers. Hopefully, the majority of people will employ H1N1 flu prevention practices this season and keep an epidemic at bay.
