Swine Flu: What to do?

The following information is presented in the spirit of helping you feel more at ease amidst all of the media-infused, anxiety-ridden, and often short-sighted information abounding about the Swine Flu (H1N1) virus, and the "inevitable" dangers contained therein.

Note: This information is not intended to serve as a substitute for your own expert opinion (after all it is your body), nor in lieu of feedback from your primary healthcare provider.

Take whatever action and precautions you feel necessary to truly protect you and your loved ones from any potential or perceived risk.

Here is a summary of what most people want to
know regarding the H1N1 Swine Flu pandemic:

• Real risk and danger associated with the Swine Flu:
  • Are you and your loved ones truly at risk from the Swine Flu compared to any other flu?
    • Short Answer: No, it doesn't appear so. Your risks associated with the Swine Flu are no greater than from the "regular" seasonal flu. 
  • How great is your individual risk of experiencing a more serious reaction from the flu?
    • Short Answer: That depends on the health of your immune system. The "weaker" your immune system is, the greater your risk of a more serious viral reaction, if exposed. (see Immune Screening)
• Minimizing your risk:
  • Does the current flu vaccine provide protection from H1N1 Swine Flu?
    • Short Answer: No. (Ref: WHO). At best, you'll avoid experiencing any number of side effects, from delerium and convulsions, to paralysis and even death
  • Will the new Swine Flu vaccine provide protection?
    • Short Answer: No one knows, as the new vaccine hasn't been tested for safety or efficacy (Why?). However, based on human physiology, past experience, and included adjuncts (additives), there is much cause for alarm and extreme caution before considering this vaccine.
  • How can you truly decrease your risk of infection?
    • Short Answer: Give your immune system more of what it needs to function at full capacity, including some immune-boosting supplements.

Now, here is my "long answers" with the rationale behind my responses above ...

First question ...

Are you and your loved ones truly at risk from the Swine Flu compared to any other flu?

In other words, are you any more at risk now for contracting a deadly viral infection, than you were prior to the discovery (or creation?) of the H1N1 "Swine flu" virus?

To help you answer this for yourself, let's see what has happened historically around flu pandemics* in the past …

If we go back to the Flu pandemic of 1918, where it is estimated that 50-100 million people died worldwide, it has been determined that the far majority of the people died from secondary infections (like pneumonia), largely promoted by poor sanitary conditions that were prevalent at the time.

Fast forward to 2009 … where most of us live in a much more sanitary environment, and the risk of deadly secondary infections is miniscule in comparison.

Next … during the last Swine flu pandemic* of 1976:
The numbers suggest that more people died from the Swine flu vaccinations than did from actually contracting the Swine flu! (Dozens died, and hundreds more injured, from the Swine flu vaccines.)

How about the terrible Avian 'Bird' Flu pandemic* of 2003:
2 million deaths were predicted by President Bush, et al. There was a national alert and millions of vaccines were created and given to people of all ages to help prevent their contraction of this deadly disease. Actually, only 257 deaths were attributed to the Avian flu since 2003. Statistically, you would have had a better chance getting struck by lightening than to die from the 'Bird' flu!

Here are some facts about the current H1N1 Swine flu pandemic:
As of September 7, 2009: In America, there have been 593 deaths contributed to the H1N1 Swine flu infection this year.

Compare that to about 16,000* deaths from 'regular' seasonal flu, in the same period of time. (*Based on a conservative average of 2000 deaths per month from seasonal flu. Ref: CDC)

Are you more likely to die from the H1N1 Swine Flu than from 'regular' seasonal flu?  The numbers say, "NO!"

So, ask yourself three questions:

• Are the Swine Flu "numbers" really alarming numbers, with indications of great risk? 

1. • No. Based on the statistics, the current Swine flu situation is far from an epidemic! And, it is only considered a pandemic, because people in more than one region have contracted it.

• Does our past 'flu history' (above) paint a picture that warrants drastic measures and high anxiety?

1. • A simple "no" is, again, the only logical response.

Reports from the CDC say that "it is not possible to prevent the spread of this infection."

• What terrible infection are they referring to, I ask?

1. • There's nothing wrong with being cautious, and I further elaborate on how to supercharge your immune system on my website, but there really isn't any good reason for mass hysteria around the dangers of contracting the H1N1 Swine flu disease, based on these numbers.

Please Note:
That is not to say that there isn't the possibility that this H1N1 Swine flu "pandemic" could turn out to be something significant, at least for some people, especially if there immune system isn't up to snuff (medical term!).

However, there is now evidence to at least suspect that the H1N1 virus could be a bio-engineered virus (man-made). This means that if sufficiently exposed, it could trigger a "cytokine storm" type of immune response.

When a cytokine storm occurs, your immune system reacts very powerfully to the pathogen, and in its response, may put your body's health at serious risk, and for some, result in death.

To minimize your risk to such an immune response, review Supercharge Your Immune System, including its reference on how to dampen a potential "cytokine storm."

Summary:
Currently, though, there is no need for any more alarm now than prior to the relatively low number of people who have died from this Swine flu (especially compared to the number of people who have succumbed to 'regular' seasonal flu … which fostered no sense of panic).

Next question ...

How great is your individual risk of experiencing a more serious reaction from the flu?

In other words, given your current state of health, how vulnerable are you to being infected to a degree that might significantly impact your well-being?

That answer has everything to do with the status of your immune system.

First, check-in with your body and ask yourself how you are doing physically and emotionally, and if your feeling vital, or depleted. (Go with your initial 'gut' response here.)

Alert! Just because you haven't gotten "sick" in a while doesn't necessarily mean your immune system is 'primed' and responsive.

Then, more objectively, an Immune Screening could provide some clues as to the readiness of your immune system.

Information gained from blood tests, a Health and Lifestyle Assessment, and from a brief holistic physical examination, can provide additional clues as to your body's resistance to infection.

Higher Risk Age Groups
Certainly the very young tend to be more at risk since 'young-ins' haven't fully developed their immune system.

Similarly, the "elderly" (over 65) usually have a weakened system from years of unmanaged stress, compounding sleep debt, nutrient insufficiencies, sedentary lifestyles, and from an accumulating toxic burden.

• Note: Any potential benefit from receiving a vaccination is largely unavailable in these age groups because of their immune insufficiencies.

Furthermore, if you are currently infirmed or on medications, you are likely at a greater risk for infection as well.

Next question ...

Does the current flu vaccine provide protection from Swine Flu?

The benefits of the flu vaccine are very limited, while the potential harm is quite high. Flu Vaccines have demonstrated far greater risk than benefit, in most instances.

Before injecting you or your loved ones, it is wise to consider the potential benefit vs. the potential risks:

Potential benefit from flu vaccine: (like Tamiflu)

• No effect on the current H1N1 Swine flu.
• No effect on seasonal flu.
• At the very best, the flu vaccine may reduce your flu symptoms by 1-1 ½ days, but again, the vaccine has no effect if you have a seasonal flu, or the H1N1 Swine flu (reference: WHO).
• Remember: Vaccines have no possible value at all unless the person being injected has a reasonably healthy immune system to mount an immune response to the injected virus. (How is your immune system?)

Potential harm from the flu vaccine: (big, scary list here...)

• Convulsions, delirium, delusions, death, paralysis (1800 adverse events reported since 2007)
• Increases risk for secondary infections (which historically has been the majority of the death threat)
• Contains mercury preservatives, known to be neurotoxic
• Some vaccines are tainted with more virulent (toxic) strains
• Common side effects are often the very (flu) symptoms your trying to prevent!

By the way ... flu vaccines have been banned in Japan. (Why?)

Alert! God forbid you get a vaccination and experience a harmful reaction, the pharmaceutical companies (who make the flu vaccines) are immune from lawsuits. (Why?)

Vaccination SCORE CARD?

Flu vaccination potential benefiT: Small

Flu vaccination potential harm: High

So goes it with these type of vaccines … not something to count on to protect ourselves from infection.

Next question ...

Will the new Swine Flu vaccine provide protection?

The answer is short and not so sweet:

• No one knows, as the new vaccine hasn't been tested for safety or efficacy. However, based on human physiology, past experience, and new adjuncts (toxic additives), there is much cause for alarm and extreme caution before considering this vaccine.
• And, by the time the new Swine Flu vaccine is created, the H1N1 virus will likely have mutated (Ref: WHO), with no potential protective benefit, but still with plenty of potential hazards.

Last question ...

How can you truly reduce your risk of infection?
And, what can you do to bolster your 'resistance' and strengthen your immunity?

Immunity 101:

Our risk for contracting an infection depends on the following factors:

1. The virulence of the pathogen = meaning how 'nasty' were the viruses or bacteria that you were exposed to
2. Your exposure = meaning how many 'bugs' did you breath in or swallow (or injected)
3. Your resistance = meaning how healthy was your immune system when you were exposed

So, to minimize your risk, you:

First, don't stress out worrying about the virulence of the Swine Flu virus, as this will just tend to weaken your immunity and increase your risk of infection. Besides, there isn't sufficient evidence that the Swine Flu "bug" is more dangerous than the 'regular' seasonal flu virus.

Then, minimize your exposure by:

• Keeping your distance from people who are obviously sick, coughing, sneezing (the flu virus spreads mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of infected people
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze)
• Washing your hands with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. (Note that antibacterial soaps/gels have been shown to do little more than help create stronger strains of bacteria!)
• Staying home if you get sick, to minimize other people's exposure
  • Plus, you can do what you need to do at home to help your body heal

Finally, strengthen your resistance.

As eluded to earlier, the 6 most essential and fundamental things you can do to build your immunity, is to take action on the following:

• • Restorative Sleep (more )
  • Appropriate Exercise (more )
  • Quality Nourishment, making sure your nutrient levels are "topped off" (more )
  • Minimize your Toxic Burden (more )
  • Manage Stress more effectively (more ) (Note: One of the recommendations the CDC makes to 'stay healthy' is to "find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety.")
  • Immune Supportive Nutraceuticals (more )

No need to PANIC about the Swine Flu.

Some safe and predictable steps you can take today to increase your resistance are:

• Put some additional attention to strengthening your immune system by eating better, exercising more, and getting to bed earlier
• Ensure adequate reserves of critical immune supportive nutrients
• Consider adding some proven immune boosting supplements to your daily routine

Any action you take with respect to protecting you and your family from the Swine Flu virus, should be discussed with your primary healthcare provider, personally researched, and then based upon on what you feel is in your best interest.

*Glossary:

Pandemic: a disease affecting the population of an extensive region, like several countries or more

Epidemic: when cases of an illness exceed normal expectancy