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5 Things You Must Know About Flu

Five important things you must know about flu include:

1) Flu is quite a common virus otherwise known as influenza. The flu virus can really knock you for six and instead of a cold which you can often fight through you, flu can make you feel shivery, aching and you often end up in bed feeling absolutely wrotten. If you feel you must rest and sleep don't push yourself, your body is trying to make you stay still enough as it needs the extra energy to fight off the virus. Your immune system is hard at work attacking the virus and it's the immune system that often causes the symptoms such as weakness, shaking and a high temperature fever to burn the virus away from the body.

2) Anyone can 'catch' flu! No age or group are immune and even those who have the increasingly popular flu jab are not immune, there are many strains of the virus around. In our global, international world flu viruses can spread quickly and planes can be an absolute breeding ground for viruses. This is because the flu virus is often carried in the air. When someone sneezes around six million germs are released into the atmosphere each time (if they don't use a tissue). Germs can also go onto the hands and be left on surfaces e.g. door handles, public transport etc. If you touch these and then touch your mouth, eyes or nose the flu virus can be transmitted easily into your system. So too even breathing molecules whilst around an infected person can infect too. Anywhere there's poor ventilation can be a breeding place for flu and for it to transmit from person to person that's why planes and trains are notorious for catching colds and even the flu.

3) The flu virus can be either Virus A or B. Virus A is the most common type affecting both humans and animals. In fact bird flu is a derivative of type A so too spanish flu, Asian flu etc. In fact nearly every year a new form of flu mutation seems to develop with Swine flu being the most recent and taking victims with it both young and old, but mostly those with pre exisiting medical conditions and complications. It's the type A flu that's the most common but don't be lulled into a false sense of security over it because it can be deadly especially if someone is going to have a complication e.g. they have diabetes or a heart condition. Virus B flu isn't as common and it affects just humans and seals! It's also a milder form of the flu virus.

4) Good practices to prevent cross infection of flu include using a tissue when you sneeze, making sure you throw the tissue out and washing your hands as soon as you can. Frequent hand sanitation and cleanliness is always a good idea in any event to prevent infections and bacteria. Therefore keeping your hands clean through regular hand washing with warm soapy water is a must. So too alcohol based hand gel kills up to 99% of viruses. It's well worth carrying some in your pocket or bag! Also, try not to touch your eyes, mouth or nose during the day if you can help it this is where viruses often enter.

5) Regularly clear out your airways with steam, this will stop viruses breeding in your respiratory tract. Viruses can't survive in moist and heat so taking a steaming warm bath or having a steam sauna will help to clear your respiratory tract and airways not to mention relaxing you. Also drinking lots of water to flush toxins out is always a good idea flu or no flu!