Influenza
The flu – also known formally as influenza – is an illness affecting the respiratory system, which most commonly occurs during the winter and early spring. While, like the common cold, it is a viral infection that attacks the body through the respiratory system, the symptoms of influenza are more marked and severe. Unlike those of a cold flu symptoms emerge very suddenly, ranging from high fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, fatigue, headaches, nasal congestion, as well as aches and pains throughout the body. The flu virus is highly contagious and is spread via respiratory secretions, through close contact in large groups (i.e. schools, workplaces, dormitories, etc.). It can be inhaled through air droplets carrying the virus, orally through sharing contaminated items such as utensils and drinking glasses, as well as on the skin, which can be absorbed into the body through touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. As with all other viral diseases, the flu cannot be treated with antibiotics, which only address bacterial infections.
There are three varieties or types of flu virus, known as Type A, B, and C. Each of these types can mutate into new strains of flu, with new varieties of flu emerging every couple of years. This constant transformation makes it difficult for the body to build up a permanent immunity to the flu.
What to Do If You Have the Flu
Treatment is dependent upon the nature of your symptoms. For instance a decongestant medication is useful for alleviating the swelling that occurs in the nasal passages as a result of congestion, and can be administered either orally or nasally. On the other hand an antihistamine will relieve postnasal drip and a runny nose. Any of the over the counter cough medicines available at your local pharmacy will help combat a troublesome cough while, in the case of body aches and pains, non-aspirin based medicine such as Tylenol, Advil, and Alleve assist to reduce flu induced pain.
A Whole Health Perspective
Looking at influenza through a Whole Health model, we will explore the individual’s unique presentation from the 5 Aspects of Whole Health™ perspective.
Physical –
The seasonal flu vaccine is generally effective for developing immunity against the flu virus. It takes about 2 weeks to develop immunity after receiving the vaccine, so it is important to get vaccinated as early in the flu season as possible. The vaccine will protect you from the strains of flu that it contains (most vaccines contain 3(trivalent) to 4 (quadravalent), but will not necessarily protect you against other strains.
Treatment for influenza involves symptom control and comfort measures. Antiviral medications provide limited benefit but may be helpful for some patients. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/antivirals/antiviral-use-influenza.htm . Current research is focused on preventing the access of the flu virus to the body http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23801557 . So, prevention is still an important option for managing influenza.
Emotional –
Studies indicate that stress level can affect the ability of the immune system to respond to the influenza vaccine and produce immunity http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25765110 http://kungfu.psy.cmu.edu/~scohen/fluvacc04.pdf High stress also affects the ability of the immune system overall to defend against infection. One study demonstrated that a short program in mindfulness meditation produces demonstrable effects on brain and immune function, and specifically produced more antibodies in response to the flu vaccine.
Nutritional –
High quality, whole food nutrition is essential for proper functioning of the whole body, including the immune system, and some vegetables may have specific properties that enhance defense against viral illness such as the flu. For instance, ingestion of sulforaphane-containing vegetables such as broccoli sprouts has been shown to reduce the markers of viral load in the nose http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26820305 .
There are many complementary and alternative options for minimizing symptoms and shortening the duration of the flu, including homeopathy, herbal remedies, alkaline diets, and many more. There is limited to no evidence based research to confirm the efficacy of these treatments. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27055821 However, many patients do find positive effects from them, and most are considered harmless. A local complementary and alternative practitioner such as a chiropractor, acupuncturist and others may be able to give you personalized guidance when considering flu symptom relief remedies for your individual needs and presentation.
Environmental –
Since the viruses that cause influenza are transmitted via your immediate environment, there are a few precautions you can take to avoid getting the flu and passing it to others. These include:
- Frequent hand washing to wash away the germs
- Staying away from others who are sick, and staying home when you are sick.
- Cover your mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, or cough into your elbow so you don’t spread the virus when you touch things.
Adequate sleep is also important for preventing the flu, developing immunity to influenza following vaccine administration and recovering from influenza. Sleep deprivation alters immune function and lowers the body’s ability to resist infections. Studies show that sleep deprived individuals may develop half the influenza antibodies as people who sleep well. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleepless-in-america/201412/flu-season-and-sleep
There are several things you can do to promote better sleep when you have the flu, including using a vaporizer to moisturize the air and your airways, drinking a hot beverage or soup, and propping your head up on extra pillows http://symptoms.webmd.com/cold-and-flu-map-tool/sleep-better-cold-flu .
When battling the flu, we become sleepy, which is the body’s attempt to encourage rest and entering into it’s restorative mode. Taking flu medications that suppress symptoms such as cough and fever may allow us to continue working, but if we resist rest, recovery from the flu may be prolonged or complicated.
Spiritual –
Spiritual worldview and religious beliefs and practices have all been shown in numerous studies to influence overall sense of well-being, A positive world view that promotes safety, security and peace, as well as practices that facilitate connection to God or nature and other people, results in lower stress hormones and a stronger immune system that can protect against invaders such as influenza.
For more information:
http://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/influenza/