How does your immune system help you against the flu virus?

It seems as though everyone has been sent into a tizzy about the flu. With the current talk about the swine flu and its widespread out break everyone is trying to find the best way to deal with it. One of the largest areas of concern is in the school system. Children already have a weakened immune system because it has yet to mature and really create enough of an immunology to yield off any type of virus.

The United States government has set up a check list for all the highly contagious areas. The school system is one of them. Your child's immune system is much more susceptible to catching any type of cold or flu. In order to ensure that your child's immune system is safe while they are in school, the government has administered a list of how to be safe in a class room setting.

In order to prevent the spread of the flu, the government recommends the following:

1. Avoid spreading germs: you can help your self and help others to decrease the chance of getting lung infections by:

- wash your hands as often as possible. You should wash your hands in warm water with a generous amount of soap for at least twenty seconds.

- do not touch your eyes, nose, or ace unless you have washed your hands thoroughly.

- Always cover your mouth when you cough. It is best to cough into a tissue or a sleeve so as to avoid having your germs left on your hand.

- Try to avoid people who have a cold or the flu. This is particularly difficult for children in a classroom setting, but following the three pointers above should lessen your risk of contracting the flu this season. And if you are sick, avoid contact with others. This should be music to your child's ears, a day home from school! But make sure they use that time to get better. Their immune system will need plenty of time to recover from this virus which directly targets the main respiratory systems of the body. And do not send you child back to school unless he or she is feeling one hundred percent better. Your child is still considered contagious up to seven days after he or she feels the onset of symptoms.

Other ways to prevent the flu is to get the influenza vaccine. by getting the vaccine you are decreasing your chances of getting the flu. And there are quite a few different flu vaccines, so be sure you ask your caregiver which is the best for you. The vaccine will help to increase the amount of antibodies in your immune system. And the more antibodies you have, the more resistant your immune system will become so it can fight of the harmful virus.
If an outbreak is announced in your home town or city, avoid public places where people may be coming in and out of other cities. If you live in a town or city where there is an airport or other major transit operating systems, try to avoid taking mass transit for a week. At this point it will not matter how strong your immune system is, everyone will have to take extra precautions to ensure that you are very well protected against the swine flu.

In extreme circumstances, if an outbreak occurs wear protective breathing masks and wear them any time while out in public.

Also, to protect yourself from getting the swine flu, purchase supplements that provide support to your immune system.

Selenium is in fact known to help your immune system stabilize itself. Like anything else, there is no guarantee these supplements will in fact protect you from contracting the flu, but if you find yourself stricken with the swine flu, every little bit will help.

It is very important that you practice good health. Your immune system is purposely set up so that you can fight off harmful diseases and viruses. Without a strong enough immune system you will undoubtedly have a harder time getting over any sickness.

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