The ABC of flu prevention may very well become PSI — P standing for personal hygiene; S for surface and air cleaning; and finally I for immune boosting. And the good news is, all three steps are as easy as your quintessential ABC.
Local flu doctor and pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Nancy Bermal concurs with the PSI or what she terms as the ‘flu prevention triad.’ “We should be worried about flu in the sense that we have to prepare for it— but not to the extent that we have to panic.” And she believes that the flu prevention triad is a good exercise in preparedness.
Personal Hygiene
The main way that the flu is spread from person to person is through coughs and sneezes. This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air and make contact with the mouth or nose of people nearby.
To counter this, Dr. Bermal recommends what she calls the ‘cough etiquette.’ “This simply means turning your head when coughing or sneezing and covering your mouth with disposable tissue.” She also stresses the importance of frequent hand washing.
Surface and Air Cleaning
Dr. Bermal also observes that surface and air cleaning is another important aspect in flue prevention. “Let’s say you sneeze and then proceed to hold the doorknob or the table—you may not know it, but the virus or bacteria can be transmitted to that area.”
She notes that the virus also can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes into his hands and then proceeds to touch a surface (like a phone, remote control, or toy) before washing. Another person could become sick if he or she touches that surface and then touches his or her own eyes, mouth, or nose before washing. She adds that it’s important to remember that flu viruses and other germs can live two hours or longer on hard environmental surfaces like tables, doorknobs, and desks.
Among the leading disinfection brands in the market today is Lysol®. Considered as the #1 disinfection brand recommended by pediatricians (Based on National US Survey), Lysol® kills 99.9% of germs in 30 seconds. Among these is the Flu virus or Influenza A.
Immune Boosting
The pediatric infectious disease specialist also mentions the importance of strengthening the immune system. “The immune system is a network that helps you avoid illness — or sometimes it can become the underlying reason you get sick”
In order to boost immunity, vaccination and lifestyle modification is recommended. Reducing stress; getting enough sleep (7-8 hours daily for best immune function) and sticking with a mostly plant-based diet that’s low in red meat and high in fresh fruits and vegetables are only some of the techniques that people can adapt.
As a parting note to the general public, Dr. Bermal once again calls for preparedness tempered with sobriety. “Everybody should keep calm and educate themselves about flu and other infections as well,” notes the flu doctor. She also reiterates the importance of practicing PSI or the flue prevention triad. “We have to do our part by maintaining good hygiene, practicing surface and air cleaning as well as striving for a strong immune system. Of course, all of these should be practiced by the whole family — starting from the mothers down to the kids.”
For more information about flu prevention log on to www.flupreventionphilippines.com
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