Today you can read thousands of Health News and other  articles about the  flu and colds that make people really sick. How these articles resolve our health problems? We learn that this week,  44 states reported widespread flu activity, up from 31 last week, and US flu season is getting worse. However, vaccine only protects 40 percent of circulating flu bugs. It means that vaccine has been performed poorly. Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed last week that the flu shot is a good match for only 40 percent of this years’s flu viruses.Let’s we’ll compare this statement with some statements from another research. If you will read an article “Study Shows Why the Flu Likes Winter” (by Gina Kolata, New York Times, December 5, 2007) about the study conducted by flu researchers in New York, you will learn that the infection spreads primarily in the winter months. This study states, it has to do with the virus itself and the exact conditions for much of the flu season: cold and dry air where virus is more stable and stays there (in the air) longer.Researchers in New York believe they have solved one of the great mysteries of the flu. Again how this statement can help us if we are already sick or can get sick sooner or later? Dr. Peter Palese, the lead author of the flu study, professor and chairman of the microbiology department at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York does not suggest staying in a greenhouse all winter to avoid the flu. He suggests the best strategy is a flu shot. What about recent statistics from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention that “…the flu shot is a good match for only 40 percent of this year’s flu viruses?” Definitely in 2008 we should examine closely what is our best strategy. A flu shot or some natural alternatives?

There is no shortage of research and hypotheses about how adults and children are getting flu and colds and pass these illnesses on their families. Some suppose flu and colds viruses can be transmitted when people are crowded together, gather indoors or children are in school and are exposed to other children in a classroom. Others say, influenza virus can be transmitted more likely on the way to work if people use the subway. Others think the problem is in the movement of air currents in the upper atmosphere.  I wonder, did they take a tour in cosmic space or did they experience an influence of air currents moving sky-high there?

I am not coinvinced on that. Other researchers assume the problem is in our weakened immune system. During winter we eat less fruits and vegetables, take less vitamin D or melatonin, other vitamins  and nutritional supplements. In addition, in cold winter months when days are shorter in northern latitudes, we don’t get enough of sunshine, one of the life’s most precious miracles. As an example, the weather in Chicago was reported as brutally cold and snowy. Residents of the windy city had seven sunless days in a row in February. When people don’t see caressing rays of sunshine for so long, they get sick with colds, stress and depression too. 

According to some estimates, people in the United States suffer one billion colds annualy. Children have about 6 to 8 colds a year. In families with children in school, the number of colds per child can be as high as 12 per year. Women, especially those aged 20-30 years, have more colds than men, possibly because of their closer contact with children. The American Lung Association reports, more than 200 different viruses are known to cause the symptoms of the common cold.

Thus, the suggestion that the best strategy is a flu shot to avoid the flu or cold is questionable today. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu shot will work for only 40 percent of this year’s flu viruses. Are there other alternatives?

Doctors and experts usually will tell us that all 200 viruses can cause severe cold symptoms, and it is almost impossible to completely prevent the spread of colds or reduce your chance of becoming infected with one of these viruses. Usually they recommend to wash your hands as the best measure to prevent transmission of colds. Don’t we know that from our parents who told us a million times in our childhood to wash our hands as often as we can? Then other advices follow: avoid touching your face and don’t smoke; throw away disposable cups after each use; wipe frequently all household surfaces and wash your child’s toys; use paper towels, but throw tissues away after use. Don’t we know that already from the first grade?

Then you can find many suggestions about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. No one takes a responsibility to assure you that there is (because it still isn’t!) direct evidence to show us that eating healthy foods and exercising can prevent colds. However, if we’ll maintain a healthy lifestyle with enough hours of sleep, good nutrition and exercising regularly, we can be sure that our immune system will be in good condition and ready to fight infections when they attack us.

Read in our next post about Europe’s best kept secrets: how you can stop sneezes and sniffles and stifle a cold using time-tested natural cures.