Expert Tips For Dealing With The Flu by Dr. Claire Wheeler (NAPSA)—Many people, especially those who have not had the flu in a while, tend to underestimate the virus, and even more important, may not take the necessary steps to preventit. According to the NationalInstitute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, approximately 25 percent of the U.S. population has flu-associated illnesses annually, leading to an average of 20,000 to 40,000 deaths per year. Since the flu can Dr. Wheeler be potentially life threatening, it’s important to take the proper steps to avoid catching and/or spreading it. Here are some steps you can take: Get vaccinated now. The elderly, the young (6 months to 18 years old) and those with weakened immune systems are the ones most encouraged to get the flu shot, but most everyone can benefit from having it and doingit early. Wash hands frequently. Whenin doubt, wash again, since viruses of all kinds, including the rhinovirus, can be spread with hand contact. It might be helpful to carry hand sanitizers that kill both bacteria and viruses. Keep away from those who are sick and contagious. Build up your immunesystem. Drink plenty of water, get as muchsleep as possible—try for at least seven hours a day—and eat a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegeta- bles. If you don’t always remember to do these things, then take a supplement that has beenclinically proven to boost the immune system, such as Sambucol black elderberry dietary supplement. Throughout history, black elderberry has been used to treat colds, flu, fever, burns and cuts. Black elderberry has twice the amount of antioxidants as blueberries and significantly more than cranberries, and the extract in Sambucol, specifically, has been clinically shown to help support immunesystem function. If you do happento get the flu, I suggest the following: Stay home and rest. Don’t spread your germs to others and don’t come back so soon that you risk a relapse. Stay hydrated by drinking plentyoffluids. When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth witha tissue. Wash your hands. Take an elderberry dietary supplement: a black elderberry cold and flu product. A new prod- uct, Sambucol Cold Flu Relief Tablets, is a homeopathic formulation of black elderberry and zinc gluconate that provides fast relief from cold and flu symptoms and is safe for children, 4 years and older, as well as adults. For more information, visit www.sambucol.com. Dr. Wheeler, M.D., is an instructor at Portland State University’s School of Community Health and former associate fellow in the Andrew Weil, M.D., training program for physicians. She practices integrative and traditional medicine.
