A compromised immune system increases your risk of contracting viral or bacterial infections -- like the H1N1 virus, commonly called swine flu. Young children's immune systems are typically weaker, increasing their risk of disease. Certain...
Influenza, or flu, is a viral infection that affects the respiratory system. Healthy people who acquire the flu generally experience symptoms for several days and don't require hospitalization. Serious cases, however, may lead to life-threatening...
Influenza is an upper respiratory infection that can produce symptoms such as dry cough, sore throat, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. Because this illness is spread by airborne virus cells, it is highly contagious. Although...
Influenza is an upper respiratory infection that can produce symptoms such as dry cough, sore throat, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. Because this illness is spread by airborne virus cells, it is highly contagious. Although...
If you have a low-functioning immune system or someone in your family has the flu, it's important that you boost your immune system so that you can avoid getting the flu. Eating the right foods can actually increase your immune system function so...
The swine flu has caused panic among many people because it can have severe and potentially dangerous symptoms. According to David R. Boyd and David Suzuki, authors of "Dodging the Toxic Bullet: How to Protect Yourself from Everyday Environmental...
Seasonal flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. According to Flu.gov, outbreaks in the United States usually occur in the fall and early spring. Symptoms include fever, headache, nausea and muscle aches. Flu is highly...
FluMist is an influenza vaccine that is administered into the nose as a mist; it is an alternative to the traditional shot in the arm. It is available for males and females between the ages of 2 and 49.
In a typical year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends influenza vaccination for virtually everyone over the age of 6 months. In the 2010-2011 flu season, flu shots, which contain inactivated or killed forms of the...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends influenza immunization as the first step to reduce your risk of infection with seasonal and pandemic flu strains. While there are many advantages to getting vaccinated, there are also...
For the 2010-2011 flu season, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control published a fact sheet about inactivated influenza flu shots with the recommendation, "All people 6 months of age and older should get the vaccine." Manufactured with attenuated,...
Flu shots, more formally known as influenza vaccines, are made from inactivated viruses. The flu shot for the 2010-2011 flu season contains a "killed" form of three strains of influenza virus, including the 2009 H1N1 strain of influenza A, a...
Influenza immunizations, or flu vaccines, come in two forms. Although each type has its own typical side effects, these effects can overlap and may be different for different age groups. The classic flu vaccine, the flu shot, is grown in eggs from...
The American Heart Association defines anticoagulants as medications that delay blood clotting. There are two common anticoagulants, warfarin (Coumadin) and heparin. Anticoagulants are often referred to as blood thinners, though they do not...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu vaccine to all healthy adults and children except for a few cases. There are two forms of administration of the vaccine. The first is an inactivated flu virus given via...
Colds and influenza are caused by viruses, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers flu to be a serious contagious disease. Children are among those at high risk for complications from flu.
Diabetes is challenging, requiring consistent diet management, exercise, blood sugar testing and medication or insulin each day. But when a cold, the flu, a stomach virus or another acute illness attacks, it can affect all of these factors,...
The spleen is an organ that plays a vital role in protecting the body from infections, since the special cells present in the spleen kill the bacteria or germs that are present in the blood. An individual may need to get the spleen removed due to...
Foods to eat to prevent you from getting the flu will strengthen and support your immune system and overall health level. Diet plays an essential role in improving your overall health, but is not a cure-all. Increase your flu immunity by resting,...
The H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009 has led to renewed attention on flu vaccines among health officials and the public. For most people, a flu shot prevents you from getting the flu by giving your body the opportunity to develop immunity against...
According to Immunization Action Coalition, the first seasonal influenza vaccine in the United States became available in 1945. The flu vaccine is recommended to provide seasonal protection against the influenza virus. The influenza virus is a...
"You're just going to feel a little prick now." Said by many nurses prior to administering a flu vaccine, this may underestimate the real pain felt by flu vaccine recipients during and after administration. According to the Centers for Disease...
When it comes to influenza, two FDA-approved drugs were found to be effective treatments for the 2009-20010 flu season---oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). Two other flu drugs have been approved by the FDA, rimantadine (Flumadine) and...
Seasonal flu is a contagious upper respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Multiple viruses can cause mild to severe illness and sometimes death. Young children, older people...
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 5 to 20 percent of the US population catches influenza ("the flu") every year, and about 36,000 cases end in death. Fortunately, vaccines are available that provide protection from the seasonal...
When the flu season comes around, a significant proportion of the population will experience the all-too-familiar symptoms of sore throats, headaches and fever. Such infections can occur at any time of the year, although taking zinc supplements...
The chicken pox vaccine, which is more formally referred to as the varicella vaccine, is a type of immunization administered to prevent the development of chickenpox in treated patients. Chickenpox is an infection caused by a virus called...
A vaccination or immunization is used to help the body protect itself against specific types of viruses or bacteria. Typically, a vaccine is administered as an injection in the upper portion of the arm. Medical experts with the American Academy of...
Each year, approximately 30,000 to 40,000 people experience fatal medical complications following infection with influenza or the flu, FluFacts.com reports. Receiving a flu shot can help reduce a person's risk of developing this virus, which can...
Learn tips for filling out blood donation questions in this free video clip from a blood donation center.
The flu is a virus that can last up to ten days and effect your nose, throat and lungs. Learn some tips about treating and avoiding the flu virus in this video.
Influenza, more commonly referred to as the flu, is a viral infection that attacks the respiratory system, including your nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. The flu should not be taken lightly. Thousands of people die of complications due to...
