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The Swine Flu Pandemic - How Can Naturopathic Medicine Help?
The swine flu (known formally as “H1N1 Influenza”) has recently become classified as a full-scale, phase 6 influenza pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The intensity of the pandemic has been classified as “moderate” and the vast majority of cases have been mild; however there is still a call for health professionals and the general public to take measures to overcome this global situation as effectively as possible. This can be accomplished by minimizing the transmission of H1N1 from infected individuals to healthy ones and by helping those infected to become well as soon as possible. The following are a list of questions and answers to educate you, your family, and your peers about swine flu itself, how you can decrease flu transmission, what to do if you think you are infected with swine flu, and how naturopathic medicine can help to prevent and treat swine flu cases.
What does “H1N1” mean exactly?
“H1N1” refers to the particular strain of influenza virus that causes swine flu; H1N1 influenza and swine flu are synonyms. “H” stands for hemagglutinin and “N” stands for neuraminidase, which are two types of proteins that are found on the outer coating of the influenza virus. The 1’s represent the specific type of hemagglutinin or neuraminidase protein that is present on the virus coat. For example, one strain of common seasonal flu is H1N2, meaning that is has hemagglutinin type 1 (just like swine flu) and neuraminidase type 2 (whereas swine flu has type 1) on its outer coating.
What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?
An epidemic is a much higher than expected incidence of disease in a relatively contained area (e.g. if a given country suddenly had 100 cases of a very rare disease, it would be called an epidemic). A pandemic is essentially an epidemic affecting a larger area, usually meaning that several countries or perhaps the entire world is experiencing the disease in question.
What does “Phase 6 Pandemic” mean exactly?
The “phase” classification of an influenza pandemic relates to the proportion of the world that is affected and the degree to which humans can transfer the disease between one another. A general breakdown is as follows:
- Phase 1: disease exists in animals but no human cases have been reported
- Phase 2: disease has been found in a small number of humans
- Phase 3: disease has been found in small groups of humans with no obvious human to human transmission
- Phase 4: human to human transmission has been established
- Phase 5: outbreaks are occurring in at least two countries in one WHO-defined region
- Phase 6: outbreaks are occurring in at least one additional country outside of the phase 5 WHO-defined region
How many individuals have been infected in Nova Scotia? How many worldwide?
There have been 98 confirmed cases of swine flu in Nova Scotia to date, with 30,000 worldwide. The countries that have reported swine flu cases are: Canada, Mexico, USA, New Zealand, Spain, Israel, UK, and France.
How is swine flu transmitted?
Swine flu, like all other strains of influenza, is transmitted by respiratory droplets (i.e. usually from the sneeze, mucous or saliva of an infected individual). It is absolutely not contracted by consuming pork products (even those originating from Mexico).
What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu?
The signs and symptoms of swine flu are the same of the regular seasonal flu, however in swine flu they tend to be on the more severe end of the spectrum. They include:
- Fever of varying intensity (38.3°C – 40°C; 101°F – 104°F) – usually very high in swine flu
- Muscle/body aches – usually severe in swine flu
- Headache – usually severe in swine flu
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Shakes/chills
- Pain on breathing (not common)
- Diarrhea (not common in adults, more common in children)
- Symptoms come on very quickly – the patient can usually pinpoint the time illness began
If you have a high fever (39.5°C – 40°C; 103°F – 104°F) and a newly acquired cough, difficulty breathing, or recent shakes/chills there is a chance you may have the swine flu (please see the next question below).
I think I might have swine flu – what should I do?
If you have a high fever (39.5°C – 40°C; 103°F – 104°F) and a newly acquired cough, difficulty breathing, or recent shakes/chills there is a chance you may have the swine flu. As such, you should immediately phone your family medical doctor (or walk-in clinic if you do not have a family doctor) to arrange an appointment for a throat swab. It is important that you phone your medical doctor ahead of time as his or her clinic will likely want to take precautions in preparation for your arrival (e.g. they will likely ask you to wear a mask upon arriving and keep you in an isolated waiting area to decrease the risk of transmission to other patients). Simply speak with the receptionist on the phone and inform him or her that you suspect you may have swine flu.
Regardless of your test outcome, you are also strongly encouraged to seek naturopathic care at Village Wellness to help you get better as quickly as possible (please see the question below on how naturopathic medicine can help to treat swine flu). As with your medical doctor’s office, please phone Village Wellness ahead of time so we can prepare for your visit.
I have swine flu (or common flu)-what can I do to minimize my risk of transmitting it to other people?
There are several steps you can take in this regard, including:
- Minimize your contact with non-infected individuals until 10 days after your symptoms clear (you could still be able to transmit the infection up to that length of time)
- If you have to sneeze, always do so into your sleeve or into a handkerchief (or into your hands as a last resort, followed by immediate washing)
- Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, especially before shaking hands or handling food – be sure to lather for at least 20-30 seconds and do not miss the backs of your hands and under your fingernails
- Seek medical care to bring yourself back to health as soon as possible to decrease the amount of time you are contagious
What can I do to reduce my risk of contracting swine flu?
Prevention of swine flu before it occurs is the most powerful way to combat the pandemic. Several ways you can do this include:
- Always wash your hands with soap and water before eating, after shaking hands, upon arriving to work, and upon arriving home - be sure to lather for at least 20-30 seconds and do not miss the backs of your hands and under your fingernails
- Minimize your contact with infected individuals
- Eat a balanced diet and avoid junk foods to optimize your immune function
- Keep warm after swimming or being out in the rain to optimize your immune function
- Take care of your body by getting enough sleep, exercising, minimizing negative stress in your life, and avoiding recreational drugs, smoking, and excessive caffeine and alcohol
Swine flu, like common seasonal flu, has an incubation period of up to 72 hours (i.e. the time it can take from virus exposure to when you begin to experience symptoms). During this time one can still transmit the infection, so it is best to always cough and sneeze into your sleeve or a handkerchief, and to wash your hands before coming into contact with other people.
How can naturopathic medicine help me to avoid contracting swine flu?
Naturopathic medicine can help to prevent the contraction of swine flu in several ways, including:
- Directly strengthening your immune system with herbs, nutritional supplements, and Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Helping you to cope with negative stress, which can deplete your immune function
- Nutritional counselling to optimize your diet and correct any nutrient deficiencies, both of which can negatively impact immunity
- Assessing and treating your overall health constitution, which can lead to disease susceptibility if it is out of balance
I have swine flu (or common flu) - how can naturopathic medicine help me overcome it?
As with any infection that you might experience, there are a host of treatment options that naturopathic medical care at Village Wellness can offer you. These include:
- Herbs and nutritional supplements to directly combat the viral infection (either alone or to compliment any pharmaceutical interventions you may be utilizing)
- Herbs and nutritional supplements to help with symptoms you may be experiencing (such as headache, muscle/body aches, nausea, sore throat, etc)
- Dietary counselling on what foods you should eat while you are ill
- Assessment and treatment of your overall health constitution, which can aggravate your illness if it is out of balance
Once your infection has cleared, there are additional naturopathic medical methods that can be used to help you to minimize your chances of contracting the flu again (please see the question on this topic, above).
If you have any further questions on this important issue, please do not hesitate to contact me or come into Village Wellness for a complimentary introduction into what role naturopathic medicine can play in your health. As a global community we can work together to put this challenge to our health behind us!
Sincerely,
Dr. Bryan Rade, ND
References
Fauci et al. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional; 2008.
Government of Nova Scotia. Communicable Disease Prevention and Control – H1N1 (Human Swine Influenza). Nova Scotia, CA: Government of Canada; c2009 [update 2009 June 19; cited 2009 June 22]. Available from: http://www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/cdpc/h1n1-influenza.asp
Government of Nova Scotia. Pandemic Influenza. Nova Scotia, CA: Government of Canada; c2009 [update 2009 June 16; cited 2009 June 22]. Available from: http://www.gov.ns.ca/govt/pandemic/
Government of Ontario. Important Health Notice. Ontario, CA: Government of Ontario; c2009 [update 2009 June 11; cited 2009 June 22]. Available from: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/ providers/program/emu/health_notices/ihn_20090611.pdf
World Health Organization. What is Phase 6? Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; c2009 [update 2009 June 11; cited 2009 June 22]. Available from: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/levels_pandemic_alert/en/index.html