Amantadine To Prevent Influenza

by Olivia Andrews

Amantadine is a synthetic anti-viral drug. Amantadine is useful in the treatment of parkinson's syndrome. It is useful as an adjunct in patients who do not tolerate optimal doses of levodopa alone.

By improving muscle control and reducing stiffness, this medicine allows more normal movements of the body as the disease symptoms are reduced. In most of the case, it is also used to treat stiffness and shaking caused by certain medicines used to treat nervous, mental, and emotional conditions. Amantadine may be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Amantadine is available only with your doctor prescription in any medical store. It is the in the forms of Capsules, Syrup and Tablets. The following are the precautions should be taken:

1) While taking Amantadine drinking alcohol may cause in increasing side effect such as circulation problem, fainting or confusing. Doctors suggest to not taking alcohol while taking this medication.

2) Amantadine may cause some side effect like dryness of mouth and throat. If this is case then check with your physician.

3) This medication may cause some people to become dizzy, confused, or lightheaded or trouble concentrating.

4) Amantadine may cause some skin problem mostly in women's and usually occur on the legs and feet after amontadine has been taken regularly for a month or more.

5) Study on effect of Amantadine in pregnant women's has not done. However, there have been reports of birth defects of the heart, when women took amantadine during the first trimester of pregnancy.

6) Amantadine passes into breast milk. However, the effect of amantadine in newborn babies and infants are not knows.

Serious side effects accompanied with Amantadine are:
1. Vision disturbances
2. Swelling in the ankles or feet
3. Uncomman fatigue
4. Difficlulty while urination
5. Mood changes or state of severe depression
6. Muscle stiffness
7. Uncontrolled muscular movements

For more information on Amantadine, log on to http://www.benzer11.com/amantadine.html

About Olivia Andrews
Olivia Andrews, writing http://www.benzer11.com/amantadine.html is a freelance journalist and has written many reviews on subjects such as finance, education, health, entertainment, music, gifts, crafts, travel, apparels, and mobile phones.

Panel Recommends All Kids Get Flu Shots

All children _ not just those under 5 _ should get vaccinated against the flu, a federal advisory panel said Wednesday. The panel voted to expand annual flu shots to virtually all children except infants younger than 6 months and those with serious egg allergies.

That means about 30 million more children could be getting vaccinated. If heeded, it would be one of the largest expansions in flu vaccination coverage in U.S. history. The flu vaccine has been available since the 1940s.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices said all children should start getting vaccinated as soon as possible, acknowledging that many doctors have already ordered their vaccine for the 2008-2009 season and may not be able to give the shots until 2009-2010. The flu season generally starts in the fall and continues through spring.

The panel's advice is routinely adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which issues vaccination guidelines to doctors and hospitals.

Flu shots were already recommended for those considered to be at highest risk of death or serious illness from the flu, including children ages 6 months to 5 years, adults 50 and older, and people with weakened immune systems

The panel said that should be expanded to include children up to age 18.

Children ages 5 to 18 get flu at higher rates than other age groups, but they don't tend to get as sick. Of the 36,000 estimated annual deaths attributed to the flu, only 25 to 50 occur in children in that age bracket, CDC officials said.

But children who stay home sick from school cause parents to stay home, so reducing the illness in this group should cut down days of lost work, some experts said.

Experts believe giving flu shots to more children may also prevent the illness from spreading to adults and the elderly, although studies haven't clearly established that will happen.

Shots are not the only option. A nasal spray vaccine, FluMist, is approved for healthy people ages 2 to 49.

Panel members waffled a bit on whether to make the recommendations kick in immediately. Some public health professionals pushed them to make the clearest endorsement possible of the flu vaccine, concerned that the public is losing faith in flu shots because this year's vaccine was not well matched to circulating viruses.

Can Drinking Green Tea Prevent The Flu?

by Marcus Stout

In the U.S. alone, between 25 and 50 million people get the flu each year. 150,000 people are hospitalized and 30,000-40,000 die. So, it's clear that getting the flu is a significant health concern.
Most of those who are hospitalized or die from the flu are the very young and the very old; so flu prevention is even more essential for this population group. If you're concerned about preventing the flu virus this year, here are some things you can do to reduce your risk.

Flu-related deaths usually result from pneumonia and from complications of cardiopulmonary conditions and other chronic diseases. Deaths of older adults account for more than 90% of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza.

Get a Flu Shot - Flu shots are highly effective at preventing the most prevalent strain of flu virus each year. For anyone who interacts regularly with the public, and particularly for school age children who are exposed to all sorts of germs each day, this is an important step in staying healthy throughout the flu season. It is a necessary step for the elderly and children three years old and under, who are those most likely to develop serious complications from the flu.

Wash Your Hands - The single most important thing you can do to prevent catching a contagious illness is to keep your hands clean. Wash your hands frequently, using warm water and anti-bacterial soap.

Use Tissues - When you sneeze or cough, be certain to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Let the tissue catch the germs and throw it away immediately.

Use an Anti-viral medication - If you find yourself coming down with the flu, see your doctor and get a prescription for an anti-viral medication. These medications are effective at shortening the duration of your symptoms. In addition, some anti-viral medications can prevent you from getting the flu.

These medications are great for those who have a close family member who has contracted the flu, and are certain they have been exposed. They should not be considered a replacement for the flu vaccine, but can be used as an emergency preventer if you didn't get the flu vaccine and know you're at particular risk.

Eat healthy - Keeping your immune system strong is critical to disease prevention. A healthy diet, full of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with plenty of rest will help your body be more able to fight off germs that come your way.

Drink green tea - One little known secret about preventing the flu is adding green tea to your diet. Research has shown that green tea is extremely effective at preventing the flu, when consumed regularly. One study, reported by the UK Tea Council showed that green tea can protect in two ways. First, green tea suppresses the growth of influenza cells. Secondly, green tea actually kills off the influenza cells.

And, one thing that's so great about green tea - it can protect against many strains of the flu virus. The flu vaccine each year just protects against that year's most prevalent strain.

Green tea has recently garnered much attention for its ability to prevent disease and protect health. Research has shown that green tea's powerful anti-oxidants are the key to preventing serious illnesses like cancer and cardiovascular disease.

In addition, it's been shown to regulate blood sugar, which means it may have significant potential in controlling diabetes. And, it has many anti-microbial properties, and may have the ability to kill or prevent other viruses besides the flu.

Anti-oxidants are powerhouses for our health. Each day, as our body converts the food we eat into energy, free radicals are created. These free radicals damage our cells and DNA, creating a process called oxidation throughout our bodies.

If this oxidation is allowed to continue over the years, it leads to disease and early aging. But, anti-oxidants neutralize these free radicals, preventing them from doing their damage.

So, eating a diet rich in anti-oxidants is one of the best things you can do to protect your health. And, green tea is one of the best sources of anti-oxidants around. In addition, anti-oxidants can be found in fruits, vegetables, coffee, red wine and dark chocolate.

If you're interested in maximizing your anti-oxidant intake, stick to those foods and beverages that have the most potent anti-oxidants. The best sources include:

* Tomatoes * Artichokes * Blueberries * Pomegranates * Green Tea * Asparagus

We're learning that protecting our health and preventing disease is really more in our hands than we've previously realized. We have the power to keep our bodies young and healthy far into our old age, and we have the power to prevent short term illnesses, like the flu.

The flu season is a nasty period of winter - and often wreaks havoc on many families. However, with some careful attention to your health, you can prevent the flu and have a healthy and happy winter this year.

About the Author
Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, green tea and wu long tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com

How to get rid of flu (II)

by blogger

Use of Antibiotics It's not effective to use antibiotics when suffering from flu and cough, because antibiotics are effective only against and have no effect on the viruses that causes flu.

Some Useful Home Remedies for controlling COUGH

* Add turmeric, a little ginger juice and a pinch of crushed black pepper in milk and drink. Apply balm on chest and go to sleep. * In a cup of hot water, add 2-3 tbsp apple vinegar and honey (as required) and drink.

* A tsp lemon juice, mixed with 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp ginger juice, will reduce cough considerably.

* Dry pomegranate skin, break into small pieces, and chew these now and then to reduce coughing Spasms.

* Keep a large black cardamom in the mouth, for relief from persistent cough. When it eventually softens, chew and swallow.

* Adding a drop or two of eucalyptus oil to water for steam inhalation, gives excellent relief in common colds.

* Dissolve a 1/2 tsp. of turmeric powder in half a cup of hot sweetened milk and drink for relief from cough and cold. Repeat morning and night for a week.

* A tsp. each of ginger juice and honey to be warmed and taken just before sleeping, to bring relief from severe cough. Repeat every night for a week.

* If you have a severe cough problem, take 5 sultanas in the night and place a black pepper on each sultanas and stir fry on griddle and eat. (Eat for three days and after eating this don’t eat anything else) you will feel better.

About the Author
want to know more?... http://bluebasti.blogspot.com u"ll find it all here!!

How to get rid of flu (I)

by blogger

Did You Know? There are 200 types of viruses that cause flu and cough. They spread due to the cough and sneeze of the affected person. If you touch the place where there are affected person's viruses present, and then you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with those hands, the other person gets affected.
Change in Weather: Winter is not the only reason for flu but change in weather, less moisture in air, cold breezes in winter and autumn, helps the virus to grow.

Suffering from Flu:Usually children suffer from flu 6-10 times a year, adults 2-4 times a year. Women ranging from the age of 20-30, catch cold more easily as compared to men.

Symptoms and signs of Flu: The first indication for flu and cough is having phlegm and itchy sensation in throat. These indicate that the body is fighting against the infection. The white blood cells in the body excrete such chemicals in order to stop the increasing number of virus. It is better to do something about nose, throat, chest pain, throat irritation. Many people believe that milk and other dairy products increase the phlegm, although it is not true.

Duration of the diseases: Flu usually lasts for 3 days to 2 weeks.2/4 of the flu patients get better in a week, but dry cough can last for about 2 weeks.

Body Aches If flu and cough leads to body aches, tiredness and weakness, consult your doctor.

Precautions Stay at a distance of at least 3 feet from the affected person, or you might catch it as well.

Influenza While making tea add a little bit of ginger and sugar in it and use it twice a day. It’s good prevention against influenza.

Sore Throat Take seven almond pulp and seven black peppers and grind in little water. Add a tsp of sugar and eat. Your voice will be ok.

To get rid of Cough and Flu: Wash and dry fennel and stir fry till it is half cooked. Eat twice a day you will get rid of flu and cough.

Or If you have a severe cough problem, take 5 sultanas, place a black pepper on each sultanas and stir fry on griddle and eat at night for three days consecutively you will feel better. (It is important that you don't eat or drink anything after this)

Or For continuous cough, fry raw guavas on direct heat, apply salt and eat. It will relieve some pain

Eat a Balanced Diet A lot of people think that the cure for flu and cough is hidden in the everyday meal like fruits, vegetables, garlic, vinegar and black pepper. It also strengthens the immune system.

Take lot of Vitamin C Vitamin C, sunlight and sharp onion's smell is a good cure for cough and flu,

Uses of Onion Cut onion and massage your sole with it; it helps in controlling cough and flu.

Chicken Soup Since the ancient times it is a popular belief that chicken soup is good for prevention of flu, cough and cold. It also helps in nose and throat irritation. This helps the white blood cells to fight and eliminate the diseases. Modern researches have proven that chicken stock/soup has extra nutrients that helps the white blood cells grow and become stronger.

Prevention is better then cure Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands, many people ignore this regular advice. If you are suffering from flu, cough or cold, rest as much as you can, take liquids but avoid caffeine.

Gargle with Salt Water Use a medicine that helps throat and nose and reduces the cough also. To gargle with salt water is good for your throat; in the same way for dry nose petroleum jelly is the best.