by Gauri Trivedi

Created on: September 10, 2009

Change of season brings with it a transformed atmosphere and new challenges. As the fun filled days of summer near their end, there is lot we can look forward to, unfortunately the good always comes with the bad. Fall brings with it relief from heat and the beautiful colors of nature and advent of flu.

Caused by the Influenza virus and commonly known as the "flu", this respiratory disease is contagious. It affects the nose throat and lungs, some of the general symptoms being fever, body aches, chills, sore throat and weakness, sometimes followed by nausea and diarrhea. Usually not deadly, a common flu can prove to be fatal if it leads to further complications like pneumonia or infection of the brain.

The flu season comes and goes every year without much uproar, the exception being this year. Swine flu has raised people's fear to the level of paranoia and so normally considered harmless, flu is being dreaded like the cancer. What adds to the apprehension is the fact that nobody is immune to the H1N1 virus. So we have the flu which we have every year and on top of it there is swine flu to deal with.

An obvious question arises to a layman, is there a way to hide or run away from the disease, No! There is not much you can do to stop a disease as contagious as the flu, what you can do is be prepared.

1) Boost your immunity

There are people who fall sick all the time and then there are some who manage to stay healthy even when the rest in their house are down with illness. Have you wondered why? Immunity. Some have it, some don't. When we talk about any illness, it is the individual immunity that comes into picture.

Just as we read our material to prepare for examinations, we need to prepare our body for the flu season. The physical strength to counter illness can be developed, but it cannot be built in a day. Thankfully, there are ways to boost immunity naturally. Exercise, nutritious food and a balanced lifestyle; all together lead to good health. So, long before the flu season hits, start preparing for better health. Eat foods with antioxidants, follow an exercise regime and give your body and mind the required rest. Your body can only put up a fight if it has the necessary resources to do so. Enhanced immunity ensures decreased impact, if not complete protection from the disease.

2) Vaccination

Anybody older than 6 months can be given a flu vaccine. Agreed, it doesn't offer protection from all kinds of viral infections that cause flu, it is still beneficial

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