इस हफ्ते का सवाल

WHAT IS THE FOLLOWING?

SHAKUNADE SHAKUNADE KAZAYE, AATI NIIKA SHAKUNAM BOLYA DAINA, BAZAN SHANKH......

स्वाइन फ्लू पर ए़क जोरदार इ-मेल

किन्हीं ए़क डाक्टर स. सुरेश द्वारा लिखी ए़क इ-मेल ए़क दोस्त के मार्फ़त मिली है। डाक्टर सुरेश के लिए कृतज्ञता जताते हुए में ये सूचना ज्यों की त्यों दे रहा हूँ।

Thanks to media hype about H1N1, several people who trust me have either approached or called me to advice. The hype in media about the utility of face masks and N95 respirators as a tool for general protection against H1N1can't be deplored enough. Yesterday, a friend who listened wanted me to write down briefly what I advised so that he could tell others in similar words. Hence this short email to friends whom I have advised recently (and others whom I haven't yet). Please realize that this is not an official advice, especially the one about face masks or N95.

Most N95 respirators are designed to filter 95% particulates of 0.3µ, while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1µ. Hence, dependence on N95 to protect against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an umbrella made of mosquito net.

Tamiflu does not kill but prevents H1N1 from further proliferation till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks (its natural cycle). H1N1, like other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and proliferates (only) there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps – not fully highlighted in most official communications - can be practiced (instead of focusing on howto stock N95 or Tamiflu):


1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption..

6. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

All these are simple ways to prevent, within means of most households, and certainly much less painful than to wait in long queues outside public hospitals.

Happy breathing!

Thanks & Regards,
Suresh. S

Disclaimer: (Received as an e-mail from a friend on Aug. 19, 2009, this information is given here for its general nature and in public interest with due acknowledgment to its author: Dr. S. Suresh. We do not take any responsibility, however, if this information causes any harm to the user).

ए़क कहानी अंग्रेज़ी में

मुझे बचपन में सुनी ए़क कहानी याद आती है। पेश है:

Once a child was sick and doctor had suggested to stop the chocolate/ sweet.

Knowing a seniour most person 'a YOGI' in the neigbourhood, mother took her child to the YOGI.

(Thinking that if YOGI asks the child to stop the sweet, he will not insist on eating it).

But Yogi asked them to come the next week.

Next week- yogi asked the child to stop the chocolates.

Surprised at this, mother asked the yogi: why did not he tell this last week itself?

Yogi said, 'Since I myself was eating sweet last week, I could not tell it to the child.

This week I have stopped it, so that I can suggest this to the child as well.

हमें झूठ नहीं बोलना चाहिए:

एक चरवाहा लड़का रोज गायों को जंगल में चराने जाता था ।
ए़क दिन उसे ए़क शरारत सूझी। उसने जोर जोर से चिल्लाना शुरू कर दिया " शेर आ गया मुझे बचाओ, बचाओ" ।

उसकी चीख पुकार सुन कर गाँव के लोग अपने खेतों से, काम काज छोड़ कर जंगल को उसे बचाने भागे।

तमाम लोगों को अपनी तरफ़ आते देख, लड़का खुश हो गया, और खिलखिलाकर हंसने लगा, और बोला: " हो हो, में तो मजाक कर रहा था"!

लोग उदास हो गए क्योंकि उनके काम का नुकसान हो गया और वो जंगल को दौड़ते हुए थक गए। सब लोग अपने घरों को चले गए।

कुछ दिन बाद फ़िर से बच्चे ने वही शरारत की, फ़िर से लोग जंगल भागे, लेकिन फ़िर वही बात!

ए़क दिन की बात है, जंगल में सचमुच शेर आ गया! वह लड़का चिल्ल्याया " बचाओ, में सच कह रहा हूँ, शेर आ गया, और मेरी तरफ़ आ रहा है......" लोगों ने सोचा 'जरुर झूठ ही बोल रहा होगा'। कुछ देर बाद उसकी आवाज आनी बंद हो गई।