helpful email about preventing H1N1

My husband got this info in an email from HR at his job:

One of my neighbors is a nurse and she e-mailed all the residents in our community with the following information. Just thought I would pass it on to all of you.

The only portals of entry for the H1N1 virus (or any virus for that matter) are the nostrils and mouth/throat.

In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is. (The spreading of the virus from its point of entry).

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.

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 or bathe).

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. Clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. 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. Sinus rinse kits are available at the drug store and relatively inexpensive.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (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 warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) 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.

Hope the foregoing contains some helpful data that you may/may not have been aware of.....

Re: helpful email about preventing H1N1

thanks...I just sent this to my sister

half of her class in MD has it....and she is required to sit in the nurses office with them while they wait for their parents....oy

Re: helpful email about preventing H1N1

A doctor in the today show addressed the gargling thing as well as swabbing your nose and she said it does not wotk at all.

Re: helpful email about preventing H1N1

I got a similar email with tips from Dr. Vinay Goyal.
Here's the Snopes entry about it.Snopes