Sleep & the H1N1 “Swine Flu” Virus

The H1N1 flu virus, or “swine flu,” has infected people in 20 countries. This includes people in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

How can you protect yourself from this new virus?

The CDC advises you to get plenty of sleep. This will help your body to maintain a strong immune system.

In January the Sleep Education Blog reported on a study linking sleep and the immune system. Participants were exposed to a “rhinovirus” – the common cold.

People who reported sleeping less than seven hours per night were three times more likely to develop a cold. The AASM recommends that adults get seven to eight hours of sleep each night.

To keep from getting the flu, the CDC also recommends that you wash your hands often. Keep active, eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

The CDC advises you to stay home from work or school if you develop symptoms of the flu. These include a fever, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue. Stay home for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours.

If you feel sick you may want to contact your doctor. He or she will determine if flu testing or treatment is needed.

Your doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug for you. This type of medicine can make your illness milder and help you feel better faster.

The two antiviral drugs approved by the FDA for treating the H1N1 flu virus are Tamiflu and Relenza. Currently there are no licensed vaccines for the H1N1 flu virus.

The FDA, FTC and Health Canada all report that some Internet sites may sell products with the false claim that they will prevent or cure the H1N1 virus. You should contact your doctor before buying any of these products online.

Image by Robert Terrell

Sleep for your Health this Cold and Flu Season

The cold and flu season is quickly approaching. This year it is more important than ever to protect yourself not only from the seasonal flu, but also from the contagious H1N1 virus or “swine flu”.

So what are the easiest ways to avoid contracting the flu?

It may be as easy as practicing good hygiene. Wash your hands, keep your hands away from your face and avoid contact with people who are sick. The CDC also advises getting plenty of sleep to help your body maintain a strong immune system.

A New York Times blog post found that if you are sleeping poorly you are more likely to catch a cold. Scientists think that this relationship highlights the importance of sleep to your health.

A study published earlier this year in the journal Sleep shows that your immune system can be affected by sleep deprivation. Levels of proteins associated with inflammation increase when you are not getting the sleep you need.

In May, the Sleep Education blog reported that people who sleep less than seven hours per night are three times more likely to get sick.

The AASM recommends that adults get seven to eight hours of sleep each night.

Learn more about how sleep can affect you at Sleep Education.com.

2009: The Year in Sleep Top 10

The Sleep Education Blog is counting down the Top 25 Posts of 2009. Over the past three days we took a look back at 15 of the blog posts that received the highest number of unique pageviews.

Today we’ll continue with five more of the most popular posts:

10. Violent Sleep: Acting Out Dreams & Nightmares (May 2)
CBS 2 News in Los Angeles reported on REM sleep behavior disorder. RBD is a sleep disorder that can turn your sleep into a living nightmare.

9. Losing Weight with CPAP for Sleep Apnea (May 21)
Treating obstructive sleep apnea with CPAP therapy helps some people bring their weight under control. In some cases the change is dramatic.

8. Michael Jackson’s Death & Prescription Drug Abuse (June 30)
Pop superstar Michael Jackson’s death focused attention on both insomnia and the nationwide problem of prescription drug abuse.

7. Sleep & the H1N1 “Swine Flu” Virus (May 4)
The life and death of Michael Jackson fascinated us. But it was the swine flu that scared us in 2009. The CDC advised us to get plenty of sleep to maintain a strong immune system.

6. Sleep Apnea & the Banana “Cure” (April 13)
A small study generated some big claims about using bananas to cure obstructive sleep apnea. It sounded too good to be true. But was it fact or fiction?

Tomorrow we’ll take a look back at the Top Five Blog Posts of 2009.

Image by draml