Healthy Life Journal

Stress is a mental condition of a person who is tensed due to some reason or due to some pressure. This could occur due to anything that is a “stress factor” in your life. In biological or psychological terms, stress is denoted as the transaction that leads an individual to perceive a discrepancy. However in simple words, stress can be defined as the symptom of tension for a person as a result of negative stimuli. While someone is feeling stressed, it is advised that they should not dwell on their stress factor, because it usually results in their condition to be worse. Instead, the best way to deal with stress is to simply get some rest where there is complete silence.

It happens to everyone. There is no single person in the world that doesn’t deal with stress. Times come when you want to get rid of the entire situation or if you got yourself in a great deal of trouble. But there are ways by which you can reduce stress and you can control yourself. The best person is one who cares for themselves first, and then for others as well. If someone does not control stress then this could result in some major disease like the person can become a heart patient and they can have some sort of high or low blood pressure. However controlling stress can greatly reduce the chances of such illnesses.

There is an old proverb that care is better than cure. So at the first sign, when something bad happens to you, relax, and try not to completely freak out. Getting too serious about something will increase your stress levels. However in some circumstances, simple mental provocations will not suffice. If your stress is not controllable, look into seeing a psychiatrist, who may be able to help you, or at least give you medication to cope.

The flu, also known as Influenza, is an infectious disease contracted by birds and mammals, caused by the RNA virus. Common symptoms include weakness, severe headaches, coughing, sore throat, fever, muscle pains, and general weakness. In some cases, the flu can lead to pneumonia, especially in young children and the elderly. Flu “season” typically lasts in the US from early November to late March.

The flu is typically transmitted by other humans, or mammals, through the air via sneezes and coughs. It can also be contracted from bird dropping, saliva, nasal secretions, and blood. Regardless of the means, the virus can remain infectious for up to one week on most surfaces such as clothes, pillows, ect. Simple household cleaners and detergents are more than sufficient to eliminate the virus.

Vaccinations are available in most places around the world, for a relatively low cost. Many insurance companies will pay for them completely, however without insurance, prices typically float around the $20 - $30 USD margin. The most common of these vaccinations is trivalent influenza vaccine, which contains purified and inactive traces of the virus from three different strains. The idea is to inject a harmless strain of the virus into you, allowing your body to build up the proper antibodies, without you having to suffer any serious symptoms.

Although it is highly recommended for children and the elderly, vaccination is not required for the average healthy adult. Good personal hygiene and health habits are plenty to ward off contracting the flu. However those with particularly weak immune systems may want to look into a multivitamin with extra Vitamin C, and take it daily during flu season. Also, when going into constricted areas with a lot of people (such as an airplane), there is an over-the-counter supplement called ‘Airborne’ which can reduce the risk of contracting the flu.

Unfortunately, if someone is infected with the flu, it can be quite serious, and in some cases fatal. If symptoms are becoming unbearable, a trip to the hospitable will not hurt. In most cases however, getting plenty of rest, and drinking a lot of water is more than enough to recover. Aspirin is not advisable for children and teenagers, as it can lead to Reye’s syndrome (a liver disease), which can also be potentially fatal. If you go see a doctor, he or she may prescribe M2 or Neuraminidase inhibitors such as oseltamivir, zanamivir, amantadine, or ramantadine, which will help with the healing process.

With the right precautions, and correct treatments, the flu is nothing to worry about. As always if you have any further questions, or would like to see a section added to this article, feel free to write to us at support@healthylifejournal.org