It seems like every day I hear the news reporting more deaths from the flu this year. I was wondering why this is happening and then I received this great article, from Dr. Joe Mercola, which really explains it. I’ll summarize it here and offer some suggestions.
So the big thing to realize is people aren’t dying from influenza, although some may, they are actually dying from secondary infections. There is a link between the flu and sepsis, sometimes called blood poisoning. This happens when the immune system cannot fight off the infection.[tweetthis] Most people recover within a week from the flu, but sepsis needs immediate medical attention.[/tweetthis]
Ifluenza and Sepsis
What’s the difference?
Common signs of sepsis include:
High fever
Can’t keep anything down
Rapid heart rate and shallow breathing
Lethargy and/or confusion
Slurred speech
Your immune system is the first line of defense. Medical literature actually suggests that getting your vitamin D levels optimal can be more effective than the flu shot.
Prevention is Better
What are some preventative strategies?
Optimize your vitamin D levels. With optimal levels (50-60) you can reduce your risk of infection up to 50%. That gives you better odds than the vaccine does.
Take your daily nutritional supplements. Vitamins B, C, and Zinc have been shown to be very beneficial.
Add immune boosting herbs such as Immunaplex from Standard Process or Proglucomune from USANA. I can get these for you if you’d like.
Unfortunately, the flu vaccine seems to be rather ineffective and studies show it can actually weaken your immune system. Here is a quote from the article:
“Research published in 2011 also warned the seasonal flu vaccine appears to weaken children’s immune systems and increases their chances of getting sick from influenza viruses not included in the vaccine. Some health experts claim flu vaccination will help you develop resistance against strains that are not included in the vaccine, but research has actually shown the complete opposite to be true.
When blood samples from healthy, unvaccinated children and children who had received an annual flu shot were compared, the former unvaccinated group had naturally built up more antibodies across a wider variety of influenza strains compared to the latter vaccinated group.”
Stay healthy this winter. If you need help with any of this, I’m here to support and guide you.
Have a great week.
Donna
