What your doctor may not tell you…

Dear Reader,

The majority of  so-called “influenza deaths” are really cases of the flu that become deadly bacterial or viral pneumonia.

Why does swine flu, and seasonal flu for that matter, sometimes morph into deadly pneumonia? When we consider that 99% of people who get the swine flu have mild symptoms and recover within a few days, the key question is, what causes the 1% to die? Two thirds of those who die have serious underlying conditions such as cerebral palsy, autoimmune disease and severe asthma. Now we’re down to the 0.33% who apparently have no underlying condition but are still killed by swine flu-related pneumonia.

There are some important factors that may predispose people to develop pneumonia. One of these is drugs, both prescription and over the counter. In Drugs that Compromise the Immune System and Lungs is a list of surprisingly common drugs that can negatively impact health.

Another area of concern around the swine flu hysteria that is sweeping the U.S. is the widespread use of hand sanitizers. What’s in them, are they safe, and do they really protect us from the flu? Please read Top Reasons to Avoid Hand Sanitizers before slathering on anymore of these ubiquitous gels.

Here's a good question to ask when considering the prevention of flu-related pneumonia: why is the flu seasonal? One answer is less exposure to sun and thus vitamin D during the flu season. It’s estimated that 70% of U.S. children are vitamin D deficient. Before giving children high doses of vitamin D, it’s a good idea to test vitamin D levels.

The swine flu pandemic brings an opportunity to carefully assess what we put in and on our bodies, and why.

Keep it natural,
Virginia Hopkins