Vanhat konstit on hyviksi ja turvalliseksi havaittu

taistelussa influenssaviruksia vastaan. D-vitamiini jopa auttaa astmaatikkojen keuhko-ongelmissa.
How else can I protect myself?

‘Cheap, old-fashioned methods can be very effective in cutting your risk of ­catching flu,’ says Dr Tom Jefferson of the Cochrane Collaboration.

‘We don’t hear nearly enough about the benefits of regular hand-washing — as much as ten times a day — and wearing gloves, gowns and masks.’

Combining these methods can be very effective, according to a big review in the British Medical Journal two years ago. It found that for every three people using all of them, one would be protected.

‘They are particularly effective with children,’ says Jefferson. ‘Just ­getting them into a routine of regular hand-­washing means that one in five cases will be prevented.’

Encouraging people to wear gowns or masks may be tricky to begin with, but Jefferson suggests a proper campaign could change that.

Vitamin D might also be effective. Research has linked it with a wide range of benefits including improved resistance to infections.

A recent Japanese trial ­involving 12 ­hospitals and more than 300 children found that those given a high dose (1,200IU) of vitamin D had nearly half the number of cases of seasonal flu compared to those on a placebo. The recommended daily amount for children is 200IU.

It might help asthmatics, too. ­Vitamin D didn’t reduce the number who became infected with flu, but it significantly cut the number of asthma attacks — this is when breathing becomes difficult. The effects didn’t kick in until the supplement had been taken for 60 days.

Dr Oxford says the study needs to be repeated before anyone would recommend taking high doses of Vitamin D.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1340290/With-14-people-dead-swine-flu-190-intensive-care-look-need-know-protect-family.html#ixzz18m6DHfFn