Laurie Snider
Notes from the Nest
You awaken with a throat that feels like you just swallowed a handful of porcupine quills. Your chest aches from a hacking cough, that chased your loving partner away from you, at 3 a.m.
Presently, your teeth are chattering so uncontrollably, they’re rattling wildly around the inside of your skull, as your body shakes with chills. These have been alternating every few hours, with an internal temperature that spikes to a degree, somewhere near the surface of the sun.
For the last three days, you’ve been languishing in bed, as though your body’s been sewn, firmly to your mattress. Your muscles are sore. Your joints throb. Your head pounds. Even your hair hurts! This can mean only one thing. You have a wicked case of the flu.
Influenza’s been around for a very, long time. The ancient, Greek physician, Hippocrates, was the first to accurately describe it, around 412 B.C. The Italian word for influenza, means ‘influence.’ In the past people believed, the planets, stars, moon and sun influenced their health. The English adopted the word in the 1700s and it’s since been abbreviated, to the “flu.”
Africans had a word, “griep,” the German’s used the word, Grippe, which originated from the French, la grippe, suggesting something was gripping or grasping you. The Arabians had a phrase, anf-al-anza, which apparently meant “nose of the goat,” referring to their belief, that the carriers of the flu were goats.
The World Health Organization estimates between 3-5 million individuals, worldwide, get a serious case of the flu annually. Tens of millions more, are infected with milder cases. Some 250,000 to 500,000 people die from the flu, each year. In Canada there are an average of 12,200 flu-related hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths, from the flu each season. In fact, in Canada, the flu is ranked among the top 10 leading causes of death. Startling statistics, that are nothing to sneeze at!
The main culprits are two types of viruses, Influenza A and Influenza B. These have different subtypes and lineages, leading to fancy letter and number combinations, like H1N1 or H2N3. Generally seasonal flu in the Northern Hemisphere, appears in late fall and winter. It can affect anyone, including healthy individuals but can be especially dangerous to young children, pregnant women, seniors 65- plus and those living with chronic health conditions already. It can lead to complications, such as severe respiratory issues, worsening chronic conditions, hospitalizations and even death.
Influenza is spread easily, from one person to the next. It’s quite possible for a person to contract the flu and not feel ill themselves, but readily spread it to others, who may not be as fortunate. Perhaps you’re unaware, that with each cough, about 3,000 droplets of saliva are expelled. Yuck! If a person is sick, all this untoward expectorating, may contain up to 200 million virus particles.
And my goodness, those nasty, little toxins are zippy! They may come flying out of your mouth at over 50 mph. Yikes! Sneezes are even worse and may contain over 40,000 droplets, which can zing around the room, at Nascar speeds of 200 mph. Gross! Once out in the open, those noxious, little bugs are quite resilient. They can live on non-porous surfaces for 48 hours and on tissues and cloth for up to 12.
In the last century, there’ve been four major flu pandemics. The Spanish flu of 1918 killed upwards of 50 million people, worldwide, more than both World Wars, the Korean and Vietnam wars combined.
The Spanish flu, occurred before the invention of vaccines or penicillin, leading to many obscure therapies, trying to prevent or cure it. Numerous shots of whiskey were sometimes recommended, as was the opposite, abstaining completely. The Colgate company, advised avoiding tight clothing and shoes and chewing food, carefully. Others, suggested wearing garlic or bathing in onions. Worse still was bloodletting and opening the chest cavity, to remove pus and blood, frequently resulting in death.
The Canadian government recommends everyone six months of age and older, should get the flu shot. It can not only protect you from getting sick, but offers protection to others, because you’re less likely to spread the virus. After over 60 years of research, flu vaccines are considered safe. They need to be administered each year, as influenza viruses are constantly mutating.
Of course, frequent handwashing, avoiding touching your face, coughing into the crook of your elbow and cleaning surfaces, are also helpful. The Farmers Almanac from 1852, also offers some sage advice. “To avoid fall fevers, eat moderately, drink sparingly, lie not down on the damp earth, nor overheat yourself but keep your temper, and change your clothes, as the weather changes.” In addition to getting my flu shot, I’ll take all of that under advisement, it seems more reasonable, than wearing garlic!