Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital, Bombay Hospital, Saifee Hospital, Tata Memorial etc. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).
During an August 2009 visit to Molokai, HI he lectured on the origin of and precautions for H1N1 (SWINE FLU). The following is a summarization of his lecture:
- H1N1, like other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and proliferates only there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions.
- Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
- What most N95 respirators (face masks) are designed to filter is about 95% particulates of 0.3, while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1. Hence, dependence on N95 to protect against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an umbrella made of mosquito net.
- Tamiflu drug does not kill the virus, but it prevents H1N1 from further proliferation till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks during the virus’ natural cycle.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps not fully highlighted in most official communications – can be practiced:
- Frequent hand-washing.
- “Hands-off-the-face” approach except to eat, bathe, etc.
- Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected person. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
- Clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water, swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.
- Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C, or Vitamin C tablets that contain Zinc to boost absorption.
- Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive.
Click here to watch a short video produced by the CDC regarding Swine Flu.
Thank you for these terrific tips. A link to this article will be in the October 27th issue of Parenting News You Can Use, the free weekly e-zine from the International Network for Children and Families. To subscribe, please go to
Whole Hearted Parenting
My grandmother, who was born in 1894 and did not go to college, told us to:
1 – gargle with warm salt water each day – and every 4 hours when sick
2 – blow salt water through you nose at least once a week and after working in the yard or any dusty or windy situation
3 – eat dark colored vegetables everyday
4 – keep your hands away from your face
Interesting that it only took medical science 115 years to learn what our great grand parents knew through common sense!
This is such great information I am into health and wellness and PREVENTION IS THE CURE. Our United States has become a hugh legal drug pusher that everything needs a pill. We in the past always took natural items to keep our bodies well then in the last 10 years and maybe longer the ads on TV ask your doctor for this drug it use to be cigeretts and beer now is all colors of pills. It was so refreshing to receive this information from a co-worker and please add me to your newsletter list and I will certainly pass this information on along with my business because we are on the same page.
Thank You