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Have you been having any pain lately? Are you congested? Try this really cool interactive symptom checker from MSN Health and Fitness to help diagnose your health related issues.

http://health.msn.com/symptoms/

To say the least, I definitely agree with this article that states that everyone – if possible – should, yes SHOULD get the Swine Flu shot or nasal mist. As recent research from the CDC has shown, it seems that half of the the people who have been diagnosed with Swine Flu and end up in the hospital are people who do not have any known chronic illnesses.

If you are one of the individuals questioning whether to get vaccinated at all, refer to the URL listed below. The article and others on the same website will better educate you to make a smart decision. If you are one of the individuals who are doubting whether to get vaccinated, or to get the nasal mist, go with what makes you most comfortable. The difference between the Swine Flu shot and the Swine Flu Nasal Mist is very simple. The shot is NOT a live virus and the nasal mist IS. If you have any questions or concerns, leave comments on my blog and I might be able to answer them for you.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2009/10/get_your_shots_health_pros.html#more

The link listed below is an online quiz that Microsoft is offering for its viewers to see if they might have the H1N1 Virus also known as Swine Flu.

Instructions:

1. Go to the site: https://h1n1.cloudapp.net/fluquiz.aspx

2. Click start.

3. Answer the questions.

4. Get results.

How dirty can the keyboard on your computer be? One simple word can easily describe this: filthy. A study done by researchers at the University of North Carolina Heath Care System found that there are around 21,000 germs per square inch on a personal keyboard. Think about the computers that you’ve used that aren’t personal? GROSS! The way to try and keep things clean? Wipe down your computer with disinfecting wipes at least once a day.

As you all know, flu and cold season has officially begun. If you’ve watched the videos that I have posted in the last few days, you can get a few of the basic tips to better your chances of not getting sick this season. Overall though, the major basic ways to stay away from those nasty viruses is to follow these few pieces of advice.

1. WASH YOUR HANDS!

The Elmo clips might have seemed funny to you, but its true. Washing your hands and using Purell or Germ-X can significantly decrease your chances of getting sick. The Public Health Agency of Canada states that hands spread an estimated 80% of common infectious diseases like the common cold and flu.

2. Get Enough Rest

Most people get sick because they lack the adequate amount of sleep every night. The minimum amount of sleep a teenager or adult should get is between 8 to 10 hours. Studies show that a few nights of poor sleep can reduce your immune system abilities to fight off viruses by 50%.

3. Drink, Drink, Drink

Keeping your body hydrated is a major part of staying healthy. If you do come in contact with the flu or cold, drinking liquids can significantly lessen the severity of your symptoms.

4. If you are sick, STAY HOME!

Even if you are missing a big day at school or work, please, please, please do not infect your peers.

5. Stay Stress-free

Try and keep organized and plan ahead in your week if you can to try and reduce mass amounts of work for one night. Stress can do some bad things to your immune system and your body, trust me.

6. Try not to touch your face

If needed, make sure you sanitize before you do.

7. Avoid contact with sick people

Germs travel from sneezes and coughs and from hand-to-mouth contact. If someone near you is sneezing and coughing all over the place, make sure you keep your distance.

8. Exercise

Exercising is very important in ones life none-the-less but, as Staffing Professionals Incorporated states, regular exercise increases circulation, oxygenates the body, gets rid of toxins through sweat, and even releases tension and stress.

9. Cough in your elbow

Don’t cough on other people, be considerate and cough into the bend of your arm. It prevents passing germs to things that you touch.

10. If you feel sick, go to the doctors

Even if you only think you might just be congested, have a little cough, or feel nauseous, these might all be symptoms linking you to a flu or cold. Go get checked by your doctor just to be safe. Who knows, it might be nothing, but its always better to take precautions.

11. Consider getting the flu shot

If you are one of the high risk groups, consult with your doctor about getting inoculated for the flu.

Hi everyone! My name is Amanda and I am officially writing my first post for my blog about medicine. To begin this blogging process, I will start with a little background information. I am a sophomore in high school and have always been really interested in medicine. I am currently enrolled in LECOM which stands for Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. It is a great honor to be accepted in this program as a high school student. In the future I hope to go to medical school, and to further my education, I have decided to write my blog about a range of medical subjects. I plan to write starting from the head working my way down to the toes with interesting facts and information. My goal is to educate my readers about a healthy body, modern medical treatments, as well as new technologies in this century. This will be a learning experience for you all as well as myself and I hope that you enjoy this medical journey. Please share your comments with me, I’d love to hear from you.