If your weight, health and overall quality of life weren't reason enough to get active on a regular basis, here's another one that might get you off the couch: Working out can help you fight the flu this winter season. Well, that's according to a study on mice anyway. Researchers from Iowa State University have found that mice who regularly run on a treadmill experience flu symptoms that are far less severe than the symptoms suffered by their lazier counterparts. Even mice who only started exercising right before the flu had less severe symptoms, though the ones who were regular gym-rats (pardon the pun) had longer-lasting positive effects -- meaning their symptoms were diminished throughout the course of their illness, not just in the first few days.

The findings, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, suggest that exercise can really boost the immune system, and while it's not clear whether the results can be applied to humans as well, researchers are optimistic. And besides, it's already the general consensus that regular, moderate exercise helps improve your odds against illness.

Still, don't overdo it -- you can get too much of a good thing. According to Jeffrey A. Woods, a professor of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois, prolonged and intense exercise sessions can lead "to increased susceptibility to viral infection." His advice on navigating flu season? "I would recommend everyone get the annual influenza vaccination and the new H1N1 vaccination," he tells The New York Times.

The flu isn't the only thing that exercise is good for -- cardio is more effective than heart surgery.

There's no denying it -- some people seem to be prone to every kind of illness out there, while some are healthy as a horse. I tend to fall into the latter category -- besides one doozy of a cold I had last January, I haven't been sick in ages. But trust me, I'm exposed to just as many germs as anyone else, be it at the office, at the gym, at school and just about any public place I frequent.

AOL Health recently listed the healthy habits of women who never get sick, including these:

• Get regular massages (I really like this one!)
• Wash your hands
• Sip ginger and honey for stomach and bowel issues
• Take cold showers
• Get your fill of garlic, vitamin c and zinc

As for me, I find that the old adage an apple a day keeps the doctor away really works! How do you stay healthy?

Source

There are 26 confirmed cases of food poisoning related to deli meats produced by a Canada-based Maple Leaf Foods plant. 12 of those cases have resulted in death. Listeria, the bacteria that was found in all of the people who contracted food poisoning, was detected in two beef products made at the Toronto plant.

The plant in question is closed while health officials inspect and test product until they're sure it is safe to reopen the plant. Maple Leaf Foods voluntarily pulled 220 products that are produced at the plant, a safety move that cost the company roughly $19 million.

There are another 29 suspected cases of food poisoning related to the tainted deli meats and health officials expect more cases will surface in the coming days.

Source

Don't go outside with wet hair. You'll get sick if you do. Or will you?

Nope. Wet hair worn outside won't make you ill. Science proves it, say researchers at Baylor University. Here's how they know: They exposed 44 volunteers to the cold virus and had some stand in a chilly room and some in a toasty room. Those kept in the chilled space weren't any more likely to get the sniffles than anyone in the toasty room. That's because viruses cause colds, not wet hair or cold temps.

The best way to boost your immune system and keep healthy is to get enough sleep and exercise, according to SHAPE magazine. This way, your body can defend itself against any virus.

Source

If someone told you that desks (like the one you're probably using right now) have more germs and bugs than bathrooms... would you believe it? I wouldn't have fallen for it before reading this article. Researchers say our desks could accommodate as much 400 times the amount of germs than a restroom.

It's no wonder we work ourselves into sick symptoms -- it could actually be our desk causing the problem! Even though our world is filled with all kinds of microscopic organisms, the place at which you sit and work for hours of the day harbors germs that can make you ill.

Millions of bacteria cover the surface of your desktop. While it's not grounds for hosing it down or living in a bubble, if you engage in other activities like eating or putting on makeup, then it's more likely to trap and spread sick-causing germs. In fact, experts recommend wiping the desk down once at the end of every day with disinfectant wipes. After all, it could make the difference against a small weekend head cold. But who is more at risk for dirtier desks: men or women?

Source

The majority of Americans have, or have had, a pet as part of their family. Studies have shown that having pets can be really good for your health (lowering heart rate and reducing blood pressure and cholesterol) but pets, like all animals, can also carry disease. If you don't take the right precautions you and your family could end up getting really sick. The very old, the very young, pregnant women, and anybody with a compromised immune system are at the most risk, but anybody could catch any number of nasty things. Here are a few pointers for avoiding pet-related illnesses:

Source

Mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder are very hard for psychiatrists to diagnose sometimes. It's a subjective procedure requiring the patient to tell the professional about his or her symptoms. After that, the doctor must give a judgment which ultimately diagnoses the patient.

But what if medical professionals were able to test the blood and detect whether or not a person had bipolar disorder or depression? This could, theoretically, eliminate the need for subjective judgments on people's mental state. However, some folks believe this is too accurate.

The ethical concerns stem from the fact that ten genes have been shown to reveal a person's mental status. Personality characteristics are controversial in medicine, and a test that can allegedly tell a person if they're unstable could cause a bigger rift. However, if used properly, this seems like a more effective way to treat patients of psychiatry. We'll have to keep an eye on this for future developments!

Source

At any given moment, there are 2 million passengers on board commercial flights high above the earth. That's what this article claims, but the amazing thing is that one company is responsible for taking calls from flight attendants if a passenger feels ill. While it gives me a little comfort to know medical events can be called in to professionals, the CNN articles reveals that you should think twice before going airborne if you aren't in tip-top shape to begin with.

The reason being is because flight attendants are not medically trained. If you get sick or ill, the pilot (not a doctor) must weight various factors before deciding if he can divert the plane off-course. This can leave a person feeling very icky thousands of feet in the air.

Consider this: if you just got a cast for a broken bone, there's a chance your arm could slightly swell due to altitude changes which could cause discomfort. The bottom line is simple. If you're not feeling well, don't fly. These are not airborne hospitals with trained professionals, and planes don't always divert for sick passengers. It's easy to understand why this is a hot-button issue, but experts agree that staying grounded is the best choice for unwell fliers.

Source

An important part of being successful in your working life is to take advantage of vacation time benefits to refresh and revive your mind, body, and spirit. But obviously getting sick on vacation and spending the majority of the time not relaxing but recovering and suffering instead does nothing for you but waste your money and your time and send you back to work feeling more exhausted than when you left.

Taking some simple steps towards staying healthy can be the difference between coming back from vacation feeling relaxed and refreshed and ready to hit the ground running or coming back tired, drained, and barely able to get motivated. Whether you're going on a cruise through the Caribbean or on a drive across the country Forbes has compiled some tips to help you stay healthy and make the most of your time away from your desk, your career, and all the other stresses of your everyday life.

Source

Ugh, the flu season is fast approaching and the first lucky ducks are already starting to come down with it. For the most part dealing with the flu is really just a "get as comfortable as you can and wait it out" kinda game, but in some cases it can get so severe that it's necessary to see a doctor. So how can you tell when a simple winter cold turns into a serious flu that needs medical attention? Call your doctor whenever you're unsure, but especially if you're experiencing these symptoms:

• Fever
• Headache
• Extreme tiredness/fatigue
• Cough/sore throat
• Runny or stuff nose
• Muscle aches
• Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea

Also call if you've been sick for a few days already and then your symptoms suddenly start to get worse, or anytime you're unsure or have concerns. Better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to the very young and the elderly.

Source

The flu has been around since the beginning of time, and in all those years and centuries more than a few misconceptions and myths have come to be believed as truth. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that for all our technology we still can't cure it, or that it can manifest itself in so many ways, or simply because there's just too much room for people's imagination to run wild with the symptoms. Even many people who should know better, like health care workers, often believe incorrect facts about the flu. Do you think you're in the know? Or are you a victim of myth and old-wives tales? Find out the 12 most common flu myths and share your thoughts in the comments!

Source

When the temperatures drop dramatically and the world is covered in a blanket of chilling snow, I often find myself waking up with a scratchy, sore throat. You too? Many people are quick to label a sore throat as strep throat or tonsillitis, but having had both when I was growing up, I know better. Strep throat is pretty severe -- here are the signs:

• It's difficult to swallow -- to the point where you avoid food because it hurts too much
• It's often accompanied by a headache
• It comes with a fever -- often a high one
• Your tonsils look red and raw, and have a white puss on them.
  
• Your lymph nodes are swollen.
  
• You don't have a cough, stuffy nose or other respiratory symptoms.
  

To find our more about strep throat, click here.

Source

With the stress of the holiday season getting close to full swing it's as important as every to take care of yourself and stock up your arsenal of weapons against the cold and flu. And that arsenal, besides a healthy lifestyle and perhaps a flu shot, should probably include the following:

• Vitamin C
• Zinc
• Echinacea
• Elderberry
• Licorice Root

The first three were things I already had on the top of my mind, but the last two I may not have considered before now. You can get more info on each of these here, but as always be just as careful with home remedies as you are with prescription ones.

Source

We're coming into flu season the same way we do every year -- the colder it gets the more of us seem to get sick. So why is that? Why is it that the flu seems to spread so fast in the fall and winter months? It's really very simple: the flu virus likes cooler temperatures and lower humidity.

So knowing that, there are a couple things you can do to help slow the spread and minimize your chances of getting sick:

• Keep room thermostats set at 68º F or higher.
• Try to keep room humidity at 50% or greater.

Plus, of course, take care of yourself!

Source

Cold and flu viruses love big offices! A whole bunch of stressed out, sleep deprived, and generally run-down people clumped together in close quarters just waiting for a flu or cold virus to come along and take them out for a few days. Finding ways to minimize your risk and stay healthy isn't easy with so many obstacles, and although leading a generally healthy lifestyle (i.e. not being terribly stressed out or sleep deprived) is a big Numero Uno on the list of what to do there are definitely other smaller parts to the puzzle that you can do every day. Just how is your office making you sick? Well, do any of these sound familiar?

Source