Healthy Baby On the Way!

I have just reached 20 weeks so I'm ready to start sharing my thoughts... I planned to wait until I hit the magical 12 week mark to start posting these updates. It was very hard to contain my excitement but I totally get why waiting until then is the convention. 12 weeks came and went and somehow, I still wasn't quite ready. But here, at the halfway point, it's time to let it fly! 

This post was written on August 27, 2014 -- the day after I got my positive test. I just cannot wait to start cataloging this journey! So, for now, this is just for me with the idea of posting these updates starting in a couple months.

I am still very much in shock. It's been over 4 years of not preventing conception, with only one other pregnancy, which was an extremely early miscarriage that happened before I knew I had been pregnant. It was traumatic physically, but emotionally I just couldn't process that I had lost something I didn't even know I'd had. My doctor thought it was ectopic (a tubal pregnancy) because they didn't see anything on ultrasound, despite my insistence that I could only possibly be a day or two pregnant due to knowing my cycle. They did eventually see something in the uterus, but it was not viable by that point in any case. 

That was two years ago and since then, nothing. I went through periods of actively charting my cycle and doing tons of research and planning. I also went through times when I couldn't think about it at all. I needed to enjoy my life the way it is, which is fantastic. 

All the time, the clock was ticking... I was staring at my 37th birthday and just knew that it was now or never in terms of taking a proactive approach. I saw my doctor, got some preliminary tests (all seemed fine). Sam was checked. We started jumping through the hoops my insurance needed for our referral to the fertility center (dealing with two different sets of medical systems -- Kaiser and GW was quite the fun time!) 

I signed up for a Yoga for Fertility Class. I joined Baby Launch Camp. I worked with a Health Coach. I downloaded Fertility Meditations. I recommitted to daily temperature and fertility sign charting. I was on this! But, somewhere in the back of my mind was Negative Nelly whispering how this just wasn't going to happen for us. I started looking into adoption and foster care (the latter something we want to do eventually, regardless of whether was have a biological child). Those are great options that I support but there was this niggling craving to have this all-too-human experience. I wanted to find out "for sure" (at least as much as the medical establishment can determine this) before exploring other options. 

I'm not sure what "did it" this month. Not much has really changed -- I still eat a Paleo diet, which has been including Perfect Health Diet starches to varying degrees. I had been counting calories and slowly losing a bit of weight (nothing significant yet). The main difference is that I did put my intention on the process to a much greater degree. 

I also read somewhere that stevia is used for contraception in some cultures (totally controversial and not an established fact) so I stopped using it. I had been using it quite a bit in smoothies and coffee/tea. I'm telling you, if that turns out to have been the issue I will scream! I was trying to avoid sugar at all costs only to be undermining my fertility? So wrong! But, who knows? These days, I'm working to eat things without a sweet taste and to use honey sparingly when I really want it. Sugar is sugar, but at least the body knows how to process glucose/fructose. I figure that small amounts won't cause too much trouble. The idea is to avoid the dreaded blood sugar spikes. 

That brings me to several days ago when I realized that my temperatures weren't starting to drop in advance of my expected period. That was a good sign! Then, a few more days went by... And yesterday, I decided what the heck? Just take a test. And it was positive! I could not believe it. So, I took another one. Also positive! Seriously? Was this really happening? I stared at the sticks for a minute or so, then ran down two flights to find Cute Man. He was surprised but very happy! 

I contacted my doctor right away to ask to take a blood test to confirm. She said that it wasn't needed and that the home tests are accurate. I should just make an appointment in a few weeks for my first sonogram. Really? It didn't seem like it could be official without a doctor pronouncing me pregnant. Even so, I know in my heart it's true -- it's happening. I have such a wave of joy that has just permeated everything for the last two days. And tonight, I'm going to my very first prenatal yoga class! Is it weird that I've dreamed of going to prenatal yoga? It's like a club that I just couldn't get into. Now, I have my free pass  and I'm not wasting any time taking advantage of it! 

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10 Secrets to Living a Vibrantly Happy, Healthy Life

Here are my top tips for you, if you long to create a happier, healthier life:

1) If you move toward something, it will move toward you

As W.H. Murray famously said: "The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred." I've seen it time and again in my own life and in the lives of my coachingclients. Don't worry too much about how you're going to get from A to B, just start walking in the direction of your goal or dream. Get started by doing whatever you can, however small, and then do the next thing. Watch for it: Providence will show up and will come to your assistance. I've seen it happen so often that it seems to be a law of nature.

2) Manage your stress and you'll fix almost everything

Stress is the cause of a staggering number of health problems and worsens any medical condition. Stress causes us to age faster, throws our hormones out of whack, and makes us feel anxious, fearful and irritable. I recently attended at course at Harvard's Benson-Henry Institute of Mind Body Medicine, and was staggered by the protean effects of stress and just how pervasive it is in our lives and our society. I discovered that I was way more stressed than I realized, and was living with a steady undercurrent of it. Learn to recognize the signs of stress in your own body and mind, and counteract them actively (yoga, breathing breaks, mini-meditations throughout the day, exercise, play, prayer, positive self-talk, etc.).

3) Sleep is ground zero

If you don't get enough sleep, everything else will suffer. Sleep deprivation (which most of us suffer from) puts you in a pre-diabetic state, messes with your metabolism, makes you dramatically more likely to be overweight, increases your appetite, decreases yourproductivity, hampers your immune system, and makes you tired, moody, anxious and likely to be depressed. If you're struggling with any of the things on this list and you're not getting enough sleep (less than 8 hours a night), aim for improved sleep first before trying any other life strategies.

4) If you respect your own boundaries, people will respect you

I wrote recently about the fact that people-pleasers are most likely to be targeted by bullies. Historically I have been a terrible people-pleaser and spent way too much time and effort trying to make everyone happy. Practice building self-awareness, discover what you are willing to do and what you don't want to do. Start putting this into practice by saying no when something doesn't resonate or align with who you really are. People might get mad at first, but eventually most will come to respect you. And you won't secretly (or not so secretly) resent them anymore. Oh the peace.

5) Be yourself, unapologetically

This expands on the people-pleasing piece. So many of us (myself included) grew up focusing on what other people or society thought we should do. So many people are in careers, places or situations that depress them or make them feel hopeless. Yes, sometimes you just have to work to put food on the table, but many people are in a position where they could transition into something much more suitable to who they are. Start checking in with yourself about who you really are, despite your circumstances and outside influences. What do you really love? What do you long to do? How would you love to live? In whatever way you can, start shifting your life towards living more authentically - and watch what happens (see Tip #1).

6) Be childlike

Who said you had to grow up and be so serious? Cultivate the very best of the child within you. Practice childlike awe for majestic things, childlike silliness (my husband loves silly cat videos on YouTube, for example), childlike faith, childlike hope, childlike play andcreativity. When it comes to certain things, children do them way better than we do. Recapture it - it's still inside you.

7) Don't wait

Don't put off life, don't wait until things are perfect. Figure out how you can start now, start small. Just start. You'll be so glad you did.

8) Give your heart priority over your head

Much of my work with coaching clients is getting them to stop being logical and practical. Yes, it's important to have a realistic plan, and a back-up plan, but start the plan in your heart first. Ask yourself what you'd love to experience if anything were possible. Then use your head to figure out how you might get there. Don't let your head rule the show, it loves to make silly pronouncements like "you're too old", "that will never work" , "who do you think you are" and "what will people think". Your heart's much kinder and more optimistic.

9) Have faith

My spiritual practice and faith are the core of my personal and professional life. I believe (and have experienced) that there is something greater helping me out in life. There are endless studies that show the benefits of faith and spiritual practice on physical health, mental health and happiness. Everything just goes better.

10) When your body says stop, listen to it

Learning to listen to your body is a major ingredient for lasting success in life. Drink water when you're thirsty. Eat good food when you're hungry and stop when your body says it's full. Sleep when your body wants to. Stop pushing when you feel tired. Take a vacation when every cell in your body and mind is screaming for it. Take a break when your shoulders creep up around your ears or your neck starts aching. Take really good care of your body, and listen to it. In turn, it will take really good care of you.

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Guilt Free Desserts: Gluten Free Diabetic Safe Desserts

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Keikos Cake And Pastry Friends

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The Bikini Model Cookbook

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Cute Baby Chronicles: Catching up

After the initial surge of excitement which I didn't feel OK to share right away (so frustrating!) I stopped writing altogether. I'm not sure why, but I guess I was just trying to stay in the moment and experience everything as opposed to focusing on chronicling it. This post is catching us up closer to the present....

As is my habit, I've been consuming tons of information about pregnancy, child birth, and babies. I'm a bit obsessive like that. It's mostly podcasts and blogs at this stage. I just don't have the patience for books. I've listened to almost all the Pregtastic, Preggie Pals, and Birth, Baby and Life podcasts so far. So much great info!

Now, just at 20 weeks I'm starting to feel like this is really happening. I'm finally starting to show a bit (that took forever!) Careful what you wish for, I'm sure... I no longer obsessively track my food intake, but I'm working to incorporate as much good whole healthy food and I can. I've hardly gained any weight so far (and nothing in the last month before my last appointment), but I'm trying not to see that as either a good or a bad thing. My doctor isn't concerned but warned me that it WAS coming and it would be OK :) My chiefest concern is just getting the nutrition both of us really need right now.

My zeal for prenatal yoga also waned as the first trimester queasiness and fatigue set in. I haven't been to a class in awhile, but have done some at home. Now that I'm starting to feel more like myself, I plan to start attending the classes again. I really did enjoy them!

Yesterday was my latest doctor's appointment and it is so fun to listen to that heartbeat! I also got my first unsolicited "Are you pregnant question" yesterday. It was tentative, but I certainly did appreciate it! Tomorrow Cute Man and I will go for our 20 week ultrasound - the anatomy scan. Can't wait to see the little guy!

And yes, it's going to be a BOY. We already know due to a genetic test we did early on so here's to announcing the impending arrival of Samuel H. Dodson V due on or about May 5, 2015. How crazy would it be if he actually came on that date? Baby Sammy Five born on 5/5/15. Wow :) But, he'll come when he's ready (no elective inductions for me!)

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Simple Tips for healthy eyes

Eyes are very important parts of the body, because only with healthy eyes we can see this beautiful world. But what would happen if our eyes are sore? No one wants to experience bad thing happen to their eyes.

 Therefore it is important for us  to maintain the health of the eye so as not to have impaired vision or pain. Then how do I maintain the health of our eyes?

Here are some tips and solutions for the health of your eyes: 

1. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables,  especially those that contain lots of vitamin A such as tomatoes and carrots. In addition, the content of beta carotene in carrots is the best substance to maintain eye health.

2. Avoid wearing contact lenses / contact lens more than 19 hours as this can result in vision impairment in the extreme and make the eyes uncomfortable.

3. Use eye drops that can overcome the allergy such as red eyes or itchy during allergy season. But remember to use it sparingly because the usage of each day will only make the condition worse eye. Please read  on the labels carefully from the manufacturer's instructions. Please Should not shed a lot during the use of contact lenses. In addition, you must be careful to choose eye drops to avoid potential chemical hazards. Consult with your doctor first.

4. Refrigerate 2 slices of cucumber, put in the refrigerator for a few minutes, then place over your eyes and press gently for 10 minutes before bedtime to prevent swelling when you wake up.

5. Wear sunglasses to protect eyes from the sun. Select the glasses lens with polarized technology, not just the dark. Dark lenses will only make your pupils dilate without protecting it from sunlight. Exposed to sunlight for long periods of time would be very dangerous for your eyesight. Protection conducted now will be very useful in the future.

6. Do not be too long staring at a computer screen because it will make your eyes minus. Eyes off the computer screen for 2 to 3 minutes so that the eyes are not strained. Do yoga eye every hour when you should be staring at a computer screen for hours. The trick is to wink 50 times very quickly to train and relax the eye muscles.

7. Use of other eye protection when you have to deal with hazardous chemicals or in a place that may contain harmful gases.

8. Rest your eyes. Look to places that dominated the field and green colors to give freshness. Occasionally go out of town to see a sight in the mountains is highly recommended so that your eyes are always fresh and healthy.

9. Visit an ophthalmologist at least once a year to get a proper diagnosis of eye diseases, especially if the disease may be treated with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery. The doctor will also check for dry eye, retinal problems, and even the whole body health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. 

Some asymptomatic disease such as glaucoma (which can lead to total blindness) can also be detected early if you want to consult with a physician.

10. Put two tea bags in the refrigerator, and after you come home from work, put the two bags above your eyes and press gently. This method can cure tired eyes.

11. You can also take a vitamin or food supplement made specifically for the eye.

A healthy eye will make your eyes look beautiful, so you will be more interesting and passion to do an activity every day.

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Choose Water as a Drink

Did you know?

• Children and teenagers who regularly drink soft drinks and other sweetened drinks are more likely to be overweight.
• In NSW, 55% of boys and almost 40% of girls in Year 6 drink more than one cup of soft drink every day. By Year 8, these figures rise to almost 60% of boys and more than 40% of girls.

Water

Drinking water is the best way to quench your thirst. Even better, it doesn’t come with all the sugar and energy (kilojoules) found in fruit juice drinks, soft drinks, sports drinks and flavoured mineral waters.

Drinking water instead of sweetened drinks also prevents dental problems, while the fluoride found in tap water can help strengthen teeth and bones.

Milk

Milk is a nutritious drink for kids and teens and a great source of calcium, which is important for growing strong bones and teeth.

• From 2 years of age, children should drink reduced fat milk. It contains much the same nutrients as full cream milk but is lower in unhealthy saturated fats and lower in energy (kilojoules).
• Children under 2 years of age should not drink reduced fat milks as they need the extra energy (kilojoules) for their growth and development.

Fruit juice

Giving kids and teens whole fruit to eat is a better choice than offering fruit juice to drink.

While whole fruit contains some natural sugars, which make it taste sweet, it also has lots of vitamins, minerals and fibre, which makes it more filling and nutritious than a glass of fruit juice.

One small glass of juice provides a child’s recommended daily amount of vitamin C.  Unfortunately, many children regularly drink large amounts of juice and this can contribute to them putting on excess weight.

Sweetened drinks: soft drinks, cordials and sports drinks

Soft drinks, cordials, sports drinks and flavoured mineral waters often have large amounts of sugar and kilojoules. In fact, a can of soft drink contains around 12 teaspoons of sugar.

Drinking too many sweetened drinks can cause a range of problems including tooth decay, poor appetite, picky eating, change in bowel habits and putting on excess weight. These drinks should only be consumed occasionally – not every day.

Ideas to help you to drink more water

• Pack a water bottle whenever you go out
• In summer, pack a frozen water bottle in your child’s lunch box
• Don’t keep sweetened drinks at home; make cold water available instead
• Water down sweetened drinks – such as cordials or fruit juice – for a short time and then start to replace them with plain water
• When playing sport, encourage kids to drink water rather than sports drinks or energy drinks
• Serve plain water in decorative jugs. Add slices of lemon, orange or mint for flavour and, in summer, add ice cubes to keep it chilled
• Serve sweetened drinks in smaller glasses and only have them occasionally – not every day

Remember:

• Choose water as a drink and eat fruit
• Sweetened drinks such as soft drinks, fruit juice drinks, cordials, sports and energy drinks are not a necessary part of a healthy diet 
• Regularly offering sweetened drinks makes it harder to choose water as a drink
• If sweetened drinks are on the menu, try not to include them every day and choose healthier options, such as watered-down versions of favourite drinks. These will still quench your thirst, but without the excess sugar and kilojoules. It can also help reduce the preference for strongly sweetened drinks.

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Masturbation

Masturbation is good because it provides for the male need to ejaculate semen, is fun, pleasant, enjoyable, safe, healthy, normal, harmless, contributes to prostate health, relieves sexual tension, and pain from overfilled seminal vesicles. Masturbation aids sleep when done before bedtime. Frequent masturbation prevents wet dreams. Masturbation leaves one with a feeling of relaxation, contentment, and well-being. One cannot get an STD from masturbation. 

Masturbation should be done in a place where one has privacy. Favorite places are in the shower or in bed at night. 

There is no lower or upper age limit for masturbation. Some pre-school boys masturbate and some elderly people masturbate at least into their late seventies. Foreskinned boys usually learn how to do it earlier than unforeskinned boys. 

One may masturbate as much or as little as one wishes, however one may experience temporary sexual exhaustion due to very frequent masturbation. Three times a day works well for many teens. 
1. Do it before school in the morning. This helps you get through the school day without being excessively h*rny.
2. Do it after school because you have gone a whole day without masturbating. 
3. Do it before going to sleep. This helps with restful, sound sleep. 

Foreskinned guys and unforeskinned guys usually masturbate differently. 

The movable, internally-lubricated, nerve-laden erogenous foreskin and its gliding action is an important aid to masturbation. Circumcision was introduced to unforeskin the penis and make it impossible to masturbate. It failed to stop masturbation but it made it harder to do and perhaps less enjoyable. How one does it depends on whether one has an internally lubricated movable foreskin that glides up and down the shaft or whether you have been unforeskinned. If you are foreskinned, then all you need to do is glide your foreskin back and forth. It is not necessary to retract the foreskin. The outer foreskin glides over the inner foreskin. The foreskin is internally lubricated with lymphatic fluid and glides without friction. The numerous nerves inside the foreskin are stimulated by the motion and generate pleasurable sensations. Foreskinned males must be careful not to tear the frenulum. 
Long and vigorous masturbation can cause the foreskin to become edematous and swollen, which is painless and not a cause for alarm. The edema usually goes down within about 24 hours. 

Pulling the foreskin back too hard is apt to stretch the frenulum and may tear it. 

If you are unforeskinned and the skin is taut and immovable, then you will need some lubrication and you need to slide your hand up and down the shaft. You will likely injure yourself without lubricant. Friction irritation is common when a male without a foreskin masturbates without lubricant. Some lubricants are baby oil, vegetable oil, personal lubricant, soapy water, and saliva. It is common for an unforeskinned male, who has been deprived of his internally lubricated foreskin, to have irritation if he does not apply external lubricant. 

After a male ejaculates, there is normally a “refractory period” before he can have sex again. 

There 
are many myths about masturbation, which simply are not true. 

Masturbation does NOT shorten your life. 
Masturbation does NOT cause heart attacks. 
Masturbation does NOT cause insanity. 
Masturbation does NOT affect your brain cells. 
Masturbation does NOT cause memory loss. 
Masturbation does NOT cause you to go blind. 
Masturbation does NOT cause eye problems. 
Masturbation does NOT cause eye blink. 
Masturbation does NOT cause blurred vision. 
Masturbation does NOT cause eye floaters. 
Masturbation does NOT cause sleeplessness. 
Masturbation does NOT cause shaky hands. 
Masturbation does NOT cause hair to grow in your palms. 
Masturbation does NOT cause baldness. 
Masturbation does NOT cause hair loss. 
Masturbation does NOT cause thin hair. 
Masturbation does NOT cause hair fall. 
Masturbation does NOT change hair color. 
Masturbation does NOT cause graying of the hair. 
Masturbation does NOT change skin color. 
Masturbation does NOT cause old look. 
Masturbation does NOT cause erectile dysfunction (ED). 
Masturbation does NOT cause impotence. 
Masturbation does NOT make your sperm run out. 
Masturbation does NOT prevent fathering children. 
Masturbation does NOT slow down puberty. 
Masturbation does NOT affect completing puberty. 
Masturbation does NOT stunt your growth. 
Masturbation does NOT make you skinny. 
Masturbation does NOT suck out the nutrients. 
Masturbation does NOT cause loss of vitamins. Masturbation does NOT lower your testosterone. 
Masturbation does NOT raise your testosterone. 
Masturbation does NOT cause gynecomastia. 
Masturbation does NOT cause pain in the testes. 
Masturbation does NOT cause premature ejaculation. 
Masturbation does NOT affect height. 
Masturbation does NOT cause penile curvature. 
Masturbation does NOT affect penis size. 
Masturbation does NOT decrease stamina. 
Masturbation does NOT cause knee pains. 
Masturbation does NOT cause knee problems. 
Masturbation does NOT stop growth spurts. 
Masturbation does NOT cause muscle weakness. 
Masturbation does NOT reduce muscle mass. 
Masturbation does NOT cause hernia. 
Masturbation does NOT affect the physical appearance. 
Masturbation does NOT cause penis bumps. 
Masturbation does NOT cause warts. 
Masturbation does NOT cause weight gain. 
Masturbation does NOT cause weight loss. 
Masturbation does NOT cause acne. 
Masturbation does NOT cause wrinkles on your face. 
Masturbation does NOT cause loss of blood. 
Masturbation does NOT cause blood to flow from the urethra. 
Masturbation does NOT cause your body to smell like a fish. 
Masturbation does NOT make your bones softer. 
Masturbation does NOT slow the growth of your penis. 
Masturbation does NOT make your penis weak. 
Masturbation does NOT make your penis larger. 
Masturbation does NOT make your penis smaller. 
Masturbation does NOT make your penis wrinkly. 
Masturbation does NOT cause penile fracture. 
Masturbation does NOT cause skin wrinkles. 
Masturbation does NOT cause bent penis. 
Masturbation does NOT cause your foreskin to grow. 
Masturbation does NOT release hormones. 
Masturbation does NOT cause premature ejaculation. 
Masturbation does NOT make you sexually weak. 
Masturbation does NOT cause infertility. 
Masturbation does NOT make sex less enjoyable. 
Masturbation does NOT cause nerve problems. 
Masturbation does NOT cause memory problems. 
Masturbation does NOT cause cancer. 
Masturbation does NOT cause back pain. 
Masturbation does NOT cause stomachache. 
Masturbation does NOT cause body aches. 
Masturbation does NOT cause headache. 
Masturbation does NOT cause muscle loss. 
Masturbation does NOT harm the pelvic floor muscles. 
Masturbation does NOT make your body weak. 
Masturbation does NOT affect stamina. 
Masturbation does NOT make you thin and skinny. 
Masturbation does NOT harm the kidneys. 
Masturbation does NOT cause prostate cancer. 
Masturbation does NOT cause psoriasis. 
Masturbation does NOT cause cancer. 
Masturbation does NOT cause infection. 
Masturbation does NOT cause death. 

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Swine Flu

Main symptoms of swine flu in humans.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in humans the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illnessin general. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. The 2009 outbreak has shown an increased percentage of patients reporting diarrhea and vomiting.

Because these symptoms are not specific to swine flu, a differential diagnosis of probable swine flu requires not only symptoms but also a high likelihood of swine flu due to the person's recent history. For example, during the 2009 swine flu outbreak in the United States, CDC advised physicians to "consider swine influenza infection in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute febrile respiratory illness who have either been in contact with persons with confirmed swine flu, or who were in one of the five U.S. states that have reported swine flu cases or in Mexico during the 7 days preceding their illness onset." A diagnosis of confirmed swine flu requires laboratory testing of a respiratory sample (a simple nose and throat swab).

Prevention
Prevention of swine influenza has three components: prevention in swine, prevention of transmission to humans, and prevention of its spread among humans.

Prevention in swine
Swine influenza has become a greater problem in recent decades as the evolution of the virus has resulted in inconsistent responses to traditional vaccines. Standard commercial swine flu vaccines are effective in controlling the infection when the virus strains match enough to have significant cross-protection, and custom (autogenous) vaccines made from the specific viruses isolated are created and used in the more difficult cases.

Present vaccination strategies for SIV control and prevention in swine farms, typically include the use of one of several bivalent SIV vaccines commercially available in the United States. Of the 97 recent H3N2 isolates examined, only 41 isolates had strong serologic cross-reactions with antiserum to three commercial SIV vaccines. Since the protective ability of influenza vaccines depends primarily on the closeness of the match between the vaccine virus and the epidemic virus, the presence of nonreactive H3N2 SIV variants suggests that current commercial vaccines might not effectively protect pigs from infection with a majority of H3N2 viruses.[25][26]

Prevention of transmission to humans

This section requires expansion.

Prevention of spread in humans
Influenza spreads between humans through coughing or sneezing and people touching something with the virus on it and then touching their own nose or mouth.[27] Swine flu cannot be spread by pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food.[27] The swine flu in humans is most contagious during the first five days of the illness although some people, most commonly children, can remain contagious for up to ten days. Diagnosis can be made by sending a specimen, collected during the first five days, to the CDC for analysis.

Recommendations to prevent spread of the virus among humans include using standard infection control against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public.[29] Although the current trivalent influenza vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against the new 2009 H1N1 strain, vaccines against the new strain are being developed and could be ready as early as June 2009.

Experts agree that hand-washing can help prevent viral infections, including ordinary influenza and the new swine flu virus. Influenza can spread in coughs or sneezes, but an increasing body of evidence shows little particles of virus can linger on tabletops, telephones and other surfaces and be transferred via the fingers to the mouth, nose or eyes. Alcohol-based gel or foam hand sanitizers work well to destroy viruses and bacteria. Anyone with flu-like symptoms such as a sudden fever, cough or muscle aches should stay away from work or public transportation and should see a doctor to be tested.

Social distancing is another tactic. It means staying away from other people who might be infected and can include avoiding large gatherings, spreading out a little at work, or perhaps staying home and lying low if an infection is spreading in a community.

Treatment
In response to requests from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on April 27, 2009 the FDA issued Emergency Use Authorizations to make available diagnostic and therapeutic tools to identify and respond to the swine influenza virus under certain circumstances. The agency issued these EUAs for the use of certain Relenza and Tamiflu antiviral drugs, and for the rRT-PCR Swine Flu Panel diagnostic test.

The CDC recommends the use of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or Relenza (zanamivir) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses, however, the majority of people infected with the virus make a full recovery without requiring medical attention or antiviral drugs.[33] The virus isolates that have been tested from the US and Mexico are however resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. If a person gets sick, antiviral drugs can make the illness milder and make the patient feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

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