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Individual immunity and the particular strain of flu virus that is circulating in a given year will play a large role in determining who will get the bug and who will not. There are steps that you can take to reduce your susceptibility:

- Get a flu shot. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to be vaccinated in the fall or very early winter. It takes two weeks for the vaccination to be effective. Do not get a flu shot if you are allergic to eggs. See your doctor for other suggestions in prevention of flu.

- Avoid crowds. The virus spreads easily, stay away from movie theaters, shopping centers, and other crowded places during an epidemic. Keep your distance from people who are coughing or sneezing.

- Come in from the cold. Prolonged exposure to wet and cold weather lowers your resistance and increases your risk of infection.

- Give up bad habits. Smoking and alcohol can impair your resistance. Smoking in particular, injures the respirator tract and makes you more susceptible to the flu.

- Kiss at your own risk. Kissing is one of the most efficient ways for the flu to spread. Sleeping in the same room as a sick spouse or child is asking for trouble.

- Keep up your strength. Don’t get tired or run down during flu season, this will increase your risk of getting the flu.

Influenza can be as deadly today as it was in the early 1900’s, when the Spanish flu killed over 20 million people worldwide. It is strongly advised to see a doctor if:

- Your voice becomes hoarse.

- You develop pains in your chest.

- You have difficulty breathing.

- You start bringing up yellow or green colored phlegm

Also be aware that prolonged vomiting can lead to dehydration, which is very serious in the very young and in elderly people. Abdominal pain can be the sign of another problem, such as appendicitis. If the pain or vomiting does not subside after a day, see your doctor immediately.

If you are anxious, your body will become tense. Relaxation can help you feel calmer and more controlled. At least once a day, try to turn off the pressure and relax. No matter what makes you feel stressed out – your boss in a bad mood, your children misbehaving, having to admit to making a mistake, or trying to deal with traffic – you need to find a way of relieving the pressure. One of the most effective ways of curbing stress is to learn to relax. But relaxing is more than putting your feet up and watching television. Instead, relaxation is a way to consciously turn off everyday worries. This is highly therapeutic and beneficial for both mind and body. Many people list watching television as their favorite method of relaxation. But whether it is really relaxing very much depends on what you are watching. Viewing a romantic film or a comedy can be both enjoyable and stress reducing. Studies have shown, however, that watching violent programs does little or nothing to lessen anxiety and stress; in fact, it can have the opposite effect. In addition, compared with people who use different forms of relaxation, television addicts are more like to mistrust others and see the world as a hostile place.

Some natural ways to fight fatigue so you can get the rejuvenating sleep that you need. The majority of people need seven to eight hours of sleep. Persistent fatigue and going long periods of time without the proper amount of rest has recently been proven detrimental to your overall health. Lack of sleep can be a cause of obesity, stress and it does not do wonder for your complexion.
First, think about the amount of exercise that you get. Moderate exercise is an energizer - this means twenty to sixty minutes three times a week or thirty minutes of walking every day is helpful. Do not exercise within two hours of bedtime. This is a good article that everyone would enjoy reading.
http://www.todayshealthviews.com/blog/2010/03/07/fight-fatigue.html

If you feel like you’ve been hit by a truck, many times, your head is throbbing, every muscle in your body aches, and you feel like you are on fire, but yet you are freezing, you probably have the flu. There are three main types of influenza: A, B and C. All three have the ability to mutate into different forms. So even if you have one form, the mutant offspring can get you again later. If you are counting on antibiotics for relief, you are out of luck. Influenza is a viral infection, and antibiotics do not work on viruses. The best thing you can do:

- Stay home. The flu is contagious and spreads like wildfire.

- Get some rest. Bed rest is essential, because it allows your body to utilize the energy into combating the flu infections.

- Drink plenty of fluids. This is especially important if you have a fever because dehydration can occur.

- Aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen can reduce the fever, headache, and body aches that accompany the flu. Take two tablets every four hours. Symptoms are more pronounced in the late afternoon and evening so it’s important to take the medication during this time frame.

- Do not give aspirin to anyone under 21 years of age that has the flu. Studies have shown that aspirin increases a flu-stricken child’s risk of developing Reye’s syndrome, a life-threatening neurological illness. Give children acetaminophen as directed by a physician.

- Over-the-counter cold medications might give some temporary relief, but they may actually suppress your symptoms to the point where you have a false sense of recovering. Prematurely resuming your normal activities can bring on a relapse or trigger serious complications.

- Gargle with salt water for a sore or scratchy throat.

- Sucking on hard candy or throat lozenges can also help keep your throat moist so it will feel better.

- Use a humidifier to reduce the discomfort of a cough, sore throat, or dry nasal passages.

- Make sure you have a good supply of fresh air at all times, but avoid a draft. Wear warm, close-fitting clothes to prevent chills.

If you take a weekly one-hour class, it will take 12 to 18 months to learn and remember all the 100 or so movements of the long form of tai chi. Attending more often will speed up this process, but it can take decades to become an expert. The following are the beginning of a series of movements called “heaven and earth.” Wear lose clothing; wear socks or slippers or go barefoot. The Squatting Single Whip. This position is the beginning of a sequence of movements known as “snake creeps down the water.” Reflecting Taoist philosophy of harmony between humankind and the universe, many movements have names incorporating nature. Your right hand should shape into a “bird’s beak”; fingers and thumb should touch and face the ground. Your left had is open with the fingers pointing up. Energy flows from the center of the body to the hands and the feet, and the face and head. Body weight should rest on your left leg. The Horse Stance is done with your feet apart at shoulder width and knees bent; put your arms by your sides. There should be space between your arms and your body – about the width of a fist. Hold this stance for five to ten seconds. Your back should be straight, with knees slightly bent. The Heaven Stance is done from the horse stance; raise your arms out in front of you, as though holding a ball. Hold for two to five minutes, breathing calmly and regularly. Experts hold this pose for up to 20 minutes. Your arms are held away from the body, and your feet are kept apart, with weight evenly distributed.

Outsmart the Flu Bug

Learn To Relax

Fatigue

Remedies to Beat the Flu Bug

Tai Chi: What You Can Do At Home