Canon in D Major by Pachelbel

Swine Flu

Flu virus

Flu, also known as Influenza, is an acute respiratory infection that is caused by influenza A or B viruses. Flu usually occurs in outbreaks. If the extent of flu outbreak is larger, health care organizations such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) may call it epidemic or pandemic.

Swine flu is caused by type A influenza virus that usually causes outbreaks in pigs. Nonetheless, there is recent evidence that swine flu transmits from person to person. However, you cannot catch swine flu by eating cooked pork.

Flu infection is transmitted through coughing, sneezing since large amounts of virus are present in respiratory secretions.

Flu outbreak usually occurs in winter. Prominent symptoms of flu are fever, muscle ache, headache, coughing, weakness.

Flu is usually self-limited, gradually improving over 2 to 5 days. Flu, however, may result in complications. Common complications of flu are pneumonia, and myositis that is associated with extreme tenderness of legs. Guillain-Barre syndrome, an acute inflammation of multiple nerves, is also suspected to be a complication of flu; but a definite causal relationship has not been established.

Doctors usually diagnose flu based on symptoms, signs, the existence of outbreaks. They may also order throat, nasal swabs, or Quick Vue A+B tests.

Doctors may prescribe Oseltamivir or Zanamivir to alleviate flu symptoms, to help you recover faster, or to prevent flu.

You may be able to find more information about swine flu at following CDC link.
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm

Scarborough Fair by Sarah Brightman

Prevention of Running Leg Injuries

Running helps to promote healthy heart, reduce obesity and osteoporosis. Running also helps enhance mental health. Running, however, also increases risk of injuries to hips, knees and feet. Most of running injuries are insidious and are not neccessarily associated with specific trauma.

There are several things you should do or not do to prevent leg injuries.

Do:

• Stretch before and after running: even though a meta-analysis study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was inconclusive as to the real benefit of routine stretching, many runners have found it helpful
• Make sure shoes are fitting every time you buy new pairs since feet widens with age
• Change running shoes every 350 to 500 miles since new shoes lose 40 percent of cushioning after that much distance
• Use orthoses if you have excessive pronation, patellofemoral pain, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, or Achilles tendinitis
• Use ankle braces if you have prior ankle injuries
• Rest completely from running during injuries

Don't:

• Run persistently 40 miles or more per week since it is the most important risk of injury.

The Last of the Mohicans by Hans Zimmer