Today, I went to the doctor because I was exhibiting many of the symptoms associated with this flu. As a teacher, we are always infected with many illnesses found in our barn, oops sorry I meant school, which are due to the "Herd Syndrome".
Apparently ... in three days, I will know if I am a carrier or just overly concerned. The doctor said being at school was not an issue.
Will I have infected many of my students and/or fellow teachers should I return a positive A(H1N1) flu swab? Hmmm ?
With lots of unexplained personal sneezes and a low-grade fever, plus a few more of the usual cold/flu symptoms, I started reading about sneezing. I know what a fever is but wanted to know more about a SNEEZE!
The following excerpt from "Your Total Health" within iVillage, a subsidiary of NBC best describes the process of a sneeze:
"A sneeze is a reflex which causes a sudden, forceful burst of air through the nose and mouth. Sneezing is an involuntary response to many different physical stimuli or conditions.
The medical term for sneezing is sternutation. It is a way for the body to get rid of something irritating in the upper respiratory tract. It is a normal process and not usually a cause for concern. Many animals sneeze, including dogs and cats – although, unlike humans, animals sneeze only through the nose and not the mouth.
Sneezing is actually a complex physical process that involves the brain, nose, mouth and chest. It is a way for the body to get rid of a foreign object, such as particles of dirt stirred up in a cloud from a passing car. Other reasons to sneeze include exposure to bright light, which is a poorly understood reflex that appears to be an inherited trait. Individuals with this condition are called photic sneezers. Sneezing is also a symptom of allergies, colds, flu and many serious diseases.
The sneeze process begins when the nose encounters certain types of physical stimuli (e.g., dust, smoke, light). This stimulus informs a part of the brain called the sneeze center that something must be expelled from the nose and nasal cavity. The brain then sends a message to several different muscle groups. These muscles must all contract in the correct order for a sneeze to take place. The muscles and their order of contraction include:
- Abdominal muscles
- Chest muscles
- Diaphragm (large muscles beneath the lungs)
- Vocal cord muscles
- Muscles in the back of the throat
- Muscles in the eyelids (the eyes involuntarily close during a sneeze)"
I would urge you to go to the "Your Total Health" site and read on about sneezing and your health.
Just so you know, having your nasal cavity swabbed with some form of "semi-painful" swab, ("Naw ... this doesn't hurt!") brought tears to my right eye, the same side as the nasal swab. None to my left eye. Apparently my parasympathetic nerve system in my head still works.
Remember: Be Safe Out There and Stay Healthy!
