H1N1 flu is commonly called swine flu, refers to the influenza that occurs in pigs. Pigs infected with the influenza virus can transmit it to people. The initial transmission happens between pigs and veterinarians and hog farmers. In spring of 2009, the first diagnosis of the swine flu occurred. In 2010, swine flu was declared a pandemic. It is now considered a seasonal flu virus. Swine flu is caused by the cells in your lungs, nose and throat becoming infected with the influenza virus. The way these areas of your body contract the virus in two ways. You may inhale droplets contaminated with the swine flu. You may transfer the virus from a contaminated surface like a counter to your mouth, nose or eyes.
Swine flu cannot be contacted from eating pork. You are at risk for contracted the virus if you have traveled to a location where a lot people are infected with the swine flu. You can also be exposed to the virus if you have in large crowds. Complications of swine flu range from pneumonia, respiratory failure to neurological signs and worsening of chronic medical conditions. Treatment of the swine flu depends on a quick diagnosis. Sometimes antiviral drugs such as zanamivir and oseltamivir prescribed within two days of developing the flu can reduce the severity of symptoms. If your chronic condition worsens because of the swine flu, your physician may prescribe medication to relieve those symptoms.
1. Muscle pain
You may experience soreness in your muscles from time to time. The soreness in your muscles tend to go away on its own and without much need for medication. This is different from muscle pain. Muscle pain occurs in your entire body or just a small area. The pain ranges from excruciating to mild or a dull ache. The pain can occur anywhere in your body including your hands, legs, back and neck.
The most common cause of pain in your muscles are stress, tension, minor injury and overuse. When these causes occur, the pain is usually localized, or in one area of your body. Pain that occurs throughout your body, called systemic muscle pain, has a different cause. The cause of this type of pain in your muscles range from an illness, infection or medication side effect.
2. Dry cough
A cough is the way your body responds to something irritating your airway or throat. The irritant causes a chain reaction. The irritant stimulates your nerves. Your nerves sends your brain a message. Your brain sends a message to your abdomen and chest muscles to push air from your lungs to remove the irritant. A cough may produce mucus, which is called a wet cough. A dry cough does not produce phlegm. Your body repeatedly tries to eliminate the irritant in your airway or throat. Depending on the cause of your dry cough, it can appear and disappear quickly. Chronic dry cough is a cough lasting more than six weeks.
3. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is frequent bowel movements that contain a watery, loose stool. This is not a disorder or disease, diarrhea is a sign that something medically is wrong. Symptoms of diarrhea include a fever, blood in your stool, watery and loose stool and bloating. You may also experience abdominal pain, nausea and stomach cramps. You may feel the urgent need to go to the bathroom because you are having a bowel movement. The cause of this condition ranges from a virus to bacteria and medications. It can disappear after a couple of days. Depending on the cause antibiotics can also help.
4. Nausea
Nausea is a technical term that describes a queasy stomach. You stomach may feel queasy with or without feeling like you have to throw up. Nausea is not a disease. It is a symptom of a disorder, virus or infection. It has its own symptoms such as your windpipe closing and your lower stomach constantly contracting. You may experience retching. Retching occurs when your abdominal and respiratory muscles continuously and involuntarily contract. You may begin throwing up or sweating. Treatment includes over-the-counter (OTC) medications and home remedies. These home remedies include drinking beverages that will settle your stomach such as ginger ale and drinking clear liquids to avoid becoming dehydrated.
5. Vomiting
Vomiting is the act of forcefully throwing up the content in your stomach. This can occur one time or a series of times depending on the cause. Causes of vomiting range from the flu and chemotherapy to prescription medications and food poisoning. Some complications of throwing up include dehydration, or the loss of bodily fluids. Treating vomiting involves discovering the underlying cause. It also involves drinking clear liquids containing electrolytes to maintain nutrients lost.
6. Chills
Chills is extreme coldness regardless of how many clothes you wear or the warmth of your environment. The coldness occurs deep in your bones. This makes it impossible to increase your body temperature. Chills often develops because a change in temperature in your environment. Chills can accompany other symptoms like shivering and body ache. You may also develop an increase in body temperature that is higher than 103 degrees. You may develop extreme coldness because of an infection, flu or hyperthermia. Treatment for this condition depends on the underlying cause of the extreme coldness.
7. Fatigue
Extreme unrelenting exhaustion not relieved by rest and/or sleep is fatigue. This is different from feeling overworked or tired. The latter can be relieved by rest and is often temporary. Fatigue is long-term and may have an identifiable cause like swine flu, infection or injury. You can experience unrelenting exhaustion with other symptoms such as lack of motivation, inability to complete tasks and lack of energy. You may suffer from an inability to concentrate and depression because you cannot obtain adequate rest. Treating fatigue depends on what is causing the unrelenting exhaustion.
8. Fever
This is the increase in body temperature that occurs temporarily. The temporary increase in body temperature happens because you are ill. The illness may be an infection, disease, injury or the flu. The average temperature is 98 degrees for an adult. If your body temperature reaches 103 or higher it is considered a fever. This increase in body temperature typically goes away within three days if it is not caused by a serious condition. Symptoms associated with an increase in body temperature include sweating, dull ache in your head, shivering and muscles aches.
9. Headache
A headache is pain in any area of your head. It may develop on one side of your head or both sides. It may develop in an isolated location in your head and radiate to another region of your head. You head pain ranges from severe and debilitating to mind or a dull ache. The pain may also feel like a sharp, cutting pain. The pain may be gradual or happen suddenly.
Also, the pain may last hours or days. The common types of headaches include tension, cluster and migraine headaches. The cause of the pain in your head may be medical condition, disease, disorder or lifestyle choice such as drugs or alcohol. Treatment of the pain in your head can be relieved by determining the cause of your pain.
10. Sore throat
A sore throat, called pharyngitis, is pain, irritation or scratchiness in your throat that is worsen when you swallow. The most common cause of a sore throat is a virus such as a flu or cold. It has symptoms such difficulty swallowing, pain, hoarseness or swollen glands. A sore throat will resolve itself in five to seven days without medical treatment. However, some home remedies can assist with resolving the condition faster such as drinking fluids, gargling with saltwater and using lozenges.
