Every once in awhile, Mother Nature likes to throw a new disease outbreak our way, maybe just to keep us on our toes. In 2004 SARS (short for severe acute respiratory syndrome) took the world stage; that same year, and again 2 years later, avian flu made international headlines. Now we’re facing another formidable infectious foe in the form of H1N1, the so-called swine flu.
What makes these bugs so scary is that we don’t know very much about them—unlike, say, seasonal flu, whose annual appearance is comparable to crabby Aunt Martha showing up for Thanksgiving dinner. You can’t do anything to stop either one from coming, so you prepare as best as you can while telling yourself that it will be over soon. At least you can get a vaccine against seasonal flu; with Aunt Martha, you’re on your own.
Whether it’s seasonal flu or something more serious that’s lurking, this idea of getting ready—but not going overboard—makes good sense. As you’ll discover in the pages ahead, you can do a lot to safeguard yourself against the viruses, bacteria, and other disease-causing microbes that want nothing more than to make themselves at home inside your body. We’re talking simple things, like eating lunch away from your desk (it’s germier than a toilet seat!), stowing your purse or briefcase off the floor, and microwaving your kitchen sponge.
It’s true that you may not be able to avoid germs completely. But you can reduce your exposure and strengthen your immunity—one small change at a time.
—The editors of Prevention