Stricken with Panick? Swine Flu Got your in a constant state worry? Then read this.

Are you worried sick about the swine flu epidemic and how to protect yourself the spread of the virus? But before I jump into the details, let me say this…your fears will be quelled considerably if you learn the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic. Let me explain exactly what I'm talking about. For starters, both epidemics and pandemics are defined as the spread of infectious diseases among a population. However, the two are not exactly the same. Hence, a pandemic references that a much larger region will be affected. At this point, and in the most extreme cases, the global population will be affected by a pandemic.

Whereas, an epidemic is defined by an illness or health-related issue that is showing up in a lot more cases than would be normally expected. As you can clearly see, there are subtle differences in regards to the two terms, and it can be confusing figuring out what each mean.

However, by now you may be wondering just how can I avoid swine flu, regardless of whether its an epidemic or pandemic. It's important to gain a sense of perspective, and realizing that the announcements from the World Health Organization (WHO) does not mean the world is coming to an end. Diseases are just a part of nature’s cycle that occur nearly every forty years. The last influenza pandemic we experienced was back in 1968. The next thing you should do is to educate yourself by getting a swine flu update from people or places you trust. It is highly recommended you go directly to the website of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization for the most recent facts about swine flu.

You can also lessen your fears by following each swine flu precaution that is found at each of these sites. The list covers things such as basic hygiene practices, such as keeping your mouth covered whenever you sneeze or cough- to prevent the spread of the disease. And although the tough economic climate force us to go to work when we are under the weather, if you do experience flu-like symptoms, it’s best to stay at home to curb the spread of the virus to others. Finally and most importantly don’t focus all of your attention on the swine flu epidemic. Don’t succumb to every story you hear unless it comes directly from trusted sources. By doing this you’ll enjoy life more and worry less.