Pregnant Women at Higher Risk for Severe Swine Flu

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning that pregnant women are at higher risk for life-threatening complications from the Swine Flu.  Six of thirty-four U.S. pregnant women with confirmed swine flu contracted pneumonia and died.  These women were healthy before contracting the flu.  Compared to the general population pregnant women have a four fold risk for getting the flu.

No doubt pregnant women will be the target of an experimental vaccine campaign, as well as the CDC-recommended aggressive use of antiviral drugs.  Many women are reluctant to take such risks for their unborn child.  The CDC is arguing that the risks to them outweigh any risks to the child.  This will be a tough decision for many pregnant women.

The reason pregnancy is a risk is because a mother's immune system is down-regulated during that time so as not to reject the fetus.  This needed lessening of immune function also reduces anti-viral activity. 

This is complicated by metabolic problems during pregnancy, such as higher blood sugar, higher blood pressure, or toxemia - all problems driven by improper leptin function.  These problems create energy inefficiency which further handicaps immunity.  Stress or simply doing too much also contribute to energy inefficiency.

Any pregnant woman should practice good hygiene, stay away from situations where she is likely to come into contact with sick people, and as a priority maintain a good energy level.

Your immune system needs energy to function properly and is certainly capable of doing this during pregnancy.  The combination of pregnancy and fatigue is what sets a person up for problems.