Cold and Flu

Self-Care Tips

*Time is the only cure for a cold. These things may make you feel better.
*Rest in bed if you have a fever.
*Drink lots of liquids. They help clear out your respiratory tract. This can help prevent other problems, like bronchitis.
*Take aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium for muscle aches and pains. [Note: Do not give aspirin or any medication containing salicylates to anyone 19 years of age or younger, unless directed by a physician, due to its association with Reye's Syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.]
*Use salt water drops to relieve nasal congestion. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water. Place in a clean container. Put 3 to 4 drops into each nostril several times a day, with a clean medicine dropper.

If you have a sore throat:

-Gargle every few hours with a solution of 1/4 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1/2 cup of warm water.
-Drink tea with lemon (with or without honey).
-Suck on a piece of hard candy or medicated lozenge every so often. (Do not give to children under age 5).
-Use a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier to add moisture to the room.
-Have chicken soup. It helps clear out mucus.
-Check with your doctor before trying vitamin C. It seems to make some people feel better when they have a cold and may help keep them from getting a cold, even though this has never been medically proven.
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Flu

Oh, it's just a touch of the flu," some say, as if they had nothing more than a cold. Yet each year, 50,000 people die from pneumonia and other complications of the influenza virus, or flu.
Cold and flu symptoms resemble each other, but they differ in intensity. A cold generally starts out with some minor sniffling and sneezing, but the flu hits you all at once. You're fine one hour and in bed the next. A cold rarely moves into the lungs. The flu can cause pneumonia. You may be able to drag yourself to work with a cold, but with the flu you may be too ill to leave your bed.

If the following symptoms come on suddenly and intensely, you probably have the flu:

*Dry cough.
*Sore throat.
*Severe headache.
*General muscle aches or backache.
*Extreme fatigue.
*Chills.
*Fever up to 104oF.
*Pain when you move your eyes, or a burning sensation in the eyes.

Muscle aches and fatigue are the most common signs of the flu. These are normally absent with a cold.
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Prevention

To avoid getting the flu in the first place, medical authorities recommend an influenza vaccination before each flu season for people over age 65 or anyone with a chronic medical illness that would hinder their ability to fight off the flu on their own. The influenza vaccine should be given in September, October or November of each year. Also, get plenty of rest, eat well, and exercise regularly to stay strong and fight off the flu.

The anti-viral medicines amantadine or rimantadine may be prescribed. [Note: In order for rimantadine to be effective, it must be taken within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms of the flu.] Antibiotics (to combat any bacterial infection, if also present) may also be prescribed by your doctor.


Self-Care Tips

There's no cure for the flu. It has to run its course. The goal then, is to minimize discomfort and prevent complications. Generally, if you are in good health, you can treat the flu on your own. The best way to do that is to get plenty of rest, so your body can fight off the virus. Try these tips too:

?Drink lots of hot (not scalding) drinks. They soothe your throat, help unplug your nose and put back water you lose by sweating.
?Gargle with warm, strong tea or warm, salt water. Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 1/2 cup of water.
?Suck on lozenges or hard candies to lubricate your throat. (Don't give these to children under age 5).
?Let yourself cough if you are bringing up mucus. Don't suppress a cough that produces mucus. Ask your pharmacist for an over-the-counter expectorant if this is all right with your doctor. Also, if mucus is bloody, yellow or green, contact your physician for advice.
?Don't drink milk or eat dairy products for a couple of days. They make mucus thick and hard to cough up in some persons.
?Wash your hands often, especially after blowing your nose and before handling food. This also helps you avoid spreading the flu virus to others.
?Take a regular dose of acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. [Note: Do not give aspirin or any medication containing salicylates to anyone 19 years of age or younger unless directed by a physician, due to its association with Reye's Syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.]
?Use a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier, especially in the bedroom. This will increase the moisture in the air. (Clean after each use).
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