| Product: |
Influenza (Flu) |
| Date: |
20/10/01 (439 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Cures, jabs and preventions available, Stay off work and rest..., Help to prevent spreading...But you can help prevent it, and look after yourself and will soon be okay....
Disadvantages: Feel terrible, cold on minute, hot the next., Sore throat, runny nose, headache - but feels much worse than it is remember., Can't do anything you want for days...
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN and there is going to be loads of people spluttering all over the show - but steer clear and you can reduce the chances of getting anything that will put you on the settee with an hot-water-bottle for a week, read on...
HOW CAN WE HELP PREVENT AND THEN BEST TREAT THIS COMMON CURSE? WHEN DO WE NEED A DOCTOR? CAN WE AVOID IT ALL TOGETHER?
Before I tell you about the common cold and flu, let me tell you something of my experience:
Many years ago I suddenly, in the space of a few hours felt unwell. Banging head, aching joints, sore throat, coughing etc etc etc - you name it. My children were away on holiday with their Dad, and maybe I suddenly had the time to allow myself a bout of flu! - but this was like nothing before. It was a Sunday I’d been visiting relatives, but felt awful. Thought I should go home. Once there I just wanted to go straight to bed, so pulled a bottle of lemonade out of the fridge and off I went. I remember once waking up and trying to find the loo! I felt like I was drunk and so weak. Every part of me was somewhere else - it was awful! I was due in work the next day, so I just had to do what I thought was immediately the best thing - sleep. It was all I felt I could do anyway. I woke maybe once more I think, but could not see the clock, but it was dark, so knew I had a bit more time left. I drank a swig of the lemonade - the bottle felt so heavy, and within a second was asleep again. I woke and panicked - it was 3.30pm!! Oh my goodness - My boss will kill me! Picked up the phone at the side of my bed and rang my boss ‘Sorry, so sorry - I’m really ill and I’ve really overslept... I’ll never get there now with any time to do anything, I’m soaking wet with sweat, I feel so groggy and awful and .... ‘ - I was stopped in my tracks... ‘Faye - its Wednesday, I’ve been ringing you, we’ve all been worried about you.. what o
n earth has happened to you?’ Wednesday!!! I’d missed nearly three days!
Within a few hours I had almost learnt to walk again, ate for the first time since a Sunday morning slice of toast, and made a brew. By the evening I felt a lot better, by the next day when I went in work, they probably thought I was swinging the lead. I really did appear okay. It was a flu - that’s it, just a simple flu - but who would imagine that you can literally have phones ringing constantly less than a yard away and never hear it - not me. But that’s the simple cold or flu for you! But it’s scary to think about when it can take half the week away in just one sleep...
Now I don’t expect this is typical - but what can we do about the oncoming winter curse of the common cold and flu that can range from general misery to almost unconsciousness? Well I’ve made it my business to try to find out for you...
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CATCHING COLDS AND FLU. HOW LIKELY, AND HOW WILL WE CATCH IT?
There is one sure thing for colds and flu - there’s a lot of it about. How much is actually about varies from year to year, but you can be sure that you will catch this sometime. It must be the golden age of colds and flu. So many people crowd together indoors in winter, at home, at work, at school, and in travelling. This makes the chances of coming into close contact with someone who has one of the viruses so much more probable. Even though the viruses are quite hard to catch, this means there are a lot of chances when you are exposed to them in everyday life. They are also travelling all around the world in a matter of hours. Colds and flu are having a very successful jet-set life travelling all around the world, and not just where it is cold, they are also in the home in the heat.
WE ARE ALL EXPOSED to these viruses on a regular basis, but we do not get an infection every time. The gre
at majority of times our body’s defences work well and we are not infected. Less often we are infected, but our body’s defences act quickly to kill the infection, without us ever being aware that we have been infected. Less often still we are infected and suffer mild symptoms. Thankfully, least often of all, we catch the virus and have a really bad infection. How bad our infection becomes therefore depends on chance, the strength of the virus, and our body’s defences.
THE USUAL WAY WE CATCH THE VIRUS is to breathe them in on droplets in the air when someone sneezes. They can also easily be caught by touching something with the virus already on it, such as a cup, door handle, or telephone. The virus sticks to our hand, and then we touch our eye or nose and it sticks there. From our eye it is washed down with our tears or hands into the nose.
The virus attacks the cells lining the nose and throat, and infects them. It only takes one virus to infect one cell. Each infected cell is taken over by the virus, and it makes many copies of itself, kills the cell, and releases these new viruses to infect other cells. This happens so quickly that within 12 hours of first arriving there may be a million cells killed in the nose and throat.
The nose and throat are now awash with viruses, and this is the time when we are most likely to pass the infection on to someone else. Usually by blowing (or wiping) or touching our nose with our hands, and touching something else before washing them. What we touch could be a door handle, a light switch, a telephone, a newspaper or a cup. The virus is infectious, and waiting for someone to touch it, and then touch their eye or nose, and spread the infection. Sneezing also spreads the infection into the air.
One day you are around someone sneezing and coughing, or sat next to someone on the bus going to work, or you could be served in a shop by the assistant who can’t afford to take th
e day off.... you may not even notice they have a cold or flu... there’s a million possibilities... but somehow...
YOU ARE NOW THE RELUCTANT OWNER OF A COLD OR FLU INFECTION! - Great eh?
But can it be avoided?
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PREVENTING COLDS AND FLU:
Become a hermit? Seems at first to be the only way to prevent yourself catching the cold or flu virus, because they are caught from other people. The more people you come into contact with, then the more chance you have of catching it. If there is a lot of infection about then you may be able do some things to help. Hire a video rather than go to the cinema. Travel by car rather than by bus, tube or train. All a bit silly and there are of course limits....
Yet simple measures will do to start with... Washing your hands regularly will minimise your chances of catching these viruses. This is because as I’ve said, most times you actually catch colds and flu by touching something with the virus on it, and then touching your eye or nose. You can also catch the virus through the air by someone sneezing, but there’s not so much you can do about this.
Simple measures such as staying away from the people that are obviously spluttering and coughing, using your own cup only in work and even at home will help, washing your hands regularly is often the single most effective measure, and at home rather than out. All these things on their own will help to eliminate the risk you are at of it.
Your lifestyle can really help your body be in the best health to fight cold and flu viruses:-
Eat a balanced diet including plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Alcohol in moderation. More than 28 units a week for men, and 21 units for women is not good for your health and will generally give you groggy days that make you more likely to infections.
Drink plenty of fluids. We all tend to drink too little. Th
e water balance in your body is important, and it helps your health. If you find water boring, try to drink as much as you can and also have weak tea, fruit juice etc.
Keep fit. You don’t need to become a super athlete, but you do need to do something regularly to give your body some work to do. Half an hours walking, four times a week is a good target to aim for as a minimum. (Its not as much as it sounds) More than this helps in other ways. Over exercising is not good for your body. Super-athletes get more colds than normal believe it or not!!
Have enough rest. Your body needs to be regularly recharged to be in good health.
No smoking. Even breathing in other people’s smoke makes your health worse. Smokers do not get more colds and flu, but when they do get it the symptoms are worse, and last longer. If you must smoke, then try cutting down as much as possible especially at this time of the year. And avoid smoke-rooms and areas in work if at all possible.
Control stress. Easy to say, harder to do. Being under stress can double your chance of catching a cold. The body is often most vulnerable when you calm down after a bout of stress.
I will talk about off-the-shelf remedies later, but remember...
SUPPLEMENTS CAN improve your health, and make your body more able to fight off infections. This means that even though you are exposed to the same number of viruses, your body is better able to fight back, and you get fewer infections. Supplements that can be used are:-
Vitamin C can help your body fight an infection by boosting your immune response.
Zinc can help to fight infection as well.
Echinacea is a herbal product to boost the immune system.
Garlic is sometimes recommended.
Multi-vitamins and minerals...
It is probably a good idea to think about starting to take a supplement now ready for the winter. If you are not sure which you will be best suited to,
take a multi-vitamin especially formulated to suit you. There are supplements for men, women, children, over 50’s etc etc... and antioxidants are recommended. Specific supplements tend to gear themselves to your most likely specific needs.
FLU VACCINES can help build up your resistance to flu. They are given by your doctor or nurse if they think you are particularly at risk to the effects of catching flu. They only give protection to the four or so types of flu in this year’s vaccine, and the effects only last about a year. There are no vaccines for colds.
Help others not catch your colds and flu - keep them to yourself and don’t pass them on! The first few days of having a cold or flu are when you are most likely to pass the virus on to someone else. Stay away from others, wash your hands regularly, and sneeze into tissues - which must be disposed of without passing on the infection, as they are covered in active viruses!
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TREATING A COLD OR FLU - but before we get to that lets look at a few old sayings...
THERE ARE LOTS OF OLD WIVES TALES ABOUT THE THEORY AND CURES OF COLDS AND FLU.
This is probably because whatever you do about them, they will get better on their own, in their own time. The trouble is that the infection often gets better despite what is recommended, rather than because of it! There is a lot you can do to reduce your chances of catching colds and flu. There is also a lot you can do to treat the symptoms, and make them as mild as possible.
Here are a few old wives tales that a lot of people still believe, which are just not so:-
I won't pass on my cold as long as I don't breathe on anyone!
It’s not the breathing that matters it’s sneezing that counts. If you have a cold or flu, then the best way of keeping it to yourself is to keep your sneezes in a tissue. Dispose of carefully.
Feed
a cold, starve a fever!
This was probably thought-up before there was anything you could do for a fever, or high temperature. Anyone with a really high temperature will not be thinking about eating. We now know that nutrition is important all the time, especially when you are ill. When you are ill only eat when you feel hungry, but then eat the right sort of things to help you back to health. Remember supplements and water will help.
If I take medicines each time I get a cold it's bound to loose its effectiveness, and eventually won't work for me anymore!
Not true, as the things you can take to help with colds and flu are there only to relieve the symptoms, and help your body fight back against the infection.
You can't get one cold straight after another!
Oh yes you can! In fact if you don’t look after yourself when you have a cold, then you will increase your chances of getting another one soon. The resistance you get from fighting one cold infection only helps you fight off exactly the same strain of virus. Remember that there are well over 200 different strains to catch at any one time.
You should go to the doctor when you have a cold or flu...
Not normally. Antibiotics do not kill viruses, only bacteria. Colds and flu are caused by viruses, so antibiotics have no effect. There is nothing that the doctor can give you that you can not get from your pharmacy.
Taking medicines prevents the body fighting the cold.
Not true. Even though there is nothing that will cure the infection, there is still a lot you can take to help your body fight the infection, and get you back in action quicker. They also help you feel much better while the infection is there.
Colds and are caused by sitting in a draught, getting cold, or being caught in the rain!
A draught, or sitting on a cold doorstep isn’t the problem. As I’ve said - touching and sneezing are probably the worse direct cu
lprits!
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TREATING THE SYMPTOMS.
Your local chemist probably has all you need for most symptoms like:
Temperature/fever: Plenty to drink, the right clothing, the right medicine - possibly as simple as aspirin or paracetamol, and tepid sponging are all important to control a high temperature. Knowing how to take a temperature helps, and when to call the doctor. Lemsip and Beechams have a fairly good range of products these days.
Runny nose - get something to help to stop your nose being red and drippy, and they will also help to clear a blocked nose. Inhalations vapour products are very popular, and can help you to feel more comfortable. Olbas oil or vicks rub are quite good.
Sore Throat - taking or sucking something to soothe the throat will help. If the throat is really bad then there are stronger products to numb the throat, and really ease the pain . Strepsils, chloraseptic sprays and antiseptic lozenges are excellent aids.
Coughs - there are two completely different types of cough mixture. The sort that you will normally need with colds and flu is the cough suppressant, which calms down the cough. The other type is an expectorant which helps to bring up phlegm from the chest. This type can increases the amount you cough. It is important to use the right sort. There are countless bottles around, so ask the chemist or try Benylin, sudafed, buttercup syrup, and Hills Bronchal Balsom are all worth looking at. But read the bottle for the type and only buy it if it’s right for you.
Blocked ears - if things sound dull and far away you need something to clear this, as it is normally caused by catarrh blocking the tube between the throat and the inner ear. Speak to the Pharmacist for a good product that is suited to your particular problem.
Take a careful combination of products, or use one of the all-in-one remedies which treat
a combination of symptoms.
Children - there are special medicines for children, which are specially formulated for children's tastes - these are much better than lower doses of the adult ones and much easier to monitor the amounts they take.
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OFF TO THE DOCTOR?
So...When DO you need to See Your Doctor?
Got to be careful what I say here as I’m obviously not a doctor. We know our own bodies best don’t we?? Hmmmm, well yes - but we can feel like we are dying when we are suffering the depths of this rotten curse of a cold or flu - but of course we’re not. So, where do we draw the line?
It is not normally necessary to see your doctor about colds and flu unless there is a particular reason to do so. Remember that antibiotics can do nothing to help, as they only kill bacteria, and colds and flu are both caused by viruses. For a normal bout of cold or flu your pharmacist can help you with better remedies than your doctor can recommend.
It is difficult to give a hard and fast list of when you should see your doctor, and I should stress again that I am no expert - so if your worried or feel you need to then I have to say you must go, but here is a list which covers the main sorts of thing to look out for:-
If you are vulnerable - If you are frail or in poor health. If you suffer from medical conditions which make you particularly vulnerable to the effects of an infection, such as asthma. If you are taking medicines which can make you vulnerable, such as steroids. If your symptoms seem more severe than you would expect from a normal bout of cold or flu. If it drags on for too long - much longer than one or two weeks, which is usual for a normal bout of cold or flu. Remember that a dry cough can last for a week or two after you have recovered from the infection. If you have a high temperature - and you are treating it properly, and it shows n
o sign of calming down after it a number of hours. Typical temperatures to look out for are over 38.5ºC (101ºF) in adults, or 39ºC (102ºF) in children. Chest problems - Colds and flu normally affect the nose and throat, but they can go down onto your chest, or make it easy for other infections to take hold there. This can be serious, especially if you are not fully fit to fight the infection and can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia. Signs to watch for are cough where you cough up coloured phlegm or blood, difficulty breathing such as tightness in the chest, wheezing, or other difficulties in breathing or chest pains. If you have a cough which gets a lot worse at night you may need to have it checked for asthma. Colds and flu can often produce a sore throat, but if this is really bad it can indicate problems. Things to watch out for include difficulty swallowing, painful swollen glands, thick white or yellow spots on the back of the throat. Sometimes a tube from the throat to the ear can get blocked with catarrh, so that things sound dull, and far away. This is not normally serious, and you should treat it. If there is pain in the ear this could easily be a serious condition, and you should see your doctor . Sinusitis is an infection in the area around the nose, eyes and cheeks. This can give a bad pain in one or more of these areas. You should treat yourself and see your doctor if it’s bad.
MENINGITIS is always a worry, especially in children, but is thankfully rare. If someone gets very rapidly worse with flu-like symptoms over an hour or two then call the doctor at once, without delay. Check out the local hospital for advice on meningitis immediately.
PHONE IF NECESSARY:
If you feel you need to go to the doctor, but your still not sure then phone him...
If you are worried it is best to discuss your symptoms over the phone rather than making an appointment to see your doctor. He will often be able to help just as much and
be grateful that you have both saved him time and this will also help to stop you spreading the infection around unnecessarily. Many surgeries expect to receive calls that they can call back once surgery is over, rather than call out to visit. Many doctors spend far more time than they have visiting people with simple colds - often not even serious enough to call a flu.
My most serious bout of this was pretty unforgettable - but I’ve probably had it nearly every other year to some extent or another. Last year I took the advice I’m giving you (as much as is humanly possible) and managed to steer clear. This year - I’m not getting it again - I’ve decided I’m going to do everything right, and give myself every chance of avoiding it again!! (Fingers crossed) But I only have to come across one person with it, and there could go my plan!
Just imagine how many people you come across on an average day - if only 1 in 10 of them catch your virus that is too many, so...
- DO NOT go to work - especially if you work with food or with the public.
- Tell them I said you had to stay off until you are better!!
:f) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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