Cold & Flu Issue
- 5 Cold & Flu Prevention Myths & Facts
- Flu’s Clues – Sniffling, sneezing, coughing – is it a cold or the flu?
- 4 Ways to Prevent Your Kid from Getting Sick at School
- High Fever: TLC or ER?
5 Cold & Flu Prevention Myths & Facts
Did Mom know best after all? It seems like everybody from your grandmother to your coworkers to your next-door-neighbor has a homegrown cold and flu remedy that “really, really works.” Here’s the straight story on eight of the most popular remedies.
1. See about Vitamin C. Some studies show Vitamin C may slightly reduce your risk of getting sick in the first place and help you recover faster. But too much of a good thing (more than 2,000 milligrams a day) can make matters worse with side effects that include kidney stones and diarrhea.
2. Have some nice chicken soup. Chicken soup won’t actually make you better. But it may make you feel better. As the warm vapor opens clogged sinuses, the fluids and nutrients help fight dehydration and soothe irritated throat tissues.
3. Should you think zinc? A few studies show zinc may help somewhat reduce cold symptoms. Others show little, if any effect. Chicken soup is cheaper, and frankly it tastes better, too.
4. Tea or toddy. Hot tea isn’t a cure for the common cold or flu, but like hot soup it can help with congestion, dehydration, plus its antioxidants are good for you. Avoid it at night, because you don’t want the caffeine to keep you awake. Substitute herbal tea and add some honey with a squeeze of lemon for a toddy before bedtime—the dash of rum or brandy is optional.
5. There’s the rub. Dab a little menthol ointment under your nose to open up breathing passages and soothe raw skin. Again, you won’t get better any faster, but you’ll feel better sooner.
Other Tips:
Leave the fever alone. Don’t starve it. Don’t feed it. Just let it run its course if you can. Drink plenty of fluids, rest and let your body’s defenses do what they do best. Of course, if your fever goes too high (over 104 degrees), come to Legacy ER at once. High fevers are not only dangerous; they can be a symptom of a more serious condition.
Echinacea. Like zinc, this herbal remedy has earned mixed reviews in trials. Because herbal supplements can interact with other medications, you might want to visit us online or give us a call before trying this remedy.
Go to bed. It’s that simple. Your body needs all its energy to fight your disease. And the more you rest, the less likely you are to be vulnerable to follow-up infections and other complications. Your family members, coworkers or classmates will thank you, too, for not spraying your germs in their environment.
Of course, VIP Perks members can always find out more about home remedies by posting questions on Ask the ER.
topFlu’s Clues – Sniffling, sneezing, coughing – is it a cold or the flu?
Learn how to tell the difference so you can seek the right treatment.
Ugh. You wake up sneezing, sniffling, coughing and just generally miserable. Is it a cold or the flu?
That’s an important question, because the flu can lead to health problems that may require hospitalization. These complications – such as pneumonia, sinus infections, bronchitis, and ear infections – are more common in the young, the old and people with other health issues.
So how can you detect the difference?
Start by taking your temperature. Most adults will have little if any fever with a cold; a temperature of 100 degrees or above is almost certainly the flu.
Other, subtler flu clues include headaches, severe body aches and fatigue lasting more than a few days. Your cough, congestion and sore throat are usually more intense with the flu.
In contrast, colds usually produce more congestion and sneezing with fewer body aches and headaches. While you may feel run down, you’ll rarely have the feeling of complete exhaustion that accompanies the flu. Cold symptoms usually come on more slowly than flu symptoms and usually go away within five to seven days.
When to visit us
The best time to visit Legacy ER is before you get the flu for a flu shot. If you haven’t had a flu shot and have been exposed to the flu, an antiviral drug administered within 48 hours can prevent or reduce your flu symptoms.
If you have a severe cold or the flu, come in immediately if you experience any of the following:
- difficulty breathing or chest pain
- persistent fever
- severe headache
- persistent vomiting
- coughing that lasts more than two weeks
- headaches and congestion for more than two weeks
All of these could be signs of potentially serious medical problems and require the immediate attention of one of our physicians.
Of course, if you have a question about your cold or flu symptoms and are a VIP Perks member, simply post your concern on Ask the ER. You’ll receive an answer from one of our board-certified emergency physicians on how you can solve the challenges of getting through flu season in the best of health.
top4 Ways to Prevent Your Kid from Getting Sick at School
Health measures that really make the grade.
Help keep your kids from bringing home more than just homework.
School is not just a fertile breeding ground for young minds. It’s a giant Petri dish for growing germs. Because let’s face it, kids aren’t the most hygienic people to begin with, and by the time they’ve been packed into crowded classrooms, traded lunches, gotten scraped up at recess and ventured into some of the scariest bathrooms on earth, they’re likely to have caught something. But you can fight back. Here are just four simple steps that can help you keep the germs at bay.
1. Wash their hands. You can’t do much about that while they’re at school. But the minute they – or you – get home, have them wash up. And supervise. Insist they use antibacterial soap and scrub for at least 30 seconds before rinsing. Changing clothes is also a good idea. You don’t know where those jeans have been.
2. Get a flu vaccine. Legacy ER offers flu vaccines to kids ages four and up, with VIP Perks members receiving a 40% discount on their flu shots. Remember, the flu season lasts into the spring, so late fall and early winter are still a good time to get vaccinated. And shots for mom and dad aren’t a bad idea either.
3. Get the chicken pox vaccine. The effectiveness of the chicken pox vaccine may decrease over time. A second dose is recommended.
4. Check your child’s immunizations. Make sure all your child’s immunizations are up-to-date. Many of these shots protect your child from potentially life-threatening diseases. The doctors at Legacy ER can help you determine which vaccinations your child may need.
topHigh Fever: TLC or ER?
Know when to go to the ER.
When your child has a fever, you probably feel even worse. Worry, like fever, is a natural response. But try to relax. An elevated temperature is the body’s way of fighting a disease. If possible, you should let the fever run its course. See that your child gets plenty of rest and drinks lots of fluids to avoid dehydration. If your child becomes too uncomfortable, you can treat symptoms with fever reducers like children’s acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Avoid aspirin, which can lead to a serious condition called Reyes Syndrome. Generally, the fever will go away after a day or two, and your child will begin to feel better without any special treatment.
But an extremely high or persistent fever can be a sign of a dangerous medical condition. You should seek immediate medical attention if your child has:
- a high fever over 104 degrees
- shaking chills
- fever symptoms lasting more than two days
- trouble breathing
- pain or pressure in the chest
- vomiting
- facial pain
- convulsions
- a barking cough
- rapid breathing
- a bluish tinge to the skin
If your child or any family member exhibits any of these symptoms, see us right away. Legacy ER is open late hours and weekends, and we accept all private insurance. We can help prevent a medical problem from becoming a medical crisis.
top