About the Flu
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First of all: Is it a Cold or the Flu? Click here to find out (lists symptoms for each) The following requires a visit to your ER:
Call Your Doctor You usually do not have to call your doctor right away if you have signs of a cold or flu. But you should call your doctor in these situations:
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Not Sick Yet - or just feel it "coming on" - then you may want to visit this webpage: Tips to Shorten or Prevent the Flu / Cold
Prevention is Best
- A flu shot can greatly lower your chance of getting the flu. The main goal of the influenza vaccine is not to prevent the flu, but to prevent the complications of the flu. If the strains in the shot match the virus you are exposted to, it can prevent disease completely in healthy adults with a robust immune system. But when given to older persons and those with frail immune systems, its principle goal is to reduce severity of symptoms and help prevent complications of the flu, namely pneumonia, hospitalization and death for those who do get the flu.
- The best time to get the shot is from the middle of October to the middle of November, because most people get the flu in the winter. The shot can't cause the flu. But you may feel sore or weak or have a fever for a few days.
- Flu shots are strongly recommended for
people 65 or older, nursing home patients, people over 6 months old with health problems, such as asthma, or with long-term diseases, such as HIV or heart disease; children or teen-agers who must often take aspirin; and people who are often around older people or those with health problems.
Talk to your doctor before getting a flu shot if you have certain allergies (especially to eggs), have an illness, such as pneumonia, have a high fever or are pregnant.
However, it is important to realize that the flu shot does not typically confer immunity in the same way other vaccines do. The influenza virus is a wily virus, which is constantly changing, unlike others such as polio or measles which are far more stable. Developing a vaccine for the flu, therefore, is chasing a moving target. Each year's formulation represents the experts' best guess as to what will work.
Therefore, whether you receive flu shots or not, it's important for you to take additional protective measures outlined below ...
- The best time to get the shot is from the middle of October to the middle of November, because most people get the flu in the winter. The shot can't cause the flu. But you may feel sore or weak or have a fever for a few days.
- Other things you can do to avoid getting the flu:
- If you know someone has the flu it is important to stay away from this person or at least avoid touching them or getting near them if they are coughing or sneezing. Never share glasses or utensils with someone who has the flu.
- Wash your hands often. You can pick up cold germs easily, even when shaking someone's hand or touching doorknobs or handrails.
- Sneeze or cough into a tissue and then throw the tissue away.
- Clean surfaces you touch with a germ-killing disinfectant.
- Don't touch your nose, eyes, or mouth. Germs can enter your body easily by these paths.
Treating the Flu:
- DO NOT take antibiotics. Antibiotics are not effective against cold and flu germs. It is vitally important that you only take antibiotics when really needed, as determined by your physician.
- Home Remedies for Flu Relief
- Most people recover in 1 to 2 weeks but it could cause a more severe case of pneumonia, and nerve and brain damage. In some cases, your doctors may choose to use certain antiviral drugs to treat the flu.
- Coconut: Dr. Bruce Fife believes that the coconut is one of the best natural defenses we have against the flu.
- Coconut oil possesses powerful antiviral properties that can kill viruses, including the flu virus.
- Coconut oil is composed of a special group of fats known as medium-chain triglycerides. Our bodies convert these fats into medium-chain fatty acids and monoglycerides both of which have been shown to be effective in killing lipid coated viruses.
- Coconut oil also helps boost the immune system enabling the body to fight off infections more efficiently.
- By consuming a couple of spoonfuls of coconut oil daily you can develop an immunity of sorts to the flu. This is a safe and economical means to protect yourself from viruses. (Ref.: http://www.news.vu)
Help Yourself Feel Better While You Are Sick
(The following tips are from the FDA website on the Internet at www.fda.gov - contact information at the bottom)
A cold usually lasts only a few days to a week. Tiredness from the flu may continue for several weeks.
To feel better while you are sick:
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Use a humidifier -- an electric device that puts water into the air.
- Take a cough and cold medicine you buy without a prescription. It may help.
Choose the Right Medicines For Your Symptoms
Make sure the label states that it treats your symptoms.
| If you want to: | Choose medicine with: |
|---|---|
| Unclog a stuffy nose | Nasal decongestant |
| Quiet a cough | Cough suppressant |
| Loosen mucus so that you can cough it up | Expectorant |
| Stop runny nose and sneezing | Antihistamine |
| Ease fever, headaches, minor aches and pains | Pain reliever (Analgesic) |
Protect Your Children From 'Salicylates' In Cold Medicines
- Do not give aspirin or other salicylates to children or teen-agers with symptoms of a cold or flu.
- If you aren't sure if a product has salicylates, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- Young people can get sick or die from a rare condition called Reye syndrome if they take these medicines while they have these symptoms.
Do You Have Other Questions?
The FDA may have an office near you. Look for the number in the blue pages of the phone book. You can also call the FDA on its toll-free number: (888) INFO-FDA (463-6332). Or you can find the FDA on the Internet at www.fda.gov
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that makes sure medicines for illnesses like colds and flu work and are safe. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane (HFI-40), Rockville, MD 20857
Home Remedies for Fast Flu Relief
Natural Antibiotics / Herbal Anti-inflammatories - Strengthening Your Immunesystem Naturally
Information contained on this website is provided as general reference only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. Please review Disclaimer
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