Dodge Colds and Flu with a Few Simple Steps

No one has time to be sick but the season for colds and the flu is upon us. Colds are spread through the air via coughs and sneezes and through physical contact, especially hand to hand. Over 200 viruses can cause he common cold and major strains of flu vary from season.

So far the flu season has been mild but experts caution that we're not out of the woods yet.

Avoiding Colds

To avoid catching a cold:

• Try to avoid being too close to anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Doing this will kill the cold virus, which can be transmitted from objects such as doorknobs and telephones up to four hours after someone with a cold touches them. The virus can enter your body if you then put your fingers in your mouth or rub your eyes.
• Disinfect your telephone handset, computer keyboard and other items if someone with a cold has used them. Use rubbing alcohol.

Preventing the Flu

Taking the same precautions will help you prevent the flu.

• You also should get a flu shot each year in October or November but it's not too late to get your flu shot for this year.
• Rest assured, you can't get the flu from a flu shot; the vaccine can't breed the infection because it doesn't contain a living virus. You can, however, catch the flu shortly after receiving a shot because you don't build up immunity for up to two weeks after immunization.
• Another way to help prevent the flu is to increase the humidity in your home and office. The flu virus survives best in dry conditions, so your body is more likely to flush it out if you keep your nasal and oral passages moist.

Treating Colds and Flu

Take acetaminophen or aspirin to relieve mild fever and muscle aches. NOTE: To avoid the risk of Reye's syndrome, don't give aspirin to anyone under age 19.

• Treat your symptoms with appropriate over-the-counter medications, such as a decongestant, antihistamine and cough medicine. If you take a combination drug, make sure you're not accidentally doubling your dose of a type of medicine.
• Drink plenty of fluids and get enough rest.
• Eat healthful foods to help your body combat your illness.
• Minimize stress; doing so will help your body heal more quickly.

  

• Proper use a humidifier may help break up your congestion.

Keep it to yourself!

• Sneeze and cough into the crook of your elbow - not into your hands
• Regularly wash your hands with hot water and soap
• Use a hand sanitizer if hot water and soap are not available.
• Carry a pocket size hand sanitizer with you

It's time to see the doctor if:

• your temperature higher than 100.4° F or you develop a sustained fever
• you develop a sinus infection
• symptoms that last more than 10 days
• symptoms that are not relieved by over-the-counter medicines
• you have difficulty breathing or other complications

Find a family physician:

In Princess Anne - Urgent Care Center Princess Anne  757-275-9331

In Currituck - Currituck Internal Medicine & Family Practice  252-435-6621

In Chesapeake - Faith Wellspring Family Medical Center  757-312-0166