Cold Symptoms
Photo by T. Rob Brown
Similar viruses cause the common cold, “common flu,” and H1N1 flu, and the three different kinds of viral infections have very similar symptoms. Paradoxically, your cold and flu viruses are more contagious and virulent immediately before your symptoms appear than while they rage and ravage your body.
Once the tell-tale symptoms attack, do not try to work through them or “gut it out,” because you risk infecting others, and you seriously risk complicating your own infection. Give in, go to bed, rest, and give your body fair opportunity to recover.
An Ounce of Prevention
Although they will not protect you against the common cold, you should get flu shots. Immunization against the flu protects you, your family, friends, and colleagues. Lots of people depend on you and cannot afford to have you out of commission. Just as importantly, you do not want to pass a cold or the flu to them. For maximum protection, get both vaccinations—H1N1 and “common” flu.
Develop two healthy habits; you even may let them develop into obsessions. First and foremost, wash your hands frequently; when in doubt, wash them again. The viruses that cause colds and flu travel from host to host by ingestion and inhalation. Therefore, be careful about touching your nose and mouth after you have handled anything that might transmit the viruses. Second, learn the “proper” way to control a sneeze. Do not sneeze into your hand. A sneeze has the force of a Category 5 hurricane; when you sneeze into your hand, you blast all your pathogens right into the place where you most easily can spread them. Sneeze into a tissue or handkerchief if you can, or sneeze into your sleeve at the elbow. Clean hands and careful sneezes may keep you healthy and happy all season.
Maintain your immune system. Even if you face constant exposure to cold and flu viruses, you will not get sick if you are well-fed, well-rested, and generally healthy. Sleep deprivation and exhaustion devastate your immunity. Eat your vegetables and get your full eight hours rest.
Do NOT Take Anti-Biotics
Viruses cause the common cold and all the different flu strains. They also account for more than 90% of upper respiratory infections. Anti-biotics have no effect on viruses. None! They combat only bacterial infections. Reckless use of anti-biotics does considerably more harm than good, because it contributes to proliferation of drug-resistant strains of bacteria. In women and girls, excessive use of anti-biotics promotes frequent urinary tract and “yeast” infections.
You may elect to keep Tami-Flu or another anti-viral drug on hand in case flu strikes. Because flu comes-on suddenly and unmistakably, take your anti-viral medication at the first sign you are sick. When those unmistakable body aches and those uncontrollable chills attack, take your meds, and continue taking them as directed.
Photo by deanspic
You can check your symptoms and learn more about how to manage the flu by visiting CDC.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm. The site offers in the information in several languages and lists toll-free numbers you can call for even more information. Unless you develop serious complications from your cold or flu, do not call the doctor or visit the emergency room. Physicians can do very little to treat you, and you put other people at-risk of contamination with your viruses. Stay home, rest, and treat your symptoms.
Safely, Effectively Relieve the Symptoms
With either a cold or the flu, you will run a fever about 100.5° F, and you will suffer brutal body aches and serious chills. Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen to reduce your fever and relieve your aches. If you take statins or other heart medications, check with your doctor to see which non-aspirin pain reliever will work best with your meds. In extreme cases, you may alternate two aspirin and two acetaminophen every two hours.
Stay hydrated! In addition to water and clear soups, drink electrolyte replacement beverages to maintain your energy and biochemical equilibrium. Especially if you suffer frequent diarrhea, drink all the clear liquids you can. But be aware of one very important exception to this rule. Extreme vomiting is one of the distinctive symptoms of H1N1 flu. If you cannot drink even a little bit of liquid without vomiting, immediately call your doctor or advice nurse.
Saline nasal spray safely and effectively reduces nasal and sinus congestion. If nasal spray alone does not bring all the relief you need, you may use pseudo-ephedrine. In many states, however, “cold and flu” medications containing pseudo-ephedrine require prescriptions, because the powerful decongestant doubles as the prime ingredient in meth-amphetamine. Anti-histamines and histamine blockers will not relieve viral sinus congestion, because they combat only common allergens—pollen, dust, and pet dander.
If you develop chest congestion and a cough, use cough syrups containing dextro-methorphan to calm the cough reflex and guiafensen to reduce congestion. Try not to use cough syrups containing alcohol, because many are higher proof than straight Irish whiskey. If you begin wheezing, you may use an over-the-counter inhaler. Follow the printed instructions very carefully, because excessive use of the inhaler not only affects your heart but also your state of mind; the active ingredients in the bronchial mist can cause anxiety, irritability, and sleeplessness.
Grandma Knew Best
The entire traditional home remedies work well for quick, safe, long-lasting relief of your symptoms. Chicken soup keeps you hydrated, soothes your sore throat, and calms digestive symptoms. Hot tea with honey and lemon not only soothes your throat but also gives you vitamins and anti-oxidants to help battle your virus. A humidifier with essential mint and eucalyptus will ease your congestion at least as well as your inhaler. And grandma’s patented aromatherapy pillow spray with lavender and chamomile will help you get the deep, recuperative sleep you need. If grandma prescribes it, you know it will do you a world of good.
