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Colds & FluCold As Ice and The Boogie Woogie Flu
With all the medical advances we witnessevery day, its
disappointing that we stillhavent figured out how to defeat the
commoncold and flu. The average American will sufferthrough two to
four colds each year, and mil-lions will also endure at least one
bout of theflu. Each episode can represent a week or twoof lost
productivity and enjoyment.
Even though there is no cure, there are thingsyou can do to
reduce your chances of catchingone of these nasty conditions. And
if you docatch a cold or flu, there are self-care tech-niques you
can employ to ease your miseryand feel better fast.
Do I Have the Cold or the Flu?Although they feel similarand
certainly hor-riblecold and flu are very different illnesses.Check
out the chart below for some of thekey differences between colds
and the flu.
When to Seek Care for a Cold or the FluThe symptoms described
here can be signs of
conditions more serious than the average coldor flu. When a
person experiences thesesymptoms, they should seek the advice of
ahealthcare professional.
If symptoms last more than 10 days.
If pain or swelling over sinuses getsworse when bending over or
moving the head, especially with a fever of101F or higher.
If a cold is accompanied by troublebreathing or wheezing.
If you experience swollen, painful neckglands or pain in the
ears.
A headache that persists during a cold orflu is a sign that you
should see a health-care provider.
If you have a sore throat that is very redor has white
spots.
A cough with phlegm that is green, gray,or yellow means you may
need to see ahealthcare provider.
Seek medical care if a temperature ishigher than 102F in a
3-month to 3-year-old child; over 104F in a 3 to 64-year-old; or
102F or higher in someoneage 65 or older.
Participants Guide 2004 WELLNESS COUNCILS OF AMERICA 39
Fever rare 102-104+, 3-4 days
Headache rare prominent,sudden onset
General aches slight usual, and pains often severe
Fatigue or mild can last weakness 2-3 weeks
Extreme never early and exhaustion prominent
Stuffy nose common sometimes
Sneezing usual sometimes
Sore throat common sometimes
Chest discomfort, mild to common,cough moderate can become
severe
Symptom Cold Flu
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Colds & Flu (continued) If a foul smell comes from the
throat,
nose, or ears.
Treating the Cold or Flu at Home Check out the following tips to
feel better fastwhen you are battling a cold or flu.
Drink Fluidsdrinking at least eight, 8oz. glasses of fluid daily
thins your mucus,helping it to flow. Hot drinks and soups
areespecially effective.
Humidify Your Environmentmoisturehelps. Use the shower, a
humidifier, orbreathe over a bowl of hot water.
Get Restgoing to work with a cold isntnecessarily going to make
it worse, but keepin mind you are most contagious in the first48
hours.
Cough and Blowblow your nose gentlyand often, and cough as
needed. You want tokeep the phlegm moving, not suppress it.
Garglegargle three times daily with saltwater to soothe your
sore throat. Salt helpssterilize the bacteria in the back of
yourthroat and promotes the healing of inflamedtissues. To make a
salt solution, stir 1/2 tea-spoon of salt in a glass of warm water
andgargle for 30-60 seconds.
Dont Take Antibioticsunless theres solidmedical evidence that
you have a secondarybacterial infection. If you are unsure, seeyour
healthcare provider.
Take an Over-The-Counter (OTC)RemedyTake single-ingredient
productslike Sudafed or Robitussin only as neededand as directed.
Make sure you read thelabel warnings and only take something ifyou
really need it. Be careful about interac-tions between
over-the-counter and pre-scribed medications.
PreventionTheres no question about itthe best way todeal with a
cold or flu is to avoid it in the firstplace. By taking a few
precautions, you candramatically cut your chances of picking upone
of these viruses. Here are some tips toconsider.
Wash your hands thoroughly and often.
Avoid touching your eyes and nosebetween hand washings.
Get at least eight hours of sleep eachnight so your body isnt
run down.
Avoid physical contact with sick people if possible.
Consider staying home during the firstfew days of a cold, when
youre mostcontagious.
Wash your hands after contact with sick people.
Eat a healthy diet, including five servings of fruits and
vegetables daily.
Use a humidifier during cold and flu season.
Consider getting a flu shot.
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Colds and Flu ChallengeReturn this card to your Tune In To Your
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Take The KNOW ChallengeColds & Flu Challenge
Cold as Ice, and the Boogie Woogie FluRecognizing the difference
between the cold and flu is an important step to speeding relief
andgetting well. Complete the chart below according to the Cold
& Flu information you just read.
Symptom Cold Flu
Fever
Headache
General Aches & Pains
Fatigue or Weakness
Extreme Exhaustion
Stuffy Nose
Sneezing
Sore Throat
Chest Discomfort