Cold and Flu Help -- Squash Those Bugs

 

  True or false: If you're feeling under the weather, chicken
  soup will cure your ills? The answer is false, according to
  the American Lung Association. The ALA debunks the
  "starve a fever, feed a cold" myth, as well as the
  misconception that cold weather brings on colds and flu.
  Instead of guessing how to treat those sniffles and
  sneezes, follow the guidelines set forth by the ALA's site
  and other online resources. Along the way, you'll learn
  the difference between the cold and the flu, how to treat
  both and why you and your family should consider getting
  flu shots.

  Do I Have a Cold or the Flu?

  Before you blame your sniffles on a cold, or say allergies
  are making you sneeze, visit Better Homes and Gardens'
  Family Health Guide to Colds, Flu and Allergies. You'll
  learn about the symptoms for these three conditions so
  you can tell them apart and begin treating whichever is
  making you feel lousy. If you're still a bit confused, check
  out the Mayo Clinic's article "Cold, flu or pneumonia -- Do
  you have the one you think you do?" It educates readers
  on the difference between the flu and the common cold.
  The article warns that while a cold can be annoying and
  make you feel lousy, the flu, in susceptible people, can
  lead to pneumonia, a potentially fatal infection of the
  lungs.

  If you want to get the lowdown straight from the ALA,
  check out its Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment
  of Influenza and the Common Cold. This helpful site
  answers the questions what is a cold? and what, exactly,
  is the flu? According to the ALA, the influenza virus is
  mainly spread by airborne transmission, unlike colds,
  which most likely are spread by direct contact. To test
  your knowledge, take the Ounce of Prevention Cold and
  Flu Quiz.

  Treating Common Colds and the Flu

  OK, you've determined that you're not feeling well, so now
  what? You can start your road to recovery by revisiting
  the ALA, where you'll find practical guidelines for the
  prevention and treatment of influenza and the common
  cold, complete with explanations of antihistamines,
  cough suppressants and other medications.

  While drinking adequate quantities of liquids, water or
  juices and getting rest may chase away your sniffles, the
  flu often requires medication. If you visited Better Homes
  and Gardens earlier, you probably spotted the Guide to
  Remedies. If not, go back and review the facts about
  common nonprescription remedies for cold, flu and
  seasonal allergy symptoms. The National Institute of
  Allergy and Infectious Diseases has put together a Fact
  Sheet on the flu that includes brief summaries of
  preventions, treatments and complications that's also
  worth a look.

  Get the Flu Shot, Not the Flu

  The ALA tells us that since the late '40s, the flu vaccine
  has been the best way to prevent influenza or lessen its
  severity. Because the virus undergoes constant change,
  new vaccines are developed yearly to protect the public
  from the most recently isolated viral strains.

  So who should get a flu shot? That's the question we
  asked when we returned to the Mayo Health Clinic and
  used its handy search engine to locate articles on the flu.
  Sure enough, the search returned must-reads such as
  "Annual flu shot -- Have you had yours?", "Flu shot --
  Who needs it and why?" and "Have you had your shots?"
  We also found a brand new feature on flu fighting drugs --
  it covers new treatments, time-tested approaches and
  pharmaceuticals currently in the works.

  For additional information about who should and who
  should not have the flu vaccine, as well as its risks and
  side-effects, read up on the influenza vaccine at the
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  The CDC reports that flu shots can reduce the chance of
  contracting this disease by 60 percent to 80 percent, so
  get yours today!