For advertising information call 859.368.0778 or email [email protected] | March 2016
ADVICE FROM YOUR
&
21
LOCAL DOC
Coping with a Cold and the Flu
FIRST FIND OUT WHICH ILLNESS YOU HAVE
By Dr. Diana
Hayslip,
Family Practice
Associates of
Lexington, P.S.C.
Catching a
cold or getting the flu seems to be
an inevitability during the winter
months. How can you deal with a
cold or the flu – or perhaps even
shorten the duration of the illness –
so you can get back to your regular,
healthy lifestyle?
First, it’s important to differentiate between cold and flu symptoms.
A cold is a mild respiratory illness.
The flu can make you feel very ill for
a few days or even weeks. It can also
cause severe health complications
such as pneumonia.
Cold symptoms include a cough
that produces phlegm, runny and/
or stuffy nose, sneezing and a sore
throat. Several hundred different
viruses may cause these symptoms,
which last for about a week.
The flu produces a fever between
100 degrees F and 102 degrees F
that can last three or four days. (A
common cold rarely has symptoms
of fever above 101 degrees F.) You
may also experience chills, body
aches and a phlegmless (dry) cough.
To prevent succumbing to either
of these illnesses, the age-old advice
still holds true:
Get a Flu Shot.
Well before the flu season swings
into high gear, get a flu shot. It will
take a couple of weeks for antibodies
to develop in your body to provide
protection against the flu.
Keep your hands germ free by washing them often with hot soapy water
Wash Your Hands.
Cold and flu viruses enter your
body through the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes or mouth.
When you touch any of these areas,
you may be spreading the virus, so
keep your hands germ free by washing them often with hot soapy water
or using hand sanitizer.
Drink Plenty of Fluids.
You need to stay hydrated when
you’re battling a cold or the flu. Hot
liquids will relieve nasal congestion
and soothe inflamed membranes.
Chicken noodle soup, orange juice
and warm lemon water with honey
are good beverage choices. Alcohol,
coffee and caffeinated sodas only
make dehydration worse.
Get Lots of Rest.
Your body needs time to set its
defenses and recover when a cold or
the flu hits. Don’t try to “tough it
out” by forcing yourself to go to
work. You