“ If you’ re sleep deprived, you’ re not feeling your best,” she said.“ Or, if you’ re not eating well, that automatically makes your immune system have to work just a little bit harder, and so you’ re more susceptible to illnesses.”
For those unlucky enough to come down with something, Dr. Smith said that there are no good treatments for them. Colds and flus are caused by viruses, not bacteria, and treatments like antibiotic are only helpful against bacterial infections.
There is a medicine called Tamiflu that can help with flu symptoms, she said, but it only shortens the duration of those symptoms“ by 24 hours, we think.”
Still, that could be a major benefit for those who are susceptible to the flu or are at risk for developing other illnesses, she said.
The threat of other illnesses is why Dr. Smith recommends people who are having flu and cold symptoms get checked out by their doctors, she said.
“ We always recommend that if you are feeling bad at all, if you have a fever, cough, anything like that, it’ s good to just see your doctor. One of the treatments for these things, since most things going around right now are viruses, the treatments are symptomatic, supportive care – fluids, Tylenol, Motrin, over the counter medicines – if your doctor thinks they’ re appropriate for you.
“ But we still want you to be seen, because there’ s a lot of secondary infections that can happen,” she said.“ Occasionally people will develop pneumonia as a complication from the flu and these other viruses, and that’ s something that needs antibiotics. We like to at least keep tabs on our patients that are sick. That way they don’ t develop these complications.”
People should especially see the doctor if they are experiencing shortness of breath or symptoms that linger for longer than a week, she said.
While the flu or a cold doesn’ t cause pneumonia, it can weaken a person’ s immune system for a secondary infection to take over, she said.
December 2025 SEKY- Southeast Kentucky Life • 17