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It is that time of year again. The temperatures are dropping, snow is falling and you get the dreaded phone call from your child‘s school. “Mrs. Smith, this is the school nurse. I have Johnny here and he isn’t feeling well. could you please come and pick him up from school?”
If you are anything like me you don’t like getting calls like this because once one person in your family is sick, soon everyone will have it. Colds, the flu and other germs can spread like wildfire. But, how do you know if it is just the cold or the influenza virus? Our friends at the Cleveland clinic Akron General, have supplied some ideas for your family during the height cold and flu season.
Cascia Talbert
Founder
Healthy mommies Magazine
Is It a cold or the Flu?
“Flu activity a lot of frequently peaks in the united states between December and February,” according to the Centers for disease control and Prevention (CDC). Fortunately, though, there are some steps that you can take to help secure yourself and your loved ones from cold and flu.
Get a flu shot – it’s not too late! It’s your best flu prevention method and it can minimize your chances of catching the flu and can minimize the severity of your symptoms.
Wash your hands before eating and don’t put your hands near your face or in your mouth.
If someone in your family has the flu, clean and disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated with germs.
Help your immune system fight off a cold or flu by eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, exercising moderately, managing anxiety and avoiding drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
Stock the cabinets
“In preparation for the cold and flu season it’s advisable to stock up on some basic items for home,” says Douglas W. Harley, DO, Cleveland clinic Akron general primary care physician. “These can include a supply of facial tissues, cough drops/syrup, hydrating fluids such as water or sports drinks, and NSAIDs such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen. These basic supplies will allow you to weather a lot of of the symptoms the cold or the flu might throw at you this season. Preventative items such as vitamin C, Echinacea, and other over-the-counter vitamins may offer some added benefit in stopping the onset of a cold or the flu, however the current medical literature is limited on their effectiveness.”
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I’m sick, now what?
Since cold and flu are both viruses, antibiotics are not effective in treating either illness. The following items may help to minimize symptoms of cold and flu, though:
Medications to relieve aches and fever
Medications for congestion and nasal discharge
Bed rest and boosted intake of fluids
Warm, salt water gargling for sore throat
Warm steam for congestion
Is it a cold or the flu?
Well, just how sick are you? Sometimes, the symptoms can be similar. The flu comes on unexpectedly and your symptoms are a lot more intense – your fever is higher, your cough is a lot more severe and you may experience strong aches, pains and fatigue. Colds are typically milder than the flu and can linger from several days to several weeks. below are some of the symptoms of a cold versus the flu.
Cold symptoms:
Low-grade fever
Chills
Headache
Sneezing and/or a stuffy, runny nose
Mild, hacking cough
Scratchy, tickly or sore throat
Achy muscles and bones or fatigue
Flu symptoms:
High fever
Often severe aches and pains
Headache (more common with flu than cold)
Sometimes sneezing
Cough, often becoming severe
Clear nasal discharge
Sometimes a sore throat
Extreme exhaustion
Several weeks of fatigue
When is “the flu” not the flu?
With the “stomach flu” or “24-hour flu,” severe bouts of vomiting and diarrhea, or gastroenteritis, can make you just as miserable as flu, but the viruses that activate them are different. A stomach virus targets your intestines rather than your airways, which is where the flu virus attacks.
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When must I see my doctor?
While a cold or flu often can be treated at home, a lot more severe cases require a doctor’s care, especially for young children or the elderly who are a lot more likely to develop complications. If you have symptoms of the flu and are in a high risk group, or are very sick or anxious about your illness, contact your health care provider.
For flu patients, antiviral medications, when started within the first two days of symptoms, may minimize how long you’ll have the flu and the severity of symptoms. If you suspect you have the flu, it’s crucial to be seen by a doctor as soon as possible in buy to possibly benefit from antiviral medications.
Emergency rooms are for people who are very sick; the CDC recommends that you do not go to an er if you are only mildly ill. If you or a family member are experiencing any of the below emergency alerting signs, it may be time to visit an emergency room.
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Pressure or pain in the chest
Confusion, disorientation or fainting
Severe or persistent vomiting
Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Your primary care physician (PCP) is the best person to visit if you are sick, considering that they know your health history. If you are unable to see your PCP, visit akrongeneral.org/flu for a complete list of Cleveland clinic and Akron general locations that can supply prompt treatment. through Cleveland clinic Akron General’s expanded network, we’re sure to be where you need us.
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates scientific and healthcare facility care with research and education. located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four distinguished physicians with a vision of supplying impressive individual care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland clinic has pioneered lots of medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S.News & world report consistently names Cleveland clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s best Hospitals” survey. a lot more than 3,000 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. The Cleveland clinic health system includes a main campus near downtown Cleveland, eight community hospitals, a lot more than 90 northern Ohio outpatient locations, including 18 full-service family health centers, Cleveland clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo center for brain health in Las Vegas, Cleveland clinic Canada, and Cleveland clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2014, there were 5.9 million outpatient visits throughout the Cleveland clinic health system and 152,500 healthcare facility admissions. individuals came for treatment from every state and 147 countries. visit us at www.clevelandclinic.org. follow us at www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic.
about Cleveland clinic Akron General
Cleveland clinic Akron general is a nonprofit healthcare organization that has been improving the health and lives of the people and communities it serves considering that 1914. Akron general includes: Akron general medical Center, a 532-bed teaching and research medical center, and Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation, the area’s largest provider of rehabilitation services; Akron general Partners, which includes Partners physician Group, the Akron general health & wellness Centers, Lodi community Hospital, community health Centers and other companies; Akron general checking out nurse service and Affiliates; and Akron general Foundation. Recently, U.S. news & world report ranked Akron general medical center as the seventh best healthcare facility in Ohio. For a lot more information about Akron General, visit akrongeneral.org.
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*image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
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