Dont

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Dont
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Catch
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Me If
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You Can
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Each year people in the United States suffer 1
billion colds!
Adults average 2-4 colds/year.
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Common Cold Symptoms A cold develops gradually. 
Initial symptoms of runny nose, sneezing, and
chills are followed by coughing, headache, sore
throat, loss of appetite, and nasal discharge. 
If fever is present, it will be low-grade (less
than 101 degrees).
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The common cold may be caused by more than 200
different viruses.
Medications can help relieve cold symptoms, but
only time can cure a cold.
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• You are less likely to develop cold symptoms if
  you have a strong immune system. 
  
• To keep your immune system in shape, try to
• GET 8 HOURS OF
• SLEEP EACH NIGHT.
• MAINTAIN A BALANCED DIET.
• EXERCISE.
• TRY TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT
• OF STRESS IN YOUR LIFE.
• DON'T SMOKE!

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Can Cold Weather Cause A Cold?
Although many people are convinced that a cold
results from exposure to cold weather or from
getting chilled or overheated, these conditions
have little or no effect on the development or
severity of a cold. On the other hand, research
suggests that psychological stress, allergic
disorders affecting the nasal passages or throat,
and menstrual cycles may have an impact on a
person's susceptibility to colds.
(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases)
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Over the Counter Cold Remedies Get
the Scoop On What They Do
Antihistamines block the action of histamines,
chemicals involved in the bodys allergic
response. When used to treat cold symptoms,
antihistamines are usually combined with
decongestants, and may help relieve your runny
nose, sneezing and itchy eyes. These drugs make
you drowsy, however, and should not be taken if
you need to drive, concentrate well or operate
machinery.

Analgesics such as acetaminophen Ibuprofen
can help relieve headaches, muscle aches, fever
and sore throat. Ibuprofen also has
anti-inflammatory effects, but should be avoided
by people with ulcers because it is harsh on the
stomach. Acetaminophen has far fewer side
effects, but lacks the anti-inflammatory effects
of Ibuprofen.
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Decongestants help shrink swollen blood vessels
in the nose and air passages. They should not be
taken by anyone with high blood pressure, an
irregular heart rhythm, glaucoma or heart
disease.
Cough suppressants help prevent the cough reflex
and are used to relieve dry coughs. They often
contain the ingredient dextromethophan (DM).
Cough expectorants help clear phlegm from your
throat and are used to relieve wet coughs.
Nasal sprays are decongestants applied directly
to the affected area. These should not be used
for more than 3 days, since they create a
rebound effect, increasing your congestion
after the decongestant effect wears off.
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Alternative Therapies
Make it Steamy!
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Rest Up!
Inhaling steam can relieve congestion and cough.
Get plenty of rest and avoid fatigue to help the
body fight off the virus.
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Drink Plenty of Fluids!
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Gargle Salt Water
Make sure to drink 8-12 glasses per day. Fluids
help thin secretions and keep membranes moist and
more resistant to infection. Avoid beverages with
caffeine as caffeine can dehydrate you. 
Salt water gargles can help relieve the
inflammation and pain of a sore throat. 
(Mix ½ teaspoon table salt in 8 ounces of warm
water and gargle every two to three hours.) 
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Take your Vitamins from A to Zinc
Zinc lozenges have gotten a lot of publicity
recently as a weapon against colds. The lozenges
should be started as soon as the first tickle of
a sore throat is felt in order to be effective. 
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Vitamin C
The severity of a cold may be limited by regular
low doses (250 mg per day) of Vitamin C before
you get a cold.  Do Not take Vitamin C if you
have kidney stones or a stomach ulcer.
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Lotion Up!
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Petroleum jelly or skin lotion can ease chapped
skin around the nose and lips.
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Humidify!
Use a cool mist humidifier to relieve congestion
and moisten dry mucous membranes. Use a Steam
Vaporizer to promote drainage of nasal sinuses.
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Its Time to See the Doc if

• Your symptoms have lasted more than 10 days.
• You have a severe sore throat, earache, or
  headache not relieved by Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
  
• You have a history of tuberculosis, rheumatic
  fever, kidney disease, or heart disease.
  
• You have severe chest pain or shortness of
  breath.
  
• You are coughing up thick, green or bloody
  phlegm.
  
• You have swollen glands or hard sore lumps on
  the sides or back of your neck.

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Avoid the Common Cold
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Flu/Influenza Symptoms The flu often strikes abru
ptly, with a sudden high fever, dry cough, and
headache. Other symptoms may include muscle
aches, weakness, a sore throat, runny nose, and
red, watery eyes that are sensitive to light.
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Like the common cold, the flu is a viral
infection and there is no cure.
Once a person gets the flu, not much can be done
except to alleviate the symptoms.  The best
treatment is prevention by immunization.
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The Flu Shot
The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine
(containing killed virus) that is given with a
needle, usually in the arm.
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Immunization

• The vaccine starts to protect you after a week
  or two and protection may last up to one year.
  
• Because viruses change so often, it is possible
  to get the flu even if you have received the
  vaccine.  However, people who do get the flu
  after being vaccinated usually have a milder case
  than those who did not get the vaccine.
• The most common side effects are soreness at the
  injection site, fever, weakness,
  muscle aches, and allergic
  reactions.
• The flu vaccine will not cause the flu.

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• You Should Get A Flu Shot If
• You have a chronic health condition such as
  asthma.
  
• Youre pregnant.
• You work in healthcare and have direct contact
  with patients.
  
• You care for children less than 6 months of
  age.
  
• You live in a group setting.

• You Should Not Get A Flu Shot If
• You are allergic to eggs.
• You have an illness involving fever.
• You have reacted to injections in the past.

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Antibiotics Why They Wont Help You Get Over

a Cold or the Flu
The common cold and the flu are both caused by v
iruses. Viruses are not susceptible to
antibiotics. Some people immediately want
antibiotics when they are not feeling well and
become agitated when their doctors will not
prescribe them. Keep in mind that antibiotics are
only effective against bacterial infections and
will not kill cold or flu viruses, or help aches,
pains, or fever.
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Antibiotic Resistance What Doesnt Kill Them
Makes Them Stronger
Today many antibiotics dont pack the same punch
as they did 50 years ago. The reason some
strains of bacteria have evolved to be able to
survive the effects of these powerful drugs.
Taking antibiotics for a viral infection may
increase the chance of a drug-resistant bacterial
infection appearing at a later time.
Patients should not skip doses or stop taking an
antibiotic as soon as they feel better. They
should complete the full course of the
medication. Otherwise, the drug may not kill all
the infectious bacteria, allowing the remaining
bacteria to become resistant.
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MRSA
MRSA is one type of bacteria that has become
resistant to many common antibiotics.
MRSA is no more dangerous than other bacterial
infections of the skin. The reason why MRSA has
been in the news lately is that, due to
antibiotic resistance, it is difficult to treat.
MRSA does not pose a threat to healthy
individuals. MRSA infections occur most
frequently among patients in hospitals and
healthcare facilities who are already ill when
they come into contact with the bacteria.
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How to prevent antibiotic resistance

• Dont ask for antibiotics if you are told that
  you have a cold or the flu. Antibiotics are only
  effective against bacterial infections and will
  not kill cold or flu viruses or help relieve
  aches, pains, or fever.
• If you are prescribed an antibiotic, dont skip
  doses.
  
• Dont discontinue the use of antibiotics because
  you feel better. If you dont finish the
  prescribed medication, the drug may not have a
  chance to kill all of the infectious bacteria,
  allowing the remaining bacteria to become
  resistant.

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The Many Faces of the Headache
Tension headaches are the most common type of
headache. They generally develop gradually, and
often involve the entire head as well as the neck
and shoulders.  They probably are not actually
caused by increased muscle tension, although
muscle relaxation techniques can be very useful
in treatment. 
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Cluster headaches are sharp headaches lasting
minutes to hours that occur day after day at a
similar time over a period of weeks. They are
more common in men, and are more difficult to
treat than most headaches.  Oxygen therapy and
many of the medications used to prevent or treat
migraine headaches may be used to treat cluster
headaches.
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Migraine headaches are "bad headaches" that may
be accompanied by visual phenomena such as dark
or bright spots, streaks of light, or tunnel
vision (aura).  Migraine headaches usually
develop on one side. They are throbbing in
nature, and often accompanied by nausea and
increased sensitivity to light and noise.
Migraine headaches are treatable and often
preventable.
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Sinus headaches are frontal headaches that some
people experience with sinus infection and with
changes in the weather.  Allergies can also
provoke them.
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Headache Prevention Treatment

• Get enough sleep.
• Choose healthy foods.
• Exercise.
• Quit Smoking.
• Relax! Work on reducing the amount of stress in
  your life.
  
• Take yoga classes.
• Try over-the-counter pain medications like
  aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen.