Colds and Flu - Keep the bugs from getting you

Did you know that colds can be caused by more than 200 rhinoviruses - the word literally means nose viruses - and are amoung the most common illnesses people get. In addition, one in 4 people world wide get flu every year.

How do you differentiate between a cold and a flu ?

Although colds and flu share some of the same symptoms - coughs, sore throats, nasal congestion and muscle aches - they're caused by entirely different viruses, and flu symptoms are usually more severe. A cold tends to be more upper respiratory, with nasal congestion, sore throat and ear ache. When you get into the flu, it tends to be more in the chest.

Fever is another tip-off. With flu, your temperature may shoot up to 101 degree Fahrenheit or higher within a few hours, while a cold may not cause much of a fever at all. Perhaps the main difference between a flu and a cold is the severity of the illness - flu tends to be far more uncomfortable - and dangerous, experts say.

Cold War Defenses

Given the huge number of cold viruses out there, preparing an effective vaccine is virtually impossible. But the flu has only three main stains A, B and C - which makes it easier to prepare a vaccine against flu.

The principle behind a vaccine is simple. When you take a serum that contains the inactivated viruses, your immune system is stimulated to make antibodies to kill the same type of virus in the future - without making you sick in the process. Studies have shown that an annual flu shot will prevent about 70 percent of flu cases.

After you get the shot, it will take your immune system about two weeks to marshal its defenses. So don't wait until the flu's already swept through the office before seeing your doctor.

Practical Prevention

Although the viruses that cause both flu and colds are everywhere, there are some simple ways to lower your risk. Here's what experts recommend.

• Wash your hands more often : Cold and flu viruses are often spread by hand-to-mouth or hand-to-eye contact. Washing your hands several times a day will wash away the chance of secondary bacterial infections. If someone at home is already sick, cleaning surfaces will also help prevent germs from spreading.
• Stay far from the sniffing crowd : Did you know that one hearty sneeze can launch virus-laden nose droplets up to 12 feet ? So it might be a good idea to stay away from cramped social settings, at least when the virus has been cutting a swath through your community.
• Stop Smoking : Cigarette smoke paralysis the protective, hair like cilia in your airways that help sweep virus-laden mucus from your body. This is why smokers are far more likely to catch colds than nonsmokers. So don't smoke, and if someone else lights up, light out.
• Address Stress : Studies have found that the more stressed a person is, the more likely he was to catch a cold. Scientists suspect that stress releases hormones that suppress your immune system, making you more vulnerable to colds and other infections. Studies, however, also show that even simple relaxation techniques, like slow, deep breathing or just hanging out with friends, can help the immune system work more efficiently.
  

Finding comfort

Although there is no cure for these viral interlopers, there is a way to make yourself more comfortable.

• Bring out the big guns : When your flu is caused by the type-A virus, your doctor may recommend a prescription drug called amantadine. Taken within two days of the onset of symptoms, amantadine can cut the duration of your illness in half.
• Drink up : Drinking 8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses of water a day should help keep virus fighting mucus thin and fluid. Warm liquids are usually more soothing than cold ones.
• Go easy on the booze : Alcohol can suppress your immune system and make you even more uncomfortable by drying out mucous membranes. So stop drinking atleast till you are feeling better.
• Eat well : Good nutrition - lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, along with protein sources, like beans, dairy products and lean meats - makes for a stronger immune system. While a well rounded diet won't prevent colds and flu, it will improve your odds for staying healthy.
• Exercise a cold : Regular exercise can help prevent colds by strengthening your immune system. But research also suggests that exercising during the cold also might help you get over it. But there are several "buts". Wait until acute symptoms have passed - usually 3 days - and go easy. Do not exercise if you are experiencing chest congestion, aching muscles, a hacking cough or fever.
• But rest the flu : While regular exercise may be good for colds, it is not so great for flu. Experts say that overexerting yourself can allow flu viruses to do even deeper damage such as invading muscles. Before returning to your exercise routine, it is best to wait for two weeks after your symptom is gone.
• Wet the air : Adding moisture to the air with a vaporizer or moisturizer will help keep your airways lubed.
• Get yourself a new toothbrush : Viruses and bacteria can linger for hours outside the body. Both can linger on your toothbrush. It is not the virus but the bacterial infection that can make a cold or flu last longer. Doctors advise getting yourself a new toothbrush so you are not reinfecting yourself.
• Soothe your sore throat : While over the counter medicated lozenges will help relieve sore throat pain, just sucking on hard candy, which stimulates the flow of saliva, can also be helpful. You can also try gargling with a solution made from one to three teaspoons of salt in a glass of warm water. Drinking warm liquids, like tea with honey and lemon, can help too.
• Turn up the heat : Hot peppers contain a fiery substance called capsaicin, which will cause the mucous membranes to secrete more liquid - one of the body's ways of eliminating viruses. So when illness strikes, make your favorite cuisine extra hot.
• Try chicken soup : All over the globe, hot chicken soup is remedy of choice for colds. It not only gets the mucus flowing but also inhibits the action of neurophils, blood cells that cause nasal congestion and discomfort.
• Blow gently : Blowing your nose hard could blast the infection back into your ears or sinuses. So take care to blow gently, one nostril at a time.
• Take vitamin C supplements : Drinking about 5 glasses a day of juice - orange, tomato, grapefruit or pineapple - will provide 500 milligrams of vitamin C - a safe and effective amount . Other high vitamin C foods include broccoli, brussels sprouts and strawberries.