JUNE 2012 - Do you have a Cold or the Flu?

There are differences between having a common cold and having the flu.  We will look at the symptoms of both, which help you and your family this cold season.

What is a Cold? Colds are caused by viruses.

There are over 100 viruses that cause the common cold, with at least one virus in circulation at any one time.  While infected, your;

4 Nose

4 Throat

4 And sometimes your Lungs

are filled with these germs.  Whilst the common cold is usually considered as mild, there can be more  serious health issues for those who suffer from asthma and/or chronic illnesses.

Why are Colds so easy to catch?

The viruses that cause colds are passed on by;

4 Hand to hand contact

4 Contact with objects touched or coughed on by someone with a cold

4 Contact with an affected person

4 Inhaling airborne droplets

  

Ways to avoid getting a Cold

ü Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands regularly. If you are out & about and can’t get to a sink, use hand sanitizer.

ü Avoid touching your nose, eyes and nail biting.

ü Always use a tissue to catch your sneeze or cough.

ü Boost your immune system.

What is the Flu?

Influenza or flu is a viral infection that is contagious, and affects the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs but the affects can also be felt throughout the body, and is generally more serious, particularly for people with chronic illnesses.

The flu spreads the same way the cold does, but let’s look at ways of preventing the flu.  If you have the flu; (will continue over the page)

ü Avoid contact with other people

ü Wash hands regularly with soap, or use hand sanitizer

ü Clean surfaces such as bench tops, door knobs 

ü Telephones, bathroom taps with disinfectant

ü Don’t share beds, eating utensils, drink bottles, toothbrushes etc with anyone else

ü Keep the house well ventilated, even in winter as the flu thrives in dry conditions

ü Always sneeze & cough into a tissue, and wash your hands afterwards.

If you have the flu, you may experience lethargy, muscle & joint aches, have a fever and headache.  The best remedy is total rest, take fluids i.e. water, electrolytes, warm lemon sips but if your symptoms get worse, and your flu doesn’t go away within a week or suffer from a chronic illness such as heart disease, diabetes or asthma then seek medical advice from your doctor.

There are some soothing tissues in the market today, which help reduce the redness around the nose i.e. Kleenex Aloe Vera & Kleenex Eucalyptus.  The eucalyptus tissues are extremely beneficial in clearing a blocked nose, and smell wonderful.

The Aloe Vera tissues really sooth the skin around the nose, reducing chaffing around the nose.

Boosting your immune system is important to prevent the cold or flu, and Calanna have some great products available this month to help achieve that.