You know the symptoms – a runny nose, a sneezing and scratchy throat. Are you getting the dreaded cold? What what if you also have a fever, aches and chills? Then you might have the flu.
Whether it’s a cold or the flu, getting sick is never fun. Wouldn’t it be better if you could avoid a cold or flu in the first place this season? You can take simple steps to decrease your changes of getting sick:
Prevention
Clean shared surfaces: Wipe down items like telephones, keyboards, steering wheels and doorknobs often.
Get the flu shot: It’s the best way to protect yourself from the flu.
Avoid close contact with those who are sick: This will help reduce your chances of getting infected.
Wash Your Hands Like a Pro
Handwashing is one of the most important ways to prevent the transmission of disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Wash your hands after touching someone who is ill or after touching an object a sick person has touched. Also, remember to keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth unless you’ve washed your hands.
Treatment
You can combat much of the discomfort from colds and flu with over-the-counter medications. However, be sure that you know what ingredients are in all the drugs to avoid taking too much. Check with your doctor before taking any new medications, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Antibiotics aren’t effective in treating viral infections like a cold or the flu, although a doctor may prescribe you them if you develop a secondary infection like sinusitis or pneumonia.
Remember to Get Your Flu Shot!
The best way to protect yourself against the flu is to get vaccinated each year. Vaccine experts now recommend that everyone six months and older get a flu shot. Talk to your doctor about getting a flu shot if you have an allergy to eggs or any other ingredient in the vaccine, ever had Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), or are not feeling well.
Source: Empire