Two deadly diseasesMeasles and the flu have been two popular topics in our local news.
Oddly enough, my husband has a connection to both these viral epidemics!
Since January, our state (Washington) has been dealing with a measles outbreak. It began when an unvaccinated adult returned from overseas, unknowingly infected with the measles. This person went to many public places and exposed countless individuals to the virus.
One … read on
Over-the-counter medicines can be costly (and unnecessary)There are two ways to save money at the drugstore:
I’ve written a lot of posts on this topic because I think it’s one of the easiest ways to save money on health care, and certainly the one we have the most control … read on
What is sinusitis?Following my recent post about nasal sprays, I thought it a good time to talk about sinusitis and some simple home treatments.
Sinusitis is the inflammation of sinus tissue. The swelling blocks normal drainage, which can lead to a viral or bacterial infection.
Sinusitis can be caused by colds, allergies, the overuse of decongestant nasal sprays, or a physical blockage, such as a deviated septum … read on
Over-the-counter nasal spraysIt’s cold season, and I see so many ads in the media for nasal sprays.
The best tip for saving money on OTC nasal sprays is to know the ingredients used in the different products. Read the labels!
When you understand which ingredient is best for which nasal problem, you can shop for the best price.
Nasal sprays fall roughly into three categories:
Not really.It’s cold season and products that claim to prevent or significantly shorten colds are flying off the drugstore shelves.
The best strategy to prevent a cold is to wash your hands frequently.
Still, the advertisements for such products are both pervasive and persuasive. But are they worth buying?
Vitamin C and zinc are the supplements used in most of these products. You can buy them in capsules, lozenges, … read on
Wash your nose?I wrote in a previous post that frequent hand washing is your best defense against a cold virus.
But what about washing your nose? The inside of your nose, to be exact.
You just need a neti pot.
The neti pot is an inexpensive device for saline nasal irrigation, which is a fancy term for nose washing.
How do I … read on
Get ready for flu seasonLast year’s flu season was nasty.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) labeled it a “high severity season” because the circulating strains of influenza virus were especially virulent and the season lasted longer than usual.
It’s impossible to predict when flu season will start, but it could be as early as October. The CDC recommends getting your flu shot by the end of October, but … read on
Cold season is still with usThe calendar says spring, but you wouldn’t know it looking out my kitchen window.
Not only is it still cold, it’s still cold season.
Did you know that Americans spend about $3.5 billion every year on over-the-counter cold and cough remedies?
But despite spending such a huge amount of money, has anyone ever bought a magic bullet to prevent or cure the common cold?… read on
Home remedies for a persistent coughFlu season hit hard this year, and the normal, if unwelcome, after effect of many viral upper respiratory infections is a lingering cough.
A recent review of the medical literature found that, on average, a cough will last 17.8 days! Fortunately, most coughs are self limiting; that is, they will get better without special treatment, such as antibiotics.
If you have a question about … read on
Flu rages onI thought it was safe to go back to the gym.
I’ve skipped the month of January because flu has been at epidemic levels for several weeks now, and just isn’t slowing down like it normally does after a week or two.
And because last year I’m sure I caught the flu at the gym, I’m being more cautious.
But when I arrived at the gym early … read on