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
The difference between cold and flu symptomsIn general, a cold is a virus that settles in your sinuses, and flu is a virus that affects your lungs, which is why it can be more serious.
Colds can develop rather slowly, perhaps taking two to three days of mild symptoms before you feel really lousy. Flu symptoms hit hard and fast; you may think to yourself,“Where is the truck … read on
Look for a few simple, inexpensive ingredientsFlu season is still raging across the country.
Most cases don’t require a trip to the emergency room or even the doctor. But there are a few over-the-counter (OTC) flu medicines that can help treat the most common symptoms: fever, headache, sore throat, muscle pain and cough.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money, and these products can be used for … read on
Protect yourself with a flu shotFlu season is reaching its peak. Hospitals have been overwhelmed with patients and are running out of spare beds.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is reporting widespread, epidemic-level flu activity in almost every state.
The bad news is that this year’s flu strain, H3N2, is especially severe, and the flu vaccine isn’t a great match 😕
But the good news is that if … read on
Avoid the emergency roomFridays, weekends and holidays are always bad times to get a doctor’s appointment, and many people end up in an emergency department. Which costs a lot of money, even for those with health insurance.
What can you do to decrease your chances of needing emergency care or other expensive healthcare over the holidays?
An emergency physician recently posted some good tips on the healthcare blog KevinMD, … read on
The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and isn’t that when illness always seems to strike?
Few things are germier than a school where lots of kids and adults are stuck in small rooms, touching the same objects and breathing the same air.
Kids bring those germs home on their hands and touch everything there, too. Then parents get sick and spread the virus to co-workers. And so on, and so … read on
It’s easier than you think!The other day I watched in horror as a friend with mild cold symptoms swallowed two extra-strength Tylenol (acetaminophen) tablets with a large swig of NyQuil.
If he had followed with a double whisky, I would have suspected a suicide attempt.
“What are you doing?!” I shrieked, and grabbed both bottles from him. “You just swallowed a massive dose of acetaminophen!”
“Really?” he replied, without … read on
Vaccinate your children against the fluIt’s still winter in the southern hemisphere, and Australia is experiencing one of the worst flu seasons it’s ever had.
Which is an early warning to us in the northern hemisphere: the 2017-18 flu season may be long and rough. Experts are suggesting we get our flu shots early this year, especially children as they head back to school.
One of the reasons Australia … read on