Health Mini-Supplement

The Cadre

9 March 1999

The on-going tight against cold and flu

Compiled by SARAH MURPHY

Although it is an illness of short duration, the common cold is a plague to every Canadian, a painful reminder of the blahs of winter.

Likely to haunt you for 7 to 14 days, the common cold, unlike the flu, does not usually produce fever. The first symptom is often a ‘tickle’ in the throat, a runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing. Victims of the cold vi- rus also tend to have a sore throat, cough, headache, fatigue, and lose of appetite.

Several different viruses can cause the common cold, each virus

ss Re Stress (physical, mental, em tional) oc Oto eo re eee. Negative Attitudes (cause the re- lease of compounds, which inter- fere with the immune system) __

having its own pattern of symptoms and severity. Over 100 cold viruses are known.

Infection may be facilitated by excessive fatigue, emotional stress, and other factors that weaken the body’s immune defenses. There is no evidence that cooling the body in- duces a cold.

Bacteria present in the nose and throat can increase in numbers dramatically and can cause second- ary infections such as sinusitis and

muscle aches in the back and legs, and headaches are common. Soon after, the throat, lungs, nose and eyes become affected. There can be a

Stuffiness and nasal congestion:

Generic ingredients to look for to reduce symptoms of the cold and flu:

pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanoamine, oxymetazoline

Pain: Ibuprofen, acetaminophen Clear drainage: Diphenydramine, chlorpheniramine Cough: Dextromethorphan

bronchitis. severe cough. Muscle pain and fe-

The common cold results from breathing in virus particles spread through the air by sneezing or cough- ing, or from person-to-person contact. The contagious phase of the disease may last for two to four days after symptoms appear.

Time is the only real remedy again the common cold. A variety of over the counter drugs can be taken to reduce symptoms but they will not cure the infection.

The flu, a more specific viral disease characterized by fever, runny nose, cough, headache, malaise, and swollen nose and throat mucous membranes, usually occurs in epi- demics. Caused by the influenza vi- rus type A, the virus changes slightly from year to year, but is predictable.

Symptoms usually appear 24 to 48 hours after exposure, and vary in every individual. High fever, chills,

of getting a cold or flu.

and chronic illness

likely to beat the cold or flu.

Inaddition to minimizing or eliminating factors which lower immune efficiency from your daily routine, research shows that supporting you thy- mus gland can improve your general health and help reduce your chances

2 The health of the thymus gland is directly related to the health of the immune system. The thymus gland naturally undergoes involution, or shrinkage, as you age. However, other external factors can contribute to the premature involution of the thymus such as stress, infection, radiation,

___ Ifyou consume a diet which is rich in fruits and vegetables that vide nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, Selenium, Zinc, and Beta Carotene, you will be supporting your thymus gland nutritionally and are

ver are the hallmark features which differentiate the flu from the cold.

These symptoms may begin to resolve after two or three days, but cough can persist for weeks.

An influenza infection can be severely debilitating for individuals who are very young, very old or for people suffering from lung disease. The flu can result in pneumonia and

may be fatal in these patients with weakened immune response.

Like the common cold, the flu is transmitted from person-to-person by direct contact and airborne drop- lets resulting from coughing or sneez- ing.

Elderly people, pregnant women, patients with heart or lung disease, and medical professionals are encouraged to get a flu vaccina- tion every year. The vaccine is very safe. Two anti-viral medicines are

also available by prescription. These will reduce fever, aches, and chest symptoms of the flu.

The common cold and flu can be prevented by washing your hands frequently, cover nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing. Also, people are more susceptible to such infections when tired or stress, or lack a proper diet.

from HealthyWay™ Health Links, a site maintained by Peter J. Casano, M.D. For further information see: http://

www. pei sympatico.ca/HealthyWay.html