How to Tell if You Have the Flu

February 5th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

Winter is a bad season for colds and flu. People generally spend most of their time in close quarters with others. Thus, this makes it more likely to spread germs with each other. Winter often brings the dreaded sneezing and coughing and more for many of us.

We all are especially afraid of catching the flu in the winter. The flu is scary especially since we have heard about flu outbreaks killing people in so many places in the world. Usually, though, the flu just takes you out of commission for awhile.

If you are aware of the symptoms of the flu you can get to your doctors earlier for the right medicine. You also can avoid coming into contact with friends and family members so you don’t give them the flu. Once you know you have the flu, the important thing is for you to take care of yourself so you can get better faster.

The following are common flu symptoms:

*The flu usually comes with a fever of over 100. This is not true of the common cold. While a fever is usually not dangerous, it can be if it goes over 106. If that happens, call your doctor right away.

*Often the first sign of the flu will be aches and pains in your arms and legs that just make you feel uncomfortable. The aches and pains can be pretty bad, and they are usually the first indicator that you may have the flu.

*We all get headaches so headaches alone do not mean that you have the flu. The thing you should watch for is if your headaches are followed by other flu symptoms. You might also experience pain whenever you try to move your eyes.

*A big symptom of the flu is the tired, worn down feeling. You just have no energy and feel like lying around all day.

*Children are more likely to suffer from vomiting and diarrhea then adults are. Adults often just have no appetite when they have the flu.

*Sore throats, a hacking cough and a nose that won’t stop running are all symptoms of the flu. When you have the flu, these symptoms may not show up till a day or so in, after your fever has gone down.

No one wants to catch the flu so you need to do what you can to avoid it. It’s good to know what to look for so if you do get the flu, you can get treatment immediately and avoid passing the flu virus on to others.

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The Difference Between a Flu and a Cold

February 4th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

We all end up sick at some point in the year. It is probably more likely to happen in the winter but it can happen any time of the year really. It can be difficult to determine if you have a cold or the flu when you do get sick.

The same virus does not cause a cold and the flu. Influenza A or B is the virus responsible for flu while there is no limit to the number of different cold viruses that can infect us. This really only matters to your doctor, though. You really need to know what the different symptoms are for the flu and a cold and how to tell them apart.

Cold Symptoms

  • A phlegm producing cough
  • Nose problems like sneezing, stuffiness and irritation
  • No fever or a very low fever
  • You start to feel bad over a period of a few days, not right away

Flu Symptoms

  • Chills and a fever of over 100 and up to 104 degrees
  • A dry hacking cough
  • Tiredness and muscle pain, which may be severe
  • Aches and discomfort in your head
  • Sudden symptoms that get worse quickly

Treating a Cold or Flu

You really can’t do much for a common cold except let it work its way through your body. There are over-the-counter medicines that will reduce your symptoms. Most colds last no longer than 10 days. Any longer and you should go to the doctor to make sure there isn’t something else going on like a bacterial infection.

The flu can be diagnosed easily with a quick test by your doctor. If you get to the doctor fast enough, you may be able to take a prescription to reduce the severity and length of the flu. The best thing to do for a flu is take it easy and stay hydrated until your symptoms go away, which can be a week or two if no prescription is taken. The flu can turn into something worse like pneumonia so listen to your doctor carefully and do what your doctor says.

If you get a flu shot, you can reduce but not eliminate your chances of getting the flu. Flu vaccines only work for certain strains of the flu so if you catch one not included in the shot, you will still get sick. Eat well and don’t get overtired if you don’t get a flu shot to reduce your chances of getting the flu. If a family member gets the flu, you may be able to take antiviral medicine to keep you from getting it as well.

The flu is much more serious than the common cold. You need to be educated about what symptoms to look for so you can get treated for the right thing as quickly as possible so don’t wait too long to go to the doctor.

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Home Remedies to Treat Your Sore Throat

February 1st, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

Sore throats can be a symptom of many different illnesses including the common cold, the flu or a more serious infection requiring antibiotic treatment. Usually, though, sore throats get better on their own when you start feeling better.

Even if your sore throat is nothing serious, it can still be unpleasant. It is hard to do anything, even eat or talk, when you have a sore throat. All you want to do is get under the covers and stay there until you are better.

The next time you have a sore throat, try any of the following home remedies below. It might just help you with sore throat pain.

Gargling with warm saltwater is great for relieving pain and minimizing the phlegm in your throat. It also can reduce your chances of getting an infection. Gargling with a warm saltwater mixture of 1/4 c. salt to 1/2 c. warm water will help ease your sore throat.

Gargling with an antiseptic mouthwash (e.g., Listerine) will also help reduce your chances of getting an infection because it will help kill germs.

Have a hot cup of tea. The best teas for a sore throat are honey and lemon tea and herbal teas made from chamomile and sage.

Garlic is known for its ability to strengthen the immune system and fight infection so eating some fresh garlic when you have a sore throat (or if you feel one is coming) may help end your suffering sooner.

Cold foods like ice cream or popsicles will temporarily relieve the pain in your throat.

Running a humidifier especially at night will reduce swelling in your throat and make your voice less hoarse. If you have a sore throat, avoid smoking and being in smoky places because smoking and cigarette smoke will only do nothing but irritate your throat.

Sucking on a lemon can help ease that sore throat. The vitamin C in lemon can fight the germs that are causing your sore throat. Make a mixture to gargle with out of 10 drops of mango bark extract and a full glass of water. Do this several times a day.

Make scallion tea by simmering scallions in hot water and drink the tea a few times a day to ease sore throat pain. We all get sore throats either from being sick or from yelling at a concert or other event. You don’t need store bought remedies for your sore throat when you can treat it with homemade remedies right from your kitchen.

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Understanding Arthritis

January 6th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

We all either have experienced or know a loved one who has experienced problems with arthritis. The main symptom of arthritis is joint pain which can range from moderate to severe. What is confusing is why arthritis affects some people and not others.

Scientists really don’t understand what makes some people susceptible to arthritis while others don’t have problems with it at all. It is not something you can catch from another person like the common cold. A joint disorder, arthritis comes on slowly and can get worse with time. There are many different kinds of arthritis, all with slightly different causes.

Arthritis is associated with many different risk factors, and the more arthritis risk factors you have, the higher the chances of you developing arthritis. These may not be the sole cause of your problem but they contribute.

As you get older, your risk of developing arthritis gets higher. This is largely because your joints are aging and wearing, which may increase your symptoms. The natural aging of your joints and the damage that occurs may cause arthritis to progress faster than it would otherwise. Arthritis is common among older adults for this reason.

If you are overweight, you are at additional risk for developing arthritis. The extra weight that you carry puts stress on your joints, particularly the weight-bearing joints, and causes damage over time. Losing weight by dieting and exercise will lower your risk for developing arthritis.

If you have a sports injury or something similar, you may be at additional risk for arthritis. Your likelihood of developing arthritis also increases if you’ve previously injured a joint. Take care of any injuries that occur and make sure they heal properly.

There may be a genetic factor with arthritis so you may be at extra risk if you have a family history of the disease. People who have arthritis in their family, especially a close family member, may develop arthritis. If your parents have arthritis, for instance, you’re at risk of developing the disease, although it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have arthritis. You can lower your risk of developing arthritis later on by taking care of your body right now.

People who participate in athletics and sports are more likely to develop arthritis. This is partially because they are more likely to have joint injuries and other damage to their bodies. The science really only shows a slight connection, though, so it is not safe to assume that all athletes will develop arthritis. If you exercise safely and don’t put too much stress on your body, you should be fine.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is what almost all of us associate with the word arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a more severe form with many of the same symptoms but caused by different factors. With Rheumatoid arthritis, the damage to the joints is caused by your immune system attacking your body from the inside.

If you have arthritis, there is no magic cure. You can find out as much as you can about your condition and possible treatments, though.

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