Cold and Flu: Relief, Remedies and Prevention
Late fall through winter is the time of year when coughs, sniffles, sore throats, and sneezes begin in earnest. And although being indoors may bring respite from the elements, it also brings more contact with the germs that cause colds and the flu. This guide will help you learn the differences between these similar conditions, and advise you on how to avoid catching them, what to do if you get one of them, and how to stay current on the latest research that scientists are conducting on them.
Expand All Guide SectionsWhat Are Colds and the Flu?
Colds and influenza are viruses that are transmitted ... read more »
Preventing Colds and the Flu
For many, flu prevention is as easy as a yearly vaccination. Avoiding the common cold can be more difficult, but some basic measures like covering your mouth when you cough and frequently washing your hands will help prevent both. Using the sites in this section you’ll learn the facts about staying illness-free this winter.
Dulcinea's Insight
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a list of people who have a high risk of complications if they get the flu. These people are urged to get a flu vaccination each year. Use these sites to determine whether you are in any of those groups. If you aren’t in one of those groups and would like to learn more about the flu shot, speak with your doctor.
- Researchers theorized, in an October 2007 article in the journal PLoS Pathogens, that flu season arrives with winter because the influenza viruses thrive in cold weather. Cold viruses, on the other hand, aren’t as affected by outside temperatures, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Studies suggest that psychological stress may play a role, though.
- Wash your hands, and wash them well. The CDC says hand washing is “the best way to prevent illness and infection.” WebMD has a three-minute video called “The Dirty Truth About Hand Washing," where you’ll learn, among other things, the proper technique.
Dulcinea's Picks
To avoid catching a cold or the flu …
KidsHealth
has a site to help parents learn about the common cold and how to keep their children from catching it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) dedicates a site to healthy habits for keeping the flu at bay. This page includes a guide for parents, and a guide to preventing the spread of germs at work, school, and home. You can also learn how antiviral treatments help prevent the flu, and read up on the flu vaccine.
Treating Colds and the Flu
It’s important to have a good idea of which illness you have. Anti-viral medications ... read more »
Cold and Flu Research
Researchers continue to study the viruses that cause influenza and colds, and continually make new ... read more »
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