Seven Steps on How to Prevent Colds and Flu

The fall and winter months bring crisp weather, comfy sweaters, and often the hallmark sniffling and sneezing of the common cold or a flu. While there is no cure, there are several simple steps you can take to ensure that the colder months are spent snuggling in front of the fire instead of sneezing into a box of tissues. 

Here's number one!

 

Be knowledgeable about the basics of colds and the flu. Both the cold and the flu (short for influenza) are caused by a virus. A virus is a small infectious organism that needs to live inside a cell to replicate itself, killing the host cell but not before the virus is spread. Cold viruses infect the upper respiratory tract cells, while the flu virus impacts cells deeper down in the respiratory tract and has more severe symptoms than the cold virus. All viruses are specific to one type of cell. Some key things to bear in mind with colds and the flu include: 

• Colds and influenza are not caused by bacteria. Hence, antibiotics do not help prevent or cure a cold or flu, although they may be prescribed for a secondary bacterial infection.
• Cold and flu germs outside a host body usually die in three to seven days.
• Cold and flu viruses are heat sensitive (they multiply more quickly when it is cool) and they first multiply in your nasal passageways then spread from there.
• Most colds and the flu are caught by placing infected hands to your eyes or nose or in your mouth.
• You can infect others a day before your symptoms appear.
• Incubation period is usually 3 days. But can range anywhere from 1 to 4 days.
• Rarely fatal on its own, the flu can lead to fatal secondary infections such as pneumonia if the patient has a weakened immune system. This can be detected by a worsening cough, hardship with breathing, coughing up blood, and/or a persistent and recurring fever. Immediate medical attention is essential.
• There are thousands of strains of influenza viruses; this means that it's unlikely that your doctor can pinpoint the exact virus you've got but will suggest your treatment based on the traditional pathway of a virus. If there is a particularly virulent strain of a virus doing the rounds, your doctor will usually take that into account as well.
• It is possible to either aid or hinder the body's immune system by things we eat, drink, or do.

CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK FOR STEP TWO AND DON'T FORGET TO BUY YOUR EVERYDAY THROAT SPRAY! Visit our website at www.everydaythroatspray.com.  Everyday Throat Spray can be used EVERYDAY to help relieve your dry scratchy throat, support healthy respiratory function and immune support.  It's PERFECT for cold and flu season!  Order it today!