Cold & Flu Season – Ideas which may help

Cold & Flu Season – Ideas which may help

Did you know…?

• The common cold is caused by any one of more than 200 types of known viruses. The rhinovirus is the worst offender & is responsible for 30-35% of all adult colds caught
  during the early autumn, spring & summer.
• A sudden drop in temperature can cause our nose to dry out making it more prone to infection so with the seasons about to change it's time we took added precautions against those seasonal chills, coughs & pains.
• Many of the symptoms we experience with a cold or flu are part of a Natural Healing Process caused by our immune system as it 'goes into b_ attle to fight illness
• Did you know that a FEVER it is the means our body uses to k_ill of viruses. Germ-k_illing proteins in our blood circulate at a greater rate & so much more effectively in a hotter-than-normal environment. When we suffer a moderate fever for a day or two we will often get well faster.
• Less germs can reach our lungs or the rest of our body when our breathing passages are cleared of germ filled mucus each time we COUGH.
• A STUFFED NOSE will actually help to carry germs out of your body by increasing blood flow to your nose & throat & warming up the infected area. Using a decongestant to breaks up congestion & reduce swelling may actually hinder your rapid recovery.

What can I do to lesson a colds impact?

• Keep warm & get plenty of rest. I've found the moment the kids start to feel off colour the first thing they do is lie down & go to sleep. Let them as this allows their body to direct all its energy towards getting well.

• Blow your nose gently & regularly by pressing a finger over one nostril while clearing the other. Don't sniff mucus back into your head.

• Get a bulb syringe & gently squirt a small amount of warm salt water (saline) up each nostril as a means of breaking nasal congestion. This will have the added benefit of helping to remove germs from your nose. usually 1/4 tsp of salt to about a cup of water is adequate (some people also add 1/4 tsp baking soda).

• Steam can do wonders for clearing out a stuffy nose... keep a box of tissues handy near the shower & jump in, you will be amazed at the 'gunk' that can clear out.  

• Place hot water & a few drops of eucalyptus oil into a small basin& inhale the fumes. You need to cover your head with a towel while leaning over the basin for best results.

• A 'Cool Mist Vaporizer' is particularly useful in a child’s room for relief of symptoms associated with a cold or flu. This is a better alternative to a steam vaporizer as there is no risk of burns due to a child pulling the machine over or reaching their hands or face into it. The water is not heated before being dispersed into the room.

• Placing a dab of mentholated salve under the nose can help to open up the airways

• To reduce the pain of a sore throat don't forget to drink plenty of fluids. This will help prevent dehydration. I find that hot liquids work best for me... my favorite is the old tsp of honey, squirt of lemon & hot water. The lemon strips all the germs off the throat while the honey adds a soothing lining. A word on alcohol... Some people substitute a small shot of whiskey or bourbon for the lemon, but remember that alcohol inflames our mucus membranes so this can be counterproductive. Many European's heat up glass of red wine in a saucepan for a few minutes, drink this as hot as they can, then go to bed. In the morning they appear completely better.

• Gargling with salty water 4 times a day can help to bring temporary relief. Gargling with cool tea… The tannin can reduce that annoying 'tickle' associated with a sore throat as it will tighten the membranes in your throat. An old folk remedy using a 'thick, viscous gargle made from honey'.

Lastly it’s important to remember

• Cover your mouth & nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze in order to help stop the Spread of Germs. Remember to throw your tissue into a bin.
• Wash you hands with soap & water as this is a key to cold & flu prevention When we touching our eyes, nose, or mouth with germ-infested hands it leads to the spread of diseases.
• When we have to be near a baby or someone who suffers with a compromised immune system try to consider wearing a mask to help lessen the chance of spreading infection.  
• It is best to avoid friends & family for 5 days if we can when we have a cold or flu so that it can run its course without making others sick. (I know this is not always possible).  
• Cover up when you go outside… we often forget when the weather is changing that simply by keeping our back covered & protecting our kidneys from chills & drafts can make the world of difference on how many colds affect us during the cold season. I always buy singlets that are a size bigger than needed, which tuck right in & keep the little ones warm.