Cold and flu season has arrived

  • Published
  • By the 86th Medical Operations Squadron
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Five simple steps can help stave off the worst of the cold and flu season. 

1) Get vaccinated. Although there is no vaccination for the common cold, the flu vaccine is one of the top weapons against influenza. Seasonal flu vaccination is already underway and several mass-vaccination times are already scheduled. Stay tuned for times and dates for H1N1 vaccination which will begin as soon as the vaccine arrives. 

2) Clean your hands frequently by washing or using hand sanitizer. Most cold and flu viruses are spread by hand to mouth. 

3) Clean your work surfaces. Viruses that cause colds and flu can survive up to three hours on inanimate objects. Clean work surfaces (desk, phone, etc) periodically with disinfectant. 

4) Practice good health habits. A healthy immune system is a good defense against colds and flu. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. 

5) Don't smoke. Studies show that heavy smokers get more severe colds and get them more often than non-smokers. Smoke-damaged airways are much less able to clean out the upper respiratory tract, leaving the body without its best defense against cold and flu. 

Cold symptoms often include runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and mild aches and pains. Flu, whether it is seasonal or 2009-H1N1, usually has the same symptoms as a cold, but is more severe and can include fever, severe muscle aches, and exhaustion. Those people most at risk for flu complications include pregnant women, the very young, older adults and those with chronic illness.

While cold and flu symptoms can usually be treated at home, there are times when medical care should be sought. For example, patients most at risk for complications (as listed above) should contact their healthcare provider if they think they have been exposed to flu or if they are showing symptoms of flu-like illness. For all patients, the development of difficulty breathing that is not related to a stuffy nose, a persistent fever greater than 100.5, wheezing, ear pain, symptoms lasting longer than 10 days or lack of improvement warrants a call or visit to your health care team.

Mom's old saying that you need a "tincture of time" to treat your cold and flu symptoms has merit. If you become ill, health care providers recommend the following: bed rest, plenty of fluids, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or other fever reduction preparations, and the better-known over-the-counter medications intended to temporarily relieve symptoms. Most colds and flu will last seven to 10 days whether symptoms are treated or not. Keep in mind that the over-the-counter medications will help to ease symptoms but do not cure colds or flu. The diseases still must run their course. Patients may return to work or school after they have been fever free for at least 24 hours. Finally, antibiotics do nothing to ease viral cold and flu symptoms; however, they may be prescribed in some rare instances to treat secondary bacterial infections. As always, call the Health Care Information Line at 00800-4759-2330 to speak with a nurse any time of day if you have any questions. This number is toll-free from Germany.