Colds & Flu: are caused by viruses and usually spread from one person to another through the air, direct contact or unclean objects. Precautions include frequent hand washing, not sharing utensils, glasses or dishes, and staying away from crowded areas. Practice good health habits!
Colds usually come on gradually with symptoms of sneezing, cough, runny nose and/or sore throat, and may include headache and/or low grade fever. They can be treated with OTC (over the counter) products such analgesics, decongestants, cough medication, etc. If symptoms persist or worsen, see you physician.
Flu presents with similar symptoms only worse and faster and can include fever to 103 degrees, chills & weakness. Winter flu outbreaks, caused by different viruses each year, claim approximately 20,000 lives annually!!! You are at risk if you are over 50, are pregnant, have a chronic lung or heart problem, have asthma, diabetes, kidney disease, or bleeding or immune system problems If you are at risk, be sure to get a flu shot between now and early December. Contact Senior Centers, your pharmacy, hospitals or your family doctor and set an appointment.
Allergies: affect as many as 40-50 million Americans. Allergies occur when your body reacts to a normally harmless substance such as pollens (tree, grass, weed), dust particles (ex. dust mites), mold spores, food (ex. peanuts, milk, wheat), latex rubber, insect venom, animal dander, or medicines. Scientists think people inherit a tendency to be allergic.
Symptoms include sneezing, runny or clogged nose, coughing, postnasal drip, sinusitis, and itching eyes, nose and throat, watering eyes or conjuctivitis. Even lethergy or hives can be a symptom. Also, allergic shiners (dark circles under the eyes due to increased blood flow to the sinuses) and "allergic salute" (in children, a persistent upward rubbing of the nose that causes crease mark on the nose) can be observed.
Diagnosis is made by a thorough history of when and where symptoms occur, skin testing, blood testing and/or elimination diets. If symptoms impact on daily routine, see a specialist.
Treatments can include OTC and prescribed antihistamines (ex. Benadryl, Teldrin, Allegra, Claritin), decongestants (3 days only), corticosteroids (Flonase, Nasonex), mast cell stabilizers (Crolom, NasoCrom), and others. Be sure your doctor is aware of any and all medications so that possible negative effects are avoided, such as decongestant use raising your blood pressure putting you at an increased risk of stroke. If symptoms still persist, desensitization or allergy shots are usually recommended.
Asthma: can result from untreated allergies and can be life threatening.
Symptoms include coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath due to a narrowing of the bronchial passages (airways) and excess mucus production and inflammation. It affects more than 17 million Americans and incidence is increasing.
In addition to treatments used for allergies, weight reduction, mild exercise, avoidance of triggers and being well educated about your condition are recommended. Consult with your physician regularly.
More information is available at http://www.aaaal.org, http://healthlink.mcw.edu and from pamphlets available in doctor offices and pharmacies. Or you can contact our parish nurse through the office at 610 584-5936. Multiple resources were used for this article.