Colds and Flu

Colds and Flu

Relief Is Easy to Find

Your voice sounds like Suzanne Pleshette's on a very bad day. Your eyes are watery slits.

You sneeze and sniff, and although you continually reapply makeup, that nasty shade of vermilion on your nose reappears every time you blow it. Your throat is scratchy, your head feels thick and heavy--you'd love to nap, but no way! Not now, at your desk. Maybe later, after you've fixed dinner, walked the dog and washed the dishes.

You've caught a bug all right, the old "something that's going around." Could be a cold. Maybe it's the flu.

If you're sneezing and sniffling but your aches are minimal, chances are you've got a cold. If you've got the mother of all headaches, a cough and sore throat, major aches and pains and you're running a fever, more likely you've been bitten by the flu bug. Right now, however, with that stuffy nose and sore throat, let's consider the cold.

The Cold Front

Sure you feel miserable, but you're not alone. Each year Americans suffer from 68 million colds caused by any of 120 cold viruses. As we all know, there is no effective "cold" vaccine.

While they don't have figures to prove it, experts believe women are more likely to get colds than men, mostly because of the swirl of germs surrounding the kids we care for at home, in school or at day care.

But even if you have no occasion to be around a sick child, you can get a cold just by mingling with people on a bus, in the mall or in the office. "Women are exposed to a lot more outside contact than they were in the past," says pulmonary specialist Anne L. Davis, M.D., associate professor of clinical medicine at New York University and attending physician at Bellevue Hospital, both in New York City. "This means they have more chance of picking up respiratory infections."

A Roving Virus

Colds are transmitted easily by physical contact or through airborne droplets expelled during a cough or sneeze. If a sick person has managed to transfer her cold germs from her nose or mouth to her hands--which is pretty easy--anything she touches can infect you if you touch it and then touch your nose, mouth or eyes. Door handles, phones, toothbrushes and used tissues can carry germs waiting to get you.

Still, even if you do shake hands with someone with a cold or are awash in droplets spewed by a sneeze, you might not develop a cold. Whether you do may depend on the level of stress in your life and how you cope with it. In a study conducted at the Medical Research Council's Common Cold Unit in Great Britain, 154 men and 266 women were exposed to a cold virus, then placed in quarantine. The study concluded that people struggling with heavier loads of psychological stress were more susceptible to cold infections than those who shared the same living conditions but were less stressed.

"Basically, stress lowers the resistance," says Charles Goodrich, M.D., an internist in New York City. "It assaults the barriers of the immune system in many different ways, gradually decreasing its ability to ward off disease."

The flow chart of symptoms this upper respiratory ailment packs is nothing to sneeze at. Colds are not identical, but they usually start with a runny nose, some sneezing and a stuffy feeling in the head. In addition, you might have a headache, watery eyes, listlessness, an inability to concentrate, a sore throat and perhaps a slight fever. "The virus sets off an inflammation of the mucous membrane, which then may begin to pour out mucus or swell and leave you with that stuffy feeling," says Dr. Davis. "You may start by blowing your nose like mad, then the secretions dry up, mucus thickens and your nose feels swollen."

How Long Will It Last?

The average cold hangs on for 7 to 14 days. Experts agree on one thing: When you're in the midst, forget about a cure--consider your comfort.

Today, pharmacies carry scores of cold-relief products. There are more than 300 products for a combination of cold, allergy and cough. That means product selection can be difficult.

It's up to you and your doctor or pharmacist to evaluate your cold and select products that contain specific ingredients to combat your symptoms. If you're seeking relief from one symptom--say a stuffy nose--you should use a single-ingredient nasal decongestant. If you want relief from a series of symptoms, read the list of ingredients carefully and select a medication targeted for those symptoms only.

When the Inevitable Strikes

What can you do when a cold has you in its uncomfortable grip? Here are some suggestions.

Sleep it off. You'll feel like it, so do it. "Sleep revitalizes your working parts and plays an important role in getting rid of infections," advises Carole Heilman, Ph.D., chief of the Respiratory Viruses Branch of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland. While no direct studies prove it, "logic suggests a relationship between sleep and your susceptibility to a variety of infections. If you're worn out, you're simply more prone to picking them up," Dr. Heilman adds. And you're less likely to put up a good fight when the bug takes up residence.

One other thing: Stop trying to do all the things you did when you were well--like work 15 hours a day, go to the grocery, do the wash and clean the bathroom. If you need to take time off from work, do it. It's better than spreading those germs, and you'll get well faster if you give yourself a break.

Breathe deeply. And make it steamy. Doctors say this moisturizes the lungs and mucous membranes, helping them release germs. "Inhaling steam is the most healing of treatments for viral infections," says Dr. Goodrich. Use a hot-water vaporizer or stand in a hot shower or steamy bathroom. If you can't do that, try putting your head over a sink or bowl of steamy hot water. Drape your head with a towel to keep the steam in your face.

Go over the counter. While some people start taking aspirin at the first sign of colds or flu, experts urge caution if you have flulike symptoms. Because of the rare but potential risk of Reye's syndrome, a life-threatening neurological illness that has been known to affect adults as well as children, you should not take aspirin or aspirin compounds if you have any signs of the flu. Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen instead.

Ibuprofen has emerged as an effective weapon against colds. In a study from Australia, volunteers who were infected with the cold virus and then took aspirin or acetaminophen experienced increased nasal congestion. But those who swallowed ibuprofen suffered no additional stuffiness. Aspirin may relieve headache and other aches and pains, says Dr. Heilman, but it could make the cold virus linger.

Savor some soup. Any hot liquid is helpful for cold symptoms, but good old chicken soup seems to have an especially soothing effect. Although there are no studies to show why it works so well, professionals frequently recommend it. "I'm a firm believer in chicken soup," declares Dr. Heilman. "Even with a fever, if hot soup is what you crave, get yourself a bowl and enjoy." Besides the heat, which relieves congestion and soothes the throat, chicken soup is jam-packed with nutrients to aid in the body's fight against cold invaders.

Gargle with salt water. Most mouthwashes act only as "mouth fresheners." Others, like Listerine, may be too harsh for sore throats. "Gargle with warm salt water," advises Dr. Davis. "The salt is soothing, it flushes away some of the debris and impurities, and it's thought to have a healing effect."

Calm your cough. For dry, hacking coughs, a single-ingredient cough suppressant, called an antitussive, is your best bet. For productive coughs, the kind that produce mucus, you can choose to take an expectorant, although a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel has found most expectorants to be harmless but basically ineffective against coughs. In fact, doctors say that the best expectorant is water. For maximum effectiveness, drink lots of warm water, which thins the mucus and increases the amount of fluid in the respiratory tract.

Clear your nose. For a stuffy nose, drops or nasal sprays may give temporary relief. But be careful. A few hours after using these products, the blood vessels in your nasal passages can dilate, causing a stuffy feeling or rebound effect. You'll want to use the spray again, and the rebound cycle will start over. It's not surprising these products can have an addictive effect. If you want to take an oral decongestant, be aware that they aren't recommended for people with an irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart disease or glaucoma.

Soothe your throat. Lozenges or hard, sour candy will keep your throat moist and can provide temporary pain relief. If you're taking a lozenge, look for these ingredients: hexylresorcinol, sodium ascorbate and menthol.

Be careful with antihistamines. Studies show the effects of antihistamines are twofold: They have a drying effect on mucous membranes, and they may reduce sneezing. But antihistamines are a very large group, and the side effects can range from irregular heartbeat to drowsiness. So consult your doctor or pharmacist about which antihistamine to take and read labels carefully to find out about side effects.

Listen to your body. Should you feed a cold and starve a fever, or vice versa? There's no easy answer. All you can do is let your body tell you what it needs, says Dr. Heilman. If you feel better eating full meals during a cold, go for it, she says. If you'd prefer a lighter diet of soup, crackers and club soda, that's fine, too. Experiment.

Spice up your life. Hot spices and pepper increase secretions from your mucous membranes, and this can help relieve cold symptoms. That's because the extra mucus can thin out your phlegm and lubricate your sore, itchy throat.

Zing it with zinc. Tablets of zinc gluconate with glycine can knock a cold flat. According to a study at Dartmouth University in Hanover, New Hampshire, these tablets can cut the life of a cold by a whopping 42 percent. Look for these tablets at your pharmacy or health food store.

Assess your stress. If your immune system is fighting an uphill battle against pressure and stress, you're putting yourself at risk for colds and flu. "It's probably a good time to look at your life and make an important stress assessment," says Dr. Goodrich. Since stress lowers resistance to disease, consider making some changes, from getting more sleep and rest to eating more nutritiously and placing relaxation high on your list.

Can the kisses. If you've got a bug, you can bestow it upon your partner, your children or anybody else you kiss. Even hugging can be too close for comfort, says Dr. Heilman. By the same token, avoid kissing and hugging a person who appears to be infected.

Do a Lady Macbeth. Wash your hands frequently. And don't touch your eyes, mouth or nose unless your hands have just been scrubbed. "If your husband and/or children have a cold, be extra vigilant about hand washing," advises Dr. Heilman, "especially after picking up and discarding their used tissues."

Don't share utensils. To avoid spreading germs, "don't eat off the same fork or drink from the same glass, like the communal bathroom cup," says Dr. Heilman. Use Lysol spray to disinfect phones and doorknobs, and dip your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide solution after each use.

Fighting the Flu

This acute viral infection of the respiratory tract arrives armed with some mean symptoms. They appear suddenly and soon affect your entire body. Among its calling cards are fever, chills, headache, sore throat, cough, muscle pain and gastrointestinal disturbances. What makes this vicious varmint so unwieldy is its ability to mutate into new and different forms. If you've gotten your yearly flu shot to protect against the current strain, it might also be effective against a closely related mutant strain. Flu shots are always recommended for the elderly and for people with medical conditions such as diabetes.

As with colds, women are more likely than men to become infected with the flu. We're not more vulnerable, but more often than not we're the primary caretakers for children, who easily pick up the bug and then pass it along to us. Additionally, more women than men work in hospitals or nursing homes, where the risk of catching the flu is high.

Once this insidious little bug has entered your system, no drug will kill it. Because the flu is not bacterial, antibiotics won't faze it. Doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics, but only to ward off secondary bacterial complications such as pneumonia or bronchitis.

Here's small comfort: "If you're feeling bad, you're getting better," says Dr. Heilman. "Your body is reacting to the foreign substance and trying to get rid of it. Take what you need to feel better, let it run its course and get on with your life."

What more can you do? Well, all of the preceding tips for colds will help, along with these strategies.

Get the shot. Doctors advise getting the inoculation between September and November, before flu season, says Dr. Heilman. The vaccine usually reaches its maximum strength in four to six weeks. It is strongly advised for those who work in high-risk settings--nursing homes, hospitals and prisons--along with pregnant women, people over 65 and those with diabetes or chronic heart, lung or kidney disease. The shot may cause soreness at the vaccination site, but serious side effects are rare. Contact your local health department: In many cities, flu shots are free. Warning: If you're egg-sensitive, forget the flu shot. The vaccine is grown in eggs and may induce allergic reactions.

Ask about antivirals. If you work in a high-risk environment, ask your doctor about two antiviral drugs, amantadine and rimantadine. While they are not substitutes for the flu vaccine, they can prevent certain strains from infecting you and/or shorten the duration of fever and other symptoms. At high doses, amantadine can cause debilitating side effects, including loss of appetite, nausea and nervousness. It should not be taken by pregnant women or nursing mothers.

Protect yourself abroad. To ensure a healthy trip overseas, get vaccinated. Although the risk of exposure to the flu virus depends on the season, in certain areas, like the tropics, flu can sweep through anytime of year. But you should get the vaccine more than three days prior to travel. Otherwise, complications related to the shot might occur while you're traveling.