Combatting Cold and Flu

Hand Hygiene: Regularly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing, sneezing, or touching public surfaces.

Use Hand Sanitizer: When soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to kill germs on your hands.

Avoid Touching Your Face: Viruses can enter your body through your eyes, nose, and mouth, so avoid touching these areas with unwashed hands.

Cover Your Mouth and Nose: Use a tissue or your elbow to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and dispose of tissues immediately.

Social Distancing: Minimize close contact with sick individuals, and if you’re sick, stay home to avoid spreading the illness to others.

Clean and Disinfect Surfaces: Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and electronic devices.

Boost Your Immune System: Maintain a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, adequate sleep, and stress management.

Get Vaccinated: Annual flu vaccines are recommended for everyone over six months of age to protect against seasonal influenza viruses.

Rest: Allow your body to rest as much as possible to help it fight off the infection.

Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids like water, herbal tea, or clear broth to stay hydrated and loosen mucus.

Humidify the Air: Use a humidifier or take a hot shower to moisten the air, which can relieve congestion and soothe a sore throat.

Saltwater Gargle: Gargling with warm salt water can help soothe a sore throat and reduce inflammation.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications: Take OTC medications such as pain relievers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) and decongestants to alleviate symptoms like fever, body aches, and nasal congestion. Be sure to follow the recommended dosage.

Nasal Saline Rinse: Use a saline nasal rinse or spray to flush out nasal passages and relieve congestion.

Soothe Sore Throat: Drink warm beverages like tea with honey or suck on throat lozenges to ease throat pain.

Antiviral Medications: For influenza, your healthcare provider may prescribe antiviral medications like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) if taken early in the illness, these drugs can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.

Seek Medical Attention: If your symptoms worsen or persist, especially if you have difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain, severe headache, or high fever, seek medical attention promptly.

High-Risk Groups: Certain individuals are at higher risk of complications from the flu, including young children, elderly adults, pregnant women, and people with underlying health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. They may need extra precautions or medical attention if they become ill.

Travel Precautions: If traveling during flu season, take extra precautions such as practicing good hand hygiene, avoiding close contact with sick individuals, and getting vaccinated before traveling.

Workplace and School Policies: Encourage workplace and school policies that support staying home when sick to prevent the spread of illness to others.

Hand Hygiene:

• Washing hands with soap and water is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of viruses. Proper handwashing involves lathering soap, scrubbing all surfaces of the hands, including between fingers and under nails, and rinsing thoroughly.
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol can also be used when handwashing facilities are unavailable. However, they may not effectively remove dirt or organic material from hands.

Avoid Touching Your Face:

• The mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth are entry points for viruses. Avoiding touching these areas with unwashed hands reduces the risk of infection.
• Encourage others, especially children, to develop this habit as well.

Social Distancing:

• During flu season or outbreaks, minimizing close contact with sick individuals can reduce the spread of illness.
• Social distancing measures, such as avoiding crowded places or staying home when sick, are particularly important in preventing the transmission of respiratory viruses.

Boost Your Immune System:

• A healthy immune system can better defend against viral infections. Strategies to support immune health include eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and avoiding tobacco smoke.
• Certain nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc, may have immune-boosting properties and can be obtained through dietary sources or supplements.

Clean and Disinfect Surfaces:

• Viruses can survive on surfaces for varying lengths of time, depending on factors such as surface type and environmental conditions. Regularly cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces help reduce the risk of contamination.
• Use EPA-approved disinfectants and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use and contact time.

Get Vaccinated:

• Annual flu vaccines are recommended for everyone over six months of age, with rare exceptions. Vaccination not only reduces the risk of getting the flu but also helps prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
• Flu vaccines are typically available in the fall before flu season begins, but it’s never too late to get vaccinated during the flu season.

Rest:

• Adequate rest allows the body to divert energy towards fighting off the infection. It’s essential to listen to your body and prioritize rest when experiencing symptoms of a cold or flu.
• Stay home from work, school, or other activities to avoid spreading the illness to others and to facilitate recovery.

Stay Hydrated:

• Drinking plenty of fluids helps maintain hydration, thin respiratory secretions, and soothe a sore throat. Water, herbal teas, clear broth, and electrolyte solutions are good options.
• Avoid excessive consumption of caffeine or alcohol, as they can contribute to dehydration.

Humidify the Air:

• Dry indoor air can exacerbate respiratory symptoms such as congestion and throat irritation. Using a humidifier to add moisture to the air can provide relief.
• Ensure proper maintenance of humidifiers to prevent the growth of mold or bacteria.

Saltwater Gargle:

• Gargling with warm salt water can help soothe a sore throat, reduce inflammation, and temporarily relieve discomfort.
• Dissolve about half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and gargle for 30 seconds before spitting it out.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications:

• OTC pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can help reduce fever, body aches, and headache associated with colds and flu.
• Decongestants (oral or nasal sprays) can alleviate nasal congestion by shrinking swollen blood vessels in the nasal passages. However, they should be used cautiously and for short durations to avoid rebound congestion.
• Antihistamines may help relieve symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and itching, but they can cause drowsiness in some individuals.

Nasal Saline Rinse:

• Saline nasal rinses or sprays can help clear nasal passages, reduce congestion, and flush out mucus and irritants.
• Use commercially available saline nasal products or make your own saline solution using distilled or boiled water and salt.

Soothe Sore Throat:

• Warm beverages such as herbal tea with honey can provide temporary relief for a sore throat.
• Throat lozenges or sprays containing ingredients like menthol or benzocaine can numb the throat and provide relief from pain and irritation.

Antiviral Medications:

• Antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), and peramivir (Rapivab) are prescription medications used to treat influenza.
• These drugs work by inhibiting the replication of the influenza virus and can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms when initiated within 48 hours of symptom onset.
• Antiviral treatment may be recommended for individuals at high risk of flu complications or those with severe illness, regardless of the duration of symptoms.

Seek Medical Attention:

• If cold or flu symptoms worsen or persist despite home remedies and OTC medications, it’s important to seek medical evaluation.
• Prompt medical attention is particularly important for individuals at high risk of complications, such as young children, elderly adults, pregnant women, and people with underlying health conditions.

High-Risk Groups:

• Certain populations, including young children, elderly adults (65 years and older), pregnant women, and individuals with chronic medical conditions, are at higher risk of developing complications from the flu.
• These individuals may benefit from early antiviral treatment and should receive the flu vaccine annually to reduce their risk of illness and its complications.

Travel Precautions:

• Traveling, especially by air or other crowded modes of transportation, can increase the risk of exposure to respiratory viruses.
• Travelers should practice good hand hygiene, avoid close contact with sick individuals, and consider getting vaccinated against the flu before traveling, especially during flu season.

Workplace and School Policies:

• Employers and educational institutions can help prevent the spread of colds and flu by implementing policies that encourage sick individuals to stay home until they are no longer contagious.
• Flexible sick leave policies and telecommuting options can support employees in taking time off to recover without risking the spread of illness to coworkers.