jetta
01-05-2015, 11:36 PM
Your Cold and Flu Survival Guide
154
Acupuncture
This complementary medicine, a go-to treatment for conditions like back pain and migraines, is now recognized as a viable way to help prevent colds and the flu. "Acupuncture aids in the production of natural killer cells, our primary defense against organisms that make us sick," says Jamie Starkey, lead acupuncturist at the Cleveland Clinic. This means your "army" will be larger and stronger if a virus invades. Starkey recommends one session per week for five weeks.
Berries
Eat more of Mother Nature's "pills" — blueberries and other dark berries help strengthen your immune system. They contain anthocyanins, shown to reduce inflammation. Aim for 1/2 to 1 cup per day (fresh or frozen), suggests naturopathic doctor Natasha Turner.
Chicken Soup
A soothing bowl of this homemade goodness has anti-inflammatory properties that may ease symptoms and shorten upper respiratory tract infections, says a classic study from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Make some tonight, then freeze for when you need it.
Exercise
Doing some form of moderate daily activity, whether it's walking, biking or jogging, can cut your number of colds in half, studies report. The increased breathing and blood flow and temporary rise in body temperature are believed to aid the immune system.
Fist Bump
Ditch the handshake: A study in the American Journal of Infection Control reveals it transfers far more germs than popular alternatives like the fist bump and the high five, which pass a whopping 90% less and 50% less, respectively.
Honey
If you're already hacking, try a spoonful or two before bed. In a Penn State study, it was more effective than cough syrup at calming coughs.
Keep Your Distance
Flu droplets can travel up to six feet, reports the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), so if you see someone sneezing and coughing, step back to avoid catching the virus.
Lots of Liquids
Staying well hydrated helps prevent colds. And if you do get sick, liquids help thin out mucus and clear it away.
Rinse
When blocked sinuses are making you miserable, get relief by using an OTC saline nasal spray or mist throughout the day whenever you feel the need to clear nasal passages.
Sleep More
Sleep away your cold. Scientists are learning more about the sleep/healing connection: Getting more shut-eye when you're sick ups the activity of proteins that help to clear infection faster.
Understand Your Symptoms
Knowing if it's a cold or flu can help you make better treatment choices. If it's flu, take extra care, since it could lead to other complications like bronchitis or ear infections. Here are some ways to recognize the difference: Fever, chills, and aches all over? Common with the flu, rare with colds. Sneezing, stuffy nose, sore throat? Common for a cold, not the flu. Top tip: If you suspect flu, speak to a doctor ASAP about Tamiflu or Relenza, which stop viruses from replicating and can speed recovery by two days.
154
Acupuncture
This complementary medicine, a go-to treatment for conditions like back pain and migraines, is now recognized as a viable way to help prevent colds and the flu. "Acupuncture aids in the production of natural killer cells, our primary defense against organisms that make us sick," says Jamie Starkey, lead acupuncturist at the Cleveland Clinic. This means your "army" will be larger and stronger if a virus invades. Starkey recommends one session per week for five weeks.
Berries
Eat more of Mother Nature's "pills" — blueberries and other dark berries help strengthen your immune system. They contain anthocyanins, shown to reduce inflammation. Aim for 1/2 to 1 cup per day (fresh or frozen), suggests naturopathic doctor Natasha Turner.
Chicken Soup
A soothing bowl of this homemade goodness has anti-inflammatory properties that may ease symptoms and shorten upper respiratory tract infections, says a classic study from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Make some tonight, then freeze for when you need it.
Exercise
Doing some form of moderate daily activity, whether it's walking, biking or jogging, can cut your number of colds in half, studies report. The increased breathing and blood flow and temporary rise in body temperature are believed to aid the immune system.
Fist Bump
Ditch the handshake: A study in the American Journal of Infection Control reveals it transfers far more germs than popular alternatives like the fist bump and the high five, which pass a whopping 90% less and 50% less, respectively.
Honey
If you're already hacking, try a spoonful or two before bed. In a Penn State study, it was more effective than cough syrup at calming coughs.
Keep Your Distance
Flu droplets can travel up to six feet, reports the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), so if you see someone sneezing and coughing, step back to avoid catching the virus.
Lots of Liquids
Staying well hydrated helps prevent colds. And if you do get sick, liquids help thin out mucus and clear it away.
Rinse
When blocked sinuses are making you miserable, get relief by using an OTC saline nasal spray or mist throughout the day whenever you feel the need to clear nasal passages.
Sleep More
Sleep away your cold. Scientists are learning more about the sleep/healing connection: Getting more shut-eye when you're sick ups the activity of proteins that help to clear infection faster.
Understand Your Symptoms
Knowing if it's a cold or flu can help you make better treatment choices. If it's flu, take extra care, since it could lead to other complications like bronchitis or ear infections. Here are some ways to recognize the difference: Fever, chills, and aches all over? Common with the flu, rare with colds. Sneezing, stuffy nose, sore throat? Common for a cold, not the flu. Top tip: If you suspect flu, speak to a doctor ASAP about Tamiflu or Relenza, which stop viruses from replicating and can speed recovery by two days.
