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Cold & Flu Season Information
The Common Cold
More than 200 different viruses are known to cause the symptoms of the common cold. Most do not result in serious illness, sometimes however there can be more serious effects. Unfortunately for us these viruses grow best at temperatures of about 91o Fahrenheit, the temperature inside the human nose.
There is no evidence that you can get a cold from exposure to cold weather or from getting chilled. There is also no evidence that your chance of getting a cold is related to your general overall health. Some scientists do believe that stress and allergies may make you more susceptible to cold viruses.
Prevention Tips
The most important thing you can do to keep yourself healthy is wash you hands often. You are potentially exposed to cold causing viruses from other people every time a sick person sneezes or coughs because they expel these viruses into atmosphere.
Learning how to sneeze and cough correctly can help prevent the spread of colds. You should always cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing. Sneezing into your hands prevents the expulsion of the viruses into the atmosphere, however your hands have now been contaminated and therefore must be washed immediately afterward, otherwise you will spread the viruses to everything you touch. A better idea may be to sneeze into your sleeve (watch this video to learn more)
Flu Prevention Tips
For those of you not receiving the flu vaccine this year please follow the below suggestions to minimize your risk of getting influenza:
See the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website for more information on influenza prevention.
More than 200 different viruses are known to cause the symptoms of the common cold. Most do not result in serious illness, sometimes however there can be more serious effects. Unfortunately for us these viruses grow best at temperatures of about 91o Fahrenheit, the temperature inside the human nose.
There is no evidence that you can get a cold from exposure to cold weather or from getting chilled. There is also no evidence that your chance of getting a cold is related to your general overall health. Some scientists do believe that stress and allergies may make you more susceptible to cold viruses.
Prevention Tips
The most important thing you can do to keep yourself healthy is wash you hands often. You are potentially exposed to cold causing viruses from other people every time a sick person sneezes or coughs because they expel these viruses into atmosphere.
Learning how to sneeze and cough correctly can help prevent the spread of colds. You should always cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing. Sneezing into your hands prevents the expulsion of the viruses into the atmosphere, however your hands have now been contaminated and therefore must be washed immediately afterward, otherwise you will spread the viruses to everything you touch. A better idea may be to sneeze into your sleeve (watch this video to learn more)
Flu Prevention Tips
For those of you not receiving the flu vaccine this year please follow the below suggestions to minimize your risk of getting influenza:
- Frequent hand washing with warm water and soap
- If you think you have the flu, avoid the elderly or frail relatives and friends
- If you think you have the flu, stay home from work or school
- Stay healthy! Eat well and get enough rest; avoid getting run down which can lower your resistance
- Talk with your physician about weather or not antiviral medicines could be right for you
- Use tissues for coughs and sneezes and dispose appropriately and immediately
See the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website for more information on influenza prevention.