Should You Be Worried?
By: Tiffany Davis
Flavor Vapor Media Specialist
This is just a public reminder to be safe this cold and flu season from
the friendly vapor consultants at Flavor Vapor.
All who work with the public and a nightmare for parents, cold and flu
season is in full swing. This season however hasn’t started out the same as
every other year. This year another disease is hitting close to home and
reminding everyone to be caution. Ebola has people scared but do you really
need to worry about a disease that has killed thousands?
The USA is very cautious when it comes to a pending out break of an
infectious disease. So, in reality I wouldn’t worry about an Ebola outbreak in
the USA. Now, if you plan to travel this season I would take extra precaution
if you especially if you are in contact with the elderly, children, or have a
compromised immune system. Any common cold or flu is easy to catch because it
can be airborne. Ebola, is only spread through close contact or bodily fluids. Direct contact means
that body fluids (blood, saliva, mucus, vomit, urine, or feces) from an
infected person (alive or dead) have touched someone’s eyes, nose, or mouth or
an open cut, wound, or abrasion.
What is the difference between a cold and the flu?
The flu and the common
cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses.
Because these two types of illnesses have similar flu-like symptoms, it can be
difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In
general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever,
body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds
are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a
runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems,
such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.
How can you tell the difference between a cold and the flu?
Because colds and flu
share many symptoms, it can be difficult (or even impossible) to tell the
difference between them based on symptoms alone. Special tests that usually
must be done within the first few days of illness can be carried out, when
needed to tell if a person has the flu.
What are the symptoms
of the flu versus the symptoms of a cold?
In general, the flu is
worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme
tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder
than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose.
Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia,
bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.
So, this season
practice caution when touching doorknobs and other high traffic areas. Here is
some easy precautions:
-Wash your hands for
20 seconds with hot water
-Use your elbow or
other body part to open doors when possible instead of your hands.
-Sanitize items you
use everyday like your phone with disinfected wipes.
-Avoid touching your
face.
-Stay away from anyone
who appears sick.
-Disinfect your
shopping cart at the store.
-Carry disinfecting
wipes with you.
-Carry hand-sanitizing
gel.
-Use a medical nose
and mouth mask if traveling in a highly dense area.
-Sneeze into your
elbow instead of your hands to prevent contact with your hands and potential
spread of germs.
These are just a few
ideas to stay healthy this cold and flu season. There are also herbal
supplements that have been proven to provide support to our immune systems but
remember to talk with your doctor before starting any new medication.
Thank you for taking time out of your day to read our blog.
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