N E W S

Vol 14, No. 2      LINCARE is a National Supplier of Home
Winter '01           Oxygen and Respiratory Therapy Services

HOW TO STAVE OFF
COLD AND FLU SYMPTOMS

 This morning you woke up with a sore throat, a stuffy nose and that fuzzy feeling that often precedes a week curled up on the couch watching daytime television. And even if the world may be coming apart around you, so what? You have a cold or, even worse, the flu. What can you do?

Unfortunately, no one's found a cure for the common cold. Whether you go to a doctor practicing traditional medicine or to a naturopath prescribing herbs, the best you can hope for is a salve for the symptoms and, maybe, a shorter cycle of sickness.

The news is a little better when it comes to the flu. Modern vaccines can stave off the virus. But if you're already sporting symptoms, it's too late for that.

Most mainstream physicians concentrate on making the patient feel better while waiting out the illness. A few might even prescribe zinc lozenges, in the hopes that the tablets will speed recovery.

"We know what works: rest and plenty of fluids," says Dr. Jeffrey Jaeger, an instructor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia. "This won't shorten the duration of the cold or flu, but it will stop you from getting sicker."

And don't push yourself too hard, he says. Stress your body too much when you're sick and you might end up with pneumonia, Jaeger cautions.

Beyond this, some over-the-counter medications can help clear blocked nasal passages and stifle those body-racking coughs. If you're confused by the plethora of products, just remember that many of them have the same ingredients.

Just check the list of active ingredients for chemicals designed to help with whatever symptoms are most distressing.

For a plugged-up nose, Jaeger suggests medications containing pseudoephedrine or diphenhydramine.

Pseudoephedrine clears the nasal passages by locking into the body's fight-or-flight response system, Jaeger says. "One of the things it does is shrink up all the nasal tissues so you can breath better," Jaeger says.

Diphenhydramine works differently; it is a histamine blocker. Histamine causes tissues to swell, making breathing difficult. Antihistamines block this reaction. A side effect of most antihistamines is that they can make you drowsy. If you plan to keep working or need to drive, you might want to skip this medication. When it comes to coughs, a preparation containing dextromethrophan can often do the trick. This cough suppressant works by toning down the brain's cough reflex, Jaeger explains. "Normally when you feel a tickle in your throat, a message comes from this specialized section of the brain telling you to cough to clear your throat," he adds. If you feel like your throat is clogged, then an expectorant like guaifenesin might be the answer. Guaifenesin pulls water into the respiratory tract, Jaeger says. This loosens and thins the sputum, allowing you to clear out your airway. So next time you have a winter ill, take the time to read the labels instead of relying on the product you most recently heard touted on television. You may just get that relief you're seeking.

By Linda Carroll
MSNBC

It is not fair to ask of others what you are unwilling to do yourself

- Eleanor Roosevelt

STROKE WARNING SIGNS

Coronary heart disease is America's No. 1 killer. Stroke is No. 3 and a leading cause of serious disability. That's why it's so important to reduce your risk factors, know the warning signs, and know how to respond quickly and properly if warning signs occur. The American Stroke Association says these are the warning signs of stroke:

1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
3. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
5. Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

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