Coughs, colds, and flu

[Doc Alan]

Of course you get these in the tropics, but here in the UK adults get 2-3 colds / year on average.
For the common cold, many different viruses cause it, so antibiotics are likely to be ineffective or harmful. Antihistamines and decongestants may help. Vitamin C is likely to have little or no effect. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs won't reduce the duration of the cold. Common colds usually last only a few days, and resting with plenty of sleep is sensible.
Just be careful how much you spend on common cold remedies! Don't buy the "big name" remedies ! It's been shown that supermarket own brands are far cheaper, for the same active ingredients.
Flu is different, much more serious, but also less common than "colds". You won't get "flu" more than once a year! Free flu jabs are offered by UK GP's for people most at risk. These include:
anyone aged 65 and over
serious medical conditions
carers for elderly /disabled people
work with poultry
pregnancy (if not already vaccinated against swine flu).
Obviously being registered with a GP is a priority in the UK, for many reasons, but they won't welcome you in the surgery for an uncomplicated common cold.

[katerry]

drink minute maid and it will be okay... no pineapple for coughs....

[sars_notd_virus]

Flu is different, much more serious, but also less common than "colds". You won't get "flu" more than once a year! Free flu jabs are offered by UK GP's for people most at risk. These include:
anyone aged 65 and over
serious medical conditions
carers for elderly /disabled people
work with poultry
pregnancy (if not already vaccinated against swine flu).
Obviously being registered with a GP is a priority in the UK, for many reasons, but they won't welcome you in the surgery for an uncomplicated common cold.

HI Doc,yeah sneezing season is up!!!

Oh well lots of fluids(fruit juices) and multivitamins really helps, but since its a flu ..its viral we can catch it no matter how much prevention we have ,..we just need to have strong immune to fight it back..
my daughter has an intermetent allergic rhinitis so she is more prone to catch flu easily,both of us had flu jabs in the Philippines and pneumococcal vaccines but i just wanna ask how often do we need to get a shots for flu in a year??

thanks

[Doc Alan]

HI Doc,yeah sneezing season is up!!!

Oh well lots of fluids(fruit juices) and multivitamins really helps, ... but i just wanna ask how often do we need to get a shots for flu in a year??

For most people who have a balanced diet, buying multivitamins shouldn't be necessary.
The flu jab should be once a year. That's because the viruses are always changing,so every year the World Health Organisation recommends which strains should be included in the vaccine.

[stevewool]

i have ben lucky so far , cant recall having many coughs and colds but the older we get the worst it may come , like many say eat well wrap up warm too and dont stress

[sars_notd_virus]

For most people who have a balanced diet, buying multivitamins shouldn't be necessary.
The flu jab should be once a year. That's because the viruses are always changing,so every year the World Health Organisation recommends which strains should be included in the vaccine.

Thanks doc !!
Virus mutates!!!
yeah so might as well got a swine flu vaccine for my daughter and myself as we got a different straint of flu vaccine in the Philippines

[KeithD]

I though the WHO decided what the vaccine would contain each year, and it was the same all over the planet

[ghee101]

drink minute maid and it will be okay... no pineapple for coughs....

i love minute maid, yummmmm...

anything rich in vitamin c is okay i guess.

[ghee101]

Oh well lots of fluids(fruit juices) and multivitamins really helps, but since its a flu ..its viral we can catch it no matter how much prevention we have ,..we just need to have strong immune to fight it back..

this is true.

[katerry]

the main secret of a good health and to keep from aging... become 10 years younger.. is to eat mangosteen..mark my word.. 50's will be look like 30's... try t urself.. not so easy to find mangosteen though... thats our secret too..hahah..not a secret anymore though.. hahhahaa....

[Doc Alan]

I though the WHO decided what the vaccine would contain each year, and it was the same all over the planet

It is, because while most viruses are antigenically stable, flu viruses are constantly changing their structure.
Not everyone can be vaccinated. Those who are not vaccinated may have a "healthy immune system" but they won't necessarily have antibodies to the latest flu viruses. If they are otherwise healthy they will recover in a week or so. It's people at risk who are recommended for vaccination, if in doubt ask your GP.
As for vitamin C, it is of unknown effectiveness in treating the common cold. A balanced diet should include fruit and vegetables. But don't waste your money buying vitamin C or multivitamins

[katerry]

mangosteen fruit...http://www.google.com.ph/imglanding?...1t:429,r:6,s:0

[Doc Alan]

the main secret of a good health and to keep from aging... become 10 years younger.. is to eat mangosteen..mark my word..

OK ...but these are "Tips and Advice for Living in the UK" , not just my opinion but based on evidence

[katerry]

[Arthur Little]

I though the WHO decided what the vaccine would contain each year, and it was the same all over the planet

... ? "The Who"? ... you mean a pop group is consulted on health matters ... !?

[bornatbirth]

... ? "The Who"? ... you mean a pop group is consulted on health matters ... !?

The World Heatlh Oraganization?

[Arthur Little]

The World Heatlh Oraganization?

I know ... just couldn't resist the !

[joebloggs]

I hardly ever catch colds doc, thou i do drink alot of orange juice 1pt a day - the man made stuff but maybe it's the vitamins i take or just lucky ??

my misses has a cold now , self treatment not good for a doc

[KeithD]

My doctor gives me a little prick every year

[Doc Alan]

I hardly ever catch colds doc, thou i do drink alot of orange juice 1pt a day - the man made stuff but maybe it's the vitamins i take or just lucky ??

Just lucky Joe
If mangosteens made me look 10 years younger and prevented coughs, colds, and flu I wouldn't be wasting time on "evidence based medicine" ...and certainly not giving little pricks to Keith Boss

[rani]

the main secret of a good health and to keep from aging... become 10 years younger.. is to eat mangosteen..mark my word.. 50's will be look like 30's... try t urself.. not so easy to find mangosteen though... thats our secret too..hahah..not a secret anymore though.. hahhahaa....

i love mangosteen that's the first thing i buy whenever i visit davao... so yummy

[purple]

anything that is rich in phytochemicals or known as vit.c is very good to boost the lymphatic system responsible to help the immune system fight off these antigens like colds, flu etc. and proper balanced organic diet is most important.

[Doc Alan]

anything that is rich in phytochemicals or known as vit.c is very good to boost the lymphatic system responsible to help the immune system fight off these antigens like colds, flu etc.

Vitamin C is used to treat scurvy. Claims that it helps improve symptoms of colds or flu ( or promotes wound healing) have not been proved.

[Rosie1958]

.......... As for vitamin C, it is of unknown effectiveness in treating the common cold. A balanced diet should include fruit and vegetables. But don't waste your money buying vitamin C or multivitamins

Doc Alan I fully understand what you are saying here. Last year I was actually considering taking mulitvitamins myself as I have developed a number of intolerances to certain fruit and vegetables and other food stuffs over the years so wanted to make sure that my diet contained sufficient vitamins, minerals, etc. However, I wasn't sure which ones to get so I decided that I would visit a Nutritionist first for further advice. I was told to record my entire food intake for a week and then the nutritionist did some analysis to see if I was lacking in anything. To my surprise, my diet was deemed as healthy and I wasn't lacking in anything. I have therefore saved myself the cost of multivitamins that would have been completely unnecessary.

[-sillybilly-]

Vitamin C is used to treat scurvy. Claims that it helps improve symptoms of colds or flu ( or promotes wound healing) have not been proved.

i dont really believe taking Vit C as it has rottened my children's teeth!

Luckily, i never had any colds or flu here in England. Maybe my body is saying "cant get ill, no one's gonna look after me".

Dont mind being ill in the Philippines as there are a few options:

- Antibiotics without any prescriptions
- Nice warm soup of Bulalo or Nilagang Baka cooked by Mum!
- OR, a whole body massage!

[Doc Alan]

Luckily, i never had any colds or flu here in England. Maybe my body is saying "cant get ill, no one's gonna look after me".

OR, a whole body massage! [/B]

You have made two important points here, although I can't prove either of them ! My late Mum ( a GP) had to look after my Dad (also a GP) when he was unwell, and she almost never got colds. Having a positive attitude does seem to help !
As for massages , they make you happy

[KeithD]

I have a spoonful of bull sperm a day .... being doing that for 20 years and never had the flu in the last week

[junior02]

i think the best way to get rid of a common cold is to swet it out, what works for me is having a small glass of scotch and a steaming hot bath.

[Languish]

They [coughs, colds and flu] cant be avoided in this country... i remember when i went to the Philippines in April. Despite the temperature and humidity i had a cold pretty much all the time i was there. Sucked!

[KeithD]

I haven't had a cold or flu for years.... never reaches this part of Wales