I am beginning to feel sniffly again, are you? To battle cold and flu naturally during American Heart Month, I am drinking more green tea throughout the day for its immune effects, I am supplementing with extra zinc, vitamin C and D; and I am hitting the sack earlier to keenly listen to my internal rhythms.
Cold and flu are nothing to sneeze about, especially for high-risk populations like the 12 million Americans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and others with asthma, chronic bronchitis and severe allergies.
To make matters worse, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that this year’s flu season is off to its earliest start in almost a decade; and it is unfortunately expected to be a bad one.
Did you get the flu shot this year? I did.
While it is important for all Americans to take good care of themselves during this severe cold and flu season, it is especially critical for people with COPD to avoid worsening of symptoms such as wheezing, cough, and chest tightness. In addition to widely recognized prevention tips such as getting vaccinated against the flu or covering your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, people with COPD must manage their symptoms and reduce their risk, says pulmonary specialist Dr. Antonio Anzueto, a professor of medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Speaking of the flu bug…
In The Germ Freak’s Guide To Outwitting Colds And Flu: Guerilla Tactics to Keep Yourself Healthy at Home, at Work and in the World ($11.95), germy freak Allison Janse and Dr. Charles Gerba (Dr. Germ) give us the lowdown on how to avoid the common cold and survive flu season with your health and sanity intact.This is my favorite part and made me run for my big bottle of Purell:
This is the practical information your doctor won’t give you (they always say not to worry and may be giving you the latest bug by not washing their hands when they examine you!) but which you’re dying to know:
- How clean is my office desk? (It’s better to eat off a toilet seat, I hear.)
- Do I have to shake that snotty person’s hand? Ugh.
How do you most naturally prevent cold and flu season in your house? Tell us here!