Common cold

DO you press the elevator button at work with your elbow? When using a public restroom, do you flush the toilet with your foot and use paper towels to open doors? You might be a germophobe. Or you could be one of the many smart people who are just trying to survive this year's cold/flu season without getting sick. The good news is that there are ways to ward off viruses, including a new anti-flu nasal mist. The bad news is that since the flu virus changes every year, there could be a meaner, more resistant strain of the virus lurking around. So, take note.

Both colds and the flu, or influenza, are spread by different viruses that infect the respiratory system. There are many types of viruses and most are spread in the same way. For instance, if your co-worker has a cold and sneezes or coughs without covering his or her mouth, droplets from the cough or sneeze can spread through the air (up to 3 feet) and can be deposited on your keyboard or other surfaces.

After using your computer (some bacteria can live two hours or longer on surfaces), you may unknowingly infect yourself by touching your eyes, mouth or nose. Also, shaking hands with someone who has the flu or a cold is a form of direct contact, and before you know it, you could find yourself with watery eyes and a scratchy throat.

This season a great deal of media has focused on avian or bird flu, which is an infection also caused by a virus. Although the virus originates in wild birds, it can spread to humans who are in contact with birds, or their droppings, and to domestic birds, such as chickens and turkeys. Doctors say that you cannot contract bird flu from eating poultry, even though about 100 people in Asia have been infected with the virus. "The disease is not spreading here," says Jennifer Morcone of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "But people should be informed."

Symptoms of bird flu mimic influenza and include fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches. To this point, there have been no cases of bird flu in the United States, and researchers are in the process of developing a vaccine for the disease.

So how do you decrease the likelihood of contracting one of the many bugs lurking out there? Believe it or not, public rest-rooms are not the germiest places in the world. The shopping cart handle at the grocery store holds more bacteria than some public rest-rooms, according to The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu by Allison Janse and Dr. Charles Gerba. Also, places that attract crowds, such as movie theaters, buses and subways (the railings and handles) are public breeding grounds for bacteria. Avoid these locations during a flu outbreak if you can.

In your home, replace sponges in the bathroom and kitchen regularly since they retain germs. In the office, you may want to skip the communal breakfast donuts--unless you get to them first. Another way to avoid colds and the flu is by choosing not to travel inside an airplane because your chances of catching a cold or the flu increase when you're inside.

According to the CDC, there are steps that you can take to stop the spread of germs that can cause the flu or common cold. Many of the things you were taught growing up, such as covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, apply here. Remember when your mother told you to always wash your hands? Health experts agree that washing your hands with soap and warm water for 15 to 20 seconds--that's as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice--will dislodge those pesky germs you've picked up. Use alcohol-based wipes and/or gel sanitizers when soap and water are not available. However, always follow up with warm water and soap.

A new way to stop the flu is the Nasal-Spray Flu Vaccine or Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV), a new flu vaccine that contains weakened live influenza viruses (rather than killed viruses). Researchers say that the nasal-spray flu vaccine is sprayed into the nose to stimulate the body's immune system and develop protective antibodies that will stop those flu viruses in their tracks. It is recommended for healthy people between the ages of 5 and 49 years old. The flu shot, which contains dead virus cells, is administered with a needle, usually in the arm. Doctors say that people who have a high risk for flu complications, such as individuals 65 or older, and adults and children with chronic heart or lung conditions, should get an annual flu shot. Although this year, there is talk about recommending a universal flu shot that could benefit everyone. For more information, go to http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flushot.htm.

According to Morcone at the CDC, it's also important to take good care of your body to ward off viruses. "We recommend eating well exercising, not smoking and getting plenty of rest." In fact, sleep deprivation is a major cause of metabolism breakdown, which can result in a weakened immune system. Smoking can break down the respiratory tract and make you more vulnerable to catching a virus. Doctors also suggest including zinc in your diet, available in over-the-counter lozenges and in some green teas, to further combat the spread of cold and flu.

Drinking a glass of orange juice daily can help strengthen your immune system and eating foods that are high in Vitamin C--including guava fruit, red bell peppers, broccoli, strawberries and oranges--can also be beneficial. Additionally, cranberry juice and garlic extract can fortify your immune system against viruses. Mom's home remedy, hot chicken soup, is still a good bet for making cold and flu sufferers feel better.

Finally, take into consideration that while avoiding elevators and touching restroom handles might lessen your germ contact, the best defense against cold and influenza is to keep your body healthy and use common sense tactics to minimize the effects of the viruses should you come in contact with them.

COPYRIGHT 2006 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group