flu shot

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Test Your Cold and Flu I.Q.

Posted by Debby Ridgell on October 18, 2013
Posted in: Pass the Health. Tagged: , , , , . 1 Comment

Cold and Flu IQ2Should I feed a cold and starve a fever?  Or is it the other way around?  Does chicken soup actually cure the common cold?  And I had a flu shot last year – I’m good for another nine or ten years, right?  Cold and flu season has snuck up on us once again, so it’s time to test your cold and flu I.Q. with the following ten-question quiz.  You’ll find the answers at the end – but no peaking!

1.  The flu vaccine is more dangerous than the actual flu?

a. True

b. False

 

2. Common flu symptoms include:

a. Fever

b. Cough

c. Aches and pains

d. All of the above

 

3. The common cold and the flu are basically the same thing.

a. True

b. False

 

4. Methods for preventing colds and the flu include:

a. Washing hands

b. Regular physical activity

c. A food diet rich in phytochemicals including dark leafy green, red and yellow fruits and vegetables

d. All of the above

 

5. Only the sick and elderly need the flu shot:

a. True

b. False

 

6. Which of the following are effective treatments for the common cold?

a. Antibiotics

b. Cough suppressants and decongestants

c. Bed rest

d. Both b and c

 

7. You should see a doctor if you experience

a. Severe chest pain

b. Persistent fever, coughing, or soar throat

c. Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

d. All of the above

 

8. The flu is spread:

a. Through respiratory droplets passed through the air

b. Through contact with doorknobs, handrails, and keyboards

c. Both a and b

d. None of the above

 

9. There is no cure for the flu:

a. True

b. False

 

10. Side effects of the flu shot can include:

a. Kidney and liver malfunction

b. Local soreness where the shot is administered

c. High blood pressure or stroke

d. Constipation

 

Answers:

1. False.  While the shot does not guarantee you’ll be flu-free throughout the season, for most people, the flu vaccine is an effective safeguard against predicted flu strains.  There are some risks associated with the flu shot.  For example if you’re allergic to eggs, the shot might present some hazards.  In addition, the shot may contain trace amounts of mercury, which is added as a preservative.  Talk to your doctor about whether or not the flu shot is right for you.  And check out this video from WebMD on The Truth About Flu Vaccines.

2. True.  Fever, coughs, aches and pains – all of these are flu symptoms, as well as congestion, fatigue, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

3. False.  While cold and flu symptoms are similar, their severity differs greatly.  The common cold is a relatively minor irritation, compared to the flu, which kills up to 49,000 people annually.

4. All of the above (d).  Additional recommended cold/flu avoidance strategies include:

  • Getting plenty of sleep (7 or more hours each night) and relaxation
  • Reducing alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking, as both tend to suppress the immune system
  • Refraining from touching the face since cold and flu germs tend to enter the body through the eyes, nose and mouth
  • Drinking plenty of water (9-13 cups of fluid per day).  Dehydration tends to inhibit the immune system’s functioning.

5. False.  This was a trick question, actually.  While those suffering from chronic illnesses and seniors over the age of 65 are certainly more susceptible to flu viruses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that “Everyone older than 6 months is recommended for flu vaccination with rare exception.”  Click here for details on who should get vaccinated for influenza.

6. The answer is d (both b and c [cough suppressants and decongestants, as well as bed rest]).  Antibiotics fight bacteria-related illnesses. Colds, however, are caused by viruses.  Thus, antibiotics can actually do more harm than good in treating the common cold.

7. The answer is d.  All of these symptoms may indicate complications from the flu (such as pneumonia), or another medical condition (such as heart disease, asthma, or strep throat) for which medical treatment is necessary.

8. The answer is c.  The flu is spread through respiratory droplets that are passed through the air as well as through germs acquired by contact with infected surfaces.  This means that you should generally try to stay away from people who are sick and wash your hands often in order to avoid or minimize exposure to flu germs.  A chilling visualization on how cold and flu germs are spread can be seen in this video from Discovery Fit & Health.

9. True.  This is another trick question, actually.  There is no one antidote for treatment of the flu.  The flu is a virus, and there are several antiviral medications on the market (such as Tamiflu and Flumadine) that can shorten the duration of the flu.  However, for most people, the flu can be treated naturally with bed rest and drinking plenty of fluids, as well over the counter pain relievers and decongestants.  You should check with your doctor for dosages and age restrictions.

10. The answer is b.  Most people experience some soreness where the flu shot is administered.  A common misconception is that the flu shot cause people to “catch” the flu.  In fact, the reason that some people feel slightly under the weather after having the flu shot is that their bodies are busy producing antibodies in response to the vaccine, which sometimes causes general discomfort or weakness.  These symptoms generally pass within a day or two and are far less severe than those experienced with the actual flu.

Bonus Answers:

Q: Feed a cold and starve a fever?  Or feed a fever and starve a cold?

A: Neither.  This is an old wives’ tale.  While some foods – warm soup, for example – will make a soar throat feel better, most doctors and nutritionists simply recommend that when you’re sick you should eat healthy and nutrient-dense foods and drink plenty of fluids so as to avoid dehydration.

Q: How long does a flu shot last?

A: Each year, the flu vaccine is updated to address the virus strains most frequently infecting people throughout the world.  Therefore, unlike other vaccinations (i.e., measles, tetanus, pneumonia), the flu inoculation is only good for one flu season and should be taken annually.

What’s Next?  For me, it’s off to NextCare Urgent Care for my flu shot.  Coach Stacy, on the other hand, would rather have a 20-pound dumbbell dropped on her big toe than sustain a flu shot.  She wouldn’t mind the flu mist so much, but every doctor’s office and pharmacy she’s called in the Denver metro area has told her that the mist is only for “babies.”  Quite frankly, they should just give her the mist since, after all, Coach IS a big baby, at least where needles are concerned.  However, as it’s not likely she’ll score the mist anytime soon, she’s focused on eating a healthy food diet, getting plenty of exercise and sleep, and steering clear of germs.  Hopefully, the cold and flu bugs won’t find her.

For more information on your best defenses during cold and flu season, log on to the NextCare Urgent Care website.

Pass the Health: The Flu Shot Debate

Posted by Coach Stacy & Debby Ridgell on October 11, 2012
Posted in: Pass the Health. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Every fall Coach Stacy and I spar in the same debate – to vaccinate, or not to vaccinate.  I’m a huge fan of the preventive powers of the flu shot, having spent the majority of my professional life working in classrooms and public libraries.  Coach Stacy?  Not a fan – primarily because of her life-long needle phobia.  For Coach Stacy, the very thought of getting the flu shot is enough to make her swoon and her avoidance maneuvers where needles are concerned are the stuff of legend.  For example, one day as a youngster, upon realizing her mother had tricked her into going to the doctor’s office for a booster shot, Coach made a dash to the parking lot and locked herself in the family car.  Subsequently, it took one pediatrician, three nurses, six moms from the waiting room and the San Antonio Fire Department a full hour to coax her out of the car.

Fast forward a few years and Coach is still easily fooled.  When I first started working for her I thought I’d deceive her into going for a flu shot – at the mall, of all places.  Since she believed we were shopping for tennis shoes, it wasn’t terribly difficult luring her into Macy’s.  However, her eagerness over the prospect of shopping tennies quickly turned to suspicion when we made a beeline past the shoe department and then to horror when we arrived at the Visiting Nurses Association kiosk in the house wares department.  Momentarily distracted while filling out my paperwork, I somehow managed to let Coach escape, but found her hiding, trembling and pale, in active wear ten minutes later. 

“I.  Don’t.  Do.  Shots,” she hissed. To this day, I still haven’t convinced Coach Stacy with regard to the relative merits of flu shots.  But naturally, I enjoy “needling” her every year when I get mine.  Here’s a snippet of our recent conversation on the topic:

Debby:  Coach, I think you should do it this year.

Coach Stacy: What’s that?

Debby:  Get the flu shot.

Coach Stacy: Here we go again.

Debby:  Seriously.  With all the traveling you do, it only makes sense, given the nasty germs you’re exposed to every time you fly.

Coach Stacy: You know I hate needles.

Debby:  Really.  It could save your life.  Did you know that every year about 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu symptoms – and about 20,000 of them actually die from complications associated with the flu?

Coach Stacy: I’d rather suffer the symptoms than get a shot.

Debby: The aching?  The chills?  The fever?  All the missed work?

Coach Stacy:  Well, even if I get the shot, it’s no guarantee that I won’t get the flu.  You know, the vaccine contains only the flu strains that scientists predict will be circulating in the upcoming season?

Debby:  Yes, I suppose developing the vaccine each year is a bit like shooting at a moving target.  But according to the CDC, the shot cuts your chances of coming down with the flu by around 70%. 

Coach Stacy:  I’m still not convinced.  Plus, last year one of my clients got the shot and two days later – wham!  She was sick in bed with the flu.

Debby:  Nope – a total coincidence.  You can’t catch the flu from the flu shot.  She would have had to have been exposed to the germs before the shot.  The virus can actually incubate for a week, so it only seemed like the shot caused her to have the flu.  And for some people, the side effects of the shot resemble flu symptoms – low-grade fever, achiness – especially in the arm the shot is administered. 

Coach Stacy:  Still……I don’t do needles.

Debby:  Then get the nasal mist vaccine.

Coach Stacy:  Seriously?  You realize, of course, that the nasal vaccine contains weakened live viruses.  Do you really think I’d willingly sniff a live flu virus?  Not only that, but I read somewhere that the vaccine contains the preservative thimerosal, which is made from mercury.  And the shot has also been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome?

Debby:  Okay, yes, the shot does contain thimerosal, but only trace amounts.  Talk to your doctor about that.  Flu vaccines without the preservative are available out there, but they’re a little harder to find.  And yes, there’s like a one in a million chance that you could develop Guillain-Barré after having the flu shot.

Coach Stacy: Still, I’d rather take my chances of getting the flu than get stuck with a needle or snort a live virus.  Besides there are other ways to prevent the flu, like being diligent about hand washing, healthy eating, being physically active and avoiding people who are coughing and sneezing.

Well, I got my flu shot last week.  Coach, of course, passed.  We’ll likely repeat the debate again next year…..and the year after that.  Bottom line is that the vaccine is easy to come by this time of year and even Coach will tell you that it’s highly recommended for some people who are at high risk:

  • People who are 50 years of age or older
  • Those who have weakened immune systems or chronic conditions such as asthma or heart disease
  • Anyone who works with young children or with high risk populations

You shouldn’t get the shot if:

  • You’re allergic to chickens or eggs (the shots are cultivated inside chicken eggs)
  • You have a fever or illness
  • You’ve had a bad reaction to a flu shot previously
  • You’re pregnant or trying to conceive

If you’re not sure what to do, talk to your primary care physician.  Meanwhile, check out this Flu IQ, developed by the Centers for Disease Control.  Later this month Coach Stacy will be back with tips for staying healthy during the upcoming cold and flu season. 

Weigh in below on your plans for getting a flu shot this year: