Sundown Nutrition :: Printable Article

Ahh… autumn. Hues of gold, red and orange set the tone for the season. It’s the return of sweater weather… pumpkin patches… and kids playing on a blanket of fallen leaves. We all love fall. It’s a wonderful time of year. But, fall also marks the return of cold and flu season. So, why does it seem to magically appear around this time of year? Well, there are two main reasons: the weather and kids.

First, let’s talk about the weather. Contrary to popular opinion, cold temperatures aren’t to blame for catching colds or the flu. One of the reasons is the change in humidity, which helps cold and flu viruses since they thrive in lower humidity. This type of environment can dry the lining of nasal passages, making them more vulnerable to infection. Additionally, the Fall and Winter months make each day chillier and the days shorter so people tend to spend more time indoors congregating at home, schools, offices, day care centers, etc. And, of course, closer quarters help spread germs faster via touch or airborne droplets.

As for kids, now that they are back in school, the classroom becomes an enclosed playground for germs. Since most kids are not too concerned with hygiene, and handle many of the same toys and various school stuff all day long… the germs spread. The kids infect each other and then carry the germs home to share with the whole family.

Is it a cold or the flu?

The basic difference lies in how quickly and how hard it hits you.

The Common Cold
A cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract that is caused by more than 200 viruses with rhinovirus being the most common. Most adults get between 2 to 4 colds a year; whereas children get between 6 and 9 colds annually. The typical cold lasts 4 to 7 days at most.

A cold virus is usually spread by hand-to-hand contact and then enters the body by touching your eyes and nose after exposure.

The start of a cold usually begins 1 to 2 days after you have been exposed to the virus with a watery nose as the first major symptom. Other symptoms of a cold include: sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, nasal congestion, low fever, and possibly, minor body aches.

Influenza
Influenza or the flu is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system including your throat, nose, bronchial tubes and lungs. Approximately 20,000 people die each year from complications related to the flu while another 200,000 are hospitalized. Those mostly at risk include older adults and those who have diabetes, lung disease or a weakened immune system.

While other viral infections like the common cold, appear to have some similar symptoms such as nasal congestion, running nose, sneezing, and sore throat they are not the flu. With the flu you can get very high fever, as high as 106º F, and may last up to a week. You are likely to feel worse with the flu versus a cold when you include symptoms like aches and pains, chills and sweats, fatigue and weakness and loss of appetite. All told, the flu can last from 7 – 10 days..

What can I do to protect myself?
Eat right, get enough sleep, and exercise frequently. Because colds result from so many different viruses, there is no effective vaccine available. For influenza, you can protect yourself by getting a flu shot. For either conditions some of the basic precautions apply:

What should I do if I am sick?
For the common cold, over-the-counter medicines may help you feel better since they help alleviate some of the symptoms that come with colds and the flu. Unless you are at risk of complications from influenza, your doctor will primarily suggest bed rest and drinking plenty of fluids so you don’t become dehydrated. If the symptoms persist or if you have other complications, please consult or visit your doctor.

Chicken Soup
Believe it or not there have been studies which show that chicken soup may contain substances that may benefit you medically. Some studies were conducted using regular soup found at the grocery store so the benefit may not require your obtaining “grandma’s chicken soup.”

Nutritional Supplements
The Vitamin C debate on whether Vitamin C can help prevent or cure colds, begun when Linus Paulding wrote his book Vitamin C and the Common Cold, still continues.

Echinacea is a popular herb used to boost immune cell activity and activate the body’s natural protective processes. Zinc is another nutritional supplement that enhances healthy immune system function.

The last week in October marks the end of time, as we know it. Families gather for Thanksgiving, companies hold annual Christmas parties, and then there’s New Year’s. On top of all that, daylight saving time switches to standard time, causing your serotonin levels to decrease which results in that craving to eat a lot of sugar. Before you realize it, you’ve consumed more sugary sweets from holiday parties than you thought humanly possible, and you may be left feeling miserable. Here are a few simple ways to alter the feelings, so you can go on enjoying the fall season.

So, if you find yourself singing the seasonal blues… you can still enjoy the fall season, day or night. It just takes facing a few cold facts, and a little time to adjust.

*The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.