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Cold and flu myths
continued from page 1
You should feed a cold and starve a fever (or the flu)
Please don't. These are very bad ideas when you have a cold or the flu. Do eat enough so that you're not hungry. And make sure you drink plenty of water and juice if you're dealing with either of these viruses. Drinking hot fluids will help ease your cough and soothe your sore throat.
Vitamin C, herbal remedies and antibiotics are effective against colds and the flu
It has often been claimed that Vitamin C will reduce the frequency, severity or duration of colds and the flu, or echinacea, other herbs and lozenges are effective treatments. Sadly, none of these claims have been proven. Actually, antibiotics do not help with colds or the flu at all because they are caused by viruses. Antibiotics only treat bacterial illnesses.
The only thing you can do with the flu is to get lots of rest
Maybe herbal remedies do not help fight the flu, but there are medications available. Prescription anti-viral medications can reduce the severity and duration of the flu when started within two days after symptoms appear. Other medicine can at least give you some relief from flu symptoms. Try to get plenty of rest and fluids, and stay away from alcohol and tobacco while you are sick.
The flu vaccine can give you the flu
This is absolutely not true. The vaccine is made from an inactivated, or dead, virus. You cannot catch the flu from it. In fact, the vaccine is very safe. You may have a little redness or soreness at the injection site.
The flu vaccine is not effective
It's pretty close to being 100 per cent effective. There are many strains of the flu, and they change every year so one vaccine can't cover all of them. The vaccine is changed each year and includes the three strains that experts believe will be most common or serious that year. But even if you do catch the flu after getting the shot, your illness is likely to be much less severe.
I'm too healthy for the flu vaccine
The flu shot is most important for children, the elderly, and people with certain medical conditions. But no one is immune to the flu. Even otherwise healthy people can be bedridden for up to a week, or can spread the flu to higher-risk populations.
Please don't. These are very bad ideas when you have a cold or the flu. Do eat enough so that you're not hungry. And make sure you drink plenty of water and juice if you're dealing with either of these viruses. Drinking hot fluids will help ease your cough and soothe your sore throat.
It has often been claimed that Vitamin C will reduce the frequency, severity or duration of colds and the flu, or echinacea, other herbs and lozenges are effective treatments. Sadly, none of these claims have been proven. Actually, antibiotics do not help with colds or the flu at all because they are caused by viruses. Antibiotics only treat bacterial illnesses.
Maybe herbal remedies do not help fight the flu, but there are medications available. Prescription anti-viral medications can reduce the severity and duration of the flu when started within two days after symptoms appear. Other medicine can at least give you some relief from flu symptoms. Try to get plenty of rest and fluids, and stay away from alcohol and tobacco while you are sick.
This is absolutely not true. The vaccine is made from an inactivated, or dead, virus. You cannot catch the flu from it. In fact, the vaccine is very safe. You may have a little redness or soreness at the injection site.
At the very worst, you could experience a fever, muscle aches and feel unwell for a couple of days. Although these side effects sound like flu symptoms, they are not caused by the inactivated virus in the vaccine.
It's pretty close to being 100 per cent effective. There are many strains of the flu, and they change every year so one vaccine can't cover all of them. The vaccine is changed each year and includes the three strains that experts believe will be most common or serious that year. But even if you do catch the flu after getting the shot, your illness is likely to be much less severe.
The flu shot is most important for children, the elderly, and people with certain medical conditions. But no one is immune to the flu. Even otherwise healthy people can be bedridden for up to a week, or can spread the flu to higher-risk populations.
However, some people should not get the vaccine. This includes people who are allergic to eggs, children under six months old and anyone who has had a severe reaction to a flu vaccine in the past or developed a condition called Guillain Barre syndrome after receiving a flu vaccine. If you have a fever, it is usually best to wait until it passes before getting the vaccine.
This iVillage Health service area is designed for educational
purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a
substitute for personal medical attention, diagnosis or
hands-on treatment. If you are concerned about your health or
that of a child, please consult your family's health provider
immediately and do not wait for a response from our
professionals. For the full Disclaimer,
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