It's that time of year again - flu season. The weather is turning colder and the sweaters are coming out of the closet, along with the sniffles, coughing, sneezing, sore throat and muscle aches. The seasonal flu, which is also known as influenza, is not the same as a head cold, and should not be taken lightly. In fact, the Center for Disease Control estimates that the flu affects anywhere from 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population each year, and that approximately 200,000 people are hospitalized each year due to flu-related complications.
How can you separate fact from fiction about the flu, and protect yourself and your family? Everest College's nursing instructors bust some common, flu-related myths to set the record straight.
"This is a complete myth. And it is a dangerous one to spread. The No. 1 most important thing that you can do to prevent the flu and flu-related complications is to get the flu vaccine each year," says Orvella Bradford, a licensed vocational nurse and vocational nursing instructor at Everest College in Anaheim, Calif.
There are many strains of flu viruses, but the flu vaccine protects against the three most prevalent strains each year. There are two common ways of receiving the flu vaccine - the seasonal shot and a nasal spray. The seasonal shot is recommended for most individuals over 6 months old and contains an inactivated form of the vaccine, which cannot make you sick.
The nasal spray, which contains a live, but very weak strain of the flu, is recommended for healthy individuals, ages 2 to 49.
"Although I strongly recommend getting the flu vaccine, it is important to recognize that the flu vaccine is not intended for everyone, particularly individuals with severe allergic reactions to eggs. It is important to talk to your doctor if you are concerned about the potential side effects from the vaccine," says Bradford.
The influenza virus that causes the flu is constantly evolving, and the most common strains of the virus can change from year to year.
"Even if you got the flu vaccine last year, you are still at risk for getting it again this year, so it is important to get a flu shot once each season," says Bradford.
Fact or fiction: I'm a healthy adult. I can fight the flu off on my own, so I don't need a flu shot.
Fiction.
Even if you are a healthy adult, if you contract the flu then you can start spreading the virus up to a full day before you exhibit symptoms, and for five to seven days afterwards.
"This means that even if you are healthy enough to fight off the flu on your own, you could be putting others at risk of infection without even realizing it. This is why we recommend the flu vaccine for everyone who is able to take it," says Bradford.
In fact, the timing of flu season is unpredictable - it can come as early as October or as late as May. The most common months for flu season are January and February, but everyone is encouraged to get a flu shot as soon as it becomes available in their area.
"We never know when the flu will hit - it could come early this year. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to take effect, so don't wait until it's too late to get the vaccine," says Critical Care Registered Nurse Jan Adams, a nursing instructor at Everest University in Brandon, Fla. Getting a flu shot before December is highly recommended to help you avoid the peak flu season.
In addition, many locations can run low on vaccinations periodically throughout the flu season due to the difficulties in manufacturing and distributing the high volume of vaccinations needed each year. "This means that it is important to act early - getting the vaccine when it is available and convenient for you will help you avoid a last-minute search for the vaccine," says Adams.
2011年10月10日星期一
How to Attack Cold Sores
Because cold sores do not look pretty, and are displayed for everyone to see, many people choose to cover them up with make-up.
Do NOT do that: I know it is not great to have a cold sore, but covering it up will not help you in any way. Believe me, I have tried, I am telling you it is not a good idea.
Normally, cold sores will have healed after about 10 days – give or take a few days. With that being said, you do not necessarily have to wait that long; because, fortunately, there are many treatments that can minimize the outbreak’s intensity and duration.
First off, you really want to make sure to keep the cold sore clean. That is the best way to start the healing. If you keep it clean, and do not touch it, it is the best way to prevent it from spreading.
Another way to get rid of cold sores is to drink lots of fluids and stay hydrated. It has been shown in a number of studies that drinking non-citrus fluids that are low in sugar can help cold sores to heal faster.
Another good idea is cooling the sore. This can simply be done with ice. This will prevent the virus from spreading, and containing the virus is one of the very most important things you need to do right now.
Plants can also help when it comes to cold sores. And there is one that I often use: Aloe vera. In my opinion, it is truly a life safer regarding cold sores. The plant looks like a cactus, and it contains a fair amount of juice. Applying it is really easy, too: Cut it open, press out the juice, and put that on the cold sore.
Other than that, over the counter medication is, of course, always an option, too. It is, in my opinion, certainly one that should be considered.
You can also purchase numbing creams that will alleviate any pain. This will make the time for a cold sore to heal more tolerable.
Do NOT do that: I know it is not great to have a cold sore, but covering it up will not help you in any way. Believe me, I have tried, I am telling you it is not a good idea.
Normally, cold sores will have healed after about 10 days – give or take a few days. With that being said, you do not necessarily have to wait that long; because, fortunately, there are many treatments that can minimize the outbreak’s intensity and duration.
First off, you really want to make sure to keep the cold sore clean. That is the best way to start the healing. If you keep it clean, and do not touch it, it is the best way to prevent it from spreading.
Another way to get rid of cold sores is to drink lots of fluids and stay hydrated. It has been shown in a number of studies that drinking non-citrus fluids that are low in sugar can help cold sores to heal faster.
Another good idea is cooling the sore. This can simply be done with ice. This will prevent the virus from spreading, and containing the virus is one of the very most important things you need to do right now.
Plants can also help when it comes to cold sores. And there is one that I often use: Aloe vera. In my opinion, it is truly a life safer regarding cold sores. The plant looks like a cactus, and it contains a fair amount of juice. Applying it is really easy, too: Cut it open, press out the juice, and put that on the cold sore.
Other than that, over the counter medication is, of course, always an option, too. It is, in my opinion, certainly one that should be considered.
You can also purchase numbing creams that will alleviate any pain. This will make the time for a cold sore to heal more tolerable.
2011年5月8日星期日
Hot/cold packs find many uses
Here’s a different kind of spring craft, one that’s more functional than fun: a hot/cold pack to soothe away the aches and pains of spring gardening.
I have several of these little gems scattered throughout my home and, even one at work. They are perfect for easing tension in the neck, soothing away sore knees or warming the bed.
I was first introduced to the concept of these packs when someone bought me one from a retail store. It was called a “Bed Buddy,” and it looked like a sock stuffed with something (I can’t remember what) with rope handles on the end. If you placed it in the microwave and heated it for a couple minutes, it was perfect for easing the tension in a sore neck (that’s how I always used it).
Over the years, I’ve seen many different takes on these. Some were commercially purchased and filled with a variety of substances (flax, gel), and some were bought at craft fairs, filled with more accessible items like dried corn or rice.
It is the ones found at craft fairs that inspired this column (well, that and the fact I had to make a couple quick Mother’s Day gifts).
As a crafter who has many interests, I also have a large stash (from yarn to beads to fabric) and I’m prone to buy fabric, especially if it’s fleece, off the remnants racks at Jo-Ann and other stores. I find fleece comes in handy for a variety of projects.
The beauty of these hot/cold packs is you don’t necessarily need measurements. You can make them whatever size or shape you like. For this column, I made two (a long one that will wrap around the neck and a shorter, wider one that can be used on the low back).
With fleece in hand, I needed only a couple more items to accomplish my goal. Here’s the list.
What you’ll need:
•Muslin
•Fleece
•Rice (white, brown, red, whatever, amount depends on size of your pack)
•Essential oil (for this project, I used honey almond and sweet orange, found in the soap/candle-making aisle of the craft store, but you can buy it at health food stores as well)
•Thread that coordinates with fleece
•A sewing machine
•Scissors or a rotary cuter
What to do:
1. Pour rice into a zippered plastic bag and sprinkle with essential oil. Set aside. (Note: For the longer one I made, I used about 5 cups of rice).
2. Cut the muslin to the size you want, whether that’s a 24-inch log, 4-inch wide log or a 7 1/2 -inch wide, 16-inch long rectangle or, other size you desire.
3. Stitch three of the four sides of the muslin, leaving an opening to fill with rice.
4. Fill muslin sack with rice but be sure not to stuff so it is bulging. Instead, as you fill, lay the piece down (be sure to keep the end that’s open closed tight) and flatten rice out. The pack should be flexible so it bends around the neck, etc.
5. Fold in edges of open end and double stitch to close.
6. Cut fleece so that it fits the muslin pack a bit loosely (because you’ll remove the pack to chill or to wash the fleece covering).
7. Stitch up all but one end of the fleece.
8. Fold edges in and stitch around opening of the fleece sleeve.
If you are giving this as a gift, you could include a gift tag with printed instructions for use. Here is what the tag that comes with mine says:
For warm comfort: Heat two minutes or more (so it can be handled) in mircowave oven with a cup of water in the oven for moisture.
For moist heat: Spritz with water before microwaving.
For cool comfort: Place rice pack in refrigerator for an hour or so, or in freezer for a half-hour.
I have several of these little gems scattered throughout my home and, even one at work. They are perfect for easing tension in the neck, soothing away sore knees or warming the bed.
I was first introduced to the concept of these packs when someone bought me one from a retail store. It was called a “Bed Buddy,” and it looked like a sock stuffed with something (I can’t remember what) with rope handles on the end. If you placed it in the microwave and heated it for a couple minutes, it was perfect for easing the tension in a sore neck (that’s how I always used it).
Over the years, I’ve seen many different takes on these. Some were commercially purchased and filled with a variety of substances (flax, gel), and some were bought at craft fairs, filled with more accessible items like dried corn or rice.
It is the ones found at craft fairs that inspired this column (well, that and the fact I had to make a couple quick Mother’s Day gifts).
As a crafter who has many interests, I also have a large stash (from yarn to beads to fabric) and I’m prone to buy fabric, especially if it’s fleece, off the remnants racks at Jo-Ann and other stores. I find fleece comes in handy for a variety of projects.
The beauty of these hot/cold packs is you don’t necessarily need measurements. You can make them whatever size or shape you like. For this column, I made two (a long one that will wrap around the neck and a shorter, wider one that can be used on the low back).
With fleece in hand, I needed only a couple more items to accomplish my goal. Here’s the list.
What you’ll need:
•Muslin
•Fleece
•Rice (white, brown, red, whatever, amount depends on size of your pack)
•Essential oil (for this project, I used honey almond and sweet orange, found in the soap/candle-making aisle of the craft store, but you can buy it at health food stores as well)
•Thread that coordinates with fleece
•A sewing machine
•Scissors or a rotary cuter
What to do:
1. Pour rice into a zippered plastic bag and sprinkle with essential oil. Set aside. (Note: For the longer one I made, I used about 5 cups of rice).
2. Cut the muslin to the size you want, whether that’s a 24-inch log, 4-inch wide log or a 7 1/2 -inch wide, 16-inch long rectangle or, other size you desire.
3. Stitch three of the four sides of the muslin, leaving an opening to fill with rice.
4. Fill muslin sack with rice but be sure not to stuff so it is bulging. Instead, as you fill, lay the piece down (be sure to keep the end that’s open closed tight) and flatten rice out. The pack should be flexible so it bends around the neck, etc.
5. Fold in edges of open end and double stitch to close.
6. Cut fleece so that it fits the muslin pack a bit loosely (because you’ll remove the pack to chill or to wash the fleece covering).
7. Stitch up all but one end of the fleece.
8. Fold edges in and stitch around opening of the fleece sleeve.
If you are giving this as a gift, you could include a gift tag with printed instructions for use. Here is what the tag that comes with mine says:
For warm comfort: Heat two minutes or more (so it can be handled) in mircowave oven with a cup of water in the oven for moisture.
For moist heat: Spritz with water before microwaving.
For cool comfort: Place rice pack in refrigerator for an hour or so, or in freezer for a half-hour.
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