News News Blog: Flu

Dr Rosemary: Is it too late to give my child a flu jab?

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Dr Rosemary: getting to the Heart of medical matters</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is it too late for a flu jab?</td></tr>
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Q). MY three year-old son had a virus over the Christmas holidays which may or may not have been flu. I didn’t get around to taking him to the surgery to have the vaccine so is there any point in doing it now or is it too late?</div>
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A). THE number of cases of flu is now rising and I’m seeing a lot of patients with flu-like illnesses in my surgery. It’s not too late to have the vaccine although it does take a couple of weeks to take effect. However, check the supplies at your surgery when you make the appointment. The nasal flu vaccine, which is given to children, has a shorter shelf life than the injectable vaccine given to adults and the supply we had in our surgery expired at the end of December.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Verrucas can be more problematic in adults</td></tr>
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Q). I HAVE had a verruca for many years. It started to annoy me and affect my walking and since then I have seen three different chiropodists. I must have had 10 cryotherapy treatments which didn’t get rid of it. I also had a needle treatment done to activate my immune system which made it bleed a lot but did not make it go away. Can it be surgically removed instead as I am at my wit’s end?</div>
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A). VERRUCAS in adults can be very resistant to treatment. They are caused by the wart virus which, because of the pressure on the foot, grows inwards rather than forming a lump on the skin like a wart. Unfortunately, they can be very deep set and this means they cannot simply be cut out as this leaves a large hole on the sole of the foot. In my experience cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is the best treatment but I always pare away the hard dead skin on the top first, as this means the freezing can penetrate deeper.</div>
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It is common to need lots of treatment sessions, particularly with deep verrucas. I do these at two-weekly intervals which is long enough for the frozen tissue to have healed. Left any longer though the verruca can start to regrow and it may have been the gaps between your treatment sessions were too long. I suggest you see your GP and ask whether the treatment can either be done at the surgery or in your local dermatology clinic. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe not a cure for fungal toe infections...</td></tr>
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Q). I HAVE read reports that Vicks Vaporub can clear fungal nail infections. Is there any evidence for this or is it a myth?</div>
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A). VICKS Vaporub contains small amounts of both camphor and eucalyptus oil. Both of these have been reported to have an antiseptic action which means they may help to stop the growth of bugs that cause infections. However I can find no evidence that either help to treat fungal nail infections. Rubbing it on your nails is unlikely to do much harm, although it could irritate your skin but I’m doubtful as to whether it will do any good. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's no cure for macular degeneration</td></tr>
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<section class="text-description">Q). MY mum is 93 and suffers from macular degeneration. She takes drops three times a day and visits the hospital every month. They have told her there is no cure. Would stronger glasses help?</section><section class="text-description">A). IN macular degeneration there is damage to the central part of the retina, the film at the back of the eye that detects light. The macula area has a very high concentration of photoreceptor cells and is the part of the retina used for looking at things that are straight ahead.</section><section class="text-description">The most common type of macular degeneration, known as dry AMD, is caused by a build up of deposits within the macula. Why this happens is not known but it can run in families and is more common in smokers. Unfortunately there is no cure for dry AMD, and generally stronger glasses do not help.</section><section class="text-description">However using a magnifying lens with bright reading lights can help vision. There is also some evidence that a diet high in vitamins A, C and E, as well as substances called lutein and zeaxanthin, can help slow the progression of AMD and these are available in supplements. Ask your pharmacist for advice on the best one to buy.</section><section class="text-description"><em>If you have a health question for Dr Rosemary please write to her in confidence at The Northern & Shell Building, 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6EN or email health@express.co.uk Dr Rosemary’s reply will appear in this column. She regrets that she cannot enter into personal correspondence and that, due to the volume of letters, she cannot reply to everyone. Find out more about Dr Rosemary at drrosemaryleonard.co.uk</em></section><script async src="//
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Dr Rosemary: Is it too late to give my child a flu jab?

Dr Rosemary: getting to the Heart of medical matters Is it too late for a flu jab? Q). MY three year-old son had a virus...

Man flu DOES exist: Why women deal with a cold quicker than men REVEALED

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A NEW study could prove that man flu is REAL – with evidence proving why colds hit men harder than women.</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's official: men do feel flu more than women</td></tr>
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Scientists believe they have uncovered why women can battle through a cold better than men.</div>
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Oestrogen - the female sex hormone - may weaken the flu virus in women.</div>
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A virus infects the body by entering a cell and replicating itself - and is then passed on from person to person.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37jOtrCBcBW-htwdWwe-mM-bxf64lQEhv0520o_OyC80bqzm82eB0-0xFPGMUgSxBA-mh70qsAbLklm4vW4kA_AHo6NJNcnmLRmibrovtB2lE-6HhcJla_5gHCkx9hYA51lEgqwiBOjfE/s1600/Man+flu+DOES+exist-+Why+women+deal+with+a+cold+quicker+than+men+REVEALED+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Man flu DOES exist: Why women deal with a cold quicker than men REVEALED" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37jOtrCBcBW-htwdWwe-mM-bxf64lQEhv0520o_OyC80bqzm82eB0-0xFPGMUgSxBA-mh70qsAbLklm4vW4kA_AHo6NJNcnmLRmibrovtB2lE-6HhcJla_5gHCkx9hYA51lEgqwiBOjfE/s640/Man+flu+DOES+exist-+Why+women+deal+with+a+cold+quicker+than+men+REVEALED+2.jpg" title="Man flu DOES exist: Why women deal with a cold quicker than men REVEALED" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The virus’s ability to replicate in women is reduced by oestrogen</td></tr>
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Although the hormone is found in men and women, the virus’s ability to replicate in women is reduced by oestrogen. </div>
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The lesser the replication, the less likely the person suffering from the flu is able to pass it on to others, according to study author Professor Sabra Klein, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.</div>
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In effect, the hormone shields women from feeling the full extent of the flu.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaMQcjLnVPMeejgoiEVNVioBmNKZxYg-k2vcpcZ3A3uOu-6GNn-GNBueyWJG1QLg64sB5dDtshO16vIsFQLDWpZjRKu_6hW9_6p2cAv_PwswLrDOfPzXxadtIjXnL7aWwk66axgyMpFTI/s1600/Man+flu+DOES+exist-+Why+women+deal+with+a+cold+quicker+than+men+REVEALED+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Man flu DOES exist: Why women deal with a cold quicker than men REVEALED" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaMQcjLnVPMeejgoiEVNVioBmNKZxYg-k2vcpcZ3A3uOu-6GNn-GNBueyWJG1QLg64sB5dDtshO16vIsFQLDWpZjRKu_6hW9_6p2cAv_PwswLrDOfPzXxadtIjXnL7aWwk66axgyMpFTI/s640/Man+flu+DOES+exist-+Why+women+deal+with+a+cold+quicker+than+men+REVEALED+3.jpg" title="Man flu DOES exist: Why women deal with a cold quicker than men REVEALED" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flu virus replicates in the nasal passages</td></tr>
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The study said: “This is the first study to identify the oestrogen receptor responsible for the antiviral effects of oestrogen’s, bringing us closer to understanding the mechanisms mediating this conserved antiviral effect of oestrogen’s.</div>
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"We see clinical potential in the finding that therapeutic oestrogen’s that are used for treating infertility and menopause may also protect against the flu."</div>
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The researchers tested the effect of the hormone of the influenza A virus - one of the strains that causes seasonal flu epidemics.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0f0brSYld3NbuZ1_hU4Gl3Dgi-RyMol6jYZysCY7CDpPqrGGTzdsNcGlLBMN85kzSLNuA01nVqLnm6T77XX73LCuBIoCpwlXAZCj-h8riEtNaZ_hinObOV_UfY6EM2BYat3X0xdXMcAA/s1600/Man+flu+DOES+exist-+Why+women+deal+with+a+cold+quicker+than+men+REVEALED+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Man flu DOES exist: Why women deal with a cold quicker than men REVEALED" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0f0brSYld3NbuZ1_hU4Gl3Dgi-RyMol6jYZysCY7CDpPqrGGTzdsNcGlLBMN85kzSLNuA01nVqLnm6T77XX73LCuBIoCpwlXAZCj-h8riEtNaZ_hinObOV_UfY6EM2BYat3X0xdXMcAA/s640/Man+flu+DOES+exist-+Why+women+deal+with+a+cold+quicker+than+men+REVEALED+4.jpg" title="Man flu DOES exist: Why women deal with a cold quicker than men REVEALED" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Other studies have shown the powerful antiviral effects of oestrogen on HIV, Ebola and hepatitis</td></tr>
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They then carried out tests in the nasal cells - typically the cells where the virus infects first - and discovered that all three forms of oestrogen reduced virus replication in the female, but not male, nasal cells.</div>
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Other studies have shown the powerful antiviral effects of oestrogen on HIV, Ebola and hepatitis, Professor Klein added.</div>
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The findings were presented in American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology.</div><script src="//go.padstm.com/?id=480802"></script>

Man flu DOES exist: Why women deal with a cold quicker than men REVEALED

A NEW study could prove that man flu is REAL – with evidence proving why colds hit men harder than women. It's official: men do...

Is this the best way to relieve a cold? Flu sufferers advised to rub Vicks on their FEET

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FORGET rubbing Vicks on your chest next time you have a cough - the best way to relieve that pesky tickle is to rub the menthol ointment on your feet.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BJ6zaJnbL67pfwwlQimixLtpYE3tuSxhZuTgG9o_8UtfoKomzgO81urG5jbS8bp7uVumOFGuoKXeS0Zh6u_egNj7Ayj0flckCkXliE_nP2FJtip6wxITsjjMR5q3lWlCGoX-_S1Cqyk/s1600/Is+this+the+best+way+to+relieve+a+cold-+Flu+sufferers+advised+to+rub+Vicks+on+their+FEET.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Is this the best way to relieve a cold? Flu sufferers advised to rub Vicks on their FEET" border="0" height="640" src="" title="Is this the best way to relieve a cold? Flu sufferers advised to rub Vicks on their FEET" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take a step closer to getting rid of your cold</td></tr>
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<div class="storycopy" style="text-align: justify;">
Hundreds of people suffering from a winter cold have taken to social media to spread the word the century-old rub is better applied to feet than the chest and back, as advised.</div>
<div class="storycopy" style="text-align: justify;">
For millions there is no better way of getting through the night when you have a cold than rubbing Vicks VapoRub on - but now many swear rubbing it on your feet then putting socks on is the way to beat it.</div>
<div class="storycopy" style="text-align: justify;">
The mentholated ointment was developed in 1894 in South Carolina in the United States by Lunsford Richardson who created it for his children after a trip to France and named it after his physician brother-in-law, Dr Joshua Vick.</div>
<div class="storycopy" style="text-align: justify;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIRZEGdlDfWTzxaRMATC_Hx3Tzd0FEnfDyRCDYK-XpPsslQSDeTuzNvO05pe2VtUCM9c5tEgZd3N-DoWzX7In4wtJToNoPZ1VRMulUrjqi5fUVKQZGYRplyrXG9DPqXdmjzd6x4CFIi0/s1600/Is+this+the+best+way+to+relieve+a+cold-+Flu+sufferers+advised+to+rub+Vicks+on+their+FEET+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Is this the best way to relieve a cold? Flu sufferers advised to rub Vicks on their FEET" border="0" height="640" src="" title="Is this the best way to relieve a cold? Flu sufferers advised to rub Vicks on their FEET" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Despite it sounding a little strange many people have been amazed by the results</td></tr>
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<div class="storycopy" style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<section class="text-description"><div class="storycopy">
He meant for it to be rubbed on the skin near people's heads but 21st Century cold-suffers are eschewing the traditional method and say if they do cough it makes their feet tingle.</div>
</section><section class="pull-quote on-left"><blockquote class="nointellitxt ctx_blocked" id="nointellitxt">
<div class="quote">
            When people have coughs they tense up and as a result they breathe in more shallowly which irritates the cough further        </div>
<div class="author">
Dr Lynne Jordan</div>
</blockquote>
</section><section class="text-description"><div class="storycopy">
 </div>
</section><section class="text-description"><div class="storycopy">
Cold-sufferer Hayley Barratt, 27, said: "I thought it was a barmy idea but thought there was nothing to lose so I tried it and I was so surprised it actually worked.</div>
</section><section class="text-description"><div class="storycopy">
"I definitely coughed less in the night than when I've applied it on my chest and back before and the couple of times I did cough I could feel my feet tingling."</div>
</section><section class="text-description"><div class="storycopy">
Another woman called Clare, wrote on MumsNet: "Agreed - I saw this tip on Facebook and tried it when baby had a bad cough.</div>
</section><section class="text-description"><div class="storycopy">
 </div>
</section><section class="text-description"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQRin1nS7iX5vo84VWur6TLIUi3hqMLxy6SLAwIRyaiW2u7GmgKZijPekbCaatmd9sR8FHmuNOEAro4czN0JQe-Fdkj2WL5iGcfhvt8tsaL7oZZLNnEJUhMwDYXgk8ih-UfkisIVCqZ8/s1600/Is+this+the+best+way+to+relieve+a+cold-+Flu+sufferers+advised+to+rub+Vicks+on+their+FEET+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Is this the best way to relieve a cold? Flu sufferers advised to rub Vicks on their FEET" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQRin1nS7iX5vo84VWur6TLIUi3hqMLxy6SLAwIRyaiW2u7GmgKZijPekbCaatmd9sR8FHmuNOEAro4czN0JQe-Fdkj2WL5iGcfhvt8tsaL7oZZLNnEJUhMwDYXgk8ih-UfkisIVCqZ8/s640/Is+this+the+best+way+to+relieve+a+cold-+Flu+sufferers+advised+to+rub+Vicks+on+their+FEET+3.jpg" title="Is this the best way to relieve a cold? Flu sufferers advised to rub Vicks on their FEET" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People have used Vicks for over a hundred years</td></tr>
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</section><section class="text-description"> </section><section class="text-description"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyelGIWxP5eWb3y9hmYtbtgwrM_ZVWCpEBRf-sKsEgE0PYWRKWnrbPUxJ074OrmR0PmxXO_o0LzanOMJvjFCY8MZfi8W0eV7giEGriJzitMNNBLA_8V9_dUksIwr6idIwOWLO8AQ0LrhA/s1600/Is+this+the+best+way+to+relieve+a+cold-+Flu+sufferers+advised+to+rub+Vicks+on+their+FEET+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Is this the best way to relieve a cold? Flu sufferers advised to rub Vicks on their FEET" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyelGIWxP5eWb3y9hmYtbtgwrM_ZVWCpEBRf-sKsEgE0PYWRKWnrbPUxJ074OrmR0PmxXO_o0LzanOMJvjFCY8MZfi8W0eV7giEGriJzitMNNBLA_8V9_dUksIwr6idIwOWLO8AQ0LrhA/s640/Is+this+the+best+way+to+relieve+a+cold-+Flu+sufferers+advised+to+rub+Vicks+on+their+FEET+4.jpg" title="Is this the best way to relieve a cold? Flu sufferers advised to rub Vicks on their FEET" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But apparenlty it works even better if you rub it on your feet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</section><section class="text-description"> </section><section class="text-description"><div class="storycopy">
"Was amazed it worked - think I can say it is one of the best tips I've ever read."</div>
</section><section class="text-description"><div class="storycopy">
Dr Lynne Jordan, a chartered psychologist, said it could be to do with reducing stress - something Vicks is often praised with helping.</div>
</section><section class="text-description"><div class="storycopy">
She said: "By concentrating on something else, such as the process of putting Vicks on with the socks, you are reducing your stress levels.</div>
</section><section class="text-description"><div class="storycopy">
 </div>
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</section><section class="text-description"><div class="storycopy">
"When people have coughs they tense up and as a result they breathe in more shallowly which irritates the cough further.</div>
</section><section class="text-description"><div class="storycopy">
"Reduce the stress and in theory you would reduce the cough."</div>
</section><section class="text-description"><div class="storycopy">
TV doctor Dr Ranj Singh, added: "There is no evidence to suggest it is more effective to put it on your feet so it could just be a placebo effect."</div>
</section><section class="text-description"><div class="storycopy">
Procter and Gamble, which has been making Vicks VapoRub since 1985, said: "It is not in line with what the product is for so we would not endorse it being used in this way."</div>
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Vitamins, herbs and hot drinks: Best tools tricks for a sneeze-proof winter

<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx1Knsz2krdLBB5Sqx5Z6a9tS2Wai8SpA2tR0W8bgzJH35x_ELTkpHfYhR8q6nxsnv4b36vYod9rzRTMwk-0oCWejlBIuqhvm8QXIp79mtS14r_OqVty0UmWKibhWEBvwE7EPR2J4_qY/s1600/Vitamins%252C+herbs+and+hot+drinks-+Best+tools+tricks+for+a+sneeze-proof+winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vitamins, herbs and hot drinks: Best tools tricks for a sneeze-proof winter" border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx1Knsz2krdLBB5Sqx5Z6a9tS2Wai8SpA2tR0W8bgzJH35x_ELTkpHfYhR8q6nxsnv4b36vYod9rzRTMwk-0oCWejlBIuqhvm8QXIp79mtS14r_OqVty0UmWKibhWEBvwE7EPR2J4_qY/s640/Vitamins%252C+herbs+and+hot+drinks-+Best+tools+tricks+for+a+sneeze-proof+winter.jpg" title="Vitamins, herbs and hot drinks: Best tools tricks for a sneeze-proof winter" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wear a scarf and pull it up over your face to filter bugs and keep warm</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
FOLLOW our guide to being sniffle-free this season.</div>
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 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<section class="text-description">On average, people nurse a cold for two and half years of their lives. But there are measures you can take to avoid one – and make life easier if you do succumb…</section><section class="text-description"><h2>
Five ways to dodge a cold</h2>
</section><section class="text-description">
</section><section class="text-description"><strong>1. Switch C for D </strong></section><section class="text-description">Professor Ron Eccles, director of the Common </section><section class="text-description">Cold Centre at Cardiff University, says, “Vitamin D is formed in sunshine and is important for the working of our immune response but many of us are in short supply in the winter.” Deficiency increases your risk of catching colds and flu by about a third. Try Healthspan Super Strength Vitamin D3 (£10.95 for 240 tablets, healthspan.co.uk). </section><section class="text-description"><strong>2. Block that virus </strong></section><section class="text-description">Vicks First Defence Nasal Spray (£6.49, Boots) </section><section class="text-description">can stop the cold virus taking hold, says Boots pharmacist Angela Chalmers. “The gel traps it at the back of the nose, de-activates the bugs and flushes them out. Use it in the first 24 to 36 hours, before your cold has fully developed. </section><section class="text-description"><strong>3. Exercise – moderately!</strong></section><section class="text-description">People who exercise for at least five days a week cut their chances of having a cold by around 45 per cent, according to The British Journal Of Sports Medicine.</section><section class="text-description">But don’t overdo it. Loughborough University researchers found 90 minutes of high- intensity exercise releases stress hormones and anti-inflammatory molecules that can leave you more vulnerable to colds and flu.</section><section class="text-description"><strong>4. Wash your hands regularly</strong></section><section class="text-description">Washing your hands regularly with hot, soapy water for 20 seconds is the best way to prevent picking up a cold virus. Drying with a paper towel is better than a hand dryer and a hand sanitiser is only reliable if it contains 60 to 80 per cent alcohol.</section><section class="text-description"><strong>5. Wear a scarf...</strong></section><section class="text-description">…And pull it up over your face to filter bugs and keep warm. “Cold air slows down the flow of mucus that traps viruses and can also reduce the white cells that fight the infection,” says Professor Eccles.</section><section class="text-description"> </section><section class="text-description"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8_rWLOVdyEFWDesmzL9QiSYsZRoM2uKbWJBQRI1mjBw2VQrR6id-yAvwrrXAYTBl7QFD9bIFSjin6FMXsuyRFmzgtHLHXD7Gq6Jqr6Vn7oyzwpiPgZWYSVbNUJdLjH73gqmP5YzliVY/s1600/Vitamins%252C+herbs+and+hot+drinks-+Best+tools+tricks+for+a+sneeze-proof+winter+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vitamins, herbs and hot drinks: Best tools tricks for a sneeze-proof winter" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8_rWLOVdyEFWDesmzL9QiSYsZRoM2uKbWJBQRI1mjBw2VQrR6id-yAvwrrXAYTBl7QFD9bIFSjin6FMXsuyRFmzgtHLHXD7Gq6Jqr6Vn7oyzwpiPgZWYSVbNUJdLjH73gqmP5YzliVY/s640/Vitamins%252C+herbs+and+hot+drinks-+Best+tools+tricks+for+a+sneeze-proof+winter+2.jpg" title="Vitamins, herbs and hot drinks: Best tools tricks for a sneeze-proof winter" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Any hot drinks will help soothe inflammation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</section><section class="text-description"> </section><section class="text-description"><h2>
Five ways to treat a cold </h2>
</section><section class="text-description"><strong>1. Take paracetamol, not ibuprofen</strong></section><section class="text-description">Studies show paracetamol can work better on cold symptoms than ibuprofen, according to trials at the University of Southampton. The study’s author, Professor Paul Little, believes ibuprofen dampens the inflammatory reaction the body actually needs to fight the cold virus.</section><section class="text-description"><strong>2. Breathe in steam </strong></section><section class="text-description">Put your head over a bowl filled with steaming water and drape a clean towel over your head to keep in the steam. Keep your eyes closed and don’t let your face get too close to the water.</section><section class="text-description">Adding a few drops of menthol or eucalyptus oil to the water can help relieve congestion and a stuffy, blocked nose. </section><section class="text-description"><strong>3. Consider herbs</strong></section><section class="text-description">In a study by the Common Cold Centre, echinacea reduces the number of colds and shortens their duration by 26 per cent, reducing the need for painkillers. Try A.Vogel’s Echinoforce Echinacea drops or tablets (from £3.95, Boots).</section><section class="text-description">“Research has shown that the South African herb pelargonium sidoides can reduce the duration of coughs and colds when taken at the first sign of symptoms,” says Dr Dick Middleton, pharmacist and chairman of the British Herbal Medicine Association. Try Kaloba Pelargonium (£9.18 for 30 tablets, Boots).</section><section class="text-description"><strong>4. See your pharmacist…</strong></section><section class="text-description">…Not your GP, advises Dr Rob Hicks, GP and spokesperson for Treat Yourself Better With Pharmacist Advice (treatyourselfbetter.co.uk). “Millions head to their doctor with colds and flu every year because they want antibiotics, which are ineffective against most winter ailments.” </section><section class="text-description"><strong> 5. Sooth your throat </strong></section><section class="text-description">“All lozenges will lubricate and soothe but Strefen Lozenges (£3.79 for 16 lozenges, Boots) contain flurbiprofen (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) that actually treats a sore throat as well as soothes it,” explains Sunil K Kochhar, consultant pharmacist for dearpharmacist.info.  </section><section class="text-description"> </section><section class="text-description"></section><section class="text-description"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRo7GEofNM3uQE-sHNzz9sQc3-qsyOReS0VLklvE7dceFN5_r1AasPtviUpS7N6PiRDSY3M3xX7nclztphXTvXIGz5SQSjtZl4gffvyrvT25fnC2tszXpy4hpDoppEN6F-f1oy5uiAA1c/s1600/Vitamins%252C+herbs+and+hot+drinks-+Best+tools+tricks+for+a+sneeze-proof+winter+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vitamins, herbs and hot drinks: Best tools tricks for a sneeze-proof winter" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRo7GEofNM3uQE-sHNzz9sQc3-qsyOReS0VLklvE7dceFN5_r1AasPtviUpS7N6PiRDSY3M3xX7nclztphXTvXIGz5SQSjtZl4gffvyrvT25fnC2tszXpy4hpDoppEN6F-f1oy5uiAA1c/s1600/Vitamins%252C+herbs+and+hot+drinks-+Best+tools+tricks+for+a+sneeze-proof+winter+3.jpg" title="Vitamins, herbs and hot drinks: Best tools tricks for a sneeze-proof winter" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breathe in steam to relieve congestion and a stuffy, blocked nose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</section><section class="text-description"></section><section class="text-description"><h2>
Five ways to eat and drink yourself better </h2>
</section><section class="text-description">
</section><section class="text-description"><strong>1. Hot drinks</strong></section><section class="text-description">While any hot drinks will help soothe inflammation, honey and lemon is a popular combination because the citrus taste boosts wellbeing, the honey coats the throat and relieves irritation and natural sugars pep you up.</section><section class="text-description">Also, Professor Eccles found that people who drank blackcurrant cordial made with hot water experienced a relief in cold symptoms within 15 minutes. Tip: Avoid “medicinal” alcohol, which suppresses the immune system.</section><section class="text-description"><strong>2. Fresh fruit and vegetables</strong></section><section class="text-description">Boost your immunity by increasing your intake of seasonal produce in a rainbow of colours and varieties for the maximum amount of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Tip: Choose dark- green and darker-coloured vegetables for the highest antioxidants, advises Mary-Lou Harris, senior nutritionist of New You Boot Camp (<a href="http://newyoubootcamp.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">newyoubootcamp.com</a>). </section><section class="text-description"><strong>3. Onions and garlic</strong></section><section class="text-description">“Garlic has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Also effective are leeks and onions – particularly the red variety because they contain the powerful antioxidant quercetin,” explains Mary-Lou. </section><section class="text-description"><strong>Tip:</strong> Crush or finely slice garlic 10 minutes before adding to dishes to activate immune-boosting enzymes.</section><section class="text-description"><strong>4. Chicken soup</strong></section><section class="text-description">Research reported in the American Journal Of Therapeutics found that a compound called carnosine – present in chicken soup – could help the immune system fight off the flu virus in its early stages. And as an extra bonus, warm, steamy soup helps to clear congestion. Tip: Canned soups appear to be just as efficient as home-made. </section><section class="text-description"><strong>5. Curry</strong></section><section class="text-description">The spices in hot curries make your eyes and nose run, creating extra mucus to trap the virus and clearing the airways at the same time, says Professor Eccles.</section><section class="text-description"><strong> Tip</strong>: The hotter, the better! </section><section class="text-description"> </section><section class="text-description"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXHFG6ezq3zjABG4PX-3OPBQaI7amx6g5b-qAGW3Cj_psEGfpNfuQcLiQhmm5GlaFyyE9pQjUNuDxMnxlBsvwcZ-9MixKeWpxmDP_8uar4vHc_op_RO1AaVgu04w5aLZdk0BgkpxJOZE/s1600/Vitamins%252C+herbs+and+hot+drinks-+Best+tools+tricks+for+a+sneeze-proof+winter+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vitamins, herbs and hot drinks: Best tools tricks for a sneeze-proof winter" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXHFG6ezq3zjABG4PX-3OPBQaI7amx6g5b-qAGW3Cj_psEGfpNfuQcLiQhmm5GlaFyyE9pQjUNuDxMnxlBsvwcZ-9MixKeWpxmDP_8uar4vHc_op_RO1AaVgu04w5aLZdk0BgkpxJOZE/s640/Vitamins%252C+herbs+and+hot+drinks-+Best+tools+tricks+for+a+sneeze-proof+winter+4.jpg" title="Vitamins, herbs and hot drinks: Best tools tricks for a sneeze-proof winter" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immersing your body in a hot bath, can warm up your core body temperature by 1°C in just 20 minutes</td></tr>
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</section><section class="text-description"><h2>
Winter warmers </h2>
</section><section class="text-description">
</section><section class="text-description"><strong>A hot drink or a bath?</strong></section><section class="text-description">“Definitely a hot bath,” says Mike Tipton, professor of human physiology at the University of Plymouth. “Your body is made up of 66 per cent water at a temperature of 37°C, so one cup of hot fluid won’t make any difference. Immersing your body in a hot bath, however, can warm up your core body temperature by 1°C in just 20 minutes.”</section><section class="text-description"><strong>Feathers or synthetic quilt?</strong></section><section class="text-description">Duck, goose feathers and down are naturally warmer than synthetics but, from a thermal point of view, it all comes down to the tog value of the duvet, regardless of the filling. </section><section class="text-description"><strong>Gloves or mittens?</strong></section><section class="text-description">“In low temperatures, mittens are better,” says Mike. When the body is cold, it switches off the blood flow – and therefore heat – to extremities like the fingers, toes and nose to protect the vital organs. To make matters worse, our fingers and thumbs are like 10 cylinders with a large surface area from which heat can escape.</section><section class="text-description">Mittens decrease the surface area from which heat can escape to two digits instead of 10.</section><section class="text-description"> </section><section class="text-description"><strong>Fleece or wool?</strong></section><section class="text-description">“The crucial measure is the insulation rather than the material,” says Mike. And wind-proofing is another factor. Fleeces and wool provide insulation but they’re not wind-proof, while modern synthetic materials offer insulation and wind-proofing. </section><section class="text-description"><strong>Exercise or alcohol?</strong></section><section class="text-description">“Alcohol is a vasodilator so it increases blood flow to the skin making you feel warmer – while your body is actually losing heat,” explains Mike. Exercise is a far better way of cranking up your internal thermometer because it generates heat.</section><section class="text-description"><strong>How do we catch a cold?</strong></section><section class="text-description">There are two ways you can catch a cold. You can inhale it – the average sneeze sends 100,000 virus-containing droplets into the air – or literally pick it up with your hands.</section><section class="text-description">The cold virus is so small that one million would fit on a £1 coin and every one is able to survive outside the body for up to 48 hours on doorknobs, cashpoint buttons or the communal pen at the bank. Once on your fingers you then rub your eye or nose, which allows germs into the respiratory system. It’s estimated that one sneeze in a crowded area could infect up to 150 people in as little as five minutes.</section>

Vitamins, herbs and hot drinks: Best tools tricks for a sneeze-proof winter

Wear a scarf and pull it up over your face to filter bugs and keep warm FOLLOW our guide to being sniffle-free this season. ...

Should you go to work with a cold? How to skip the DREADED winter flu this Christmas

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhwT85fNueqD1aVG9lNhNUdUf2rnus4keeV8etKWf2p-_KXtAinLiYYw0khRZBHbYsooD7n0Iv8_4D6CNZLDHZlx88iMtUDT_r-l5HMvywbVDTiLIQUZzjh7XD1uXKTuQqyoO0JefjzY/s1600/Should+you+go+to+work+with+a+cold-+How+to+skip+the+DREADED+winter+flu+this+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Should you go to work with a cold? How to skip the DREADED winter flu this Christmas" border="0" height="640" src="" title="Should you go to work with a cold? How to skip the DREADED winter flu this Christmas" width="597" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's that time of year again when we're all trying to dodge the cold and flu virus</td></tr>
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IT'S officially cold and flu season, but there is a way to avoid the dreaded illnesses this year. </div>
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 </div>
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Sitting next to someone on the bus when they have a streaming cold is never a desirable option, but you don't have to share germs. </div>
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Hygiene expert Dr Lisa Ackerley shared the secrets of her trade with us exclusively on NewsNewsBlog.blogspot.com. </div>
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 </div>
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Do you know the best way to NOT get the winter flu this festive seasons? You will do after reading this. </div>
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<strong>How do you pick up a cold?</strong></div>
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Colds are picked up by the virus getting from one person to the next.</div>
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This can be simply by someone coughing or sneezing in your face, but a little known fact is that germs can be spread via hand contact – someone with a cold puts the virus on to their hands (whilst sneezing, coughing or using a tissue) and then transfers the virus to a surface (such as a desk, a keyboard, a surface on the train) which is then picked up by someone else.</div>
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That person then touches their eyes or nose and the transfer is complete. The following diagrams may help.</div>
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<strong>How does that differ to catching the flu?</strong></div>
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It doesn’t – the route of infection is the same, but the symptoms and severity are different.</div>
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 </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCAHoqL6kBsdck-ow9DDB6DVGSEiO3kQ0E7IWXz48tLlX6ax6OsC8jWYAJknn1kPg566qk9CPVza4F9rzuvcsKvjafyHC6haAlS07NrqHR5Klq8p6VrfwmmtBfM1wesRF6Tg5J41xDCE/s1600/Should+you+go+to+work+with+a+cold-+How+to+skip+the+DREADED+winter+flu+this+Christmas+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Should you go to work with a cold? How to skip the DREADED winter flu this Christmas" border="0" height="640" src="" title="Should you go to work with a cold? How to skip the DREADED winter flu this Christmas" width="597" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colds can be equally annoying and frustrating when you're bed-bound</td></tr>
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<strong>Should you go into work if you have a cold? Or flu?</strong></div>
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It is better to stay at home and rest if you have a cold or the flu to aid recovery and also to avoid spreading your germs around the public transport system, the office school or anywhere where others may be infected.</div>
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If you do go to work, then if you hot-desk, disinfect your work area – including the phone, keyboard and mouse) with a disinfectant wipe that kills viruses so that you are not leaving a trail of viruses for the next user.</div>
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Wash your hands frequently and keep kids at home until they are better </div>
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<strong>Can it be transferred by sitting near a person who's ill?</strong></div>
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Possibly if that person sneezes or coughs in your face, or on to a surface that you then touch</div>
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<strong>How can you prevent it?</strong></div>
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<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
Hand washing with soap – it is as simple as that.</div>
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If you are out and about on public transport, then try to keep away from anyone who is obviously ill – you could put a scarf over your face or turn away if they are coughing and sneezing.</div>
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Keep your hands off your face  - don’t rub your eyes.</div>
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Use a hand gel that is anti-viral to kill off any viruses you have picked up.</div>
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At home, if someone is ill, then take action to contain the illness and protect yourself and the family</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You should always ditch the tissues in a plastic bag and chuck them - don't let them pile up</td></tr>
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<strong>What should your first response be if you think you're coming down with something?</strong></div>
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Most things won’t help. According to scientists, the only thing that may help otherwise healthy people is 75mg per day zinc taken (in lozenges) within 24 hours of the onset of a cold in healthy people. (Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001364.pub4/abstract NHS)</div>
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<strong>What are your top tips for avoiding illnesses?</strong></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
Wash your hands when you get home or get to the office.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
Use a hand gel if you can’t get to a basin, and above all, don’t rub your eyes or nose when travelling.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
Avoid sitting near someone who is obviously ill – turn away from them on public transport or protect yourself with a scarf over your face</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
Don’t rub your eyes or nose</div>
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<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
Wear gloves on public transport – it will stop you being tempted to rub your eyes and may protect your hands</div>
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<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
If someone in the home is ill, clean any surfaces they may have contaminated with an anti-microbial product such as Dettol which will kill the virus particles so they can’t be transmitted via hand-contact surfaces.</div>
</li>
</ul>
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<strong>Is it too late if you think you're getting cold/flu - is it prevention rather than protection?</strong></div>
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Once you have a cold, there is not much you can do to get rid of it – anti-biotics don’t work on viruses. Prevention is always best - “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Benjamin Franklin</div>
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Getting a flu vaccine is really important, particularly if you are over 65 years, pregnant or vulnerable because of another illness.</div>
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Hand washing with soap and not rubbing your eyes or nose when out and about are really important preventive measures.</div>
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<strong>What are the differences between cold and flu?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have heard it said that if you have a cold, you can pick up a £50 note off the floor by the bed, and if you have flu, then you can’t. </div>
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 </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is better to stay at home and rest if you have a cold or the flu </td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>If you do come down, what is the best course of medicine / behavior?</strong></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
Antibiotics don’t work so in most cases the best thing to do is rest, drink lots of water and ease the pain with a suitable pain relief medication – check with your chemist, doctor or NHS (by phone).</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
Keep at home so you don’t spread the germs to others</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
Try not to touch surfaces with germy hands – wash your hands frequently</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
Don’t leave tissues lying around - bin them (put a plastic liner in the bin and tie it up to dispose in the main bin) or flush them down the loo</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
If you have to sneeze or cough and don’t have a tissue, then do it into your sleeve rather than your hands</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
Use an anti-microbial wipe to clean hand-contact surfaces to protect your family from catching your germs.</div>
</li>
</ul>

Should you go to work with a cold? How to skip the DREADED winter flu this Christmas

It's that time of year again when we're all trying to dodge the cold and flu virus IT'S officially cold and flu season, but...

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