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Influenza

NOBODY ever has anything as common as a cold these days - they always seem to have flu.

Many people can't tell the difference between the two, and there's no doubt the misery of a cold may make you feel it's something far worse.

Both are caused by viruses, but with real influenza, there is no doubt you have something truly horrible.

You feel as if you've been run over by a steam-roller, your eyes are streaming, head throbbing, every bone in your body seems to ache and you feel weak as a kitten.

But if you can still drag yourself to the doctor's surgery, it's likely you have a very bad cold, because when flu strikes, it usually knocks you out, and you barely have the energy to crawl to bed till the worst of it passes.

With flu you will also usually get a high fever, be off your food and feel very tired, even depressed, often for weeks after the initial symptoms have disappeared.

And the winter is prime time for it. It usually strikes between October and May, though it is still a mystery why we catch more colds and flu when it is cold. One theory is that we suffer more stress at this time of year, and stress lowers the immune system.

Though stress enables us to survive times of threat or demand, prolonged periods can cause damage to the body. Over a long period chemicals released to help us cope with difficult situations can lower our defences to viral infections and reduce the body's ability to fight them off.

Flu usually lasts from three to five days and is followed by fatigue for two or three weeks. Aching painful muscles and joints, headaches, a cough, fever and high temperature characterise it. And for most people, trying to struggle to the doctors or adding to the clogged-up hospital casualty units is a waste of your time - and their's.

It is no use asking for antibiotics, because they are useless against viruses which cause flu. These get into the body, attacking its cells and you have to wait for your body to fight and destroy them.

The best you can do is make yourself as comfortable as possible, relieve the symptoms, and wait for your body's defence system to do its work. Resting and drinking plenty of fluids are the best remedy.

However flu can be dangerous, even a killer in some cases, and there are some high risk groups, such as the elderly and the very young.

People with lung and heart disease are also more likely to develop complications due to an attack.

And if you think you are seriously ill, or the symptoms persist for more than five days, you should certainly seek medical help. In an average lifetime we can expect to get around 200 colds, which last about six or seven days - that's three to four YEARS of life spent coughing and sneezing.

But you can fight back.

What to do if you have flu

Those at risk can take precautions by getting vaccinated every year. This doesn't guarantee a sneeze-free winter, but it does reduce the chances of infection.

October/November is the best time for such a jab, and this winter, the age for an NHS jab was lowered to 65.

And we can all help ourselves to ward off flu and colds or to ease the misery.

• Eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg aiming for five portions a day.Fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced all count. They contain Vitamin C which boosts the immune system.
• Practice good hygiene - wash your hands regularly - viruses are spread by droplets coughed or sneezed into the air. They can be breathed in or picked up from shaking hands with someone who is infected. So handrails, for example on buses or trains, or door handles are potential sources of infection.
• Touching your nose or eyes with an infected hand is one of the easiest ways to catch flu.
• Trap cough and sneezes in paper tissues and dispose of them as soon as possible.
• If you are struck down go to bed in a well-ventillated room and take plenty of fluids - aim for around two litres (about eight glasses) a day. Feverishness causes sweating and dehydration.
• Self-medication - painkillers such as paracetamol can lower fever and relieve aches and pains, but always read the information with your medication carefully.
• Never exceed the stated dose and don't take paracetamol with any other preparation containing it at the same time. Ask your pharmacist for advice. Or you may prefer herbal remedies. Echinacea, garlic and elderberry are among preparations available.
• Don't wrap up too warm or get over-heated. Make sure you get fresh air, and your room is well-ventilated.

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