Fighting Off the Flu, Part 1

Many people say “it’s just a flu” yet each year, 50,000 people die from pneumonia and other complications of the influenza virus, or flu.

Cold and flu symptoms are similar to each other, but they differ in intensity.  A cold generally starts out with some minor sniffling and sneezing, but the flu hits you all at once. A cold rarely moves into the lungs; the flu can cause pneumonia. You may be able to drag yourself to work with a cold, but with flu you’ll be too ill to leave your bed.

If the following symptoms come on suddenly and intensely, you probably have the flu:

• Dry cough
• Sore throat
• Severe headache
• General muscle aches or backache
• Extreme fatigue
• Chills
• Fever up to 104 deg.F
• Pain when you move your eyes, or a burning sensation in the eyes.

To be continued next week - J.P.

Used with permission from A Year of Health Hints by Don R Powell, PHD and the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, copyright 2010. www.healthylife.com