Did you know that the average adult will live with a cold for almost a month out of the year? According to Jane Sadler, MD out of Garland, Texas, “the average adult gets three colds per year, each lasting an average of nine days.”
Read Health.com’s guide to recovering from your cold here: “Stop a Cold in Its Tracks”
In the article, one doctor suggests drinking plenty of water and juice to alleviate congestion and sore throat. And to reduce inflammation in the throat (the reason we get scratchy voices) gargle some water with a half teaspoon of salt, offers another MD and editor.
Wondering whether you should gear-up and hit the gym to bust through that fever? The health experts say to keep your heart rate below 100, but “light exercise can . . . boost the immune system.”
Because the focus of this blog is on senior and elder issues, it would be a mistake to fail to mention that “of all age groups, individuals older than age 84 have the highest risk of dying from seasonal flu complications; those older than age 74 face the second highest risk.” WebMD, Flu in Older Adults.
From WebMD’s article, Flu in Older Adults, there are certain symptoms to be on the look-out for when assessing whether you have the flu. Among the common symptoms are fever, cough, chest discomfort, and headache. Symptoms that are experienced “sometimes” include a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, fatigue, and general aches and pains.
Complications that can stem from the flu in senior adults can include pneumonia, worsening of an existing condition, and dehydration. Not only does the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommend flu vaccinations, but also that older individuals consider the pneumococcal vaccine.
To find out where the flu shot is offered in your area, lungusa.org allows you to enter your zip code to find out. For information regarding who should get the vaccination, the CDC provides guidelines online, available here.
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