Cold and Flu

Chicken soup is one of the best things to eat to help fight a cold. Researchers have found that this simple comfort food may reduce nasal congestion. Drinking lots of fluids will also help you fight a cold by keeping you well hydrated. Chicken... Full Answer

If you want to use a nasal spray for your cold symptoms, you have two choices: a saline solution, which will help keep the lining of your nose moist so that it's easier to blow out the mucus, or a decongestant nasal spray, which reduces the... Full Answer

Influenza type A is caused by one of the strains of influenza type A viruses. It is very contagious, and is often passed from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes, sending the virus into the air where it is breathed in by someone... Full Answer

Call your doctor about your cold when you feel you’re getting worse instead of better. Your symptoms should improve after a week or so. If you develop a fever (102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), shortness of breath, chest pain, a cough that... Full Answer

Call your doctor at the first sign of flu. He or she may prescribe an antiviral medication. When taken within the first 48 hours of the first symptoms, an antiviral medication can reduce the duration and severity of flu. Your doctor can also give... Full Answer

If you are in one of the high-risk groups, and are experiencing the symptoms of influenza type A, you should talk to your doctor. These groups include young children, adults 65 and older, pregnant women, and those with diabetes, heart disease, HIV,... Full Answer

Influenza virus B is caused by one of the strains of influenza type B viruses. It is very contagious, and is often passed from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes, sending the virus into the air where it is breathed in by someone... Full Answer

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can be used to treat specific symptoms of colds and the flu. For example, decongestants or saline nasal sprays can be used to reduce nasal congestion, and acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help your fever and body aches. Full Answer

Here are some suggestions if you are a caregiver for a person with dementia who might have the flu: Check the temperature of the person with dementia on a regular basis, but remember that persons with dementia may have less fever rise than other... Full Answer

Anyone can get the flu if they come in close contact with someone who has it. The flu can be spread to you by a sick person who sneezes or coughs near you, or when you touch the same surface that a sick person has touched and then touch your... Full Answer