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Colds, Flu and Immunity
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The Common Cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, with episodes of sneezing, nasal discharge and nasal congestion. A catarrhal disorder manifesting acute rhinitis, chills and a possible fever.
Influenza ("The Flu") is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract. It is highly contagious and is caused by 1 of 3 influenza virus strains (A, B, and C).
The immune system is the body’s inbuilt system of protection for every organ from outside biological microorganisms. It is a natural or acquired resistance to disease.
The Cold Virus
Colds can occur all year round, although mostly in winter months or during a rainy season. It is characterised by inflamed mucous membranes of the respiratory system, usually with episodes of sneezing and coughing. It is one of the most common contractible infections in the human race.
There are more than 200 different viruses that can cause a cold. Some of the more common ones include rhinovirus, corona virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza (flu) and para-influenza, each with their own severity. They commonly run their course without complications within 1 to 2 weeks and require little medical attention unless complications occur.
Complications many include the development of other more serious conditions such as bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, sinusitis or attacks of asthma if susceptible.
Once a cold takes hold symptoms usually begin within 2 or 3 days, such as a tickly nose and/or itchy throat followed by sneezing and a watery nasal discharge.
From 1 to 3 days discharges become more profuse. It is at this time that you ar at your most contagious.
There are no medicinal cures for the cold, although preventative medicine to strengthen your immune system against such pathogens has proven significantly successful and is generally the recommended route for combatting such an interferring condition.
Influenza ("The Flu")
The Flu is a contagious viral disease of the respiratory tract, causing inflammation, sneezing, coughing and a sore throat.
The difference between cold and flu:
- Colds and flu are often mistaken for one another due to the similarities of their symptoms. There are of course many overlaps in a symptomatic area, but with flu being of a more serious nature it usually also produces more uncomfortable and debilitating sensations.
- Over 100 different viruses can cause colds; only a few cause the flu.
- You cannot catch the flu from cold temperatures.
- Symptoms like fever and headache are common in the flu, but not usually seen in the common cold.
- Sneezing, sore throat, stuffy nose and tiredness are common to both, although fatigue is much more prevalent in the flu.
The flu is more serious than a cold as it has the potential of leading to other complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, ear infection and meningitis.
If you:
- Are 65 years or over
- Have a chronic lung, heart, kidney or blood disorder or suffer from a metabolic disease
- Have a lowered immunity due to prolonged use of medications
- Are a pregnant women
You are at greater risk of infection and need to protect yourself more precisely.
As for the common cold there are no medical cures for flu. Preventative medicine and building up your immune system are the only significantly successful methods of beating these conditions.
Bird Flu - Recently of course there has been widespread global concern regarding the outbreak of bird flu and it’s implications to human health. We feel that it should be noted that although bird flu is not contagious in it’s current form, it does have the potential of becoming a deadly virus should it mutate into an as yet unknown virus transmittable from human to human (Nov ‘05).
Immunity
The immune system is a system of specialized cells working to clear infection and protect your body from bacteria and viruses.
Foreign organisms are everywhere. They are in our air, our food and our water. They are unavoidable. It is therefore up to the health of your immune system to protect your body from their invasion into your system, causing disease.
Innate and Acquired immunity
Your immunity can be innate or acquired:
Your innate immunity prevents entry of these foreign bodies into your tissues, or if they do take hold it is your innate immunity that eliminates them before they have a chance to cause disease.
Your acquired immunity only occurs in response to an actual infection as the immune system adapts itself to fight these new foreign bodies.
To understand how this really works try thinking about what happens to the human body after it dies. Once the body dies the immune system completely shuts down. Bacteria and parasites then quickly invade the body until only the skeleton remains.
While you are alive your working immune system has the power to stop this happening.
Colds, Flu and Your Immune System
Because of their commonality and sheer numbers, especially the numbers of cold strains, your immune system cannot possibly cope with them without support. The only way to do this is to take responsibility for disease prevention and ensure your immune system is in peak condition.
A healthy body has an effective immune support system.
To ensure protection you have to ensure your body is healthy by providing all the nutrients it needs to sustain good chemical, nutritional and hormonal health.
The poor level of immunity that causes disease is due moreover to poor dietary habits, natural nutritional imbalance internally, excessive use of antibiotics and environment factors. Unfortunately most people are unaware of how heavily influenced their bodies are by internal nutritional requirements.
In order to gain the strength your immune system needs you really need to give your immune system a serious 'helping hand'.
Causes
A cold is caught by inhaling the virus if you are sitting close to someone who sneezes, or by touching your nose, eyes or mouth after you have touched something contaminated by the virus.
The flu is caught when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks and sends minute flu viruses into the air for other people to breathe in.
The chill theory and the viral theory
Experts denote 2 theories to how the cold and flu viruses spread.
The chill theory tells us that there is a higher incidence of colds and flu in the winter, therefore infection is down to the cold weather.
The viral theory is contrary to that in that it says colds are caught more frequently in winter because people spend more time indoors, with other people and heating on high, providing an easy and vibrant environment n which foreign organisms can breed and spread.
Ultimately, if our immune system was at its strongest and performing at its best possible level, it would be able to fight such occurances of infection no matter of the ‘origins of cause’.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms can be extremely similar for both cold and the flu, but with the flu producing more serious and debilitating effects.
Often you can continue your usual daily routines even with a cold, whereas with the flu your body requires more rest and may have difficulty performing usual tasks.
Symptoms include any/all of the following:
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The Common Cold
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The Flu
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Both
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Slight fever
Cough
Tiredness
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Potential high fever
Dry cough
Joint aches and stiffness
Fatigue
Weakness
Chills
Flushed face
Dizziness and/or vomiting
Breathing difficulties or wheezing
Diarrhea
Swollen glands
Slow thinking / confusion
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Muscle aches
Headache
Runny nose
Nasal congestion
Sneezing
Sore Throat
Watery eyes
Sinus or ear pain
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