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Colds, Flu’s, and Other Respiratory Infections
By Deborah Briones, FNP

On average, adults come down with two to four colds a year, and children with six to eight, according to the American Medical Association. Colds and flu’s are both respiratory infections, but flu’s cause more severe symptoms, including higher fevers and more intense muscle aches. Antibiotics are totally useless because colds and flu’s are caused by viruses, not bacteria. However, because both of them weaken your immune system, they may lead to other types of respiratory infections, such as infections of the sinuses or bronchial tubes. Both sinusitis and bronchitis can be viral or bacterial.

Although more than 200 different viruses cause colds, cold symptoms are often similar and include sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, mild fever, headache, and cough. Most colds last for a week to 10 days. In contrast, the flu typically begins with a sudden onset of muscle aches and a high fever; it is followed by coldlike symptoms and malaise (feeling tired) that can persist for two weeks or longer.

Signs of sinusitis include persistent nasal congestion, postnasal drainage, greenish mucus, and pressure and pain in the sinus area of the forehead and face; also possible are fever and a sensation of toothache. Symptoms of bronchitis include a hacking cough accompanied by gray or greenish-yellow phlegm, soreness and tightness in the chest, and fever.

In the case of a cold or flu, the invading virus typically attaches to the lining of your nasal passages or throat. To combat it, infection-fighting white blood cells rush to the area. The body attacks the infection in other ways as well, such as by producing extra mucus to flush it out and a fever to kill it (heat kills many viruses).

Sinusitis occurs when the tiny drains (called ostia) in the sinuses become clogged. Foreign material can’t escape, oxygen levels drop, and bacteria or viruses take over, inflaming the mucous membranes lining the sinuses. Bronchitis occurs when the mucous membranes in the bronchial passages become infected, in most cases with a virus, but sometimes with bacteria. The inflamed membranes swell, narrowing the airways in the lungs.

A cold or flu virus typically spreads two ways: through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and by direct contact. . Simple prevention includes washing your hands frequently with soap and water and avoiding touching your nose or eyes. Reducing stress and eating well will help to keep your immune system strong.

Taking precautions against colds and flu’s help you avoid sinusitis and bronchitis as well. You may also reduce your risk of sinusitis by avoiding known allergens and eliminating dairy products and wheat, both of which can contribute to excess mucus production. Breathing cigarette smoke can increase your chances of developing bronchitis, so limit your exposure.

If a cold persists for more than two weeks, see a health care provider. Sometimes it can turn into pneumonia, for which symptoms include a cough, a fever higher than 102 degrees, shortness of breath, chills, and blood in the phlegm. A sore throat and fever without other typical cold symptoms may be caused by the strep organism. Both pneumonia and strep require antibiotics. Also, if sinusitis and bronchitis persists for more than a week, consult your health care provider.

Take the herb echinacea (Echinacea augustifloria) at the first signs of symptoms. Numerous studies have shown it can bolster your immune system in a number of ways, such as stimulating the white blood cells that help to fight infections. Take one-half teaspoon of liquid extract or 2 capsules three to four times a day.

Take bromelain. Derived from the pineapple, this enzyme helps dissolve mucus. If the mucus stays thin and loose, it’s harder to get infections. When it sticks together, bacteria and viruses start to thrive in it. Bromelain keeps mucus loose and moving. Take 1 or 2 500 milligram (mg) tablets between meals. You might also try elderberry (Sambusus nigra) extract: it also helps to eliminate excess mucus and inhibits viral reproduction. Take 1 tablespoon of extract three times a day.

Drink hot liquids, such as hot herbal teas and broth. They are natural decongestants, and heating the thraot can kill virus cells and slow viral reproduction. Try a tea made from gingerroot, which is anti-inflammatory; marsh mallow root, which soothes mucous membranes; and licorice root (Glycyyhiza glabra) which is an antiviral and eliminates excess mucus as well. Simmer 2 teaspoons of grated or chopped ginger, 1 teaspoon of licorice root, and 2 teaspoons of marsh mallow root in 2 cups of boiling water in a covered pot for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and steep for an additional 10 minutes. Strain and drink 3 to 4 cups a day. You may be able to find a ready-made tea preparation in the local health food store.

Suck on zinc lozenges. Zinc can inhibit viral reproduction when throat tissues are saturated with it by increasing the number of local "killer cells" in the tissue. Take 15 to 25 mg of zinc glucnate in a lozenge about every 2 hours (up to 10 lozenges in a day maximum for up to one week.

Although exercise can be an excellent way to ‘blow off steam,’ excessive exercise can actually tax your immune system more. "We’ve found that those who run marathons or triathlons have an increase in colds about two weeks after the event," says Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., president of Bastyr University in Bothell, Washington, and author of Total Wellness Wellness (Prima Publishing, 1996). "The free radicals produced in the body during the marathon really damage the white blood cells, the immune system’s infection fighters." Rest is another key to wellness. "It’s a little known fact," say Pizzorno, "that at nighttime, the immune system regenerates."

OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) COLD/FLU REMEDIES

These products may provide temporary relief, but they are not really curing the infection. In fact, suppressing symptoms may actually prolong your illness because you’re interfering with your body’s methods for healing itself. For instance, the achiness associated with the flu comes from the immune system’s release of interferon, a potent virus-fighter; a runny nose is the body’s way of eliminating dead viruses. Aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and perhaps acetaminophen (Tylenol) may actually diminish immune response, and OTC cold remedies dry up mucous membranes so the body can’t flush out the debris. A common medicine called guaefenesin (found in plain Robitussin syrup) actually thins the mucus and facilitates drainage from the sinuses and nasal passages, and helps the bronchial tubes either cough up the phlegm or absorb it.

Cold and flu symptoms are usually a good sign—an indication that your body is already fighting the infection. You can support your body’s immune system by getting plenty of rest, cutting back on exercise, taking in lots of liquids and adequate nutrition, and using natural remedies. Of course, if your symptoms persist longer than usual, or if your condition worsens, see your health care provider. Stay healthy!ve questions? Email me and perhaps I can address

Have questions? Email me and perhaps I can address your question in a future Tri-Health.