healthy: Symptom

Cold and Flu

Follow this chart for information about how to treat the symptoms of a cold or the flu and how to know when to see a doctor. Other illnesses may also cause flu- or cold-like symptoms. Self-care is often all that is needed to treat common viral illnesses.

SYMPTOMS	DIAGNOSIS	SELF-CARE

1. Do you have a fever?	Go to Question 6.*

2. Do you have a sore throat and headache--without nasal drainage?	You may have STREP THROAT, a bacterial infection.	See your doctor if the sore throat or fever lasts longer than 48 hours. He or she can do a test to find out if you have strep throat. If you do, your doctor may give you an antibiotic to treat it. You should also get plenty of rest, and drink lots of water. Gargling with warm salt water may help relieve a sore throat.

3. Did your symptoms start suddenly, and do you have a combination of symptoms including muscle aches, chills, a sore throat, runny nose or cough?	You may have the FLU.	Get plenty of rest, and drink lots of fluids. Over-the-counter medicines may relieve some of your symptoms. Your doctor may suggest a prescription medicine that may shorten the course of the flu. Prevent the flu by getting a flu shot each fall.

4. Do you have a persistent cough that brings up yellowish or greenish mucus, wheezing and shortness of breath.	You may be developing ACUTE BRONCHITIS, an infection of the airways.	Get plenty of rest, and drink lots of fluids. If you smoke, cut down on the number of cigarettes you smoke, or stop smoking. Use an over-the-counter medicine for pain and fever, and an expectorant to ease the coughing. A humidifier may also relieve some symptoms. If symptoms persist or worsen, contact your doctor.

5. Do you have a headache or muscle aches, nausea or vomiting, and watery diarrhea?	You may have GASTROENTERITIS (also called the stomach flu).	Get plenty of rest. Children who have gastroenteritis should be given an oral rehydration solution to avoid dehydration. Ease back into eating with bland foods and clear liquids.

*6. Do you have a runny and/or itchy nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes?	You may have ALLERGIES.	Try an over-the-counter antihistamine medicine. If symptoms persist or worsen, contact your doctor.

7. Do you have sneezing, a sore throat, headache, congestion and a runny nose?	You probably have a COLD.	Try an over-the-counter cold medicine to treat the specific symptoms you are having. Get plenty of rest, and drink lots of fluid.

8. Do you have swelling or pain around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead, a headache, a dry cough, and/or discharge from the nose?	You may be developing SINUSITIS.	See your doctor. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen and/or warm compresses may help reduce facial pain. A cool mist vaporizer may help your sinuses drain more easily. Drink plenty of fluids.
For more information, please talk to your doctor. If you think your problem is serious, call right away.		WARNING: Due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, don't give aspirin to children without your doctor's approval.

This tool has been reviewed by doctors and is for general educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice. The information in this tool should not be relied upon to make decisions about your health. Always consult your family doctor with questions about your individual condition(s) and/or circumstances. Source: American Academy of Family Physicians. Family Health & Medical Guide. Dallas: Word Publishing; 1996
Natural Remedies

Vitamin C

Vitamin C has been studied for many years as a possible treatment for colds, or as a way to prevent colds. But findings have been somewhat inconsistent. Overall, experts have found little to no benefit for vitamin C preventing or treating the common cold.

In a July 2007 study, researchers wanted to discover whether taking 200 milligrams or more of vitamin C daily could reduce the frequency, duration, or severity of a cold. After reviewing 60 years of clinical research, they found that when taken after a cold starts, vitamin C supplements do not make a cold shorter or less severe. When taken daily, vitamin C very slightly shorted cold duration -- by 8% in adults and by 14% in children.
But researchers found the most effect on people who were in extreme conditions, such as marathon runners. In this group, taking vitamin C cut their risk of catching a cold in half.

Echinacea

Echinacea is an herbal supplement that can boost immune system activity. But it’s unclear whether this boost helps fight off colds or flu. Some researchers have reported no benefits, but at least one recent study paints a more positive picture. Participants who took echinacea shortened their colds by an average of 1.4 days. Still, experts remain skeptical, and it’s best to check with a doctor before trying this or other herbal remedies.

One study of 95 people with early symptoms of cold and flu (such as runny nose, scratchy throat, and fever), found that those who drank several cups of echinacea tea every day for 5 days felt better sooner than those who drank tea without echinacea. (http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/echinacea-000239.htm)

Zinc

Zinc lozenge have long been believed to prevent colds and the flu as well as to significantly speed up the recovery period for colds and flu sufferers. The scientific evidence, however, has been mixed. Some studies found that zinc lozenges are indeed helpful while other studies found that they do not make much of a difference.

One of the more recent studies ,patients with cold symptoms were given either a zinc lozenge containing 12.8 mg of zinc acetate or a placebo. They were then asked to rate the severity of various symptoms, such as sore throat, runny nose, cough, fever, headache, etc. The study found:

Patients who took the zinc lozenges reported symptoms for an average of 4.5 days, while those who took the placebo reported symptoms for about 8 days

Runny nose and cough appeared to respond best to the zinc supplement. Patients who took the zinc supplement coughed for an average of 3 days, compared with six days for those who took the placebo.( http://www.flu-treatments.com/zinc-facts.html )

Chicken Soup

Grandma was onto something. Chicken soup may help cold symptoms in more than one way. Inhaling the steam can ease nasal congestion. Sipping spoonfuls of fluid can help avoid dehydration. And some advocates say the soup may soothe inflammation. Researchers have found chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties in the lab, though it’s unclear whether this effect translates to real-world colds.

Hot Tea

Drinking hot tea offers some of the same benefits as chicken soup. Inhaling the steam relieves congestion, while swallowing the fluid soothes the throat and keeps you hydrated. Black and green teas have the added bonus of being loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants.

Hot Toddy

The hot toddy is an age-old nighttime cold remedy. Since you won’t want to drink black tea before bed, make a cup of hot herbal tea. Add a teaspoon of honey, a small shot of whiskey or bourbon, and a squeeze of lemon. This mixture may ease congestion, soothe the throat and help you sleep. Limit yourself to one hot toddy. Too much alcohol can affect the immune system.

Garlic

Garlic is sometimes said to help treat the symptoms of colds and flu, however it is best seen as a preventative. The use of garlic against colds and flu seems to be most effective when taken before the infection is caught, or immediately the symptoms begin to show.
Scientific research has shown that people taking garlic can suffer less from colds than a control group. There is also plentiful anecdotal evidence that taking large amounts of garlic at the onset of a cold can reduce the time taken to recover. As always, discuss any treatment with your doctor - garlic can interfere with the working of certain medical drugs.

Steam/Humidifier

For a heavy dose of steam, use a room humidifier – or simply sit in the bathroom with the door shut and a hot shower running. Breathing in steam can break up congestion in the nasal passages, offering relief from a stuffy or runny nose.

Saline Drops

Dripping saltwater into the nose can remove virus and bacteria particles, while reducing congestion. Try over-the-counter saline drops, or make your own by mixing 8 ounces of warm water with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Use a bulb syringe to squirt the mixture into one nostril while holding the other one closed. Repeat 2-3 times and then do the other side.

Neti Pot

For a more systematic nasal rinse, the neti pot is an option. This small ceramic pot is used to flush out the nasal passages with a saltwater solution – a process known as nasal irrigation. The result is thinner mucus that drains more easily. Research suggests neti pots are useful in relieving sinus symptoms, such as congestion, pressure, and facial pain, particularly in patients with chronic sinus troubles.

Menthol Ointment

Days of wiping and blowing your nose can leave the skin around your nostrils sore and irritated. A simple remedy is to dab a menthol-infused ointment under, but not in, the nose. Menthol has mild numbing agents that can relieve the pain of raw skin. As an added benefit, breathing in the medicated vapors that contain menthol or camphor can help open clogged passages and relieve cough due to colds. Use only in children over 3 years of age.

Saltwater Gargle

For a sore throat, the traditional saltwater gargle has merit. Gargling warm water with a teaspoon of salt four times daily can help keep a scratchy throat moist.

Let Your Fever Work

A fever is the original natural remedy. The rise in temperature actively fights colds and flu by making your body inhospitable for germs. Endure a moderate fever for a couple of days to get better faster. Just be sure to stay well hydrated. Call your doctor right away if the fever is over 105, unless it comes down quickly with treatment. In infants 3 months or younger call your doctor for any fever greater than 100.4. Children with a fever of less than 102 usually don’t require treatment unless they’re uncomfortable.

Rest in Bed

With our busy lives, most of us loathe to spend a day or two under the covers. But getting plenty of rest lets your body direct more energy to fighting off germs. Staying warm is also important, so tuck yourself in and give your immune cells a leg up in their noble battle.

Source:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/flu-sars/
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/517.html
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/slideshow-cold-or-flu

SYMPTOMS	DIAGNOSIS	SELF-CARE

1. Do you have pain or burning with urination?	Go to Question 7.**

2. Is your urine cloudy?	Go to Question 5.*

3. Do you have a fever and/or backache?	Pain and fever may be caused by an infection of the kidneys called PYELONEPHRITIS.	See your doctor right away.

4. Do you have sharp, knife-like, intense pains in your back or groin?	You may have a KIDNEY STONE or another serious problem.	EMERGENCY See your doctor or go to the emergency room right away.
	You may have a BLADDER INFECTION or a more serious problem with the KIDNEYS.	See your doctor right away. Left untreated, problems with your kidneys may cause blood poisoning.

*5. Are you a man, and do you have an ache under your scrotum?	You may have PROSTATITIS, an infection of the prostate gland.	See your doctor.

6. Are you a man, and do you have a discharge from the tip of your penis?	These may be symptoms of an INFECTION such as URETHRITIS or a SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION, such as GONORRHEA.	See your doctor right away.

**7. Do you have the urge to urinate after just using the restroom, and are you only urinating small amounts at a time?	Your symptoms may be caused by an infection in the bladder, called CYSTITIS, or from an irritation of the bladder, called INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS, or from a KIDNEY STONE stuck in the bladder, or a chemical in the urine.	See your doctor.

8. Are you producing more urine than usual?	Go to Question 10.***

9. Have you been losing weight, drinking lots of fluids and/or have a history of diabetes in the family?	You may have DIABETES, a condition in which your body lacks insulin or doesn't use it in the right way.	See your doctor.
	You may be taking a medicine that can cause increased urination. Drinking liquids containing caffeine can also cause increased urination.	You may want to check with your doctor. If you drink caffeinated beverages, try decreasing the amount you drink.

***10. Are you a woman, and do you leak urine when you cough or sneeze?	Your symptoms may be from a weakness in the bladder due to childbirth or aging. This weakness causes STRESS INCONTINENCE.	Absorbent protection may be helpful. Kegel exercises may help strengthen muscles that support the bladder. See your doctor.

11. Are you a man, and do you leak or dribble urine after you urinate, or do you have problems starting the urine stream, or do you wake many times at night to urinate?	You may have a problem with your PROSTATE GLAND. Your symptoms may be caused by a benign (non-cancerous) ENLARGEMENT or a more serious condition such as INFECTION or CANCER.	See your doctor.

12. Do you have blood in your urine?	You may have a KIDNEY STONE, a TUMOR in the kidney or bladder, a BLADDER INFECTION, TRAUMA to your kidney, or possibly a BLEEDING DISORDER.	See your doctor right away.

For more information, please talk to your doctor. If you think the problem is serious, call your doctor right away.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Urination Problems

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Cold and Flu Guide - Natural Remedies