August is a strange month. It’s the only month without a major holiday. Although it still feels like the height of summer, by the end of the month kids are back in school.
August is a strange month. It’s the only month without a major holiday in the United States. Although the temperatures still feel hot and muggy, by the end of the month students and teachers are back in school and college for the “fall” semester.
Back to school
The main goal of school is education and reading is vital; books are the basic building blocks. That’s why Dolly Parton gives books away- read why here.
Dolly Parton, inspired by a childhood story and personal struggles, established Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, providing free books to children. Her own experience led to the song “Coat of Many Colors,” conveying the value of love over material possessions. Through this initiative, she aims to nurture children’s dreams through the joy of reading.
Speaking of school, there are always tests. Here’s one for you. Find out how much you know about medicine by taking this quiz that I wrote especially for blog readers.
Along with school comes sports. Although some go on year-round, many are tied to the school year, and football starts first in most places. Even folks who don’t have a tie to a particular school, often adopt their local school’s team and follow faithfully.
The OU Sooners football program has won 7 national championships and 7 players have received Heisman trophies. More importantly, the team never fails to show their fans exciting, hard-fought games. Even when they lose, they do so with plays that keep us guessing what’s going to happen next and wondering how such talented athletes can end up with the losing…
Although we think of colds and flu as winter illnesses, doctors start seeing patients with respiratory symptoms soon after school starts. Places where people are in close proximity, like classrooms and dormitories, are prime places for people to share the viruses and bacteria that cause strep throat, colds, influenza, and COVID-19. But there are steps we can take to minimize the risk of exposure and illness.
We should all take influenza and COVID-19 seriously; consider my suggestions, talk to your personal doctor, keep up with recommendations from your local public health professionals, and do your part to keep your family and community well.
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Dr. Aletha
Help Watercress Words share the HEART of health
My Reader Rewards Club is a great way to earn free books and Bibles for yourself, friends, and family! Your journey to earning free faith-based products starts HERE. (When you sign up through these links, I can earn free books too.)
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Bookshop.org is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. They believe bookstores are essential to a healthy culture and they are dedicated to the common good. Bookshop.org donates a portion of every sale to independent bookstores.
This year’s cold/flu season is complicated by a new player- COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2. If you get sick, please do not assume your illness is “just the flu” ; this could have serious, perhaps fatal consequences for you and your loved ones.
Where I live, North America, we’ve just observed the first day of fall, also known as the autumnal equinox. And especially in healthcare, we unofficially view it as the start of the “cold and flu” season. To those of you in the southern hemisphere, happy spring. You also have a respiratory illness season during fall/winter.
Respiratory infections
By “cold and flu” we means acute respiratory infections caused by a variety of viruses including
These cause diseases called by various names including
colds/flu
influenza
pharyngitis (throat infection)
otitis media (ear infection)
bronchitis
sinusitis
pneumonia
laryngitis
COVID-19
whooping cough
bronchiolitis-infants and children
croup-mostly children
This year’s cold/flu season is complicated by a new player- COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2.
Acute vs chronic
We call these illnesses acute because they (usually) come on fairly suddenly, run their course within a few days to sometimes a few weeks, and then resolve. Sometimes they don’t resolve and become chronic.
Some underlying factor may prevent healing. There may be a chronic condition that is out of control, or has not been previously diagnosed. You may need a doctor’s evaluation to determine whether it’s “just a cold” or perhaps asthma, COPD ,or allergic rhinitis.
Many of these illnesses tend to occur seasonally, such as influenza and RSV. Others can occur year round. So far we don’t know if COVID-19, due to the SARS-CoV-2 , will be year round or seasonal. Unlike influenza, it did not abate during the summer this year.
What are respiratory symptoms?
Symptoms of respiratory illness involve some combination of the nose, sinuses, ears, throat, larynx (voice box), trachea, bronchus, and lung
Sneezing, stuffy or runny nose,
Sinus pain, pressure
coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath
sore throat, hoarseness
ear pain, fullness
often along with systemic symptoms such as
fever and/or chills
body aches, fatigue,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
headache
loss of appetite
Coping with respiratory illness
Although these infections make us miserable and can temporarily disable us from work and school, most otherwise healthy people recover uneventfully, even from COVID-19. Nevertheless, we should take them seriously.
Don’t panic.
Fever ,especially in children, alarms parents. Don’t ignore it but don’t panic either. Reading this post should help you keep calm about fever .
Some people are at risk of developing severe symptoms and serious complications from respiratory illnesses, so seek medical help sooner, rather than later. These include
Infants, especially under one month old
Older adults,starting at about age 50, with risk increasing with age, especially combined with chronic disease
Those with chronic lung disease, like asthma, COPD, emphysema, cystic fibrosis
People who smoke cigarettes or vape
People on medications or with diseases that suppress the immune system
Obesity (a risk factor for COVID-19 complications)
Pregnancy
If you are not sure if you fit into one of these categories, ask your doctor.
Stay home.
These illnesses spread person to person, so minimize contact.
Keep your kids home from school and stay home from work, at least the first few days, when you are the most contagious. When there is widespread illness in your community, avoid crowds and public gatherings.
Resting, getting extra sleep, drinking fluids and staying warm and dry make staying at home therapeutic.
Wash hands.
Speaking of person to person contact, the best way to avoid getting or giving germs is to wash your hands often, but especially after being with others ,using a restroom, and before cooking or eating. Cleaning household surfaces helps too, as well as clothing and linens. Don’t forget to clean your cell phone, tablets, and keyboards too. Use hand sanitizer if hand washing can’t be done.
Wear a mask
You probably remember that early on in the pandemic, the CDC did not recommend wide spread wearing of masks. I suspect this was to prevent hoarding of masks (remember toilet paper? ) and because they did not know how widely the virus was circulating in the United States.
But that has changed; when experts learn new information they reassess and update recommendations. Whenever you expect to have close contact with people outside your household wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth. In some situations, eye coverings are also warranted but that is not universally recommended now.
Use medication wisely.
Some of these illnesses have a specific medication that clear it faster- strep throat, influenza, pneumonia. The others will “run their course” and meds are used to help relieve symptoms.
Many people assume that any illness with fever, sore throat and cough will improve with an antibiotic. The fact is, most will not. Antibiotics only treat infections caused by bacteria, and most of these are caused by viruses. To learn more read about
These illnesses cause the greatest overuse of antibiotics, contribute to the cost of health care, and the development of antibiotic resistance. Please do not insist on an antibiotic if the doctor says you don’t need it; if offered an antibiotic, ask why.
Be patient
The “24 hour virus” is for the most part a myth. Expect to be ill anywhere from 3 to 10 days; some symptoms, especially cough, can linger for weeks. If you are a smoker, this is a great time to quit.
But if after 7-14 days you are not getting better or are getting progressively worse, something more may be going on, so it’s wise to seek professional medical help.
Is it flu or is it COVID?
The arrival of COVID-19 this year creates a dilemma since symptoms overlap other respiratory infections and the possible outcomes run the gamut of no symptoms to death.
So this year, if you develop respiratory symptoms, healthcare clinicians will likely test you for COVID-19 , both to guide your care and to protect your family, co-workers, and healthcare workers.
Please do not assume your illness is “just the flu” ; this could have serious, perhaps fatal consequences for you and your loved ones.
Prevention of respiratory infections
Respiratory infections don’t have to happen. We know that they are mostly spread person to person, so what we each do matters. So what can you do?
Stay home when you are ill.
Observe physical distancing when disease is spreading in your community.
Wear a mask when recommended by public health professionals.
Practice careful hygiene on hands and surfaces.
Get available vaccinations.
exploring the HEART of respiratory illness
I would love for you to share this information (but not your germs) on your social media pages.
Dr. Aletha
Use these links to share the heart of health wherever you connect.
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