Winter is coming – and with it, a myriad of sneezes, coughs and sniffles. There’s not much more frustrating that missing out on having fun because a pesky cold has knocked you for six, so we quizzed GP, Superdrug Health and Wellbeing Ambassador & TV presenter Dr Pixie McKenna on how to stay flu-free this winter.
Grazia Daily: Getting a cold often feels inevitable – what can we do to strengthen our immune systems against these annoying viruses?
PM: “Winter proofing yourself starts from within. I’m a huge fan of Vitamin D as most of us are running on empty by the time we hit winter. The poor weather this year (the sun is our main source of natural Vitamin D) means that most of us will be in need of a boost by the clocks goes back. For anyone with a poor diet, I would advise taking a daily multivitamin and mineral supplements- zinc and Vitamin C work are particularly good."
"Ramp up sleep, reduce stress and bin bad habits like binge drinking and smoking. Take regular exercise - outdoors where possible and consider the flu vaccine if you are more susceptible – talking to diabetics and asthmatics here. Finally, make hand sanitisers and hankies your best friends - clean hands make you far less likely to catch anything.”
GD: Will eating buckets of oranges help us ward off disease?
PM: “Oranges are packed with Vitamin C which keeps cells healthy. Unlike Vitamin D, you can't hold onto much Vitamin C in your body, so you you need to take a daily dose. In an ideal world you would get all you need from your diet but this doesn't mean simply bingeing on oranges. Strawberries, Brussel sprouts and even the humble spud are all excellent vitamin C sources. If your diet is slack, then supplement with Vitamin C pills.”
GD: How can we tell if we just have a nasty cold, or if we have the flu?
PM: “For starters, you are highly unlikely to be walking around the office or the shops saying you have the flu if you really have it. Whilst the symptoms may be similar, the flu is significantly more severe. It is accompanied by high fever, fatigue, aches and pains and a dry cough. You will need to take to your bed and have a few days off. If you have the common cold, you tend to be snuffly and sneezy."
"You will have milder flu-like symptoms but nothing that will necessitate you going to bed. If your dream date asked you out, you would be able to dust yourself off and accept the invitation if you had a cold, with the flu you would be favouring your bed and definitely be saying no, no matter who the invite was from!"
"Flu comes on fast and flattens you with high fever and sweating. A cold tends to evolve more slowly and prove less severe. And for the record there is no such thing as a " bit of the flu". You either have it or you don't.”
GD: What should we do at the first sign of a sniffle?
PM: “Buy hankies and hand sanitiser. Be mindful of friends family and colleagues and adhere to the mantra of catch it, kill it, bin it. Paracetamol works well to keep temperature at bay and banish aches and pains. Your pharmacist can advise you on decongestants to help dry things up - one thing you definitely don't need to do is see a doctor!”
GD: What can actually be done about a nasty sore throat and pesky cough?
PM: “Most infections are due to viruses and whilst we can’t cure the cause, we can of course try to tackle the symptoms. See your pharmacist for advice on cough medicines, throat sprays and simple pain relief like ibuprofen which can reduce both pain and fever. Drink lots of fluids as infections tend to eat into our fluid resources.”
GD: Are there any home remedies that work?
PM: “I’m a big salt and water fan - my Dad was a GP and it was our "go to" treatment for most things. That being said, I’m not sure there's a huge amount of science behind it! The best thing you have at home is your tap for hand washing and water drinking, your bed for rest and your larder to replenish calories lost during an infection.”
GD: What ‘medicines’ shouldn’t we waste our money on?
PM: “Antibiotics. They can’t do anything for a virus, and it's not only a waste of money, it's wrong to take them as it promotes viral resistance (where the virus basically gets better at resisting treatment). That’s not to mention potential side effects, such as antibiotic induced diarrhea, which could prove worse than the initial infection!"
"From my perspective as a doctor, I think the most important thing for patients to realise is that these over-the-counter remedies are still medicines with potential side effects and interactions, so always read the label or discuss with the pharmacy staff if in doubt.”
GD: When our doctor tells us to ‘rest’, what exactly do they mean? How long should we rest for?
PM: "We are all different, but ideally you need to properly rest, so refrain from work or socializing for as long as your fever persists. No gym, no parties, no school runs - the classic duvet day.”
GD: Should we ease up on the exercise while we’re feeling poorly with a cold?
PM: “Yes - if you are genuinely ill you won't be keen on the gym. Exercise makes you dehydrated so the impact of a workout on an ill body may be more severe. You will also be more fatigued if you have come down with something so my advice is to always sit it out."
"Finally, it isn't polite to pitch up at the gym with a temperature or teeming with cold. You are putting overs at risk of catching it. Take a break and sofa surf instead - you will get better faster.”