Repatha side effects: What they are and how to manage them

Facts About Common Cold And Flu

Avian influenza has lately received all the attention across the globe. It is thought that the virus strain H5N1 is mainly spread through migratory birds. But the present scenario deals with the possible pandemic outbreak and how it can be dealt. World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show that about 169 human cases with 91 deaths have been reported.

Human cases of avian influenza are distributed in seven countries: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.

Flu is an infection of the respiratory system caused by the influenza virus. There are three types of influenza virus: A, B, and C. Types A and B cause severe disease. An example of a type A strain is the emerging avian influenza virus or bird flu.

The viruses change constantly and therefore the body's natural defence system cannot keep up with these changes. Hence a vaccine cannot be formulated. Type C causes a very mild illness or no symptoms at all. The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses.

The flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or result in hospitalization.

Over-the-counter medications are available to treat the symptoms of cold.

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Paracetamol is generally used to treat cold. But studies show that paracetamol and aspirin worsen asthma and peptic ulcers.

Aspirin should not be used in children under 18 years because it may play a role in causing Reye's syndrome which results in a rare and severe liver and central nervous system condition. Congestion, cough and nasal discharge may be treated with a decongestant, antihistamine or a combination of the two.

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Certain people, such as those with thyroid disease or high blood pressure should check with the doctor. Dosage instructions should be followed strictly. Herbs and minerals such as echinacea, maitake, zinc, and vitamin C have also been found to be useful in preventing and speeding up recovery time.

Eight glasses of water and/or juice per day is recommended. This will help keep the lining of the nose and throat from drying out, so that mucus remains moist and easy to clear from the nose. Smoke will irritate the throat and will result in worsening of the cough.

On the other hand flu medications are mainly to minimize the discomfort but these medications do not treat the virus infection.

There are effective treatments available which will facilitate in the reduction of the duration of the disease. The four antiviral medications available to treat the influenza virus are oseltamivir, zanamivir, amantadine, rimantadine. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that nations prepare for the threat of a pandemic situation by stockpiling anti-viral drugs.

Oseltamivir and zanamivir are considered the first line of defence against the bird flu virus. They work by inhibiting neuraminidase, an enzyme essential for the release of recently formed virus particles from infected cells. Therefore, the drugs are able to prevent the virus from spreading inside the body.

Zanamivir has just been approved by the Health Ministry to treat bird flu and the route of administration is by oral inhalation through an inhalation device.

Other complications associated with the flu are Pneumonia sinusitis, bronchitis and ear infections. This occurs when the flu virus or bacteria gets into the lungs when the body's defence system is weakened by the flu.

What Is Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is a health condition that everyone's talking about.

Although the first formal definition of metabolic syndrome entered medical textbooks not so long ago (1998), it is as widespread as pimples and the common cold. According to the American Heart Association, 47 million Americans have it. That's almost a staggering 1 out of every 6 people. The syndrome runs in families and is more common among African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American people. The risk of developing metabolic syndrome increases as you age.

Indeed, metabolic syndrome seems to be a condition that many people have, but no one knows very much about. It's also debated by the experts -- not all doctors agree that metabolic syndrome should be viewed as a distinct condition.

So what is this mysterious syndrome, which also goes by the name "insulin resistance syndrome" or the scary-sounding name "syndrome X," and should you be worried about it?

Metabolic syndrome is not a disease in itself. Instead, it's a group of risk factors -- high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and abdominal fat.

Specifically, metabolic syndrome can lead to a buildup of plaque in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis. This is when fats, cholesterol, and other substances stick to the sides of the arteries. The arteries then become clogged and brittle. Blood clots form when the artery walls are damaged. A clot can cause a heart attack or stroke.

Obviously, having any one of these risk factors isn't good. But when they're combined, they set the stage for serious problems. These risk factors double your risk of blood vessel and heart disease, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. They increase your risk of diabetes by five times.

The good news is that metabolic syndrome can be controlled, largely with changes to your lifestyle.

According to the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, there are five risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome.

To be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, you would have at least three of these risk factors.

Experts aren't sure why metabolic syndrome develops. It's a collection of risk factors, not a single disease. So it probably has many causes. Some risk factors are:

Insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body use glucose -- a simple sugar made from the food you eat -- as energy. In people with insulin resistance, the insulin doesn't work as well, so your body keeps making more and more of it to cope with the rising level of glucose. Eventually, this can lead to diabetes. Insulin resistance is closely connected to having excess weight in the belly.

Obesity, especially abdominal obesity. Experts say that metabolic syndrome is becoming more common because of rising obesity rates. In addition, having extra fat in the belly -- as opposed to elsewhere in the body -- seems to increase your risk.

Unhealthy lifestyle. Eating a diet high in unhealthy processed foods and not getting enough physical activity can play a role.

Hormonal imbalance. Hormones may play a role. For instance, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that affects fertility, is related to hormonal imbalance and metabolic syndrome.

Smoking.

If you've just been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, you might be anxious. But think of it as a wake-up call. It's time to get serious about improving your health. Making simple changes to your habits now can prevent serious illness in the future.

Most Common Flu Symptoms: Signs To Look For

According to Newman and the CDC, common flu symptoms include:

Fever

Chills

Cough

Sore throat

Runny nose or congestion

Muscle or body aches

Headaches

Fatigue

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Not everyone who catches the flu experiences all of these symptoms. Instead, it's common to have one symptom or a combination of several symptoms, says Newman. For example, not everyone with flu will experience fever, and gastrointestinal symptoms are more common in children, she says.

According to Dr. Ulm, individuals diagnosed with the flu should seek medical attention in the event of:

Prolonged and marked shortness of breath or other respiratory distress (particularly if accompanied by chest pains)

Seizures or persistent dizziness

Severe and persistent weakness to the point of impeding even basic daily activities

Marked exacerbation of an underlying condition

Parents caring for children with the flu should also be on the lookout for signs of dehydration (especially poor feeding and fewer wet diapers than normal in an infant) and indications of poor oxygenation like cyanosis (in which the skin, nail beds, lips and area around the mouth take on a bluish or gray discoloration), explains Dr. Ulm.

Differences Between the Flu, Common Cold and COVID-19

Although the flu, common cold and COVID-19 are all contagious respiratory illnesses, they are caused by different viruses, explains Newman. "The flu is caused by the Influenza virus, COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, and the common cold can be caused by a number of circulating viruses like rhinoviruses, seasonal coronaviruses and parainfluenza," she says.

Symptoms of these three viruses are often similar, so taking a test is necessary to differentiate between them, says Newman. Getting a diagnosis from your doctor is also recommended.

Common cold symptoms are usually milder than the flu or COVID-19 and don't start as intensely/abruptly, says Newman. Common colds are also less likely to lead to serious complications like pneumonia, sepsis, hospitalization or death, she says.

The flu often presents with cold-like symptoms, but also tends to manifest more often with fevers, severe headaches and muscle aches, a more pronounced cough and much more marked and long-lasting fatigue and weakness, explains Dr. Ulm.

When it comes to COVID-19, it shares flu symptoms like fever, muscle aches, pronounced fatigue, weakness and diarrhea (especially in kids), says Dr. Ulm. Runny noses are also becoming more common with newer COVID-19 variants, particularly subvariants of the Omicron strain.

"COVID-19 often presents with lasting anosmia or dysgeusia—loss of smell or altered taste," says Dr. Ulm, symptoms that are rare with the common cold or flu.

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