Allergies, Cold, Sinusitis, Flu -- Which Is It?
by Kathleen MacNaughton
Monday, December 15, 2008
It's that time of year again, the time when a sniffly nose, head congestion, coughing, etc. often strike... and then stick around for days, or even weeks. There can be many reasons for this, what with being indoors more, socializing with more people through the holidays, inclement weather, new food, decorations and more due to the holidays, and so on.
The challenge comes in knowing what truly ails you, so that you can take steps to deal with it. So, this post will provide an overview of the various conditions that might produce symptoms during this season and how to manage, so that you can get and stay as healthy as possible.
Nasal Allergies
If you have allergies, then you're probably used to dealing with them on a regular basis, at least during certain seasons, if not year round. Most people associate seasonal allergies with pollen season, but the truth is allergy symptoms often increase during the holidays.
In my earlier holiday triggers post, I detailed some of the most common holiday triggers including Christmas trees, decorations, wood smoke and unfamiliar animals. If you are sensitive, you may notice that you are sneezing more, sniffling more or your eyes are itching and burning. These are all allergy symptoms. If you're also coughing or wheezing, then allergy asthma may be at work.
But if blowing your nose produces lots of thick, colored mucus, then there may be something else at work.
Common Cold
The common cold is a viral respiratory illness that lasts only for a few days, in most cases. Some of the symptoms of a cold are similar to allergy symptoms, so early on it can be hard to tell the difference. However, colds usually cause more constant head and sinus congestion than allergies do.
If you know you haven't come into contact with any of your allergy triggers and your nasal congestion just won't quit, then it might be a cold, especially if you are also running a fever, though fevers are usually low grade. Other symptoms common with a cold (but not with allergies) are sore throat, fatigue and aches and pains.
Colds are also highly contagious, so if other members of your family or social circle are having the same symptoms as you are, you may be passing around a cold. Colds usually last between 2 to 14 days. So, if your symptoms last longer than that, it might be an allergy, not a cold.
The Flu
The flu, or influenza, is another common respiratory virus, but unlike colds, which can occur all year long, the flu is most common during the winter months, particularly from January through March.
Symptoms of the flu are similar to those noted above of a cold, but it's mostly a matter of intensity (and which viruses are at work too). A cold may make you feel lousy, but chance are, the flu will make you feel awful -- for a full week or more.
A flu often begins with a high fever, as well as chills and severe loss of energy. The fever usually subsides within a day or two, but may last up to 5 days. Sore throat is common, and the flu can progress into ear infections and even pneumonia.
A dry, hacking cough is common with the flu and can last for weeks after you feel better otherwise. The flu is also highly contagious.
Sinusitis
Sinusitis may start out feeling a lot like nasal allergies, but usually produces more intense congestion with greenish nasal discharge. Other symptoms include sinus area pain, eye pain, headache, and a nighttime cough. You might also have a fever, bad breath and feel lousy overall, or notice bad breath.
Chronic sinusitis is harder to diagnose. It has the same symptoms as those above, but they are milder. However, the symptoms usually last for longer than 8 weeks. People with allergies are often prone to chronic sinusitis.
The good news is all of these conditions are treatable, and your doctor should be able to decide which one you actually have. So, if you're noticing symptoms but you're not sure which condition may be at work, talk with your doctor.
The flu can also be prevented by taking an annual flu shot. Flu shots can be taken right through flu season, but will provide the most benefit when obtained by the end of each year.
To prevent the flu and colds from spreading, use good handwashing techniques and avoid people you know are sick, if you can.If you have allergies, work to avoid your triggers and take any allergy medicine your doctor prescribes.
When you take action, you can prevent illness from ruling your life -- whether it's allergies, a cold, the flu or even sinusitis!
- posted on 02/25/2009
Something about "Baby Carrot" for those who pledge to eat healthy.
~~~~~~
http://www.squidoo.com/babycarrots
The small cocktail (baby) carrots you buy in small plastic bags are made using the larger crooked or deformed carrots which are put through a machine which cuts and shapes them into cocktail carrots .
Most people probably know this already.
What you may not know and should know is the following:
Once the carrots are cut and shaped into cocktail carrots they are dipped in a solution of water and chlorine in order to preserve them (this is the same chlorine used your pool) since they do not have their skin or Natural protective covering,they give them a higher dose of chlorine.
You will notice that once you keep these carrots in your refrigerator for a few days, a white covering will form on the carrots, this is the Chlorine which resurfaces. At what cost do we put our health at risk to have esthetically pleasing vegetables which are practically plastic?
Chlorine is a very well known carcinogen.
- posted on 02/25/2009
My first-hand advice, sinusitis is treatable, but not via surgery, otherwise it can become a lifetime battle,or a lifetime lousy person like myself :(
touche wrote:
Sinusitis
Sinusitis may start out feeling a lot like nasal allergies, but usually produces more intense congestion with greenish nasal discharge. Other symptoms include sinus area pain, eye pain, headache, and a nighttime cough. You might also have a fever, bad breath and feel lousy overall, or notice bad breath.
Chronic sinusitis is harder to diagnose. It has the same symptoms as those above, but they are milder. However, the symptoms usually last for longer than 8 weeks. People with allergies are often prone to chronic sinusitis.
The good news is all of these conditions are treatable, and your doctor should be able to decide which one you actually have. So, if you're noticing symptoms but you're not sure which condition may be at work, talk with your doctor.
- posted on 02/26/2009
rzp,
这篇引得好。
不仅仅人工的毒素要小心, 生物自然毒素也还是有的。
不是所有的organic疏菜都是“healthy”的, 我刚好最近在写有关“从进化角度看疾病”的读书笔记, 其中有关植物毒素和疾病的。 提到我们常常和胡罗卜一起吃的西芹(celery).for those who pledge to eat organic, watch out.
植物产生各种毒素, 主要也是防止被其他生物侵犯, 尤其在天气的地理环境不利于生长时, 特别需要。当然植物毒素并不是主要用来对付人类的, 而是抵抗昆虫, 细菌,真菌和病毒的。
在澳大利亚 四十年代, 有一阵子健康的羊不能怀孕, 大家都疑惑不解, 直到有个农学家发现罪魁祸首 ——欧洲Clover。 这种clover会产生一种类雌激素的化学物质。 这些clover是从欧洲引进澳大利亚的, 在不利的天气环境下,长的不茂盛, clover通过产生更强效的类雌激素, 减少来自动物的侵害,羊吃了clover之后就如服了避孕药,生不出小羊来祸害clover。
其他植物如黄豆, 甜山芋都有类雌激素的化学物质。现在有些妇科专家让更年期女性摄取提炼过的甜山芋。(还是很有争议)为了保险起见, 男生们不要多喝豆浆哦。
西芹(Celery)是一个好例子,西芹的防御机制是产生一种物质叫psoralen, 它能损害DNA 和组织, 也会造成人体对光过份敏感。, 而psoralen有一特性, 只在光照下激活。 很多昆虫学会在暗处咬蚀西芹。西芹菜农常常会患皮肤病。
若西芹的生存受威胁, 例如被碰伤的西芹会产生一百倍以上的psoralen。 菜农用杀虫剂保护西芹不受昆虫和真菌的袭击, 西芹的毒素也随之下降, 当然杀虫剂又会造成其他的问题。
有机绿色农场, 不撒杀虫剂, 虫害导致西芹的毒素成倍的增加, 为了不放人工毒素, Organic菜农却让生物自然的毒素留在了西芹里。
想到浮生吃生蒜, 而一头栽倒在饭馆的事儿, 生蒜释放的acillin也是一个道理吧。
- posted on 02/26/2009
谢谢各位!
看后有点恐慌, 因为我常吃胡萝卜和西芹.
但一朋友告诉我这:Chlorine is used on as a bleaching agent on ALL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.Including organic foods. Chlorine only causes cancer when COMBINED
with residual waste products in the drinking supply such as a fatty acids and carbon fragments. Seriously stop freaking out, you should have read the part where she said she is a mom without a science or nutrition background.
这有道理吗?
希望草叶和我们分享你的读书笔记.
这一段草叶有空可以写成英文吗? 我怕转告别人时说错.
西芹(Celery)是一个好例子,西芹的防御机制是产生一种物质叫psoralen, 它能损害DNA 和组织, 也会造成人体对光过份敏感。, 而psoralen有一特性, 只在光照下激活。 很多昆虫学会在暗处咬蚀西芹。西芹菜农常常会患皮肤病。
若西芹的生存受威胁, 例如被碰伤的西芹会产生一百倍以上的psoralen。 菜农用杀虫剂保护西芹不受昆虫和真菌的袭击, 西芹的毒素也随之下降, 当然杀虫剂又会造成其他的问题。
有机绿色农场, 不撒杀虫剂, 虫害导致西芹的毒素成倍的增加, 为了不放人工毒素, Organic菜农却让生物自然的毒素留在了西芹里。
昨天看见了几个美丽的红蘑菇. 贴在这, 谢谢大家.
- posted on 02/26/2009
Lucy MM,好可爱的磨菇。
别害怕, 照我说的话, 该吃什么还是吃什么。
我自己其实不大讲究这些食物warming。说这些是为我后面写蚕豆黄这个先天疾病做铺垫。我读了这些有关进化的书后, 这例子是adaptation 的一个很好的例子,才想写下来的 也可看到我们都是自然和生物链里的一环, 相互影响着, 不是一对一的关系。
说西芹的例子只是要说明:不要盲目相信Organic都是好的, nature也full of chemicals。如蚕豆, 黄豆等等。
我觉的若是你很担心这些事, 尽量买没有处理过的食物, 如整枝的胡罗卜而不是削好的。同时不要老是只吃一种食品, 每天换不同疏果,从不同的produce farms 买。
我们跑题了, 对不起, Touche。
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蚕豆黄是一种先天疾病, 吃蚕豆后导致红细胞血管内溶血。在热带和地中海地区很多见, 中国的广东更是常见病。蚕豆黄的患儿体内先天性葡萄糖6磷酸脱氢酶(G一6-PD)缺乏,使得红细胞膜抗氧化能力大大下降,蚕豆所含的多巴胺类的氧化剂破坏红细胞膜, 而蚕豆黄的孩子红细胞抗氧化能力不及,导致溶血发生贫血黄疸。
- posted on 02/26/2009
lucy wrote:
谢谢各位!
看后有点恐慌, 因为我常吃胡萝卜和西芹.
但一朋友告诉我这:......., you should have read the part where she said she is a mom without a science or nutrition background.
I agree what caoye's attitude, change what you have been doing only if you're really concern. The site I quoted was not the site in the original email, I included that site only because I thought it contains more information. Here is the link from the email:
(http://www.snopes.com/food/tainted/carrots.asp)
On the other hand, even though the lady claims that "I am not a nutritionist or a scientist or anything of the sort", it is not the same what your friend interpreted as a mom without a science or nutrition background.
Different bodies react to even the same food differently. Talking about allergies or unexpected body reaction (sometimes behavioral) related to food on kids and/or family members, top doctors are almost guaranteed not to be better than a dedicated mom with watchful eyes. I have many stories to tell on this.
- Re: Seasonal knowledge / A public service from meposted on 02/26/2009
跑题是沟通的必然后果。
再下去什么都不能吃了。
请教草医。我没来美国前喝中国豆浆从没问题。在美国喝豆浆,喉咙和食道都有哽涩的感觉,就好像吃某些干果仁如开心果后也会有的感觉。这是不是也是食物过敏?我回国去再喝中国豆浆,也有同样不适感觉。是我进化了,还是豆浆进化了? ;) - Re: Seasonal knowledge / A public service from meposted on 02/26/2009
现在的人为什么有这么多各种各样的过敏症,就连花生都能成为致命的过敏源,是以前的人不知道,还是现在的环境(化学污染,滥用药物等因素)造成的? - Re: Seasonal knowledge / A public service from meposted on 02/26/2009
我来跑一回江湖龙套。 喝东方店卖的豆浆,我也有涩的感觉,但喝Sams Club的就没有,估计还是工艺或质量问题。建议你试一试Sams的,要再咽涩,就多半是进化成精致人了:)
touche wrote:
跑题是沟通的必然后果。
再下去什么都不能吃了。
请教草医。我没来美国前喝中国豆浆从没问题。在美国喝豆浆,喉咙和食道都有哽涩的感觉,就好像吃某些干果仁如开心果后也会有的感觉。这是不是也是食物过敏?我回国去再喝中国豆浆,也有同样不适感觉。是我进化了,还是豆浆进化了? ;) - posted on 02/26/2009
喝自己做的豆浆呢?
老瓦 wrote:
我来跑一回江湖龙套。 喝东方店卖的豆浆,我也有涩的感觉,但喝Sams Club的就没有,估计还是工艺或质量问题。建议你试一试Sams的,要再咽涩,就多半是进化成精致人了:)
touche wrote:
跑题是沟通的必然后果。
再下去什么都不能吃了。
请教草医。我没来美国前喝中国豆浆从没问题。在美国喝豆浆,喉咙和食道都有哽涩的感觉,就好像吃某些干果仁如开心果后也会有的感觉。这是不是也是食物过敏?我回国去再喝中国豆浆,也有同样不适感觉。是我进化了,还是豆浆进化了? ;) - posted on 02/27/2009
Touche难题, 老瓦已解决了一大半了。 无非四大方面的可能.
一。 食物本身: 豆浆的渣没滤掉?用一咖啡滤纸滤过豆浆的fiber后, 再喝, 看看有没有涩的感觉, 要不买silky 豆浆试试也行。
二。 食道的蠕动功能有障碍: 你说咽果仁类也有这感觉, 不知其他食物如何?咽果仁有点儿涩应是很正常, 除非你涩的意思指有点儿吞咽困难或疼痛感。There is whole other diagnosis。
三。食物反应: 过敏的可能不是完全没有。 尤其你只对果仁和豆类有这种感觉。 但常见的过敏反应往往伴有其他过敏现象:如舌发痒, 皮疹, 等等。 过敏检验就可确诊。
四:心理作用表现成咽部异物感:(这个嘛, 对touche来说很象不大可能)但不妨碍吞咽。中医叫梅核气,现代医学称此病为咽部异物感症, 本病的特点是感觉咽部好象有什么东西停留。 因感觉嗓子里不正常,总想把“东西”咯出来,还有的人感觉脖子发紧,甚至觉得憋气,因此常诉说呼吸不畅,但仔细观察并无异样。。
其他疾病如鼻炎、鼻窦炎、慢性咽炎、扁桃体炎可引起咽部异常感, 但往往不会和食物有很大关联。
我觉得第一可能最大, 在家做个双盲试验就知。要不你进化了, 豆浆退化了:)))
还要喝豆浆啊? 别喝了吧。
- posted on 02/27/2009
“One of peculiar feature of history is that Time always erode advantage.
Every invention sooner or later leads to counterinvention.
Every success contains the seeds of his own overthrown. …….
Evolution history is no different.
Progress and success are always relative”
---Matt Ridley
听说过“Hygiene hypothesis”吗, 简单的说来:人体的免疫系统经过和各种各样的病毒,细菌,微生物对抗而发展成一个复杂的防御机制。 现代环境减少小孩从小对微生物的exposure,免疫系统没有以往的敌人了,就象图中的翘翘板, 一边轻了, 另一边就翘了起来,对花粉,灰尘,食物这类进入体内的异物发动攻击, 造成各种过敏反应。
免疫系统的发展即帮助我们对抗感染性疾病, 但也随之带来过敏和自身免疫性疾病。
LIFE IS SUCH A COMPROMISE.
yc wrote:
现在的人为什么有这么多各种各样的过敏症,就连花生都能成为致命的过敏源,是以前的人不知道,还是现在的环境(化学污染,滥用药物等因素)造成的?
- posted on 02/27/2009
原来是这样,多谢!那过敏症的人倒底是免疫系统太强还是太弱?一直以为是太弱,因为往往身体强健了过敏就减轻了。
草叶 wrote:
听说过“Hygiene hypothesis”吗, 简单的说来:人体的免疫系统经过和各种各样的病毒,细菌,微生物对抗而发展成一个复杂的防御机制。 现代环境减少小孩从小对微生物的exposure,免疫系统没有以往的敌人了,就象图中的翘翘板, 一边轻了, 另一边就翘了起来,对花粉,灰尘,食物这类进入体内的异物发动攻击, 造成各种过敏反应。
免疫系统的发展即帮助我们对抗感染性疾病, 但也随之带来过敏和自身免疫性疾病。
LIFE IS SUCH A COMPROMISE.
yc wrote:
现在的人为什么有这么多各种各样的过敏症,就连花生都能成为致命的过敏源,是以前的人不知道,还是现在的环境(化学污染,滥用药物等因素)造成的?
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