March 19, 2020
How does cold medication work?
Ever wondered what goes into treating those pesky sniffles, a scratchy throat, and nonstop sneezing? Let’s find out.
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March 12, 2020
Coronavirus – how to stay calm and clean
Where and when did it all begin? On the 31st of December 2019, China alerted the World Health Organisation to several patients with flu-like symptoms in a city called Wuhan, the capital of Central China’s Hubei province. Initial assessments of these patients ruled out “known” flu-like viruses including bird flu, seasonal flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Once these initial patients were assessed, they were placed into quarantine. The suspected source of the outbreak was identified as a busy seafood market in the city the following day. Days later Chinese authorities identified the virus,…
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February 24, 2020
Why is my nose runny?
Having the occasional sniffles are common, but why does it happen? If you don't know the cause, it's much harder to treat.
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June 17, 2019
Myth-busting: The truth about allergies
Beliefs can be hard to change even after you’ve found out that they’re scientifically wrong. Allergies are no different; let’s bust the myths of allergies.
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May 3, 2019
3 tasty recipes to protect you from the flu
Flu season has arrived so it’s time to give the germs a good fight! The best way to arm yourself is to boost your body with flu-fighting foods. Here are three delicious recipes to send colds and flu packing.
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August 3, 2018
How to get bed rest when you have the flu
Your head is pounding, your nose is stuffy and you have a terrible cough. Your doctor suggested “bed rest”, but how are you supposed to rest when you feel awful? When you have the flu, your body takes a toll and must repair itself. This means rest. Staying in bed and resting helps speed up the healing process while attempting to soldier through your symptoms will only leave you sick for longer. A healthy person who rests and follows their doctor’s prescribed medication should recover from the flu within 10 days. On the other hand, without bed rest, a healthy…
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July 16, 2018
How sick is too sick to go to work?
Just how sick do you have to be to stay home? But how sick can you be to qualify for a day off? Well, truth is if you’re really feeling unwell and especially if you have a fever, you need to stay home. You also have to consider whether you’re putting yourself or others at risk if you go to work. If the symptoms of your condition, or the side-effects of medication could cause an injury or accident on the job, affect others, or if your work flow is interrupted and you can’t focus, then you need to stay at…
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June 12, 2018
How long does the flu last?
You’ve been coughing and sneezing for what seems like forever! “When will it end?” Well, if your symptoms include a fever, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue and sometimes, diarrhoea and vomiting… then you should stay home and avoid contact with other people. Flu stages Unlike a common cold, the effects of an influenza virus can come on very quickly. Flu symptoms usually start within one to four days after the infection. Flu often has signs of fever or chills. A headache, sore throat, dry cough, runny nose, muscle aches, and fatigue follow after. As…
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April 20, 2018
Is chicken soup good for flu?
Chilly months seem to go hand-in-hand with colds and flu. There’s the inevitable itch in your throat, coughing, headache – and of course, the sniffles. Before downing your over-the-counter medication, is it worth trying that old natural remedy: chicken soup? It’s delicious, warm and filled with nutrients – and seems to do the trick. Here’s why. Magic liquid According to studies, cooking chicken releases the amino acid cysteine, which resembles a drug that can treat upper respiratory infections. Even better, when you add vegetables to your soup, you’re adding vitamins too, which ups your flu-fighting capabilities. Drinking liquid broth soups…
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March 7, 2018
My phlegm is yellow – do I need antibiotics?
Coughing and wheezing, sniffles and sneezing are all symptoms of a cold, flu or even a sinus infection. These symptoms may leave you feeling down and lousy. Over-the-counter medication may have not eased the symptoms. Is it time for antibiotics? An antibiotic is not ‘stronger’ than other medication Would you say that spoons are stronger than scissors? Of course not. We understand that scissors have a different function to spoons: the one is used for cutting, and the other is used for dishing up. The same rule applies to antibiotics: it's not stronger than other medication: it is different. It works…
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