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Symptoms: Cold vs. Flu vs. Swine Flu

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:50:37 PDT

From my corner of the world, it feels like the flu season is striking early this year. The swine flu never really went away and other viruses are lurking out there too. When you start feeling symptomatic, you want to know what you dealing with: a common cold, the flu, or the swine flu. To help read your symptoms, I have made a chart comparing these three common illnesses. Check it out when you

Cold and Flu Tip: See a Doctor When . . .

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:00:14 PST

It may be March, but we're still not over cold and flu season yet. If you're feeling ill, you may want to call in sick to work, but if your symptoms are severe, what you really might need is a visit to your doctor. According to FamilyDoctor.org, adults should call their doctors when:

Your temperature is above 102°F for a few days
Symptoms last more than 10 days, or they seem to get worse instead of better
You have trouble breathing or shortness of breath
You experience chest pressure or pain
You feel like you're about to faint
Symptoms include confusion or disorientation
You experience severe or persistent vomiting
You have severe pain in the head or forehead
You have hoarseness, sore throat, or a cough that won't go away after 10 days

Your doctor may make some recommendations for things to do at home, or she may request you come in for an appointment. Most likely, your cold or flu will go away on its own, but if you're concerned, it's worth getting your doctor's advice just to be sure.

Source

Did You Get Swollen Feet and Ankles?

babysugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:00:26 PDT

Many women have to put up with the irritable and self-described "unsightly" issue of cankles (peripheral edema, medically speaking) late in their pregnancies. As a mother-to-be spends more time on her feet and the bodily fluids continue to multiply, the evidence of thicker legs and ankles often becomes evident.

Moms take note: Excessive swelling may be a sign of pre-eclampsia, a serious condition sometimes called toxemia, that includes high blood pressure and swelling.

Source

Watch Out For: Sun Poisoning

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:00:00 PDT

So you've been out in the sun and you wore sunscreen, but unfortunately you forgot to reapply. You ended up with a nasty burn on your face and as you take a closer look, parts of your cheek appear kind of blistery and yellowish in color. What you've got is a case of sun poisoning (also called Photodermatitis, for those who want to impress their friends). Not only does it cause this painful rash, but symptoms also include fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, chills, and headaches. The area may swell and will probably feel like it's on fire.

Sun poisoning is your skin's reaction to UV rays. It's possible to become more sensitive than normal if you use certain meds such as antibiotics, beauty products that are used for acne, or sunscreens that contain PABA. Just like an irritating sunburn, the rash usually results in itchy, peeling skin, but eventually goes away on its own within 10 days. That's good to hear, but there's bad news too. To hear it

read more The more extreme exposure your skin gets to UV rays, the bigger your risk for skin cancer. So you want to prevent sunburns and sun poisoning at all costs. Make sure to avoid long hours of sunlight, especially during 10 am and 3 pm. Of course, slather yourself with broad spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 15 or higher. It must be applied 30 minutes before you head out in the sun, and must be reapplied every two hours. Source

Allergy Symptoms vs. Cold Symptoms

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 07:30:00 PDT

Winter is slowly receding and in many places Spring has sprung (even though we have to wait a week for the official season change). With Spring weather comes blooming plants, trees and shrubs and with them pollen, the irritant that brings on hay fever. I for one live in denial of seasonal allergies and just like to pretend that I have a cold . . . a cold that goes on forever.

Since allergy season is upon us (or about to be depending on where you live), I thought it might be useful to compare the symptoms of the common cold with allergy symptoms.

Itchy nose: Although allergies and colds both produce a runny nose and congestion, allergies create the dreaded itchy nose. The itch generally occurs in the back of the nose and is difficult to "scratch." Folks suffering from "nasal pruritus" (the fanciest way in the world to say itchy nose) often scrunch up their faces, like a bunny, to try to alleviate the itch.
The sneeze: Sneezing frequently, and sometimes quietly, is common with allergies. Sneezes from colds tend to be loud, deep and infrequent, attempting to clear the bronchial congestion down in the lungs. Allergy sneezes, on the other hand, are an attempt to remove allergens from the nose.
Runny Eyes: While eyes might occasionally water with a cold, they will run profusely with allergies.

Unfortunately, the list of symptoms is a bit longer, so

Mucus color: Mucus (yep, snot) is generally clear with allergies, where as with a cold it tends to have a color – yellow to green.
Dark Circles under the eyes: This symptom is sometimes referred to poetically as the "allergy shiner". These "shiners" are caused by the inability of veins in the area to drain due to chronic nasal congestion. It is like a traffic jam in your infraorbital area. Common colds do not cause these.

So if you too are in allergy denial hopefully this list will help you figure out that you might indeed have hay fever and need to leave the weeding and lawn mowing to someone else for now. Source

Cold Hard Facts: The Flu

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:15:00 PST

The flu bug is flying around and the doctors at Harvard Medical School know that we all have some questions on the subject. Fortunately for us they have the answers for five commonly asked questions about colds and the flu. Here are highlights:

Why do colds and the flu increase in the Winter?
The reason has nothing to do with the temperature, at least not directly. Cold weather itself does not cause these illnesses, but people are more likely to stay indoors and spread germs to one another when it’s cold outside.
When should I stay home from work or keep my child home from school?
It is important to stay home when you are most contagious. For colds, you are contagious the entire time you have symptoms, but you are most contagious right after you contract the cold, before you even have symptoms. For the flu, adults are most infectious from the day before symptoms start until about the fifth day of symptoms.
When should I see my doctor?
If you experience complications such as high fever, shaking chills, chest pain with each breath, coughing that produces thick, yellow-green mucus, or if your symptoms do not go away as quickly as you would expect them to, see your doctor.

To find out how to keep your contagions to yourself, just
read more
How can I avoid passing my cold or flu on to my family? There are many steps you can take to try to avoid spreading germs to the people around you. Always cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. Throw used tissues away immediately. Wash your hands often, especially after you sneeze, cough, or touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Keep your distance from others - don’t kiss, hug, or stand so close to someone that saliva might get on them when you talk. Make sure someone is disinfecting household surfaces and items frequently, including children’s toys.
Is it OK to get a flu shot when I have a cold? Yes, you can get vaccinated when you have a cold as long as you are not feeling very sick and do not have a fever.

Source

Baby Wellness: Lead Poisoning

babysugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:30:30 PST

When I think of lead poisoning, I think of old paint peeling off the wall. It can actually be a silent enemy. Just yesterday, a family in Utah discovered that their little girl has been affected by lead - not from sucking on a recalled toy, but from plates in their kitchen. And, the scary thing is that the girl wasn't the one eating off of them. Her mother was passing it on to her daughter by breastfeeding. I don't know about you, but I only worried about my food and drink consumption while I was nursing. I'll know better next time.

Lead poisoning can cause nausea, constipation, stomach aches, and headaches in the short term. Long-term effects include behavior, learning, and physical development issues . If you live in an old home that has old paint, it might be a good idea to talk to your pediatrician about testing your child's lead level. I'm taking my own daughter in for her test next week.

The plates were made by Home Trends and were sold at Wal-Mart over three years ago. They do not sell those particular plates anymore, but they still carry the line.

Source

Ovarian Cancer: Are You Aware of the Symptoms?

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:45:00 PDT

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and I am wondering if you are aware of the symptoms. I don't mean to be a bummer, but in this case knowledge is power! The earlier this "silent killer" is detected the greater the chance of survival.

Take the Quiz

Ovarian Cancer: 4 Symptoms to Watch Out For

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:00:00 PDT

The New York Times is reporting that cancer experts have identified a set of health problems that may be symptoms of ovarian cancer. They are:

Bloating
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

Women are strongly encouraged to see their doctor, preferably their gynecologist if they have been experiencing these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks. These symptoms and signs have been identified in hopes that patients and doctors will become more aware of early symptoms, lead to earlier diagnosis and, perhaps, save lives, or at least prolong survival.

However, it is too soon to know if this new screening method will improve rates of early detection or lead to a flood of diagnostic tests or, in a worst case scenario, unnecessary operations. Yet, cancer experts believe a more aggressive approach might prove fruitful to detecting ovarian cancer early. If the disease, one of the deadlier types of cancer due to late diagnosis, is detected early (Stage I) it is considered 90% curable.

The purpose of these findings is not to frighten women, but to make them and their physicians more alert to these symptoms if they arise suddenly and with intense frequency.

Source

Heat Exhaustion - Know the Symptoms

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:30:00 PDT

If you live in a warm climate, or a place where the summer gets pretty hot and humid, you could be at risk for heat exhaustion if you're not careful. Heat exhaustion can happen after exposure to high temps, which can make you sweat profusely and cause your body to overheat. You're at risk if you are working out in the sun, or in a poorly ventilated hot and humid room.

Here are the symptoms of heat exhaustion:

cold, clammy skin
dilated pupils
excessive sweating
dizziness, blurred vision, headache, or fainting
muscle cramps
weakness or fatigue
nausea or vomiting
signs of shock: rapid pulse, shallow breathing, unconsciousness

What should you do if you or someone you know is suffering from heat exhaustion? To find out

Get out of the sun and heat immediately.
Drink lots of water.
Remove excess clothing and loosen anything that is too tight around the neck or waist.
Take a cool shower or bath, or find some air-conditioning.
Lie on your back with your feet elevated.
If the person you are with becomes unconscious, seek medical attention ASAP!

Fit's Tips: To prevent heat exhaustion in the first place, avoid staying outside in extreme temperatures for long periods of time. If you find yourself in the heat, drink tons of cool water and go swimming to keep your body temperature from getting too high. If you love exercising outside in the summer, try working out early in the morning or later in the evening when the air is cooler. Source

Symptom	Cold	Flu	Swine Flu
Stuffy nose	Common	Sometimes	Common
Sore throat	Common	Sometimes	Common
Sneezing	Common	Uncommon	Uncommon
Cough	Mild to moderate, hacking, productive	Common and unproductive, painful chest	Common
Headaches	Occasionally	Common, often severe	Common
Body aches	Slight	Common, often severe	Common
Fever	Rare	Common, lasting 3 to 4 days	Common, but sometimes absent
Fatigue	Mild	Common, can be severe	Common, can be severe
Chills	Uncommon	Fairly common	Common
Vomiting	No	No	Common
Diarrhea	No	No	Common
Time frame of symptoms	Gradually appear	Come on suddenly (3 to 6 hours)	Come on rapidly