What to do About Flu

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What To Do About Flu

Each winter, millions of people suffer from the "flu." For most
people, the best treatment is a few days of bed rest, aspirin for fever,
and plenty of water, fruit juice, soft drinks, and other liquids.

Flu-the short name for influenza-is a viral infection of the nose,
throat, and lungs. It is usually a mild disease in healthy children,
young adults, and middle-age people. However, flu can be life-
threatening in older people and in people of any age who have chronic
illnesses such as heart disease, emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, kidney
disease, or diabetes.

When you have the flu your body's ability to fight off other
infections is lowered and other more serious infections can occur,
especially pneumonia. It is very important for older people to prevent
flu, because treating it can be harder as people age. You can prevent
flu with a shot. People age 50 and older need to get a flu shot every
year.

It is easy to confuse a common cold with the flu. But, a cold
usually does not cause a fever-the flu does. Also, a cold causes a
stuffy nose more often than flu does. Overall, cold symptoms are milder
and don't last as long as the flu.

People used to think the flu was caused by the "influence of the
stars and planets." In the 1500's, the Italians called the disease
"influenza," their word for influence.

Flu symptoms can differ from person to person. Some people have no
obvious symptoms. Often, however, people with the flu feel weak,
develop a cough, a headache, and a sudden rise in temperature. The fever
can last from 1 to 6 days. Other symptoms include aching muscles,
chills, and red, watery eyes.

The flu is rarely fatal. But while your body is busy fighting off
the flu, you may be less able to resist a second infection. Older people
and people with chro...