COVID-19 Precautions to Reduce Risk of Transmission and Illness

There are well-known basic protective measures to prevent spread of viral illnesses like COVID-19 including washing hands frequently, stay home, avoid touching your face, maintain social distancing, cleaning surfaces routinely , wear a mask , etc. However, there are also some interesting reports of other interventions that may provide further protection that one may not know about. 1) Published back in 2004, researchers noted that daily saline nasal spray  (plain old saltwater) use appears…

3/19/2020 0

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"The Flu" vs "H. Flu" (Hint, they are not the same thing)

Electon microcope image of the influenza virus. Image from Wikipedia . Prior to 1933, the flu was thought to be caused by the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae and not a virus. Since 1933, we now know that the flu is actually caused by the influenza virus (types A, B, and C). However, there is much confusion among patients and even healthcare professionals who still erroneously consider Haemophilus influenzae and the flu or influenza to all be the same thing... they absolutely are not! …

10/13/2019 0

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Does Mouth-Breathing Decrease Risk of Viral Infections?

Image by Magnus Mertens in Wikipedia The New York Times published an article looking into this very question on Nov 11, 2016. However, the provided answer ("possibly") was incomplete. In essence, the question of whether mouth-breathing decreases risk of viral infections is based on the idea that contagious viruses spread via the nose by inhaling coughed/sneezed out water droplets infected with viral contagions. Unfortunately, such viruses can also be spread if such droplets …

11/16/2016 0

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Dyson Humidifier - Best Humidifier on the Market?

Hot steam showers are often helpful in alleviating symptoms of  upper respiratory infection  with  cough . It can ease the  nasal congestion  and calm the coughing down. Due to these beneficial effects and the fact that dry airways can make a cough worse, a humidifier is a helpful device to have in a room. Humidifier use when the air is dry during the winter can also help prevent upper respiratory infections from happening as well as minimize nosebleeds . Keep in mind that although humidi…

10/10/2015 0

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At-Home Influenza (Flu) Testing

There are kits that can be purchased inexpensively over-the-counter to test for strep and mono . You can also add influenza (aka "the flu") to the do-it-yourself list, but unfortunately, this test kit is expensive at several hundred dollars on Amazon to perform 10-20 tests or about $20 per test. Taking about 15 minutes to perform, these flu test kits are designed to detect Influenza A (including H1N1 virus) as well as the Influenza B virus antigens in nasopharyngeal specimens …

1/24/2015 0

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Elderberry Juice Helps Reduce the Severity and Duration of Viral URI (Flu and Cold)

Image by Lefterov in Wikipedia There has been more research being produced that suggests that Elderberry Juice may help reduce the severity and duration of viral upper respiratory illnesses including the common cold and the flu. However, in order for its beneficial effects to be maximally achieved, it needs to be taken within 24-48 hours of symptom onset. The suggested dosage for adults is 1 tablespoon 4x per day for 3-5 days. For children, the dosage is 1 tablespoon 2x per day for 3 d…

1/08/2015 0

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