Category: Colds/Flu

Reduced Vitamin D Levels and Flu Outbreaks

winter sunDiminished vitamin D levels may be linked to the spread of the flu. Research found that nonpandemic influenzas occur primarily in temperate regions and in winter when the skin’s vitamin D formation due to sun exposure is low. Influenza seasonality is seldom observed in tropical regions.

Although an initial pandemic can start in any season, secondary waves often occur in autumn or winter, and can be more serious. The increased lethality of secondary winter waves can also be explained by decreased vitamin D levels.

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Probiotics Prevent Coughs in Infants

infant
Image courtesy of NIH.gov

Kids get colds.  It’s just part of life, but it’s best to keep babies from experiencing their first cough or cold for as long as possible.

New research out of Finland shows that babies under eight months are a third less likely to develop respiratory illnesses if they are given daily probiotic supplements.

In the study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, 65% infants who received daily Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 developed respiratory illnesses.  This is compared to the 94% of children who did not receive the supplements developed respiratory illness.

Source: Nutraingredients

Other reports find that the chances of developing a cold decrease for adults who take probiotics too. 

Vitamin D Helps Boost Immunity to Colds

A new study reinforces the role that Vitamin D plays in preventing colds and other respiratory tract infections.

Researchers using data from 18,883 participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that Vitamin D could boost immunity to colds, even after adjusting for demographic and clinical factors such as season, body mass index, and smoking history.  The study, published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine reinforces the importance of Vitamin D in avoiding upper respiratory tract infections.

Vitamin D is produced by the body when exposed to direct sunlight.   It is crucial for people with limited sun exposure (such as during winter months) to include Vitamin D in their diet.  Good sources of Vitamin D include fatty fish, fish liver oils, and eggs.

SOURCE;  Association Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Ginde, et al, Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(4):384-390.

Stop the Spread of Germs in School to Limit Colds and Flu

Now that children are headed back to school, it’s time to brush up on the best ways to avoid seasonal flu and other illness.

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published information on its web site to help parents keep their children healthy.

First, the facts:

  • Approximately 1/5 of the U.S. population attends or works in schools. (U.S. Dept of Ed, 1999).
  • Some viruses and bacteria can live from 20 minutes up to 2 hours or more on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. (Ansari, 1988; Scott and Bloomfield, 1989)
  • Nearly 22 million school days are lost annually due to the common cold alone. (CDC, 1996)

Illnesses like colds and flu are generally spread from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes.  This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air and land on the mouth or nose of people nearby.  Sometimes germs can be spread when a person touches another person’s respiratory droplets on a surface such as a desk and then touches his or her own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

The CDC urges parents to teach children the following common sense rules:

Avoid close contact
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

Stay home when you are sick
Stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick to help prevent others from catching your illness.

Cover your mouth and nose
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and then throw the tissue away.  If you don’t have a tissue, cover your cough or sneeze and then clean your hands each time you cough or sneeze.

Clean your hands
Wash your hands with soap and warm water for 15 to 20 seconds. That’s about the same time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.  When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Practice other good health habits
Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food

The CDC website also provides recommendations for who should get the flu vaccine.

SOURCE:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/