It’s the prime time for the common cold and the seasonal flu to hit. People are staying inside more, getting outside into the fresh air less often, and attending indoor gatherings over the holidays. What do you really know about these viral diseases? Do you still believe these common misconceptions?
Going Outside in the Cold Air Gives You a Cold.
It’s called a cold, so it’s logical to think a cold is caused by the cold. It’s not, however. Being in the cold air has no bearing on whether or not you get a cold. Rhinoviruses, the medical term for a cold, can survive on a surface for up to 48 hours.
If someone with a cold touches your jacket sleeve, shopping cart handle, doorknob, or even a product on a store shelf, those germs remain active for two days. If you touch where the live germs are and then touch your nose and mouth before washing your hands, you can get that person’s cold.
You’re Not Contagious Once the Fever Associated With the Flu Ends.
You’re feeling lousy, but your fever broke. That means you’re healing, so it’s okay to go out with others. After a fever goes away, the virus is still present. It can take two or three days for the germs that caused the virus to die off. The CDC actually recommends staying away from others for five to seven days, even if the fever went away long before that.
Keeping Your Distance From Others Will Keep You Healthy.
One thing that’s rather surprising is how far germs can travel. In the article Airflow Dynamics of Human Jets, researchers found that just through normal respiration, germs could travel up 4.5 feet per second. With a sneeze, the germs traveled up to 14.91 feet per second.
Flu Season Started so It’s Too Late for the Vaccine.
Even if flu season has started, it’s never too late to get vaccinated. Even if you think you’ve had the flu, you might not have had every strain currently in the flu shot. It’s worth getting the vaccine. If your parent hasn’t had it, it’s very important. Seniors are at a higher risk of developing flu-related complications such as pneumonia.
If your parents get the flu or a cold, make sure they have what they need and that includes help. They may sleep more, which is a great way to allow the body to fight the viral infection. They may need help doing laundry and making meals they can tolerate while sick.
An elder care professional can help. Caregivers can cook meals, help with housework, and do the laundry. Call an us today to learn more.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring elder care in Rahway, NJ, call the caring staff at Helping Hands Home Care today at 908-418-4299. Providing Home Care Services in all of Northern and Central NJ, including Clark, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Rahway, Linden, Summit, Edison, Elizabeth, Mountainside and the surrounding areas.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0059970
After graduating from Seton Hall University with a BS in finance Helping Hands Homecare’s Owner / President, Robert D’Arienzo, went to work on Wall St. for six years. However, after Robert’s grandmother became ill with stomach cancer Robert and his family needed to find assistance in the home for her. After many trials and tribulations Robert could see that there was a great need for quality home care services here in NJ and loved the idea of being able to assist other families who were going through what his family went through with his beloved grandmother.
Thus, Robert had found his passion. After almost a year of preparation Robert opened Helping Hands Homecare in 2003. Robert wanted Helping Hands Homecare to focus on providing the highest quality of caregivers, exceptional customer service, and providing a service that familys could depend on in their time of need. Since then Helping Hands has assisted hundreds of individuals with the simplest of needs to more complex cases while preserving those standards set out many years ago.
Robert is a Google Verified Author
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