Uncovering the Common Cold

With Summer going strong, the word "cold" may not be what you expected to see this month...Did you know that getting a cold is actually quite common, even in warm weather? Whether they hit you in Winter or Summer, colds are such an exhausting fact of life that we can't help but wonder: why haven't they come up with a cure?

Well, the most common answer is that there is no cure available, but the reality is that what we term a "cold" may refer to any one of hundreds of different varieties of disease. Some are contagious viruses, some are infections and some are influenza (the flu).

Since it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the source, here are some helpful tips for you...

What DOES NOT cause a cold:

Being cold--no proof that winter or cold or rain makes us more susceptible to getting a cold.

What MAY cause a cold:

Lack of sleep. In many tests it has been shown that those with less than 7 hours of sleep were more likely to catch a cold.

Lack of Vitamin D. There have been studies that show that colds can be associated with low levels of Vitamin D.

What TREATMENT WORKS:

Well, none actually.

There are plenty of drugs and cures that aim to make you feel better but these medicines treat your symptoms to make them less noticeable.

There is no known medicine that can reduce the length of an infection.

Antibiotics have no effect on a common cold.

The best thing to do is to wash your hands frequently and to avoid those who knowingly have a cold. The virus often comes in through your nose and eyes, so avoid touching your face as much as possible.

All of us here at Sav-on Insurance Agencies wish you and your family continued health.

Swine Flu

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention: "Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A Influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people."

Symptoms include many of the same common flu symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some have reported diarrhea and vomiting. In past cases, pneumonia, respiratory failure, and death has been reported with swine flu infection in people. And the CDC adds, "like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions."

The flu is spread just like the common human flu-- by coughing, sneezing, or touching something that has been infected with the such as a doorknob or keyboard. The virus can live up to 2 hours on these types of objects. And startling enough, the Swine Flu can be passed along person-to-person a day before symptoms develop and 7 days after.

It's important to know, that the symptoms can range from mild to severe. Your best method of protection is washing your hands often. Keep in mind, you can not contract Swine Flu from eating or preparing pork or pork products.

As of this moment, New York is leading with 28 cases reported. You can find up-to-the-minute information on cases reported by clicking here.