Last week was an incredibly challenging
one for many of my healthcare colleagues. The demand for healthcare has ramped
up exponentially over the past week. So, it is no consolation that, last week,
it appears I was sadly right to highlight the growing population health problem
that is this year’s flu epidemic. Once again, can I urge everyone to both get
their flu vaccination and think seriously about wearing a mask when in an
enclosed public place.
Although reminiscent of those difficult
Covid-19 days, wearing a mask makes sense when in public areas. At this time of
the year, in the UK, the daylight hours are shorter and we will undoubtedly be
spending more time indoors, having probably greater contact with others. The colder
weather makes for a perfect flu storm. As I mentioned in last week’s blog, this
year we seem to have a mutant super-flu variant. It’s horrible, and not to be
underestimated.
That said, folk do seem to be
waking up to the fact that they might come down with the flu; although this
heightened awareness doesn’t surprisingly, as yet, seem to have resulted in a greater
flu vaccine uptake. However, I was amused (meaning concerned in this context)
to read that some supermarkets were putting their supplies of cold and flu
products, such as Lemsip and Sudafed, behind locked screens in an attempt to
prevent stockpiling. Again, reminiscent of those early pandemic days. At the same
time, I am a acutely aware that many of us continue to feel the impact of the cost-of-living
crisis, and these are expensive products to buy.
Wearing my nurse’s hat for a
moment (and before my Trolls protest, yes I know I’m no longer registered, but
once a nurse always a nurse), I think there are alternatives to consider.
Paracetamol, for example. It’s cheap to buy. Paracetamol helps to regulate
temperature, and is equally effective at reducing the aches and pains of flu. If
you can tolerate ibuprofen (and I can’t) this can work even better at reducing
both pain and fever. Jane swears by alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen, when
she is really poorly.
She follows the science. I, on
the other hand still like to dip into those folk remedies my parents believed
in. My Mother had Jewish ancestry and chicken soup was always a staple meal,
when any of the family were poorly. Whilst it is a wholesome meal, being a long
time vegetarian and holding the unofficial Guinness Book of Records for the world’s
greatest chicken collection, it is a meal I would never have.
Lemon contains vitamin C. There
is research that suggest taking vitamin C helps in reducing the length of time we
experience cold symptoms. That said, the same research suggests that to have
any efficacious impact, we would need to consume at least 200mg of vitamin C daily.
Most lemons contain just 30-50mg. So that is a lot of lemons to get through each
day! Honey is said to help reduce a tickly throat and how often we might cough.
I can’t really say anything more, other than the sweetness of honey is
soothing.
Whisky is said (mainly by me) to give rise to a warm and pleasant feeling when drunk. Does whisky have any medicinal effects? Sadly no. Actually, alcohol can disrupt our immune system by reducing the way in which white blood cells work – the latter being critical in combatting viruses.
It is the hot water in a hot toddy that really is the secret ingredient. When we are poorly with cold or flu-like symptoms, keeping hydrated is crucial. Hydration helps our bodies maintain a strong immune system. I guess the message is to stay hydrated, get plenty of rest, (work will still be there if you need to take time off) and eat healthily. Whilst staying off the alcohol is generally, or most likely probably, beneficial, having a whisky hot toddy once in a while isn’t a such a bad thing. Most importantly, get your flu vaccination
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