Latest news with #flu
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
How much water should I drink in hot weather?
Let's face it: not many of us drink enough water. We've all experienced feeling faint and dehydrated after opting for fizzy drinks or sugary teas instead. Staying hydrated is essential for your body to function properly, especially in the UK's summer heatwave, as the rising temperatures mean we're more likely to feel groggy. It's also important to drink plenty of water in the winter months, when cold and flu symptoms are more common. Water can help to clear out toxins, clear up skin and boost energy levels, according to studies. But how much do you actually need to drink to feel the benefits? Here's what the experts say. The NHS recommends drinking six to eight glasses of fluid per day – or about 1.2 litres – to stay hydrated on an average day. As well as water, this includes: Sugar-free tea and coffee Lower-fat milk Fruit juice and smoothies (no more than 150ml a day) On a warm day, however, you'll need to drink more water to replace the liquid you'll lose through sweat. Dehydration is one of the biggest health issues caused by a heatwave, as well as overheating, heat exhaustion and heatstrokes. Every person's body is different, so the exact amount you need may depend on factors such as your health, age, size and weight. It's equally important to stay hydrated during winter, as water can help boost your immune system during flu and cold season, helping you to fight off these viruses, and also give you a much-needed energy boost if you're feeling run-down. It seems like a lot to drink in a day, but a slight change in diet can reduce the amount you need to consume. Try eating foods with a high water content, such as watermelon, cucumber and courgette, to contribute to your fluid intake. Cut back on salty foods such as bacon and cheese, as they will cause your body to use up fluids to dilute the sodium consumed. It's possible – but rare – to over-hydrate if you drink too much water in a short period of time. This can lead to a condition called hyponatremia – sometimes known as 'water intoxication' – if your blood's sodium content becomes diluted. The symptoms include disorientation, nausea and vomiting, and cases are most common among endurance athletes. As a rule of thumb, you should only drink water when you are thirsty, and not drink so much that you feel bloated or put on weight.
Health Line
7 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
Cold and Flu Home Remedies
There is no cure for a cold or the flu, but a bowl of chicken soup or a cup of hot ginger tea with honey can help manage the symptoms. Some home remedies, such as vitamin C, may slightly reduce the length of time you are sick. Body aches, fever, chills, and nasal congestion can make you feel miserable. While home remedies can't cure a cold or the flu, they can help relieve symptoms — such as body aches, fever, chills, nasal congestion — during your recovery. But, if symptoms don't improve or you have trouble breathing, rapid heartbeat, faintness, or any severe symptoms, it's best to seek medical help. Here, find out what cold and flu remedies you can try at home. 1. Chicken soup There is no scientific proof that chicken soup can cure a cold or flu or speed up recovery, but its ingredients contain nutrients that support your immune system. It's also a comforting food that provides hydration and may help you feel better overall. There is also some evidence that the nutrients in chicken soup may slow the movement of neutrophils in your body. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that helps protect your body from infection. When they're moving slowly, they stay more concentrated in the areas of your body that most need them. This may contribute to healing. Try this recipe for chicken soup. You'll need chicken, carrots, celery, and an onion. Alternatively, consider bone broth, which may also have health benefits. If you're using canned soup, opt for low sodium soup varieties. 4. Garlic Garlic contains the compound allicin, which has antimicrobial and possibly antiviral properties. Adding garlic to your diet might reduce the severity of cold symptoms. According to some research, it might even help you avoid getting sick in the first place. More research is needed into the potential cold-fighting benefits of garlic, but adding more garlic to your diet probably won't hurt. Can you eat raw garlic? 5. Echinacea Native Americans have long used the herb and root of the echinacea plant for medicinal purposes. Its active ingredients include flavonoids, chemicals that have many therapeutic effects on the body. For example, flavonoids can boost your immune system and reduce inflammation. Evidence indicates echinacea may help prevent a cold but is unlikely to shorten it. One 2020 study suggests that taking echinacea may help treat common cold symptoms in children. 6. Vitamin C Vitamin C is an antioxidant that plays many important roles in your body, including supporting the immune system. Good dietary sources of vitamin C include: citrus fruits red peppers green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli Adding fresh lemon juice to hot tea with honey may reduce phlegm when you're sick. Drinking hot or cold lemonade may also help. Vitamin C in the diet or as supplements is unlikely to prevent a cold, but some evidence suggests it may improve symptoms and may slightly shorten the time a cold lasts. Can vitamin C prevent or cure a cold? 7. Probiotics Probiotics are 'friendly' bacteria and yeast that are present in your body, some foods, and supplements. They can help keep your gut and immune system healthy and may reduce your chance of getting sick with an upper respiratory infection, as well as how long the infection lasts. However, more studies are needed. Probiotic yogurt may benefit your immune system as well as providing protein and calcium. Look for products that list live bacteria on the label. 8. Salt water gargle Gargling with salt water may help prevent upper respiratory infections. It may also decrease the severity of cold symptoms, for instance, by easing sore throat pain and nasal congestion. A saltwater gargle can reduce and loosen mucus, which contains bacteria and allergens. To try this remedy at home: Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in a full glass of water. Swish it around your mouth and throat. Spit it out. What other uses are there for a saltwater gargle? 9. Saline nasal irrigation Using a saline spray or a neti pot may help relieve nasal congestion with a cold, and it might help with some symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection. However, be sure to use only distilled, sterile, or previously boiled and cooled water and to wash a neti pot thoroughly between uses. Not doing so could introduce microbes that could lead to potentially serious infections. 10. Topical ointments Ointments containing camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol, such as VapoRub, may reduce a nighttime cough. One or two dabs before bed can help open air passages and help improve: congestion sleep coughing Use it up to 3 times in every 24 hours. VapoRub is not suitable for children under 2 years, and ask your doctor before using it on older children. 11. Essential oils Some essential oils can help manage the symptoms of a cold, flu, and other respiratory conditions. This is due to their microbial, pain-relieving, or anti-inflammatory properties. Examples include: eucalyptus peppermint (menthol) Frankincense thyme tea tree Use a diffuser or add a few drops of essential oil to a warm bath. How can essential oils help when you have the flu? While research suggests there are health benefits, the FDA doesn't monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils. It's important to talk with a healthcare professional before you begin using essential oils and be sure to research the quality of a brand's products. Always do a patch test before trying a new essential oil. 12. Humidity Increased humidity may help reduce dryness and inflammation in the nose and throat. A humidifier in your bedroom or elsewhere in your home may help you feel more comfortable. Adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil might also help relieve congestion. For the same effect without a humidifier, take a long shower or linger in a steamy bathroom. Remember, the water used in humidifiers needs to be changed daily to stop mold and other fungi from growing. Also, when it comes to children, it is safer to use a cool-mist humidifier. 13. Elderberry Some studies suggest that elderberry supplements may help relieve the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections and flu. However, more research is needed. 14. Warm baths Sometimes, you can reduce a child's fever by giving them a warm — but not hot — sponge bath. Warm baths may also help reduce cold and flu symptoms in adults. Can you treat a cold with a detox bath? 15. Boost your immune system Boosting your immune system probably won't help if you already have the flu, but it can protect you from other bouts and more severe symptoms in the long term. Tips include: getting at least 7 hours of sleep at night following a varied and nutritious diet getting regular exercise follow guidelines for flu vaccinations Optum Perks is owned by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.
CBS News
11-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Frisco mom survives stroke thanks to quick action and advanced care
Time is the number one commodity in the Reid-Keen household. Life can be hectic, as you might expect for a family of five. "I worried about getting the kids to their activities on time and making sure everyone had dinner—and making sure I wasn't late to pick the kids up," said Catherine Keen. "We're running around taking kids every which way—soccer, baseball, dance," said Ryan Reid, Catherine's husband. "We were both working full time." Flu slows family down Reid-Keen household But the family was forced to slow down when everyone came down with the flu during Christmas break at the end of last year. "It just hit us all hard, and it took us a while to recover," said Keen. "It took me longer to recover." Stroke strikes without warning By early January, the 43-year-old mom of three was finally starting to feel like herself again. She decided to take a little time for herself and sneak in an early morning workout while the house was still quiet. "My daughter was down the street at Grandma's, and Catherine was going to work out," said Reid. "I was going to take the boys and go have some dude time." But that plan quickly changed. Before her workout even began, Keen knew something was wrong. "I immediately felt dizzy, and I laid down on the floor," she said. Son finds mom unresponsive Just minutes later, her sons came downstairs and found her. "I said, 'Mom, are you OK?' and 'What are you doing down there?'" said Nicholas Reid, Catherine's son. "She didn't respond to either question, so I'm like, 'This isn't funny. Stop.'" Keen couldn't respond. She had just suffered a massive stroke. The clock was ticking. Fast response saves life When Reid got downstairs and saw that she still couldn't respond, he called 911. The Frisco Fire Department arrived within 10 minutes. "They recognized it immediately," said Reid. "They said, 'We think she's having a stroke, and Plano Presby is the best place to go.' I said, 'I'll race you there.'" Top stroke center in Texas Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano is one of fewer than 50 comprehensive stroke centers in the state. "She had a devastating stroke," said Dr. James Tatum, an interventional neuroradiologist at Texas Health Plano. "She had no speech. She couldn't talk. She was completely paralyzed on the right side of her body." Advanced stroke treatment used Tatum specializes in treating stroke patients using advanced techniques. "We're able to advance a catheter through the blood vessels to the region of the clot and extract it with suction, essentially reestablishing blood flow," he said. Recovery begins within days That life-saving technology, combined with the fast actions of everyone involved, is why Keen was discharged from the hospital after just a few days—and has since made a nearly full recovery. "If it had been 30 minutes sooner, we would have been asleep. If it had been 30 minutes later, the boys and I would have been gone," said Reid. "With a stroke, every minute counts." Stroke warning for others That's what Keen wants others to know: if you see signs of a stroke, don't wait—call 911. "I was so fortunate because my son found me in less than 15 minutes from when I went down," said Keen. "So I'm definitely a survivor. I'm so lucky." Family grateful for recovery "Lucky" doesn't begin to describe how her family feels. "I'm just grateful—grateful that I can get back to worrying about silly stuff like the grocery list or cleaning the pool, and not when her next appointment is," said Reid.
The Irish Sun
11-06-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Bird flu outbreak spreads to farm in new UK region as chickens set to be culled & study finds chilling virus feature
BIRD flu has been detected in an English farm, it's been announced. A case of the H5N1 bird flu was found in poultry in West Yorkshire. 3 A protection zone has been set up around the site Credit: Getty 3 The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled." A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone has been declared around the site near Ravensthorpe, Kirklees. It comes after a new animal study from the US Centres for Disease Control found that bird flu is capable of spreading through the air. In January, The government said all poultry on the infected site, in East Yorkshire, was humanely culled after a strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus was detected. It was the 16th outbreak of the HPAI H5N1 strain in kept birds in 2024, according to the Nation Farmers Union (NFU) In December, the Bird flu, or avian influenza, has killed millions of birds worldwide. Most read in Health The highly contagious bug is now spreading to mammals, raising fears it could trigger another pandemic through potential human-to-human transmission. In December, an animal sanctuary in Shelton, Washington, announced that twenty exotic cats, including a Bengal tiger, four cougars, a lynx and four bobcats, have died after contracting bird flu. What you need to know about Avian Influenza or Bird Flu So far, there is no evidence that H5N1 can spread between humans. But this increase in transmission gives the virus lots of opportunities to mutate - a process where a pathogen changes and can become more dangerous. Experts Scientists at Scripps Research in San Diego tested various genetic mutations on virus material from infected cattle. Bird flu: Could it be the next human pandemic? By Isabel Shaw, Health Reporter The H5N1 bird flu is running rampant in wildlife around the world and is now spreading in cows. In recent months, it infected people in Canada and the US leaving them severely unwell. This increase in transmission has given the virus lots of opportunities to mutate - a process where a pathogen changes and can become more dangerous. Scientists fear it's only a matter of time before one of these mutations makes it better at spreading among mammals - and Experts recently discovered that H5N1 is already just one mutation away from developing the ability to transmit person-to-person communication. So far, there is no evidence that H5N1 can spread between humans. But in the hundreds of cases where humans have been infected through contact with animals over the past 20 years, the mortality rate is high. From 2003 to 2024, 889 cases and 463 deaths caused by H5N1 have been reported worldwide from 23 countries, according to the World Health Organisation. This puts the case fatality rate at 52 per cent. Leading scientists have already warned an The prospect of a flu pandemic is alarming. Although scientists have pointed out that vaccines against many strains, They found that the Q226L mutation enhanced the virus's ability to attach to human-like cell receptors, giving bird flu the potential to behave like other human flu viruses. A recent case of bird flu suggests the virus might have already mutated to better spread among humans. The case, spotted this month in a hospitalised Louisiana man, is the first "severe" bird flu case in the US, amid its rapid spread through cows this year. Tests show the case involved a mutated version of H5N1 that helps it bind to human upper respiratory cells. This could make it easier to spread between people through coughing or sneezing, raising concerns the virus is adapting to infect humans more effectively. Bird flu viruses do not typically bind to a cell receptor in human upper airways, which helps explain why H5N1 rarely infects people or spreads between them. Bird flu is spread by close contact with an affected bird. This includes touching or petting an infected bird, touching droppings or bedding, or killing or preparing infected poultry for cooking. Read more on the Irish Sun However, bird flu cannot be caught through eating fully cooked poultry or eggs, even in areas with an outbreak of bird flu. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the human risk remains low, but urges countries to share information quickly for monitoring and preparedness as the virus spreads. 3 So far, there is no evidence that H5N1 can spread between humans Credit: Getty
News24
09-06-2025
- Health
- News24
SAMA urges caution as flu cases surge and new COVID-19 variant emerges
With flu season in full swing, health professionals are advising South Africans to be more cautious due to an increase in flu cases and the appearance of NB. 1.8.1. NB 1.8.1 is an unusual Covid-19 Omicron subvariant that is spreading rapidly in numerous countries. Speaking in an interview with Newzroom Afrika about the matter, Dr Vusumuzi Mzukwa, chairperson of the South African Medical Association (SAMA), clarified that although there's yet no official call to reinstate masks, precautions are still crucial. 'We have not yet made a call for wearing of masks but what we are doing is cautioning South African's that there's a new variant,' he said. Furthermore, Mzukwa added that the virus still exists in endemic form even if it is no longer dominant. 'It is in existence, but in very low numbers.' According to Mzukwa the World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated NB. 1.8.1 as a variant currently under observation globally as variants continue to evolve. 'We're looking at its spread, its severity, but it's early days. There's nothing to worry about at the moment,' he clarified. Read more | Presiding judge at Senzo Meyiwa's murder trial causes uproar after racial remarks spark controversy He described the common symptoms of contemporary infections as follows: 'You get a sore throat, headaches, fatigue, muscle pains. Some gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhoea and vomiting.' Read more | Brace yourself | South African Weather Services issues warning on cold front this weekend He concluded by reminding the public that masks are not just for COVID but for precautionary measures of infectious flu. 'Masks were not only meant for COVID. They were also meant for the flu, if you've got flu symptoms, you protect other people in the workplace and the community.'
