Some Timely Q & A
Tis the season – coughs, colds, flu. If you haven’t been brought low by one of the many bugs out there, consider yourself lucky. But for many of us, that’s not the case, and we’ve found ourselves in need of help and relief, and in search for answers to some interesting and important questions.
“What? I’ve got the flu, and you want to start me on Tamiflu? I’m two and a half months pregnant and I’ve heard that stuff is dangerous. What else can I take for it?”
This is one of those “important” questions, since it effects both mother and child and is the source of considerable confusion and concern. The complications of the flu can be disastrous, especially for those of us with other medical problems—asthma, heart disease, diabetes. With some women, being pregnant can place you in that category. If we can diagnose the flu early enough (most experts think within the first 24-36 hours of symptom onset), we can shorten the course of the infection by starting Tamiflu. Beyond that, we need to consider symptom relief and observing for development of complications, such as pneumonia. But back to the pregnancy issue. It’s long been felt that this medication is safe for mother and child, and a recent and “largest-to-date” study supports this position. The commonly used anti-flu medications have been shown to not increase the risk of stillbirth, congenital malformations, preterm birth, or low birth weight. In fact, there’s a trend for a healthier birth weight in women who have taken this medication. So Tamiflu (and Relenza) are safe and effective for the treatment of the flu in appropriate individuals, even those who are pregnant.
“Doc, this is my third cold of the winter, and I’m getting sick of it. Hey, see what I did there? Anyway, I have a friend at work who hasn’t had a sniffle in months, and claims it’s due to taking zinc every day. What gives with that? And is it something I should be doing?”
This is something I was skeptical about for a long time. Could zinc possible reduce the incidence of colds and other viral infections? Turns out that it does, and there’s good evidence that supports this fact. It’s not an over-night cure, but something to consider taking at the first sign of symptoms. What may make more sense is to take zinc on a daily basis. It’s cheap, has almost no side effects (at a dose of 25-30 mgs), and in addition to lessening the severity and length of a cold, has also been shown to reduce the incidence of adult-onset diabetes, improve cholesterol levels, and lower serum markers of inflammation. Worth looking into.
“My grandma takes probiotics every day and claims it makes her feel better, helps her colon, and prevents colds and flu. Is she right? And should I start taking one?”
Glad to hear about your grandma’s colon. She’s right about that, and about the positive effects of taking probiotics on a regular basis. Most of these center around improving conditions such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel, and improving normal digestion in general (including the absorption of vitamin B12). But many of the claims regarding the benefits of probiotics have yet to be proven, and we’ll have to wait and see how all that turns out. Some seem a little farfetched and unlikely to be valid. Preventing colds and the flu fall into this category. As proof of that, a recent study published in the Annals of Family Medicine found no benefit from taking a probiotic and reducing your risk of getting the flu. So grandma’s wrong about that one. Tell her to take some zinc.
And cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and wash your hands!
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