Protection colds, flu

[Swizzly]

Hello, how do you protect yourself against colds, coughs and flu? I currently have a sore throat, am at 6.9 pred

[Kendrew]

Hi Swizzly,

Others with more knowledge will be along, but firstly, I'd say its a good idea to have the flu vaccination each autumn to help prevent against contracting flu!

As far as general cold & throat viruses are concerned, there's probably not a lot you can do to stop yourself catching them from others, but I personally have a few strategies I put in place to minimise the potential for this happening:-

- I'll try and stay clear of friends or family for a few days if I know they've a sore throat, cough or cold.

- I eat a healthy diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables to help support my immune system.

- I take a daily Vit.D supplement to help support my immune system

- I don't take myself into crowded areas, particularly where the space is likely to be confined.

- I allow for some sensible ventilation in my home, so I always keep a small window open so the air can circulate better.

If I do catch a cold type virus, then:-

- I take paracetamol every 4hrs to help keep any temperature down and ease discomfort from symptoms.

- maybe a simple steam inhalation to ease a blocked nose if required.

- Keep myself well hydrated with lots of clear fluids.

- Rest, rest, rest.

I wouldn't normally take extra prednisolone whilst unwell with a cold type virus, but we're all individuals and that would be a decision only you could make yourself, after careful consideration.

Hope that's helped a bit.

[Swizzly in reply to Kendrew]

Dear Kendrew

Many thanks for the helpful tips. For example, I didn't realise that echinacea is contraindicated.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Can't say I have ever needed to worry about it - I still get the same single humdinger once a year or less that I had before pred and it isn't any worse! And I'm on both pred and Actemra as immunosuppressants. I wouldn't dream of not having my flu and Covid jabs but no supplements or the like, waste of money, better spent on a high quality and healthy diet. NO UPFs - well, the odd high quality icecream, or a piece of chocolate

And to be honest - if I were worried about picking something up, I would just go back to wearing an FFP2 mask when out and about, I live alone so not going to get infected there. After all, at this time of year most people are wearing scarves - or are the Swiss hardier than the northern Italians? - so you can camouflage the mask if you feel too obvious. It's hovering around freezing here - masks have multiple benefits. And there is some evidence that keeping your nose warm improves the job it can do in filtering viruses in the air you breathe! Vasoconstriction in the cold reduces efficiency.

You are taking pred to suppress your immune system to some extent - echinacea claims to stimulate it - what's the point?

[Swizzly in reply to PMRpro]

Your answers are always reassuring and enriching. Thank you PMRpro.

Wearing a mask in a crowd sounds good. I don't think the Swiss are any more resilient than the northern Italians.

[Karenjaninaz]

Handwashibg or alcohol gel. Avoiding crowds and other sickies..

[Swizzly in reply to Karenjaninaz]

👍

[Miserere]

Once you have the dreaded lurgi then I use 3 drops of iodine in a salt pipe and inhale regularly as well as all the things that Kendrew sensibly puts into place.

[Swizzly in reply to Miserere]

Danke🌸