Doctor Ranj Singh, a regular guest on BBC’s Morning Live, has issued an important warning, advising against rushing to purchase certain medications for flu symptoms. Discussing the virus, the hosts highlighted data from NHS England, revealing that nearly 5,000 people are being hospitalized with flu each day.
As a doctor and author, Dr Ranj explained that winter is a peak season for illness, noting that there are three primary strains of the virus to be aware of. He stated: “When we talk about flu, we’re referring to the influenza virus.
“There’s four main strains. A and B are the ones that cause the main problems in humans. A is the one that circulates annually and causes the majority of illness. B does it as well, but usually less of it. C tends to be milder and affect kids and D mainly affects cattle so it’s not really relevant.”
Is cough medication good for the flu or a sore throat?
If you have a sore throat, try having a drink and don’t buy cough medication, as you don’t need it. He says: “Warm liquids will help soothe your throat if you’re coughing.
“It will keep your mucus nice and thin because that will hydrate you. Honey and lemon is really good, most people will reach for cough mixture but you don’t actually need it” adding that “we [doctors] don’t really recommend anymore.”
He later explains further in the segment: “They don’t contain the cough suppressants that they used to, particularly in children because coughing is a way to clear your lungs.”
What are the symptoms of flu?
Symptoms of the flu can include:
- A sudden high body temperature
- And aching body
- Feeling exhausted
- A dry cough or sore throat
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling and being sick
- A headache
What are the risk factors to getting severe flu symptoms?
Dr Ranj notes that if you are one of the following people, your risk of developing more severe symptoms rises compared to those not listed. He cautions: “Those people really need to take extra care.”
- If you’re under the age of five
- If you’re over the age of 65
- If you’re pregnant
-
If you’ve got on underlying health conditions
According to UKHSA data (UK Health Security Agency), the doctor says “the people most likely to test positive for flu are the 5 to 14-year-olds but the most likely to end up in hospital are those of the age of 85.”
Why is flu worse at winter?
The doctor explains that there is a theory that because “the virus is coated in a lipid layer, which hardens in the cold, it can survive outside the body, in the air and on surfaces for longer – therefore that makes it more transmittable.
“Also during the cold months we tend to spend more time indoors and we tend to be in closer quarters with each other. That is a perfect situation for a spread of a virus, particularly if it spreads through droplets like flu does.”
Explaining why we ted to feel worse during the latter half of the year, he says: “The cold also has an effect in our immune system. If you’re cold for a very long time it actually dampens your immune system down. During these darker months, you’re less likely to get vitamin D and that has an impact on our immune system function.”
In his final reasoning, he notes that “breathing and cold air causes the blood vessels in your nasal passages to constrict and there’s a theory that because of this, you get less blood flow to these areas that the virus is hitting first and therefore immune cells may not be getting there quickly enough and therefore could take hold more quickly.”
Can I prevent the flu?
When it comes to preventing the flu, he says that vaccination can help but there are also other options, in addition to the vaccine. “It is possible to get the flu if you’re vaccinated”, he says. “But the hope is because your immune system has been primed, you are less likely to get it and it’s going to be less severe.
“But the other thing to remember is that vaccines do not give you full blown flu in people have got a normal immune system, which is the majority of people in this country, and around the world.”
You should try:
- Having a good diet with lots of nutrients
- Exercise more
- Sleep well
- Have good hygiene
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin C
- Zinc
- Rest
- Keep warm
- Stay hydrated