Blindsided by a bug!

Colds suck! For the past two weeks I have been plagued by cold symptoms – longer than usual from my experience. Not enough to lay me out but just enough to be draining. Not enough energy to cycle to work, no desire to go swimming at noon, and this during a glorious stretch of late summer weather that we all know will not last much longer! Now if it were the flu, I’d be fully engaged, knowing it could be rough for a few days but then it would be done with. There is a certain caché to having the flu. A cold seems like the poor distant relative. No class, just aggravating enough to let you know it is there.

There are drugs out there that do help with the symptoms. Otrivin is probably the most commonly stocked med in the war chest of people who scuba dive. Feeling a little congested? A few squirts to the nostrils and your dive is not jeopardized. (I don’t condone this but I have known people who use Otrivin while bobbing on the surface. A minute or so later they are able to equalize and submerge happily to resume their dive).

Cold and flu symptoms can be treated but, as sage advice has it: treat a cold with all the popular/medical remedies and it will last about a week; leave it untreated and it will last …about a week. My favorite remedy though is red wine. Hey, it can’t hurt!

I must admit that I’m part of the camp that feels over-hyped by the media about H1N1. Yes, it is interesting at times and some effective communication strategies have been put forward. The best might be this ad from the South Australian Government to promote getting flu shots (make sure your computer sound is on!):

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/09/swine-flu.html

I don’t know if this will convince people to get flu shots, but it should at least promote the ‘Dracula sneeze’ technique.

But too much media is not necessarily a good thing. Target audience fatigue eventually sets in. Former Vancouver Health Officer John Blatherwick was interviewed on CBC earlier this week and his advice, based on years of medical practice? Washing your hands is a great way to reduce the risk of contracting diseases, no question, but otherwise – get on with your life. Be positive. His belief is that people with a positive attitude fare better at combating illness. Now I’ll drink to that!