We're back with cone health doctor
Laura Murray and we are talking
all things COVID and flu and
cold and allergies all of that.
So let's kind of go back to last year.
How much did wearing masks and not
gathering as much help prevent
respiratory illnesses and flu?
Oh, it made a tremendous difference.
I mean, I think it really underscored
for us the importance of wearing
masks and social distancing and
washing our hands a lot and just how
impactful that is on the transmission
of respiratory viruses. Absolutely, I
mean, I don't think any of us
want to go back to not going
anywhere and not doing anything
and not seeing anyone right?
But let's kind of look at
what's happening this year.
Are we seeing a rise in
cases this year, flu wise?
No, actually, nationally we're in
kind of a low zone as far as flu,
so really not seeing a
whole lot of flu activity.
Couple of cases reported here and there.
North Carolina is in a in a
minimal transmission zone for
for influenza right now.
Or influence or like illness.
And I think that also it is
helpful and hopeful factor it.
We all remember not having much
flu last year and we'd like for
that to be the case this year.
And I think a lot of it will
have to do without being aware
of respiratory symptoms.
And just trying to not to
share them with others.
Yes, OK, so of course
no one wants to be sick.
Not with COVID, not with flu,
not with cold, not with anything.
So what steps do we need to
do to protect ourselves from
the regular everyday stuff to
the COVID that we're hearing
about in the news all the time?
I think one of the things that that's
really key is if you see somebody coughing,
sneezing, blowing their nose alot.
Maybe keep a little distance.
I think that's a huge a huge factor
so keeping a little distance if you
have a mask and want to slip one on,
I think that's a good time to do it.
And then when you are the one
who is coughing, sneezing,
blowing your nose a lot,
being aware of keeping away
from people right?
This is these are things that
are contagious and we know.
Uhm, something about how to prevent that now?
And so, being aware of that,
I think there's some other things we can
do as far as keeping ourselves healthy,
eating well, getting enough sleep,
getting some exercise,
not letting stress run our lives.
These are all things that play a role
when we're well rested and and healthy.
Our immune systems just work better,
and so giving our immune system
that opportunity to go to bat for
us is really important as well.
I mean, you hear that all the time.
Get a good night's rest exercise.
Eat right right and we all kind of
like be like yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.
But sometimes it actually is difficult to do
it is it is. And I and I think
just trying to keep that in
mind when you're thinking about.
I want to go do this and I want to
go do that and just just being aware
there could be an infectious cost.
You know if we're staying
up too late all the time,
or if we're always just just
eating whatever in the car on
the way to where we're going.
So those are things that take a
toll and and you really weighing,
is that a toll?
I'm really willing to pay
all right, so if you do get
sick and it's cold or flu,
what steps can we take at home?
That will help us feel better.
You hear all kinds of remedies,
but what do you suggest?
You know honestly,
most things will run their course and and
so just you know when the flu does take
it down or called does take you down.
We expect a cold to run its course in a
couple of days and getting enough rest
and trying to keep away from people
while you the most contagious i.e.
When you're doing the most coughing
and sniffling and blowing your
nose are are important features.
Getting a little extra rest,
pushing fluids we tend to get
a little dehydrated.
If we're blowing our nose a lot or
coughing a lot, or having fevers.
And so I think that but just
pushing fluids and getting rest.
At that point, go along way.
Yeah,
I think we forget to like
drink water right because?
We're just miserable at that moment.
Alright, thank you so much for
your time and your expertise and
telling us a little bit of the
differences between all of those
and the symptoms and what you should
do if you missed any of this,
what we're going to do is we're going
to put it all on our website for you
so that you'll have it to go back.
Watch with your friends and family so
you guys can talk about it as well.
It will be at WFNY news two.com.