By Shana Helps
As the outdoor temperature drops, illnesses such as flues and colds rise. However, people can follow simple steps to avoid getting ill.
Frequently washing hands is one of the easiest and most important actions people should take to keep germs away, according to health experts.
'Whenever you come into the house after having been out and around, after bathroom, before eating, you should wash,' said Melissa Kendall, a pediatrician at Utah Valley Pediatrics in Orem.
Because flu and colds are spread through respiratory secretion, people should cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, then wash their hands immediately, said Christie Barton, an epidemiologist at the Utah Department of Health.
A useful tool for keeping bug-free is hand sanitizer, which does not require the use of water, Kendall said. Students can easily carry a bottle of it in their backpacks.
The best way to avoid the flu, also called influenza, is to get a flu shot, Kendall said. Although some people think they can get sick from these shots, such is not the case.
'Flu vaccines are made from killed influenza viruses,' according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. 'These viruses cannot give you the flu.'
If a person does catch the flu after getting a shot, it will likely be a milder version than if they had not taken preventative measures, according to the site. A flu shot will not protect people from other illnesses that may feel like the flu.
Another way people can avoid catching infectious diseases is by living a healthy lifestyle, Barton said.
'Just getting enough sleep, eating good foods so your immune system is up to par,' she said.
Vitamin C, Echinacea and lozenges help the immune system fight off colds and flues, Kendall said.
A problem to avoid is sharing cups, straws and other utensils, she said. This is an especially prevalent practice among young people.
The CDC recommends people not touch their noses, eyes or mouths in order to avoid catching colds.
People often confuse many different illnesses with the flu, Barton said. A respiratory flu usually involves fatigue, a fever from about 102 degrees to 104 degrees, chills, congestion and muscle aches. It can turn into pneumonia, she said.
'It has a pretty rapid onset,' Barton said. 'It''ll just kind of hit you.'
The stomach flu''s symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, Kendall said. It is the flu most people get.
'The flu is not a minor illness,' Kendall said. 'The flu is a major illness. It''s just nasty. It wipes you out.'
Colds generally do not include fevers, Kendall said. People with colds will have runny or stuffy noses and perhaps a cough.
People can usually function normally when they have colds, but should definitely rest when they have flues, Kendall said. Too many people with flues try to go about their normal routines.
Despite all the prevention, there are inevitably those who will still get sick. While they cannot eliminate the illness, there are things they can do to help themselves.
If people have flues or colds, it is important to get a lot of rest and fluids, Barton said. If they go to a doctor early enough, they can take anti-viral medicines to speed the duration of the illness.
People should visit a doctor when an illness is getting worse, rather than gradually better, or if it suddenly worsens after improving, Kendall said. Most illnesses start to fade after a few days, and are gone within seven to 10 days.
With the stomach flu, people should avoid fatty, spicy and other kinds of foods that will upset their stomachs, Kendall said.
Strep throat is another disease common to the wintertime, she said. Any bad sore throat should be checked to see if it is strep, which can easily be treated with penicillin.
If strep goes untreated, it could turn into rheumatic fever, which can damage the heart, Kendall said.