The flu season is officially in full swing! A quick check of the CDC website reveals that confirmed cases of the influenza virus have been steadily rising since the beginning of the year and may have peaked last week if we are lucky. All three strains: A, B, and H1N1 seem to be in equal abundance and are in widespread circulation throughout most of the U.S. And yes it is possible to get more than one strain. I have seen several cases of patients who tested positive for both the A and B strains at the same time and it usually isn’t pretty.
The flu is a virus, which sweeps across the globe annually, usually occurs in the winter months but can start in the fall and last until spring. The actual bug (virus) varies from year to year and so the flu shot must also vary from year to year to match it. Symptoms can vary from strain to strain and person to person but generally, those infected experience sudden onset of fever, body aches, headache, sore throat, and a non productive cough which can be severe. Other symptoms can include nasal congestion, diarrhea and marked fatigue. Most people start having symptoms within 48 hours of being exposed. From what I have seen this year the symptoms are pretty typical but people seem to be complaining of a more severe sore throat with this year’s strain.
In healthy people, the flu lasts 3 – 5 days but you may continue to have fatigue and cough lasting a couple weeks. It can be a serious infection for some however as roughly 25,000 deaths per year can be attributed to the flu in the U.S. alone. The majority of those deaths occur in young children less than 2 year of age, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases such as lung disease, diabetes and HIV. These are the main populations that should receive the flu shot although everyone should consider it.
If you think you are coming down with the flu, get to your doctor or a local walk-in clinic right away. The flu can be diagnosed just based on symptoms but there is also a rapid flu test available that give results in 15 minutes. The flu is a virus so antibiotics will not help but you may be prescribed anti viral drugs such as Tamifu,™ which can have a dramatic effect on your symptoms and the duration of your illness. The catch here is these medications work extremely well if you start them within 48 hours of symptoms. After that they may not help much.
So what can you do to arm yourself against the flu during flu season? The flu shot is your best bet at reducing your risk for severe symptoms and serious complications of the flu. There are of course other things you can do to boost your immune system and reduce your risk of catching most respiratory infections. At the first sign of any respiratory infection you should have a few things on hand to get stated right away.
The first supplement is zinc. There is good research that suggests zinc interrupts viral replication which can greatly diminish the duration and severity of common viral respiratory infections that cause the majority of the “colds,” that we get.1 Zinc is one of the main ingredients in the over the counter preparations such as air borne™ and zycam™. Many people are deficient in zinc which is an important nutrient for proper immune function. Take 50 mg twice a day while you are having cold symptoms.
Next is vitamin c, a powerful antioxidant which has a key role in immune function. Opinions vary on dosages but I generally recommend 1000 mg 2 – 3 times a day when you cold and flu symptoms
Drink green tea throughout the day when sick, it has many immune boosting as well as antiviral and antibacterial properties. Brew it yourself and drink it fresh rather than the bottled varieties from convenience stores.
There is some preliminary research that suggests that part of the reason the flu comes in the winter months is because lack of sun exposure causes vitamin D levels to decline leaving us more susceptible to common viral infections. I recommend to my patients that they take 5000 IU of vitamin D3 daily whenever they have an upper respiratory symptoms. You should get your levels checked before you stay on levels this high but it is safe to do so for a few weeks at a time during illness. 3
If you really want to get aggressive, keep a stock of the amino acid glutamine in your cabinet. Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in our bodies and is the essential for proper immune function. Studies have shown that levels decrease during illness and stress so replenish it with capsules or powdered form that you can put in a smoothie. Aim for 4 grams a day when you are sick. If you are a competitive athlete, use glutamine after exercise for faster recovery and prevention of upper respiratory infections during heavy training. 2
To help with symptoms, always stay well hydrated when you are sick by drinking plenty of purified water. Take Tylenol™ or Advil™ for fever and aches unless you have been told by your physician not to take these medications or if you are allergic to them.
Hopefully the flu season will be winding down over the next month but keep these supplements handy throughout the year if you start experiencing cold and flu symptoms.
Until next time, Stay healthy and live well…. Dr. Mike
1. Prasad AS, Beck FW, Bao B, Snell D, Fitzgerald JT. Duration and severity of symptoms and
levels of plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor, and
adhesion molecules in patients with common cold treated with zinc acetate. J Infect Dis 2008
;197:795-802.
2. Mackinnon LT, Hooper SL. Plasma glutamine and upper respiratory tract infection during intensified
training in swimmers. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996;28:285-290.
3. Adit A. Ginde, Jonathan M. Mansbach, and Carlos A. Camargo, Jr
Association Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in the Third
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(4):384-390.
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