Category: Respiratory conditions

Focusing on your breathing is a great way to destress and reduce anxiety. Next time you need to calm down, simply pay attention to your breathing. Count your inhalations and exhalations.

Your lungs are vital to living, and you need strong ones to live a healthy life. Whether or not you use tobacco, there are ways you can improve and protect your lungs:

*  Don’t smoke or use tobacco, and avoid secondhand smoke whenever possible.

*  Protect yourself from air pollution. Pay attention to the “air quality index” where you live. Stay inside during high-ozone days.

*  Buy a radon kit to test your home. Next to tobacco use, radon exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer.

1.  Get your yearly flu vaccine! Stay up to date with COVID-19 booster shots.

2.  Wash your hands often. Do this for 15 to 20 seconds each time. Keep them away from your mouth, nose, and eyes. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you can’t wash hands.

3.  When you can’t use soap and water, use alcohol-based hand wipes or gel sanitizers. Carry one in your pocket, purse, lunch bag, and car.

4.  Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue. Throw the tissue away after you use it. Or cough or sneeze into your sleeve.

5.  Clean and disinfect door handles, railings, light switches, remote controls, and other objects that easily collect germs.

6.  Wash and dry your hands well or use a hand sanitizer after using public restrooms, ATM keypads, shopping carts, escalator railings, elevator buttons, and gas pumps.

7.  Use a disinfecting wipe to clean your office phone, computer keyboard, mouse, and desk once a day. Disinfect objects touched by others, too, such as copy machines and door handles.

8.  Try to avoid contact with sick people. Try not to touch their things when they have a cold or the flu. Consider wearing a face mask when you are around them.

9.  If you get sick, stay home. Limit contact with others to keep from passing germs to them. Consider using a face mask.

10. Refrain from asking for an antibiotic to treat a cold or the flu. Infections caused by bacteria, not viruses, are treated with antibiotics. Using them for viruses is the main cause of antibiotic resistance.

Booster shots are recommended for everyone who has received a COVID-19 vaccine, if they are 12 years and older.

All three of the COVID-19 (COVID) vaccines approved for use in the U.S. prevent COVID and reduce risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death. However, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (m-RNA vaccines), are preferred for better protection. Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine is recommended in some situations. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and reduce the spread of the virus. This includes helping to prevent new variants of the virus from emerging.

Studies now show vaccine protection against the virus and the ability to prevent COVID infection likely decrease over time, especially if variants of the virus emerge. That’s why getting a booster shot after your original vaccination series is now recommended for everyone 12 years and older. These booster shots are the same as the current COVID vaccines.

What are the risks to getting a booster shot?

CDC reports that the risks of getting a booster are like getting the second shot or the single-dose shot of vaccine. Most common side effects were mild to moderate and included headache, fatigue, and pain at the injection site. Serious side effects are rare but may occur.

Which Booster Shot Should I Get?

If You Received Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna:

*  Persons 12 years and older should get a booster. Only the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is recommended for those aged 12-17 years.

*  Get a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine booster at least 5 months after completing your first series of these COVID vaccinations.

If You Received Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen:

*  Adults 18 years and older should get a booster.

*  Get a booster at least 2 months after completing your primary COVID Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccination.

*  Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine boosters are preferred in most situations.*

* Ask your doctor if a Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine booster is recommended for you.

*  Through breathing air droplets made when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.

*  By touching an object with the virus on it and then touching your nose, mouth or eyes.

*  Seasonal flu. This flu comes every year during fall and winter, but can last through May. Each year, different strains of type A and/or type B viruses cause this kind of flu. Scientists try to match the viruses in the flu vaccine to those that are most likely to cause flu for that  flu season.

*  H1N1 flu. This is caused by H1N1 virus. It was first detected in people in Mexico and the U.S. in April of 2009. It used to be called swine flu.

*  Pandemic flu. This is any type of flu that causes a global outbreak of serious illness that spreads easily from person to person. H1N1 flu was declared a pandemic in June of 2009.

*  Bird (avian) flu. This is caused by avian influenza A (H5N1) virus which normally infects wild birds. Contact with infected birds or surfaces they contaminate can spread this virus to humans. The viruses may be able to change to a form that could spread from person to person and result in a widespread infection in humans.

*  Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

*  Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or upper sleeve.

*  Try to avoid close contact with people and their things when they have a cold or flu symptoms.

*  Keep your distance from others if you are sick.

*  When possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. Don’t send your children to childcare or school if they are sick.

*  Clean and disinfect commonly used objects and surfaces. Examples are doorknobs, phones, railings, light switches, and remote controls.

*  After you cough, sneeze, or blow your nose

*  Before you touch your eyes, nose, and mouth

*  After using the bathroom

*  After shaking hands

*  After you touch door handles, phones, and other objects and surfaces that others touch or cough or sneeze on

*  Before you eat and/or prepare food

*  When you come into contact with someone who is sick

*  Follow your doctor’s advice for vaccines, antiviral medicines, and other ways to help protect you from the flu.

*  Stay healthy to fight off infections:

– Eat nutritious foods.

– Do regular exercise.

– Manage stress.

– Get enough sleep.

– A flu shot. Note: Consult your health care provider if you have had a severe reaction to the vaccine in the past or have a severe allergy to eggs or any part of the vaccine.

– A nasal spray. This is approved for people aged 2 to 49 years. Pregnant women should not get this form.

{*Get up-to-date advice for vaccines at 800.CDC.INFO (232.4636) orwww.cdc.gov/vaccines.}

*  Taking antibiotics for viruses is the main cause of antibiotic resistance. With this, bacteria that were once fought off by antibiotics have become stronger than the medicine.

*  Certain bacteria have become so resistant that it is hard to find an antibiotic that is able to treat the infection. An example is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This  can cause an infection that affects the skin or causes pneumonia. MRSA resists treatment with usual antibiotics.

*  If you get the flu, call your doctor’s office. Describe symptoms. Ask if flu testing, an antiviral medicine, or medical care is needed.

*  Prescribed antiviral medications can make flu symptoms milder and help you get better sooner if started:

– Within 48 hours of the start of symptoms for adults

– Within 36 hours of the start of symptoms for children

*  You wheeze or have trouble breathing.

*  A baby less than 3 months old has a fever between  99.5°F and up to 100.4°F.

*  A person age 3 to 65 years old has a fever over 104°F.

*  A person age 65 years and older has a fever of 102°F or higher.

*  A child between 3 months and 3 years old has a fever of 102.2°F or higher.

*  A bad smell comes from the throat, nose, or ears.

*  An earache persists.

*  A sore throat is bright red or has white spots.

*  Pain or swelling over the sinuses worsens with bending over or moving the head, especially if you also have a fever.

*  Yellow or green sputum or nasal discharge lasts longer than 5 days.

*  Flu symptoms last longer than a week and self-care brings no relief.

*  Cold symptoms get worse after 4 to 5 days or don’t get better after 7 days.

*  Symptoms other than a slight cough last for more than 14 days.

*  Breathing is very fast (over 40 breaths per minute).

*  Extreme shortness of breath or trouble breathing

*  The skin, lips, or fingernails have a bluish color.

*  Severe wheezing or a severe cough

*  A baby less than 3 months old has a fever of 100.4°F or higher. A child 3 months to 3 years old has a fever of 104°F or higher.

*  Not waking up or not responding

*  Coughing up true, red blood

*  Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

*  Severe or persistent vomiting

*  Sudden dizziness. Confusion.

*  A red or purple rash does not fade when pressure is applied to the skin.

*  Stiff neck; seizure; or a severe headache  that persists

*  A child is so irritable that he or she does not want to be held.

*  Flu symptoms improve, but return with a fever and a worse cough.

*  Rest and drink lots of liquids.

*  Take an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to lower fever and relieve pain, if needed. {Do not give aspirin to anyone under 19 years old. Aspirin and other medicines with salicylates have been linked to Reye’s syndrome.}

*  Use a cool-mist vaporizer to add moisture to the air.

*  For nasal congestion, use salt water drops or a saline nasal spray.

*  Have chicken soup to help clear mucus.

*  Gargle every few hours with warm salt water. (Dissolve ¼ teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of  warm water.)

*  Suck on a piece of hard candy or medicated lozenge. Note: Do not give these to children younger than 5 years old.

*  If you use OTC medicines for cold and cough symptom relief, be careful. Read the warnings on the label. Ask your doctor or pharmacist which products are safe for you to use. Note: Do not give OTC cold and cough medicines to children under 6 years old. For children 6 years old and older, follow their doctor’s advice.

*  To soothe a sore throat, have warm drinks, such as tea with lemon and/or honey. Note: Do not give honey to a child under 1 year old due to the risk  of botulism.

*  Check with your doctor or health care provider about using zinc lozenges, echinacea, and/or vitamin C when cold symptoms start.

*  To avoid spreading cold and flu viruses, follow tips in “Prevention.”

*  In adults and children over 3 years old, symptoms are like those of a cold.

*  In children under 3 years old, RSV can cause a lower respiratory infection, such as pneumonia. Infants 2 to 6 months old are more prone to this.

*  Blue color around the lips, fingernails, or skin

*  Quick breathing or trouble breathing

*  Grunting sounds with breathing

*  Fever of 100.4ºF or higher in a baby less than 3 months old; 104ºF or higher in a child between 3 months and 3 years old.

*  Severe cough or severe wheezing

If you are still deciding whether the COVID-19 (COVID) vaccine is right for you, here is some accurate vaccine information to help clear up some common myths and rumors you may have come across while gathering information.

Can COVID-19 vaccines cause variants?

COVID vaccines do not create or cause the COVID virus to become a variant. New variants happen because the virus is constantly changing through a natural process. This process is called mutation. Even before the vaccines were developed, there were already several variants of the COVID virus. Plus, moving forward, variants are expected to continue to emerge as the virus continues to change. COVID vaccines can help prevent new variants. With high vaccination coverage, the spread of the virus is reduced so it has fewer opportunities to change into a new variant.

Is the mRNA vaccine considered a vaccine?

mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are vaccines. They trigger your immune system to respond to fight the COVID virus. Although these vaccines are new, their research and development has been ongoing for decades. These types of vaccines teach your cells to make a “spike protein,” which is found on the COVID virus. Your body recognizes this protein does not belong and works to get rid of it. Your body does this by making antibodies to fight against the virus as if you were infected with the virus. This immune response is what protects you from getting infected if the real virus enters your body.

Do COVID vaccines contain microchips?

COVID vaccines do not contain microchips. Vaccines are not given to track your movement. They are given to fight against COVID infection. Vaccines work by stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies, as if you were exposed to the virus that causes COVID. Once vaccinated, you develop immunity to COVID without getting the disease first.

Can the COVID  vaccine cause you to be magnetic?

A COVID vaccine will not make any part of your body magnetic. COVID vaccines do not contain any ingredients that can produce an electromagnetic field on your arm where you receive the injection. All COVID vaccines do not contain metals.

Do the COVID vaccines shed any of their components?

Vaccine shedding can only occur when the vaccine contains a weakened, live version of the virus. None of the COVID vaccines approved in the U.S. contain the live virus.

Will the vaccine alter my DNA?

COVID vaccines do not change your DNA in any way. Both kinds of vaccines (mRNA and viral vector type vaccines) send instructions from your genes to your cells. These instructions tell your cells how to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID. The material from either type of vaccine does not enter the nucleus of the cell, which is where DNA is kept, so it cannot alter the DNA.

Is it safe for me to get a COVID vaccine if I plan to have a baby one day?

COVID vaccination is recommended for people who are trying to get pregnant now or in the future. There is no evidence that COVID vaccines lead to problems trying to get pregnant, for women or men.

Is natural immunity from COVID infection better than immunity from the COVID vaccine?

Getting a COVID vaccine is safer and more dependable in building COVID immunity than getting sick with COVID first. Having COVID can offer some protection from future illness. But, the amount of protection may vary depending on how mild or severe the illness was and their age. Plus, getting COVID can lead to severe illness.

Does the COVID vaccine affect mammogram results?

Getting the COVID vaccine can cause normal and temporary swelling of the lymph nodes in the underarm. This may cause mammogram results to appear abnormal for a period of time after vaccination. Ask your doctor how long you should wait after vaccination to get your mammogram.

Can the COVID vaccine make me sick with COVID-19?

None of the approved vaccines in the U.S. can make you sick with COVID because they do not contain the live virus that causes COVID. When you get the vaccine, it teaches your immune system to identify and fight the virus. Sometimes, this process can produce symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and signal that your body is building protection.

Will the vaccine cause me to test positive?

None of the approved vaccines cause you to test positive on the viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection. If your body develops an immune response after you receive the vaccine (which is the goal) you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests will show that you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus.

Will the vaccine provide 100% protection?

COVID vaccines will not protect you 100%. No vaccine does, just like virtually no medical treatment is 100% effective, 100% of the time. The vaccine gives you very significant benefits. It vastly reduces the likelihood of you getting COVID and helps protect you from severe illness or death, even if you do get COVID. However, at this time, CDC recommends everyone ages 12 and older get a booster shot. That’s because studies now show vaccine protection against the virus and the ability to prevent infection likely decrease over time, especially if variants of the virus emerge.

COVID-19 (COVID) is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people recover within a few weeks. Older people and those with certain underlying medical conditions are more likely to become severely ill. Safe and effective vaccines are available to protect against COVID infections.

Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms may be mild or severe and appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms may include:

*  Fever or chills

*  Cough

*  Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

*  Fatigue

*  Muscle or body aches

*  Headache

*  Loss of taste or smell

*  Sore throat

*  Congestion or runny nose

*  Nausea or vomiting

*  Diarrhea

Post-COVID conditions include a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems for some people. They may occur four or more weeks after first being infected.

How COVID Spreads

*  Breathing in air when close to an infected person who is breathing out air that contains the virus. People who are closer than 6 feet from the infected person are most likely to get infected.

*  Having these virus particles from an infected person land on the eyes, nose, or mouth.

*  Touching eyes, nose, or mouth with hands that have the virus on them.

Risk Factors for Severe Illness

Severe illness means needing hospitalization, intensive care, a ventilator to help breathe, or even death.

*  Older people: The risk increases for people older than 50. People older than 85 are most likely to get very sick.

*  People with certain underlying medical conditions: Examples include cancer, chronic kidney disease, and chronic lung disease, such as asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension. Others include dementia, diabetes, heart disease, HIV infection, weakened immune system, liver disease, overweight and obesity, sickle cell disease, smoking, and substance use disorders.

*  Women who are pregnant.

Treatment

*  Most people have mild illness from COVID and can recover at home.

*  Get medical care immediately if you have trouble breathing or have any other emergency warning signs. Treatment may include medications and hospitalization to slow the virus, reduce an overactive immune response, support for the body’s immune function, or treat complications.

*  One example of a medication used for treatment is monoclonal antibodies, which may help the immune system recognize and respond more effectively to the virus.

*  Tell your close contacts that they may have been exposed to COVID so they can take precautions to protect their health, and the health of others close to them.

Prevention

Get vaccinated, including a booster shot, if recommended. This includes people who already had and not had COVID. These vaccines are safe and effective. They help protect against severe disease and death from variants of the virus. You may have side effects after vaccination, which is normal and should go away in a few days.

Use these following guidelines to help further prevent infection:

*  Follow your local public health department’s recommendations to stay safe, especially if you live in or visit an area where there are high numbers of COVID cases.

*  Follow guidelines issued by your workplace and local businesses.

*  Wear a mask if you are not fully vaccinated when you are in indoor public places or crowded outdoor settings. You may also be recommended to avoid these areas.

*  If you are fully vaccinated, you may also be recommended to wear a mask:

– When in areas of high numbers of cases

– If your age or an underlying medical conditions puts you at an increased risk for severe illness

– If someone in your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe illness, or is unvaccinated.

*  Wear a mask in planes, buses, trains, airports, stations, and ride-sharing services.

*  Stay 6 feet away from others who do not live in your household. If possible, avoid close contact with people inside your household who are sick.

*  Avoid indoor spaces that do not offer fresh air from the outdoors.

*  Clean high touch surfaces regularly.

*  Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. This includes:

– Before eating or preparing food

– Before touching your face

– After using the restroom

– After leaving a public place

– After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

– After handling your mask

– After changing a diaper

– After caring for someone who is sick

– After touching pets

*  Cover coughs and sneezes. If wearing a mask, put on a new, clean mask as soon as possible. If you are not wearing a mask, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or the inside of your elbow.

*  Limit the number of visitors and the time spent inside.

*  Improve ventilation (air flow) in your home, especially when there are visitors. Open doors and windows if safe to do so. Filter the air in your home, using pleater furnace filters and change them every three months. Turn on bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans as well as other fans.

*  Monitor your health daily. Be alert for symptoms, especially if you have been in a public setting and unable to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.

*  If you have close contact with someone who has COVID, fully vaccinated people should wear a mask around others for 10 days and get tested at least 5 days after exposure. Unvaccinated people should quarantine. Stay home for 5 days, wear a mask around others and watch for symptoms. Get tested at least 5 days after exposure. If negative, you can leave your home but continue to wear a mask around others until 10 days after exposure. All people should get tested if they have symptoms.

Self-Care

*  Stay home, except to get medical care. Stay in a specific room away from other people and pets in your household. Use a separate bathroom, if available.

*  Monitor your symptoms carefully. Follow care instructions from your doctor and local health department.

*  Your doctor may recommend taking medications, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to reduce fever. Other medications may also be recommended or prescribed that you can take while staying at home.

*  Get rest and stay hydrated.

*  Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Immediately wash your hands.

*  To find out where you can get tested, contact or visit the website of your local, state, or tribal health department.

*  Wear a mask over your nose and mouth if you need to be around other people or animals, inside or outside your home.

*  Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This includes:

– After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing

– Going to the bathroom

– Before eating or preparing food

*  If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

*  Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces every day in your “sick” room and bathroom. If other people clean these areas, they should wear a mask and disposable gloves.

*  Do not share dishes, eating utensils, towels, or other bedding with other people in your home.