What is Coronavirus? A New Member of the Flu Season

Each year the flu season comes with a score of viruses ranging from the simple influenza virus to combinations of viruses that impacts the overall health of the country. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu season peaks during the months of January and February and can extend up to May. The start of this year has brought with it another novel strand of virus, the coronavirus, which has begun impacting people around the world.

What is Coronavirus?

The Coronavirus is a family of virus that includes a range of virus strands such as the common cold, SARS, & MERS. Affecting the respiratory system of an individual it usually begins with symptoms of common cold and leads to respiratory infections. Though the effects at first are mild as compared to lethal viruses like Ebola, complications can lead to SARS and MERS which can be highly lethal.

Source: Scientific Animations (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Coronavirus and the Flu Season

Coronavirus is not a single strand of virus but a family of virus, and so one can sometimes confuse influenza with coronavirus and vice versa. This confusion can be common since the beginning of both the viruses have similar symptoms such as runny nose, coughing, sore throats, sinusitis, and a mild fever. Distinguishing between the onsets of both the viruses is important to cure them and prevent any further infections or complications.

Symptoms of Influenza

Influenza starts with a common cold and the symptoms then intensify if not treated in time. The symptoms include:

• Aching muscles
• Fevers of above 100° F
• Chills and sweats
• Fatigue and general weakness
• Congested nasal passages
• Headaches
• Dry coughs
• Sore throat

The basic symptoms of influenza can be treated at home, but if things begin to complicate, visit your doctor or a medical professional immediately.

Symptoms of Coronavirus

Coronavirus, as discussed earlier, starts with a common cold and then can complicate into something as serious as SARS or MERS. Since coronavirus is not a single strand of virus, its complications can vary from person to person. Several other factors add up to complicating the situation by causing infections in the respiratory tract and lead to other conditions such as pneumonia, respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, etc.

Preventing Influenza and Coronavirus

Since the start of both the viruses is the same, we can use similar prevention techniques to stop the spread of these viruses as well as controlling the symptoms of the conditions.

• Washing the hands – Keeping your hands clean is the first step to prevent spreading of a virus, including influenza and coronavirus. Using a hand sanitizer can help neutralize viruses or infected liquids.
• Cover your mouth - In public places, always cover your mouth and nose to prevent any viruses entering the respiratory tract. You can use masks and face covers to cover the nose and mouth efficiently and preventing the spread of influenza and coronavirus.
• Drink liquids – Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to ensure that the body digests food efficiently and help eliminate waste effectively from the body. It enhances blood circulation and prepares the immune system to be more formidable against viruses.
• Air purifiers – Air purifiers help in cleaning the air in your home and office by eliminating the viruses from the air. They use state of the art technology to help reduce the chances of viruses from being airborne.
• Vaccination – Though there is no vaccine for coronavirus, one can vaccinate their children against influenza.

Treating Coronavirus and Influenza

We can use a wide range of techniques to treat the initial symptoms of coronavirus and influenza, but one must immediately consult a doctor if things get complicated.

• A congested nasal passage can be treated using a suction machine that can help decongest the nasal passage and allow for easier and comfortable breathing. Depending upon the severity of the congestion, one can consult their doctor to know what medium is best to treat it. Saline nasal sprays and neti-pots can also be used to decongest the passages.
• If a person faces difficulty in breathing due to a congested chest or nasal passages, nebulizers and CPAP machines can be used to enable comfortable and safe breathing.
• Dry cough is an irritating symptom and can be treated using a humidifier. It helps in inducing moisture in the nasal passages and the throat thus allowing for better breathing.

Coronavirus and Hygiene

The onset of the coronavirus has reminded us of the importance of hygiene in our daily lives. Maintaining hygiene is highly important in not only preventing the coronavirus from infecting us but also keeps other viruses, bacteria, and pathogens away. Here are a few things we can always do to maintain a hygienic environment around us:

• Use antibacterial products such as hand sanitizers, hand wipes, tissues, etc. Foods such as meats, vegetables, fruits, and milk should be consumed fresh since older foods can be breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses thus spreading infections. Keep cooked and raw food in separate places to ensure safety and prevent infections.
• Vitamins and nutritional supplements can help enhance the immunity of the body thus enabling it to fight the basic viruses and bacteria with ease. Even if the immune system might not be able to eliminate the virus or bacteria completely it can help medications work efficiently.
• Thermometers are an important part of home medical kits and help a person immediately diagnose a condition thus helping us take the important steps to prevent any further complications.
• Keep your surroundings always clean, which includes liquids, half-eaten foods, dry and wet garbage, etc. Which can be breeding grounds for viruses and bacteria.

We, at HPFY, not only aim to provide the right health and wellness products to prevent and treat coronavirus and influenza but also provide all the information required to recognize, diagnose, and take necessary steps to prevent complications from influenza and coronavirus.

 

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