It’s time to prepare for the war against colds and flu again. How are they different? What are the biggest mistakes we make? What do older citizens need to be particularly careful about?

Diagnosis Can Be Tricky

“Your temperature usually doesn’t exceed 100 degrees with a cold, whereas high fevers are typical with the flu. However, the older population often throws us a curve ball in this area.

Depending on their overall health, they may not be able to mount a fever, one of the body’s main defenses,” says Vrinda Suneja, M.D., medical director of Fox Run, a community in Michigan built and managed by Erickson.

“That’s why neither you nor your doctor should assume just because you have little or no fever you don’t have flu. I always look for other symptoms, like body aches. When it’s flu season, if someone has a runny nose I encourage them to come in right away and not wait until the symptoms are more defined.”

Lining Up Your Weapons

Both colds and flu (AKA influenza) are caused by viral infections that easily spread. Coughing and sneezing typically spread both viruses, but so does physical contact, like shaking hands.

“Many older people avoid catching cold and flu viruses because they’re isolated and alone, but what fun is that?” asks Suneja. “Enjoy being sociable—just take certain precautions.”

For flu, the most obvious precaution is vaccination. Get one every year, because each season’s flu virus is totally different. Unfortunately, the national average for flu vaccination is only about 66 percent in people age 65-plus, unlike the Erickson record last year where 96 percent of 15,000 community members were vaccinated.

There’s evidence that some foods may have coldfighting benefits, like those rich in phytochemicals (red, dark green, yellow, and orange fruits/vegetables). A cup of yogurt daily has been shown to reduce cold susceptibility by 25 percent.

Vitamin C’s usefulness keeps being debated. “It can’t hurt you. Tablets—500 to 1,000 mg daily—or one or two 8-oz. glasses of orange juice are good sources. Juice can keep you hydrated, but also be careful in case the acid’s too much for your stomach.

Get enough sleep, since a fatigued system has more trouble fighting infections. Exercise is a great way to boost your immune system. Don’t let bad weather interrupt your routine. At Erickson-built and –managed communities there are covered walkways which offer walking opportunities and lead to on-site Fitness Centers. If you’re stuck inside, follow an exercise tape.

One of Suneja’s favorite pieces of advice involves keeping hands clean. “Through the hands is a common form of cold and flu viral transmission. I advise people to keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer, or disposable wipes with them, and keep their hands as clean as possible while outside their home,” she says.

Once the Damage Occurs

One thing you shouldn’t do once sick is take leftover antibiotics—which you shouldn’t have anyway. “Every year I get a call that says, ‘Doctor, I have a runny nose and I took two antibiotic pills yesterday that I had from last year. What do I do now?’” says Suneja.

“This is one of the worst things you can do. Not only do antibiotics not fight either disease, now you’ve masked your symptoms, making it harder for your doctor to make a proper diagnosis,” she explains.

Exercising is still good once you’ve caught a cold, but if it’s flu, just rest. Ask your doctor which liquids are good for you beyond plain water and drink lots of them, especially if you’re running a fever. “If a patient’s on a diuretic I may take them off the drug temporarily so they don’t lose even more fluids,” says Suneja.

Ask your doctor for more advice specific to your needs. The good news is that with a quick diagnosis and sound advice, you should be well in about one week with a cold and in about two to three weeks with the flu.

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