WorldWide Drilling Resource

Winter Can be Sickening Compiled by Bonnie Love, Editor, WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Okay, it’s that time of year. Time for the stuffy head, runny nose, and achy body. Yep, it’s cold and flu season. When you work outside in the elements, getting sick feels even worse. So, how do you know if you have the common cold, or the flu? Unfortunately, the symptoms over- lap, and without a doctor running a flu test as soon as you start getting sick, it’s hard to know for sure. Most people get over the common cold within a week, and the symptoms, while annoying, are often mild and don’t lead to serious health compli- cations. There are more than 200 different viruses which can cause cold symptoms, which is why it is one of the most common illnesses in humans. The flu on the other hand, is caused by the influenza A, B, and C viruses, and can develop into more serious conditions, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, and the symp- toms are more severe. Whether you have a cold or flu, they are both caused by a virus, so antibiotics aren’t going to help. Over-the-counter medications can help alleviate symptoms, but the best treatment is to get plenty of sleep and drink a lot of fluids. Getting enough sleep on a regular basis is hard enough, but when you are sick, you need even more sleep. Evidence suggests when you relax, interleukins (the protein which leads the immune system’s response against viruses) increases in the blood stream. Antiviral medications used to shorten the duration of the flu need to be taken within the first 48 hours of getting sick to have a positive impact. So your best bet is to avoid getting sick in the first place. Most cold and flu viruses are spread by direct contact, and germs can live on surfaces for hours. So, if you are sick, especially if you have a fever, do your friends and coworkers a favor, STAY HOME ! Prevention Tips: j Get a flu shot. j Maintain a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise and a healthy diet. j Reduce alcohol consumption. j Avoid cigarettes. j Wash your hands often, use sani- tizer if you can’t get to a sink. j Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. j Don’t cover sneezes and coughs with your hands, use the inside of your elbow. +*/ * /"- "(( -&(("-. ..+ & /&+* ../ **0 ( +*1"*/&+* **0 ( +*1"*/&+* " -0 -3 &((&*$. +/"( +*1"*/&+* "*/"- &((&*$. +- )+-" &*#+-) /&+* +*/ / 1&! %0("* "-$ ) &( +*/ /0. )22! +-$ 222 )22! +-$ 0 '" / /+ % *$" " -0 -3 /% ) &'% ' "! & # !& ) !' ' "! !& ) " ! "%! ! !!"(! !'& ) ) +!"' ! + ) ++* ! %& ++* ,) * ' ""% # ! ,) " ' "(% ,) ,) !$( ' ) % % & !' ' "!& ! "! (& "! " !' ( ' "! ,) ,) & !" ' " -0 -3 /% ) ) % &' ! !!( ' ! ) ) ! %& ,) " % " % '"%& ' ! " -0 -3 -! ++* ,) * '"% ' # ,) ,) &'% ' "! & # ! Cold Symptoms: Runny or stuffy nose Sore throat Sneezing Cough Headache/body aches Mild tiredness Flu Symptoms: Runny or stuffy nose Sore throat Sneezing Dry hacking cough Headache/body aches Profound fatigue Moderate to high fever 26 NOVEMBER 2015 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®