How to survive the season of flu and acute respiratory viral infections without going to the clinic

All around the sick. How and why?

Viruses that cause colds, more than 200. They are easily transmitted from person to person, so they become ill whole collectives, especially in school or at work.

It is difficult to say why we get sick, when it's getting colder. While there is only speculationTwo interferon-independent double-stranded RNA-induced host defense strategies suppress the common cold virus at warm temperatureThat cold mucosal protective function is weakened, so viruses easily penetrate into the body.

SARS usually easily passes for 7-10 days, but there are more and influenza - a viral disease that is similar to the common cold, but proceeds much harder. Influenza can cause many complications that are difficult to treat.

I think I am sick: fever, weakness, runny nose. What to do?

Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Many diseases start at exactly the same - with the common symptoms of inflammation and weakness. But what we take for colds, and may be something more serious - the same influenza virus. Self-treatment is even worse than no treatment at all. If you put a diagnosis with the help of Google, you may have to be treated is not one disease, but several. Therefore, no trips to the pharmacy to consult with a specialist.

Doctor better cause to your home.

Firstly, in a weakened state is not up to hiking to hospitals. Just imagine: we are waiting at the reception desk, where there are two people - one coughs, sneezes another. Then we sit down on a chair at the door of the cabinet, from which just raised a patient with chronic sinusitis. Even in private clinics is likely to pick up a couple of infections, and free, with a queue for the entire corridor, the epidemiological situation is more complicated.

True, call the doctor at home has its disadvantages: local therapist usually heavily loaded and can not always respond quickly to treatment. In addition, many are not ready to call the doctor just because of a cough and runny nose, hoping that everything goes by itself. But this is not the best position: the earlier treatment begins, the better the body will transfer the disease.

And what are the options, except call the doctor at home?

With a doctor can be consulted online. To do this, there's an app SmartMedWhich MTS has developed together with specialists from a network of clinics "MEDSI".

In the application, you can quickly get medical advice - literally 15 minutes after treatment. You install the app, sign up for it and select the desired function: Make an appointment or online consultation.

Online consultation cheaper full-time reception. In addition, with the application you do not need to spend time to get to a clinic or doctor's waiting at home.

How to help yourself during the illness?

Help the body cope with the virus can be as follows:

• Drink plenty of fluids, preferably - for rehydration solutions or stewed fruit.
• Frequently clean the room in which the patient otlozhivaetsya.
• Be sure to humidify the air, to make it easier to breathe. Relative humidity should be 40-60%, the easiest way to achieve this with the help of a humidifier.
• Take symptomatic agents of the common cold, sore throat and headache.

Where can I go if I felt worse at night?

For colds is a frequent phenomenon in the evening fever, begins to cough and choke intensified headache. It is difficult to understand yourself - this is a normal course of the disease or impairment, due to which an urgent need to adjust the treatment.

Annex SmartMed therapists and pediatricians around the clock. Get advice you can, and at midnight, and at four in the morning.

The whole history of complaints with the card, the results of tests and assignments are stored in the app so that the doctor on duty will be able to quickly understand your situation and give competent advice.

What can we do to do not be infected?

The first thing to be vaccinated against fluIs It a Cold or the Flu? Prevention, Symptoms, Treatments. It is the only tool that reduces the risk of getting the flu.

However, from SARS vaccine does not protect, so for the prevention of further measures are needed.

Is virus can hide?

Escape is impossible, but you can reduce the risk of infection.

1. Wash your hands. Most common cold is transmitted by airborne droplets. And those "drops" in which a high concentration of bacteria or viruses, are deposited on the door handles, handrails in public transport, on the table in the office - in short, on all surfaces. The more often we touch the hands of various subjects, the better our chances of getting ill. Absolutely not to touch anything impossible, but we can at least wash your hands often. Ordinary soap and water is enough to kill most of the pathogensPatient education: The common cold in adults (Beyond the Basics). In any case, carry a bottle of antiseptic alcohol-based - he will gain when to wash their hands is nowhere.
2. Ventilate. This is the easiest way to disinfect the air, which reduces the concentration of viruses and bacteria in the room.
3. Less the case in the crowdFacts About the Common Cold. The more people you meet, the better the chance encounter with a carrier of infection. Try not to be in a crowded stuffy rooms.

Is it possible to strengthen the immune system?

Funds that could "improve" the immune system does not exist. neither EchinaceaEchinacea and the common coldOr probiotics, or vitamin C showed nohttps://nccih.nih.gov/health/flu/indepth effectiveness in the prevention of SARS and influenza.

But the immune system really needs. Only benefits not concoctions of herbs and is not a miracle pillFlu and Colds: In DepthAnd a healthy lifestyle. So that during an epidemic of colds is very important to eat right, eat more fruits and vegetables, exercise, walk and sleep. Yes, it sounds boring, but it worksCommon cold.

Should I wear a mask on the street?

Most colds - a viral disease. Viral particles are so small that the mask will not be able to detain them. On the other hand, viruses are spread by coughing and sneezing with tiny droplets of saliva and mucus. That is against them mask works.

Because the mask is better to wear those already ill, so as not to endanger others. And do not forget that after two hours of using any mask itself becomes a source of infection, because it gathers too many viruses and bacteria. So that the mask must be regularly changed.

And if I do not have a cold, and other disease?

Through SmartMed You can access a range of specialists: therapist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, Laura cardiologist, allergist, and even to the obstetrician-gynecologist. These professionals work in hospitals "MEDSI", they have the necessary knowledge and experience.

download SmartMed