Colds and flu Archive

Avoiding germs that cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses is especially important during the winter months, when cases are on the rise. Learn which strategies keep you safe.

Sometimes mucus secretions in the lungs can persist after someone starts to get better from a chest cold, flu, pneumonia, or COVID. To cope with the problem, experts recommend two approaches. One is doing exercises that clear the lungs, such as a series of breaths and coughs that dislodges mucus. The other approach is doing exercises that strengthen respiratory muscles. An example is diaphragmatic breathing, a type of deep breathing that relies on the diaphragm muscle located below the lungs.

Tonsil stones are small white or yellow deposits on the tonsils. They develop when bacteria, saliva, food particles, and debris from cells lining the mouth get trapped in tiny indentations on the tonsils. While usually harmless, they can cause bad breath and sore throats.

Even if someone has never gotten the flu or COVID-or at least hasn't gotten very sick from them-there still are good reasons to get vaccines that protect against the viruses. Both the flu and COVID viruses can injure the body, making it vulnerable to new major illnesses such as heart, lung, gastrointestinal, or brain disease. But recent solid evidence has shown that vaccines not only reduce the risk of getting the flu and COVID, but also reduce the risk of developing the serious diseases associated with COVID or flu.

A diagnosis of influenza (flu) was linked to a sixfold risk of heart attack over the following week, according to a 2024 report.

Children get sore throats all the time - and most of the time they are nothing to worry about. But it is important for parents to know the common causes of sore throats, and to be aware that that certain instances are serious and should be seen by a doctor immediately.

Cold symptoms can worsen at night for several reasons. Immune cells become more active at night, creating inflammation that aggravates respiratory symptoms. Lower cortisol levels also fuel symptoms, and lying down allows mucus to pool at the back of the throat.