Health Tips for January 5

Health Tip: Getting a Nasal Vaccine for Flu

The influenza (flu) vaccine is available in two forms -- as an injection and in the form of a nasal spray. The American Academy of Family Physicians says the nasal flu vaccine isn't for everyone, advising that you should talk with a physician before the following people get the nasal vaccine: Children under age 2. Adults aged 50 and older. Anyone who has a chronic health problem or compromised immune system. Anyone who takes long-term aspirin therapy. Anyone who has lung, heart or kidney disease, or is diabetic. Anyone who has Guillain-Barré syndrome. Women who are pregnant. Anyone with an egg allergy or who has had a previous allergic reaction to a flu vaccine. Health Tip: Do I Have a Cold or Flu? If you're sneezing, coughing and have a fever, do you know how to tell whether you've caught a cold or have the flu? The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this list of cold symptoms, and how to tell them apart from symptoms of the flu: In general, cold symptoms are milder and come on slowly, while symptoms of the flu tend to occur very suddenly. It's probably a cold if you have a fever no higher than 102 degrees. The flu usually causes fevers higher than that. It's probably a cold if you have symptoms including a congested or runny nose, sneezing and coughing, watery eyes, and a sore throat. Symptoms of the flu often include nausea, chills, sweats, vomiting, muscle aches, and loss of appetite.