Features Related to Cold & Flu

1. Flu Shot Failure? Questions & Answers
   

   The CDC reports this year's flu shot may not protect against a strain of influenza that's hitting the U.S. Q. Does this mean the flu shot is useless? Not at all. Although this year's flu vaccine doesn't match two of the three main types of flu strains now in circulation, people who did get a flu sho

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2. Get to the Bottom of Your Sore Throat
   

   As a symptom of illness, sore throat rivals fatigue for being both commonplace and a potential sign of catastrophe. Usually, having a sore throat is nothing to worry about -- most are caused by cold and flu germs. In rare cases, however, a sore throat can signal something much more serious. One of t

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3. The Real Deal on Germs
   

   By Jeannette Moninger Relax - there are sane ways to protect your kids from bad bugs. You've always followed the smart woman's anti-germ playbook: regular hand washing, once-a-day kitchen counter wiping, and the like. But become a mom, and suddenly the basic precautions feel wildly inadequate. You f

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4. 4 Natural Cold Remedies: Do They Work?
   

   You're sneezing. You're sniffling. You're miserable with the cold that won't go away. And nearly everyone within arm's length is suddenly describing their ''miracle'' cold remedy. They want to tell you all about how you can squash that cold -- maybe overnight! -- if you just (fill in the blank) pop

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5. Is Your Kid Sick or Just Faking It?
   

   It's the height of cold and flu season, so you're not surprised when your school-age child wakes up sniffling, coughing, and moaning that he just doesn't feel well enough to go to school. Sometimes, it's clear that your child has cold symptoms or flu symptoms and needs to be taken to the doctor. Oth

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6. Sleep Better When You’re Sick
   

   A hacking cough, a throbbing head, a sore throat, and a nose so stuffed it feels as if you'll never breathe free and clear again. You've got a cold -- or maybe even the flu -- and all you want to do is crawl in bed and sleep. Until you get there. That's when you realize your symptoms are turning any

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7. Cough Medicine: Should You or Shouldn’t You?
   

   Do cough medicines work? Given the billions of dollars that we spend on over-the-counter cough and cold remedies in the U.S. every year, we clearly think they do. But cough experts are not so sure. “We want to believe these remedies will work because we’re so desperately uncomfortable when we’re sic

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8. The Germiest Places in America
   

   By Ginny Graves OK, we admit it: We’re a little freaked out about germs these days. Since the SARS scare several years ago, there’s been a steady stream of news reports about ugly bugs. West Nile virus! Microbes on our beaches! Drug-resistant bacteria! It’s enough to turn anybody into a germophobe.

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9. Planes, Cruise Ships, and Germs
   

   Flying to great-aunt Erma’s house for Thanksgiving? Or taking a leisurely wintertime cruise along the shores of the Mexican Riviera? Boost your chances of healthy travel by taking a few preventive steps. That way, you’ll cut your risk of catching cold and flu from other plane passengers. And you won

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10. Exercising When Sick: A Good Move?
    

    You have been so great about your new exercise routine, rarely missing a day since you started up again. Then all of a sudden you are waylaid by a cold or flu. What should you do? Should you skip the treadmill or forsake that Pilates class for a late afternoon nap? Will it be hard to get started aga

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