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Ask Doctor Neil

Questions I am most often asked
Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Covid 19

Choosing Your COVID Vaccine?

Question—"I hate shots and most COVID vaccines require two separate injections. I’ve heard there will soon be a new vaccine that needs only a single shot.  I’m healthy, just 27 but I work at a nursing home." Answer—In general I recommend my patients take any vaccine that they are offered. …
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Asthma

Can wool blankets trigger an asthma episode?

QUESTION:  Can wool blankets trigger an asthma episode? ANSWER:  Wool is an organic compound and a potential allergen. Wool blankets can indeed provoke allergies and asthma in sensitive problems. So can wool carpeting which will release irritating fibers in the air every time you walk on them. In addition, dust mites…
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Asthma

Can a menthol chest rub help ease my breathing?

QUESTION:  Can a menthol chest rub help ease my breathing? ANSWER:  Mentholated rubs can loosen mucous secretions in the upper airways and relieve nasal congestion. However, these rubs often can contain salicylates which can be a problem if you have aspirin sensitivity—and about 10% of asthmatics have aspirin intolerance.
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Asthma

Why do I start to wheeze in restaurants?

QUESTION: Why do I start to wheeze in restaurants? ANSWER:  You may have what we call “Restaurant Asthma” which is caused by a reaction to sulfites that are often added to commercial food preparations. Sulfites are effective antibacterial preservatives that extend the shelf life of foods and prevent spoilage and discoloration.…
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, COPD

Are women more susceptible to COPD?

QUESTION:  Are women more susceptible to COPD? ANSWER:  Studies have shown that women smokers have lower lung function rates than men who have smoked the same number of pack years. Research has also demonstrated that women have a greater degree of airway of irritability. Doctors have suggested that a woman’s naturally…
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Covid 19

What is herd immunity?

QUESTION: What is herd immunity? ANSWER: Herd immunity develops when enough people are immune to a contagious disease either through infection or vaccination. This lowers the risk of either having or catching the disease in everyday situations. It varies with different diseases, but most experts believe that at least 70% of…
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Covid 19

Should children wear masks?

QUESTION: Should children wear masks? ANSWER: This recommendation keeps changing, but as of September 2020, all children over age 2 should wear masks outside of the home. Under age 4, child-size masks offer a better fit. For healthy children, a mask will protect a family from COVID exposure in school. When a…
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Covid 19

Can the pneumonia vaccine protect me from COVID?

QUESTION: Can the pneumonia vaccine protect me from COVID? ANSWER: Not directly. The pneumonia vaccine protects you from pneumococcal bacteria, which are responsible for about 25% of pneumonia cases in the US. COVID-affected lungs can be vulnerable to develop this type of pneumonia, so this vaccine potentially can lower the risk of…
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Covid 19

Why are doctors using old drugs to treat COVID?

QUESTION: Why are doctors using old drugs to treat COVID? ANSWER: It can take years to develop a new FDA-approved, an antiviral drug. Facing ICUs filled with seriously ill patients, doctors looked at already existing medications that had the potential to treat COVID. Some, like Remdesivir, have shown antiviral activity while…
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Covid 19

Why do so many epidemics start in China?

QUESTION: Why do so many epidemics start in China? ANSWER: China is a volatile mix of large numbers of people in close contact with many types of animals—and the germs they carry. Chinese prefer freshly killed meats, and live markets are ground zero for human contact with animal viruses. Add this to…
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Covid 19

Can my dog catch COVID?

QUESTION: Can my dog catch COVID? ANSWER: There have been several reported cases of dogs, cats, and even a tiger becoming infected with COVID. They had mild symptoms and recovered quickly. There is no evidence that pets can transmit the virus to humans and it's more likely that they can catch…
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Covid 19

Can I get COVID twice?

QUESTION: Can I get COVID twice? ANSWER: Maybe. There are a few isolated reports of people contracting separate cases of COVID infections. Fortunately, in most of these cases, symptoms were mild or asymptomatic. However, they could still spread COVID without symptoms.
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Covid 19

Can I wear a mask over a beard?

QUESTION: Can I wear a mask over a beard? ANSWER: The hair of a beard or mustache will make it difficult for a traditional mask to have a close seal with the face. This loose fit provides less of a barrier to prevent COVID transmission. Try a ‘duckbill’ mask to provide more…
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, General

When do I need a chest X-ray?

QUESTION: When do I need a chest X-ray? ANSWER: Normally the three key signs that an X-ray is required are chest pain, shortness of breath, and severe cough accompanied by green, cloudy, or rusty mucus. If you have underlying pulmonary or cardiac problems such as asthma or congestive heart failure, then…
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Asthma

Can wool blankets provoke asthma symptoms?

QUESTION:  Can wool blankets provoke asthma symptoms? ANSWER:  Wool is an organic fabric and can potentially cause allergy symptoms in sensitive people. So can wool carpeting which will release irritating fibers in the air every you walk on them. In addition, wool is particularly favored by dust mites, whose allergens are…
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, General

Is garlic good for colds?

QUESTION: Is garlic good for colds? ANSWER: Garlic has mild antibacterial activity, but is not strong enough to help fight off infections such as strep throat or bacterial bronchitis. Garlic is delicious in food, but you need more targeted treatments for infections.
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Colds and Flu

Should I exercise with a cold?

QUESTION: Should I exercise with a cold? ANSWER: I suggest that you do a “neck check.” If your symptoms are above your neck (e.g., sneezing, congestion, or sore throat) then it's okay to work out. But if you have symptoms below the neck, including cough, body aches, and chills, then take…
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, Colds and Flu

Does stress cause me to catch colds?

QUESTION: Does stress cause me to catch colds? ANSWER: Repeated studies have shown that stress depresses immunity and may increase the risk of developing infections. However, it's easy to tell you to relax and much harder to control stressful work and family relationships. In the peak season for colds and flu,…
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Dr. Neil
In Ask Dr Neil, General

When should I call a doctor?

QUESTION: When should I call a doctor? ANSWER: With most respiratory infections you probably feel sicker than you actually are. Nasal congestion makes it hard to breathe, while inflammatory compounds raise fever and produce aches and fatigue. When you call your physician with these complaints you are not likely to get…
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