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. …
QUESTION: I met a friend for coffee last week and now she has COVID. What do I do now? PS We didn’t wear masks. ANSWER: You and your family need to be tested for COVID. The Families Coronavirus Response Act ensures that COVID tests are available without charge at health…
QUESTION: Should I move to Arizona to help my breathing? ANSWER: In a warm, dry state like Arizona, the chances of wintertime respiratory infections are much lower. In a cold climate, the air itself may cause bronchospasm. Some experts argue that moving from industrials to a warm, dry climate may…
QUESTION: Can antibiotics be used to treat COVID? ANSWER: Antibiotics cannot prevent or treat a viral infection, but they can be prescribed to deal with secondary bacterial infections. In COVID, they may be used to deal with bacterial pneumonia that develops in COVID-damaged lungs.
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…
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.
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….
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…
QUESTION: Does COPD increase my risk of developing lung cancer? ANSWER: Sadly this is true. We often find lung cancer accidentally when COPD patients develop pneumonia. We do an X-ray and find a lung cancer nodule. These days, a CT scan can pick up lung cancer when it is in early…
QUESTION: If I don’t inhale, will smoking be less dangerous? ANSWER: This is a dangerous fallacy. The smoke from cigarettes still affects the upper airways. The mouth, throat, and nose can all be sites of cancers. Even though you don’t make a conscious effort to inhale, some of the smoke will…
QUESTION: I haven’t smoked for ten years. Can I still get COPD? ANSWER: Unfortunately, yes. However, it is much less likely. It depends on how much damage there was before you gave up smoking, how long you smoked, and on the number of pack-years that you have accumulated. It also depends…
QUESTION: How can I tell if it’s a cold or allergy? ANSWER: A cold comes on slowly over six to eight hours. It often begins with a tickle in the throat. Sneezing starts and you begin to feel chilled, congested, and achy. Allergies start suddenly with sneezing and congestion. Body aches,…
QUESTION: Can vitamin C prevent a cold? ANSWER: In a word, no. Well-designed clinical trials have not shown that vitamin C can prevent colds. However, the same studies indicate that vitamin C may reduce the length of the symptoms and discomfort.
QUESTION: When does a cold become contagious? ANSWER: In children, colds are contagious one to two days before symptoms. In adults, colds are spread once symptoms of sneezing develop. However, in the flu, both children and adults can spread the virus as much as two days before their symptoms.
QUESTION: Can you get reinfected with a cold? I seem to get better, then my son catches the cold. Next thing I know I’ve got a cough and fever again. ANSWER: There are two likely scenarios. The first is that you could be developing into sinusitis or bronchitis. Alternatively, your son may…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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…
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…
QUESTION: If fever is a natural defense against infection, why should I try to lower it? ANSWER: While fever is a natural defense mechanism, it is not always helpful for infections. In fact, fever is dehydrating, raises blood pressure, and puts a strain on the heart and kidneys. You will feel…
QUESTION: Are antiseptic sprays helpful in the home and office? ANSWER: Disinfectant sprays and wipes, such as those made by Lysol, clean the surface of bathrooms, telephones, and kitchens and have been shown to kill both viruses and bacteria. They cannot be used in the air, but cleaning of commonly used…
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.
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…
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,…
QUESTION: Are cold sores caused by the same virus that causes colds? ANSWER: Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, not by one of the over 200 viruses that leads to colds. People infected with herpes simplex tend to have flare-ups when their immunity is lowered such as during illness…
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…