The flu and the common cold are both viral infections of the upper respiratory tract.

The right treatment

The flu and the common cold are both viral infections of the upper respiratory tract. The influenza virus causes flu, whereas the rhinovirus sparks off the cold.

Many people do not know how to properly differentiate the flu and a cold. Initially, the flu may seem like a common cold with a runny nose, sneezing and sore throat. But though the cold can be a nuisance, one usually feels much worse off when down with the flu.

The initial symptoms for both are a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and cough. The

flu virus is more virulent and usually develops faster than a cold. It is usually also accompanied by high fever, fatigue and weakness, and muscle aches and pains,

The primary objective in the treatment of flu and cold is to reduce the duration of the

symptoms and improve your quality of life. Fact is, strengthening the immune system

will help relieve a runny nose, sore throat and cough.

Now you can use a German herbal combination to shorten the duration of the flu and cold. Backed by 20 clinical papers, this product has been prescribed by German physicians for the last 50 years since it was developed by Erich Schaper and Albert Brummer. The unique blend of herbal extracts helps to activate the immune system, In doing so, the body's resistance increases and can ward off the flu and cold virus. Generally for colds, this product will assist recovery in one or two days while the flu usually takes longer, which is about three to five days to recover.

Prevention

Flu may lead to secondary bacterial infection, and old people and children are especially susceptible individuals, Both these groups have weaker immune systems and the flu can prove to be fatal in young children, the elderly and those with underlying chronic illnesses.

Eat right and sleep tight: There are valid reasons why we should abide by this fairly general piece of advice. A poor diet and bad night's sleep can lower your immunity and make you more vulnerable to infections. Generally, it would do well for adults to settle with seven to eight hours of sleep per night. Older children and teenagers need between nine and ten hours every night. A balanced diet for most people emphasises fruits and vegetables, whole grains and small amounts of lean protein.

Regular exercise: Regular cardiovascular exercise such as walking, biking, aerobics boosts your immune system. Even if you do come down with the flu, there'll be less severe symptoms and you'll recover faster than those who aren't as fit. Apart from the flu vaccines and antivira] drugs, the multifunctional herbal combination from Germany may be taken to help cushion the flu attack. This was even used during the SAnS period in China to strengthen the immune system.

Limit air travel: Researchers say that the decreased numbers of air travel passengers during the fall of 2001 actually slowed the spread of the flu as well as delayed the start of the flu season by several weeks. Limit your air travel during the height of the holiday travel season, but if you must travel, this herbal product can help to protect you by reducing your risks of contracting any infection.

Avoid crowds during flu season: The flu spreads easily wherever people congregate, and this could mean childcare centres, schools, office buildings, auditoriums, even cruise ships. Avoid crowds wherever possible at the peak of the flu season and you reduce your chances of infection.