Colds and flu are both highly contagious and, in the initial stages, a bad cold and a mild case of the flu might seem alike. However, flu is a serious illness that can have life-threatening complications, unlike colds.

• Severe, continuous vomiting or diarrhea lasting 8 hrs. or any vomiting and diarrhea not improved after 24 hrs.
• Fever over 102 degrees.
• Earache.
• Shaking chills.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Skin rash.
• Unusual lethargy or delirium.
• Change in cough or nasal secretions to thick green or gray.
• Uncontrollable cough or cough sounding like a "seal bark".
  

• Sleep and rest. Extreme activity will weaken your defenses.
• Soaking your feet or using a heating pad helps with the aches and pains associated with colds and flu.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Apple juice, dark grape juice, carrot juice, beet juice and clear soups are recommended. In addition you need to drink a quart of water daily.
• Honey mixed with a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon powder taken daily for three days will help when you have that nagging cough. It also will help clear the sinuses.
• Drink ginger tea. Ginger tea is antiviral and helps break up the mucus and congestion. Boil 2 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger in 8 ounces of water. Let it cool and drink as needed.
• Gargle with salt water. This helps relieve the pain of a sore throat.

• Avoid close contact with people who have a cold, especially during the first few days when they are most likely to spread the infection.
• Wash your hands after touching someone who has a cold, after touching an object they have touched, and after blowing your own nose. If your child has a cold, wash his or her toys after play.
• Keep your fingers away from your nose and your eyes to avoid infecting yourself with cold virus particles that you may have picked up.
• Put up a second hand towel in the bathroom for healthy people to use.
• Keep an eye on the humidity of your environment so that your sinuses do not dry out.
• Avoid putting your hands near your eyes, nose or mouth, unless you have washed. Most bacteria and germs are spread from a surface to your hands to your face. Few germs are transmitted through the air.
• Clean your 'shared spaces' more often than other times of the year. Remember phones, keyboards, steering wheels, office equipment and other items used by several people during the day.
• Get a flu shot. Flu shots are especially beneficial for those with weakened immune systems, the elderly or those who come in contact with a lot of people.
• Get enough sleep. During sleep, your body's immune system goes into high gear to protect you from illness. Lack of sleep can reduce immune functioning making you susceptible to sickness.
• Drink more water. In the fall and winter, it is easy to overlook your thirst and get dehydrated. Make sure you consume 8 glasses a day.
• Continue a moderate exercise program. Try to maintain a 3-4 day a week exercise routine. Consistency is the key.
• Limit alcohol intake. Alcohol can be dehydrating which, in turn, may decrease your resistence to bacteria.