Sharing Sickness–and Cold and Flu Myths

Sickness is making its way through my house right now and I hate it.  It started Friday when the kids had the day off from school.  My husband was going to take the girls ice skating, but the oldest one had no interest.  That’s when I knew she was more than just tired.  A fever at 99.9 degrees had her sleeping much of the day.  She recovered quickly, but not before sharing with her younger sister.  The six year old had the headache yesterday and at 4:30 this morning had a fever of 101.2 degrees.  She said it best when she told us, “I’m boiling”.  She’s home from school now, hanging out next to me playing on the iPad while I work.

Of course, I’m crossing my fingers hoping not to catch what’s being passed around.

A recent survey underwritten by the makers of Vicks® branded Humidifiers asked moms how they treat – and beat – sickness, from a cold to a flu–and I consider it pretty timely in my house at the moment.

43% of American moms said when it comes to a sick husband  they avoid hugging and kissing altogether and 10% report that they sleep on the couch when a spouse is sick.

The survey also indicates that when it comes to treating a cold the top five natural remedies moms use are tea, orange juice, chicken soup, lots of water, and humidifiers. Portable humidifiers, in addition to loosening congestion and soothing coughs, have been found in recent studies to reduce the survival of flu viruses on surfaces and in the air when maintaining an indoor humidity level between 40-60%.*

For moms who get sick, classic movies and a good book are top activities to get through a cold or the flu.  Moms ranked movies like “Love Actually,” “Dirty Dancing” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” as their top three choices to watch when sick.

The moms were also surveyed on common cold and flu season advice; the results of which were (and these are quoted directly from the press release shared by Vicks):

·         85% of moms thought that you lose the most body heat from the head, which is false. In truth, you do not lose more body heat through your head but it may feel that way because your face is more sensitive to temperature than other areas.

·         72% of moms thought that they should rest, not exercise, when ill, which is false. In fact, you do need to rest, but a little exercise might help you feel better.

·         49% of moms thought that you should cover your mouth with your hands when you cough or sneeze, which is false.  To stop the spread of germs, use a tissue or, if one is not available, cough and sneeze into your inner elbow.

·         40% of moms thought that you feed a cold and starve a fever, which is false. In truth, you should stay hydrated and eat well, no matter what your symptoms.

·         38% of moms thought you should not go outside with wet hair, which is false. In reality, exposure to viruses – not wet hair – causes cold and flu.

What do you do when your family is sick?