Health Tuber

Since cold and flu seasons will be here soon, many people go running to the medicine cabinet for vitamin C and a zinc lozenge after just one cough or sniffle from someone around you. By strengthening your immune system you can enjoy a happy, healthy holiday season. Immune boosting is rather difficult because immune function is not specific to one place or organ in the body. The liver, spleen, and blood make up the majority of immune function, along with biochemical products including enzymes and prostaglandins.

To most, fall is a beautiful time of year with its new colors, brisk morning air, and the change of the season. But these changes are usually accompanied by cold and flu bugs that usually survive throughout the wintertime months. But don’t worry, if you start preparing now and begin fortifying your immune system, your body will be able to adequately defend itself against these unwanted invaders. There is a small list of things you can do to improve your defenses against those sneezes, coughs, and fevers that you fear so much.

Viruses are the most common cause of sore throat. A sore throat caused by a cold virus usually resolves in one to two weeks without treatment. On the other hand, a sore throat caused by the streptococcus bacterium (strep throat) should be treated with antibiotics to prevent damage to the heart valves. Generally, streptococcus bacteria cause a more severe sore throat and a higher fever than viral sore throats. Sneezing, runny nose, and cough more frequently accompany sore throats due to a cold virus, rather than streptococcus infections. Sometimes, a throat culture is necessary to establish the cause of the sore throat.