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Press Release

Every year during winter, which lasts between June and September, Capetonians are reminded just how close the Arctic really is. The winter months are the time for hot drinks, warm blankets, heaters and log fires. The reality, however, is that most of us brave the elements daily to go to school or work. This can cause havoc with our health, causing us to be the constant victims of nasty cold and flu viruses. These cold symptoms are the number one enemy of blood stocks in winter. The reason for this is that any virus or bacterial infection present in the blood of the donor may of course be transferred to the patient. Thus donors are deferred from donation if they have symptoms of cold/flu and for up to three days after the last symptoms have disappeared. In the case of someone taking anti-biotics or having a bad bout of flu, they will be deferred for seven days after the last dose of medication taken. Yearly the Blood Transfusion Service sees a deterioration in blood stock levels between March and July, causing our winter stock to sometimes fall very low.

As a rule, prevention is better than cure, thus we would like to share with you a few tried and tested tips for preventing colds and flu:

• Consider a vaccination. They are an inexpensive, effective way of minimizing the effect of cold and flu viruses.

• Herbs like Echinacea, garlic, chickweed, liqourice root and golden seal are excellent immune system boosters. Increase your intake of the antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin A, beta and mixed carotenes, vitamin E and selenium.

• Wash you hands frequently and do not touch your nose, eyes or mouth unnecessarily.

• "Contain" sneezes and coughs with disposable tissues (and make sure to dispose of them right away!) and wash your hands afterwards.

• Try not to unnecessarily touch objects around you when in public places - such as the rail of the escalator, your coughing colleague's pen or computer mouse, etc.

• To minimise the spread, avoid close contact and prolonged exposure to people with colds. With an incubation period of 1 - 4 days, and a contagious period of 7 - 10 days, it is best to avoid any person with flu for at least 10 days. One infected person in a lift, bus, aeroplane, school or army barrack can quite quickly infect the rest.

• Drink lots of fluids. The inner, mucous lining of the respiratory tract is the body's first line of defense against cold and flu viruses and these membranes need to be protected.

• Prevent the air from drying out by using humidifiers, and take a vitamin A or beta carotene supplement to protect these delicate membranes.

• Be careful of using heaters for prolonged areas in a closed environment. Heaters causes dry air which compromises the body's defense mechanism.

• Quit smoking. Those who smoke are more susceptible to colds and other respiratory illnesses.

(courtesy of Health24)

Issued by:

Marika Champion
Public Relations
Tel: 021 - 5076368
083-4114583