Cold & Flu
- Common Cold Common cold is a common contagious viral infection causing a variety of symptoms. Learn about common cold causes, symptoms, tests, treatment and prevention.
- Treatment for Cold Syptoms Treatment of cold symptoms requires varying methods based upon the symptoms that appear. Learn more about how to treat the various cold symptoms.
- Vitamin C and Colds Vitamin C and colds have conflicting scientific evidence as to whether Vitamin C can cure common colds. Learn more about Vitamin C and colds scientific studies and research.
- Are colds and the flu most contagious before or after you start showing symptoms? Many of us understand that we're most contagious before we start feeling sick. Find out when colds and the flu are most easily spread.
- What Causes the Common Cold? If you've ever had to work through a nasty cold, you may have asked yourself why you ended up so sick in the first place.
- How the Flu Works While most flu sufferers moan and groan for about a week and then return to work, the flu season creates more than just discomfort and a costly loss of work days.
- How to Prevent the Flu No one is immune to the flu, but there are things you can do to fend it off. Learn how to prevent the flu, and other viruses like the common cold.
- The Flu Flu is a contagious ear, nose and throat infection caused by the influenza virus. Learn about flu causes, symptoms, tests, treatment and prevention.
- Flu and the Holidays Flu occurs more often during the holidays due to increased stress, social exposure and indoor frequency. Learn about flu and holidays risks and information.
- What is the Flu? Flu is short for influenza virus. Learn how the flu virus works and why antibiotics won't help you fight it.
- Why does your body temperature rise when you have a virus such as the flu? Your body temperature rises when you have a virus, such as the flu, but why? Find out what causes a rise in your body temperature when you're sick.
Allergies
Foods, drugs and the environment are all reasons that some people experience allergic reactions. Explore the immune system and find out what leads to a misdirected immune response.
- How Allergies Work
If you've got allergies, you know the drill -- sneezing, wheezing, itching. Know why you get these symptoms? You may be surprised at the answer. Learn about the immune-system mix-up we call an "allergy." - Allergy Basics Allergies are so commonplace that we often do not stop to think of how they occur. Those watery eyes and runny noses happen because your body rejects otherwise harmless substances.
- How to Allergy-Proof Your Home Every room in your house is a potential host for the sources of allergies -- pet hair, dust and mold. But keeping an allergen-free house is not an impossibility. Learn more about allergy-proofing your home.
- How to Allergy-Proof Your Home Climate Control System In order to maintain an allergen-free home, it is important to monitor your home climate systems. This means making sure your air conditioner, dehumidifier and heaters are not generating allergens.
- How to Deal with Pet Allergies Pets and allergies go together like penguins in a desert. So what do you do if you have a pet and the allergies start to flare up? The debate is a tough one.
- Understanding Skin Allergies Your skin is an important defender against invaders. It usually fends off trouble quite successfully. Sometimes, however, an allergen gets the best of your skin, causing a reaction.
- Understanding Workplace Allergies Most of us joke that we're sick of work. But some people literally become sick at their workplace, suffering from a condition called "sick building syndrome." Learn more about this condition.
- Can you fight allergies with local honey? Staving off seasonal sniffles with hot tea might be more effective than you realize, especially if you drizzle some honey in your cup. At least one study has shown that honey combats allergies.
- What Causes Allergic Reactions? Allergies are the result of the immune system's mistaken response to a harmless substance like pollen, dust, or pet hair. The response can range from watery eyes to non-stop sneezing.
- What Makes Some People Susceptible to Allergies? Why do some people suffer an allergic reaction to dog hair while others do not? The answer can be found in your genes. But there are other reasons why some people suffer allergic reactions.
- What Causes Poison Ivy? What's the poison in poison ivy that's so bad for your skin? Learn about this frustrating plant poison.
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Kristiana BurkContact Info:
Atlanta, GA
Channel Director, HowStuffWorks
I am a former librarian and teacher.
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Atlanta, GA
Channel Director, HowStuffWorks
I am a former librarian and teacher.
Send Email
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