Influenza (flu)
Will Elderberry Extract Help You Recover from Fl…
Natural approaches to healing are getting extra attention right now, as people try hard to stay out of doctors' offices if they can. After all, if you don't have COVID-19, you don't want to go anywher…
Will We Have a Bad Flu Season This Year?
Flu season is right around the corner and public health officials are concerned. They fear that influenza infections on top of COVID-19 could be a deadly combination. That’s why they are urging peop…
Will You Get a Flu Shot? How Well Will It Work?
Americans are being urged to roll up their sleeves for this year’s flu shot. The CDC suggests that people call ahead to make sure there is vaccine available. The reasons to be vaccinated against flu…
Show 1253: The Lessons of COVID-19 on How to Avo…
Over the past year, the world has faced a global pandemic due to a previously unknown virus. People wanted and needed to know how the virus spread from person to person. At first, the focus was on fom…
A Silver Lining to COVID-19 – Fewer Flu Cases
If there were one good thing about COVID-19, it could be the impact on influenza. Public health authorities have noticed many fewer flu cases than they expected at this time of year. Why Are We Seeing…
What Happened to the Flu This Year?
Not long ago, we were frightened by the prospect of two terrible infections sweeping through communities. Public health authorities warned us that a bad influenza outbreak on top of COVID-19 would be …
Should You Get Vaccinated Against Flu This Year?
With flu season beginning, public health authorities are urging all of us to get vaccinated against flu this year. While people may worry about spending time in doctors' offices, this is not a good ye…
Flu Shots Linked to Deaths in South Korea
People are rushing to get their influenza vaccination. That is totally understandable. We have been warned that trying to cope with two different upper respiratory tract infections this winter could b…
Why Get a Flu Shot This Winter?
Public health authorities are encouraging everyone to get a flu shot this year. This goes beyond the usual advice to get protection from seasonal influenza. Experts worry that people who contract two …
Can We Fight Flu at the Same Time as COVID-19?
Shortly before flu season, public health experts got worried. Americans were encouraged to get their flu shots right away. The goal was to prevent double trouble: influenza on top of COVID-19. They di…
Experts Warn of Possible Pandemic Yet to Come
Is there another possible pandemic lurking around the corner? Public health officials are concerned that the world might have to deal with another serious health threat on top of COVID-19. A Possible …
Will Vitamin D Help You Avoid Infection?
Does vitamin D improve resistance against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19? British researchers suggest that adequate vitamin D levels might help people avoid infection. They caution, though,…
Should You Lower a Fever or Leave It Alone?
During the coronavirus pandemic any symptom is a cause for concern. A stuffy nose, cough or elevation in temperature is worrisome. Even under normal circumstances it can be hard to know when should yo…
Show 1208: Keeping Kids Healthy in the Age of Co…
Schools are closed and kids are home so that they don’t catch COVID-19 and spread it to family members. Of course, parents don’t want their children to get sick, either. How are we keeping kids he…
Will Tamiflu Side Effects Stop You from Taking I…
When COVID-19 infections are stalking the land, turning life upside and killing people, it may be tough to pay attention to influenza. However, flu season is not yet over. Although it is less exotic, …
Did This Year’s Flu Shot Work for Adults? NOPE…
Every fall the CDC tells all Americans to get the influenza vaccine. The point of the exercise is to prevent the flu! That seems like a great public health initiative, especially now that the world is…
Should You Take Elderberry Extract to Help Fight…
Flu season is still going strong. While public health experts assure us it is not too late to get a flu shot, some readers would like to know how to treat it and feel better faster if they do catch it…
Can Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) Help People Recover Fr…
Coronavirus has been capturing headlines around the world for good reason. We are getting closer to 100,000 people infected with COVID-19. It won’t be long before 2,000 deaths will have been reporte…
Protecting Yourself from the Flu with Tamiflu
The flu season this year started early and has been atypical, with type B influenza dominating first. At this point, however, influenza is widespread in most of the country. (Here's a link to the CDC …
Is There Influenza in Your Town?
Flu season began early in the US, but it shows no sign of fading. Influenza continues to spread around the country. Is there influenza in your town or county? What the Flu Season Looks Like So Far: In…
Can a Mask Help Protect You from Flu?
During flu season, people want to know how they can keep from catching it. Public health experts are happy to give advice. Most of the time, however, it boils down to just two items: get a flu shot an…
Coronavirus Freak Out: Is It Justified or Overbl…
The headlines have been relentless. Coronavirus continues to dominate health news around the world. There is an international coronavirus freak out. Face masks, including those purchased in pharmacies…
FDA Cracks Down on Claims for Hand Sanitizers
When infections like colds or influenza are spreading rapidly, people may rely on hand sanitizers to try to stay healthy. Public health experts acknowledge that hand hygiene is crucial for disease pre…
Should You Take Antiviral Drugs If You Catch the…
The Chinese coronavirus is capturing headlines around the world and for good reason. This infection is spreading very fast in China and people are dying. It has also been identified in several other c…
Long Lasting Shoulder Pain After Flu Shot
Getting a flu shot is supposed to be your best protection against influenza. Since September we have all been encouraged to get our flu shot. Most of the reports we have seen this year suggest that th…
Will the 2019/2020 Flu Season Be Terrible?
How bad will the 2019/2020 flu season get? Nobody knows for sure, but infectious disease experts say we are off to a rocky start. The 2019/2020 Flu Season Started Early: Last year, the flu season last…
The Inside Story of Tamiflu: Side Effects &…
Have you seen the commercial for Tamiflu (oseltamivir)? A very sick-looking man is seen creeping about in a very small house. He blows his nose with a teeny tissue. He's so big he has to bend over to …
Have You Had Lasting Pain from a Flu Shot?
At this time of year, public health experts urge everyone who hasn't already been vaccinated to get a flu shot. People develop immunity within about two weeks of immunization. Most people expect to ge…
Strange Start To Flu Season: How Good Is the Vac…
Flu season is starting off with a twist this year. For one thing, it is a bit early. Doctors were seeing a fair amount of flu already by mid-November. In general, people don’t usually get sick with …
Some Steamy Strategies to Prevent Influenza
Have you ever wondered why people catch the flu right around this time of year? Fall and winter are the worst seasons for upper respiratory tract infections like colds or influenza. That’s true in E…
Which Influenza Vaccine Is Better for You?
Getting an influenza vaccine seems straightforward. You go to your doctor’s office and a nurse administers a flu shot. These days you can also get jabbed in the arm at your local pharmacy. In truth,…
What Is the Impact of Herbal Treatments for Coug…
Cold and cough season is well underway in most parts of the country by now. Are there natural approaches to help you stay healthy? And if you do come down with a cold or other respiratory infection, c…
All About KayaBiotics
The People's Pharmacy radio show and podcast appreciates support from its sponsors. One of our sponsors is KayaBiotics, a German company that makes high-quality probiotics from all-organic ingredients…
People Demand to Know When to Get A Flu Shot!
OK, we screwed up big time! Lots of visitors to this website let us know in no uncertain terms that we did not adequately answer the questions we posed in a recent article: “Should You Get Your Flu …
Should You Get Your Flu Shot Now? How Well Will …
The signs are up at pharmacies that you should get your flu shot ASAP! Public health authorities are already sounding warnings about the coming flu season. It won’t be long before television news an…
Flu Vaccine Failures Are Quickly Forgotten
Did you get a flu shot last year? If so, you were not alone. Tens of millions of people got jabbed last fall hoping to prevent influenza. Every public health organization put on a full-court press enc…
Can Elderberry Juice Really Fight Flu Virus?
Elderberries and elderberry juice have long had a reputation for fighting the flu. Most physicians undoubtedly have considered this just another old wives’ tale. Surprisingly, however, scientists in…
Doctor Disses Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) Against Flu
Watch out, there’s a second wave of nasty influenza starting to circulate. Even though it seems as if spring is right around the corner, a lot of people are suffering from this badass H3N2 strain of…
Watch Out for a Second Wave of Flu
By the end of 2018, influenza activity was heavy around the country. This year, the predominant strain of influenza virus causing infection was H1N1. It caused less severe illness and fewer hospitaliz…
Overdosing on Xofluza for Flu Led to Devastating…
Did you know that there is a new flu drug in town? The FDA approved baloxavir (Xofluza) to treat influenza on October 24, 2018. In its announcement, the FDA stated “'This is the first new antiviral …