Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes. These tubes carry air to and from your lungs. People who have bronchitis often cough up thickened mucus, which can be discolored. Bronchitis may start suddenly and be short term (acute) or start gradually and become long term (chronic).

Bronchitis is more common in winter and often develops after a cold, sore throat, or flu. The main symptom is a hacking cough, which may bring up yellow-green mucus (phlegm).

Acute bronchitis, which often develops from a cold or other respiratory infection, is very common. Also called a chest cold, acute bronchitis usually improves within a week to 10 days without lasting effects, although the cough may linger for weeks.

Chronic bronchitis, a more serious condition, is a constant irritation or inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, often due to smoking. If you have repeated bouts of bronchitis, you may have chronic bronchitis, which requires medical attention. Chronic bronchitis is one of the conditions included in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

If you have acute bronchitis, you may have cold symptoms, such as:

• Cough
• Production of mucus (sputum), which can be clear, white, yellowish-gray or green in color — rarely, it may be streaked with blood
• Sore throat
• Mild headache and body aches
• Slight fever and chills
• Fatigue
• Chest discomfort
• Shortness of breath and wheezing

While these symptoms usually improve in about a week, you may have a nagging cough that lingers for several weeks.

For chronic bronchitis, signs and symptoms may include:

• Cough
• Production of mucus
• Fatigue
• Chest discomfort
• Shortness of breath

Chronic bronchitis is typically defined as a productive cough that lasts at least three months, with bouts that recur for at least two consecutive years. If you have chronic bronchitis, you’re likely to have periods when your cough or other symptoms worsen. It’s also possible to have an acute infection on top of chronic bronchitis.

When to see a doctor:

Contact your doctor or clinic for advice if your cough:

• Is accompanied by a fever higher than 100.4 F (38 C).
• Produces blood.
• Is associated with serious or worsening shortness of breath or wheezing.
• Includes other serious signs and symptoms, for example, you appear pale and lethargic, have a bluish tinge to your lips and nail beds, or have trouble thinking clearly or concentrating.
• Lasts more than three weeks.

Before you go in, your doctor or clinic can give you guidance on how to prepare for your appointment.

“CPI’s 5 Tips for Holiday Party Safety  

1. Keep Valuables Secure 
2. Monitor Alcohol Consumption 
3. Protect Your Property 
4. Manage Guest List Effectively 
5. Have a Plan for Handling Disruptions“

CPI (How to Host a Holiday Party Without Compromising Safety | CPI Security®)

• “U.S. prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is estimated between 2.4 and 3.1 million, with differing burden across groups.
• IBD prevalence and health care costs are rising.
• In 2018, the total annual U.S. health care costs for IBD were about $8.5 billion.
• Biologic prescription drugs have shifted the patterns of cost and service use.”

Cener for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (IBD Facts and Stats | IBD | CDC)

“Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are both inflammatory bowel diseases with many similarities. Nevertheless, there are some key differences between the two conditions that affect how they are managed. Both Crohn’s diseases and ulcerative colitis cause digestive distress and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. However, unlike Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis is linked to a response of the immune system.

CDC states the following:

• “Influenza (flu) and the common cold are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses.
• Colds and flu share many symptoms, so it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone.
• Cold symptoms are usually milder than flu.
• Special tests can tell if a person is sick with flu.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/coldflu.html)

“Influenza has a long history of devastating epidemics throughout human history, most notably the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic which infected a large portion of the world’s population and caused millions of deaths; today, the influenza vaccine is crucial because the virus constantly mutates, requiring annual vaccination to prevent widespread outbreaks and reduce the severity of illness in individuals, especially those at high risk of complications. The flu pandemic lasts from 1918 to 1920. From spring of 1918 to spring of 1919, the flu causes more than 550,000 deaths in the U.S. and more than 20 million deaths worldwide.

In the fall of 1918 at Mayo Clinic, people with the flu and other contagious illnesses are cared for in the isolation hospital. Keeping patients with these illnesses isolated and keeping high standards of cleanliness likely prevented infections and saved lives.

 From 2020 Flu vaccines prevent about 7.5 million illnesses, 3.7 million doctor visits, 105,000 hospital stays and 6,300 deaths.”

MAYO CLINIC (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/history-disease-outbreaks-vaccine-timeline/flu)

“Flu viruses are divided into four types: A, B, C, and D. During flu season (October through May), you’ll mostly hear about flu A and flu B. Flu C viruses only cause mild illness in humans and are not linked to large outbreaks. Flu D viruses do not appear to infect humans at all and are mainly found in cattle.

Now that we know there are two main types of flu viruses that affect humans, you may be wondering: Which flu is worse, A or B? Answering that question starts with learning more about their differences and how they affect us.

While flu A and flu B both cause seasonal flu, there are several differences in terms of their structure, behavior, and who they impact.

Flu A is the more common of the two main flu types, making up about 75% of all cases.”

National Council on Aging – NCOA (https://www.ncoa.org/article/whats-the-difference-between-flu-a-and-flu-b/)

“Enjoy a safe and happy holiday season by doing the following:

● Place candles where they cannot be knocked down or blown over, and out of reach of children
● Keep matches and lighters up high and out of reach of children in a locked cabinet
● Use flameless rather than lighted candles near flammable objects
● Don’t burn trees, wreaths or wrapping paper in the fireplace
● Use a screen on the fireplace at all times when a fire is burning
● Never leave candles or fireplaces burning unattended or when you are asleep
● Check and clean the chimney and fireplace area at least once a year

● Prepare your car for winter and keep an emergency kit with you
● Get a good night’s sleep before departing and avoid drowsy driving
● Leave early, planning ahead for heavy traffic
● Make sure every person in the vehicle is properly buckled up no matter how long or short the distance traveled
● Put that cell phone away; many distractions occur while driving, but cell phones are the main culprit
● Practice defensive driving

● Keep potentially poisonous plants – mistletoe, holly berries, Jerusalem cherry and amaryllis – away from children
● If using an artificial tree, check that it is labeled “fire resistant”
● If using a live tree, cut off about 2 inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption, remember to water it, and remove it from your home when it is dry
● Place your tree at least 3 feet away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources, making certain not to block doorways
● Avoid placing breakable ornaments or ones with small, detachable parts on lower tree branches where small children can reach them
● Only use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors, and choose the right ladder for the task when hanging lights”

National Safety Council (https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/winter-safety/holiday)

When & How to Wash Your Hands

Keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water. If clean, running water is not accessible, as is common in many parts of the world, use soap and available water. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands.

When should you wash your hands?

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching garbage

How should you wash your hands?

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

What should you do if you don’t have soap and clean, running water?

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on them in most situations. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs and might not remove harmful chemicals.

Hand sanitizers are not as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.

How do you use hand sanitizers?

• Apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
• Rub your hands together.
• Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.

 Almost everyone has dropped food on the floor and still wanted to eat it. Some people apply the “5-second rule” — that random saying about how food won’t become contaminated with bacteria if you pick it up off the floor in 5 seconds or less.

The 5-second rule has become such a part of our culture that scientists actually tested it. As you can probably guess, they found that the “rule” is mostly myth: Bacteria can attach to food even if you pick it up super fast. So, depending on which types of bacteria happen to climb on board, you could still get sick.

Here are two facts to consider whenever you feel tempted by the 5-second rule:

1. A clean-looking floor isn’t necessarily clean. A shiny linoleum floor is probably cleaner than a 1970s-era carpet. But even clean, dry floors can harbor bacteria. Newly washed floors are only as clean as the tools used to wash them (picture eating food off the mop in the cafeteria if you need a visual). Even with a brand-new mop or sponge, stubborn germs can still remain on the floor after cleaning.
2. Fast is better — but it may not be fast enough. Although a piece of food does pick up more bacteria the longer it’s on the floor, bacteria can attach to it instantly. So any food that makes contact with the floor can get contaminated if conditions are right. And foods with wet surfaces, like an apple slice, pick up bacteria easily.

When in Doubt, Toss It Out

Some bacteria are not harmful. But others can torture you with miserable stuff like diarrhea. Even if there’s no visible dirt on your food, you can still get sick. You just can’t tell what kinds of bacteria may be lurking on the floor.

So what are you to do with the piece of watermelon that just slipped from your grip? The safest choice is to throw it out. Or let the dog have it. (And there’s another thing to consider — even the 5-second rule can’t get around the fact that your food may have landed right in a spot where Fido parked his butt.)

“There are a variety of techniques that may help you stay healthy and deal better with memory and mental skills. Here are some tips:

• Learn a new skill.
• Follow a daily routine.
• Plan tasks, make to-do lists, and use memory tools such as calendars and notes.
• Put your wallet or purse, keys, phone, and glasses in the same place each day.
• Stay involved in activities that can help both the mind and body.
• Volunteer in your community, at a school, or at your place of worship.
• Spend time with friends and family.

Signs that it might be time to talk with a doctor include:

• Asking the same questions over and over again
• Getting lost in places you used to know well
• Having trouble following recipes or directions
• Becoming more confused about time, people, and places
• Not taking care of yourself — eating poorly, not bathing, or behaving unsafely”

NIH National Institute on Aging

(https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/memory-loss-and-forgetfulness/memory-problems-forgetfulness-and-aging)