St. David's HealthCare is one of the largest health systems in Texas and Austin's third-
largest private employer, with more than 60 sites throughout Central Texas, including
seven hospitals, four urgent care centers, four ambulatory surgery centers, and two
freestanding emergency departments, with a third set to open in Bastrop this summer.

St. David's HealthCare has a long history of serving the residents of Central Texas
with exceptional medical care. Our 7,500 employees touch over 858,000 lives each
year with a spirit of warmth, friendliness and personal pride.

Home » About Us » St. David's Healthcare Blog

St. David's HealthCare Blog

Subscribe to St. David's HealthCare Blog.

All posts

Football, Cool Weather and Respiratory Illnesses

Monday, November 29, 2010

By Esther Fields, D.O.

Fall is here in Central Texas, and when temperatures begin to drop, we become more susceptible to contagious viruses. Beginning in late October, doctors at St. David’s Georgetown Hospital began seeing more cases of respiratory illnesses among those of all ages. Because of the increase in these cases throughout the season, St. David’s Georgetown Hospital is committed to educating the public on the types of respiratory illnesses, their symptoms and prevention techniques.

Symptoms of respiratory illnesses can range from mild and self-limiting, to life threatening. Knowing how to recognize certain symptoms and identifying whattype of respiratory illness you may have is the key to proper treatment.

Some of the most typical respiratory illnesses include:

Pneumonia. An inflammatory illness within the upper respiratory tract. Typically comes with an abrupt fever, cough, breathlessness, chest pain, abnormal lung sounds and wheezing. Pneumonia is common among all age groups and is the leading cause of death among the young, the old and the chronically ill.

Bronchitis. Occurs when the bronchiole linings swell or become thick. It is characterized by a cough with or without the production of mucus, a runny nose and low-grade fever. Acute bronchitis often occurs during the course of a cold or flu.

Influenza. Commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious, viral disease. Influenza has many subtypes—one being H1N1. The most common symptoms are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, and weakness or fatigue. Influenza involves the lungs while the common cold does not.

The common cold. The most frequent infectious disease. On average, adults have two to four infections in a year, and children have six to 12 per year. The first indication you are coming down with a cold is often a sore or scratchy throat. Other common symptoms include a runny nose, congestion, and sneezing.

Tuberculosis. An infectious disease that spreads from person to person through coughing, laughing and sneezing. Symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, fever and chills, chest pain and coughing. Approximately 22,000 cases of tuberculosis are reported each year in the United States.

Staying healthy and illness-free is important to us all, and maybe more so during apacked fall and winter season. Missed days at school or work can often set us back. Adopting good health habits now can help to greatly prevent respiratory illnesses during this year’s high season.

Here are five ways to stay healthy:

Get plenty of sleep. There is no magic number for the amount of sleep you need—it actually varies from person to person. Children under 18 usually need more sleep, up to 10 hours, while adults should get between seven to eight hours per night to be fully rested.

Stay physically active. Anything that gets the heart pumping is important for good health. Physical activities can range from endurance exercises—long distance running, biking or rock-climbing—to easy, moderate activities, including dancing, canoeing or walking briskly.

Manage your stress. Stress is a normal part of life. Eliminating stress sources by effectively allotting your time or taking moments to be by yourself, help you have a less stressful life.

Drink plenty of fluids. The recommended amount of water to drink per day is around eight glasses; however, this daily recommendation should really be based on your lifestyle and how much water your body needs to stay hydrated.

Eat nutritious food. Some of the world’s healthiest foods are common, everyday foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, lean meats, and fish.

While these tips may not help you completely avoid a respiratory illness this fall or winter season, they do give you a good starting point to a healthier life. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout the year will help keep your body healthy during these higher risk seasons.

___________________________
Esther Fields, D.O., is an interventional pulmonologist at St. David’s Georgetown Hospital.