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CNN Live At Daybreak

More Warning Signs Flu Hitting Early, Hard

Aired December 04, 2003 - 06:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: More warning signs this morning the flu is hitting early and it's hitting hard. Ten states say they have widespread cases of the flu. Five children in Colorado have died from the flu.
So what can you do to stay healthy?

Dr. Sandra Fryhofer is here with some helpful products and helpful hints, as well.

Are you starting to see the flu in your medical practice here in Atlanta?

DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, I saw my first case this week and this fellow had all the classic symptoms. And he had gotten a flu shot. We put him on some anti-viral medications and he's feeling better. At least he was feeling better yesterday. And that's something people may not realize. If you get the flu shot and you get the flu, you can still do the anti-virals and they will help you feel better.

COSTELLO: So if you still get the flu if you get the flu shot, why do you have to get the flu shot?

FRYHOFER: Because the flu shot gives some cross protection to all the different kinds of flu and it can keep you from getting really sick. And you need to do that, Carol, this year.

COSTELLO: I know. I know. And I never do.

FRYHOFER: Right.

COSTELLO: And I really should do it.

Let's talk about this strain out west. That's a different strain of flu than you're seeing here in Georgia, right?

FRYHOFER: Well, we -- the patient in my office wasn't typed, so we don't know for sure. But the kind he -- this patient had gotten the flu shot, he got the flu. The flu shot is not 100 percent protective, but it can keep you from getting really sick.

COSTELLO: So it's the best -- the best idea is to take the flu shot.

FRYHOFER: It is.

COSTELLO: Even if it doesn't protect you from certain strains.

FRYHOFER: Exactly.

COSTELLO: What else can you do, though, to protect yourself from getting flu and maybe even a cold?

FRYHOFER: Well, the best thing, Carol, sounds very simple -- wash your hands. Do it frequently. Do it as often as you can. Think about how colds and flu are passed. They're passed by droplet spread. So if you wash your hands, you won't get the flu or colds in the first place.

COSTELLO: So the best bet is take this stuff to work, keep it on your desk?

FRYHOFER: And use it. Wash your hands. Wash your hands, however you can.

COSTELLO: This is anti-bacterial stuff, right? So you don't even need water.

FRYHOFER: Or you can use the alcohol wash.

COSTELLO: OK.

FRYHOFER: Also, exercise, very good, helps, will boost your immune system. People who exercise regularly have 23 percent fewer colds than people who don't exercise. Also, people who walk regularly, it can -- their colds don't last as long. They last five days rather than seven days.

COSTELLO: So exercise builds up your immune system?

FRYHOFER: It boosts the immune system but the effect is only temporary, so you have to do a little bit every day to get the best effect, the most great effect.

COSTELLO: OK.

I see you have broccoli, oranges, apples?

FRYHOFER: Diet so important. A diet that's high in fruits and vegetables is very good for anti-oxidants, which can help build your immune system, as well. Also, even though it's this time of year and people like to drink a little bit of alcohol, probably best to keep it to a minimum.

COSTELLO: I want to talk a little bit about Vitamin C, because there is some sense that if you load yourself up with Vitamin C, you can prevent a cold.

FRYHOFER: It makes you feel good, but the help doesn't match the hype. Vitamin C in high doses has been studied. It will not prevent a cold. If you take it in large doses after you get a cold, it may modestly reduce the symptoms. But your best bet is prevention.

COSTELLO: OK, so get the flu shot, eat your broccoli.

FRYHOFER: Get the flu shot, get the flu shot.

COSTELLO: And if you do get sick...

FRYHOFER: Chicken soup.

COSTELLO: Chicken soup.

FRYHOFER: Definitely the chicken soup.

COSTELLO: All right, Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, thanks for joining us this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 4, 2003 - 06:52   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: More warning signs this morning the flu is hitting early and it's hitting hard. Ten states say they have widespread cases of the flu. Five children in Colorado have died from the flu.
So what can you do to stay healthy?

Dr. Sandra Fryhofer is here with some helpful products and helpful hints, as well.

Are you starting to see the flu in your medical practice here in Atlanta?

DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, I saw my first case this week and this fellow had all the classic symptoms. And he had gotten a flu shot. We put him on some anti-viral medications and he's feeling better. At least he was feeling better yesterday. And that's something people may not realize. If you get the flu shot and you get the flu, you can still do the anti-virals and they will help you feel better.

COSTELLO: So if you still get the flu if you get the flu shot, why do you have to get the flu shot?

FRYHOFER: Because the flu shot gives some cross protection to all the different kinds of flu and it can keep you from getting really sick. And you need to do that, Carol, this year.

COSTELLO: I know. I know. And I never do.

FRYHOFER: Right.

COSTELLO: And I really should do it.

Let's talk about this strain out west. That's a different strain of flu than you're seeing here in Georgia, right?

FRYHOFER: Well, we -- the patient in my office wasn't typed, so we don't know for sure. But the kind he -- this patient had gotten the flu shot, he got the flu. The flu shot is not 100 percent protective, but it can keep you from getting really sick.

COSTELLO: So it's the best -- the best idea is to take the flu shot.

FRYHOFER: It is.

COSTELLO: Even if it doesn't protect you from certain strains.

FRYHOFER: Exactly.

COSTELLO: What else can you do, though, to protect yourself from getting flu and maybe even a cold?

FRYHOFER: Well, the best thing, Carol, sounds very simple -- wash your hands. Do it frequently. Do it as often as you can. Think about how colds and flu are passed. They're passed by droplet spread. So if you wash your hands, you won't get the flu or colds in the first place.

COSTELLO: So the best bet is take this stuff to work, keep it on your desk?

FRYHOFER: And use it. Wash your hands. Wash your hands, however you can.

COSTELLO: This is anti-bacterial stuff, right? So you don't even need water.

FRYHOFER: Or you can use the alcohol wash.

COSTELLO: OK.

FRYHOFER: Also, exercise, very good, helps, will boost your immune system. People who exercise regularly have 23 percent fewer colds than people who don't exercise. Also, people who walk regularly, it can -- their colds don't last as long. They last five days rather than seven days.

COSTELLO: So exercise builds up your immune system?

FRYHOFER: It boosts the immune system but the effect is only temporary, so you have to do a little bit every day to get the best effect, the most great effect.

COSTELLO: OK.

I see you have broccoli, oranges, apples?

FRYHOFER: Diet so important. A diet that's high in fruits and vegetables is very good for anti-oxidants, which can help build your immune system, as well. Also, even though it's this time of year and people like to drink a little bit of alcohol, probably best to keep it to a minimum.

COSTELLO: I want to talk a little bit about Vitamin C, because there is some sense that if you load yourself up with Vitamin C, you can prevent a cold.

FRYHOFER: It makes you feel good, but the help doesn't match the hype. Vitamin C in high doses has been studied. It will not prevent a cold. If you take it in large doses after you get a cold, it may modestly reduce the symptoms. But your best bet is prevention.

COSTELLO: OK, so get the flu shot, eat your broccoli.

FRYHOFER: Get the flu shot, get the flu shot.

COSTELLO: And if you do get sick...

FRYHOFER: Chicken soup.

COSTELLO: Chicken soup.

FRYHOFER: Definitely the chicken soup.

COSTELLO: All right, Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, thanks for joining us this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com