Home Beverly Hills Office Culver City Office Forms Specialties Services Offered Curriculum Vitae Hospital Credentials TMS Health Tips Links PPO Plans Pay a Bill Health Tips Should I use heat or ice on my injury? I'm dehydrated, what should I drink? What can I do for sinuses and allergies? What should I take for my cold? What is the "flu"? Do I need a flu shot? Q: Should I use heat or ice on my injury? A: The simple answer is… it depends. For acute sprains, strains, ice is the best. For swelling, continue with ice thereafter. Use ice, for example, a bag of frozen peas or corn for no more than 15 minutes on your body. You can also freeze cups with water in the freezer and apply as "ice massage" to injured joint or tendon/ligament. Use about 4 times a day, more for acute inujury. Heat is great to relax muscle spasm; apply for 10-15 minutes with hot towel, hot water bottle, or heating pad. "Wet heat" is preferable to dry heat. The old rule of 1-3 days ice and then heat is exactly that, an "old" rule. Use the above guidelines instead. For some injuries, heat before (to loosen up) and ice afterwards (to reduce pain/inflammation) can be helpful during the recovery/rehab phase. The theory is to increase blood flow before exercise (with heat), flush out the injured area and clamp down the swelling afterwards (with ice). Q: I'm dehydrated, what should I drink? A: Whether you're dehydrated from hot weather, exercise, or the flu, continuing to drink fluids is crucial. I recommend a mixture that has some electrolytes (salt/sugar) rather than plain water, when moderately to severely dehydrated. For example, Gatorade mixed 50/50 with water or Orange Juice 30/70 with water. Q: My sinuses are "bad"; I have lots of allergies. What can I do other than medication? A: I advocate nasal irrigation with saline solution for patients with these conditions. I do it myself, twice a day. A device that I like is made by Neil-med. I suggest obtaining a starter kit at the local pharmacy, online, or I sometimes have them in my office. Once you get used to it, you'll feel clearer than you have for years! And it's "natural"; just saline, water, and some bicarbonate for acid/base balance. Q: What should I take for my cold? A: If you're a healthy person, a cold is going to run its course in 3-7 days or so. It's important to stay hydrated. Control fever and muscle aches with acetaminophen (tylenol) or ibuprofen (advil) as needed. Use pseudoephedrine (sudafed) for nasal congestion and/or medicated nasal spray (e.g. afrin/generic). Soup and tea can help with sore throats and congestion. Breathing steam can also help. Wash your hands regularly to avoid passing your germs to co-workers, friends, or family. For cough, guaifensin (in Robitussin products and others) can thin secretions. Dextromophorphan (in Robituss-DM) is a mild to moderate cough suppressant. Stronger cough medicines need a prescription. Consider an office visit for high fevers, cough productive of thick, green phlegm, wheezing, shortness of breath, persistent ear pain, or failure to improve with the above over the counter (OTC) measures. Q: What is the "flu"? A: The "flu" can mean anything from a viral syndrome with fever, aches, fatigue, nasasl congestion or diarrhea, and muscle aches. When doctors talk of THE FLU, we are referring to Influenza A, a seasonal (winter/spring) severe infection that usually starts with dry cough, fevers to 103-104, frontal headaches, and extreme fatigue. This is the infection that the "flu shot" is designed to prevent. The "flu shot" does NOT stop you from getting a cold or getting the "flu" that I spoke out earlier in the paragraph. It may substantially reduce the risk of getting Influenza or having a severe episode. Q: Should I get a Flu shot? A: If you are over 65, have a chronic illness, you should definitely get one. However, recommendations have broadened and health care workers, young children, and people who are exposed to lots of people during the flu season should get shots in October/November/December. After December there is diminishing benefit and also it's much harder to find anyone who still has any shots left! The good news-it seems to be a mild season so far. E-mail the doctor with further questions or for more explanation if you are an existing patient. Be sure to include the phrase "patient question" in subject heading. Please resend if there is no response within one day, and note that emails are usually not read on weekends or holidays. (REMINDER: Always call in the case of an urgent matter.)