A pharmacy chain is urging people to be aware of the dangers caused by high levels of respiratory infections following low levels last year due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The advice comes as research by Well Pharmacy found that one in four men and one in three women felt their immune system had been weakened by coronavirus.
With Covid-19 cases increasing and colds and chest problems beginning to rise – including reports of a ‘Supercold’ sweeping the nation – the nationwide independent pharmacy chain is urging people to stay vigilant and ‘symptom aware’ this winter as colds and flu can easily develop into more serious illnesses such as pneumonia.
As winter bugs become rife, it has reported sales of cough and cold remedies increasing by 100 per cent as people opt to treat their symptoms at home with stronger medication, only available at pharmacies.
Wendy Lee, pharmacist at Well Pharmacy, said: “With news of a ‘Supercold’ sweeping the nation and a worrying increase in Covid-19 cases, it has never been more important for people to know the signs to look out for and to take preventative measures to keep themselves and their loved ones safe and well.
"In winter we spend much more times indoors, which allows viruses like flu, pneumonia and Covid to spread more easily due to low ventilation. It is never too late to think about our own immunity, especially in these cold winter months and as many of our immune systems have been compromised during lockdown.”
The pharmacy chain is also advising people on simple measures they can do to improve their immunity, with everyday tips including:
Getting enough quality sleep – going to bed at a similar time and waking up around the same time each morning can boost immunity.
Eat the rainbow – a varied and balanced diet with an array of fruit and vegetables can help support our bodies through the darker months.
Staying hydrated – the weather may be colder, but people still need to ensure they keep up their fluid intake. Herbal and fruit teas are perfect for the colder days.
Get some sunlight – the days may be shorter but getting some daylight each day can make all the difference to physical and mental health.
Ensure vaccinations are up to date - such as flu and pneumonia vaccines.
Colds, flu, pneumonia and Covid all have similar symptoms. Well Pharmacy has compiled a chart to help recognise the signs, but it can often be hard to tell if a cold is something more serious as many of the symptoms overlap.
| Symptoms |
Cold |
Flu |
Pneumonia |
Covid |
| Difficulty breathing |
Rarely |
 ️ |
️ |
Sometimes |
| Fever |
Rarely |
️ |
️ |
️ |
| Shivering or sweating |
Rarely |
️ |
️ |
Sometimes |
| Chest pain |
Rarely |
️ |
️ |
️ |
| Fatigue |
Sometimes |
️ |
️ |
️ |
| Dry or phlegm producing cough |
️ |
️ |
️ |
️ |
| Nasal congestion |
️ |
️ |
️ |
Rarely |
| Headaches |
️ |
️ |
️ |
Sometimes |
| Loss of taste/smell |
Sometimes |
Rarely |
Rarely |
️ |
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