Cold, Flu, or Pneumonia?

Posted on January 30, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

The winter season can be difficult to navigate when there is the risk of developing one of three respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold, flu, or pneumonia. All three of these illnesses share similar symptoms but are all different and range from mild to severe.

The common cold is the least serious of the three respiratory illnesses, as it presents milder symptoms. Common cold symptoms include:

Mild cough

Sore throat

Runny nose

Congestion

When a person is suffering from the common cold, they will usually feel run-down for a couple of days and are able to treat their symptoms with over-the-counter remedies such as cough syrup and cold medications.

Unlike a cold, the flu or influenza hits hard and fast, with more intense symptoms usually beginning more suddenly than a cold. Symptoms of the flu include:

A high, sudden fever

A stuffy nose

A dry cough

Headaches

Muscle aches

Extreme fatigue

Chills and sweats

Lack of appetite

A flu vaccine is available to help prevent an infection from the flu virus, as well as medications that can help reduce the severity of symptoms.

Pneumonia is typically caused by a bacterial or viral infection, with the illness and its symptoms being more severe than the cold or flu. Symptoms of pneumonia include:

Chest pains that increase when you cough

Coughing up blood or mucus

High fever

Difficulty breathing

Inability to breathe deeply

Chills

Extreme and weakening fatigue

Lack of appetite

Clammy skin and frequent sweating

Bacterial and viral pneumonia are treatable with antibiotics and antivirals, respectively. Pneumonia can be very serious and even life-threatening for the elderly, very young children, and those with chronic lung conditions. Vaccines for pneumonia are available for high-risk patients.

Preventing respiratory illnesses such as the common cold, flu, or pneumonia requires taking proactive steps to reduce the risk of developing and/or spreading these infections, including:

Washing your hands regularly

Avoiding contact with individuals who are sick with any of these respiratory illnesses

Getting your annual flu vaccination

Getting vaccinated with the pneumococcal and Hib vaccines if you are in an at-risk group

If you are experiencing any symptoms of a cold, flu, or pneumonia, you can schedule an appointment with a physician at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. Please call (718) 206-7001.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

The Importance of Handwashing During Cold and Flu Season

Posted on December 10, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that only 31% of men and 65% of women wash their hands after using a public restroom.

Not washing our hands can lead to the spread of germs and increase the risk of getting illnesses that affect our health.

Personal hygiene begins and ends with our hands. Frequent handwashing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay healthy and reduce the spread of germs.

Germs can spread easily when we touch our faces, prepare food, or handle shared objects. You can pick up and pass along germs when you:

Touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands

Prepare or eat food with unwashed hands

Touch contaminated surfaces or objects

Blow your nose, cough, or sneeze into your hands and then touch others or shared items

Therefore, it is extremely important to keep you and your loved ones healthy by washing your hands often. There are several instances when it is important to wash your hands, including:

Before, during, and after preparing food

Before eating

Before and after caring for someone who’s sick

Before and after treating a wound

After using the bathroom

After changing diapers or cleaning a child who has used the bathroom

After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

After touching animals or handling pet food

After touching garbage

Some other facts that highlight the importance of handwashing include:

80% of spreadable diseases can be transferred by touch

Washing your hands a few times a day can reduce diarrhea rates by 40%

Touching your face with dirty hands can spread sicknesses such as pneumonia, the common cold, and the flu

Pneumonia is the number one cause of childhood death, and is preventable by regular handwashing

When you flush a toilet with the seat up, a bacteria-filled mist is spread over about 6 square meters, and worse, 90% of these bacteria cover the sinks in public bathrooms.

Most bacteria on our hands are under our fingernails, so it is important to scrub under them when washing our hands

Damp hands are 1,000 times more likely to spread bacteria than dry hands, yet only 20% of people dry their hands after washing them

Reusable cloth towels have millions of bacteria in their fibers. Using disposable paper towels is the cleanest way to dry our hands

Studies show that people who wash their hands have 24% fewer sick days because of respiratory illness, and 51% fewer sick days due to a sick stomach

It is important to wash your hands after being in public places where you may touch shared surfaces such as door handles, shopping carts, or checkout screens, and before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Clean hands prevent infections and sickness, so it is important to learn the basics of hand hygiene. Here are five steps to wash your hands the right way:

Wet your hands with clean, warm, or cold running water, turn off the tap, and apply soap

Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails

Scrub for at least 20 seconds. You can hum or sing the “Happy Birthday” song to time yourself

Rinse your hands well under clean, running water

Dry your hands with a clean towel or dry air

If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Making a habit of good hand hygiene is an easy, effective way to prevent infections and sickness.

If you are sick and would like to be seen by a physician, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 206-7001.

What is the New Flu Virus Variant?

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

A new variant of the flu virus, known as H3N2 subclade K, is affecting the U.S. this season, having circulated in other countries since the summer.

This variant is a mutated strain of H3N2, which is a subtype of influenza A. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), H3N2 is the main type of flu spreading in the U.S. as of mid-November.

Additionally, scientists from around the world have reported that H3N2 subclade K, a mutation of H3N2, has undergone several mutations, which haven’t been seen before in flu viruses. These mutations may make this new strain more severe than usual, with some experts suggesting that these changes could reduce the effectiveness of the current flu vaccine in preventing infection.

However, it is important to note that it is still recommended to receive the flu vaccine, as the CDC notes that the H3N2 subclade K strain can cause severe symptoms in older adults over the age of 65 and children under the age of five. Other people who are vulnerable to severe symptoms of the subclade K strain include:

Anyone who is immunocompromised

Pregnant people

People with underlying chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or lung disease

Doctors warn that flu infections, if left untreated or not treated early enough, can increase the risk of complications such as ear infections and sinus infections, as well as more serious complications such as pneumonia, hospitalization, and even death.

Last year, data from the CDC showed that the U.S. had the most total flu-related hospitalizations in about 15 years, and close to 280 pediatric deaths from the flu.

People who are infected with the flu usually develop symptoms about one to four days after being exposed. Flu symptoms include:

Fever and chills

Muscle and body aches

Headaches

Sore throat

Cough

Deep fatigue or tiredness

Runny nose or stuffy nose

Vomiting and diarrhea (in some cases, especially in children)

For most healthy people, the flu resolves within a week or two with rest and fluids. However, certain symptoms are red flags that indicate you need to seek immediate medical attention.

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

Persistent dizziness, confusion, or inability to wake up

Seizures

Not urinating, which is a sign of severe dehydration

Severe muscle pain

A high fever that does not respond to fever-reducing medication

Symptoms that improve but then return with a fever and worse cough

It is important to remember that getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent serious symptoms of the flu virus. There are also several steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting and spreading the flu. They include:

Washing your hands frequently with soap and water.

Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Staying home when you are sick to prevent the spread of the virus to others.

Covering your cough and sneeze with a tissue or your elbow.

Considering wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces, especially if you are around high-risk individuals.

If you are experiencing any flu symptoms, you can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. Please call (718) 206-7001.

How to Prepare for Cold and Flu Season

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

As we progress through the fall season and approach winter, it is essential to take proactive steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from seasonal illnesses.

Here are some steps you can take to prepare for the upcoming cold and flu season:

Getting vaccines, such as the flu shot, can help your body’s immune system recognize and defend against a variety of viruses before you get infected. They can also reduce the severity of symptoms if you do fall ill.
Avoiding and preventing the spread of illnesses by practicing good hygiene habits can help reduce your exposure to germs and viruses. Some good hygiene habits you can practice include:
- Washing your hands regularly, especially before eating and after using the restroom
- Covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, even if it is just seasonal allergies
- Wiping down commonly used surfaces in your home, such as door handles, toilets, faucets, remotes, and other areas you and your loved ones may touch regularly
- Avoiding sharing personal products and utensils with others
- Wearing a mask to help reduce your exposure to respiratory illnesses
- Limiting time in shared spaces, when you can, to help stop germs from spreading around your home
Taking care of yourself by protecting your immune system. Some ways you can protect your immune system include:
- Getting a good night’s rest can help strengthen your body and immune system against illnesses
- Adding vitamin-dense fruits and vegetables to your meals can help you maintain your energy and ward off viral and bacterial infections.
- Staying hydrated, which can help loosen mucus and increase blood flow
- Staying physically active can help your body build resistance and resilience against infectious diseases
- Taking time to relax and manage stress is important to keep your immune system running at full capacity. Experiencing stress may affect self-care routines and lower the body’s resistance to infections

If you do start to feel under the weather, it is important to take quick action to protect your health and prevent the spread of illness to others. By following these simple steps, you can recover more comfortably and help keep you and your loved ones safe.

If you are experiencing any cold or flu symptoms, you can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. Please call (718) 206-7001.

Covid and Laryngitis

Posted on September 12, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

As new COVID-19 variants emerge, new symptoms of the virus are being reported. One of those symptoms is acute laryngitis. Laryngitis is the inflammation of your larynx, also known as your voice box, and/or vocal cords.

Laryngitis typically begins suddenly and worsens progressively over the first three days. The symptoms usually go away afterward. Symptoms of laryngitis include:

A hoarse voice
Losing your voice from time to time
A sore throat
A constant need to clear your throat
An irritating, persistent cough

The hoarseness you may experience with COVID-19 is similar to the hoarseness you would experience with the flu or any other upper respiratory illness. COVID-19-causing laryngitis is particularly concerning because the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself causes inflammation. That means that many of the secondary symptoms you will experience, such as coughing, can be quite violent and can irritate your voice box further.

There isn’t much you can do to prevent the development of laryngitis or other throat and vocal cord problems when you have COVID-19. However, there are many ways to treat the condition, including:

Staying hydrated
Using cough drops and other over-the-counter cough suppressants
Avoiding speaking
Avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol
Gargling with salt water
Keeping the air in your house moist by using a humidifier
Eating a healthy diet can help prevent acid reflux, which can worsen your condition

If you are experiencing symptoms of laryngitis, you can make an appointment with an ENT doctor at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Please call 718-206-7110.

Home Remedies for a Runny Nose

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Patrick Hercules

A runny nose is caused by excess mucus production in your nasal passages. This leads to watery secretions that drip from your nose and sometimes down the back of your throat.

A runny nose can occur with or without nasal congestion. Nasal congestion is caused by inflammation of the lining of your nasal passages. Many things can cause a temporary runny nose, including:

Viruses
Cold weather
Sinusitis
Certain foods and drinks
Exercise
Medications

Some causes of long-lasting or recurring runny noses include:

Allergies
Hormones
Nasal polyps

If you don’t have any other symptoms, there are several ways to manage a runny nose at home with self-care options, including:

Drinking plenty of fluids
Drinking hot teas
Using a humidifier
Doing a facial steam
Taking a hot shower
Rinsing your nose with a neti pot
Applying a warm compress
Using a saline nasal spray
Taking over-the-counter medication
Getting plenty of rest
Eating spicy food

Many things can cause a runny nose, and it often doesn’t require treatment. However, if you frequently get one, it may be good to seek a medical opinion since chronic rhinitis can make life uncomfortable and lead to infections. You can talk with a physician by scheduling an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 206-7001.

Prepare for Cold and Flu Season With These Tips

Posted on September 27, 2023 by Jacob Lobosco

As the fall season begins, so does cold and flu season. There are a few essential steps you should take to prevent the spread of disease among your family and friends during this time. These include:

Getting Your Flu Vaccine: The flu vaccine is updated each year to keep up with new flu mutations and viral strains; it is the most simple, effective step you can take to protect against the flu. You can receive the flu vaccine from your doctor, local clinics, or at many major pharmacies.

Practicing Regular Hand Hygiene: Physical contact with other people, either directly (as with a handshake or hug) or indirectly (as when you hold a handrail on a bus or train), can be extremely difficult to avoid, but both of these methods of contact can spread germs that spread colds or the flu, particularly when those germs come into contact with your hands. You can keep your hands clean by washing them frequently with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can also help, but is less effective.

Maintaining Healthy Lifestyle Habits: Good nutrition, as well as the avoidance of substances such as tobacco or alcohol, can keep your immune system strong and better able to defend against disease. Regular exercise also boosts your immune system, in addition to providing numerous other benefits; however, if you’re sharing exercise equipment with other people, such as at a gym, make sure to sanitize both your hands and the equipment you’re using before and after usage.

You can receive the flu vaccine, as well as medical treatment for the flu, a cold, or other illnesses and conditions, from Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 206-7001.

Avoiding the Flu During the Holiday Season

Posted on December 12, 2022 by Jacob Lobosco

Throughout the holiday season, flu cases tend to reach their peak; many respiratory viruses have an easier time surviving in the cold than in the warm weather of other seasons. Holiday gatherings also often provide ideal circumstances for these viruses to spread.

Fortunately, there are a few ways for you and your family members to protect yourselves against the flu and prevent as few people from getting sick as possible, allowing everyone to enjoy holiday celebrations in good health. Some preventative steps you can take include:

Getting vaccinated: The simplest, most effective step you can take toward preventing the spread of the flu is to make sure you’re up to date on your influenza vaccinations. Anyone over the age of six months should get vaccinated annually.

Wash your hands regularly: Another simple method of protecting against the flu is to practice effective hand hygiene through regular, consistent handwashing. You should generally wash your hands after using the bathroom, after touching surfaces used by other people or animals, before and after preparing food, and before and after coming into direct contact with another person or animal. If you cannot wash your hands, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

Practice healthy lifestyle habits: Regular exercise and a balanced, nutritious diet are effective for keeping your body at a well-protected baseline level against many diseases and conditions, including the flu. Include regular aerobic exercise in your routine several times per week and make sure you’re getting at least seven hours of sleep each night.

You should also make sure to visit a doctor as soon as you begin to feel symptoms of a respiratory infection, including a sore throat, difficulty breathing or wheezing, congestion, or coughing. You can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 206-7001.

The Facts About Ear Infections

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Michael Hinck

An ear infection is an infection of the middle ear, the air-filled space behind the eardrum. Children are most likely to develop ear infections, but adults can get them too.

Ear infections are commonly associated with colds or the flu because the middle ear is connected to the upper respiratory tract by a tiny channel known as the Eustachian tube. Germs that are growing in the nose or sinus cavities can climb up the Eustachian tube and enter the middle ear to start growing.

The most common symptoms associated with ear infections in children include:

Ear pain, especially when lying down
Tugging or pulling at an ear
Trouble sleeping
Crying more than usual
Trouble hearing or responding to sounds
Loss of balance
Fever of 100 F (38 C) or higher
Drainage of fluid from the ear

Ear pain, difficulty hearing and drainage of fluid from the ear are the most common symptoms in adults.

While anyone can develop an ear infection, there are multiple factors that can increase your chances of developing one, including:

Age – Children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years are more susceptible to ear infections because of the size and shape of their Eustachian tubes and because their immune systems are still developing.
Group child care – Children cared for in group settings are more likely to get colds and ear infections than are children who stay home.
Bottle feeding – Babies who drink from a bottle, especially while lying down, tend to have more ear infections than do babies who are breast-fed.
Seasonal factors. Ear infections are most common during the fall and winter. People with seasonal allergies may have a greater risk of ear infections when pollen counts are high.
Poor air quality. Exposure to tobacco smoke or high levels of air pollution can increase the risk of ear infections.

Because ear infections often clear up on their own, treatment may begin with managing pain and monitoring symptoms. When they don’t however, antibiotics can be used to clear the infection. Some people are prone to having multiple ear infections. This can cause hearing problems and other serious complications.

It is important to see your doctor when:

The patient is less than six months old
Symptoms last more than a day
Pain is severe
There is a discharge of fluid

Most ear infections don’t cause long-term complications, but if someone develops them repeatedly, they can lead to complications including impaired hearing, speech or development delays and spread of infection to nearby tissue.

The best ways to reduce the risk of developing an ear infection include practicing good hand hygiene and social distancing to avoid contracting the common cold, the flu or other viruses and bacterial infections that can lead to them. Other tips include breast-feeding your baby and avoiding secondhand smoke.

What Type Of Flu Vaccine Is Best For Seniors

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

With flu season upon us, it is recommended that everyone six months and older receive their annual influenza (flu) vaccine. This is especially true for senior citizens as they are at a greater risk of developing serious complications from the flu. While there is no debate over whether or not seniors should get their flu shot, there is one about what type of vaccine they should receive.

Many providers are now recommending that patients over the age of 65 receive the vaccine Fluzone, a higher dose injectable vaccine formulated specially for seniors. Like other flu vaccines, Fluzone is comprised of three different strains of the influenza virus that are most likely to cause the flu during the upcoming season. However, Fluzone contains four times the amount of antigen (the inactivated virus that promotes a protective immune response) as a regular flu vaccine and produces a stronger immune response.

This high-dose vaccine was created specifically for seniors because their immune defenses are weakened due to their age. It is estimated that approximately 75% of seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older and between 50% and 70% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations have occurred among people in this age group.

The results of seniors who have taken high-dose vaccines are promising. Initial studies have indicated that 25% fewer cases of influenza occurred in adults 65 years or older who took the high-dose vaccine compared with those who took the standard-dose vaccine, but other studies also revealed that seniors who received the high-dose vaccine were more likely to develop side effects, such as a fever and soreness at the injection site, during the week after vaccination.

If you are over 65 years old and still haven’t received your flu vaccine this year, speak to your doctor about whether or not a high-dose vaccine is right for you.

If you would like to make an appointment with a doctor t Flushing Hospital, please call 718-206-7001.