Lifestyle and Respiratory Illness

Question 1

General facts about the cold

Answer 1

• most common URI
• caused by 200 viruses
• rhinovirus account for 30-50% of adult colds
• only 1:3 people exposed to the cold virus develop a cold

Question 2

What is the prevalence of colds

Answer 2

• in children: 7-10 colds a year
• in adults: 2-5 colds per year.
  women aged 20-30 are more likely to get a cold

Question 3

What increases your risk of a cold?

Answer 3

• not actual coldness

- sleeping: sleep duration and sleep efficiency

Question 4

What is the effect of vitamin C on colds?

Answer 4

• megadosing
• prophaylaxis and cold incidence
• prophalyaxis and cold duration
• therapy and cold duration

Question 5

What is echinacea?

Answer 5

• a herb used as a treatment for colds
• prophylaxis and cold incidence: 10-20% reduction in risk when 12 studies are pooled
• prophylaxis and cold duration: no significant effect looking at 7 trials

Question 6

What is the effect of stress to the cold?

Answer 6

• chronic stress increases the risk of the common cold, 1 > months
• cortisol levels which suppresses part of the immune system

Question 7

What is the effect of social factors on colds?

Answer 7

• More socially active people are less susceptible to getting the cold
• the Jackson criterion
• feeling that you are comparatively worse of in society, negatively impacts your health

Question 8

What is one of the importance of behaviours of people with colds?

Answer 8

• hand washing can reduce the risk of respiratory infection by 16%
• risk reduction range 6-44%

Question 9

What lifestyle factors stimulate the onset of asthma?

Answer 9

• maternal smoking in pregnancy
• maternal anxiety
• smoking in the home
• violence in the home

Question 10

What lifestyle factors can trigger episodes of asthma?

Answer 10

• smoke
• pollution/exhaust fumes
• intense exercise

Question 11

What physical environmental conditions can trigger an asthma episode?

Answer 11

• allergens
• food allergies
• chest infections
• chemical fumes
• cold weather

Question 12

What psychosocial factors can trigger an asthma episode?

Answer 12

• stress

- anxiety

Question 13

How does stress impact those with asthma?

Answer 13

• stress can cause a dysregulation of cortisol which may impact chronic asthma
• 9/11 increase in moderate to severe asthma symptoms from 14-24%
• more primary care visits and A+ E visits
• exposure to inter-personal conflict exacerbates asthma symptoms in children and young adults

Question 14

What are the death rates for lung and throat cancer?

Answer 14

• 7% of male deaths

- 5% of female deaths

Question 15

What smoking cessation methods are there?

Answer 15

• nicotine replacement: best in combination with behaviour therapy
• bupropion
• smoking cessation groups: more effective within the NHS
• education (quitline)
• buddy systems (sponsor): increase the effectiveness of one-one interventions
• hypnotherapy
• self-help-bibliotherapy