The key to prevention is protection.  But with more than 200 strains of cold virus and three types of  flu viruses floating around it’s no wonder that so many people catch these highly contagious bugs.  All you have to do is inhale infected air, share infected items or touch tainted surfaces then touch your hands to your nose, eyes or mouth and BAM, the virus is yours.  Flu shots are formulated to prevent Types A and B viruses, but can’t touch Type C.  And the common cold, well, the causes of 30% to 50% of adult colds remain a mystery.

Allegro’s Cold/Flu Season Category has a wide selection of products to help prevent and relieve cold and flu symptoms.  Ideal for everyone from individuals to caregivers, schools, offices, stores, clinics, homes and hospitals – it’s time for everyone to take stock and be prepared.

Cold and Flu Products

Personal Protection Masks and Hand Sanitizers - If you are in close contact with cold or flu victims, protect yourself from inhaling virus infected droplets in the air with a face mask (level of effectiveness depends on masks rating) and keep your hands sanitized to provide the first level of protection against viruses.

Exam Gloves- Gloves provide protection from viruses that can survive on surfaces – especially in health care and caregiver settings.  Keep a box handy also for household chores, messes and hobbies.  Great for changing the oil, gardening, cleaning, pet clean-up and much more.

Shop all Exam Gloves

Cold & Flu Diagnostic Products- With flu comes fever, which is likely the easiest way to distinguish between a flu and a cold.  What’s your temperature?  Also find tongue depressors, otoscopes and other diagnostic products for kids and adults alike.  Say ahhhhhhh.

Shop all Diagnostic Products 

Pain Relief / Comfort – Stock up on products that will help you feel better if that ol’ flu or cold bug catches you.   Heating pads, cooling pads and fluffy slippers, mostly.

Shop all Pain Relief

Shop all Hot/Cold Therapy

Shop all Heat/Heating Pads

Respiratory/Breathing Products - Loosen tight chests and ease your breathing with humidifiers, vaporizors and nebulizers.

Shop all Humidifiers/Vaporizers 

Shop all Respiratory Therapy

Surface Sanitizers / Disinfectants - These hospital-grade disinfectants and surface sanitizers kill bugs and bacteria you didn’t know existed.  Wipe down counters, walls, bannisters, door knobs, desks, tables and other surfaces in the home, office, clinic or school to keep everyone safe.  Read product descriptions and directions carefully!

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications - Generic and name brand aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, nausea relief, cough syrup, Mucinex, naproxen sodium, sleep aids and more.  Super values.  Stock up today!

Shop all OTC Medications

Shop all Cold & Allergy Remedies

Shop all Dietary Supplements and Nutrition

Still looking?  Shop by Condition: Cold / Flu

Please try to stay well!  And remember to ask you doc if you should get a flu shot.

If I stay ahead of colds and flu I find that I only get sick when foreign germs are forced on me – like in an airplane or by my thoroughly wonderful, germy nephews.    When you are constantly fighting something and you have to ‘chase’ good health, it is important to realize that you can’t win unless you strengthen your immune system. 

Create and follow a plan to bolster your immunity and you may just sail through cold and flu season sniffle-free.  Those with disabilities or chronic illnesses have an even tougher time avoiding colds and flu, but they are often times better prepared to prevent colds and flu because they know the dangers.

Going into the holiday season with a chink in your immunity armour is really asking for trouble.  Here are some ideas and products to help you prevent colds and flu this season by strengthening your ability to fight germs:

Reduce your Stress

Stress Eraser - We’ve all heard that stress kills and we’ve seen plenty of evidence to support it.  Perhaps this amazing stress relieving tool could save your life.  It is a portable biofeedback device that helps you learn how to activate your body’s natural relaxation response.  FDA regulated, non-invasive and drug-free.  Featured on The Rachael Ray Show and The View.  A great gift!  Those with high blood pressure might consider the RESPeRATE as well.

Manage your stress with other stress relievers, massagers and spa products in our Stress Products Category

Are You Too Stressed?  Take the Stress Test!

Do Moderate, Consistent Exercise

A recent study  shows that the risk both of catching a cold or the flu and of having a particularly severe form of the infection “drop if you exercise moderately”.  If you are sedentary, or if you exercise too intensely, the opposite is true.  As with most things, moderation wins.

Exercise Peddler - Work at your own pace peddling with your arms or your legs.  This exercise peddler is a favorite because it folds up and there is no assembly required.  Features adjustable resistance and an electronic display, all for under $50.  Makes a great gift.  I use mine while I watch t.v.  That’s not cheating, is it? See all Cycles/Pedlars

See all Exercise and Fitness Products

Take your Vitamins

Emercen-C Immune Defense - Includes all the necessary vitamins to boost your immune system.  Mix with water and enjoy hot or cold.  Emergen-C products are extremely popular and provide a wide range of targeted benefits. 

See all Vitamins

See all Dietary Supplements

Avoid Germs

Most of our germ avoiding products are in our Swine Flu Products section where you’ll find germ-fighting Gloves, Hand Sanitizers, Masks and Surface Disinfectants.

Hand Sanitizing Gel – Our most popular hand sanitizing gel.  It’s inexpensive and it works.  Buy in various sizes to have it handy in your car, purse, briefcase and home.

Educate your friends, family and community to make immunity boosting a TEAM approach!  Take vitamins, Exercise moderately, Avoid germs and Manage stress.  I promise you’ll be way ahead when it comes to fighting colds and flu this season.

If, by chance, you lose the fight, there are nearly 60 items in our Cold and Flu Season Products category to make you feel better. 

Wishing you a healthy holiday season.  -v

How do you know you have the flu versus a cold?  

You know you have the flu when you get sick suddenly, have a fever, headache, chills, muscle aches and fatigue.  You also may have a dry cough, sore throat and nasal congestion.  It will hit you like a ton of bricks, and if left untreated you could suffer for up to 10 days.  Best to get a flu shot and try to avoid it.   Remember to eliminate or avoid contact with people as soon as you start feeling flu symptoms, and remain indoors for at least 24 hours after your fever has passed to avoid spreading the virus.

You know you have a cold if you get sick gradually.  You will probably not have a fever.  Muscle aches will likely be minor if at all, but you might have congestion, a sore throat and a cough with mucus.  Most likely you’ll be sick for less than a week.

H1N1 Swine Flu Product Recommendations

60-Second Digital Thermometer, Fahrenheit- Fever is a tell-tale sign that you have the flu versus the common cold.  Check for fever quickly and acturately with this digital thermometer.  Use Thermometer Probe Covers for extra sanitation and germ control.   Here at Allegro, we use the Single-Use Clinical Thermometers to check the temperatures of any employees who may be coming down with the flu.  These thermometers are disposable and very handy this flu season for schools and businesses.

See all Thermometers

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Flu Remedies – Feel better with Mucinex,  Nasal Sprays, fever reducers and pain relievers like Ibuprofin, Tri-Buffered Asprin and Acetaminophen,  cough syrups, zinc lozenges and more.

See all OTC Medications

See all Cold and Flu Products

Hot/Cold Therapy Wrap – Chill or heat the removable gel pack and then insert it into the pocket on this versatile scarf-like therapy product for quick relief of headaches and muscle aches.  Also great for sprains, strains, swelling and other minor problems.  Just wrap, tie and relax.

See all Pain Relief Products

Cool Care Comfort System Chillow Pak - Two cooling pillows – one for use inside your pillow case and the other cools anywhere from both sides.  Perfect fever relief.  Also great for hot flashes and night sweats.

Emergen-C- Super popular energy booster.  32 mineral complexes, antioxidants and other micro-nutrients plus 1000mgs of Vitamin C as 7 mineral ascorbates.  Rev up your immune system while you’re waiting for that flu shot.   Non-caffinated.  How about Emergen-C Kidz for the Kids?

See all Emergen-C

H1N1 Protection and Swine Flu Prevention Products

N95 Respirator Masks with Free Iso-Tek Ear-Loop Masks – Get 70 masks for the price of 20 with this special offer.  Affordable disposable protection against the H1N1 Virus.  Meets or exceeds the CDC and WHO recommendations for flu prevention. 

N95 Particulate Respirator Mask with Vent - Box of 10.  Our most popular mask this flu season.  Adjustable nose piece and inner foam provide a custom seal for different facial sizes.

See all Swine Flu Products.  Find Hospital Grade H1N1 Flu Products including Gloves, Hand Sanitizers, Masks / Respiratory Products, and Surface Disinfectants from major brands.

Note:  Help your community common areas, schools and businesses prepare for the H1N1 Flu virus by having the proper medical supplies on hand.  Forward this buyers guide information to those who are in charge of purchasing and preparedness!

Stay well!!

Allegro’s broad range of antimicrobial germ killers lets you order the same products used in hospitals and other health care facilities – for use in your own home, vehicle, office, school or social gathering places.  We suggest you order these hospital grade disinfectants and sanitizers today, as demand is expected to be high.

Why stock up on antimicrobials?  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the H1N1 virus is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through the coughing or sneezing of infected people.  Droplets from a cough or sneeze move through the air and can transmit the flu to people close by.  Sometimes people may also become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. 

How to Protect Your Health

• When you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue.  Throw it in the trash afterwards… please.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you sneeze or cough.  Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.  Have kids?  Order Sani-Hands for Kids.  It’s an antimicrobial alcohol gel hand wipes that kill 99.99% of germs while removing bacteria and soil.  See All Hand Sanitizers.

• How do you know if your employees or kids are washing their hands properly?  Teach them with the Glo-Germ Handwashing Learning Kit.

• To prevent the spread of influenza virus it is important to keep surfaces clean (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys for children) by wiping them down with a household disinfectant.  Allegro has many Surface Disinfectants to choose from,  including disinfectant towelettes, spray cleaners, sanitizing sprays, wipes, home care kits and foggers.

• BE PREPARED in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over the counter medicines, alcohol-based hand sanitizers, tissues and other related Cold/Flu Items might be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while sick and contagious.  

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  Germs spread this way. 

• Avoid contact with sick people.

• If you’re sick with flu-like illness, the CDC recommends you stay home for at least 24 hours AFTER your fever is gone, except to get medical care or other necessities. 

See All Cold/Flu Season Products including diagnostic aids, pain relief, personal protection items and more.

See All Swine Flu Category Products including gloves, hand sanitizers, masks and surface disinfectants.

Stay current with CDC recommendations at the 2009 H1N1 Flu Website.

Do what you can to avoid getting sick.  Order today!

“We started noticing orders for the N95 respirator masks late on Sunday,” said Allegro CEO Craig Hood, “and by Monday morning mask revenue alone had reached $20k. That’s when we knew it was going to be a big day.  We responded with site-wide banners, optimization, blogs, sales promotions and a special “Swine Flu” category for customers to quickly find masks, gloves, hand sanitizers and anti-viral disinfectants.” 

The Company reported that the massive number of visitors on the website essentially overloaded it to the point of shutting down for a few minutes around 4pm Pacific time. 

Why the high volume?  “People are trying to do the right thing by preparing for whatever may happen,” said company spokesperson and co-owner Valerie Paxton. “We’re hopeful that Allegro’s products can provide some protection, prevention and peace of mind to those who can benefit most from these anti-viral products.”  

Today, AllegroMedical.com’s brisk sales continued despite the “temporarily out of stock” condition of some of the N95 Respirator Masks.  Paxton says, “Yesterday’s run on masks revealed a major shortage of product from our suppliers, but we have more stock on its way so we’re confident that we can cover the demand.”  The Company suggests that people hold onto their place in line rather than cancel their orders, as the shortage is widespread. 

About Allegro Medical

Allegro Medical is a division of Allegro Enterprises, Inc., a privately-owned company based in Mesa, Arizona. Founded in 1996, and serving more than 1 million consumer and business customers, the Company is one of the largest and most technologically advanced independently owned suppliers of life enhancing products in the U.S. www.allegromedical.com are offered a broad selection of thousands of brand name products searchable by Keyword, Category, Brand and Medical Condition.

Since launching the first ecommerce site in the medical equipment and home health care supplies industry in 1998, Allegro has expanded into Health & Fitness, Nutritional Dietary Supplements, Sexual Well-Being, Pain Relief, Emergency Preparation and Maternity/Baby. Visitors to www.allegromedical.com are offered a broad selection of thousands of brand name products searchable by Keyword, Category, Brand and Medical Condition.

Contact:

Valerie Paxton

vpaxton (at) AllegroMedical (dot) com

480-990-8881, Ext. 110

Studies are ongoing as to how this particular A (H1N1) swine influenza is transmitted, but so far neither contact with pigs nor eating pork has been linked to the spread of the flu.  The flu is normally transmitted through the respiratory tract and spread when people come in contact with droplets of infected body fluids. 

According to a report this morning on Bloomberg.com, “N95 respirator masks, when properly used, filter germs from the breath and hamper the spread of flu.”  You can find all types of respirator masks at AllegroMedical.com, along with medical gloves,  antibacterial sanitizers and high level disinfectants in the company’s Swine Flu Products Category.

What can you do to avoid Swine Flu?

*  Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  Dispose of the tissue in the trash.  For extra precaution wear an N95 Particulate Respirator Mask.  These are being used worldwide to help contain the spread of the flu.

*  Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.  The CDC also recommends the use of Alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

*  If you are in contact with others, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  That’s how germs are spread.  Again, keep your hands sanitized.

*  Avoid close contact with sick people, if you can help it.  The flu is spread mainly through people sneezing and coughing around each other.

*  The CDC recommends that if you get sick, stay home from work or school to prevent the spread of infection.

*  Practice good health habits.  Get plenty of sleep, be active, manage your stress, drink lots of fluids and eat nutritious food.

According to an interview with Dr. Nancy Snyderman on NBC’s Today Show, the human body has no natural immunity to the swine flu and the incubation period is about 48 hours. 

Swine Flu Symptoms include:

*   High fever of 102+

*  Cough

*  Chills

* Headache

* Aches  and Pains

*  Some reports include nausea and diarrhea

Dr. Synderman says “You KNOW you’re sick.”  Don’t worry that you have the swine flu if your are experiencing cold symptoms or spring allergies.   We don’t want to overwhelm the system with everyone rushing to the doctors for every sniffle. 

If you start to experience flu-like symptoms, stay home, have your kids stay home and call the doctor.  If you happen to have the flu, check out Allegro Medical’s Cold and Flu Products to make you feel better. 

Read “Understanding Swine Flu Outbreak: Questions and Answers” for more information. 

Be smart, and take care of yourself!