The Season of Respiratory Illnesses: What you need to know
When the cold weather starts, respiratory illnesses and sinus infections follow. The CDC reports a high
number of people across the United States seeking healthcare for various respiratory illnesses, and very
high activity in Arizona. Flu is the highest cause of emergency visits in Arizona compared to RSV and
COVID-19. 1 Immunizations are now available for all three of the most common respiratory illnesses (Flu,
COVID-19, and RSV). Immunizations help prevent these viruses from causing severe illness and
hospitalization and are our first line of defense during peak seasons. Please visit this CDC website to
learn more about each vaccine.
Current recommendations are:
Flu: Annual vaccine, “High dose” for those over 65 years old
COVID-19: One dose of current 2024-2025 vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax)
RSV: One dose (Pfizer, GSK) for those over 75 and older, or 60+ with certain health conditions, no repeat
recommendations currently
If you start to develop symptoms of respiratory illnesses, the following protocol, nicknamed FIZZS, can
help your body to reduce symptoms of respiratory illness, tackle postnasal drip, and improve immunity.
Use this website to order free COVID-19 tests provided by the government: https://covidtests.gov/
- Flonase (Fluticasone) nasal spray: Instill 2 sprays in each nostril 1-2 times daily
- Ibuprofen (Advil) 200 mg tablets: Take 3 tablets (600mg) 3 times a day for 3 days with food
a. If you have kidney issues, on medications that thin your blood, or unable to take
NSAIDs: Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) 1000mg 3 times a day - Zyrtec (Cetirizine) 10 mg: Take 1 tablet once daily
- Zinc 50 mg: Take 1 tablet once daily
- Saltwater Gargles: 1 tsp salt in 6-8 oz of warm water 4 times a day
a. The water does not need to be warm while gargling, only for dissolving the salt
Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory, and Flonase is a localized steroid; the two together help to reduce
tension in the sinus passages, and most importantly the Eustachian tubes. We recommend taking
Ibuprofen on a scheduled time frame for at least 3 days. Zyrtec is evidence-based to work on the
Eustachian tubes and Zinc 50 is evidence-based to improve immunity. Saltwater kills bacteria on contact
and inhibits viruses including COVID-19 from penetrating tissues. When you use salt water 4 times a day,
the pH in your mouth improves and reduces secretions.
We recommend wearing a well-fitting mask if you are going to be in an area of high-traffic at an
increased risk of spreading viruses such as an airport.
If you have any questions or find yourself coming down with a respiratory illness, we are here to help!
- https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data/index.html