H1N1 flu pandemic awareness helps Americans to be better prepared this year: Survey

Mar 19 2010

With almost half of respondents saying they believe a sneeze travels eight feet or more, one might think you would be sick all the time. But a recent national survey of 1,017 U.S. adult men and women (age 18+) conducted by Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., maker of Zicam, found a majority of Americans polled surprisingly saw this cold and flu season as "about the same" (42%) or only "slightly worse" (21%) from last year, despite all the hype this past fall around H1N1.  Consumers' biggest concern about getting the flu or a cold is feeling lousy (36%), followed by getting others sick (19%).  And with 80 percent of people reporting that they either sneeze into their elbow or hand, most are doing what they can to keep others healthy.  

The dire warnings and resulting heightened awareness about a potential, sweeping H1N1 flu pandemic, however, appear to have been key factors in helping Americans be better prepared this year.  In fact, the Zicam Cold & Flu Report revealed that 95 percent of people said they took proactive steps to stay healthy and combat cold and flu, while only 5 percent reported doing nothing or "waiting it out."

"While this year's flu pandemic thankfully proved less severe than initially expected, it's important to remember that preparation and early trea™ent are the best defenses against the common cold, which can strike year round," noted Dr. Tim Tucker, Pharm.D.,FAPhA, and immediate past president of the American Pharmacists Association.  "Unlike most cold medications that just mask symptoms, zinc products, such as Zicam Cold Remedy, can reduce the duration of your cold if taken within the first 24 to 48 hours after the onset of symptoms."

Some interesting cultural and demographic differences in how people respond to a cold, included:

• Asian-Americans and Hispanic-Americans are more likely to get extra rest and take extra Vitamin C
• Older Americans (65+) are more likely to visit a doctor
• African-Americans get extra rest, but prefer over-the-counter cold medicine to help lessen the effects of a cold
• Men are far more likely to delay any kind of at-home treatment or to "wait it out," while women try to get more rest and see a doctor if symptoms worsen

If you get a cold (62% report getting at least one each year), the top things people do to proactively prepare themselves to stay healthy include frequent hand washing (85%); avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth (46%); liberal use of antibacterial gel (34%); avoiding shaking hands during cold and flu season (31%); and frequently sterilizing commonly used items in the home and office (26%).

But unless you're planning on shutting yourself off from the world – respondents reported they felt they were most susceptible to catching a cold at work (50%); at a shopping mall, theatre or public venue (43%); from kids (42%); and on a plane, train or other public transportation (31%) – the best defense is indeed a good offense when it comes to staying healthy.