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- [00:04]
Gurung Trivedi
Ruby.
- [00:14]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Sniffles, Sore throat? Body aches? Sound familiar? Cold and flu season is here and it's hitting hard. But how do you know if it's just a cold or something more serious? We are breaking down the myths, the must knows, and the questions pharmacists hear every day. All that and more on today's episode of beyond the Script.
- [00:40]
CVS Pharmacy Announcer
At cvs, it matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night, and we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a tasty and yeah, healthy snack. At cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit us@cvs.com or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location.
- [01:21]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Welcome to beyond the Script, the show in which we gather at the counter to talk to pharmacists about how to stay healthy healthy and feel better. You have questions and our pharmacists are here to help. That's what beyond the Script is all about. I'm Dr. Jake Goodman, a board certified psychiatrist and health educator here to help you feel more confident advocating for your health. Each week, I'll be joined by CVS pharmacists to break down the most pressing questions they're hearing in communities around the country. From gut health to sleep to to spring allergies, we'll be diving into the topics of the moment. Welcome to our first episode. With significant increases in cold and flu cases across communities, today's discussion will focus on the essential steps you need to take to safeguard your health. How to tell when it's more than a cold, what actually helps symptoms, and whether it's too late to protect yourself from the flu.
- [02:21]
Gurung Trivedi
Spoiler?
- [02:22]
Dr. Jake Goodman
It's not. First, let's dive into why all of this matters. When people talk about colds and flu, they often lump them together, but they're not the same thing. In the US Most adults get two to three colds a year. Colds are caused by viruses, which means antibiotics won't help and there's no cure. Symptoms usually peak in a couple of days and improve within about a week. Though a cough can hang on longer, the flu is more serious. Every year, millions of Americans get the flu and many are hospitalized. In fact, did you know that during the 20242025 flu season, it was estimated that there were between 47 and 82 million flu illnesses in which means that shaking hands has officially become an extreme sport. Flu symptoms tend to come on fast and can include fever, body aches, chills, and extreme fatigue. Knowing when symptoms are more than just a cold can make a big difference. And pharmacists are often the first place people turn for clarity and guidance. I've been taking a look at the top questions people are asking pharmacists this flu season. Some made sense and some surprised me, like, how do I know if it's cold or the flu? When should I worry that this could be something more serious? Which over the counter meds can I take together? Can being cold or going outside make me sick? Can the flu shot give me the flu? These are just a taster. Let's get into it. All right, let's hear from someone who sees this play out every day. Today I'm joined by an incredible guest, Gurung Trivedi, a CVS Pharmacy region director from North Carolina. Gurung, welcome to beyond the script.
- [04:32]
Gurung Trivedi
Thank you, Dr. Jake. Looking forward to talk to you.
- [04:35]
Dr. Jake Goodman
So let me ask you some questions to get to know you a little bit. Where are you calling in from today? And paint us a picture of your CVS store and neighborhood.
- [04:46]
Gurung Trivedi
So I'm calling in from Raleigh, North Carolina, and I get an opportunity to lead a team of 140 pharmacists in the north northeast part of North Carolina.
- [04:57]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Raleigh. Nice. I've heard amazing things about the community there. And managing 140 pharmacists, that's impressive. So what do you love about being a pharmacist?
- [05:08]
Gurung Trivedi
Yes, Jake, I. One of the biggest, most exciting pieces about being a pharmacist is, you know, we are the most trusted healthcare profession out there. Number two, we are the most accessible healthcare profession out there. For me, the journey started when I was very, very young. My grandfather was a pharmacist back in the days. And I was really, really inspired by what he did, the work he did, how we helped people. And in his local village, everyone would go up to him and, you know, ask for medical advice. And that really inspired me. And as I went through high school, I felt this was a really good career to pursue, to be able to interact with patients and really, really help the community overall.
- [05:48]
Dr. Jake Goodman
I love that, you know, off camera, before we started, you told me that you'd been doing this for 17 years. So what's the one thing about your day to day over the last 17 years that might surprise people?
- [06:00]
Gurung Trivedi
I think the one constant that I have is that two days are not the same. You know, every day I wake up and I may have a plan or I may have an agenda, but it does change because, you know, we are working with true, we are working in the community, we're working with patients, we're working with people. And no two days are the same. You know, they present with different challenges, different situations that we have to overcome. But that truly drives me being able to tackle that and embrace that challenge every day.
- [06:26]
Dr. Jake Goodman
And what about outside of work? Do you have any hobbies?
- [06:29]
Gurung Trivedi
Yes. You know, I'm a dad, got a six and eight year old son. So it's all about flag football, basketball, so spending a lot of time doing that. We're big, you know, big Cowboys fans. Also, being in North Carolina, we are blessed. We are pretty close to the mountains, so we get to ski, especially this time of the year. So looking forward to doing that over the next few weeks as well.
- [06:52]
Dr. Jake Goodman
I want to be honest and transparent. I am an Eagles fan. I was born in Philly. I was in Philly in med school when the Eagles won and I was a part of the parade. So I just want to be upfront about that. I hope that we can still be friends.
- [07:07]
Gurung Trivedi
I think we're going to have a lot of fun with this.
- [07:14]
Dr. Jake Goodman
So let's dive into our first discussion. It is that time of year again. It's winter. And depending on where you live, it's either really cold, I'm talking, you know, Philly cold, New York cold, or it's just kind of mildly cold. I'm in San Diego right now, so not too bad. But regardless, it seems like everyone is coughing and sneezing and saying things like, I think something is going around. I can imagine for you, this is prime time behind the counter.
- [07:45]
Gurung Trivedi
I think one thing we need to really slow down and consider when we think of the flu season, we think of it from September through April. So we still have three or four months ahead of us. I think we need to be very, very close to this and really figure out how can we protect ourselves and our communities to ensure that we keep these numbers lower, we keep everyone healthier out of hospital, you know, at least for the next four months.
- [08:08]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Makes total sense. So we pulled some of the most asked questions that people are searching about right now when it comes to cold and flu season. We'll get to a bunch of them as we go. But the first one, and honestly, one of the most important questions that people ask, is this a cold or is this the flu?
- [08:28]
Gurung Trivedi
Absolutely, absolutely. And I'd Love to start with what's similar between the cold and the flu, Right. So when you think about it, both of these are contagious, both of them are respiratory, but they're caused by different viruses. But I think when we separate the symptoms, it does make a little bit of sense. So when you think about the flu, a lot of time it's an intense onset, right? So all of a sudden you feel like a truck ran over you, and it can lead to serious health problems. On the flip side, when you think of a cold, the symptoms are much more mild. You know, you may have a runny nose. And a big risk with the flu is, you know, if it's not treated and one is vulnerable based on either age or other disease states, it can create other complications, including pneumonia.
- [09:14]
Dr. Jake Goodman
This means that they can't be treated in the same way, right?
- [09:18]
Gurung Trivedi
That is correct. So for the most part, you know, when someone has a cold, because of the mild symptoms, a lot of rest and recovery does help. And, you know, over a few days, it does dissolve on its own. Now the good news with the flu, it can be treated. Now, timing is key. So typically when there's this intense onset of the symptoms, if one is seen by a provider within 48 hours, they are antivirals that can be prescribed. And the way I think about these antivirals, you know, they really help in three particular ways. Number one, they shorten the duration of sickness. Right. Number two, the symptoms are milder than if they would not have had the antiviral. And last but not least, which is very, very important, they do prevent complications, including pneumonia. And we've got a lot of testing that can be done out there. You can walk into a local community pharmacy, pick up a flu test.
- [10:15]
Dr. Jake Goodman
So can you talk a little bit more about the tests?
- [10:18]
Gurung Trivedi
This is really specific to states and the regulations around it. A lot of times it's a combination of your COVID test and the flu test. One can actually do a swab similar to what a lot of us probably
- [10:30]
Dr. Jake Goodman
did during COVID That makes total sense. And right now, we are in the season of coughs. I walk to the store, I take a walk around, I hear people coughing all the time. And when it comes to coughs and colds, what sort of things are people asking when they come up to the counter for help?
- [10:49]
Gurung Trivedi
This is one area where it's very specific to the patient. Right. And what our pharmacists do is they really have a few additional follow up questions to really help the patients. Right. So some of the follow up Questions may include, you know, how long have you had this cough? Do you have a dry cough, you know, or is there some production related to it? You know, if there's production related to it, what color is the production? And all this really helped the pharmacist or the clinician make a determination. Is, is this something that we just want to wait it out or do we need, do we need more medical care? But they are over the counter medications that are available and again, it's very specific on the patient and the disease states that they may have. For instance, if someone's got high blood pressure, they may not be able to take some medications.
- [11:37]
Dr. Jake Goodman
I had a flashback of med school asking the color of the sputum. As a psychiatrist, I am blessed to not have to inquire about color of sputum these days. But thank you for that flashback. I really appreciate that. So if you're offering over the counter items, do people still need to let you know and come up to the pharmacy counter and say, hey, I'm on other medications?
- [12:02]
Gurung Trivedi
That is one thing we always encourage all our pharmacists to do. And we, we really slow down and spend the time with the patient to understand not just what they're treating today for this one visit, but what else are they dealing with? Because, you know, there are some instances they may have other comorbidities or other disease states and taking an over the counter medication would actually the whole picture worse. So getting that history is very important and it's very, very patient specific.
- [12:30]
Dr. Jake Goodman
What are some of the over the counter options that people use for coughs, for example?
- [12:35]
Gurung Trivedi
You know, I think a big piece as we think about what they need to use. Again, it's just based on what they're presenting themselves with. You know, do they have a dry cough, do they have some production? One of the pieces that I always counsel my patients is always try using a single ingredient over the counter medication. And that way you're just specifically treating what you have going on. You know, if you're just coughing and you need a cough suppressant, look for an active ingredient that just has one active ingredient compared to three, four, or five. So that's one of the rule of thumbs that I use when I'm, when I'm counseling my patients.
- [13:10]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Got it. Okay, let's switch it up a little bit and talk about vaccines and timing of vaccines. We know that there's no vaccine for the common cold, but vaccines can reduce your risk of diseases like the flu, right?
- [13:27]
Gurung Trivedi
Yes. In my personal opinion, like the greatest public health Achievements we've had is vaccinations specifically around the flu, where you can prevent it year over year. It's safe and it's effective.
- [13:40]
Dr. Jake Goodman
And one of the most asked questions that we received was when, when should people ideally be getting the flu vaccine? And in addition, do we really need to get it every year?
- [13:53]
Gurung Trivedi
Funny that you mentioned that, Jade, because that, that is another very common question that comes up over and over. So, so let's break it down a little bit and talk about the entire flu season and in, in terms of the months.
- [14:06]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Right.
- [14:06]
Gurung Trivedi
So we see the flu season goes all the way through April. So a general recommendation is getting your flu shot sometime September timeframe. It's an annual vaccine. Now, the second question that does come up, do I have to take it every year? And you know, it's funny, every time we're in the pharmacy and it's September, we ask that question, hey, have you received your flu shot this season? And you've got those folks who said, yes, I received it. And when you ask them, hey, when did you get it? We, they have to slow down and think about, well, it was Thanksgiving and we have to remind them, hey, that was last year. You need to get another one for this year as well.
- [14:44]
Dr. Jake Goodman
I think something that is important to touch on is that the flu can be very dangerous. It can even lead to death in some scenarios. And there are higher risk groups for the flu.
- [14:57]
Gurung Trivedi
So, so here, here's a number I'm going to throw out there. We have 12,000 individuals who are turning 65 years every day. So that one age group, 65 and over, we call them the high risk or the most vulnerable. The second group is children who are two years or less. And then the third group is anyone who has other conditions. Right. So I always think about someone who's got asthma or breathing issues, any heart conditions, cancer. So those three groups are the ones that really, really need to get vaccinated ahead of time to make sure that they stay protected.
- [15:32]
Dr. Jake Goodman
And I see a lot of information and misinformation online on social media and other places around vaccines. And one sort of thought that I see from time to time is that, well, I got the vaccine and I still got the flu, so the vaccine doesn't work. Right. What I think is really important, and maybe you could touch on this, is, well, perhaps they did get the flu even though they got the vaccine. But, but the severity of the flu was much less than it would have been if they didn't get the vaccine.
- [16:05]
Gurung Trivedi
Jake, you said it really well. That is such a key component of why one needs to get vaccinated and the big benefits of it. I'm actually going to do this social experiment one of these days. I'm going to create a jar, and every time someone tells me they got the flu because they got the flu vaccine, I'm going to put in a dollar. And I want to see how quickly I can fill up that jar, because that is one of the biggest myths, right? That does not happen. The second piece kind of go back to, you know, our loved ones, you know, the really younger ones. A lot of us live with seniors or we interact with seniors. When we are protected against the flu, we're really protecting them as well, because we are not carriers anymore. So I think that's a big piece just to protect our loved ones. And then, last but not least, as we think about our communities, the more people that get vaccinated, the more. The less they get sick, the less contagious we are. So we are protecting the entire community.
- [17:01]
Dr. Jake Goodman
How has your role evolved over the past few years? When it comes to immunizations and community health?
- [17:09]
Gurung Trivedi
One of the big changes, one of the biggest impacts we've made is preventative care, specifically through vaccinations. And not just pharmacies. A lot of states also allow or registered technicians to provide immunizations. And both of these groups, pharmacists and technicians, they go through training, they go through certification, so they can touch many more people and protect them. Now, you layer that to access, right? And for the most part, a lot of us live within 10 miles of a local community pharmacy. And being able to walk into a pharmacy, talk to your pharmacist, get a vaccine right there and then that's big, right? Cause I compare that to taking my kids to the pediatrician. I gotta make an appointment. I have to show up a certain time. There's a little bit of a wait, right? So I think we've made that really easy in terms of just the access. And of course, a lot of our community pharmacies have really flexible hours of operation during the week, during the weekend as well.
- [18:11]
Dr. Jake Goodman
You're on the front lines. People are coming to you all the time asking you questions about vaccines. Could you share a little bit about some of the most common questions that you hear from people and your responses? Yes.
- [18:22]
Gurung Trivedi
One of the biggest questions people do ask is, what are the side effects? And, you know, for the most part, the individuals who are getting a vaccine, you know, they can get some sort of like, inflammation or pain at the site of infection. But that is very, very short lived. It does go away. So I think that's a big piece of education. Now, the second question that you asked, I think this is key that we drive awareness. Individuals can get multiple vaccinations on the same visit. And this is something that is extremely encouraged. You know, when you think about an average adult, they're extremely busy, they have multiple appointments and other commitments. And you know, one of the things that we can serve our patients the best way is keeping them up to speed with their vaccine schedules. Specifically. And I'll just use an example of, you know, the stat that I shared. If someone turns 65. Right. Very likely at that age 65, you're eligible for a few vaccines that you need to get. So, you know, you could come in and get your flu shot. If you're eligible for your COVID vaccine, you could get that as well and maybe tagging your pneumonia shot. And you can get all three vaccines at the same time on the same visit. And as a matter of fact, three weeks ago, my dad went in and he got two shots, both in one arm. And it made sense for him because there was a chance that if he didn't get both of them, he probably would have skipped it because life does get busy.
- [19:47]
Dr. Jake Goodman
My parents just got both vaccines as well and they came over to see my baby for the first time. It's really important that everyone is protected. So I appreciate you sharing that. So what if someone comes to you and they say, go wrong, I'm not going to get the vaccine, I'm going to just get the flu. Because natural immunity is better than vaccine immunity.
- [20:10]
Gurung Trivedi
We're living in a landscape right now where there's a lot of misinformation out there around vaccines and their effectiveness. And we know what they may or may not cause. One of the biggest piece that I do is it's just education piece, right? Vaccines are safe. Vaccines are effective and they help protect individuals against harmful diseases by using their own body's defenses to build resistance across to specific infections.
- [20:36]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Okay, so we know vaccine hesitation is very real. Now more than ever, we're seeing it everywhere. Some people are unsure, they're overwhelmed. People listening right now might not know who to believe when you're talking to someone who's on the fence. They came into cvs, they're talking to you. How do you approach that conversation in a way that feels honest, patient and reassuring?
- [21:04]
Gurung Trivedi
Jake, that's one of the pieces that we really, really focus on educating our technicians and pharmacists, because that question comes up over and over again. And I think, to me, the biggest piece is listening to a patient, right? Like when you slow down and ask them their concern and ask that second question, ask the third question. That's when you really get to understand why they're hesitant. And sometimes we are very surprised. You know, they may tell you, I got a flu vaccine three years ago and then I got the flu. And there you go, they open the door for you to help educate them that they did not get the flu because of the flu vaccine. In some other instances, they may share the fear of needles. Like that is a real thing. A lot of people are afraid of getting injected. There are a lot of techniques that we can use to make sure that people feel comfortable when they come in. The third piece is just some people are not sure what vaccines they need. So again, our pharmacists do a really nice job of, you know, looking at someone's age, looking at their disease states and really helping them understand, you know, these are the different vaccinations that you need to get based on your age. And then more important, helping them understand why they need them. And a good example that I share all the time is the pneumonia vaccine. This is one that we don't think of it on a, on a regular basis. But again, pneumonia is, it's very, very rampant out there. It's a respiratory infection. And I just think about last year, my parents were traveling overseas and right before the flight, my mom said, hey, I have a lower back pain. We didn't think much of it. We were like, hey, maybe she carried a heavy bag or whatnot. And during the flight, this was a 12 hour flight, her condition got worse. And from the airport she had to be rushed straight to the hospital. And she was actually admitted for three days. Turned out she had a UTI that we didn't catch early enough while she was here. And it got worse, right? So they were able to treat the UTI using antibiotics. But while in the hospital, she acquired low grade pneumonia as well. And, you know, after a week she was discharged and it took her another week to recover. But if she would have not got that pneumonia shot right when she was eligible, she would have gone in with a UTI infection and probably not made it out. I think just sharing the whys as to why someone needs to get a vaccine I think is so, so critical. And once people understand that, then they're more in a place of like seeing why it's important for them and how it would benefit them as well.
- [23:41]
Dr. Jake Goodman
So with all these interactions that you have with people on a daily basis. You must have some positive stories from past cold and flu seasons or other interactions at the counter when a simple conversation or maybe a quick recommendation made a big difference for someone. Could you share one of these stories that really stands out?
- [24:03]
Gurung Trivedi
I was actually visiting a store earlier this year and we had, you know, one of these daughters. She was moving her mom with her because her mom could just simply not live on her own. So they had packed everything. They're ready to go. Their last stop was their local CVS pharmacy before they headed out of town. And so I talked to her about the flu shot, and she said, absolutely, I want to get the flu shot. And when I talked to her mom, she made a sign. She's like, hey, don't talk to her yet. And I was a little confused in terms of what's going on. So she pulled me aside and mentioned that she was already struggling with the move. You know, we struck a conversation, we made it lighthearted, and, you know, she signed up for it too. So she got her flu vaccine there, she got her Covid shot there. Mom and daughter were able to head out. But a few weeks after, the daughter actually reached out and said, hey, thank you so much for doing that, because at that point, her mom was so worried about moving. And you think about packing up your entire life not being able to be self dependent. But now you show up at a pharmacy where someone slowed down, talked to you, showed empathy, and provided you services that protect you. And that made a big difference for her. To us, it was just an everyday interaction, but it was extraordinary for that individual at that particular time of their life.
- [25:21]
Dr. Jake Goodman
That is so cool. It's not every day you get to follow up weeks or months down the line to see how things went. Thank you for sharing that. That's amazing. So before we go to break, whether we're talking about cold and flu season or just staying healthy in general, what's the one message that you want everyone listening to remember this season?
- [25:42]
Gurung Trivedi
I would say we are still in the thick of the flu season. So go out there, talk to your pharmacist. If you haven't got your flu shot, there's still time to get it. Protect yourself and protect your community.
- [25:55]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Okay, so we're gonna go take a quick break, but don't go anywhere. Up next, we're putting some popular cold water season remedies to the test. You do not want to miss this. We'll be right back.
- [26:21]
CVS Pharmacy Announcer
At cvs. It matters that we're not just in your community. But that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night. And we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a tasty and, yeah, healthy snack. At cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit us@cvs.com or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location.
- [26:55]
Gurung Trivedi
Foreign.
- [27:01]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Welcome back to beyond the script. I'm Dr. Jake Goodman and I'm here with Garang Trivedi from CVS in North Carolina. And today we've been talking all things cold and flu season. Now on every episode, we're also going to dive into some of those wellness trends that you see all over your social media. Or maybe those home remedies your grandma swore by in a little segment we like to call myth or Medicine. So here's how it works. I'm gonna throw out a few things people swear can keep them from getting sick. And Gurung, you tell me, myth or medicine? Alright, here we go. Question number one. Every winter, people flock to vitamin C tablets like they're some sort of magic shields. From your perspective, does vitamin C actually prevent colds? Myth or medicine?
- [27:56]
Gurung Trivedi
Myth.
- [27:57]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Tell me more.
- [27:58]
Gurung Trivedi
So, Jake, that, that, that's a good one. And I love what you mentioned earlier on. Right. Because I grew up with that, you know, when, when we were younger and you had a sore throat, I remember my mom getting hot water and putting some salt in there and you had to gargle it 15 times. And that was supposed to treat you and eliminate the virus or the bacteria that you had. And you know, it's, it's funny. It brings, brings those memories back. But, you know, as we think about, you know, vitamins and, you know, it's a supplement. And if you're taking a full, well balanced diet, it's a different story. But, you know, from time to time your doctor may tell you, hey, you know, based on your diet, based on your blood work, you may need to get a supplement, but it does not necessarily prevent, you know, the flu or a cold if you do take that.
- [28:43]
Dr. Jake Goodman
All right, next one. I hear this all the time. If you bundle up hats and scarves in five layers, you can prevent catching a cold. Is that actually true or is that a total wintertime myth? Or is this medicine that is a wintertime myth?
- [29:01]
Gurung Trivedi
As much as we love bundling up and staying comfortable, that would not necessarily get you any sick. You may get stuff just because you're out and about, but it's not because of the cold necessarily.
- [29:12]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Okay, makes sense. I'll have to return my winter wardrobe that I just purchased, and thank you for that.
- [29:19]
Gurung Trivedi
I wonder if it's an eagle scarf you got, too, Jake.
- [29:24]
Dr. Jake Goodman
We'll have this conversation outside the podcast Sare. Okay, here's one that actually might have some truth to it. Washing your hands regularly, especially after being out in public, can really help cut down your chances of getting sick. So tell us, is that myth or medicine?
- [29:42]
Gurung Trivedi
That is true medicine. It does work, and let's kind of explore why that is important. You know, we mentioned this is a virus, and usually it's contagious. And the way it's contagious is through contact. And the more times you wash your hands with warm water and soap, you know, you're cleaning that out, and you're not touching your nose and eyes and ears, and so you're protecting yourself. Mm, perfect.
- [30:06]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Another big winter belief. If you sleep more like really load up on rest, you can quote, unquote, sleep off a cold before it starts. Is that myth or medicine?
- [30:19]
Gurung Trivedi
That's an interesting one, right? So I would put it more on the side of myth. But here's what I want to say, though. It's important to get enough rest to allow your immune system to function at its best, right? So when you're rested, we all know you wake up, you feel good, your immune system feels good, and in the event you interact or get some virus, your body's more equipped to fight it. Because you're rested, you're stronger.
- [30:44]
Dr. Jake Goodman
All right, next one is the classic one. Drinking hot tea with honey and lemon can prevent you from getting sick. Is that actually protective, or is that just a comforting myth?
- [30:56]
Gurung Trivedi
Myth. It is absolutely comforting, and I actually do that, and I love it. I love tea, and I love some honey in it, and it's extremely comforting at this time of the year.
- [31:06]
Dr. Jake Goodman
But is it protective? Is it protective against cold and flu?
- [31:12]
Gurung Trivedi
Not necessarily. Tea itself will not.
- [31:15]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Got it. Let's get into the Home Remedy hall of Fame. Using a humidifier in the bedroom. Does adding moisture to the air actually help keep colds and flu at bay? Myth or medicine?
- [31:31]
Gurung Trivedi
So that is a myth, but using humidifiers definitely help, and I do recommend this. And as a matter of fact, the last two days, we have been using a humidifier in our house. We've got a lot of dry air. You've got your heater on because it's 30 or 40 degrees outside. So you know when someone's already has a dry air passage, having the humidifier helps them suit that a little bit more.
- [31:54]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Perfect. All right, well, that is it for this round of Myth or Medicine. Huge thank you Gurung for coming out. We had a great time. It was awesome listening to all the insight and the clarity. This is the kind of stuff that people actually need to know know heading into cold and flu season. And I just can't thank you enough for coming out today.
- [32:24]
Gurung Trivedi
Thank you, Jake. Really enjoyed the conversation we had together. Really appreciate it.
- [32:33]
Dr. Jake Goodman
Thanks again to Gurung for joining me today from North Carolina. If you see him out on the ski slopes or at a Cowboys game, don't forget to say hi. Next time on beyond the Script, we're going to to be discussing gut health and the surprising ways that our digestive system profoundly impacts our overall health. For more information about everything we've talked about on today's episode, Please head to cvs.com pharmacy and for ongoing health and wellness advice you can trust anytime, don't forget to follow CVS on social media. VSPharmacy beyond the Script is produced in partnership with CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia's Ruby Studio. Our show is hosted by me, Dr. Jake Goodman. Our producers are Sam Walker, Julie Belewski, Carter Wogan, and Marina Paez, with original music by Max Hirschenau. Ruby's managing EP is Matt Romano and our EP of post production is James Foster. Of course, a big thank you to our friends at CVS and their incredible pharmacists. Until next time, don't forget to rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening.
- [34:00]
CVS Pharmacy Announcer
At cvs, it matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night. And we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a tasty and, yeah, healthy snack. At cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit us@cvs.com or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location.