Flu or coughing?

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Re "Utah docs say inversion contributes to premature death" (Tribune, Jan. 24):

Earlier this month, William Hughes wrote that instead of taking TRAX, "for the next month or two, I'm walking" to avoid the coughing and sneezing germ-spreaders on congested trains ("Sneeze into sleeve," Forum, Jan. 12).

Now, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment tells us that walking outside is dangerously unhealthy because of our very dirty air. They advocate free public transit so more people will take TRAX, where they can more easily catch the flu.

These days, it seems that no matter what you do, you're going to end up at the doctor's office.

Alec McDowell

Salt Lake City