Preparing for Flu Season: Why You Shouldn’t Underestimate Influenza
Flu season is again upon us.
Most cases of the flu may be mild, but influenza can trigger severe and potentially life-threatening complications. However, you don’t have to take your chances with influenza. If you want to be proactive, keep reading to learn how you can reduce your chances of catching the flu, or contact Core Medicine of Idaho today to schedule a time to receive your vaccination.
5 Flu Prevention Tips
Although there’s no foolproof way to avoid catching the flu, adhering to these common-sense tips could minimize your chances of coming down sick:
1. Don’t Take Your Chances with Sick Friends, Family, or Coworkers
Influenza is extraordinarily contagious.
If you have a friend, family member, or coworker who’s exhibiting any of the following signs, it’s best to keep your distance or consider wearing a mask:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
Different people can exhibit very different signs and symptoms, which can vary greatly in severity. However, even mild cases of the flu can still spread quickly, with infected adults remaining contagious for up to a week after becoming symptomatic.
2. Stay Home When You’re Feeling Under the Weather
Fighting the flu starts at home.
If you’re feeling under the weather, it’s best to take some time away from school or work. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise abstaining from your normal activities until:
- Your symptoms have improved
- You do not have a fever
- At least 24 hours have passed since you last felt sick
Even if you don’t have the flu, other illnesses can weaken your immune system, making you much more vulnerable to infection.
3. Wash Your Hands Regularly
Experts believe the flu primarily spreads through droplets produced when infected people cough, sneeze, or talk. However, influenza can spread through other means, like touching an object or surface with traces of the flu virus.
Washing your hands doesn’t provide failproof protection against infection, but it does appear to lower the chances of contracting respiratory illnesses like the flu by about 20%.
4. Keep Your Hands Away from Your Eyes, Nose, and Mouth
The influenza virus can infiltrate your body through your:
- Eyes
- Nose
- Mouth
Although remembering to keep your hands away from your face during flu season is often easier said than done, being mindful in public places and around sick people could reduce your odds of falling ill.
5. Get Vaccinated
Taking a few minutes out of your day to get vaccinated against the flu is the best way to stay protected. Experts typically recommend that people with higher-than-average risk for severe influenza symptoms receive vaccinations yearly.
High-risk groups include:
- Adults ages 65 and over
- People who are in nursing homes or long-term care
- Young children
- People who are pregnant or plan to be pregnant
Since the flu is spread by several closely related but nonetheless distinct viruses, no single vaccination can protect against every influenza strain. However, a significant body of evidence indicates that vaccinations can be very effective in both preventing illness and easing the severity of symptoms when illness does occur.
Don’t Delay: Get Your Flu Shot Today
We’re so accustomed to “flu season” that it’s easy to forget just how serious influenza really is.
Just over a century ago, the Spanish Flu killed up to 50 million people worldwide, claiming more lives than the First World War. Today, far fewer people pass away from influenza, due in part to better standards of medical care and much more effective vaccines.
However, the flu is still a dangerous illness that should never be taken lightly or underestimated. Even though most people recover without any complications, the flu remains closely associated with conditions like:
- Pneumonia
- Sinus and ear infections
- Inflammation of the heart, brain, and muscles
- Sepsis
You don’t have to take chances with your good health.
Core Medicine of Idaho’s Nampa walk-in medical clinic is already offering flu season vaccinations at an affordable price and without any wait time.