The
dreaded cold and flu season is back – and arming your immune system is more
important than ever. Exercise, diet and understanding the latest flu vaccines
will help you stay on top! The flu
is a serious contagious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death,
so it is not something to take lightly. The CDC urges you
to take the following actions to protect yourself and others from influenza
(the flu):
Take
time to get a flu vaccine
- CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.
- While there are many different flu viruses, a flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common.
- Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as the current season's vaccines are available.
- Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.
Take
everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
- While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Take flu antiviral drugs if your
doctor prescribes them.
- If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat your illness.
- Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They may also prevent serious flu complications.
- Studies show that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment when they are started within 2 days of getting sick, but starting them later can still be helpful, especially if the sick person has a high-risk health or is very sick from the flu.
