One of the most dreaded times of year is flu season. Unfortunately, the flu season aligns itself with holiday get-togethers and spending more time indoors, making it spread quickly. Although you are not guaranteed to avoid the flu, there are ways to reduce your risk and stay flu-free.
Take Preventative Action
The single best preventative strategy for yourself and your family is getting the flu shot. Many people avoid the flu shot because they continue to believe it will cause them to become sick. If you have the flu shot and become sick shortly after, it is either because you were exposed to the flu before you built up any antibodies or you could have been coming down with the flu and were not symptomatic. In some cases, having an extreme apprehension to the vaccine can cause you to create symptoms that are not actually happening.
People who have the live vaccine via the nasal spray may have some mild symptoms shortly thereafter. If you have a compromised immune system, you probably cannot have the nasal spray since it is a live virus, but it is imperative to have the flu vaccine. Protecting yourself against the flu can minimize symptoms if you are exposed to the virus. Typically, people who have been vaccinated against the flu do not become sick during the season, or if they do, their symptoms are minimal.
Avoid Spreading Germs
Handwashing is the best defense against the flu. You should wash your hands regularly throughout the day, especially after using the bathroom and before eating food. It is a good idea to keep hand sanitizer with you, especially when you are out in public. Be mindful of the placement of your hands. It is common to bite your nails or rub your eyes without realizing you are doing it. Touching your face is an easy way to relocate viruses that may be on doorknobs or other hard surfaces. If you must care for someone who has the flu, do not feel bad for taking extra precautions. Consider wearing a face mask while helping them, since germs from coughing and sneezing can become airborne, they may be inhaled by others. Investing in a HEPA filtration system for your home may reduce the number of viruses in the air.
Know The Warning Signs
Typically the symptoms of the flu are vague in the beginning. You may feel increasingly tired and achy in the early stages. If you take your temperature, you may notice it begins to increase but is not necessarily cause for alarm. Identifying flu-like symptoms early can reduce the spread of the virus throughout your household or workplace. If you start to feel ill, you might decide to confine yourself to your bedroom and skip any social gathering you had planned. It may help to take a dose of acetaminophen and begin focusing on consuming plenty of fluids to help keep a fever to a minimum.
If your symptoms progress and you are certain you have the flu, you should inform your doctor. They will usually prescribe an antiviral medication to help shorten the duration of the flu. Try to have a friend or family member pick up your prescriptions and any other necessities. Doctors typically do not want their patients to come in to pick up a prescription for an antiviral medication because the flu may be spread to numerous other patients in the waiting areas. When you know you are sick, do everyone else a favor and keep the flu to yourself.
Many illnesses start off like the flu but may bring severe symptoms or last longer than the seasonal flu. For example, if you begin to have neck stiffness and develop a rash, you should seek emergency care to rule out meningitis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can also start by feeling like you have the flu. Unlike the flu, most of the pain and achiness is in or near many joints, not like the full body aches associated with the flu. If you feel achy, but never develop any other flu symptoms, it is unlikely you have the flu.
Getting the seasonal flu vaccine is one of your best defenses against the flu. If you develop the flu anyway, there are medications that can help keep it to a minimum if you act quickly. Visit a clinic like Premier Urgent Care Centers of California, Inc. if you have more questions.
