When you ask most people what season it is, they'll tell you
it's winter. Many health professionals, however, will answer a little
differently. They'll tell you it's flu season. Although the flu can actually be
caught at any time of year, the heaviest flu activity occurs between December
and March. That means, if you haven't already started flu prevention, you need
to start now.
Of course, the number one method for preventing the flu is
vaccination. For a lot of Americans this year, however, that is not an option
due to the flu vaccine shortage. If you are in a high-risk category (i.e. over
64, suffering from a chronic illness, pregnant, child between 6-23 months or
caregiver of child under 6 months) and haven't yet been vaccinated, you should
contact your doctor or local government health department immediately to try to
get a vaccination. For the millions of Americans who didn't get vaccinated this
year, here are some tips to help with flu prevention:
* Wash Your Hands. According the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), the flu virus spreads "in respiratory droplets from
coughing and sneezing." Imagine this scenario: someone with the flu coughs
into his/her hand. The flu virus is now on his/her hand. Then he/she touches a
shopping cart, or a doorknob, or a checkout counter, etc. The flu virus is now
on whatever he/she touched. Then you touch the same object. The flu virus is
now on YOUR hand. You touch your eyes, nose or mouth and the flu virus has
spread to you. You can see how washing your hands as often as possible with antibacterial soap kills 99.9% of germs and will greatly
reduce your chance of catching the flu. If facilities for washing your hands
aren't available, use an alcohol-based waterless hand sanitizer.
* Don't Touch Your Face. As shown in the previous example,
touching your eyes, nose or mouth is a common way people become infected with
the flu virus.
* Stay Away From Sick People. Okay, this one's a little
obvious but worth mentioning. Just remember that this method of prevention
alone, along with not always being practical, is not foolproof. A person can spread
the flu virus a full day before showing any symptoms.
Practicing general wellness can also provide some protection
from the flu. After all, your body can fight the flu virus better when it has a
healthy head start. Remember to follow these healthy habits for general wellness and even weight loss:
* Drink Plenty of Water. Most adults need 64 ounces of
fluids a day.
* Exercise Regularly. The CDC recommends at least 30 minutes
of moderate exercise for 5 days a week.
* Eat Well-Balanced Meals. Be sure to include a variety of
fruits and vegetables in your diet. Don't rely on vitamin supplements to
provide your nutrients; they don't contain the phytochemicals found in fruits
and vegetables.
* Get Plenty of Rest. Experts recommend adults get between
7-9 hours of sleep per night.
Protect yourself from the flu this season. There's no way to
guarantee you won't contract the flu, but you can certainly minimize your
chances of being infected with the virus. Stay healthy and, should you be
unfortunate enough to get the flu, please stay home!
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