Take Action Against Flu Season

Flu season is here and this year it is affecting a lot of people. In some cases, the flu can be very serious or even fatal. What some may perceive as a cold, could be a deadly flu virus. To avoid getting sick, it is important to be well informed to stay healthy this season. With the flu spreading rapidly and the hitting some areas hard this flu season we’ve listed below some preventative actions you can take against it.

Get Vaccinated

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, the first and most important step in protecting yourself from the flu is getting vaccinated. Getting a flu shot once a year will decrease the risk of becoming severely ill from the flu. Though there are many strains of the flu virus, the vaccine will protect against the most common strains. The flu shot makes you less likely to catch common flu viruses and gives you a better chance to fight the rarer ones. Young children and people 65 years and older should get vaccinated every 6 months because they are most susceptible to catching the flu and becoming seriously ill.

Avoid it

The next best action to protect yourself against the flu is to avoid it. Avoid any close contact with people who are sick and be sure to wash your hands throughout the day. Limiting or removing yourself from infected people increases your chance of not catching it. When you do find yourself around people who are sick at places like the office, do not run for the exit. Make sure areas that may be contaminated are disinfected and kindly suggest to people who are sick to cover their mouth when they cough. If you are sick, you can make sure it does not spread to others by staying home and going to the doctor to confirm if you indeed have the flu.

When it comes to flu season, it always a good idea to get vaccinated. Though it does not make you completely immune, getting vaccinated is a great way to protect yourself from getting the flu. Even with a flu shot it is best for you limit your interaction with people who are sick and if possible avoid them. As always, speak to your doctor before taking steps to get vaccinated. They can provide the best plan of action for you.

For more information about the flu and how to prevent it, click here.

Article written by William Graves.