healthspin
Gayle H. Beyl, MD
Gayle H. Beyl, MD
North Oaks Primary Care -- Livingston
Take aim against the flu
Three years ago, a nasty bout
of the flu almost prevented PGA
champion Zach Johnson from making the Presidents Cup team.
He’s proof that even the best and
strongest athletes can be taken out
of the game by the nasty respiratory infection. So, if you want to stay
healthy, you might consider getting
a flu vaccination.
The flu vaccine can reduce illness, doctors’ visits and missed
work or school, as well as prevent
flu-related hospitalizations. The
more people who get vaccinated,
the more people will be protected
from the flu.
Getting an annual flu vaccine
is the first and best way to protect
yourself and your family from the
flu, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC).
This is especially important for
older people, very young children,
pregnant women and people with
certain health conditions who are
more vulnerable to serious flu
complications. While the numbers
20
vary, in the United States, millions
of people are sickened, hundreds
of thousands are hospitalized and
tens of thousands die from flu every
year.
Typically, the peak of flu season
is November through March. Some
years are worse than others, and
this year, vaccines have been updated to better match circulating viruses, according to the CDC.
It takes about two weeks after
vaccination for the body’s immune
system to fully respond and for you
to be protected. The CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine
by the end of October, if possible.
However, getting vaccinated later –
even into January or later – can still
be beneficial.
The CDC recommends everyone
six months of age and older get the
flu shot. In addition to the vaccine,
you can take everyday preventive
actions like staying away from sick
people and washing your hands to
reduce the spread of germs. If you
are sick with flu, stay home from
work or school to prevent spreading
the virus to others.
The following good health habits
can also prevent the spread of the
flu and other respiratory illnesses:
• Cover your nose and mouth
with a tissue when you cough or
sneeze. Throw the tissue in the
trash after use.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose
and mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Wash your hands often with
soap and water, especially after you
cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based
hand cleaners also are effective.
• Follow your health care provider’s instructions for staying home
from work or school when you are
sick, and limit your contact with
others to keep from infecting them.
In general, it is recommended that
you stay home until your symptoms
are no longer being controlled by
fever-reducing medications for at
least 24 hours.
For more information on flu shot
availability, please call North Oaks
at (985) 230-6647.
Sources: www.flu.gov