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Healthy habits to protect against seasonal flu
| Health tips: Flu | | | Dear Reader,
The cold and flu seasons are right around the corner. Initially, the flu may seem like a common cold with a runny nose, sneezing and sore throat. But colds usually develop slowly, while the flu tends to strike suddenly. While a cold feels like a nuisance, you usually feel much worse with the flu. If you have flu symptoms and are at risk of complications, see your doctor right away.
Prevention Get an annual flu vaccination. It is recommended to be vaccinated by the end of October. Wash your hands. Thorough and frequent hand washing is the best way to prevent many common infections. Eat right, sleep tight. Both poor diet and poor sleep can lower your immunity and make you more vulnerable to infections. |
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Home remedies If you do come down with the flu, these measures may help ease your symptoms: Drink plenty of liquids. Choose water, juice and warm soups to prevent dehydration. Drink enough so that your urine is clear or pale yellow. Rest. Get more sleep to strengthen your body and help your immune system fight against the infection. Try chicken soup. It's not just good for your soul — chicken soup really can relieve flu symptoms by helping to break up sinus congestion. Consider pain relievers. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) cautiously, as needed. Remember, pain relievers may make you feel more comfortable, but they won't make your symptoms go away any faster. They may also have side effects so follow instructions and do not overuse them. Don't give aspirin to children or teens because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease. It is more important than ever to get vaccinated for the flu and COVID-19. It is safe to get flu and COVID vaccinations at the same time. For more information about the flu vaccine, visit our new Flu Vaccination Information Hub.
Yours in good health
Dan Harke, Publisher Mayo Clinic Press |
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