In the best case, the flu will leave you more or less disabled at home for a week. In the worst case, the flu can cause secondary bacterial infections or pneumonia. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these two conditions can lead to hospitalization and even death, especially for those who have a high risk of complications caused by the flu, including the elderly and young children. Neither the best case nor the worst case seems very attractive to us.
That's why during the flu season (which coincides with the fall and winter months), you should take all possible precautions to make sure you stay healthy. After all, this common infectious disease is airborne, and the CDC estimates that an infected person can transmit the virus to those who are within 6 feet of them. This is especially worrying at this time, when the virus tends to peak.
So far, during this flu season, 36 million people (yes, you read it correctly) have contracted the disease, and that number is increasing. That is why you will want to take specific measures to try to make sure you don't join the list of infected people.
To help you deal with the rest of the flu season and give you some expert knowledge, we have created this handy guide. Next, you will learn some methods recommended by the doctor that can help prevent the flu.
First, get vaccinated
When we spoke with the principal investigator of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Safety, Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, it made it clear that although facial masks, disinfectants and other preventive products have marginal benefits, nothing is better than flu vaccine Simply put, don't underestimate the value of a flu vaccine.
"The biggest mistake is believing that the flu vaccine doesn't work," says Adalja. "While it is true that the flu vaccine may not be 100% protective, it does prevent serious complications of the flu, such as hospitalization, pneumonia and death." These more serious complications are also more common than you think. According to the CDC, the flu has caused between 140,000 and 810,000 hospitalizations per year since 2010, and between 12,000 and 61,000 deaths annually in the same period of time.
Flu vaccines are easily accessible and can be administered at doctors' offices, health clinics and even at your local pharmacy. For example, CVS Pharmacy offers low-cost or no-cost flu vaccines that are available for visits without an appointment.
Who should get a flu shot?
The CDC recommends that people 6 months of age or older get vaccinated against the flu every season. Exceptions include those who have a high risk of serious complications from influenza (which the CDC describes here). If you are not sure if the flu vaccine is right for you, seek the advice of a doctor or other health professional.
Do facial masks help prevent the flu?
"The masks only provide a marginal benefit," says Adalja. The problem, however, is that "most people don't use them correctly," which makes it quite useless. Adalja recommends that health professionals who come into contact with infected people make sure they are wearing the masks correctly. The CDC agrees with this and affirm that "masks are not usually recommended in non-medical care settings [to prevent the transmission of influenza]" .
For people who are not health professionals, it is more beneficial to opt for antibacterial cleaning products .
Wash your hands often
This is the great truth about flu germs: they can live on surfaces for more than 48 hours. In comparison, it is estimated that common cold germs live on surfaces only for a few hours. Antibacterial products will help eliminate bacteria that can cause secondary infections, and products with a high alcohol content will also kill viruses such as the flu virus. Adalja says that meticulous hand hygiene is a powerful method to prevent the spread of the virus.
And since antibacterial soaps have not been shown to be more effective than just ordinary water and soap, one way to make sure you're killing those germs on your hands is to carry an effective hand sanitizer.
The CDC recommends alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol if you don't have immediate access to soap and water. Another travel alternative if you can't wash with soap and water are the antibacterial hand wipes.
What we recommend:
Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer Variety Pack, Pack of 8 ($ 11.47; amazon.com)
Germ-X Hand Sanitizer Spray ($ 4.98; amazon.com)
Wet Ones Antibacterial Hands & Face Wipes, Pack of 6 ($ 19.88; amazon.com)
Do not forget to disinfect the space of your home and office
Adalja also suggests routinely cleaning the surfaces that sick people touch , especially if your housemate or family member sneezes or coughs. This includes shared spaces around the house , including your office desk and even the computer keyboard. Keeping disinfectant wipes around can help you quickly disinfect the space around you. However, one thing to keep in mind is that it is important to use these wipes correctly and follow the instructions.
According to the CDC, it is sometimes necessary to use more than one wipe at a time to ensure that the surfaces are wet during the established contact time to kill the virus.
What we recommend:
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, Pack of 6 ($ 29.88; amazon.com)
Love Home and Planet Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes, Pack of 4 ($ 15.96; amazon.com)
Solimo Disinfecting Wipes, Pack of 3 ($ 8.99; amazon.com)
Mrs. Meyer's multi-surface cleaner ($ 3.59; amazon.com)
Seventh Generation Disinfectant Spray, Pack of 4 ($ 21.80; amazon.com)
Stay hydrated at all times, especially if you feel sick
There are many reasons to stay hydrated throughout the year, but if you feel sick, it is even more important to drink water, and a lot .
When you have the flu, your body tends to expel more water than normal, and you may notice that you breathe faster and potentially stronger, which releases more moisture from the body. And if you suffer more extreme symptoms, such as vomiting, you can become dehydrated even more. The less water in your system, the more exacerbated some of the symptoms may be, says Adalja.
That is why professionals advise to constantly drink water (being careful not to overdo it) when you are sick. The good thing is that there are many bottles of water that can help keep your hydration on track when you don't feel 100%.
What we recommend:
BuildLife motivational water bottle (from $ 15.96; amazon.com)
Icewater Smart Water Bottle ($ 24.99, originally $ 29.99; amazon.com)
Joseph Joseph Tracking Water Bottle ($ 9.99, originally $ 12; amazon.com)
Note: The prices above reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.