Winter is not taking its time to letting people know that cold weather and flurries are back. It is almost a new life style for those that live in states affected by cold and snow, like getting out ice scrapers for vehicles, snow shovels and making sure layers of clothing are worn for the sake of staying warm. With winter also being cold and flu season, Vivian Jackson, a nursing professor at Sinclair, is giving helpful tips on how to stay healthy this winter.
“Influenza is a contagious disease that spreads around the United States every winter, usually between October and May. The flu is caused by influenza viruses and is spread mainly by coughing, sneezing, and close contact,” Jackson said
The flu does not discriminate for it anyone can get the flu, though children are more likely to get the flu. If all of a sudden you start to get a fever/chills, a sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, cough, headache, and runny or stuffy nose, you might have the flu. These symptoms can come on without a warning and can last several days.
So how can we contain the spread of the flu?
“Covering our mouths when sneezing, using a tissue barrier to cover our nose when blowing and hand washing,” says Jackson. “[The] Flu can make some people much sicker than others. These people include young children, people 65 and older, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions, such as heart, lung or kidney disease, nervous system disorders, or a weakened immune system. Flu vaccination is especially important for these people, and anyone in close contact with them. Flu can also lead to pneumonia and make existing medical conditions worse. Flu can cause diarrhea and seizures in children.”
The flu makes us feel its presence on us one way or another, even if we do not get it ourselves. Most of us probably know someone who will get the flu this year, for thousands of people in the US die from the flu and many more are hospitalized.
The flu vaccine, according to Jackson, is the best protection against the flu and its complications. It also helps prevent the spread of the flu. It is not possible to determine whether a patient has season influenza or an illness based on just one symptom alone. If you or a loved one think you might, go to a doctor and see if he or she recommends you get a test and help determine the best course of action afterwards.
Matt Summers
Reporter