Flu prevention
This is the best way to prevent flu
What is: Getting a flu vaccine every year
The chemicals made by your body while trying to fight off an infection cause this side effect of the flu vaccine:
What is: Feeling like you have the flu
To prevent dehydration with the flu, someone who is sick should do plenty of this.
What is: drink lots of fluids/water
Most people who get the flu are able to recover on their own and don’t need to do this
What is: Go to the doctor/ER
This lung infection can happen during or after the flu, making you much more sick:
What is: Pneumonia
You can do this at almost any drug store/grocery store. (examples: CVS/Walmart/Costco - Roosevelt Clinic, Mesa Clinic, West Valley Clinic)Places to get a flu vaccine include
What is: Get a flu vaccine
Prevent death, prevent hospitalization, reduce flu symptoms are the goals of this preventive measure.
What is: The flu vaccine
This OTC medicine can help you treat symptoms of fever when you have the flu:
What is Tylenol or Ibuprofen or Naproxen?
One concern that might make you want to go to the doctor or ER when you have influenza
What is: shortness of breath?
An average of 38,500 people every year are estimated to have this worst possible outcome of the flu
What is: Dying from the flu
Not a law, but good hygiene and manners states that wearing a mask when you don’t feel well will help prevent this
What is: Spreading the sickness
People who are less than 6 months of age or rare other groups are the only people who should not do this every year
What is: get a flu vaccine
Wearing a mask and staying away from other people when you feel ill are 2 ways to do this:
What is: avoid spreading the flu to other people
People over the age of 65, with chronic medical conditions, and young children all have this in common
What is: higher risk of serious complications from influenza
Difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness, very high fever, bloody cough are all symptoms that tell you:
What is: That you should go to the ER
One thing that can be done many times a day and almost anywhere to help prevent spreading the flu
What is: Washing your hands?
50% of Americans do this every year to prevent the flu
What is: Get a flu vaccine (and it would be a lot more helpful if the percentage was higher!)
Within 48 hours of getting severe flu symptoms, a doctor may offer you this kind of medication to help treat the influenza virus
What is: an antiviral medication
An antiviral medication is different from an antibiotic in what way
What is: Antivirals treat a virus, antibiotics treat bacteria
The CDC provides information about the number of pediatric deaths from influenza. 80% of children who died from flu-related reasons had this in common
What is: they had not received an influenza vaccine
Making sure to get enough sleep at night (usually between eight and 10 hours), eat fruits and vegetables, and get physical activity each day allows for:
What is: boosting the immune system?
This is the best month to get your flu shot:
What is: September or October
If your symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose this can relieve pressure so you can breathe easier
What is saline nasal spray and plenty of rest?
The first 36 to 48 hours of getting really sick are an important time to go to the doctor for this reason:
What is: antivirals when taken in this time period are the most effective
If you are 2 years and younger or 65 years and older, you can get this in order to prevent pneumonia complication
What is the Pneumonia vaccine?