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How to Avoid the Flu

  • Introduction

    • Most people will tell you that they dread getting the flu each year, but very few people actually take meaningful steps to help themselves and their families avoid the misery and discomfort of the seasonal flu. You don't have to rely on luck to get you through the flu season. With a little bit of information and effort, you can greatly reduce your chances of getting this year's influenza virus. Here's how.

  • What To Know About The Flu

    • While most people know what it feels like to have the flu, they may not fully understand what the flu is and how it is passed from one person to another. A little information about the flu can go a long way towards preventing it.
    • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
    1. Influenza is a respiratory illness that is caused by flu viruses.
    2. Flu symptoms usually start to appear one to four days after the virus gets into your body. [1]
    3. The flu is contagious and can be transferred to someone else one day before symptoms occur and up to five days after getting sick. [2]
    4. The flu virus is spread mainly through respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. [3]
    5. Symptoms of the flu include sore throat, high fever, headaches, cough, muscle pains, and lethargy. [4]
    6. The flu can cause added medical complications for people in "High Risk" groups, such as the elderly and children. [5]
    7. Different strains of the flu emerge each year, meaning that flu vaccines must be altered yearly. [6]
    8. Flu season can last anywhere from October to May. [7]

  • Step 1: Get Vaccinated

    • The CDC states that the best way to keep yourself from getting the flu is to get your yearly flu vaccination. [1] Flu vaccinations can be administered by either a flu shot or a nasal spray and work by providing the body with a killed (or weakened) version of the flu virus that serves to ward off incoming infections. While anyone can receive a flu vaccination, the CDC especially recommends it for people in groups that are at "High Risk" for flu complications. [2]
    1. See Mahalo's guide to how to get a flu shot for more information on flu shots (and a list of High Risk groups).
    2. WebMD says that, although it is best to get vaccinated early in the flu season, you can always do it later if necessary. [3]
    3. While the influenza vaccine is safe for almost everybody, the CDC does acknowledge that there have been some cases of severe allergic reactions to the vaccine. [4].
    4. Flu shots are the most common form of vaccination, but Nasal Spray Vaccines may work better for people who want to avoid needles.
    • Here are a couple of resources for finding available vaccines in your area:

  • Step 2: Use Antiviral Drugs

    • Although flu vaccinations are the most proven way of fighting off sickness, there are a number of antiviral drugs that can help prevent infections. Antiviral drugs are often used to treat and reduce the severity of flu symptoms as well as provide a second level of defense against primary infections.
    • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these facts about antiviral drugs:
    1. Antiviral drugs must be prescribed by a medical professional. [1]
    2. Influenza antiviral drugs do not provide protection from viruses other than influenza. [2]
    3. When used as a flu treatment, antiviral drugs must be taken within two days of getting sick. [3]
    4. You can take antiviral drugs even if you have already had a vaccination. [4]
    5. Antiviral drugs should not be used as a substitute for vaccination but as a supplement to it.[5]
    6. Antiviral drugs are 70 - 90% effective at preventing the flu. [6]
    • There are four specific antiviral drugs that have been approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help treat and fight the flu. [7]
    1. Oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu): Approved to prevent and treat flu symptoms in adults and children over 1 year old. Available in both capsule or liquid form.
    2. Zanamivir (brand name Relenza): Approved to treat flu symptoms in people over 7 years old. Zanamivir is a powder that is administered with an inhaler.
    3. Amantadine (generic name Symmetrel): Approved to treat and prevent influenza A viruses in people over 1 year old. Available in tablet.
    4. Rimantadine (generic name Flumadine): Approved to prevent influenza A viruses in people over 1 year old and to treat Influenza A virus infections in people over 13 years old.
    • For information on the possible side effects of antiviral drugs, see the CDC's information here.

  • Step 3: Stay Clean and Healthy

    • One of the easiest ways to improve your chances of avoiding the flu is to keep in mind all of the things you can do to maintain your physical cleanliness. Since influenza is a contagious virus that can be transmitted through airborne germs, practicing good health habits can be a powerful preventative measure. Here are some tips:

    1. The Mayo Clinic says that you should wash your hands thoroughly and often. [1] Since your hands come into contact with many different objects during the day, they have a higher chance of attracting germs.
    2. Discovery Health recommends that you try not to bring your hands close to your eyes, mouth or nose [2]. If there are germs on your hands, putting them near your face is the surest way to get them in your system. [3]
    3. The CDC says that you should avoid close proximity to sick people. [4]
    4. While this is more for other people's benefit, it is always polite to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze. [5]

  • Step 4: Take Your Vitamins

    • Joseph Brasco, M.D., says that taking the right vitamins and supplements can be a great way to improve your immune system's natural defenses against illness. [1] Here are some that he says can help your body fight of the flu virus:

    1. Antioxidants such as Vitamin E, A, C and B-complex
    2. Cod Liver Oil and other foods that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids
    3. Echinacea and other herbal supplements that have been found to boost the immune system.
    4. Coconut Oil is anti-viral, anti-bacterial and can help fight viruses such as the flu.

  • Additional Tips

    • Besides the steps above, there are a number of smaller, everyday things that you can do to decrease the chances of getting accosted by a nasty flu bug.
    1. Don't smoke. Discovery Health says that smoking can harm the parts of your nose that are used to keep out infections. [1]
    2. Get a good amount of sleep. Joseph Brasco, M.D., says that keeping a regular sleep pattern can help boost the level of certain hormones that help immune system functioning. [2]
    3. Drink lots of water. AskMen.com says that drinking water is one of the best ways to help clean out your system and maintain a healthy diet. [3]
    4. Discovery Health recommends that you avoid alcohol.[4] While you don't need to stop drinking completely, it has been shown that people who drink more tend to get sick more often.

  • Conclusion

    • While the flu season is an unfortunate fact of life, getting sick is not inevitable. There are many different things that you can do to keep yourself healthy and your body flu-free. From vaccinations to vitamins to general health and cleanliness, the steps in this guide are designed to keep you virus-free and happy! So have fun this holiday season and don't let the flu bug get you down.

  • Resources For Avoiding The Flu


 


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