Flu is a very contagious disease that’s often confused with cold. Well, while the causative agents for cold are in hundreds of different viruses, flu is caused only by influenza virus of types A, B and C. Now, these viruses cause the large seasonal breaks and is soon arriving. While flu may be one of the most common diseases that is majorly seasonal, its effects are never so easy to bear. The feeling is just ‘bad’.
Surprisingly, many people take flu for granted and may not go to the hospitals. According to CDC research, it has been established that winter flu epidemic affects 3, 00,000 to 6, 00,000 people each year. It is further observed that of the number – 2, 00,000 people wind up in hospital and between 3,000 and 49,000 don’t survive.
With the above statistics, it is therefore important to take necessary preventive measures ahead of the impending break-out. Flu is the type of disease where prevention would be much better than just cure. Here is how to keep yourself and your family safe from flu during this season.
1. Get a Flu Shot
There are many misconceptions about flu shots. There are those who claim that it is better to suffer from flu than get a flu shot. This is majorly informed by other misconceptions about the shot especially on its side effects. The truth is that flu vaccine can keep you from getting sick with flu. Preventing it is better than suffering from it because the contempt towards flu can plunge you and your family into serious complications, hospitalization and even death. Its yearly vaccine of just about 6 months is recommended by CDC. This vaccine may vary yearly to meet the changes or ‘tricks’ that viruses may employ past the vaccine.
2. Clean Your Hands and Keep Them Clean
The influenza viruses will mostly be carried by your hands to areas like your nose, eyes and ears. You may not know when and where you will come into contact with these flu causing pathogens. The best way to keep it away is to keep your hands clean. Always wash your hands to keep pathogens at bay. In case you cannot access soap, you can use alcohol-based hand rub as an alternative.
3. Always Avoid Touching Your Eyes, Nose or Mouth
The spread of this flu can be avoided by not touching your eyes, nose or mouth. The break out of flu may have to restrict your hands movement around your face. Touching faces, with unclean hands, will definitely spread the germ. While it may be involuntary or spontaneous to say, it is only better that you avoid touching your face. For your children, make sure they have clean hands.
4. You Should Avoid Close Contact
This disease is contagious thus the need to avoid close contact with those who are already exhibiting symptoms of flu. This may require you to stay at home. It is also better that if you are already infected, you don’t stay in close contact with your family members so that you reduce the cost of treatment when it is spread to others.
5. Practice Other Good Health Habits
The control of flu depends majorly on the health habits that you employ during this break-out season. Before anyone is even infected, there are quite a number of precautions that you need to take. Always ensure that you clean and disinfect surfaces at home, work place or school. This will definitely leave your hands clean when you come into contact with them.
It is also advisable that you get plenty of sleep. You should ensure that your children are not drowsy to ensure they don’t touch their faces frequently and also prevent them from being physically active. During this time, it is medically advisable that you manage your stress, drink plenty of water or other healthy fluids. You should as well eat nutritious food.
Conclusion
It is cheap and convenient to avoid flu using the above measures than wait for it to stand in your way. Otherwise in case you have contacted it, know that you can spread it 7 days after the symptoms. The virus is also capable of surviving in your spit and mucus for a day before you start feeling bad. You therefore need to be keen not mess up everyone around you.