Flu Season is Here: 7 Tips to Keep You and Your Family Healthy

Every year, it seems flu season increases and symptoms and illnesses worsen. The flu may feel like a bad cold to some, but it is sometimes fatal to older adults or those with weakened immune systems.

Luckily, there are many ways to stay healthy and safe this flu season, including simple lifestyle changes and, most importantly, getting vaccines. Flu prevention is vital to you and your family's health in the upcoming months.

If you need a flu shot or COVID-19 testing, Dr. Joseph Goin and the Calvary Urgent Care team have the tools to help. Dr. Goin is a primary care and urgent care specialist who offers various services to keep you healthy all year.

When does flu season start?

The flu season varies annually but usually begins in early October and can last until May. However, you can still get the flu if you come into contact with someone outside of those times.

Flu season is when the United States sees an uptick in hospitalizations and illnesses from the flu; now, it is COVID-19. The flu and COVID symptoms are similar, making it even more crucial to get your vaccines.

How the flu spreads

Spreading the flu is pretty simple, which makes it even more dangerous. It's a virus that spreads from person to person via airborne droplets.

People spread the flu to each other by coughing or sneezing without covering their mouths. The virus enters the air via tiny droplets that land in other people's mouths and noses, or they inhale it into their lungs.

You can also get the flu by touching a surface where the virus is alive and then touching your mouth or nose. Washing your hands is essential to avoid spreading the flu through surfaces.

People with the flu are most contagious in the first few days after contracting the virus, but they can still spread it up to a week after feeling ill.

Tips to keep you healthy during flu season

The best thing you can do for yourself and your family this flu season is stay healthy and make the necessary lifestyle changes to avoid getting the flu. Dr. Goin and his team offer vaccines and the following tips to help you avoid serious illness this season:

1. Get the flu shot

The flu vaccine is the most critical step in protecting yourself and your family from the flu. Aim to get the vaccine in September because it takes a few weeks to begin working.

People with chronic illness, those over 65, and pregnant women need to get the flu vaccine. These people are at a higher risk for complications related to the flu.

2. Avoid close contact with others

People spread the flu by releasing viral droplets into the air from coughing and sneezing. You can even get the flu by talking to someone and inhaling droplets they expel when laughing. Avoid close contact with others during flu season to avoid serious illness.

3. Wash your hands often

Touching surfaces with the live flu virus is a surefire way to get the flu, so handwashing is essential to your health. Wash your hands often, especially in public restrooms, before you eat or touch your face.

4. Sanitize heavily used surfaces

If someone with the flu touches a surface, the virus could live on it for up to 48 hours. Regularly cleaning heavily touched surfaces with a disinfectant that kills the flu virus, like bleach, is a good idea.

5. Cover your mouth when coughing

The flu is an airborne illness, meaning it spreads through tiny droplets. Covering your mouth when you sneeze and cough is crucial in preventing the spread of the flu to friends and family.

6. Stay home if you feel sick

If you or someone in your family is sick, it's important to stay home to prevent the spread of the virus. If you have to go out, wear a mask and avoid close contact with people where possible.

7. Eat a healthy diet and exercise

Regular physical activity and a well-balanced diet can keep your and your family's immune system healthy throughout the year. Aim to get 30 minutes of exercise daily and try to eat whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.

To schedule your flu vaccine today, call Calvary Urgent Care today to schedule an appointment or request a consultation on our website.