Cold and Flu Season Suggestions to keep you healthy during this season. Brought to you by Nurse Jeanne

Flu Season  It’s that time of the year where your peers are sniffling, coughing, and looking like they have been hit by a Mack truck.  They are so nice and loyal and come to work…. just to give their germs to you (because we like to share like that).  So let’s do it differently this year! The following information is to be shared (family, friends, peers, clients) so we can make this season a little less miserable for all.

What is it?

The timing of flu is very unpredictable and can vary from season to season. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the U.S. in January or February. However, seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May. When will flu activity begin and when will it peak?

What should I do to prepare for this flu season? CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease.flu vaccine While there are many different flu viruses, the seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect against the top three or four flu viruses that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. People should begin getting vaccinated soon after flu vaccine becomes available, ideally by October, to ensure that as many people as possible are protected before flu season begins.

Your Questions About the Flu Vaccine WebMD Feature By Stephanie WatsonStephanie Watson People come up with all kinds of excuses to avoid getting the flu vaccine. "I've had the flu and it's no big deal.“ "The vaccine will give me the flu." "There are toxic levels of mercury in the vaccine." If you listen to these misconceptions and don't get your flu vaccine, you could catch the latest circulating influenza strain and spend a week or more sidelined from work and feeling miserable. Here are a few reasons why you absolutely need to get a flu vaccine this year: Influenza (the flu) circulates all over the world, and it can affect anyone, regardless of their age or health. The flu can lead to complications like pneumonia, ear infections, and sinus infections. It can also worsen existing conditions, like asthma or diabetes. Each year, thousands of people in the U.S. die from the flu and its complications.

How do flu vaccines work? Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. Traditional flu vaccines (called trivalent vaccines) are made to protect against three flu viruses; an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus. In addition, there are flu vaccines made to protect against four flu viruses (called “quadrivalent” vaccines). These vaccines protect against the same viruses as the trivalent vaccine and an additional B virus.

YOUR KIDS AND THE THE FLU SEASON Put flu vaccination on your back-to-school list Your children are headed back to school. Kids are more likely to be infected with the flu than adults They are contagious for longer periods of time They are more likely to pass the virus on to others Group settings like classrooms make it easy for the virus to spread. And even though most people associate flu season with the winter months, outbreaks can actually begin as early as October. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that getting vaccinated every year is the best defense against the flu virus.

What can I do to avoid the flu? 1. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.  2. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. 3. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. 4. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. 5. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. 6. Practice other good health habits. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Rest, fluids, OTC medications for Symptom relief