Whether you are ready or not to face it, the flu season is coming. It typically lasts between late fall and early spring every year but hits its peak in January or February. Complete immunity from the flu cannot be guaranteed, but there are several steps that you can take to limit your risk of catching the flu. Consider these simple preventative measures that you can adopt to enhance your safety from the flu this fall.
Get the Flu Vaccine
The flu shot is the best preventative option against the flu in any year. The most recent studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness up to 60% “among the overall population during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are well-matched to the flu vaccine.” For anyone over the ages of 6 months and older, the flu shot is the most effective way to prevent the flu. You’ll find that your primary care doctor, local urgent care center, or even your drugstore clinic offer flu shots. Individuals over the age of 65 can receive a special high-dose vaccine while healthy individuals between the ages of 2 and 50 can be administered the nasal spray.
Don’t Mingle in Crowds
Crowds are a breeding ground for the spread of infections. You want to avoid crowds to minimize the risk of catching the flu. Places that are crowded often have people who are infected, but who show no symptoms of the flu virus. This is a bad scenario for the spread of the virus. Furthermore, some crowded spaces tend to lack adequate ventilation, which leads to the air that people in the crowd are breathing in becoming contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid crowds altogether if you can, but if you can’t, observe your surroundings and distance yourself from individuals who appear sick.
Wash Your Hands Regularly
Your hands touch multiple surfaces daily, and you have no idea what sort of germs you pick up. Exposure to germs can lead to severe illness and the flu virus is no exception. Protect your health and wash your hands regularly to prevent the transfer of the flu virus to vulnerable areas of the body, like the eyes and mouth. Clean hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with soap and water after using the toilet, coming in contact with dirty surfaces, and before touching any part of the face. An alcohol-based hand-sanitizer is an effective alternative for cleaning the hands as well if soap and water are not readily available.
Maintain a Balanced, Healthy Diet
Maintaining a balanced, healthy diet can contribute to strengthening the body to fight off infections. The immune system is the body’s protection against infections and when the body is fueled with the right nutrients, the immune system is likely to perform as it should and attack the flu virus before it can do serious harm. Make sure that your daily diet is balanced and nutrient-rich, including fruits and vegetables that can help to boost the body’s immune system and protect you this fall from the flu.
Walk-In Flu Shots in Aberdeen, Matawan & Morganville, NJ
You have the power to minimize your risk of catching the flu by adopting these preventative measures. Visit AFC Urgent Care Aberdeen for a flu shot and flu treatment to help you stay healthy during the flu season this fall. Our healthcare professionals will deliver quality care and ensure that all your questions are answered. AFC Urgent Care Aberdeen can be reached by calling 732-583-5100.
