It was bad enough you already had the flu once this season. But the good thing is you won't have to worry about getting it again, right? Wrong!
Unfortunately, because there are different strains of the flu, you can catch the virus more than once in a given flu season. That's why our team at AFC Urgent Care Ladera Ranch wants to remind you of ways you can prevent the flu. Read on as we offer some insight.
Can You Get the Flu Back to Back?
The short answer is yes. In any given flu season, there are multiple strains of the flu. So there's always the risk that you can get one strain and then another—especially if you didn't get a flu shot.
This year, the risk is even bigger. This flu season is what's known as “double-barreled,” meaning that two flu outbreaks are overlapping each other. That increases the risk that you could get sick more than once.
Symptoms of the Flu
- Fever
- Chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Stuffy nose
- Muscle and/or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
How Can You Prevent the Flu?
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get an annual flu shot. Ideally, you should get the vaccine before the end of October, but it isn't too late to get it now, if you haven't yet.
To keep yourself flu-free, you also want to make sure you avoid people who are sick, wash your hands on a regular basis, disinfect commonly touched surfaces and boost your immune system through a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Ways to Treat the Flu
- Take an antiviral medication, if one is prescribed.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Try throat lozenges to soothe an achy throat.
- Take OTC medications to ease fever and pain.
- Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air in your home.
Are you still in need of a flu shot? Visit AFC Urgent Care Ladera Ranch today. No appointment is needed.
