It's Flu Season - Protect Yourself! by Sherri Allen

When you ask most people what season it is, they'll tell you it's winter. Many health professionals, however, will answer a little differently. They'll tell you it's flu season. Although the flu can actually be caught at any time of year, the heaviest flu activity occurs between December and March. That means, if you haven't already started flu prevention, you need to start now.

Of course, the number one method for preventing the flu is vaccination. For a lot of Americans this year, however, that is not an option due to the flu vaccine shortage. If you are in a high-risk category (i.e. over 64, suffering from a chronic illness, pregnant , child between 6-23 months or caregiver of child under 6 months) and haven't yet been vaccinated, you should contact your doctor or local government health department immediately to try to get a vaccination. For the millions of Americans who didn't get vaccinated this year, here are some tips to help with flu prevention:

* Wash Your Hands. According the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu virus spreads "in respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing." Imagine this scenario: someone with the flu coughs into his/her hand. The flu virus is now on his/her hand. Then he/she touches a shopping cart, or a doorknob, or a checkout counter, etc. The flu virus is now on whatever he/she touched. Then you touch the same object. The flu virus is now on YOUR hand. You touch your eyes, nose or mouth and the flu virus has spread to you. You can see how washing your hands as often as possible will greatly reduce your chance of catching the flu. If facilities for washing your hands aren't available, use an alcohol-based waterless hand sanitizer.

* Don't Touch Your Face. As shown in the previous example, touching your eyes, nose or mouth is a common way people become infected with the flu virus.

* Stay Away From Sick People. Okay, this one's a little obvious but worth mentioning. Just remember that this method of prevention alone, along with not always being practical, is not foolproof. A person can spread the flu virus a full day before showing any symptoms.

Go to Page 2

BIO:

Sherri Allen is the editor of an award-winning website devoted to topics such as family, food, garden, house&home and money. For free articles, information, tips, recipes, reviews and coloring pages, visit http://www.SherriAllen.com/

Some Aditional Articles you may enjoy

Health Thoughts, Living on the Health Minimum Wage? by Nick James

Beauty implements & Shears by Umer Ejaz

All-Natural, All-Inclusive Supplement A Huge Business Opportunity by Opal R. Gilbert

Five Ways to Combat the Blues and Win by Mike Moore

Are fruits making you FAT? by Dr. Jeff Banas

Click a Number to go to an article index page
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39