Stay Healthy and Avoid the Flu

Every year the dreaded flu season looms and everyone tries their best to avoid it. After all, the symptoms – pain, cough, chills, body aches, congestion, etc. – are no fun to experience. Here’s a starting point for getting through the season without getting sick.

Get Your Flu Shot

No matter how much you might not want to get the flu shot, according to the CDC, a flu immunization is the best way to prevent getting sick. Every season, the CDC provides a new immunization to fight against the most likely strains of flu for that year. There are a few different options for ways to protect yourself. There is a traditional dose trivalent vaccine that protects against two of the “A” viruses and one of the “B” viruses. Just about everyone over 6 months can get a flu shot or flu nasal dose. In fact, the youngest and the oldest are the most at risk and should prioritize getting immunized to prevent potentially serious illness.

Wash Your Hands

It’s not enough to just wash your hands to prevent infection, you have to wash your hands the right way. Make sure you use hot, soapy water and really give your hands a good scrub. So often, we see people doing a quick rinse in the bathrooms and that is definitely not adequate. Use towels to turn off the faucets after rinsing. The faucets can be one of the dirtiest spots in a bathroom. Make sure you completely dry your hands as well with clean paper towels or air dryers. If you use sanitizer, rub it in well and makes sure it dries completely before touching anything. The influenza virus can live for about 2-8 on surfaces not inside your body. This is something to think about next time you touch a door, grocery cart, or restaurant booth as you are out in your community. Stay aware and do your best to keep good hygiene at the top of your mind.

If you get sick, here’s how to keep it from spreading.

• Stay home. Don’t go around people. If you must go out, wear a mask and watch where you put your hands.
• Wait at least 24 hours after a fever before going back to school or work.
• Use tissues to cover your nose and face when you sneeze or cough. If you don’t have a tissue, use the bend of your arm.
• Wash your hands, A LOT.
• Keep your hands away from your face.
• Clean surfaces of your home, car, or other spaces with disinfectant.

If you don’t avoid the flu and need relief from your illness, contact Palm Beach Sinus Doctors for an appointment. We’re here to serve you.