Tips for Flu Prevention this Season

Flu season typically runs from October through February, and because of the risks to the elderly, senior flu prevention is especially important. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), each year more than 200,000 people will be hospitalized because of the flu, and 36,000 of them will die. Seniors in their seventies and eighties are at higher risk from the flu than seniors in their sixties, because of declining immunity to illnesses as they age.

Seasonal (or common) flu is one of the most highly contagious illnesses. It is spread primarily through coughing and sneezing. People may touch something with the flu virus on it—such as a doorknob, telephone or shopping cart handle—then unwittingly touch their mouth or nose. Flu symptoms include fever, chills, runny or stuffy nose, headache, sore throat, cough, extreme fatigue, and muscle aches.

While otherwise healthy adults can be laid low by the flu for a week or two, senior citizens are at risk for becoming much sicker. Because the flu is really a fairly severe illness, seniors may not have as much of a “physiological reserve” as a younger adult to fight it off. So, seniors have a greater risk for complications such as pneumonia. Also, chronic health conditions, such as congestive heart failure or chronic lung disease, can be exacerbated by the flu.

Flu Shots
The most important preventative measure to avoid flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. While important, it is only 70 to 90 percent effective, so some people who receive the vaccination will still get the flu. Therefore, for at-risk populations, it’s especially important that everyone around them also gets vaccinated.

Preventative Measures
During flu season, practicing good hygiene can help people avoid catching the flu or spreading the virus. Follow these tips:

• Try to avoid contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities, and limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs, both in and outside your home (especially after touching door knobs and stair rails in public places).
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. This is the most common way to spread germs.

Consider Antiviral Drugs
If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat your illness. Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. They are prescription medicines that can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. Taken with a flu shot they can also act as a preventative. For people with high risk factors, antiviral drugs can help prevent flu complications.

Studies show that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment when they are started within two days of getting sick, but starting them later can still be helpful, especially if the sick person has a high-risk health condition or is very sick from the flu. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking these drugs. ■

www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm