Preventing Colds and Flu During the Holidays

Gathering around with with family during the holidays can bring real joy. However, during cold and flu season, it can also mean spreading germs. Germs can spread quickly and before you know it, the whole house is sick. Here are some tips to limit your risk of catching the cold or flu.

Stay Rested

To help keep your immune system healthy, it's important to get enough sleep each night. For adults this is around 7-9 hours. If you're feeling stressed or rundown, take timeout to rest. Exercise can also help keep your body and mind feel less worn down during the holidays.

Wash Your Hands

Because germs are often spread by touch, regular hand washing is the best defense against illness. Scrub your hands thoroughly for at least 30 seconds with warm soapy water. Wash your hands before and after preparing food and eating and after contact with bathrooms.

When hand washing isn't an option, hand sanitizers containing alcohol can be helpful in killing most germs on your hands.

Don't Spread Your Germs

If you do catch a cold or flu, stay home from work and avoid contact with other people as much as possible. Cough or sneeze into your elbow, or use tissues. Wash your hands regularly.

Get a Flu Shot

The best way to prevent getting the flu is to get a flu shot every year. Because each year's flu strain is different, a flu shot is designed to protect you from the strains that are most expected.

If you do become sick during the holidays, Parkway Family physicians is here to help.

Why This Year's Flu Season Could Be Worse Than Last Year's

Flu seasons can be difficult to predict, but there are already signs that the upcoming season may be especially tough.

Health experts who track outbreaks of the influenza virus around the world, a group of specialists organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) called the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) are reporting an increase in flu cases. In the southern hemisphere where the flu begins in May and ends in October, the flue season arrived early and struck hard. A particularly virulent flu strain, H3N2, has dominated. In the U.S., a 4 year old in California who had underlying health problems has died from the flu.

Each year, some strains of the influenza virus mutates, which is why a new flu vaccine is prepared every year. Significant mutations often cause pandemics because the immunity that we acquire over time from exposure and vaccinations becomes less effective. Because of mutations that can occur during the flu season, influenza vaccinations may not be as effective in many cases. However, it is still important to get vaccinated, especially for children and the elderly who are at greater risk of complications from the flu.

Protecting Your Family From the Flu

• Wash hands with soap and water or regularly use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Limit contact with surfaces like doorknobs, faucets, phones, and keyboards and wash hands afterward.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Stay at least six feet away from people who appear ill.
• Keep your immune system healthy by getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated, and eating a healthy diet.
• Last but not least, get vaccinated!