How to fight back this flu season

How to fight back this flu season: 

 

Keck Medicine of USC expert gives advice on the public’s best shot for avoiding influenza during the COVID-19 pandemic

 

Thanks to CDC for sharing their work on Unsplash.

 

Newswise — The fall signals the start of the flu season, which, along with the COVID-19 pandemic, some are calling a “twindemic.” How and why should people protect themselves from influenza? Keck Medicine of USC family medicine physician Anjali Mahoney, MD, answers questions about staying healthy this flu season.

Q. When is the best time to get a flu shot?

A. The influenza (commonly known as the flu) season usually starts in October and peaks around January or February. The best time to get a flu shot is in September to give your body a chance to mount an immune response to the virus should you be exposed to it.

Q. Who should get a flu shot?

A. Everyone over the age of six months should get a flu shot. It is especially important that people over 65, under two or who are immunocompromised get vaccinated as they are most vulnerable to severe complications from the flu.

Those over 65 receive a special high dose flu shot four times as powerful as a regular flu shot because this age group experiences more flu-related deaths and hospitalizations than any other. Older adults are especially susceptible to the flu because as we age, our immune systems weaken, making us more vulnerable to illnesses.   

Q. Is it safe to get a flu shot?

A. Absolutely. Some people worry they might catch the flu from the shot, but the vaccine is not live, so that is unlikely. The vaccine does cause the body to mount an immune response, so occasionally people may develop a low-grade fever or body aches, but this typically only lasts a day or two. Some people also report tenderness in the arm where the shot was given.

Q. How effective is the flu vaccine?

A. Every year the Centers for Disease Control looks at the different flu viruses circulating in the community and creates a vaccine to protect against the most common flu strains. In general, the vaccine is 40%-60% effective in preventing the flu, with some years more effective than others. In addition, if people who are vaccinated catch the flu, their cases tend to be milder than those who are not vaccinated.

Q. How does the COVID-19 pandemic affect flu season?

A. The pandemic makes it even more important to get a flu shot this year. Both viruses can do serious damage, and you want to avoid getting both diseases at the same time or back to back. In addition, by getting a flu shot, you help protect others in the community from catching the flu, which is especially key for vulnerable populations such as those with compromised immune systems, the very young or older adults. You also avoid putting a strain on already taxed health care workers and systems battling the coronavirus should you need medical attention due to complications from influenza.

Q. If someone starts to feel sick, how can they tell if it is the flu or COVID-19?

A. The two viruses can present the same way, but there are differences. With the coronavirus, people might lose their sense of smell and taste, and we do not see these symptoms with the flu. In addition, the flu typically hits more suddenly and harder, with a high fever, chills and possibly nausea and vomiting, which is less common with COVID-19. If you suspect you have either virus, contact your care provider immediately. For the flu, if you are treated within the first 48 hours, your doctor may be able to prescribe medication to reduce the length of sickness.

Q. Could increased masking for COVID-19 help stop the spread of the flu this season?

A. Possibly. However, keep in mind that as with COVID-19, a mask is only one form of protection and is not 100% effective. The best protection against the flu is getting the vaccine and practicing good hygiene such as hand washing.

Q. Is there any other advice you would offer people as we head into the “twindemic”?

A. I would urge people to continue the good habits they have adopted while protecting themselves from COVID-19 — washing their hands frequently for 20 seconds at a time, disinfecting surfaces routinely and avoiding crowds. While we may be facing two viruses at once, these practices will help keep us healthy in the months to come.

 

If You’re Already Dreading Winter, Here Are Some Small Ways to Prepare Now

Winter Preparation 

 

The pandemic means we're probably going to be spending even more time indoors, so it's a good time to get your mind, body, and home ready to hunker down.

 

by Rachel Miller

September 9, 2020, 12:00pm

• 
  

How to Stay In is a series about redefining "normal" life in order to take care of ourselves and one another during the COVID-19 pandemic.

See More →

Since the beginning of this pandemic, there have been warnings that the upcoming fall and winter could be far worse than spring and summer were. CDC director Robert Redfield said it in April and again in July; several public health experts echoed this in The Atlantic in August; and we’ve all seen the 1918 pandemic graphs. In a few months, flu season will have begun, outdoor gatherings will be fairly unrealistic or just flatly impossible in much of the U.S., and the direct and collateral damage of mass unemployment will have deepened. While widespread rapid testing or the election of a new president could set us on a new, better, course, it’s still a good idea to plan for the worst while hoping for the best.

While thinking about all of this is fairly bleak, one thing gives me hope: This time around will be different—both because we won’t be blindsided by it, and because we know so much more about the coronavirus now. We have an opportunity to say to ourselves, “What, in four months, would I absolutely regret not doing when I had the chance?” and “What small-ish things do I wish I had done in January 2020, that I can do some version of now?”

And small-ish really is key here. Obviously, it would have been great to, say, not book a non-refundable April trip to Europe, or to know in December that you were going to suddenly get laid off in March, but that doesn’t exactly help you here. Instead, think more specifically about your day-to-day comfort, habits, and health. What were/are the biggest pain points? What might be exacerbated by cold weather, being indoors, or an unforeseen catastrophe (like a job loss or illness)? And what, if anything, could you do (or plan to do) now to feel a little bit less bad come January?

If you’re filled with dread about the coming winter and want to do something about it, here are some questions to consider. Two tips, before you start, though:

1. As you think through this, you may want to make a mega list of all of the things that could possibly be helpful… but then do a second pass and choose the 3–5 things that stand out to you as the highest priorities. You can always revisit the list in a month or so and choose a few more to work on. But try to resist the urge to do everything all at once; it’s too easy to get overwhelmed and give up that way.
2. If your cash flow and resources are limited at the moment, it might still be worthwhile to think about this stuff now—because then you can keep an eye out for good sales, try to save a little money here and there, hit up thrift stores or Facebook resale pages, celebrate when you stumble across the exact thing you need in a neighbor’s trash pile, etc.

What can you do in the next few weeks to make sure your physical and mental health are as good as they can possibly be?

This might look like...

• Getting a flu shot
• Taking care of That One Nagging Issue—bad allergies, birth control, contact lenses, the tooth that’s been feeling not quite right, etc.
• Finding a therapist and starting sessions, getting back into therapy if you’ve let things slide, and/or joining a support group
• Getting a thermometer, some non-expired cold and cough medicine, cough drops, ibuprofen, tissues, etc.
• Finding one style

 

Getting a Flu Shot Has Never Been More Important

Getting a Flu Shot Has Never Been More Important:



This fall, children and adults should receive a flu shot to prevent widespread illness, as cases of COVID-19 and the seasonal flu are expected to rise, potential at the same time, says Loyola University Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Kevin Smith, MD. The flu and COVID-19 also share many of the same symptoms.

 Thanks to CDC for sharing their work on Unsplash.

Newswise — MAYWOOD, IL – This fall, children and adults should receive a flu shot to prevent widespread illness, as cases of COVID-19 and the seasonal flu are expected to rise, potentially at the same time, says Loyola University Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Kevin Smith, MD. The flu and COVID-19 also share many of the same symptoms.

“Unlike COVID-19, the flu can be prevented by a vaccine,” says Dr. Smith, who appears in the new Loyola Medicine video “COVID-19: Getting a Flu Shot Has Never Been More Important.” Therefore, everyone should get a flu shot, ideally when the vaccine first becomes available in September and October.”

It typically takes two weeks to develop immunity following a flu shot.
“The flu vaccine is especially important for older adults, and anyone with a chronic condition that makes them more vulnerable to severe flu or COVID-19 symptoms and complications,” says Dr. Smith. “It is possible to contract the flu and COVID-19 at the same time. There’s also a real concern that flu and COVID-19 cases may simultaneously spike in the U.S., which could seriously impact the health care system’s ability to optimally care for all patients.”

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends flu shots for anyone older than six months old with “rare exceptions.” The flu season typically runs from October through March. Flu shots are widely available and covered by insurance.

Flu vs. COVID-19 symptoms
The flu and COVID-19 share many of the same symptoms, “and it can be really difficult to distinguish between the two,” says Dr. Smith; however, testing can provide a definitive diagnosis. Both COVID-19 and the flu can cause:

• Fevers
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Sore throat
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Gastrointestinal issues, including vomiting and diarrhea (less often)

How to stay healthy this fall In addition to getting a flu shot, Dr. Smith recommends that everyone continue to adhere to CDC COVID-19 safety guidelines to prevent illness this fall and winter. The recommendations include:

• Wearing a mask
• Social distancing
• Washing hands frequently
• Covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing
• Staying home if you are not feeling well
• Monitoring your symptoms

When should you call the doctor?
“If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or the flu, you should contact your doctor or a health care provider,” says Dr. Smith. Loyola Medicine offers both in-person and telehealth (video) care.
“It’s also important that you monitor your symptoms and seek immediate care if you or a loved one is having difficulty breathing, no longer eating or drinking, and/or continues to have a high fever, especially one that lasts several days or more."

To schedule an appointment with a Loyola Medicine physician, visit loyolamedicine.org or call 888-584-7888.

About Loyola MedicineLoyola Medicine, a member of Trinity Health, is a nationally ranked academic, quaternary care system based in Chicago's western suburbs. The three-hospital system includes Loyola University Medical Center, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital and MacNeal Hospital, as well as convenient locations offering primary care, specialty care and immediate care services from more than 1,800 physicians throughout Cook, Will and DuPage counties. Loyola is a 547-licensed-bed hospital in Maywood that includes the William G. & Mary A. Ryan Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine, the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, a Level 1 trauma center, Illinois's largest burn center, a certified comprehensive stroke center and a children’s hospital. Loyola also trains the next generation of caregivers through its academic affiliation with Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. Gottlieb is a 247-licensed-bed community hospital in Melrose Park with the newly renovated Judd A. Weinberg Emergency Department, an adult day care program, the Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care and the Loyola Cancer Care & Research facility at the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center. MacNeal is a 374-licensed-bed teaching hospital in Berwyn with advanced medical, surgical and psychiatric services, acute rehabilitation, an inpatient skilled nursing facility and a 68-bed behavioral health program and community clinics. Loyola Medical Group, a team of primary and specialty care physicians, offers care at over 15 Chicago-area locations. For more information, visit loyolamedicine.org. You can also follow Loyola Medicine on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

About Trinity Health Trinity Health is one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation, serving diverse communities that include more than 30 million people across 22 states. Trinity Health includes 92 hospitals, as well as 106 continuing care locations that include PACE programs, senior living facilities, and home care and hospice services. Its continuing care programs provide nearly 2.5 million visits annually. Based in Livonia, Mich., and with annual operating revenues of $19.3 billion and assets of $27 billion, the organization returns $1.2 billion to its communities annually in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. Trinity Health employs about 119,000 colleagues, including 7,500 employed physicians and clinicians. For more information, visit www.trinity-health.org. For more information, visit trinity-health.org. You can also follow Trinity Health on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

Flu Season and Vaccines — What You Need to Know

Flu Season and Vaccines — What You Need to Know

 Important information concerning Flu and the Vaccines to protect yourself.  The worrying fact is that often we have the flu vaccine for one strain of the flu and then we catch another strain.


Newswise — As the winter months and cold weather approach, so does flu season.

Approximately 970,000 Americans were hospitalized due to the flu in 2014, and more than 40 million were affected by flu-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to symptoms including sore throat, aches, and fever, the flu can lead to serious health complications, such as pneumonia. These data, say UAB experts, are reason enough for Americans to receive their yearly influenza vaccine.

During recent flu seasons (October-May), between 80 and 90 percent of flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older. The upcoming season’s flu vaccine will protect against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the season. This includes two influenza A viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) and select the influenza B viruses, depending on the flu vaccine.

The Truth About Flu Vaccines

News about Flu Vaccines

Well, it's time to learn the truth about flu vaccines and their effects.  Sadly each time we think we protect ourselves from viruses, there is another side which considers the dangers on the vaccines.

• California is one of three states in the US that will not allow anything but a medical exemption from vaccination, for which 99.99 percent of children do not qualify under federal guidelines
• Forcing children who do not have all of the state-mandated vaccines to home school is a violation of civil rights
• California also passed a bill to prevent adult daycare workers from being employed in California unless they have received all state-mandated vaccines

Egg Allergy No Barrier To Flu Shot

 This should be welcome news as the cold season approaches.

Egg Allergic Children Now Have no Barriers to Flu Shot