If you don’t make an effort to prevent it, odds are that you’ll catch the flu this season.

For most of us it means a couple of weeks out of work or school, then life goes back to normal. But the flu can be serious, even deadly, if you have a health condition like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, or a weakened immune system.

The trick is not to get sick in the first place. Here are proven ways to avoid the flu.

Get Vaccinated

Experts say the single best way to avoid the flu is to get the flu shot as soon as you can. The ideal time is early fall. But any time during the winter is fine if you haven’t already done it.

The vaccine is designed to protect against the flu strains health experts believe will be most widespread each season — for example, the H1N1 “swine flu.” Some vaccines work against three flu strains — you might hear them called trivalent. Others guard against four strains — doctors will call them quadrivalent.

Know the Vaccine Types

The flu “shot” contains a dead virus. One kind that’s approved for people 6 months and older goes straight into the muscle. Another uses a smaller needle that only goes into the top layer of your skin. It’s available for people ages 18 to 64.

The nasal spray, FluMist, contains a live but weakened form of the virus. It’s approved for those between ages 2 and 49 who are healthy, not allergic to the flu vaccine, and not pregnant. 

Egg-free vaccines are for people between ages 18 and 49 who have severe egg allergies. If your allergy is severe, you should get the flu shot from a doctor who can treat a severe allergic reaction — either at your doctor’s office, a hospital, a clinic, or a health department. Many children with egg allergies are at risk for complications from the flu, so it’s important for them to get the flu shot.

Fluzone is a high-dose version for those ages 65 and older. It’s better at protecting an older person’s immune system.

There is a “needle-less” option for people ages 18 to 64:  the jet injector vaccine with Afluria, which uses a tool and high pressure to deliver the vaccine.

Don’t make excuses for skipping your flu shot. Your arm might be a little sore the next day. And you may feel a little achy or run a low fever afterward. But you can’t catch the flu from the vaccine. It contains a weakened or killed form of the virus.

Build a Germ Barrier

It’s easy to catch the flu. When a nearby sick person sneezes or coughs, they send out a spray of virus-laden droplets straight to your open mouth or nose.

You can also pick it up from touching a surface — like the restaurant table where a sick person dined before you. Flu germs can linger on places like tables, counters, desks, doorknobs, and faucets for up to 8 hours.

When you touch a germy surface and put your hands on your eyes, nose, or mouth, your fingers bring the virus right into your body.

You can try to avoid sick people, but that’s not always easy to do, especially when you’re in close quarters like movie theaters and malls. If you can’t steer clear of the virus, at least use good hygiene to create a barrier against flu germs.

• Wash your hands with warm water and soap every time you shake hands or touch a surface that might be germ-covered.
• Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you for times when you can’t get to a sink.
• Bring along disinfectant wipes to clean any surfaces you’re about to touch.
• Take extra care to not touch your mouth, eyes, or nose without washing your hands first.

Sharing is wonderful, but not during flu season. Be stingy with your utensils, plates, glasses, and anything else you touch with your mouth. Wash used dishes and utensils in the dishwasher or in the sink with hot water and soap.

Take Care of Yourself

If you want your immune system to be in good enough shape to fight off the flu and other germs, you need to stay healthy.

• Eat a balanced diet.
• Exercise at least 4 days a week.
• Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night.

All these will give your body the strength it needs to fend off an influenza attack.

Quit Smoking

In addition to everything else smoking does to your body — from boosting your cancer risk to giving you premature wrinkles — it could make you more likely to get the flu.

There’s evidence that smokers get the flu more often than people who don’t light up. And when they do get sick, smokers tend to have a more severe infection and a higher risk of dying from the flu.

Holding off this nasty illness is just one more reason to talk to your doctor about ways to quit smoking.

Take Your Medicine

All these steps should keep you pretty well armed against the flu. Still, even the best defense isn’t perfect.

In case you do get sick, ask your doctor about antiviral flu drugs like oseltamivir (Tamiflu), peramivir (Rapivab), zanamivir (Relenza) or baloxavir (Xofluza). They can help you get better faster. But you need to take them within the first 2 days of getting sick.

If you do come down with the flu this season, look out for others. You can spread it for up to a week after you get sick. Don’t share germs with your friends, family, and co-workers.

• Stay home until you feel better and your fever has been gone (without the help of medicine) for at least 24 hours.
• Sneeze into your elbow, not your hand. That way you can’t pass it around.
• Toss used tissues after you blow your nose. Don’t leave them lying around for someone else to find.

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post Flu Prevention Tips appeared first on Precision Background Screening.

It’s almost fall, and the flu and cold season will be here in a few months. Coupled with the ongoing pandemic this is not good news. Many of us have a few tricks up our sleeves for dealing with illness when it hits. But what can we do to stay healthy in the first place? Here are six things you can do to help boost your immunity naturally:

1. Drink plenty of fluids

Water does wonders for your immunity. Many of us have heard that we should drink eight, eight-ounce glasses of water per day. That can be hard to do. Instead, try drinking a glass of water when you wake up to start your day off right. Your body is dehydrated from sleeping, so this is a great way to remedy that immediately. Another tip: If you like warm drinks in the winter, try non-caffeinated teas, which you can include in your daily water tally.

2. Exercise regularly

We often think of exercise as a way to prevent chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and high blood pressure, or as a way to keep weight in control. But exercise can also contribute to general good health including boosting your immunity. Exercise can promote good blood circulation, which allows your cells and substances of the immune system to move through your body freely to do their job efficiently.

3. Stress less

Stress drains your ability to stay strong and negatively impacts immunity. If you have big or little stressors daily, your system is constantly pushed to overcome that stress. One way I de-stress is by giving myself time for “self-care.” This means different things for different people, but essentially it’s doing things that “refill your tank.” I like to read a good book, get a massage or exercise. Even singing or prayer can lift me up.

4. Get a good night’s sleep

Sleep is a regenerative process for your body. When you are sleep deprived your natural immune cells, or T cells, go down, and inflammatory cytokines (inflammation cells) go up. That means good sleep results in strengthening your immunity.

5. Eat foods with probiotics

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations defines probiotics as “live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit.” Research shows that probiotics are some of the best foods to boost immunity. Include regularly eating fermented and cultured foods that contain probiotics (look for “live active cultures” on the label). Some foods that contain probiotics are:

• unpasteurized sauerkraut and kimchi
• cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir (a thick, creamy and drinkable yogurt), lassi (an Indian drink made from a yogurt or buttermilk base with water) and leban (a liquid or semisolid food made from curdled milk
• tofu, miso, natto (fermented soybeans), shoyu or tamari (types of Japanese soy sauce) and tempeh (an Indonesian dish made from fermented soybeans)
• kombucha (fermented, lightly sweetened black or green tea drink) and kvass (traditional Slavic and Baltic fermented beverage commonly made from rye bread)

If you haven’t tried probiotic foods before, the flavors can be strong, so you may want to start with a little at a time. Even a teaspoon or so a day can help you develop a taste for these beneficial foods. If you want to explore taking a probiotic supplement, talk to your health provider. There are a variety of options available in the vitamin section of natural food stores.

6. Eat a well-balanced diet

Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help keep you well. Eat a rainbow of vegetables and fruits daily to ensure you’re getting a variety of nutrients. Lean proteins and complex carbohydrates, like brown rice and quinoa, are also part of a healthy diet. Minimize processed foods, sugar and beverages that have no nutrients, like pop.

Although it can be challenging to do all of these things on an ongoing basis, do as much as you can. Consistently taking good care of yourself is the best way to support your overall health and immunity.

If you found this information useful, please check out our blog for more articles like this.

If you need to run background checks and would like a free quote click here and let us know how we can help you.

The post Immunity Health Tips appeared first on Precision Background Screening.