Avoid the Flu

If you haven’t had the flu this year, you are one lucky ducky, but flu season isn’t over yet. Sadly, if you have had the flu, I’m sorry to say that you can get it again. Yes, it’s true: you could still catch a different strain of the flu virus even if you have had the flu this year. So, here are some solid tips for avoiding the flu that anyone can do, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money.

Boost Your Immune System

You can naturally boost your immune system by taking vitamin C during the flu season. This can be accomplished by drinking a 6oz glass of orange juice every day. If the acid is too much for your tummy, you can also take over-the-counter supplements. These are available at any drug store in 500 mg chewable tablets or in the product Emergen-C. 500 to 100 milligrams a day will help your body fight off the flu.

In addition to getting plenty of C, you need plenty of Z’s. Your body needs rest in order to function at its best, so make sure that you get enough sleep every night. People who regularly get 7-9 hours of sleep have improved immune function and less stress.

Speaking of stress, you need to keep it in check, especially during the flu season. Stress actually weakens your immune system, making you more susceptible to virus attacks and infection. Daily meditation practice can help you manage your stress, feel more relaxed, sleep better at night, and it has been shown to improve your immune system.

Adopt an overall healthy lifestyle with exercise and good nutrition. For an optimal immune system, exercise for at least 30 minutes a day and eat right. Make sure you get in 6 servings of fruits and vegetables, and snack on nuts or berries instead of sugary snacks. This will give your body all of the nutrients and antioxidants it needs to be healthy.

Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands often is the single most effective way to protect yourself and others from common germs like the flu. Wash your hands before you prepare food or eat. Wash them anytime you are in a public area. Think the grocery store, the gym, school, work, convenience stores, meetings, etc. Wash your hands after you leave any public area, several times while at work or school, after shaking someone’s hand. Use soap and water or use alcohol hand sanitizer. Yes, this can dry out your hands; I’m a nurse, I hear you. Buy good soap or hand sanitizer that contains a moisturizer and use it! Use lotion if you need to, but clean those hands and do it a lot!

Also, try to avoid touching your face. The flu germs get into your body through your eyes, nose, and mouth. By not touching your face, you can avoid taking those flu (and other) germs to their superhighway into your body. If you need to touch your face (just before eating, to clean your face, to scratch your eye, to apply makeup) wash or sanitize your hands before doing so if possible.

Get a Flu Shot

Ok, I know that a lot of people are anti-immunization, particularly the flu shot, but there are lots of reason to get it. It does help you have immunity from the flu virus. It also prevents the spread of the flu. When fewer people in our community have the flu, then we as individuals within the community are less likely to get the flu. When you get the flu shot, you are protecting yourself, your loved ones, your friends and your neighbors by not being the one who will spread the flu to them.

Now, I know that the naysayers are thinking, “but it is only 30% effective this year.” (2018), and they are correct. However, 30% is still much better than 0%, and the mild flu is not deadly like it’s brother the full-blown flu. In most years, the flu vaccine is much more effective than this year, so get your shot every year.

Oh, what about the mercury in the flu shot? The mercury that people worry about is an incredibly small amount, it has not been proven to be harmful, and it is an ingredient in the shot’s preservative. If this is your roadblock, then ask for the preservative-free version of the vaccine. It is available in single-dose prefilled syringes which do not contain preservatives.

Use a Mask

Simple paper face masks can be bought at any drug store and they don’t cost a lot of money, but they can help you avoid the flu. Wear one if you are going to be in a situation where you will be in close contact with other people, such as attending a fair, or going to an amusement park, or going to a concert. If you are going to be in a situation where you will be forced to be within 3 feet of many strangers, then a face mask will place a barrier between you and the germs that are running amuck in crowds.

The proper way to wear a face mask is to cover the face from the bridge of the nose to below the chin. Most disposable face masks have a malleable top ridge. This will be the stiff edge. Place this over the bridge of your nose and pull the bottom ridge to under your chin, then press the top edge to shape it to your nose and cheeks to form a seal.

Also, wear a face mask if you visit someone in the hospital (cesspool of germs). On that note, try to stay out of the hospital if you can, really. Right now, the flu is running rampant in our hospitals, so only visit people if you really feel that you have to, and don’t take your children or infants. They are so much more susceptible to the worst effects of the flu, so please protect them by keeping them away from hospitals right now.

I have just shared with you the things nurses do to avoid getting the flu while we care for flu patients. These are your tools, get out there and fight the flu.