According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu
season in the U.S. usually ranges from November through March, and sometimes
into early spring. Flu is caused by viruses, which infect the nose, throat
and lungs. “It’s very contagious, said Family Nurse Practitioner,
Boni Killian of
Catawba Valley Family Medicine – North Hickory. “A person can spread the flu starting one day before he or she
even feels sick, and continue to pass the flu virus to others for several
days after symptoms start.”
Those symptoms can include:
- fever
- chills
- dry cough
- muscle aches
- extreme fatigue
- sore throat
- headache
- nasal congestion
“Most people can recover from the flu in a week or two,” said
Boni. “But that doesn’t mean flu should be taken lightly.
Potential complications from the flu are serious and can include bronchitis
or pneumonia.” Left untreated these complications can be life threatening.
These kinds of complications become especially serious for infants, young
children and as we get older.
Although you can’t always avoid people who have the flu, you can
talk to your doctor about flu shots. Flu shots are available for just
about everyone, even children as young as 6 months old. CDC recommends
a flu shot yearly for most people. The American Academy of Family Physicians
(AAFP) says it is even more important for people in certain high risk
groups to consider flu shots, including those who live in nursing homes
or other long-term care facilities, people with chronic heart disease,
lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease, anemia or immune system problems
including AIDS, and people over the age of 50. The American Lung Association
(ALA) says that people with asthma should also consider getting a flu
shot. “If you do want a flu shot, the time to think about getting
it is in October and November,” suggests Boni.
There are no foolproof ways to keep yourself free of the flu. But Boni
offers these tips to help you feel better:
- Stay in bed and drink plenty of fluids
- Breathing in hot vapors from a shower may help you feel better
- Elevate your head at night to help nasal passages drain
- Blow your nose to clear any congestion, but do it gently and blow both
nostrils at the same time
- Use medication for specific symptoms when appropriate
Talk with your primary care physician to see if the flu shot is right for
you. For more information or to make an appointment with Family Nurse
Practitioner, Boni Killian at
Catawba Valley Family Medicine – North Hickory located at 212 29th Ave. NE Suite 1, Hickory NC, call 828.326.0658.