The flu hasn’t reached epidemic levels in Michigan just yet, although it has spread in other states, so there’s still time for vaccinations. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)
The influenza virus has reached epidemic levels in other states, Dr. McGee said, explaining that a moderate level of flu is popping up regionally.
“We’re not seeing a ton of it … which may mean that people are getting their flu shots,” he said.
For kids and adults who haven’t had a flu shot this season, it’s not too late.
“The good news is there’s still time to get a flu shot. But get it soon, because it takes two weeks to take effect,” Dr. McGee said.
Time will tell if the vaccine is a good match to the type of flu circulating this year, or how bad of a flu season it will be. So far, 11 children have died from the flu in the United States this 2018-19 flu season. For the 2017-18 flu season, 185 children died.
“It’s early yet,” Dr. McGee said, emphasizing the importance of the vaccine and getting immediate care for the flu.
If you suspect you or your family member has the flu, call your doctor right away, Dr. McGee said, because the medication Tamiflu can treat it—but you have to start taking it early in the course of the illness.
Flu symptoms include fever, coughing, headache, muscle aches and tiredness. Symptoms generally last five to seven days.
Bottom line? Get your flu shot—it’s really the best thing you can do to prevent the illness.
Beyond that, it’s what your mom always told you: Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently as you and your family practice good hygiene.
“That’s really the best advice,” Dr. McGee said. “That, and get your flu shot.”
The holidays are fast approaching, and there is a whirlwind of activities, to-do lists, and travel. With so much going on, it’s easy to get caught up in all the excitement. At the same time, cold and flu season is already upon us, and the stress of the holidays don’t do our immune systems any favors.
Before getting too caught up in all the the fun that comes this time of year, it’s important for seniors to get proactive with their health. Helping your system with a diet filled with immune boosting foods is a great way to start. Here are eight foods the get you through the holiday season.
Citrus. Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons are high in Vitamin C, and offer an all-natural boost to the immune system. Foods high in Vitamin C not only protect against the common cold and other seasonal illness, but can lessen the duration and intensity of sickness as well. There is no wrong time to eat some citrus
Ginger. When preventing the cold and flu, ginger and its anti-inflammatory properties have no match. When inflammation is down, the immune system is able to function more effectively. Ginger has many well-documented uses, and can help intestinal and heart health as well. A cup of ginger tea in the mornings during the holidays can go a long way in improving senior health.
Honey. If your cup of ginger tea is too spicy, then adding some raw honey might help it go down easier, and provide even more health benefits. Honey soothes sore throats and works as an antibacterial, killing germs while boosting the immune system.
Blueberries. Berries, particularly blueberries, are full of antioxidants, which fight colds and support immune health. In addition to these antioxidants, blueberries contain healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, which protect cognitive functions and can help improve overall brain health in aging seniors.
Salmon. Like blueberries, salmon has healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, and is another component in brain health. In addition, salmon and other wild fish contain zinc, an important nutrient in reducing the spread of the common cold. While most effective in children, zinc can also help adults build strong immune systems and fight disease.
Dark Chocolate. Who doesn’t like chocolate? Dark chocolates contain theobromine, an antioxidant which can help suppress coughs during cold and flu season, along with tasting delicious. One tip for seniors? Try making some desserts with dark chocolate this holiday season.
Broccoli. While veggies might not be the most exciting food, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts are an important addition to your diet. Broccoli and the others can boost enzymes that help fight cold and flu germs and strengthen the overall immune system. Eating a serving of veggies with dinner is a key way to help promote good immune health.
Eggs. Simple to make and easy to eat, eggs can be added into your diet in some way at almost every meal. Eggs also provide Vitamin D, a vitamin that, along with Vitamin C, boosts the immune system to fight off colds and the flu.
Garlic. Along with being a versatile flavor to add to many dishes, garlic provides immune boosting compounds. Garlic is an easy addition to work into more foods to add that extra benefit to health. In addition to immune health, garlic can also lower blood pressure, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
Chicken. It’s not just the eggs that are good for you! Chicken and other poultry can battle cold symptoms as well as providing the immune boost to help stop you from getting sick in the first place. Simple chicken dishes, chicken soup, or even chicken stock can add useful vitamins and nutrients to a senior diet. And like other foods on this list, chicken provides other benefits as well. Chicken is high in iron, and provides more heart healthy help.
Boosting immune health is key to preventing illness. From the upcoming cold and flu season, to more serious sickness, a healthy immune system is the first way to protect yourself. Adding these foods and others like them to your daily diet will help you eat well, appreciate life, and enjoy this holiday season to the fullest.
By the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (with a little help from Victoria Mullen)
Hey! Happy New Year, Grand Rapids! We start out the year by making it onto yet another top-20 list, but this one’s nothing to brag about. According to the Huffington Post, Grand Rapids ranked 19th among the 20 cities most likely to experience the worst cold and flu season in 2016.
Great job, guys. Way to go. (Well, at least we weren’t #1 but still, among millions of cities, coming in at 19th?)
Both dreaded and dreadful, flu season can begin as early as October, but most of the time it peaks between December and February. Sometimes it can last as late as May. That’s what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say, and they’re the experts.
Wash your hands!
Suffice it to say that the exact timing and duration of each flu season varies. About half of the U.S. population gets a flu shot each year, but those nasty little viruses can still pack a punch. Flu is responsible for nearly 17 million lost workdays and costs the U.S. more than $87 billion annually. Tens of thousands of people get sick enough to be hospitalized, and thousands die from flu-related illnesses each year in the U.S.
Children are the most likely to become infected with flu, and children younger than five years of age are among those who are at high risk of serious flu complications.
Think about that the next time you go to hug your sweet little petri dish.
How to spread the flu
It’s easy! Just cough, sneeze or merely talk, and those nasty viruses will spread through itty-bitty, teeny-tiny little droplets. Flu also spreads when people touch something with the virus on it and then touch their nose, mouth or eyes.
Here’s the thing: if you’re infected with flu, you can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. That’s right, you can spread the flu to someone else before you even know you’re sick (in addition to doing so while you are sick).
Young children, people who are very ill and those with severely compromised immune systems can infect others for longer than 5-7 days.
We needn’t go this far… unless there’s a pandemic.
Symptoms of the flu
How do you know you have the flu? Uh, you’ll feel lousy. Specifically, you may have:
– Fever or feeling feverish (note that not everyone with flu will have a fever)
– Chills
– Cough
– Sore throat
– Runny or stuffy nose
– Muscle or body aches
– Headache
– Fatigue
– Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, but this is more common in children than in adults
Most people will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some may develop complications (such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus and ear infections) as a result of the flu, some of which can be life-threatening and even deadly.
The flu can make chronic health problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have the flu, and people with chronic congestive heart failure may experience worsening of this condition that is triggered by the flu.
When to go to the emergency room:
In children
– Fast breathing or trouble breathing
– Bluish skin color
– Not drinking enough fluids
– Not waking up or not interacting
– Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
– Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
– Fever with a rash
In adults
– Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
– Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
– Sudden dizziness
– Confusion
– Severe or persistent vomiting
– Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough
In addition to the signs above, get medical help right away for any infant who has any of these signs:
– Being unable to eat
– Has trouble breathing
– Has no tears when crying
– Significantly fewer wet diapers than normal
Isn’t it pretty? Looks like an art project, but it’s not.
The best way to prevent flu
Get your annual flu shot every fall, say the CDC. Their statistics show that during the 2012-2013 flu season, an estimated 45 percent of the U.S. population got vaccinated and helped to prevent an estimated 6.6 million flu-related illnesses, 3.2 million flu-related mediation visits and 79,000 hospitalizations. (How they came up with these numbers is a mystery, but there you have it.)
People at high risk (such as children younger than 2 years, adults 65 and older, pregnant women, people who have medical conditions) or are very sick (such as those hospitalized because of flu) should get antiviral drugs
The flu vaccine protects against several different flu viruses, providing protection all season long. Flu viruses can change from season to season and immunity declines over time so it is important to get vaccinated each year.
CDC plays a major role in deciding which flu viruses the annual flu vaccine will protect against, so be nice to them.
How to protect yourself from the flu:
Stay away from sick people (not a problem for introverts) and don’t be offended when they stay away from you when you’re sick (tit for tat)
Wash your hands to reduce the spread of germs
If you or your kid is sick with flu, stay home from work or school at least 24 hours after the fever is gone to prevent spreading flu to others (one exception: you may go out to get medical care or for necessities but keep your distance from others). No cheating: The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the trash after you use it
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth (germs love to spread this way)
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs (such as doorknobs, phones, and computer keyboards/iPads, you get the idea)
If you begin to feel sick while at work, go home as soon as possible
Follow public health advice, which may include information about how to increase distance between people and other measures. (I would think that if we ever reach this point, it wouldn’t hurt to wear a necklace of garlic.)
Fun Fact:
The title of ‘peak month of flu activity’ is bestowed upon the month with the highest percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza virus infection. February is typically the top peak month, so happy birthday out there to all you Aquarians!
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO.
