Flu season is early, and could be rough
We’re starting to see quite a bit of influenza at our offices, and health authorities expect this year to be a bad one. To protect yourself from the flu:
- Get a good nights sleep
- Stay away from sick people
- Wash your hands, and avoid touching your face
- Get flu vaccines for yourself and your family
If you haven’t gotten your flu vaccine yet, please come in soon. We have both injectable and mist vaccine available at both offices. Call for details and an appointment.
Symptoms of flu
Influenza is not a bad cold, and is not a “tummy bug” with a lot of vomiting and diarrhea. The flu virus causes a severe illness with high fevers, body aches, and some cough and GI distress. It usually lasts 5-7 days, and is very contagious. Treatment is mostly supportive—plenty of fluids and medicine to reduce fevers. There is medicine to treat flu specifically, but it is only moderately effective at reducing the length and severity of illness. Prevention is your best strategy. The CDC predicts that this year’s flu vaccine will be quite effective—probably reducing the overall chance of flu by 90%. If you do catch the flu after being vaccinated, the symptoms will be less severe.