Americans have been bombarded in recent weeks with news about the shortage of flu vaccinations this year as flu season approaches. Much advice has been given about who should get a flu shot or who should skip it so there is enough vaccine for those who need it most.
But there are alternatives to getting a flu shot as far as staying healthy this winter. Some of the best ways to do this can be classified as common sense or simple courtesy.
Perhaps the best thing to do is wash your hands frequently. According to doctors, although the flu virus is “airborne” via one’s breath, is is most often passed by hand, as people put their hands to their mouths more than they ever realize.
Cleaning your hands for 15 seconds is recommended. Rubbing your hands vigorously with soap and warm water will help eliminate germs. This is especially important when you sneeze or cough and before meals. A variety of alcohol-based hand cleaners are available to carry in one’s pocket or purse.
Covering your nose or mouth when you cough is more than just polite. It keeps germs from spreading. But using your hand doesn’t eliminate the problem, as it just transfers the virus there. So use a tissue or handkerchief, or cough into the crook of your arm.
There’s no need to be antisocial, but simple math says that going into crowded places increase the risk of spreading or receiving germs. If you feel ill (fever, chills or aching bones), do yourself and everyone else a favor by staying home. Don’t go to work. If your child is sick, keep him or her at home.
Research shows that moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, helps the immune system. Those who exercise four or five times a week are less likely to get colds or other viruses, according to one study.
Most of us could do with less sugar in our diets for many reasons, the most obvious being weight control. But sugar has also been known to decrease the function of the immune system, and avoiding sugar when you feel you are coming down with something could be a big help. Controlling your sugar intake in your everyday life can make your healthier and stronger, which in turn makes it harder for the flu to take you down.
Getting the right amount of rest is paramount whenever you are sick, but doing so at all times also helps keep illness from arriving in the first place.
For those who want a vaccination and can’t get a shot, there is a second option: FluMist nasal spray vaccine. It is recommended for healthy people between the ages of 5 and 49 who are not pregnant.
Even if you get the flu, there are antiviral medicines available from your doctor that can make it less severe and shorten the duration of symptoms. These only work if you start them within two days of contracting the flu virus.
Drug stores and Web sites around the country have scores of other remedies, such as herbals, vitamins and supplements that claim to treat the flu or improve symptoms. Some homeopathic remedies are popular right now, but most doctors advise patients to proceed at their own risk with any substance not regulated by the government.
Simply put, once you get the flu, most experts recommend bed rest, plenty of fluids, over-the-counter remedies for aches and fever, a light diet, and chicken soup.
