Get the Flu Protect You From Get It Again
Each yr, millions of people endure from seasonal influenza, which is often chosen the flu. Flu is a respiratory illness caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs.
Flu can be a mild illness for some people. For older people, peculiarly those who take other health problems, the flu can be very serious and fifty-fifty life-threatening. Getting a influenza vaccine every year can help foreclose the flu. The vaccine is safety, constructive, and bachelor for niggling to no toll to you.
How serious is the flu?
Most people who get the flu feel amend after a few days to 2 weeks. However, the flu can be serious, and some people volition develop other wellness problems, called complications, because of the flu. Complications tin can be balmy, such as a sinus or ear infection, or more than serious, like pneumonia.
Anyone can get sick from the flu, just some people are more than probable to accept complications. Y'all are more at risk for flu and its complications if you:
- Are age 65 or older
- Have certain medical conditions such equally asthma, diabetes, or chronic kidney illness
- Have heart disease or accept had a stroke
- Live in a nursing abode or other long-term intendance facility
Pregnant women and children younger than five years erstwhile are likewise more likely to get very sick from the flu. Acquire more about people at increased risk for flu and its complications.
Why is the flu more dangerous for older adults?
The flu is more dangerous for older adults for a few reasons. One reason is that the allowed system — which helps your body fight infections — weakens equally you age. For example, because your body is busy fighting off the flu, you might pick up a second infection such as pneumonia. A 2nd reason is that older adults are likewise more likely to take other health conditions, like diabetes, that increment their risk for complications from the flu.
The skilful news is the flu vaccination reduces your risk of getting the flu and of getting seriously ill if you do get sick with the influenza. Flu vaccination is specially helpful for people with chronic health conditions. For example, it has been linked to lower rates of heart problems (cardiac events) among people with centre disease and fewer hospitalizations amidst people who have chronic lung illness or diabetes. Learn more than about the benefits of flu vaccination.
How does the flu spread?
The flu is contagious, which means it spreads from person to person. It mostly spreads through droplets in the air when people with influenza cough, sneeze, or talk. It can spread from up to vi feet away. Although information technology isn't as common, the flu tin also spread from surfaces, for case, if you touch on something the virus is on and and then touch on your nose, rima oris, or eyes.
It's possible to spread the flu before you lot experience ill and when you have symptoms. Typically, people with the flu tin spread it a mean solar day before, and upward to a calendar week after feeling sick. Young children and people with weakened immune systems may be able to spread the flu for even longer. If you or someone you know is sick with the influenza, take steps to assist prevent spreading the affliction.
Is it the flu, a cold, or COVID-19?
The common cold, flu, and COVID-xix can all cause similar symptoms. If yous accept symptoms, talk with your wellness care provider. Your provider can help determine the crusade of your disease and assistance you accept steps to feel better.
A cold is oftentimes milder than the flu. The flu and COVID-nineteen accept similar symptoms, but COVID-nineteen spreads more easily and symptoms tend to be more astringent. It's too more than common to accept a change in your sense of smell or gustation with COVID-19.
People with the flu tin can have fever, chills, dry out cough, general aches and pains, and a headache. They experience very tired. Sore pharynx, sneezing, stuffy nose, or breadbasket bug are less mutual. What some people call "tum flu" is non flu. Acquire more about the differences betwixt the influenza and a cold and influenza and COVID-nineteen.
Common symptoms of a cold, the flu, and COVID-xix
The nautical chart below shows common symptoms. Not everyone will have these symptoms. Your symptoms may be more or less severe, or you lot may only accept a few. If you feel sick, stay home and phone call your doctor
| Common Symptoms | Cold | Flu | COVID-xix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fever and/or chills | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Headache | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Muscle pain or torso aches | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Feeling tired or weak | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Sore pharynx | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Runny or stuffy nose | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sneezing | ✔ | ||
| Cough | ✔ | ||
| Shortness of breath or difficulty animate | ✔ | ||
| Vomiting and diarrhea | ✔ | ||
| Modify in or loss of taste or smell | ✔ |
How can you prevent the flu?
The most constructive way to forestall the flu is to go a influenza vaccine every year. Everyone 6 months and older should go a flu vaccine. Getting your flu vaccine reduces your risk of getting the flu. It also reduces your chances of beingness hospitalized or dying if you do get sick with the flu.
In addition to getting your flu vaccine, you tin help stop the spread of influenza past:
- Washing your hands
- Covering your mouth when you coughing or sneeze
- Staying home when you are sick
- Avoiding shut contact with people who are ill
Who should you lot get a flu vaccine and which one should you choose?
Influenza typically spreads in the fall and winter. Information technology usually starts to spread in October and peaks between December and February. That's why this time is called the influenza flavour.
It takes at least ii weeks for your influenza vaccine to showtime working, then try to get vaccinated past the end of October. However, getting vaccinated later on Oct tin however help protect y'all from the flu. Because older adults may lose amnesty from a influenza vaccine more chop-chop, try to avoid getting vaccinated too early (earlier September).
Several influenza vaccines are bachelor. In that location are as well 2 types of high-dose vaccinations specifically for people 65 years and older that create a stronger immune response later on vaccination. Talk with your health care provider or pharmacist about which vaccine is best for you.
Where can you get a flu vaccine?
You tin get your flu vaccine at your medico'due south office or from your local wellness department. Many grocery and drug stores also offer flu vaccines. Visit Vaccines.gov to find a location near y'all.
Why exercise you lot need a flu vaccine every yr?
You need a flu vaccine every year for two reasons. First, flu viruses alter and the flu vaccine is updated each year to target the influenza viruses that are predictable to spread that year. 2nd, the protection you get from a flu vaccine lessens with fourth dimension, especially in older people. Getting your flu vaccine every fall gives you the best protection from that year's flu viruses.
What are the side effects of flu vaccines?
The influenza vaccine is rubber and cannot requite y'all the flu. Most people have no problem with a flu vaccine.
The well-nigh common side effects are soreness, redness, or swelling where you were vaccinated. Some people also get a headache, fever, nausea, or muscle aches. These side effects may start soon afterward getting the vaccine and can last up to two days. They typically practise not make it the fashion of daily activities.
Even people with balmy egg allergies tin safely get almost influenza vaccines. Egg-gratis influenza vaccines are too available. You lot should non get vaccinated if you lot take had a severe allergic reaction to the influenza vaccine in the by. Talk with your health intendance provider virtually your options for influenza vaccines and side furnishings.
How much does getting a influenza vaccine cost?
About people can get a flu vaccine for little to no out-of-pocket toll. Medicare and most private wellness insurance plans will cover the price of your flu vaccine. However, some insurance plans require that you lot receive your vaccine at a specific location. Check with your insurance company. If you practise not have health insurance, contact your local or state health section.
What can y'all exercise if you get the flu?
If you get the flu, there are steps you lot can take to experience better. Act fast! Offset, talk with your wellness care provider. The flu and COVID-xix have similar symptoms, so you may need to get tested for an accurate diagnosis. This volition likewise assistance decide which medications might make you lot feel better.
There are prescription drugs, called antivirals, that are used to care for people with the flu. If you take them inside 48 hours after the flu begins, these drugs can make you feel meliorate more quickly. Antivirals can likewise help reduce your gamble of complications from flu. Antibiotics do not help y'all recover from the flu. Yet, they are sometimes prescribed to help you recover from a secondary infection if it is caused by bacteria. Leaner are a different type of germ than viruses.
If yous are sick, residuum and drink plenty of fluids like juice and water, only not alcohol. Medicine, such equally acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can bring down your fever and might help with the aches and pains. It is important not to fume if y'all are sick with the flu. Information technology is a respiratory illness that tin can infect your lungs as well every bit your nasal passages. These aforementioned areas are also affected by smoking. Take it piece of cake as much every bit y'all tin can until yous are well.
Monitor your symptoms and talk with your doctor if your symptoms worsen or become severe. For case, if yous:
- Have a fever that goes away and so comes back. That may be a sign of another infection.
- Start having animate or heart issues or your other health problems worsen.
- Feel ongoing pain or pressure in the chest or belly .
- Keep to feel sick and yous are not getting amend.
- Have a cough that brings up thick mucus.
For more data virtually the influenza
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
800-232-4636
888-232-6348 (TTY)
cdcinfo@cdc.gov
world wide web.cdc.gov
This content is provided past the NIH National Plant on Aging (NIA). NIA scientists and other experts review this content to ensure it is accurate and up to engagement.
Content reviewed: December 01, 2021
Source: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/flu-and-older-adults
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