Don’t look now, but flu season is in full swing. Let’s all work together to reduce spreading these germs among ourselves and our patients!
It’s known that if you suffer from depression, you’re more at-risk for physical illness. Depression can affect the immune system, making it harder for your body to fight infection.
Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. There are two types or strains of the influenza virus; types A and B. Influenza A and B are responsible for flu epidemics each year. Seasonal influenza refers to the flu viruses that circulate during the winter months each year, and for which vaccines are created to protect people each season.
Who gets influenza?
According to the CDC, 5-20% of the population gets the flu, more than 300,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and an average of 30,000 die from flu-related causes. The most at-risk population includes those over 65 and under five years of age.
How is influenza spread?
The main way influenza viruses spread is person to person by droplet spread. This happens when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled through the air and deposited on the mouth, nose, or eyes of people nearby. This can also happen if one touches their own mouth, nose, or eyes before washing their hands.
Who Should get vaccinated for influenza?
It’s recommended by the CDC that all people six months of age or older get a flu vaccine. Every one, every year!
How do I keep my patients and myself safe?
- Clean your hands
- Be sure to wash your hands before and after treating patients
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Communicate with your patients if they have any flu-like symptoms
- Stay home when you’re sick
- Keep your distance to protect yourself and others from getting sick. This includes your grocery store errands!
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Germs are frequently spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Practice other good health habits
- Ensure you’re getting enough sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
Oh, and just as a reminder: if you get an email that says canned ham can cause swine flu??just delete it, because it’s SPAM (Lol)!
In all seriousness, please don?? forget to take care of YOU.
When you’re in a dark place you sometimes tend to think you have been buried. Perhaps you??e been planted?? BLOOM! — Anonymous
