There are steps you can take in your daily life to help protect you from getting the flu:
• #1 Best Step: Wash your hands often with soap and water at least 20 seconds to create a full lather and to reach all crevices of your hands and wrists
• Use an alcohol-based hand rub/sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol. Use one or two squirts or pumps, rub hands together briskly, front and back, between fingers, around and under the nails, until hands are dry; least for 15 seconds is ideal
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Avoid doorknobs, handles, places often touched – use wipes to clean or a tissue to open.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Get plenty of sleep and exercise.
• Manage your stress.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Eat healthy food.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• If you cannot cough into a tissue, cough into the crook of your elbow.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine
• CDC is recommending that people (especially at risk folks) call their doctor and get a Rx for Tamiflu to help mitigate symptoms.
Get a flu shot, even now- it will mitigate symptoms even in the strains not covered by this years’ version.
Wishing you good health!
Elizabeth (Dr Liz) has over twenty years of experience in providing medical care to the elders. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care Medicine. Dr Landsverk founded ElderConsult Geriatric Medicine, a house calls practice, to address the challenging medical and behavioral issues often facing older patients and their families.