Between myths and old-wives-tales there's a lot of "how not to get sick" info out there and not all of it's true. With the flu taking lives in MN and being a real concern this year, I thought I'd share this information...
How Does Flu Spread?
Flu is mainly an airborne infection. A flu carrier (with or without symptoms) can transmit the disease from a distance of up to six feet through airborne droplets released when the person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Other people catch flu if the droplets land on their mouth or nose or if they inhale the infected spray.
You can also catch the disease by touching something that an infected person has contaminated either by handling it (such as an ATM screen or elevator button) or by coughing or sneezing near the object.
What Are the Best Ways to Fight Flu?
The CDC recommends these three steps:
- Get a flu shot. The CDC recommends vaccination for everyone age 6 months or older, unless there’s a medical reason (such as allergy) not to get the shot. As I reported recently, a surprising benefit of flu shots is that they reduce heart attack risk.
- Take precautions to stop the spread of germs. To protect yourself and others, wash your hands frequently with soap and water and cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. If you come down with a flu-like illness, stay home until at least 24 hours after the fever is gone.
- Take antiviral drugs, if advised by your healthcare provider. These prescription drugs can make flu milder and reduce the number of days you’re sick, reports the CDC. Studies show that they work best if taken within two days of falling ill, but may still help if taken later in the illness.
For more, click here.
