Well, it seems that that wonderful time of the year has arrived when we need to talk about the flu. Despite the fact that it is a common, annual ordeal here in America, few people are reall aware of what the flu is. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses and can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.
Each year in the United States 5% to 20% of the population actually get the flu! That’s a lot of people! More than 200,000 people are hospitalized because of flu complications, and about 36,000 people die from the flu each and every year!
Older people, younger childen and people with certain health conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease are at a high risk for flu complications. According to my own research, storm chasers are also highly susceptible since I seem to get it EVERY YEAR!
Wonder if you have the flu? The flu is generally accompanied by fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches. When you have the flu you can also experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea which is more common in adults.
Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.
Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick.
As the snow starts to fly in the western states this weekend and the kids are running around with the sniffles, make sure you increase your handwashing, look into the flu shot this year, and if you think that you have the flu, consult your physician and don’t head into the office or send your sick kid to school.While you are enjoying your weekend, we’ll be here as always, watching the weather, and maybe we’ll have a tropical update for you by Monday as the Atlantic is starting to percolate again. If nothing else, we’ll discuss the snow forecast…
