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Last year's flu season was one of the worst ever and health officials urge people to get the flu shot earlier this year.
The flu season runs in the fall and winter and peaks between December and February. "As the flu spreads each year, the timing, severity and length of the season varies from season to season," says the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
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According to the CDC, about 80,000 Americans died of flu-related complications last year. CDC officials also recommend that pregnant women be vaccinated against influenza because they are at high risk of developing serious influenza illness, including an illness that causes hospitalization.
"Pregnant women face a number of threats to their health and that of their baby during pregnancy, and catching the flu is one of them," said Allison Naleway, co-author of the Kaiser Permanente Health Research Center. "The results of this study underscore the fact that there is a simple but effective way to reduce the risk of flu-related complications during pregnancy: getting a flu shot."
Here are five tips to follow to avoid contracting and spreading flu:
1. Get vaccinated against the flu. According to health authorities, it is not too late to get vaccinated against the flu. Influenza vaccination prevents millions of diseases and tens of thousands of influenza-related hospitalizations each year. The influenza vaccine may vary in effectiveness, but people who are still sick may have less severe symptoms. You can go to a local pharmacy or to your doctor.
2. Avoid people who are sick. Stay away from people who are coughing, sneezing, or have other flu symptoms. People with influenza should stay out of work until their symptoms are gone.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. According to the CDC, germs often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated, then touches their eyes, nose or mouth. Wash your hands frequently.
4. Clean your cell phone. Disinfect the surfaces you touch frequently, which become a hotbed for germs. Disinfect your keyboard, mobile phone, business phone, office, and other surfaces that you touch often. Consider using a hand sanitizer after touch gates in public areas. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If you do not have water and soap, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
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5. Strengthen your immune system. A germ invades successfully and makes you sick, according to Harvard Medical School. Is it possible to intervene in this process and strengthen your immune system? "Every part of your body, including your immune system, works best when it's protected from environmental stress and reinforced by healthy living strategies," Harvard medical officials said. Healthy steps to strengthen your immune system include:
- No smoking
- Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
- Regular exercise
- Maintain a healthy weight
- If you drink alcohol, drink it only in moderation
- Get enough sleep
- Take steps to avoid infections, such as washing hands frequently and cooking meat thoroughly
- Try to minimize stress
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